Vishwa Hindu Parishad stall alleged conversion proceedings by Christian missionaries in UP

About 30 Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists disrupted a meeting conducted by Christian missionaries accusing them of attempting religious conversion on January 21st. The Christian attendees allege there was no conversion going on.

Right to Congregate
The Christian group had a right to meet and I strongly believe that violence is not the answer, when dealing with missionaries and converts. There was no apparent violence involved with this incident. However the meeting was disrupted by the two groups.

Having written the above, I must state the point of the blog, which is that the conversion tactics used by these Christian missionaries are despicable. Promising jobs, food, shelter in return for someone soul is inhumane. It's like they get bonus points for every person they are able to convert. They seriously need to be stopped! And it's not like becoming Christian helps the people out, they are faced with the same poverty.

Ding Dong the Witch is Gone!

Big Brother Third Eviction and Racism Questions Answered...
Jade Goody was evicted! Things appear to be much more calm now that she's gone.

Was it racism? I shied away from this question, but I, thanks to YouTube, was able to watch the many of the Celebrity Big Brother V episodes and of sound mind have been able to come up with the conclusion that there was racism involved.

Goody calls Shilpa "Poppadom", its quite similar to someone calling any other made-up slur. Goody goes on to say, she did use a racist term but it wasn't meant in a racist way. (I'll have to note this defense strategy for the future, just in case.) Danielle Lloyd she did cross a line when she said, 'do Indians eat with their hands or is that the Chinese.' So she's looking for a reason to be racist. "Indian people are skinny because they eat undercooked food." If that isn't racist I don't know what is. It seems Shilpa is being gracious and dignified, being nice to those that have shown her immense cruelty. I'm not a big fan or a small one, but I know it takes a lot of strength to do something like that and she should be admired.

After viewing and reviewing the clips, Jade had a serious case of missing a couple doses of Prozacs. She goes off like she's in serious need of Anger Managment classes.

Now I only hope the racism issue dies down, because I'm tired of hearing it. That's why I am writing about. :) I only hope Jade stops trying to be in the limelight over this.

Big Brother

Shilpa Shetty, Indian Actress, is on UK's Big Brother. Why is this all over the world and in America, when its a British television show?? Because its sparked controversy that alarmed two governments and the world's newspapers. Jade Goody, previous "regular" Big Brother contestant on the Celebrity Big Brother with Shilpa, and gang called Shilpa a "dog", "Poppadom", etc.

I'm not concerned with the idea if there is racism involved...I don't know enough to decide that. What exists is a posse and posse with the ability to bully! I mean you have a Jade Goody with her mom and boyfriend on the show...who needs to go out and take time to build connections and alliances..you got a full fledged gang ready to find prey.

As a result of all this ruckus: A UK media watch dog has received close to 40,000 complaints about this show, UK Police have launched an inquiry into allegations of racism, UK Chancellor Gordon Brown has been hounded by questions about Shilpa and racism in UK while he is visiting India, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair had to answer questions about his views on racism, people of Shilpa Shetty fan club have burnt and effigy of the show's producers in protest, one of the sponsors of the show (The Carphone Warehouse) has dropped off, Fragrance chain The Perfume Shop announced they are to withdraw Jade Goody's brand of perfume, Motorcycle insurance firm Bennetts terminated its six-figure agreement with Danielle Lloyd to be the spokes model for their company and the ratings for Big Brother have gone through the roof.

Keep in mind if Jade was in America, she'd be called Trailer Trash..if I could describe her in one sentence...she's the daughter of a Lesbian who had a child, Jade, with a Crack addict who died of a drug overdose....who will they put on a celebrity show?

Since all this has happened Goody has apologized about what she said and another member of the Goody posse has acknowledged to Shilpa that she succumbed to Goody's level because a lack of direction on her part.

Neither Goody nor Shilpa knows the extent to which the world has gone beserk about their little argument. Both have been voted by their housemates to be one of the next to be kicked out of the house. So one of them will know tonight, January 19th, the absurdity that be them.

