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Friday, November 25, 2011

Today's speciality

Gooood morning friendsssssss,
          
November 25 is the 329th day of the year (330th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 36 days remaining until the end of the year.
Love quote of the day
                               "Where there is great love there are always miracles."
~ Willa Cather 

1)In  1952 november 25– Imran Khan, Pakistani test cricketer,born
                             
Imran Khan Niazi (Urdu: عمران خان نیازی; born 25 November 1952) is a Pakistani politician and former Pakistani cricketer, playing international cricket for two decades in the late twentieth century. After retiring, he entered politics. Currently, besides his political activism, Khan is also a philanthropist, cricket commentator and Chancellor of the University of Bradford and Founder and Chairman Board of Governors of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre.
Khan played for the Pakistani cricket team from 1971 to 1992 and served as its captain intermittently throughout 1982-1992. After retiring from cricket at the end of the 1987 World Cup, he was called back to join the team in 1988. At 39, Khan led his teammates to Pakistan's first and only World Cup victory in 1992. He has a record of 3807 runs and 362 wickets in Test cricket, making him one of eight world cricketers to have achieved an 'All-rounder's Triple' in Test matches On 14 July 2010, Khan was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.
In April 1996, Khan founded and became the chairman of a political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement for Justice) He represented Mianwali as a member of the National Assembly from November 2002 to October 2007.
Khan, through worldwide fundraising, has also help establish the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in 1996 and Mianwali's Namal College in 2008.

2)In1885 november 25 – Thomas Hendricks, 21st Vice President of the United States (b. 1819) died
                     
Thomas Andrews Hendricks (September 7, 1819 – November 25, 1885) was an American politician who served as a Representative and a Senator from Indiana, the 16th Governor of Indiana (1873-1877), and the 21st Vice President of the United States (1885). The first Democratic governor to be elected in the Northern United States following the American Civil War, and having defended the Democratic position in the Senate during the war, Hendricks quickly grew in popularity among the national party. After two previous failed attempts to win election to the governor's office, his term was marked by the Panic of 1873, which consumed most of his energies. He was opposed by a strong Republican majority in the Indiana General Assembly, and was unable to enact any significant legislation. Hendricks was the unsuccessful candidate for Vice President on the Democratic ticket with Samuel Tilden in the controversial presidential election of 1876. Despite his poor health, he accepted his party's second nomination to run for Vice President in the election of 1884 as Grover Cleveland's running mate, and served in that office until his death only eight months later.

Vice President, death and legacy


Thomas Hendricks' tomb in Indianapolis, Indiana
Hendricks ran as an unsuccessful candidate for Vice President on the Democratic ticket with Samuel Tilden in the presidential election of 1876. The election was disputed, as their ticket won the popular vote, but came up one vote short in the electoral college. Twenty votes were still disputed and a commission was created to determine to whom the votes should go. In a party line vote, a commission awarded the disputed votes to the Republican candidate, with many historians believing that the Compromise of 1877 was struck to resolve the dispute. The Democratic convention again nominated him for the Vice Presidency in 1880, but he declined for health reasons.
Hendricks ran on the national ticket again in 1884 and was elected Vice President of the United States under President Grover Cleveland. Hendricks had been in poor health for several years, and he only served from March 4, 1885, until his death a few months later during a trip home to Indianapolis. He complained of feeling ill the morning before his death and went to bed early. He died in his sleep that night. His funeral was large with a ceremony held in St. Paul's Cathedral which was attended by dignitaries from across the nation including President Cleveland. He was interred in Crown Hill Cemetery. With his death, the Vice Presidency became vacant until Levi Morton became Vice President in 1889.
Hendricks remains the only Vice President (who did not also serve as President) whose portrait appears on U.S. paper money. His engraved portrait appears on the tombstone $10.00 silver certificate of 1886. The nickname derives from shape of the border outline of his portrait, a shape that resembles a tombstone. He continued a line of Indiana presidential and vice-presidential candidates that lasted for several decades as Indiana became and remained a critical swing state in national politics
 
