tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37150138892957893372024-03-13T09:45:59.947+05:30The Girl And Her Camera...a varied, interesting & colorful journey of life through photographySpring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-40943303834313718652018-10-19T13:17:00.000+05:302018-10-19T13:17:17.692+05:30A Terrifying Experience In Which: Pooh and Piglet Encounter a Ghost<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3FnSncapFfY/W8iqecwX2lI/AAAAAAAACSA/XEvyOoKXMHcIchcdK86QbsZ-rp8k81l3QCLcBGAs/s1600/QuinTale-02%2BCovers.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3FnSncapFfY/W8iqecwX2lI/AAAAAAAACSA/XEvyOoKXMHcIchcdK86QbsZ-rp8k81l3QCLcBGAs/s640/QuinTale-02%2BCovers.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">One evening, Pooh and Piglet were walking home through the forest. It was the night of the full moon and all kinds of strange creatures were wandering in the darkness. Midway home, a floating shadow appeared before them. Pooh was so scared he immediately hid behind Piglet, while Piglet made fists, ready to fight if needed.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">Nobody moved until the shadow floated away from them. Then, quickly they ran towards home, Pooh lagging behind. Piglet stopped and waited for his friend. Reaching home together, they quickly bolted the door.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">Pooh sat on the couch, relieved. “Don’t be afraid, dear Piglet. I will protect you, whatever happens!” said Pooh, proudly.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">“I know, Pooh!” answered Piglet happily.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">Just then they heard someone banging the door. Pooh instantly hid himself behind a cupboard while Piglet took a firewood for defense.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;"> Read the rest of the story<a href="https://penmancy.com/a-terrifying-experience-in-which-pooh-and-piglet-encounter-a-ghost/" target="_blank"> here</a>. Kindly support my story by clicking the link above. Thank you.<br /><br />Note: </span></div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">QuinTale is a 500-word writing event where a story is written based on a given prompt. If interested, visit the website for further details. </span></li>
</ul>
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<li><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">If you're a writer, budding or otherwise, consider joining in our small community of writers at Write.Read.Support. FB group. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/penmancy/</span></li>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-72097558860321719702018-10-18T21:13:00.002+05:302018-10-18T21:19:58.250+05:30An Amazing Adventure In Which: Pooh and Piglet Go Hiking<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHONXsZzsEQ/W8ipjmY7BYI/AAAAAAAACR0/5Jpw-XQZrSwD3qqKh89F2hcsHwAJ-5EIQCLcBGAs/s1600/Poh%2B%2526%2BPiglet%2BGo%2BHiking.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHONXsZzsEQ/W8ipjmY7BYI/AAAAAAAACR0/5Jpw-XQZrSwD3qqKh89F2hcsHwAJ-5EIQCLcBGAs/s640/Poh%2B%2526%2BPiglet%2BGo%2BHiking.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">One day Winnie-the-Pooh and his good friend Piglet were sitting together when Piglet said, “Why don’t we go hiking?”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">“Where shall we go?” asked Pooh.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">“How about Skyhigh Mountain? The whole world is visible from the top.”</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">“We shall go tomorrow then!” said Pooh. Though Pooh did not like hiking, he was happy to go anywhere with Piglet.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">Next morning the two friends were on their way. Piglet walked with short but swift steps admiring the flowers on the road. Pooh lumbered along heavily, humming a song:</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">Read the rest <a href="https://penmancy.com/an-amazing-adventure-in-which-pooh-and-piglet-go-hiking/" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #3d3e40; font-family: "Droid Serif", serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px 0px 2.25em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; transform: translateY(0.4145em); white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">Note: </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;">I am doing this to get our newly-created website traffic. Please support this story by visiting the website, www.penmancy.com</span></li>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-90198474418680543322018-10-03T16:06:00.002+05:302018-10-03T16:06:57.340+05:305 Filipino Words That You Should Include in Your Vocabulary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Filipino is the official national language of the Philippines.</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">It is also the term for the country’s citizen. Like </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">me</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I am a Filipino. My parents are Filipinos. <br />
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</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">But did you know that dozens of Filipino words are now officially in the Oxford English Dictionary? </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Yes. The list is getting longer. </span></b></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Here are five from the list:</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>1. </b></b><b><b>Kuya </b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">–a term used as a sign of respect to an older male relative such as a brother, cousin, or family friend. It can also be used to address an older man even if they’re just an acquaintance or a stranger.</span></b></span></div>
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<li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you have a biological brother, you can call him </span></b>kuya apart<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> from calling him <b>bru</b> or </span></b><b><b>bhaee</b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></b></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Example: My </span></b><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">kuya</span></i></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> John is three years older than me. He is a</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">n engineer</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>2. </b></b><b><b>Suki</b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> –</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">a term used to refer to a customer who purchases products or services from the same provider.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Example: I own Kumar’s store and Mr. And Mrs. Negi are my </span></b><b><b>suki</b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">. They </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">only</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> buy </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">their </span></b>groceries from<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">my shop.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>3. </b></b><b><b>Baon</b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> –money, food, or other provisions taken to work, school, or on a long journey.</span></b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">If you’re working and you take food for lunch from home to eat at lunch break, then that food is called baon. The same applies to the money that parents give to their children when they go to school.</span></b></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Example: “Don’t forget your </span></b><b><b>baon</b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, else you’ll starve at lunch,” Mrs. Rana reminded her daughter who is in fifth grade.