Of course, one must keep in mind that this show is just that, a show. It gets people together and gets them to act all crazy for ratings.

Just for the sake of adding this...I find it really funny when people go to Mahesh Bhatt to comment on something that is going on with the world.. ( I love the guy, but they always go to him for comments) and he does have something good to say, so I thought I would put it in my blog.. When asked about this situation Mahesh Bhatt said that, 'the "mask has finally come off from what otherwise is seen to be an evolved society.

Underappreciated Films

After I wrote about the worst Indian movies..I thought I would write about those that were underappreciated...

Movies that should have been more popular...

Iqbal (2005): I believe this movie was a critic's favorite, but it just flopped. In my mind, it shouldn't have flopped. I can't get enough of Nagesh Kukunoor and Iqbal.

Yeh Tera Ghar Yeh Mera Ghar (2001): What an unbelievably funny movie! I think people will watch this one over and over on DVD/TV but just refused to go to the theater to see it.

Muskurahat (1992) : I watched this movie and I really liked it. I came across it years later and thought I've never heard of it..and watched it again..I fell in love with it over again. Of course, it is a Priyadarshan film so its gotta be funny!

Khel (1991) (Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit): It was a good film that flopped. I found the following on BollyCat (http://www.bollycat.com/movies/khel)
So its a copy...but the film was interesting.

Rules: Pyar Ka Superhit Formula (2003): I love how some characters you think having nothing to do with the plot are introduced and each of them get weaved into the storyline leaving no loose ends behind. This movie was a hit, however whenever I mention this film no one knows about it. Leaving me to believe it is underappreciated. Milin Soman is so hot and Meera Vasudevan makes me wish I were her.

Khakee (2004): This was another great film by Raj Kumar Santoshi...that was so had a box office of just result of just Average (Box Office India) The storyline was gripping, the climax was intense and the ending was simply satisfying. There was many many memorable scenes in between. It had it all. Akhshay Kumar was funny, Aishwariya was sharp, Ajay Devgan was good - bad cop goonda, and get this Tusshar Kapoor was tolerable.

Lajja (2001): One word- Awesome! Of course it flopped. This was a multi-starter..unlike Jaani Dushman (also a Manisha starer)..so incredible to watch. It's the story of how Manisha Koirala witnesses the plight of Indian women in different parts of the country as she tries to escape her husband. Some incredible lines delivered by Madhuri Dixit, Mahima Chaudary, and Anil Kapoor. All three of them and Manisha's act really well in the movie. I've fallen in love with Raj Kumar Santoshi films..this movies story comes from a newspaper article that RKS read about a women named Raamdulari being burnt alive.

Teen Deewarein (2003) Nagesh Kukunoor is one of my favorite directors..I just wish he had the popularity of Karan Johar, since he has more talent than that guy has popularity.

Kaun! (1998) Ram Gopal Verma directs this incredible film with - can you believe - only three actors. Brilliant performances all across - Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpai.

House Full - Or not so full...Really Bad Hindi Films

janasheen

WORST INDIAN MOVIES EVER MADE
..that I've seen. Yes, the worst that I've seen, it will not include movies such as Paisa Vasool, Trimurti, Haseena Maan Jayegi, Sandwich (includes all Govinda movies), Khushi, Boom, Love at Time Square, Neal 'N' Nikki, Gajagamini, the Dev Anand directed movies, etc. I guess I didn't fall for those movies...but nonetheless I have fallen..and pretty bad..

I believe this is one of the most popular blog topics for Indian movie watchers - The top ten worst Hindi movies you have ever seen..and this is my version. Had I the strength to see the above mentioned movies, the below list would change a little..but here it is...

10) Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna (2006): KANK as they call it. What is worst Shah Rukh Khan's over acting and arrogance or Sam, Amitabh Bachchan's male whore of a character in the film? I'd say Shah Rukh wins that one. He's usually over the top and I guess his fans love him like that. I usually can't tolerate him but even other people I was watching the movie with were losing their patience with him. The eternal looming question inside me--why do you guys like Shah Rukh? Anyways, the movie is about how two ex-spouses get two cheaters together and wishing them nothing but the best. Huh?

9) Hum Aapke Hai Kaun...! (1994): I believe HAHK started the whole acronym thing...as annoying as it is. It's one more reason to hate the movie. Don't get me wrong...as I watched this movie for the first time--like everyone else I loved it. I started hating the movie around the thirty-sixth time I watched it. The movie has a great soundtrack, but can we just kill the movie and call it a day? Then they made Hum Sath Sath Hain which is HAHK Part II. Was that really necessary?? Like do we really need non-realistic films about ideal subjects like living as a big happy family in a big house...how about living like a big happy family in a very small house and getting smaller by the day as more more family members come out of no where -- now there's a challenge!

8) Khel (2003): Ajay Jadeja - Just 'cause the whole cricketing thing didn't work out - no need to go into acting.

7) Ram Jane (1995): Lately, whenever I see Shah Rukh Khan at award shows (where else do you think I see him) and other places he seems so full of himself (King Khan)...someone should make him sit through this one!! Ram Jane is his name in the film...The orphan kid, Shah Rukh, goes to a Sadhubawa and asks, "What is my name?" The Sadhu replies, "Ram Jane (As in God only knows)" The dumb kid actually thinks that is his name and thats what he is called from that point on. This movie should be called...the movie where Vivek Mushran is a better actor than Shah Rukh.

6) Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (2003): A really bad remake of an orignal which they completely dissected and ruined. Hritik should get an award for the Best Actor - One which Obliterates the enjoyment of a Moviegoer. One of my cousin's had a very apt theory,that acting as a Mentally Challenged person in Koi Mil Gaya made Hritik perform like a neurotic person in Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon (this movie seriously cries for an acronym).

5) Veer Zara (2003): One thing I always say about this movie is that its a Punjabi film pertending to be a Hindi film. Imagine this, the day after Diwali when the majority of Gujaratis are celebrating the new year's with Ankoot at the temple...going to the theater after the Mandir to watch a Hindi movie that turns out to be entirely in Punjabi. I feel sorry for those illiterate Guju bastards that couldn't read the subtitles fast enough...haha. Oh yeah and Shah Rukh's speech at the end sucked like I don't know what...those of you who liked it..stop pretending! The courtroom scene was lacking and so was Anupam Kher. I believe Paresh Rawal was ten times better in the courtroom scene in Aitraaz. Veer says to Zara..after she decribes her country..your country reminds me of my country...Nah Duh! It belonged to India...like yesterday!!!

4) Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Ghum (2003): I love how they just stuff the song Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham, whenever they feel like it...it complete wrecks any mood the director, Karan Johar, is trying to establish. The only redeeming thing within this movie was Kajol...who saved me from getting up and out of my seat and smacking Shah Rukh in the face. Kareena needed to be slapped as well. Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham...Na Jooda Honge Hum... (I thought I'd stick it in...)

3) Mohabbatein (2000): Any movie that is this close to my Numero Uno worst movie has got to be bad. I have to say this -the best thing about this movie -- Jugal Hansraj is too cute. Back to the point, it's so contradicting...the movie is supposed to be a family oriented film, then why does it have so many half-nacked girls.. Could the relationship between Amitabh Bachchan and his daughter, Aishwariya Rai, be any bad...that she has to kill herself because she fell in love with some guy... They just weren't able to show why AB had a big problem with Love...Why am I trying to find reason in such a nonsensical film?

2) Janasheen (2004): What's worst Fardeen Khan in Speedo bikini shorts or Celina Jaitley in a bikini while she plays the violin??? It's a toss up. All those Urdu words used to decribe Fardeen Khan by Feroz Khan's character, were they really necessary? I know Feroz Khan won't understand, but there is nothing so special in Fardeen Khan and he just doesn't get this..


