Happy Vinayaka Chavathi to all!

Did you know that Ganesha is known as Aumkara, because his body mirrors the shape of the Aum, the elephant god is thus seen as the embodiment of the cosmos. His elephantine head symbolizes the intelligence and beatitude of the elephant, powerful, yet gentle. His vehicle is a mouse, (mooshikam)and this symbolizes the intellect, small enough to find out any secret in the most remote of places. It also signifies his humility, that he espouses the company of one of the smaller creatures.

He is the god of luck and fortune, of doorways, of the household, and of writing. He is the remover of obstacles, and as such it is normal to invoke him before the undertaking of any task with such incantations as “Aum Shri Ganeshaya Namah.”

May Ganesha bring good luck n fortune to you all.

p.s: the ganesha in the picture is made with wheat flour.. u can even see the rat
( I made it )

Entereign Nevada…I dont think these phonecam pictures do just to the beauty of Nevada …and around….I was trying my best to get that shot..ain’t that easy especially when you are driving!!
and alas!…I finnaly got it!!

A mother is special.
She’s as soft and graceful as a butterfly,
yet as strong and courageous
as a grizzly bear.
Her heart is large enough to hold
everyone’s pain and joy.
Her hands are always gentle and soothing.
Her arms are always warm and tender.
She works hard to make a
home feel like home,
and she strives to make life pleasant
and comfortable for those she loves.
She never fails to go that extra mile to
make the holidays happy and memorable.
Her job is the most difficult and
demanding ever known to any human being,
yet she’s fully dedicated to the task.
She’s always there for her family,
guiding them and keeping them safe from harm.
She owns a magical way to raise
spirits and make everything feel better.
And her sympathy, unselfishness
and forgiveness are unending.
All that anyone is or could ever hope to be
can be attributed to a mother.
She instills the teachings
that will last a lifetime.
She sows the seeds of virtue and morality,
and in the process, she opens up love
and vast horizons.
She’s always watching and hoping that
her children’s goals will have meaning.
She always listens and tries to understand
even when it’s difficult to do so.
She’s a true friend in every sense of the word.
She’s noble and sublime,
and holds all the beauty of a golden day,
yet even during the storms,
she always shines bright like an evening star.
Her name should be honored well,
for she’s the closest thing to God on earth.

Flowers in my garden!

I just read in the news about a study which found that coffee contributes more antioxidants - which have been linked with fighting heart disease and cancer - to the diet than cranberries, apples or tomatoes.

Fruit and vegetables have long been known to be a good source of antioxidants, but the new findings are surprising because it is the first time that coffee has been shown to be such a rich source of the agents.

However, the study did not prove that coffee was good for you because high levels of antioxidants in food did not necessarily translate into higher levels absorbed by the body.

Nevertheless, the research - which was funded by the American Cocoa Research Institute - indicates that at least where coffee is consumed in high amounts, the beverage could be responsible for relatively high levels of antioxidants in the diet.

Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close.

The study found that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee appeared to provide similar levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to rid the body of harmful free radicals, destructive molecules that damage cells and DNA. They have been linked to a number of health benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer. Studies have associated coffee drinking with a reduced risk of liver and colon cancer, type two diabetes, and Parkinson’s disease.

In Britain, where people drink about 70 million cups of coffee each day despite the country’s reputation as a tea-drinking nation. More than half of the American population are daily coffee drinkers. Although coffee consumption may be lower in the United Kingdom, nearly half of the British population regularly drinks instant or ground coffee.

Professor Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, recommends that people should drink only one or two cups of coffee per day. He added that it was important not to ignore the benefits offered by fresh fruit and vegetables. Unfortunately, people are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional point of view to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and fibre.

The research showed that, compared with other foods, dates were the richest source of antioxidants. But since so few dates are eaten by people, they only contributed a small amount of antioxidants to the average person’s diet. Cranberries and red grapes also contain high levels of antioxidants.

* BENEFITS

> Can increase alertness and improve short-term recall.

> May reduce the risk of cirrhosis of the liver among heavy drinkers.

> May postpone muscle fatigue.

> Contains caffeine-related compounds (theophylline) that can alleviate the symptoms of asthma in some cases.

* RISKS

> Increases blood pressure among people who already suffer from high blood pressure.

> Causes insomnia, anxiety, and irritability.

> May worsen symptoms of PMS in some women.

> Can reduce fertility in women trying to conceive.

> Can cause heartburn and indigestion.

Next time, you wanted a Coffee break at work, you might be able to call it a “Healthy break” ;)!

It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of the deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
–Psalm 18:32-33