Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Please vote for TAJ




Time is ticking away. Only we can get the magnificent Taj Mahal into the list of the new seven wonders of the world.
There is little time left to vote for the new Seven Wonders of the World. Much in the fashion of a gigantic beauty pageant, 77 finalists were narrowed down to 21 last year, and the final seven will be chosen from among them.
The Taj Mahal is one of the 21. The campaign of Swiss non-profit organization New7Wonders began in 2000 and the announcement will be made on July 7, 2007 -- appropriately 07.07.07 - in Lisbon, Portugal. The event will be broadcast around the world. About 20 million votes have already been received and the 21 finalists were those that had garnered the most votes till the end of 2005.
The Taj, slowly slipping out of the reckoning because Indians couldn’t be bothered enough to vote, needs all the votes it can get to make it to the final list of seven. New7Wonders describes Shah Jahan’s architectural paean to his beloved as the greatest symbol of love and passion.
Apart from voting for a favourite wonder online or on telephone, one can also send in pictures of the 21 finalist monuments. You can vote for the Taj Mahal at www.new7wonders.com

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

½ a second before tsunami




½ a second before tsunami
The last picture! There are people who believe in God, there are others who don't believe, but we must understand that we are small when nature hits...

This picture was taken on the banks of Sumatra Island (the height of waves was of approx. 32 m = 105 ft). It was found saved in a digital camera, 1 ½ years after the disaster.

We cannot know for sure, but very likely the one who took the picture is not alive any more (it was just a matter of seconds). Today we can see the last image he/ she saw before ending life on Earth!