1) Jaani Dushman - Ek Anokhi Prem Kahani (2002): This happens to be THE WORST movie ever made. Sheer 'Bakvaas'. Their is no other way to put it. Filled with a great amount of "star" power - Manisha Koirala, Sunny Deol, Sunil Shetty, Akshay Kumar, Sharad Kapoor, Raj Babbar, Armaan Kohli(not really star power). What were these people thinking???
It's a remake of the orignal, which supposedly was a hit. The Director till date can't figure out why the remake didn't work as the orginal had.. My guess..people aren't big on rape scenes anymore...not to mention crappy story lines with Nags and Nagins...

New Task Planner

This task planner is very efficient. It was on davidseah.com and its called a Emergent Task Planner. It has a section where you write big important tasks of the day and big section where you can write down what you plan to do tomorrow.

Here's the link: http://davidseah.net/pceo/etp/PCEO-ETP01-Standard.pdf

Here's an example of the usage: http://davidseah.com/static/etp/etp2007.htm
click on the picture

Episode 1.1 - The One with the Old Man at Panera and Arranged Marriages

Episodes: Those moments in my life that basically only happen to me.

Setting: I'm at Panera; its a late lunch (about 2 PM). Around the same time that I arrive there an elderly gentlemen (Mister) comes in as well. I'm polite, I tell him he can go before me. He tells me he's a retired teacher so I can go first because I look like I have go back to work. I accept his offer. Later, him and I are both waiting to get our food, and we chit chat some more. He asks me where my ancestry is from I let him know it's India.

Mister: You know I never quite understood how "those" people have 'arranged' marriages. Do they still have those?
Me: Yes, they still exist and I can understand arranged marriages. I cannot, however, understand divorces or children out of wedlock or disease or famine or poverty. Arranged marriages not so harsh or hard. I like men. My parents introducing me to men..that has to be a bonus. Granted not all are hot, but some are cute. Honestly, men don't look good unless they are in a relationship and their 'significant other' dresses them better. So in conclusion, there are a lot worst things than arranged marriages.

"Saved"

There are many times I feel like god isn't on my side. If only he had protected me or sheided me from that speeding ticket, or the public speaking (since people fear public speaking more than death), etc. I guess many of us feel this way from time to time. I recently had an experience where I felt that he had my back and would like to take a moment to note it down. So that the next time I feel like he isn't there for me, I remember this moment. Also, I hope I realize that whatever I'm going through at the moment is something that I need to go through.

I hope that whoever reads this will note it down whenever they feel as if they've been "saved" for a later time when we weren't.

$25+ Bank of America Bonus

You can get $25 and the person you refer can get $25 when they:
Open a Bank of America personal checking account with a Bank of America Visa® Check Card. $25 minimum balancee

Add any Bank of America savings account and they can get an EXTRA $10. Open that account with at least $1,000, and we’ll increase that bonus to $25.
Offer expires on 1/24/07 and is available in any Bank of America banking center or online when this referral form is presented at the time of account opening

email id you would like to use with your BOA Account
to sheel1@gmail.com

I will enter your name into Bank of America's referral page, and it will send you an email with the information necessary to sign up for the account.

$25 ING Direct Bonus

ING Direct's $25 referral sign-up bonus plan is still valid. The person joining gets $25 and the referrer gets $10. Currently to receive the $25 referral bonus requires you to open the account with a deposit of $250.

To get a referral send an email to me with your

first and last name

email id you would like to use with your Orange Savings account
to sheel1@gmail.com

I will enter your name into ING Direct's referral page, and it will send you an email with the information necessary to sign up for the account.

The bonus is given pretty much right away, within the next day of signing up.

Important Questions for Harry Potter Book 7

In my mind, the questions JK Rowling can't answer are the ones that are important.
So here they are questions that she didn't want to answer from the Mugglenet/Leaky Cauldron interview:

ES: What would Dumbledore see?
JKR: I can't answer that.