</span></b></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msCq8ulnCY4/W0BBJ1B4hsI/AAAAAAAACMg/p3w0rM4uPlc0_SxvS_jxZwTqFjqyNr32wCLcBGAs/s1600/baon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="932" data-original-width="753" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-msCq8ulnCY4/W0BBJ1B4hsI/AAAAAAAACMg/p3w0rM4uPlc0_SxvS_jxZwTqFjqyNr32wCLcBGAs/s400/baon.jpg" width="321" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Baon</b> to school for two kids</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(photo credit: vegan friend, DK)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></b>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>4. </b></b><b><b>Yo-yo </b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">–is a </span></b><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">toy</span></span></a></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> consisting of an </span></b><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axle"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">axle</span></span></span></a></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> connected to two </span></b><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder"><span style="color: black;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">disks</span></span></span></a></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, and a string looped around the axle. (See photo). </span></b></span>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">In many countries around the world, a </span></b>yo-yo competition<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> is being held every year. This </span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">competition normally consists of two parts, a set of </span></b>compulsory tricks<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and a </span></b><b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">freestyle</span></i></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">, where points are scored for each and the winner is the yo-yo player who scores the most points. Compulsory tricks, also known as a trick ladde</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">r,</span></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> are a set of tricks that have been chosen before the contest, and the competitor must successfully complete each trick on their first or second attempt to score points.</span></b></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9jDhLLXSrgU/W0BBgCic-lI/AAAAAAAACMo/LJnVhBUlhnoF2kWR4DQKy84YhDeXKqC_wCLcBGAs/s1600/yoyo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="654" height="238" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9jDhLLXSrgU/W0BBgCic-lI/AAAAAAAACMo/LJnVhBUlhnoF2kWR4DQKy84YhDeXKqC_wCLcBGAs/s400/yoyo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yo-yo toy that children and adult enjoy.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><b>5. </b></b><b><b>Halo-halo </b></b><b><span style="font-weight: normal;">–("mixed together") is a popular dessert made of mixed fruits, boiled sweet beans, sago, agar jelly, evaporated milk, and shaved ice, typically topped with purple yam, and ice cream. It is served in a tall or wide-brimmed bowl. Yum!</span></b></span></div>
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<b><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0VehEmNVT6w/W0BBzulFhyI/AAAAAAAACMw/8Jxeec3aS60FS9jAhTiFNr3vRFz1JE5WgCLcBGAs/s1600/halo-halo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="528" height="233" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0VehEmNVT6w/W0BBzulFhyI/AAAAAAAACMw/8Jxeec3aS60FS9jAhTiFNr3vRFz1JE5WgCLcBGAs/s400/halo-halo.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
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So which of these words would you use first? </div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-55547001273129575592018-01-02T14:49:00.001+05:302018-01-02T14:53:13.969+05:30Backpack Out of Old Jeans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My husband has quite a number of old jeans that are not good enough </div>
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to give away to people who can wear them but still good enough to be something else. </div>
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So, I disassembled three of his jeans pants and made two bags,</div>
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a big hand/shoulder bag and a not too small back pack. </div>
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Here, I am going to share the backpack.</div>
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Inspired from this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz9RtZMyCLs" target="_blank">Youtube tutorial</a>, I made one my own -sewed and modified. </div>
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No stick glue needed. </div>
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I don't trust glue in keeping the back safe to carry around. </div>
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Thinking about it brings me to a scene of falling stuff in the middle of the jungle, </div>
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water bottle bent or worse, emptied or house keys missing. Lol! </div>
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<br /></div>
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Instead of straight, I made the top edge tapered and the bottom area semi-cercilar. And I did some blunders, which I am going to enumerate, along with some tips so you don't fall for the same mistakes, at the bottom part of this article.</div>
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Here are some pictures.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmoyhZNavw0/Wks7hxkpoVI/AAAAAAAACDY/60WmfrTlWbIot0XoNDFVU5Lq3sc2uvnngCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="1150" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MmoyhZNavw0/Wks7hxkpoVI/AAAAAAAACDY/60WmfrTlWbIot0XoNDFVU5Lq3sc2uvnngCLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0078.JPG" width="472" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front part of the bag. The string is my old shoe lace. The blue lining and the pocket are from my husband's short pants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gDvuDmEu6Bk/Wks80H7REuI/AAAAAAAACDk/wWDehyeyb0sc6m12_o7CMPa2TedMyMRLgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1137" data-original-width="1379" height="526" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gDvuDmEu6Bk/Wks80H7REuI/AAAAAAAACDk/wWDehyeyb0sc6m12_o7CMPa2TedMyMRLgCLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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To make this bag, you need the following:</div>
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<ul>
<li>2 pieces of jeans cloth of your own measurement/size (this one is 11 by 12.5)</li>
<li>a long 4 inches wide and 32 inches length cloth that would serve as the middle section of the bag</li>
<li>2 pieces of 1.5 inch bias cloth for side piping</li>
<li>1 piece 2.5 inches bias cloth for top edge piping</li>
<li>1 piece shoe lace</li>
<li>colorful threads</li>
<li>1 button (I used the button from one of the jeans pants)</li>
<li>2 pieces of 3 x 25 fabric for handle</li>
<li>1 7x8 fabric for cap and a bias cloth</li>
<li>one 5 inches piece of bias cloth for hanging (the one right in the middle of the two handles) </li>
<li>a rectangular piece of cloth for inside pocket</li>
<li>sewing machine</li>
<li>sewing needle</li>
<li>scissors</li>
<li>tape measure</li>
<li>pen or marker</li>
<li>ruler </li>
<li>needle pins (optional)</li>
</ul>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6xlCgmDOI4c/Wks9KhXw3vI/AAAAAAAACDo/y8T6XmEbfk0GXznhoLCXJoguNLudNeb4wCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1192" height="558" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6xlCgmDOI4c/Wks9KhXw3vI/AAAAAAAACDo/y8T6XmEbfk0GXznhoLCXJoguNLudNeb4wCLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0094.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~The black lining of the handle is the string of the short pants which I just added on one side of each handle to make it wider~</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AI9EnCmPNRQ/WktCcDLSWOI/AAAAAAAACD4/R--ScKM_YpMSfnA1p9n4cLC8bc-lYYXtACLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1287" height="584" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AI9EnCmPNRQ/WktCcDLSWOI/AAAAAAAACD4/R--ScKM_YpMSfnA1p9n4cLC8bc-lYYXtACLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0092.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside are tablet phone, kindle, and mobile phone. This bag can also hold a 1-liter water bottle.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8AeXwraCTc/WktDe-36tEI/AAAAAAAACEE/Ai64JnlhT9kClA1VZLROzAGQv8cUFJzqgCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1600" height="336" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F8AeXwraCTc/WktDe-36tEI/AAAAAAAACEE/Ai64JnlhT9kClA1VZLROzAGQv8cUFJzqgCLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0087.