tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34790309464990536772024-03-13T19:36:57.792+05:30CritiqueViews, Reviews and ExperiencesHitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-72297960171154320962008-09-03T17:33:00.008+05:302009-02-22T21:01:19.075+05:30"Independence Day" -- Just another Holiday?I had intended to publish this earlier but suffered from a severe bout of laziness. So posting it now..<br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SL6A41lHGSI/AAAAAAAAAGo/tuFLAa-VV7A/s200/flag.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241768730249599266" border="0" /><br />We celebrated 69th year or our freedom on 15th August this year.<br /><br />On the day itself I woke up to the speech from our PM. Though I wonder how many people do watch the speech, I myself accept that it was boring speech for an average listener like me. It sounded more like a speech from a party spokesperson rather than from a PM.<br /><br />For the whole week the most prominent question amongst the people around me and Indians in general was "Are you leaving for your home?" with the Independence Day holiday making it 3 holidays in a row. Even during the Independence Day speech on the Rajpath I did'nt see any significant number of people other than those who just have to be there, the children and the dignitaries and them also being least interested in the speech.<br /><br />The mood spilled over to the the tv channels as well with most prominant sign being national flag around their logo. And rest of the things were the usual ones including the movie channels telecasting the same old patriotic themed movies for a millionth time. I switched expecting the news channels to satiate my patriotic thirst but was sadly mistaken to find that there were more visible signs of the new movie being released on the same day with some borrowed snippets of official celebrations in various places.<br /><p>Thus again left to meditate, the thought just shook me again.. Is Independence Day like any other national occasion is just a Holiday for us? Do we really do justice to the occasion? Or more importantly have we simply erased the importance of these days from our conscious memory? Is it just another day for us to put off from work. Have we just forgotten the hardships our country men went through to give us our present. I have watched Americans celebrate their Independence Day with such enthusiasm and fervor with most of the people coming out on the streets and expressing their national feelings. Sadly in our country I don't see any personal or private celebrations.<br /></p>So is our Independence Day fast becoming just another day off from work or does it hold importance?<br /><br />Well the answer lies with us.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-32099286413444451472008-09-02T23:37:00.004+05:302008-09-02T23:55:06.902+05:30Review/Critique-(An Introduction)Have you ever got confused about the terms review and critique? Well I was a bit unsure about the two terms and their usage in literary terms and also wanted to get some more information on these aspects. So I did my bit of research through Google. Here is a concise form of what I came across while surfing and what i understood.<br /><br />Review<br />A book review describes, analyzes and evaluates. Review can be positive or negative; it basically conveys your opinion, supporting it with evidence from the book. It requires you to question the information and opinions in a text and present your evaluation or judgment of the text.<br /><br />Critique<br />The <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/critique">Dictionary</a> defines Critique as an article or essay criticizing a literary or other work; detailed evaluation; review; and critiquing as reviewing or analyzing critically.<br />The critique should be a balanced discussion and evaluation of the strengths, weakness and notable features of the text. Good critiques also include other sources to support your evaluation. When you are critiquing someone else’s work, you are writing objectively, as a writer. Remember "Critique the writing, not the writer"<br /><br />Lets have a look at different terms involved here:<br /><br />Describe<br />Simply refers to giving an account of the text under study so as to convey the basic idea behind it.<br /><br />Evaluation or judgement<br />Here you decide the strengths and weaknesses of a text. This is usually based on specific criteria. Evaluating requires an understanding of not just the content of the text, but also an understanding of a text’s purpose, the intended audience and why it is structured the way it is.<br /><br />Analysis<br />Analyzing requires separating the content and concepts of a text into their main components and then understanding how these interrelate, connect and possibly influence each other.<br /><br />Coming back to Review & Critique, What is the difference between the two?<br />There is slight difference between critiquing and reviewing any text. Reviewing involves getting overall information, question that information ,making opinions of that information and at end making judgment about a information, Mentioning purpose, all good points or bad points and why that piece is written that way by a particular author. Critiquing is rather subjective and critique r not only sees the article as being reader of that article by that author only but also sees it if he or another author could have written it what might he have included or excluded from that article. It involves an experienced reader who can compare that text with the stuff he has already gone through and is often supported by references to other similar resources.<br /><br />Structure of Writing Reviews:<br />With so many related pages available I could not help my self from going through the proposed structure for writing a review. Though there is no specific rule for writing a review but still there are some things that should be kept in mind:<br /><br />Reviews, both short (one page) and long (four pages), usually have a similar structure.<br />a) Introduction: The length of an introduction is usually one paragraph for a journal article review and two or three paragraphs for a longer book review. Include a few opening sentences that announce the author(s) and the title, and briefly explain the topic of the text. Present the aim of the text and summarize the main finding or key argument. Conclude the introduction with a brief statement of your evaluation of the text. This can be a positive or negative evaluation or, as is usually the case, a mixed response.<br />b) Summary: Present a summary of the key points along with a limited number of examples. You can also briefly explain the author’s purpose/intentions throughout the text and you may briefly describe how the text is organized. The summary should only make up about a third of the critical review.