ES: What would Dumbledore's Boggart be?
JKR: I can't answer that either, but for theories you should read 6 again. There you go.

MA: R.A.B.
JKR: Ohhh, good.
JKR: No, I'm glad! Yes?
MA: Can we figure out who he is, from what we know so far?
JKR: Do you have a theory?
MA: We've come up with Regulus Black.
JKR: Have you now?
MA: Uh-oh.
JKR: Well, I think that would be, um, a fine guess.
MA: And perhaps, being Sirius's brother, he had another mirror -
JKR: [drums fingers on soda can]
MA: Does he have the other mirror, or Sirius's mirror -
JKR: I have no comment at all on that mirror. That mirror is not on the table.


I plan to re-read the books and figure this out.

Krishnashraya Stotram

Having memorized it for years, I'm surprised that I just recently learnt the meaning of the words of the Krishnashraya Stotram. It was composed by Shree Vallabhacharya at Adel and addressed to Bula Mishra of Lahor. It gives the historical Background of his time in India. He describes the worst state of affairs in India at that time, relating to holy places, rituals and their extinct power, the self seeking learned men, the worthlessness of mankind etc., and on the other hand the effectiveness of the refuge in Shree Krishna (Krushna). Shree Vallabhacharyaji advocates taking shelter under Shree Krishna and none else but Krishna under all circumstances. These words are truly beautiful..and thanks to websites such as the ones listed, I think people have a better understanding.

http://www.pushtikul.com/

http://www.yamna.co.uk/

http://www.geocities.com/pushti_marg

http://www.shrivallabhsharanam.com
_____________________________________
The Meaning of Krishnashraya Stotram
----------------------------------------
When in this Kaliyug (Evil era), with villainous characteristics, all ways of attaining God have vanished and hypocrisy is rampant in people, Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (1)

When the country is besieged by invaders and is the home for only sinners, and when people are worried due to torturing of the good people, Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (2)

When the most holy places of pilgrimage like Ganga and others are encircled by only the wicked people, and when the divine sanctity has disappeared from those places, Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (3)

When even the good people are dulled with pride, follow the sinners and aspire only for wealth and prestige, Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (4)

When due to absence of knowledge of real meanings, the scared hymns are almost destroyed and there is no propriety for observing of vows and when the efficacy and deities of Mantras have disappeared, Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (5)

When, due to all sorts of interpretations of all ritualistic acts and keepng vows etc., are worthless and when all are in the pursuit of hypocritical attempt, Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (6)

It is our experience that Shree Krushna has done away with all shortcomings of people like Ajamila and thus has displayed his supreme greatness. Therfore Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (7)

All deities are just ordinary. Even the Brahma (Akshara Brahma, abode of Supreme Spirit) is one with limited joy. Whereas KRUSHNA is perfect joy. Hence Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (8)

I am deviod of discreet understanding, patience and devotion etc., and much more, I am addicted to sins; I am without any means to achieve GOD. Shree Krushna alone is my resort. (9)

He is the omnipotent, the one who fulfils all desires everywhere and who gracefully uplifts all those supplicating to him so I beseech to Shree Krushna (10)

For anyone who recites this Krushnashrayam Stotram in the presence of Shree Krushna, The God himself becomes his refuge. So said Shree Vallabha. (11)

The Race towards Oscar

It's that time of the year where I check out Oscar contenders and Golden Globe nominees for the Foreign film section and see if India has made the cut. Not that it matters.
"On a daily basis I educate Hollywood Studios that Bollywood represents 3.8 Billion fans worldwide compared to Hollywood 3.6 Billion fans worldwide, it's time for Hollywood to wake up." Said Sheeraz Hasan (founder of www.Hollywood.tv).

I find this quote to be amazing. I must say that I new this to be true years ago. I find it amazing that Indian movies are watched by more people than any other country's films and that too with a language not spoken by the majority of the world. I have people with non-Indian ancestry coming to me from Russia, Guyana, Nigeria, etc. telling how they are big fans of Indian films and how they've been watching since they were kids. I get so surprised since they can't otherwise speak the language, yet are fans of the films.