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The holes for the string. Each hole is hand-stitched with different colors of sewing threads.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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In the video, only two holes are suggested for each side. I suggest that you do the same (remember the blunder I mentioned earlier).</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_59dFO9goA/WktFieMQuQI/AAAAAAAACEU/JYTKKhQWNFc7qrpFzjWAVyczM7ZlRmPXACLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="1575" height="336" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g_59dFO9goA/WktFieMQuQI/AAAAAAAACEU/JYTKKhQWNFc7qrpFzjWAVyczM7ZlRmPXACLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0088.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~string holes at the side~</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNrSEOTww2k/WktE09oL42I/AAAAAAAACEQ/CXoJ1DKNVcQY3NfeZOdXW3i35ICwZMx5ACLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1523" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VNrSEOTww2k/WktE09oL42I/AAAAAAAACEQ/CXoJ1DKNVcQY3NfeZOdXW3i35ICwZMx5ACLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0096.JPG" width="608" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~I let the chair wore the bag for the time being.~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Tips in making this project:</div>
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<li> Decide which part of the bag is the back side so you can sew the inside pocket there. The inside pocket should be folded twice at the opening so that no broken threads would be visible. The three sides should be folded once while sewing it to the middle of the 11x12.5 fabric.</li>
<li>Since I used a ready-made pocket for the out part of the bag, I just sew it in the middle of the front part of the bag.</li>
<li>With right side attach one 11x12.5 fabric to one edge of the 4x32 fabric using needle pins and sew. Remove each pin as you sew along. When you reach the curve side, make 3 to 4 small slits half an inch apart so as you continue sewing, the fabric also comes along.</li>
<li>Do the same on the other side of 4x32 with the other 11x12.5 fabric.</li>
<li>Sew in the bias cloths at the edges (see the blue edge lining of the bag). While doing so, remember to attach one end of each handle at the back side of the bag so you don't need to remove the stitches on that part later on, which what happened to me.</li>
<li>Make the necessary string holes and stitch around it using <a href="https://takelessons.com/blog/learn-basic-sewing-stitches-z13" target="_blank">blanket stitch or buttonhole stitch</a>.</li>
<li>Attach the other ends of the handles in between two string holes on the back side of the bag. On top of it, sew in the cap with the right side upside down. Watch the video for clarity.</li>
<li>Put the shoe lace and your bag is ready. </li>
<li>I added a button right above the outside pocket and added a hook for it that is sewn at the center edge of the cap. You can make a buttonhole there instead of a fabric hook.</li>
</ul>
If you decide to make this bag and have a question, do let me know and I'll answer your query as soon as possible.<br />
<br />
The bigger bag that I mentioned will be posted soon -once I finished adding a zipper to it. :-)<br />
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-79605630723313552932017-12-22T14:36:00.002+05:302021-03-31T12:25:57.028+05:30With God, All is Possible!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Religious apologists would claim so!<br />
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Yesterday, I posted this -<br />
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"There had been an accident. One dead, three heavily injured, one lost a leg. </div>
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These guys were rushed to the nearest hospital. </div>
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While doctors were doing the best they can to save the victims' lives, </div>
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their friends and family prayed for their safety."</div>
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If you were God, what would you do?<br />
Would you listen to the families pleas and prayers and answer them </div>
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or would you prevent the accident from happening altogether?</div>
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You see, if I were God, I wouldn't let any harm come to my children,<br />
therefore, I'd prevent the accident from happening!<br />
And I know you would do the same.<br />
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Now apply the scenario to a ship sinking, a fire, a plane crash,<br />a murder, a shooting, etc. The answer is all the same.<br />
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And that, my friends, is the difference<br />
between your God and me </div><div class="text_exposed_show" style="text-align: center;">or anyone who chooses<br />
to prevent bad things from happening.<br />
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Less than three minutes later, my niece shared a link to an article titled, "why so much suffering" in the comment section. It was a link to Jehovah's Witnesses website. <a href="https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1102015151?q=why+people+suffer&p=par" target="_blank">This is the link</a> if you're interested. </div>
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We exchanged arguments, questions, and answers (although much of my rebuttal were ignored).</div>
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She shared the link for me to read since, according to her, I have a lot of unanswered questions. Well, I do. But just because these questions don't have answers...yet, I'd leave them to god. No way! And that is because the universe is filled with mysteries and we don't have enough knowledge to unravel them. Even then, it is perfectly fine to live in doubts and accept that many things are unanswered. That even makes our life more exciting. </div>
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She encouraged me to go through that article, which I did. I read lines after lines with verses quoted from the Bible. There are many flaws in that article if one really tries to understand it, but I didn't enumerate them all to her. Instead, I took two claims and added my own interpretation. But before I go further to discuss that, I'd like to mention three (there are more) claims presented in the article:</div>
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1. Jehovah, God, never causes bad things to happen, for it is unthinkable for the true God to act wickedly, for the Almighty to do wrong!</div>
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2. The ruler of the world is Satan the Devil. (That is why there is so much suffering in the world.)</div>
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3. With God, all is possible. </div>
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So, let's dig this deeper. </div>
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~If there is a benevolent God, the number one must be true. (Yes, it would be fantastic if everyone on earth is happy and face no problems, including global warming. Yay!)</div>
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~But wait, famine, riots, war, hunger, diseases, conflicts, murder, shootings, atrocities with each other, etc. are all over the world! Ah, Satan the Devil is behind all these. (Well, it's actually great to have someone else to blame for all the mess in the world created and governed by the Almighty that doesn't do wrong! Perfection!)</div>
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~Oh, geez! All is possible with God! If so, then it means that Satan the Devil can be destroyed, immediately! Once Satan the Devil is defeated, all suffering in the world will disappear, will dissipate into thin air. With God, all is possible so those people who are victims of being in the wrong place at the wrong time can never be in the wrong place at the wrong time anymore. </div>