<br />c) Critique: The critique should be a balanced discussion and evaluation of the strengths, weakness and notable features of the text. Remember to base your discussion on specific criteria. You can choose how to sequence your critique.<br />* Most important to least important conclusions you make about the text.<br />* If your critique is more positive than negative, then present the negative points first and the positive last.<br />* If your critique is more negative than positive, then present the positive points first and the negative last.<br />* If there are both strengths and weakness for each criterion you use, you need to decide overall what your judgment is. For example, you may want to comment on a key idea in the text and have both positive and negative comments. You could begin by stating what is good about the idea and then concede and explain how it is limited in some way.<br />* In long reviews, you can address each criterion you choose in a paragraph, including both negative and positive points.<br />* You can also include recommendations for how the text can be improved in terms of ideas, research approach; theories or frameworks used can also be included in the critique section.<br />d) Conclusion: This is usually a very short paragraph.<br />* Restate your overall opinion of the text.<br />* Briefly present recommendations.<br />* If necessary some further qualification or explanation of your judgment can be included. This can help your critique sound fair and reasonable.<br />e) References: If you have used other sources in you review you should also include a list of references at the end of the review.<br /><br />Yes it may seem like filling out a form but still its better to stick to the basics, atleast initially.<br /><br />Waiting for your reviews and comments..<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">More Readings:<br />1 <a href="http://www.writing-world.com/freelance/asenjo.shtml">WritingWorld</a><br />2 <a href="http://www.schrag.info/teaching/review.html">Zachary M. Schrag</a><br />3 <a href="http://www.west.net/%7Esbpcug/review0005.htm">Review's structure</a><br />4 <a href="http://www.goshen.edu/english/critique.html">Critique Guidelines</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-8742708380311569562008-08-23T22:14:00.005+05:302009-02-28T12:00:30.723+05:30Quotes - Swami VivekanandaPosting some quotes, from Swami Vivekananda, received as a part of daily subscription from a site dedicated to spreading the word of <a href="http://cwsv.belurmath.org/index.htm">Swami Vivekananda ji</a>. Will keep posting more quotes from time to time.<br /><br />"Work, but let not the action or the thought produce a deep impression on the mind."<br /><br />"If you want to do anything evil, do it before the eyes of your superiors."<br /><br />"By the grace of the Guru, a disciple becomes a pandit even without reading books."<br /><br />"Each work has to pass through three stages--ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance.Every one who thinks ahead of their time is sure to be misunderstood. So opposition and persecution are welcome, only I have to be steady and pure and must have immense faith in God, and all these will vanish."<br />Letter to Ajit Singh, the Maharaja of Khetri. From USA: July 9, 1895.<br /><br />"A true Christian is a true Hindu, and a true Hindu is a true Christian."<br /><br />"There is neither sin nor virtue: there is only ignorance. By realization of non-duality, this ignorance is dispelled."<br /><br />"The downfall of a religious sect begins from the day the worship of the rich enters into it."<br /><br />"Truth is my God, the universe my country. I do not believe in duty. ... Duty is humbug. I am free, my bonds are cut; what care I where this body goes or does not go? You have helped me well right along. The Lord will reward you. I sought praise neither from India nor from America, nor do I seek such bubbles. I have a truth to teach, I, the child of God. And He that gave me the truth will send me fellow workers from the earth's bravest and best."<br />Letter to Alasinga Perumal. From USA: August 1895.<br /><br />"I am not an exponent of any occult society, nor do I believe that good can come of such bodies. Truth stands on its own authority, and truth can bear the light of day."<br />Interview, October 23, 1895.<br /><br />"Matter gets its existence from the presence of mind behind it. What we see is God percolating through nature."<br />Retreat given at the Thousand Island Park, USA. June 19, 1895.<br /><br />"In the domain of true religion, book-learning has no right to enter."<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-42438399395969091102008-07-25T15:49:00.037+05:302009-01-18T17:22:26.927+05:30Lest We Forget<span style="font-size:100%;">The most relevant email I received today informed me about the importance of the date <span style="font-style: italic;">26th July</span> in every Indians life.<br /><br />Its the Anniversary of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kargil War</span>.<br /><br />And like me, many of us fellow Indians would have forgotten this day amid the daily routine of our lives, those Flashing <span style="font-style: italic;">Breaking News</span> being telecast on all the News channels and our dose of "reality" shows. Yes this is a Truth but another truth was what happened 9 years back when many of our fellow brethren fought ferociously to drive away the intruders who came and sat on our Mountains and thought that they could just stay there..<br /><br />Ya.. this is the day to remember the real Heroes of our Nation.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">A Tribute</span><br /><br />"THEY GAVE THEIR TODAY FOR OUR TOMORROW"<br /><br />Over a 400 of them at last count. Median age 19 to 35. The grim-faced army officers receiving the coffins, draped in the tricolour, the carriage to the army parade ground, the set-jawed shok shastra farewell salute by steely soldiers. The silent sorrow of upraised guns, slowly brought, barrel downward, to the ground, left arm tautly extended to the right before retracking, the holding of palm to chest, the sudden dropping of head, the 30-second hushed silence, then the regulation rajnigandha and marigold wreaths from the army and air chiefs, the general officer commanding, fellow officers, the battalion, before the body escorted by a comrade begins its last journey home. Wreathed in white, the colour of the pure; kesariya, the colour and insignia of the brave. Now across mountains, now across rivers, plains.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Some lines from the Brave:</span><br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Maa, Tum Dekhna Ek Din Aisa Kaam Kar Jaunga Ki Saari Dunia Mein Mera Naam Hoga</span>" -- mother, you will see one day I will do such a deed that the whole world will acknowledge that.<br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Saurabh Kalia to his mother</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;">"I am proud that I have joined 4 JAT and one day 4 JAT would be proud that Saurabh Kalia joined this regiment."