Anyhow, it seems like this years contenders for Golden Globe Nominations, "Rang De Basanti", "Omkara", and "Lage Raho Munnabhai" didn't make the final list. I wish them better luck at the Oscars. My favorite in all of these is RDB, although I haven't seen Omkara. LRM was good, but I still LOVE RDB.

Harry Potter Final Book

Most of us can't wait, so here are a few details that I have read about Book 7:

• It's either Harry or Voldemort, right, one of them is dead at the end of the book.
• No more school for Harry, he will be attempting to find and destroy Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes
• Harry will return to the Dursleys' during the school vacation, but the magical protection Dumbledore arranged will expire on his 17th birthday when he comes of age --so what does that mean??
• Harry will visit Godric's Hollow --- Godric's Hollow is where Lily and James Potter were hiding from Voldemort, where they were killed and where their graves are. The fact that the name of the town is Godric like Godric Gryffindor is imporatant.
• Viktor Krum will return -- good or evil, I think he will have been made evil by his former headmaster, Igor Karkaroff. Ofcourse hat night of the Goblet of Fire, Igor didn't make it to the Dark Lord as some of the followers. Evenso, once a deatheater, always a deatheater. Lets see if Igor has any influence on his life still.
• Gain knowledge about Lily Potter and the fact that Harry has her eyes are important.
• Something will be revealed about Petunia Dursley (she isn't a Squib)
• One thing that sucks is that there won't be anymore Quidditch matches -- I strive to play this game one day...it seems like a fun game and the only thing getting in my way is that I can't fly.
  

Anwar Lyrics

I think I've said before "Music haunts me." I think this song is a perfect example. I can't listen to anything else but this song right now; it's so well written, well sung, and blended together perfectly. Anwar is one movie I'm looking forward to seeing. The first time I heard the song when I was viewing the trailer for the movie, it caught my attention --the smoothness of the song.

maula mere, maula mere maula mere, maula mere - 4
aankhein teri - 2, kitni haseen
ke inkaa aashiq, mein ban gayaa hoon
mujhako basaa le, inmein tu
(ishq hai maula mere, maula mere maula mere, maula mere - 2) - 3

ki inakaa aashiq, mein ban gayaa hoon
mujhako basaa le, iname tu

mujhse yeh har ghadi, mera dil kahe
tum hi ho uski aarzoo
mujhse yeh har ghadi, mere lab kahe
teri hi ho sab guftagoo
baatein teri itni haseen, main yaad inko jab kartaa hoon
phoolon si aaye, khushaboo

rakh loon chhupaa ke main kahin tujhko
saayaa bhi tera na main doon
rakh loon bana ke kahin ghar, main tujhe
saath tere, main hi rahoon
julfen teri, itni ghani
dekh ke inako, yeh sochta hoon
saaye me, inake main jiyoon
(ishq hai maula mere, maula mere maula mere, maula mere - 2) - 3

(meraa dil yahi bolaa, mera dil yahi bolaa,
yaara raaz yeh usne hai mujh par kholaa
ki hai ishq mohabbat, jiske dil mein
usko pasand karta hai maulaa) - 3

There's another song on the album that is really good, Javeda Zindagi (AKA Tose Naina Lagey) ..The album as a whole has more than one music director, but both of these songs are by the same one, Mithoon. This is his second album after 'Bas ek Pal'. You know music is good, when it changes your mood to reflect the mood of the music.

Phone-Tax Refund

In August, the Treasury Department stopped collecting a 3 percent surcharge on long distance calls and bundled service that dated back to 1898 - a tariff often referred to as the Spanish American War tax because Congress passed it to help fund that conflict. The tax is still being assessed on local phone service.