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"Do it, God! Do it!" plead these starving innocent children.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2xseYvD5w50/WjzG7r3iUnI/AAAAAAAACDI/FNqLg-H_PeMqcl4--aTgcVUS_ma7wZeeACLcBGAs/s1600/African%2Bkids.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="425" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2xseYvD5w50/WjzG7r3iUnI/AAAAAAAACDI/FNqLg-H_PeMqcl4--aTgcVUS_ma7wZeeACLcBGAs/s640/African%2Bkids.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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"I will, my children! I will. Be assured that I know when all of Satan’s challenges will have been fully answered.So be patient 'cause I am patient. For now, I am giving you time to come to know me and choose me as your Ruler. While you do that, I'll let you starve!" answered God (Jehovah).</div>
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"Don't bother about that promise, children," I butted in. "God is some egomaniacal, capricious piece of sh...., err, human imagination that has extremely low self-esteem. Why else would he want his children to please him and creates a tantrum if he isn't pleased and let you starve instead of smashing that head of Satan's so you'll never starve and suffer again? So, go home! Tell your parents to wear contraception and demand from over-eating, obese, mansion-owning dregs of humanity to spare you some food for your bellies! Don't depend on God. He's got a huge ego to please!"</div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-15517443268249845672017-11-27T15:39:00.000+05:302018-04-04T20:38:50.332+05:30Persimmons or Amarphal or Ramphal: Hachiya and Fuyu Variety<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Five days ago, my husband had some business to attend to in Dehradun. Going to bigger cities is something that we don't do often. In fact, we would be glad if transactions can be done online or through someone. We just loathe the pollution -the traffic, the crowd, the garbage, the horrible plight of non-human animals and the apathetic and cruel treatment of human beings to these poor earthlings!</div>
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So, to make the trip worthwhile, my husband and I would buy the fruits, groceries, vegetables, nuts and seeds that aren't available in the place we live.</div>
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This time, he took two varieties of persimmons -Hachiya and Fuyu, and other fruits like Thailand guava (huge and bland but tasty and crunchy), chicos, custard apple, canary melons, red grapes, Midknight oranges, etc.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ0ePvL8o1Y/WhvYZUy8yaI/AAAAAAAACCc/tN4956cJvKYfPWsBDoG2lKtrg55tONwcwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN2820.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="401" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PZ0ePvL8o1Y/WhvYZUy8yaI/AAAAAAAACCc/tN4956cJvKYfPWsBDoG2lKtrg55tONwcwCLcBGAs/s640/DSCN2820.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
The above picture is a variety of <b>Hachiya</b>. From medium size to large size, the fruit is a delight. Hachiya variety looks round but pointed and they are <b>astringent or sappy</b>, which means, they cannot be eaten when hard and firm. They have to ripen from top to bottom. They must be very soft, only then, sappiness goes, and they're enjoyable to eat.</div>
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A few of the vendors selling this variety shared their stories involving Hachiya. This variety is NOT popular among customers! At first, we were puzzled. Such beautiful and tasty fruit and people don't like it? There must be a reason.</div>
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There is only one explanation. And I'll go through that below. In the meantime, here's Fuyu variety.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e4osCcZwTHI/WhveqNv7kAI/AAAAAAAACC4/GrDUXPy6djg4ex2pc4Nv9UnZnwv4qakxACLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0038.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1103" data-original-width="1600" height="440" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e4osCcZwTHI/WhveqNv7kAI/AAAAAAAACC4/GrDUXPy6djg4ex2pc4Nv9UnZnwv4qakxACLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0038.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>Fuyu</b> variety is the <b>non-astringent variety</b>. They are quite small, round but flat. These are the characteristics of the non-astringent persimmons -round and flat.</div>
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Until three days ago, we've been eating this variety the wrong way, or shall I say, eating it one way -the soft and ripe way!</div>
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My husband's experience in buying this variety this time gave some light as to <b> </b><br />
<b>when to eat Fuyu best</b>, and that is, <b>when they are hard and firm</b>.<br />
This goes back to the vendors' stories. People like this variety because they can be eaten immediately making it popular.<br />
Customers only buy Fuyu!<br />
And that is because, these fruits are displayed and sold hard and firm, never soft and ripe, and that is the first experience most customers have.<br />
So, the moment they buy Hachiya and eat the same way they eat Fuyu,<br />
the experience would be horrible<br />
because Hachiya variety is astringent.<br />
Nobody really likes a sappy tongue, right?</div>
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Also, not many have the curiosity to ask why and find out how to properly eat Hachiya persimmons! So, the next time they see the fruit, they'll pass by it remembering their<br />
disgusting first experience.</div>
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The thing is, not many know how to eat it.<br />
Even the sellers themselves!</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
So, now you know!<br />
The next time you come across these fruits, buy them in loads, for they really taste good!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just a few tips. We <b>keep them in the fridge</b>, wash them thoroughly, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and e<b>at them with their skin on</b>. </div>
The skin of Fuyu is a little bit coarse and tends to separate from the pulp onceit is soft and ripe. When hard and firm, it is crunchy and sweet (an iinformation we<div style="text-align: center;">
just paid attention to even though we've read the same info two years ago).</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--UMFk_o8elQ/WhvZr2CEklI/AAAAAAAACCo/1tAIE4cJHxI7QCC-w710fLXIh-hpIiKBwCLcBGAs/s1600/DSCN0025.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="1600" height="346" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--UMFk_o8elQ/WhvZr2CEklI/AAAAAAAACCo/1tAIE4cJHxI7QCC-w710fLXIh-hpIiKBwCLcBGAs/s640/DSCN0025.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~two platters of fruit goodies: Midknight oranges, chico, local orange, guava, Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Hindi people call persimmons Amarphal or immortal fruit OR Ramphal or fruit for the Gods.</li>
<li>In the Philippines, Filipinos call the fruit Mabolo. For 27 years in the Philippines, I'd never seen the fruit. I just heard it. Though I wondered how does Mabolo fruit look like. My imagination pictures a round and black fruit. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-73576500425919878962017-08-16T15:34:00.001+05:302017-08-16T18:29:57.908+05:30The Buddha<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F43paIjGBtA/WZQWzcDg09I/AAAAAAAACB8/mF5ymJ_fEC0Pjr4ODIvn45XKnE-_RK6vgCLcBGAs/s1600/buddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="692" height="350" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F43paIjGBtA/WZQWzcDg09I/AAAAAAAACB8/mF5ymJ_fEC0Pjr4ODIvn45XKnE-_RK6vgCLcBGAs/s400/buddha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-3610874228104773402017-08-15T22:09:00.003+05:302017-08-16T18:29:40.890+05:30Stephen Grellet, Quaker Missionary<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PGsmgZ6jgX0/WZMgy2UTy_I/AAAAAAAACBs/MwCdNbrCeyofmSci0MtPXBE-mbQ-FrwQgCLcBGAs/s1600/stephen%2Bgrellet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="508" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PGsmgZ6jgX0/WZMgy2UTy_I/AAAAAAAACBs/MwCdNbrCeyofmSci0MtPXBE-mbQ-FrwQgCLcBGAs/s400/stephen%2Bgrellet.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Though there are variants of this quote, I prefer the use of "fellow creature" because it embodies all creatures on earth, which makes sense since the author was a member of <span class="_Tgc">the Religious Society of Friends (also known as <b>Quakers</b>)</span> that practices vegetarianism and veganism <span class="_Tgc">as a reflection of the Peace Testimony, extending non-violence towards animals. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="_Tgc">We don't need to be a Quaker or a Christian or a Muslim or a Jain or a Hindu or a Buddhist to be good and kind to our fellow human beings and to all the non-human animals we share this planet with. After all, we are all Earthlings, citizens of the planet Earth!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="_Tgc">Be vegan.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="_Tgc">Non-human animals value their lives as much as we value hours.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="_Tgc">Let peace reigns in our hearts and it begins on our plates. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="_Tgc"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-86065573759318630772017-07-24T21:56:00.002+05:302017-07-24T21:56:26.343+05:30I Am a Vegan Anarchist<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I am a vegan anarchist