3)Indonesia’s teachers day
                     
In many countries, Teachers' Days are intended to be special days for the appreciation of teachers; World Teachers' Day is celebrated across the world on October 5. Ever since the importance of teachers has been recognized by UNESCO, by adopting the “Recommendation concerning the status of teachers”, World Teachers' Day has been celebrated annually. This includes celebrations to honor the teachers for their special contribution in a particular field area or the community in general.
The idea of celebrating... Teacher's Day took ground independently in many countries during the 20th century; in most cases, they celebrate a local educator or an important milestone in education (for example, Argentina celebrates Domingo Faustino Sarmiento's death on September 11 since 1915, while India celebrates Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's birthday on September 5 since 1962) These two factors explain why almost all countries celebrate this day on different dates, unlike many other International Days.
National Teachers' Day is commemorated on the same day as the birthday of the Indonesian Teachers' Association, the PGRI. National Teachers' Day in not a holiday, and it is celebrated by having a ceremonial activity in recognition of certain teachers, head masters, and school staff.


4) International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

                   Women's activists have marked November 25 as a day to fight violence against women since 1981. On December 17, 1999, the United Nations General Assembly designated 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women (Resolution 54/134). The UN invited governments, international organizations and NGOs to organize activities designated to raise public awareness of the problem on this day as an international observance. Women around the world are subject to rape, domestic violence and other forms of violence, and the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden.
This date came from the brutal assassination in 1960 of the three Mirabal sisters, political activists in the Dominican Republic, on orders of Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo (1930–1961).
There is more information about the history of this day, and UN publications relating to violence against women, at the UN's Dag Hammarskjöld Library. The UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) also has a regular observance of the day, and offers suggestions for others to observe it.

                     
The funeral of the assassinated President, John F Kennedy, takes place in Washington.
1963: John F Kennedy is laid to rest
The funeral of the assassinated President, John F Kennedy, has taken place in Washington.
An estimated 800,000 Americans lined the streets to watch the coffin's procession from the Capitol, where the president's body had lain in state since yesterday.
The crowd stood in silence, punctuated only by the sound of weeping, as the funeral procession made its way towards St Matthew's Cathedral in central Washington.
The coffin, draped with the Stars and Stripes, lay on a gun carriage drawn by six grey horses. A black riderless horse pranced along behind.

Distinguished mourners
Mr Kennedy's widow, Jacqueline Kennedy, and her two children, three-year-old John Kennedy junior, and five-year-old Caroline, rode behind in a black car, accompanied by his brothers, Robert and Edward.
Then came the long procession of guests, representing every continent in the world in one of the most distinguished gathering of foreign dignitaries ever assembled in the history of the United States.
They included, for Britain, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, and the Leader of the Opposition, Harold Wilson.
President de Gaulle of France was among them, as was President de Valera of Ireland, Chancellor Erhard of West Germany, and the Ethiopian Emperor, Haile Selassie.
Also among the mourners, in a poignant recognition of the dead president's efforts to foster peace around the world, was the Soviet first deputy Prime Minister, Anastas Mikoyan, representing Nikolai Khrushchev.
A child's salute
The requiem mass at St Matthew's was led by Cardinal Cushing of Boston.
It included a reading of the entire inaugural address, delivered by John F Kennedy in January 1961, with perhaps his most famous words: "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
As the coffin left the church after the ceremony, three-year-old John Kennedy Junior was seen to step forward for a moment and put his hand to his forehead in what appeared to be a childish salute.
The president was buried in Arlington Cemetery to a 21-gun salute and three musket volleys.
As a bugle sounded the Last Post, the remains of John F Kennedy were lowered into the grave.
The time was 2034 GMT, and the short but momentous era of America's youngest elected president was over.
 