In announcing the exclusion of long distance in May, Treasury also said it will refund any money collected under the tax since March 2003, a total of 41 months overall. The Internal Revenue Service is adding a line to its various 1040 forms to claim the refund on 2006 tax returns filed next year. Businesses and tax-exempt organizations need to fill out Form 8913, "Credit for Federal Telephone Excise Tax Paid," to claim the refund with their returns. Those who wouldn't otherwise need to file tax returns can file a form called "1040EZ-T" to request the refund.

Individuals can claim a standard refund of between $30 and $60, as follows: $30 for one person plus $10 for each additional exemption claimed on the return. So a solo filer would claim a refund of $30, while a married couple with two children would claim $60. The IRS said it devised these standard amounts based on phone usage data for households of different sizes.

This is how I plan to calculate my Excess Federal Taxes:
1) Get a copy of the new bill post August 2006, when they stopped collecting the Federal Tax (i.e. Oct. 2006)
2) Get a copy of an old bill of yours prior to August 2006, when they were collecting the Federal Tax (i.e. June 2005)
3) See which tax appears in the old bill that doesn’t appear in the newer one…and that is your excess amount.
4) You can take that amount and multiply it by 41 and that is your refund amount or you can total the amount in the previous 41 bills, which also is my option…just gotta find the old bills.

Directly from the IRS website:
IRS announcement of Telephone Tax Refund: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=161504,00.html

IRS Q&A on telephone tax refund for individuals: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id161506,00.html

IRS Q&A on telephone tax refund for businesses:
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id164310,00.html

Other good Freebies:
http://www.google.com/notebook/public/15076703108624276567/BDRNQSwoQluXO0N4h

Get a Human when calling Customer Service

I like to pretend that I don't have a touchtone phone, so I can directly go to customer service.

This is increasing becoming harder since they have come out with computers and you no longer have to push buttons, but just talk and tell the computer what you need, which is a headache by its self.  

Here's a list that has been put together for some of the most popular companies:
http://www.gethuman.com/us/ 

Target Heart Rate

For those of you working out just like me.  I'm currently doing 3+ days a week.  I get confused between the different target heart rates.  

Men: 220 - your age = Maximum Heart Rate (mhr)
Women 226- your age = Maximum Heart Rate (mhr)

TRAINING ZONES
Healthy Heart Zone (Warm up) --- 50 - 60% of maximum heart rate: The easiest zone and probably the best zone for people just starting a fitness program. It can also be used as a warm up for more serious walkers. This zone has been shown to help decrease body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol. It also decreases the risk of degenerative diseases and has a low risk of injury. 85% of calories burned in this zone are fats!

Fitness Zone (Fat Burning) --- 60 - 70% of maximum heart rate: This zone provides the same benefits as the healthy heart zone, but is more intense and burns more total calories. The percent of fat calories is still 85%.

Aerobic Zone (Endurance Training) --- 70 - 80% of maximum heart rate: The aerobic zone will improve your cardiovascular and respiratory system AND increase the size and strength of your heart. This is the preferred zone if you are training for an endurance event. More calories are burned with 50% from fat.

Anaerobic Zone (Performance Training) --- 80 - 90% of maximum heart rate: Benefits of this zone include an improved VO2 maximum (the highest amount of oxygen one can consume during exercise) and thus an improved cardiorespiratory system, and a higher lactate tolerance ability which means your endurance will improve and you'll be able to fight fatigue better. This is a high intensity zone burning more calories, 15 % from fat.

Red Line (Maximum Effort) --- 90 - 100% of maximum heart rate: Although this zone burns the highest number of calories, it is very intense. Most people can only stay in this zone for short periods. You should only train in this zone if you are in very good shape and have been cleared by a physician to do so.

Interesting Links @ Swadhyaya

http://www.swadhyayee.org/

I came across this site when I researching swadhyay, it is quite interesting.  It says its a website for people hurt by swadhyaya and for followers of real religion and philosophy.

Update: The site is down. I don't know why.
Try this forum, which discusses Swadyaay heavily - http://vmehta.conforums3.com/index.cgi?board=Religions