because meat consumption is just one of the symptoms </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
of a larger evil that
pervades our society, which is capitalism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The disease of
capitalism erodes compassion and makes humans see, not only other creatures, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
but also other humans, as commodities which only have value for the profit that
they may fetch </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
in the market, regardless of all other considerations. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
A
capitalist mind-set, not only prioritizes profit, but also terminates </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
everything else that it sees as not marketable. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Since values are arbitrarily
set by the market, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
in a capitalist system, a large proportion of the planet’s
beings, both living and non-living, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
are arbitrarily discarded, as the market
sees no value in their existence. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And the ones that are seen as valuable are
most often seen as valuable only for their final value of profit, thereby
leading to horrific holocaust-like conditions for all their existence </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
until
their ruthless extermination in the name of generating profit. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
I am a vegan anarchist
because when an animal or human being or a tree is tagged </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
to have this value or
that much value, it becomes a one-sided world - a world that is run </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
by people
whose personal interest is always put at the top, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
regardless of who suffers or
dies. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
A road worker works hard so the rest of the world could have a pleasant
journey </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
or so goods could reach their final destination without getting rotten
but is paid meagerly. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Why? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Does his life and work least important among other
kinds of work? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Definitely not! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
The same goes to the life of a pig or any other
animal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Does a pig’s 6-month life worth 10000 rupees? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
No! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
But the capitalist
mind would say so! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Only a vegan anarchist recognizes that all earthlings have
inherent value of their own, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
that the pig’s life is invaluable - a value that
can be determined by nobody. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
It can neither be sold nor bought. It cannot be
traded for anything else. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
And as long as people put a monetary tag to anything, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
whether it’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>natural resource or human
and non-human living being, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
exploitation, in any form, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
will never cease to
exist.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Capitalist systems breed
exploitation over cooperation, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
perpetuate control over empathy, </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
and drive
cruelty, death and destruction over love, life, and protection. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Hence, I am a
vegan anarchist because anarchism is the necessary solution </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
for transforming
the world into veganism. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-80875855552758709762017-07-12T21:15:00.000+05:302018-04-04T20:39:46.229+05:30Potato-Tomato Dish: Simple & Quick No Oil Recipe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
If I were to get rid of one thing that I do every day that is cooking. Fortunately, I only cook once almost all the time except in some rare cases when we have great stuff like mushrooms (it's a rarity around here) or when my husband and I feel like eating extra. When it happens it's always light. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Like this recipe.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And this recipe is for two people. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0SXwiFB9FYc/WWZApwbTOaI/AAAAAAAACA8/jAv65MEctTQTTrRIqRNcO49KYi4lsfFpwCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture%2B099.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1543" height="450" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0SXwiFB9FYc/WWZApwbTOaI/AAAAAAAACA8/jAv65MEctTQTTrRIqRNcO49KYi4lsfFpwCLcBGAs/s640/Picture%2B099.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~my share~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What are needed?</div>
<ul>
<li>2-3 medium size potatoes (washed thoroughly, never peeled and thinly sliced)</li>
<li>5-6 ripe tomatoes, preferably round variety because they're juicy (chopped)</li>
<li>salt to taste (I used a pinch since we're used to it already)</li>
<li>red chili powder, according to your preference (I used half a tsp.)</li>
<li>lemon juice, optional (I use it when it's too spicy for us)</li>
<li>1-2 tbsp. poppy seeds, optional (I generally add them because we have them and they induce sleep</li>
<li>half to 1 a glass of water</li>
</ul>
What to do?<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>In a deep pan, add chopped tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes</li>
<li>Add salt and potatoes. Mix and cover on a low flame.</li>
<li>After a few minutes, add red chili powder and poppy seeds. Mix again.</li>
<li>Add little water at a time.</li>
<li>Cook until the tomatoes get smashed and the potatoes get cooked.</li>
<li>Check the taste.</li>
<li>Let it cool a little bit and serve.</li>
<li>Add lemon juice just before it is served. (Heat destroys vitamin C in lemon juice, but for the purpose of enhancing taste, lemon juice ca be added when the dish is still hot.)</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpOkI8sb464/WWZAu2MBc7I/AAAAAAAACBA/tgbAGdMmWgIafrlRZhc56uql26XtcQirACEwYBhgL/s1600/Picture%2B090.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1516" height="450" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lpOkI8sb464/WWZAu2MBc7I/AAAAAAAACBA/tgbAGdMmWgIafrlRZhc56uql26XtcQirACEwYBhgL/s640/Picture%2B090.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~this time, this dish was eaten alone~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Serve alone or with roti!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1UrAewsLIGg/WWyFC3yA4RI/AAAAAAAACBQ/TE15rQwbPFMsfdNbW0G_9qaxbznB763RgCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture%2B008.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1UrAewsLIGg/WWyFC3yA4RI/AAAAAAAACBQ/TE15rQwbPFMsfdNbW0G_9qaxbznB763RgCLcBGAs/s640/Picture%2B008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~This one is with black and white sesame seeds. What a great way to eat sesame seeds!~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>When I make it for lunch, we usually have this with roti and our roti is not the usual roti. It's made of whole wheat flour which is grounded in a bigger grain, meaning, it's not refined at all and it's full of bran (fiber) then with it are mixed grounded flax, melon seeds, and watermelon seeds (readily prepared with vitamin B12 so we won't be ingesting B12 in one go), sesame seeds and zero salt. </li>