6) 1973: Army deposes 'hated' Greek president
                                      
The Greek Government has been toppled by the country's armed forces after weeks of unrest.
There appears to have been little or no resistance when tanks rolled into Athens and troops took up positions around government buildings shortly before dawn.
The coup was orchestrated by the head of the feared military police, Brigadier Demetrios Ioannidis.
It follows growing unrest in Greece, and comes eight days after student uprisings in which 13 people died and hundreds were injured.
The former Greek leader and self-appointed President, George Papadopoulos, is thought to be under heavy guard at his seaside villa 20 miles from the capital.
He himself came to power in a military coup six years ago. Since then he has headed a regime characterised by repression and brutality.
I don't think anyone was so bitterly hated - he humiliated the Greek people.
Helen Vlachos, Greek exile
No air of tension was reported in Athens after the coup and exiled Greek publisher Helen Vlachos told the BBC in London the former president would not be missed.
"I don't think anyone was so bitterly hated - he humiliated the Greek people," she said. Lieutenant-General Phaedon Gizikis, commander of the First Army, has been sworn in as his successor.
In a broadcast to the nation this evening, he said he nursed no personal ambition and accepted the mandate of the armed forces.
"My only ambition is to contribute to the normal operation of the regime, as well as the consolidation of tranquillity and unity among the Greek people," he said.
Soon after the coup all telephone services were suspended. Athens International Airport was closed but reopened after a few hours.
A curfew was also imposed but is due to be lifted tomorrow morning.
A military communiqué announced the overthrow of the government was supported by the army, navy and air force and said it was a "continuation of the revolution of 1967", when the Greek colonels, headed by Mr Papadopoulos, seized control.
The statement went on to accuse Mr Papadopoulos of "straying from the ideals of the 1967 revolution" and "pushing the country towards parliamentary rule too quickly".
Earlier this year, Mr Papadopoulos declared Greece a republic, abolishing the monarchy and declaring himself president.

 

7) Grammy winner Gerald Wirth to perform in India on Nov 25

                                music is assimilating sounds from across the world to create a new language, says Grammy award winning Austrian musician and composer Gerald Wirth, who is in India to lead a classical music repertoire with 16-year-old musician Tara Venkatesan.

"There is great classical music going on in India. I mix elements from all traditions of music in my repertoire, including Indian ragas," said Wirth. The musician said he has been "inspired by the guru of sitar, Ravi Shankar".

The Austrian composer is the artistic director of the Vienna Boys' Choir, considered one of the best choral music ensembles with two Grammy awards for recordings of German composers Gustav Mahler and J.S. Bach's symphonies.

Wirth is in the country to lead a classical music repertoire with Tara, a western classical vocalist and song-writer, for a fusion concert on November 25. The two will be accompanied by violin maestros L. Subramaniam and Ambi Subramaniam.

The concert - part of a larger programme "The Soul of India" - is a tribute to the Tara's grandfather, the late R. Venkataraman, former president of India.

"The repertoire will include a medley of songs by Tara, flute from Vienna, piano, western percussion and Indian classical music. Tara will sing a light classical track, 'Benedictos' by American composer Carl Jenkins," Wirth said.

"I am accompanying her on the piano," Wirth said at a practice session at Tara's home in the capital.

The musician said he has been to India several times on concert tours and to work with sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, with whom he created the "Global Peace Concert for Children", a cultural exchange project between India and Austria.

Wirth in a way has been instrumental in introducing Mozart to children in the capital. In 2006, he founded with Ravi Shankar the "Mozart Choir of India" at the behest of the Austrian Cultural Forum in the capital.

Currently working with native American Indians for a new musical album, Wirth will begin his forthcoming Indian-Austrian classical music project in spring.

"I usually collaborate with children in European classical music. European classical music strikes a chord in children all over the world because it combines emotion, music, harmony, melodies and rhythms...," Wirth said.

He recommends "Mozart and Schubert for children".

He has been tutoring Tara - a student of American School - since 2004 when she visited Vienna. And has been teaching her every year during her summer break.

"We met Tara through her parents. She came to our school in Vienna to sing for us and we liked her voice. The most important quality about Tara was her interest in music," he said.

Tara, who has been singing since the age of five, was encouraged by her grandfather, R. Venkataraman, to pursue western classical music.

The 16-year-old has composed a tribute song, "Carry My Song" in memory of her grandfather, for the concert.

"My grandfather loved every genre of music and I was inspired by his values. My grandfather taught me that everyone has to strive to realise our goals," Tara told IANS.

The teenager, who wants to specialise in Gregorian chants and explore the healing power of music, is experimenting with genres.
 

8) iPhone 4S to hit India November 25

                                           The iPhone 4S will soon hit the world's second largest mobile market.
Offered by two of India's major carriers, Apple's new iPhone will start selling there November 25.
Bharti Airtel has been identified by sources as one of the carriers, according to a recent story in The Times of India, though the company itself provided no news or announcements about the phone on its Web site.
However, An Airtel spokesperson confirmed the launch of the iPhone 4S to CNET, saying that the phone will be available starting midnight on November 25 with preorders to kick off this Friday, November 18.
The other carrier, Aircel, took a more promotional route, confirming on its site that it will start selling the iPhone 4S on November 25 as well as touting the phone on its Facebook page. The phone will be available at Aircel stores, and preordering will start this Friday.