<br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Lt. Saurabh Kalia, At Bareilly (JAT Regiment Centre)</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Didi</span>, it was meant for me and I lost my man"<br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Captain Vikram Batra, to his elder sister over the phone when terrorist's bullet meant for him had struck his man behind him during his first posting in the terrorist-prone region of Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir.</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Yeh Dil Maangey More</span>"<br /></span><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Vikram Batra to his commander at base camp after winning back Peak 5140, the highest point on the Tololing Ridge</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SInOICl0gNI/AAAAAAAAAGA/InS7oLCFIH8/s1600-h/Letter.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 20px 20px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SInOICl0gNI/AAAAAAAAAGA/InS7oLCFIH8/s400/Letter.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226935480069947602" border="0" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: right;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><-- Sometime before the final assault Capt. Vijyant Thapar (Robin) left this letter at the from the attack area, to be handed over to his family in case he failed to return. His father's reply sums all our feelings as well " Son, The brave way you left this world, at the age of 22 is a measure of how you lived your short life and what you valued. In meeting the stark challenges of capturing Knoll against all odds, during the battle of Three Pimples with heroic coolness and single minded devotion to duty, you have achieved immortal honour. In death you have epitomised the spirit of national pride - an honour which makes every sacrifice worthwhile. Your actions will forever inspire generations of Indians to come. You have left us with pride for being the parents of a worthy son and a lifetime of pain for having lost a child we loved. -- Col. V.N. Thapar " </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A Heartrending farewell --</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SInTJ9Gt7-I/AAAAAAAAAGI/NM9fhZVpwIM/s1600-h/salute.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SInTJ9Gt7-I/AAAAAAAAAGI/NM9fhZVpwIM/s400/salute.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226941010515193826" border="0" /></a><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Captain (Dr.) Rajshree Gupta, Army Medical Corps (AMC), salutes the tricolour-draped coffin of her husband, Major Vivek Gupta of the 2nd Rajputana Rifles, who died fighting the enemies.<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Y</span>es they have gone but they have left behind the memoirs which will continue to motivate us and the generations to come. The only thing is that we don't let the legacy die. So come on show to the world that we can be the Best Friends while there are our Jawans to show that we are the Bravest enemies<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SInbQL0G0CI/AAAAAAAAAGY/dUUc-UDDGbw/s1600-h/jaihind.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SInbQL0G0CI/AAAAAAAAAGY/dUUc-UDDGbw/s400/jaihind.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226949913635901474" border="0" /></a>Let the Tricolor Fly High<br />Jai Hind<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Some more info:<br />1. <a href="http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/">Indian Army Official Website</a><br />2. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kargil_War">Kargil War on Wikipedia</a><br />3. <a href="http://kargil.gov.in/photoglry/photogallery.htm">Kargil Now</a><br />4. <a href="http://www.captainvijyantthapar.com/">Capt. Vijay Thapar</a><br />5.<a href="http://www.indianarmy.gov.in/PVC/pvc.html"> <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Param Vir Chakra Winners</span></a><br /></span><br /></span></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-36731428504131506372008-07-17T19:22:00.004+05:302008-12-12T12:18:11.255+05:30eBooks for Free<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SH9eDdmcqsI/AAAAAAAAAF4/AJdkeEkSaWo/s1600-h/books.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SH9eDdmcqsI/AAAAAAAAAF4/AJdkeEkSaWo/s320/books.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223997506351573698" border="0" /></a><br />Yes there are many books, novels, fables, short & long stories available on internet for free. You can download them on pdf or word formats. I have downloaded and read some of them.<br />Obviously it is not as easy or enjoyable to read them on your computer screen but still its better than not reading them at all.<br /><br />Here are links for some of those sites that I bookmarked:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.truly-free.org/">The Burgomeister's Books</a> ( Novels; short stories; fiction and non-fiction; sci-fi, thrillers, romance, horror, literature. No search available, just a list of Titles)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.classicshorts.com/">Classic Short Stories</a> (Dedicated to short story and light prose)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.aesopfables.com/aesopsel.html">Aesop's Fables</a> (Online collection of Fables along with the Moral of the Story)<br /><a href="http://221bakerstreet.org/"><br />221 Baker Street</a> (All of the Sherlock Holmes Novels)<br /><a href="http://freeclassicaudiobooks.com/page2.htm"><br />Free Classic Audio Books</a> (The title is suggestive enough but I have some reservations about the quality of transcription)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.readprint.com/">Read Print</a> ( <em></em><b><em></em></b><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span>An online library offering free books, poems, short stories. You can search by author or by title)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fullbooks.com/">Full Books</a> ( Not very well cataloged but thousands of books available)<br /><br />Hope its of help. By the way the list is not according to any preference but just according to the list in my bookmarks.<br /><br />Not to mention if any of you have some quality links please reply.<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-71712227132970991962008-07-09T16:14:00.004+05:302008-12-12T12:18:11.347+05:30Mac & PC !!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SHSXmKxUfcI/AAAAAAAAAFw/PC1gNmMnkf8/s1600-h/absurdnotions.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SHSXmKxUfcI/AAAAAAAAAFw/PC1gNmMnkf8/s400/absurdnotions.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220964550011289026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">And that my friends is why I own a PC.