<li>Most of the times we eat this dish with one small roti each. Sometimes, half each of one big roti.</li>
<li>Our cooked food, especially with rice or roti or chapati, vegetables always weigh more than the roti. For example, for 1 roti we will have it with a big bowl of vegetable dish.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This recipe can certainly be modified. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Do let me know in the comment section below. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Use the section of what do you think of this recipe, too!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enjoy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-45569277311802165482017-07-04T17:32:00.001+05:302018-04-04T20:32:29.629+05:30Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Ltd. (THDC Koteshwar Hydro Power Project)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Koteshwar dam is on the Bhagirathi River located downstream of the <a href="https://thegirlandhercamera.blogspot.in/" target="_blank">Tehri Dam </a>in Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. KHEP dam is an important part of the Tehri Hydropower Complex that serves to regulate the Tehri Dam's tailrace for irrigation purposes and water load balancing. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FggfxBtbasg/WVttUYaTEwI/AAAAAAAACAA/nJZlkmUnTvk58GGkGl0o_fRsiotuy7dKgCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture%2B254.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1600" height="470" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FggfxBtbasg/WVttUYaTEwI/AAAAAAAACAA/nJZlkmUnTvk58GGkGl0o_fRsiotuy7dKgCLcBGAs/s640/Picture%2B254.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KHEP dam as seen from Pokhari - Koteshwar road. The photo was taken in November 2016.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are two roads to reach Koteshwar from Rishikesh. First is through Narendra Nagar -Chamba - Gaja -Pokhari -Koteshwar road. From Chamba, one can go to New Tehri directly. Second is through Devprayag - New Tehri road. Koteshwar from Devprayag is around 40-45 kilometers and deviates at Chaka village. Along the way, you have to ask the road to Chaka because there is another road that goes to New Tehri bypassing Koteshwar road. It's easy to reach Koteshwar once you reach Chaka. Everyone knows Koteshwar dam.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-SCv7dqx80/WVttZyGdt9I/AAAAAAAACAE/z1tv-6BeCNEvJ-JvQXLAI6mPofrrwDzbwCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture%2B255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1600" height="470" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j-SCv7dqx80/WVttZyGdt9I/AAAAAAAACAE/z1tv-6BeCNEvJ-JvQXLAI6mPofrrwDzbwCLcBGAs/s640/Picture%2B255.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up-close</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJIw3ua_WUA/WVt12yCZfaI/AAAAAAAACAQ/5S6oZcZVhxoCGZSiqXBxBUdFYM9EqjmCACLcBGAs/s1600/Picture%2B049.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1567" height="430" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJIw3ua_WUA/WVt12yCZfaI/AAAAAAAACAQ/5S6oZcZVhxoCGZSiqXBxBUdFYM9EqjmCACLcBGAs/s640/Picture%2B049.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The upper houses of KHEP colony. The right line of houses is CISF line where CISF constables and next ranking personnel along with a few of THDC staffs are housed. Below this line is a two building, eight flats for higher officers of THDC. Most employees here come from B.Puram. They don't stay here in the colony.<br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFo2x8aCXBU/WVt_I7cBPMI/AAAAAAAACAg/OOuH6XruNNQql5Io3285amIuyLsL8TU5gCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture%2B077.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1600" height="460" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tFo2x8aCXBU/WVt_I7cBPMI/AAAAAAAACAg/OOuH6XruNNQql5Io3285amIuyLsL8TU5gCLcBGAs/s640/Picture%2B077.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KHEP township taken a little out of the temple. Just below the BSNL mobile tower is KHEP's dispensary where, as of this time, two doctors (one CMO and one ACMO) are managing the dispensary along with three nurses, pharmacist, lab technician, assistant lab technician, and other hospital staff.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bA1-x9rXhp0/WVuDJbbWaBI/AAAAAAAACAo/HewgCt8Z-PciPYHxRY3J5mMMgJPRI78JgCLcBGAs/s1600/Picture%2B109.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1600" height="460" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bA1-x9rXhp0/WVuDJbbWaBI/AAAAAAAACAo/HewgCt8Z-PciPYHxRY3J5mMMgJPRI78JgCLcBGAs/s640/Picture%2B109.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
The entrance to KHEP from Bhagirathipuram. There's a checkpoint ahead. Just state your business, whether visiting or just passing, and you're good to go.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
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P.S. Keep visiting my blog for more pictures.<br />
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-48417612225061469052017-06-27T22:17:00.000+05:302018-04-04T20:33:47.737+05:30Tehri Dam, Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tehri Dam taken somewhere in August from one of the viewpoints along Tehri Dam - Bagirathipuram road.</td></tr>
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The road that goes in the middle of two green parallel lines is a national highway New Tehri and Bagirathipuram to the neighboring towns like Rishikesh via Chamba, Koteshwar through the left road, and Srinagar Garhwal through the upper road.</div>
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We once traveled this road from Rishikesh via Narendra Nagar - Chamba road to Gauchar in Chamoli District.</div>
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As you can see the water is aqua-marine during the months of August through June, but the level of water falls down in winter.</div>
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Tehri Dam Hydro Power Plant is located below Bagirathipuram (B. Puram) where the main office of THDC is located and where its employees and staffs including CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) personnel and their families are housed. There is a reasonable market at Bagirathipuram. Fruits and Vegetable stores, grocery shops, pharmacy, sweets shops, clothing, and textiles, etc.</div>
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Government offices include India Post, State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMIqZTyYjjI/WVKDGV4pLeI/AAAAAAAAB_w/tD8w_6lSwXADw-yYFz5318tXE5X_Jlf7QCEwYBhgL/s1600/Picture%2B125.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1600" height="456" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMIqZTyYjjI/WVKDGV4pLeI/AAAAAAAAB_w/tD8w_6lSwXADw-yYFz5318tXE5X_Jlf7QCEwYBhgL/s640/Picture%2B125.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It is known that when the dam was built an entire town including the villages in its lower vicinity was submerged and residents were relocated and the new town, New Tehri was born. New Tehri is around 15 kilometers from Bagirathipuram.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The backside of Tehri Dam. The excess water flows down and gets dam in Koteshwar which is around 25 kilometers from here.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This is the view of the dam if you are coming from Koteshwar, particularly if you use the left road from the zero point bridge which leads to the township of Bagirathipuram (the view on the top left). The right road from zero point bypasses B. Puram if you are heading towards Srinagar Garhwal but will still have a good view of the dam.</div>
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Like many dam areas, the surrounding hills are damaged and the water is lifeless.</div>