Neither carrier has as yet revealed the price for the new iPhone, according to the Times of India.
Noting that the unlocked version of the 16GB iPhone 4S runs $649 in the U.S., the Times believes that the 16GB model will sell in India for between 35,000 and 40,000 Rupees ($696 and $795). But as with earlier iPhones, both carriers will probably offer a reverse subsidy, which requires customers to pay the full retail price up front but offers them hefty discounts on the voice and data plans over the life of the agreement.
Already booming, the Indian mobile phone market is expected to grow more than 30 percent next year, triggering sales of around $18 billion, according to a June report from CyberMedia Research.
The iPhone 4S debuted on October 14 in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and Australia. In the initial launch weekend, Apple sold a total of 4 million units.
The new iPhone then trekked to an additional 15 countries last Friday where demand has been high. Police had to be summoned to the Apple Store in Hong Kong last Thursday after some of the 3,000 people trying to wait in line ahead of time were turned away.
In the U.S. most retailers continue to run low on stock, with many now offering wait times of around 14 days on average, according to an analyst from Deutsche Bank.



 
9)Dam 999 set for release today
                         
Dam999 , a film on the angst of a group of people over the imminent collapse of an outdated reservoir and the fallout of its eventual breach, is set for a nationwide release on Friday.
The film, conceived and directed by debutant Sohan Roy, a Dubai-based marine architect-turned-entrepreneur, courted controversy, resulting in its ban in Tamil Nadu following protests over its presumed allusion to the Mullaperiyar dam row involving Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Billed to be a suspenseful potboiler with technical superiority, the 3D film boasts an international star cast and crew. It will hit the screens in five languages — English, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, and Telugu.
At a pre-release interaction with the media here recently, Mr. Roy argued that the film, made as a tribute to the victims of the 1975 collapse of the Chinese dam Banqiao, sought to caution the world against the impending human disaster caused by outdated dams across the globe. “Over 2.5 lakh people lost their lives in the Banqiao catastrophe, which was many times more than the havoc wrecked by the nuclear attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” Mr. Roy, who has earlier taken a documentary titled Dams: The Lethal Water Bombs , said.
A good percentage of the film, shot on a budget of $10 million with support from the seafaring community the world over, was canned aboard a mammoth oil tanker vessel. “However, it also makes an effort to showcase before the world the core of Indian culture, value system, and its esoteric arts and traditional practices,” Mr. Roy said.
The film, its makers say, depicts the lives of nine people, each embodying a particular emotional trait (rasa), brought together by the looming danger of a dam collapse. “There is a corrupt mayor who builds a new dam eyeing personal glory unmindful of the risks it poses to millions of people; a mariner who is desperate to save his sister from evil; two lovers fighting destiny to unite; a woman trying to win back her family; a little boy battling an ailment; a wife who refuses to leave her husband in the face of danger; and a clairvoyant astrologer who foresees the ominous happenings. They represent a cross-section of mankind.”
The expansive canvas, where the timeless saga of human predicament unfolds, makes it a visual treat and an emotional experience, they says.
Thilakan, veteran actor, whose casting in the film and eventual rejection had raked up a row some time ago, said the currency of its theme made the movie relevant. For Linda Arsenio, acting in the film was an enriching experience. “The film will put India on the international platform. It will be an eye-opener for the world about the country,” she said.
The movie has been produced by BizTV Network and distributed by Warner Brothers.

10)Tamil Nadu govt. bans Dam 999 film

              The Tamil Nadu government has banned the screening of the feature film, Dam 999, with immediate effect. This was announced in a press release issued by Chief Secretary Debendranath Sarangi on Thursday.

 The announcement followed the demand of several political leaders, including M. Karunanidhi of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Vaiko of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and S. Ramadoss of the Pattali Makkal Katchi for a ban on the screening of the film.

The movie, according to its official website, is a tribute to those who died in the collapse of the 1975 Banqiao Dam. The story is about nine characters whose lives revolve around a crumbling dam.
Another press release issued by the Chief Secretary gave a brief account of the story of the film, according to which, the burst of a weak dam, constructed by a corrupt Mayor, led to massive flooding, resulting in the death of lakhs of people, including children, women and senior citizens. Also, it appeared that the title of the movie “Dam 999” was kept with the Muallaperiyar dam in mind. 
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