</span><br />A cool pic from <a href="http://www.absurdnotions.org/">absurdnotions.org</a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.absurdnotions.org/an20071030.gif">read more</a> | <a href="http://digg.com/comedy/Mac_PC_3">digg story</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-67830856016365032022008-07-01T20:14:00.005+05:302008-12-12T12:18:11.477+05:30Euro 2008: Factfile<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGpbOQ-HAXI/AAAAAAAAAFg/yMAZYUZp52U/s1600-h/xavi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGpbOQ-HAXI/AAAAAAAAAFg/yMAZYUZp52U/s320/xavi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218083418893910386" border="0" /></a><br />Some Interesting Facts/Stats from Euro 2008, Some interesting and others not so interesting... But guess what they will stay forever..<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Golden Boot</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Spain’s David Villa</span> with Four goals.<br /><br />* <span style="font-weight: bold;">Player of the Tournament</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Spain's</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Xavi Hernandez </span><span>is </span>UEFA's official Player of the Tournament for driving his to victory in Euro 2008.<br /><br /><br />Statistics:<br /><br />Goals:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Total Goals:</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">77</span> matching exactly that of four years beforehand in Portugal.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Minutes played-to-goals</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Hakan Yakin of Switzerland</span> had the lowest ‘minutes played-to-goals’ ratio (73) among players who played over 100 minutes. The lowest overall was by Vaclav Sverkos of Czech Republic (38), who played only 38 minutes in the entire group stage despite scoring the winner against the Swiss.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Shots/goal ratio</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Sverkos</span> also finished with the lowest shots/goal ratio, as his only shot in the tournament resulted in a goal! The highest ratio for a player with at least 10 shots is quite predictably Luca Toni, who had 16 shots and no goals to show for them.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goals by Free Kicks</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Only 2 goals</span> were scored directly by free kicks in the entire tournament. Out of the two, one was a deflected goal scored by <span style="font-style: italic;">Daniele De Rossi</span>, which leaves only one classic free kick goal at the Euros this time. It was <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Ballack</span>, of course, who converted it against Austria.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goals from Corners</span>: Only <span style="font-style: italic;">2 goals</span> were scored directly from corners (flick-ons not counted) out of all the 31 matches. One by <span style="font-style: italic;">Dirk Kuyt</span> against France, and the other by <span style="font-style: italic;">Libor Sionko </span>against Portugal.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Own Goals</span>: To the credit of all the defenders and goalkeepers at Euro 2008, they made each goal well-earned. In other words, the 31 matches played at the European Championships consisted of exactly <span style="font-style: italic;">zero own goals</span>.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fouls:</span><br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;"></span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Ballack</span> also holds the distinction of committing the most fouls in the tournament. He romped home with the prize with 22 fouls, followed distantly by David Villa (!) with 15.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-style: italic;">Spain</span> also finished first in the most fouls committed list, with 114 fouls in all. However, the fouls/match ratio is highest for Poland, at 22.33.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Passing & Assists</span>:<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Assits</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Cesc Fabregas</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Turkey’s Hamit Altintop</span> ended the tournament as joint leaders in the assists chart. Both had 3 assists, but Fabregas played for a total of 352 minutes compared to Altintop’s 487 minutes.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Passing</span>: <span style="font-style: italic;">Spain</span> ended as the most frequent passers of the ball in the tournament, with a quite astonishing match average of 569.17! Netherlands came close, with an average of 541.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Best Right Backs</span>: The two best right backs at the Euros top the list when it comes to individual passes made. <span style="font-style: italic;">Philipp Lahm</span> tops the charts with 359, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Sergio Ramos</span> follows with 337.<br /><br /> * <span style="font-weight: bold;">Passes/Minute</span>: When it comes to passes-per-minute, <span style="font-style: italic;">Cesc Fabregas</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Xavi</span>, understandably, lead the pack. Fabregas made 0.86 passes/minute, compared to player of the tournament Xavi’s 0.84.<br /><br /><br />From Articles at : <a href="http://www.goal.com/en-india/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=757286">Goal.com</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-28682530904101014752008-07-01T13:46:00.016+05:302009-01-18T17:23:15.308+05:30Viva Espana<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Pics say it all..</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoCkNtp3qI/AAAAAAAAAEo/QDURRKpRLik/s1600-h/8296016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoCkNtp3qI/AAAAAAAAAEo/QDURRKpRLik/s320/8296016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217985939441835682" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8296390.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8296390.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8296400"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8296400" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoEVIiRs_I/AAAAAAAAAE4/Lno2NsyE7Ao/s1600-h/8296644.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoEVIiRs_I/AAAAAAAAAE4/Lno2NsyE7Ao/s320/8296644.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217987879377155058" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoW_taoQ2I/AAAAAAAAAFI/g-w1dOsNKrk/s1600-h/8296502.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoW_taoQ2I/AAAAAAAAAFI/g-w1dOsNKrk/s320/8296502.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218008402040996706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8296732.