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One serious thing that can be done here is a massive reforestation in and around the areas where fruit-bearing trees are planted along with other non-fruit bearing trees for diversity.</div>
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The place is cold, but not that cold, in winter and quite hot and humid in summer. Since the roads are not yet fully completed, some landslides occur during rainy days which sometimes cause roadblocks.</div>
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There is a road from Bagirathipuram to Koteshwar. Many of the employees and staffs in Koteshwar come from B. Puram and commute every day to work on THDC buses. There are private jeeps as well for public transport but not frequent. </div>
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For more information about the dam, visit <a href="http://thdc.gov.in/Projects/english/Scripts/Prj_Introduction.aspx?vid=132" target="_blank">THDC website</a>.</div>
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Koteshwar Dam soon...keep visiting for updates and new posts!</div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-88885091109338257562016-11-30T17:43:00.004+05:302018-04-04T20:40:52.817+05:30Persimmon: The Fruit That Nobody Wants?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">These were the persimmons my husband went and purchased from a village near Pauri town. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In 2015, when we were still in Khirsu (about 20 km. from Pauri town), we were able to purchase persimmons from a local fruit shop, Himalaya Fruits at Agency Chowk. Of all the fruit shops in town, only this guy had persimmons. So upon buying, talks came up as to how we knew the fruit to asking where did he (the shopkeeper) get the fruit. Locally, he replied. From nearby Pauri. He did mention the name of the place but we forgot it.</span><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gizs5tOYVLQ/WD6XaMBy3AI/AAAAAAAAB9o/r73zNIy7sBYJpxjE73gIGHyGbrwnTx4KwCLcB/s1600/Picture%2B069.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gizs5tOYVLQ/WD6XaMBy3AI/AAAAAAAAB9o/r73zNIy7sBYJpxjE73gIGHyGbrwnTx4KwCLcB/s640/Picture%2B069.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyways, at that first time we were only able to take 7 kilos because the rest of them were not good...rotting <i>(sadly, not many knew the fruit and somehow people don't have the 'let me try this' kind of mentality and apparently, they seem to have an aversion towards eating fruits). </i>For Rs.50 per kilo, we took home 7 kilos, most of them were already ripe and ready to eat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Before we left, we took the shopkeeper's phone number and my husband did some arrangements with him. It was agreed that when the next batch comes, he would send us 20 kilos of properly selected persimmons. And so, after 25 days, I think, Suresh, our regular taxi guy, got us two boxes of persimmons from Pauri. Payment was made a week later when we went for marketing using Suresh taxi service.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One year later, in a new place called Koteshwar which is around 100 kilometers to Pauri via Chakka - Devprayag - Pauri road, the same problem occurred. Nobody around here even knew the fruit. So as usual, I carried its photograph to show to shopkeepers hoping one or two of them will be able to arrange for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the meantime, knowing it's already persimmons' time, my husband rang the Pauri fruit shop to check if persimmons were available. Confirming, he said. And they've been in his shop for a week already. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We were very excited!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And so, an order for 30 kilos was talked and he has to call us a day before it arrives in his shop so we can arrange for its transport. Transport means, we will be hiring a taxi to go and get persimmons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This time though, we asked for the name of the place where persimmons were available.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Two Saturdays ago, a call came from Himalaya Fruits. Persimmons were there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Right then, B arranged for a transport to go to Pauri.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And so, at 8:30 the following day, he went to get 30, or maybe 40 kilos of persimmons. I didn't go because nobody was there to take care of Perci and Meegnu. Six hours drive plus a few more for packing and others, so more or less we would be gone for 8-10 hours minimum. So B went alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But there was a detour. Around 5-7 kilometer before hitting the proper town of Pauri, the board '</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Satekhal', the place</span> that the Himalaya Fruits guy mentioned appeared on the road. So, they stopped and asked around. Luckily, one man was familiar with the fruit and knew someone who had the tree, but he wasn't sure if fruits were still there. He called the guy, nonetheless. It turned out, his was empty. But, this guy knew someone else who also had the trees. He rang him and, fortunately, his trees were still full of persimmon fruits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He then sent his son to accompany B and the driver. He even warned B to wait and let them do the harvesting because the village had no motorable road. But, no! B and the driver trekked for a kilometer uphill, saw the trees, climbed to pluck them, and took some pictures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They helped in packing, too!</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RH5I0g91Dpg/WD61gdBXn2I/AAAAAAAAB-I/udu72mruLZMjMTajtM0ZcAubcn3KPZZ0QCLcB/s1600/Picture%2B024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RH5I0g91Dpg/WD61gdBXn2I/AAAAAAAAB-I/udu72mruLZMjMTajtM0ZcAubcn3KPZZ0QCLcB/s640/Picture%2B024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the guys who owned a tree of persimmons shared his story about how no one wants persimmons. He said that a month back, he and another guy took about 100 kilos to a Mela in Dehradun. In the morning, they were selling persimmons, freshly harvested but unripe, for Rs. 20 per kilo. Many people inquired about it. When it was told that the fruit isn't ready to eat yet, that it has to be kept for a week or more to ripen since it has to be fully soft, people rejected the idea out rightly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">They waited. And so, towards the end of the Mela, about afternoon, they dropped the price to Rs.10/kilo. And guess what. NOBODY bought it still. I mean, it is a fact that somehow many people have an aversion towards fruits up to an extent of avoiding them because they cause diabetes when, if they really take a thought of it, fruits are hardly (to nil) part of their diet. But for a fruit that was sold for as cheap as Rs.10 per kilo, isn't it worth a try to buy one kilo to see how it is? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have people lost curiosity? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I didn't think so because when it comes to processed foods -junks like pizza, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">burger, chips, etc. these same people would not even have a second thought of stuffing those into their mouths.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, I guess, this unpopular culture of fruit-eating has to change. And I can see that it has already begun. Most people are not just aware.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway, they ended up taking 50 kilos of persimmons back home.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJnxiruX2wc/WD65wX6MiiI/AAAAAAAAB-U/xf1TpamduVQfz3PInF5Yxj9XG7Z-yz8RQCLcB/s1600/Picture%2B048.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lJnxiruX2wc/WD65wX6MiiI/AAAAAAAAB-U/xf1TpamduVQfz3PInF5Yxj9XG7Z-yz8RQCLcB/s640/Picture%2B048.jpg" width="476" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Persimmon trees yield less at first and then as it grows older the yield increases. The tree above is around 50 years and this variety of persimmons, small, tomato-like, not every fruit has seeds. In fact, seeds in fruits are rare. According to the man who tends this tree, from whom B took persimmons, the roots creep underground and a few meters away from the main tree a sapling grows to become another tree. And so on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So the picture below must be like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Back to my story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">B ended up taking 44 kilos from this farm and Kishan, the taxi driver, took 6 kilos for his family. Kishann, however, regretted he only took 6 kilos later on and suggested to come back a week or two to get more.