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8296732.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoE02F1f8I/AAAAAAAAAFA/F5o88c5fRO0/s1600-h/8296668.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoE02F1f8I/AAAAAAAAAFA/F5o88c5fRO0/s320/8296668.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217988424181841858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8296672.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8296672.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8298018"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8298018" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8297050"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8297050" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8297060"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://msn.foxsports.com/id/8297060" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8270434.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8270434.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8296776.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8296776.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8297042.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://hitesh.shr.googlepages.com/8297042.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoDQ3lcreI/AAAAAAAAAEw/QysDzebsHjY/s1600-h/8296590.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGoDQ3lcreI/AAAAAAAAAEw/QysDzebsHjY/s320/8296590.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217986706595950050" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Congrats to Spanish team for being the Best!!!</span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-36396389105221500162008-06-29T12:21:00.010+05:302009-03-04T13:11:04.664+05:30"The Hostage" by C.S. Forester<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGjJL7zsxQI/AAAAAAAAAEg/Cu4xjKEyzYc/s1600-h/31329.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGjJL7zsxQI/AAAAAAAAAEg/Cu4xjKEyzYc/s200/31329.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217641375178999042" border="0" /></a><br />About the Author: C.S. Forester was the pen name of Cecil Louis Troughton Smith. Born in Cairo in 1899, he studied medicine at Guy's Hospital but left without a degree and turned to writing as a career.<br />Forester rose to fame with his Military themed stories during the WW II era. Some of his important works include A Ship of the Line, Flying Colors, Horatio Hornblower Series, and The African Queen.<br />--------------------------<br /><br />“The Hostage”<br /><br />The Hostage is a beautiful story depicting the mindset of army people during war, the amount of stress their family undergoes. For a change this story is from the perspective of German people and they had to suffer and sacrifice because of the World War II. This story also depicts the love and compassion between the husband and wife.<br /><br />The story is about Dexter who is a retired General of the German Army, living with his wife during World War II. As the Germans start losing ground at starting of the end of War, he and his wife are astonished to receive an order from Army for Dexter to take the part of Commander. He discusses it with his wife the possibilities of him getting killed and “Law of Hostages”. In those days Germany had a brutal way of making the soldiers obey. According to the law if a soldier deserts the Army, his family would be killed.<br /><br />Dexter, then departs from his wife, joins the Army. Under his leadership, the German Army keeps the Allies in control. But his battalion suffers a lot of casualties. There is no chance of retreat, as the order from higher officials states that the battalion must remain in its place no matter how huge the number of causalities may be and how low the ammunition may be.<br /><br />Now the Allies ask the German soldiers to surrender, and if they do, they will be treated properly. Now the onus is on Dexter, who has the chance of saving life of ten thousand soldiers by making them surrender. But his wife’s life is at stake. He must obey his orders or face the fatal Nazi punishments for military disobedience, but can he also save the lives of the ten thousand ordinary German soldiers under his command?<br /><br />The story comes under the classification of Short Stories and is fast paced and heart rending. The story ends with a sad note but brings out the strength of character which some people may say is missing in today’s world.<br /><br />--------<br />Book Links:<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">1. </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1860920144?ie=UTF8&tag=critique-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1860920144"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Hostage: With Envelope (Travelman Adventure)</span></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=critique-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1860920144" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />2. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316290637?ie=UTF8&tag=critique-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316290637">Lieutenant Hornblower</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=critique-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316290637" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />3. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316289329?ie=UTF8&tag=critique-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316289329">Hornblower : Beat to Quarters</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=critique-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316289329" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />4. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316289361?ie=UTF8&tag=critique-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316289361">Ship of the Line (Hornblower Saga)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=critique-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316289361" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />5. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316289108?ie=UTF8&tag=critique-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316289108">The African Queen</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=critique-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316289108" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-60199997100392132922008-06-28T11:16:00.006+05:302008-12-12T12:18:14.039+05:30Some of my favourite QuotesSome of my favorite quotes from <a href="http://www.quotiki.com/user.aspx?user=hiteshsharma">Quotiki.com</a> Its a fairly nice Web 2.0 type website to manage your favorite quotes and find new ones..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGXTX5Uw2XI/AAAAAAAAAEI/AGlDtIDCivE/s1600-h/Quote.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGXTX5Uw2XI/AAAAAAAAAEI/AGlDtIDCivE/s200/Quote.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216808150856948082" border="0" /></a><br />"Motivation alone is not enough. If you have an idiot and you motivate him, now you have a motivated idiot."<br />- Jim Rohn<br /><br /><br />"Three billion people on the face of the earth go to bed hungry every night, but four billion people go to bed every night hungry for a simple word of encouragement and recognition."<br />- Cavett Robert<br /><br /><br />"'I love you', those three words are the beginning of every tragedy."<br />- Ville Valo<br /><br /><br />"Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right."<br />- Henry Ford<br /><br /><br />"It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say and then don't say it."<br />- Sam Levenson<br /><br /><br />"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia."<br />- Charles Schultz<br /><br /><br />"Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted."<br />- John Lennon<br /><br /><br />"If you hate a person, you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us."<br />- Hermann Hesse<br /><br /><br />"When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'"<br />- Sydney J. Harris<br /><br /><br />"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."<br />- Mark Twain<br /><br /><br />"Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself."<br />- George Bernard Shaw<br /><br /><br />"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."<br />- Mahatma Gandhi<br /><br /><br />"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect."<br />- Mark Twain<br /><br /><br />"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."<br />- Albert Einstein<br /><br /><br />"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."<br />- Napoleon Bonaparte<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-40913152496260313072008-06-25T02:07:00.006+05:302008-06-27T19:33:31.916+05:30U.S. nuclear deal or early polls, India may learn soon<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSSP12973920080624?rpc=64&sp=true">http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSSP12973920080624?rpc=64&sp=true</a><br /><br />Excerpt:<br /><br />"<br />........ The government's non-communist coalition members, worried that inflation at a 13-year high could destroy their re-election chances in a snap poll, are pushing Singh to avoid a political confrontation and delay the deal.<span id="midArticle_3"></span> <p>But Singh is reluctant to publicly abandon a deal in which he has invested a lot of his personal reputation, giving rise to media speculation that he is now ready to sacrifice the Congress-led government with less than a year before polls.</p><span id="midArticle_4"></span> <p>"There is no doubt that the meeting is extremely crucial and we expect the Congress to formally announce its decision," said communist leader Nilotpal Basu.</p><span id="midArticle_5"></span> <p>Singh says the pact is vital to end India's long exclusion from global civilian nuclear trade, and Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee described it as the "most potent means" for achieving energy security for Asia's third-largest economy.</p><span id="midArticle_6"></span> <p>The communists claim the deal, which gives India access to U.S. nuclear fuel and technology, would damage India's independent foreign policy and security.</p><span id="midArticle_7"></span> <p>SNAP POLLS? ..........<br /></p>"<br /><br />And who will save India's foreign policy and security from the Bloody Communists and Terrorists? All these parties want to gain is all important Political Mileage.<br /><br />With Oil fast becoming a very expensive commodity Power situation is going to worsen in coming years and our Ill willed politicians want to do nothing.<br /><br />Wish we had a Strong Willed PM !!<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-64532815239323999842008-06-25T01:12:00.004+05:302008-12-12T12:18:14.273+05:30Go Back.... Racist<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGFPb6CRlQI/AAAAAAAAAD4/O-rih8ZPQ-Y/s1600-h/fn.CI8OP.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SGFPb6CRlQI/AAAAAAAAAD4/O-rih8ZPQ-Y/s400/fn.CI8OP.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215537184325604610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.funny.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Funny.woa/wa/funny?fn=CI8OP&Funny_Pictures=Go_Back"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.funny.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Funny.woa/wa/funny?fn=CI8OP&Funny_Pictures=Go_Back" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Funny yet Serious Pic..<br /><br /><a href="http://www.funny.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/Funny.woa/wa/funny?fn=CI8OP&Funny_Pictures=Go_Back">read more</a> | <a href="http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Go_Back_Racist">digg story</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-83316821890311581722008-05-09T22:45:00.007+05:302008-12-12T12:18:14.542+05:30Swami Vivekananda's Speech at the Parliament of Religion, ChicagoSwami Vivekananda was one of the most influential spiritual leaders. I have always been awed by his intellect since reading about him in my schooldays. Below is the copy of his speech delivered at the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893 (Wonder if such a congress of religions is held nowadays). Its said that the opening line of his address ("Sisters and Brothers of America") made the audience clap for2 minutes.<br />We desperately need such inspirational personalities in present and teachers like Sri Ramakrishna. The least we can do is to adopt at least some their teachings.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0b/Swami_Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg/225px-Swami_Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0b/Swami_Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg/225px-Swami_Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />""<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/0/0b/Swami_Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg/225px-Swami_Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg"></a><p class="regulartextReading">Sisters and Brothers of America,</p> <p class="regulartextReading"> It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world. I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects. </p> <p class="regulartextReading">My thanks also to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true.</p> <p class="regulartextReading">I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. </p> <p class="regulartextReading">I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, and which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: </p><blockquote> <a name="parliament1_1_top"> </a><a href="http://www.vivekananda.org/readings.asp#parliament1_1_bot"> </a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SCSHRMhB78I/AAAAAAAAADc/_cGRblBHIcY/s1600-h/parliament1_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SCSHRMhB78I/AAAAAAAAADc/_cGRblBHIcY/s200/parliament1_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198428599379685314" border="0" /></a>"<a href="http://www.vivekananda.org/readings.asp#parliament1_1_bot"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">As the different streams having their sources in different places all mingle their</span></a><a href="http://www.vivekananda.org/readings.asp#parliament1_1_bot"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);"> water in the sea, so, O Lord, the different paths which people take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."</span></a> </blockquote> <p class="regulartextReading"> The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: </p><blockquote> <a name="'parliament1_2_top"> </a><a href="http://www.vivekananda.org/readings.asp#parliament1_2_bot"> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SCSHg8hB79I/AAAAAAAAADk/6LR-8WZkdEE/s1600-h/parliament1_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/SCSHg8hB79I/AAAAAAAAADk/6LR-8WZkdEE/s200/parliament1_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198428869962624978" border="0" /></a>"<a href="http://www.vivekananda.org/readings.asp#parliament1_2_bot"><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);">Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach them; all are struggling through paths which in the end lead to Me."</span></a> </blockquote> Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.<br /><br />""<br /><br />For full Biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekananda<br />For some more Readings: http://www.vivekananda.org/readingscategory.asp<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-90471528131676509052008-03-31T18:18:00.004+05:302008-06-27T19:43:10.346+05:30Is India’s economy losing its shine?The business mood is gloomy in India this week as fears about the economy slowing gather pace. An announcement Wednesday that year-on-year industrial growth dropped by more than half in January - 11.6% recorded a year ago to 5.3% - pushed the stock market into the sharpest of today’s Asia falls.<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://ridingtheelephant.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/03/13/is-indias-economy-losing-its-shine/">read more</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/business_finance/Is_India_s_economy_losing_its_shine">digg story</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-32518205955934124132008-03-31T17:11:00.002+05:302008-06-27T19:39:50.871+05:30The North London derby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.premierleague.com/javaImages/83/7a/0,,12306%7E3504771,00.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.premierleague.com/javaImages/83/7a/0,,12306%7E3504771,00.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />A look at the history between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur and why their rivalry is so intense.<br /><br />The rivalry between supporters and players at local derby matches often has its roots in the respective histories of the clubs and their communities. The North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur is no exception.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.premierleague.com/page/Magazinedettail/0,,12306%7E1195275,00.html">read more</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/soccer/The_North_London_derby">digg story</a><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-30015551815135536052008-01-01T12:59:00.000+05:302008-01-01T13:15:13.869+05:30Happy New YearWishing a very happy and prosperous new year to you all...<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-84444454023657974892007-12-28T17:07:00.002+05:302008-12-12T12:18:14.781+05:30Trekking in Himalayas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/R3ThKPzEuSI/AAAAAAAAACA/VMKTYuPcxkE/s1600-h/Himalayas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/R3ThKPzEuSI/AAAAAAAAACA/VMKTYuPcxkE/s200/Himalayas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148987840147011874" border="0" /></a><br />If you just cant live without a constant rush of Adrenalin.. If Adventure is the way of life for you then come to Himalayas, Adventurer's Paradise..<br />If you need any information regarding any kind of Adventure activities in Himalayan Region just post a reply on the blog and I will be get back to you.....<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-20408456453687454382007-08-04T10:19:00.006+05:302008-12-12T12:18:14.907+05:30"The Day of the Jackal" by Frederick Forsyth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RrS_M7cMtTI/AAAAAAAAABA/sIJTTLlMJ4A/s1600-h/Jackal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RrS_M7cMtTI/AAAAAAAAABA/sIJTTLlMJ4A/s320/Jackal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5094907307298174258" border="0" /></a><br />Frederick Forsyth (born August 25, 1938) is a well known English author. His works include The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Dogs of War, The Fist of God, Icon and some others.<br /><br />Originally a reporter by profession, he published his first novel 'The Day of the Jackal" in 1971. The book went on to become an international best seller. Later the book was also made into a movie by the same name.<br /><br />The Day of the Jackal is a thriller and is set in 1963 France when the right wing organization Organisation armée secrète (OAS) was active there. It beautifully captures the political complication its societal implications in France of that era. The writer has been able to stitch together the plot with in the mesh of real world. The story is basically of spy suspense thriller genre.<br /><br />It revolves around the two main characters, One is the professional assassin ' Jackal' hired by OAS to kill the President Charles de Gaulle and the second is his nemesis Police Detective Lebel.<br />The depiction of both the characters is done carefully bringing out the differences between the two characters and the one similarity: that both the people are true professional dedicated to their work. The minute planning done by Jackal and his undoing by Lebel are treat to the reader.<br /><br />Jackal is a true methodist who doesn't talk much and may come out to be a cold blooded killer and a true gentleman depending upon the situation. The concern is depicted when Lebel remonstrates "A real gentleman, thought Lebel, and dangerous as a snake. They are always the worst kind, for a policeman, the real gentlemen. Nobody ever suspected them." Lebel on the other side is a family man with a nagging wife but a great insight in to the human personalities known by the name of Professor among his colleagues. He has perfetcly judged the pesonality<br />of Jackal and considers him to be a true professional like him self who will not leave a job incomplete. The mutual respect and hatred for eachother come to the fore in the end when both come face to face for the first and last time: "Chacal," he said. The other man said simply, 'Lebel." before the two men shoot to kill each other.<br />In the end the author leaves the suspense for the reader as to the true identity of Jackal<br />with the question "Who the hell he was?"<br /><br />The depiction lacks the romanticism and is more of a detailed arid account of a story reported by a newspaper reporter. The attention given on details is good and can get a bit boring sometimes.<br /><br />All in all the book is a decent time pass if you are into spy thriller fictions.<br /><br />Download the Book here: http://rapidshare.com/files/130376506/The_Day_of_Jackal.doc<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-39381796596842696692007-07-23T20:13:00.004+05:302008-12-12T12:18:15.448+05:30Anjani Mahadev<span style="font-style: italic;">Whether or not you are an atheist does not matter. What matters is your love for nature....<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/972747898_052d6191f0.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; width: 320px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1121/972747898_052d6191f0.jpg?v=0" border="0" /></a>Anjani Mahadev is not only a religious place its also a place where you can experience the wonders of nature. The place is situated on the banks of a small creek orginating from a glacier near by. A trek of 40 minutes among the stony remains of the Glacier that once existed there will bring you here from Solang Nalla near Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India.<br /><br />One can also stay night here at the Ashram established by the Saint who first found out this place and named it as Anjani Mahadev. The saying goes that the elderly hermit wandered among the mountains in search of peace and at last came here and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RrBiarcMtRI/AAAAAAAAAAw/-ZWCDKLIvDY/s1600-h/DSC00030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093679389033149714" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; width: 260px; cursor: pointer; height: 173px;" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RrBiarcMtRI/AAAAAAAAAAw/-ZWCDKLIvDY/s320/DSC00030.JPG" border="0" /></a>meditated for long and had a devine intution that once upon a time Anjani mother of Hanuman had prayed for Lord Shiva here- hence the name Anjani Mahadev.<br /><br />The main attraction of Anjani Mahadev is the 30 -40 feet high shivling which is formed in winters (December to February). The shivling is formed naturaly from a small stream that falls at the spot.<br /><br />The seclusion and serenity of the place makes it perfect<br />for having some peace of mind. The aashram people may also provide facilities for night stay or a longer stay if you are looking for a place for meditation. <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RrBj07cMtSI/AAAAAAAAAA4/nrlc_Mr7ppc/s1600-h/anjanimahadevsolang.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5093680939516343586" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RrBj07cMtSI/AAAAAAAAAA4/nrlc_Mr7ppc/s320/anjanimahadevsolang.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">One of the wonders of Nature... or God...whatever you may</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> think.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br />More photos from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hiteshsharma">Flickr</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-40985742637371980512007-07-21T14:18:00.001+05:302008-12-12T12:18:15.581+05:30Trek to Chandertal<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RqHItrcMtOI/AAAAAAAAAAU/E7goKU3l8hA/s1600-h/beautiful_5882.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RqHItrcMtOI/AAAAAAAAAAU/E7goKU3l8hA/s320/beautiful_5882.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089569740986037474" border="0" /></a><br />Trek to Chandertaal is one of the most awesome treks that one can undertake in Himalayas. The barren towering mountains and then the beautiful clear water lake at such a height will surely imprint a beautiful memory on your mind. Covering an average distance of 8 km with a basic altitude of 4000 meters, two river crossings and thrilling scenery.<br /><p>Chanderatal means the lake of Moon. Its situated in between a lower ridge and the main Kunzum range with an outlet into the Chandra river. You can view the beautiful Samudra Tapoo Glacier. </p> <p>You can go till Batal (a tiny hamlet) from Manali on a jeep. There after you can trek to chandertal. Now adays I think you can drive till 3 Km off Chandertal if the weather and road conditions permit. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-65548955641240630732007-07-21T14:16:00.002+05:302008-12-12T12:18:15.864+05:30Leh: Journey to the top floor of World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RqSk5bcMtQI/AAAAAAAAAAo/7jkR1rZ7cUg/s1600-h/leh_5882.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__6sdKVxRsxA/RqSk5bcMtQI/AAAAAAAAAAo/7jkR1rZ7cUg/s320/leh_5882.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5090374785361032450" border="0" /></a>Leh...<br /><p>The three alphabets seem to evoke a distant thought in mind of a person... Far away, Mountains, Cold, Adventure...<br />Yes, True its all this and load and loads of fun, jaw dropping sceneries, Dusty unending road, Military Trucks and atlast... <em>Peace</em></p> <p>We went without any meticulous preparations. In fact it was a sudden impulse arising out of a long lingering idea of adventure.</p><p>And we traveled by a bus, though that was not what we had wanted. The bus transport is not an easy one at least for people with less experience of traveling on hill roads.</p><p>The journey is awesome.. High and still higher Mountains, No vegetation, Long Winding endless road,Splintered remains of illfated vehicles lying at the bottom of mountains, the road side tents which double as restaurants and guest housesthe vast plain on the top of mauntains which stretches for some 30 Kms...........</p> But as you cross the Sindhu river and start nearing to the city you know that this experience is going to be Unforgettable...<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3479030946499053677.post-1390451863536386352007-07-06T18:21:00.000+05:302007-07-21T14:32:07.356+05:30My ReviewHello ..<br />I have created this blog just for the purpose of providing my views and reviews about the various popular and not so popular places, movies, books, websites, blogs, forums etc.. that come my way.<br /><br />You may agree to my opinion or you may consider them as crap. But we can always express ourselves. So come on... post your comments and reviews.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Hitesh<div class="blogger-post-footer">Share your Views, Reviews and experiences.
Copyright :: All Rights Reserved :: Critique (http://cri-tee-que.blogspot.com)</div>Hitesh Sharmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09231531704563360685noreply@blogger.com0