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Because B told the Himalaya Fruits guy that he would come, before heading home they went to his shop at Pauri town. The guy was selling it for Rs.80 (the same fruit but not from the same guy whom B bought for Rs.15/kilo). B got it reduced to Rs.40/kilo and as a formality, he took 6 kilos more to make our persimmons from Pauri 50 kilos in total. He also took some other stuffs from the fruit guy like Californian grapes which was sold for Rs.600. B took a kilo and paid Rs.400/kilo for it. Some pears were also bought.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwohsOfhJwo/WD6-_dVlQ2I/AAAAAAAAB-s/k1SPR2nfReUp3nxL3pWOaCKSmB4Os1h6QCLcB/s1600/Picture%2B136.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pwohsOfhJwo/WD6-_dVlQ2I/AAAAAAAAB-s/k1SPR2nfReUp3nxL3pWOaCKSmB4Os1h6QCLcB/s640/Picture%2B136.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">~our typical breakfast along with homemade fruit juice (canary melon or watermelon or banana) and oat-nut mix (oats, dates, pistachios, almonds, cashews, munnakka, green raisins, hemp seeds, sesame seeds, chia seeds~</span></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is how the small variety of persimmons look like in half -seedless, juicy, and sweet. It has sweetness different from the <a href="http://thegirlandhercamera.blogspot.in/2014/09/persimmons-tomato-and-capsicum-look.html" target="_blank">Himachal variety</a> (capsicum-like, with seeds).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Persimmons are absolutely divine fruits. It's no wonder it's called Ramphal. It is, indeed, fruit for the gods!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Never miss persimmons every year. I know we won't as much as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Buy it hard, keep it at home. Wait. Check. Eat. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You'll never regret you bought it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-80171320121028103922016-11-28T22:07:00.002+05:302018-04-04T20:43:09.629+05:30The Abandoned Puppy: Perci's Tale<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The story:</div>
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My husband and I always try not to have fur-friends living with us considering </div>
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our situation. We move a lot. But somehow, we generally end up taking care of one, </div>
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two or more cats. After our last cat's disappearance, we strictly told each other not to take in animals anymore because we don't have a permanent home and </div>
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it would be devastating for the animals to be carried around wherever we go. </div>
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Just think about their stress of learning new neighborhoods and </div>
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all the details that are attached to it. </div>
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We don't want those for them.</div>
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In November 2015, however, in a new place called Khirsu, a puppy <i>(I can't figure out how old the puppy was)</i> was dropped at the hospital campus </div>
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<i>(Well, it's not actually a usual hospital with 24 hours service and admission. </i></div>
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<i>It's just an OPD entertaining patients beyond office hours as emergency cases. </i></div>
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<i>But it's quite a big campus since it has an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) center where students stay in their hostel, which is also located at the campus)</i>. </div>
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~Perci on her second day with us, sniffing around~</div>
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Anyway, who dropped the puppy was unknown. </div>
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Now, at the hospital campus were two mother dogs who just recently given 9 pups together. </div>
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These mums were actually living in someone's house. So when these pups were born,</div>
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the problem of taking care of them came up. When they became older, the 4 male pups were taken by various people. People around here prefer male dogs, even male child. </div>
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So, five female "unwanted" pups remained. </div>
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The owner, who didn't really care about dogs, sent her grandchildren to transfer the pups to the hospital campus. What prompt her to do this must be the fact that </div>
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the hospital has a kitchen for ANUM students and so kitchen equals food. </div>
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Her food problem would be solved if they'd stay here. </div>
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Then, she must have noticed our fondness for dogs <i>(well, not just dogs, but she surely didn't know that)</i>. That could have added to the factor of leaving the puppies at the campus.</div>
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So, two mums and 5 female pups were already at the campus </div>
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when the abandoned puppy was dropped. Knowing lactating dogs, </div>
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they don't want any intruder to compete with food with them. </div>
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They have to ensure that their pups survive!</div>
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What happened then when the mums saw this abandoned puppy?</div>
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According to those who have witnessed the incident, </div>
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one mum was at the tail while the other was at the neck. They were as if trying </div>
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to pull the puppy apart. Loud shrill shrouded the entire campus. Even I who was at home at that time heard that cry. Help came but the puppy was already bitten <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">under the neck. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">My husband, who was doing OPD, came out to check out what just had happened. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">And so the story was told. Talking about the incident were a few hospital and ANM center staffs. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Upon inquiry, nobody wanted to take the puppy in. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">One of the center's cook even had a plan of leaving the bitten puppy at the Khirsu market. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Realizing not one would want to care for this pup, my husband carried her home asking my opinion of what to do with the puppy. Knowing myself, I couldn't say no!</span></div>
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So we took her in. We cleaned her wounds. Her left ear was torn a little. </div>
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Our plan was to keep her well, let her grow a little older and we will find her another home <i>(a farm, if possible)</i> since we only planned to stay at this place for a year and move someplace else again.</div>
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We named her Perci. It's short for Persimmons because the day we took her in, 20 kilos of persimmons was delivered at home <i>(as ordered)</i> from Pauri.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2_xrVpyR5w/WDxRAjZK54I/AAAAAAAAB88/2q6ufFZctH0JEw4bI8Zv-lca1Fz9tBZ3QCLcB/s1600/Picture%2B059.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c2_xrVpyR5w/WDxRAjZK54I/AAAAAAAAB88/2q6ufFZctH0JEw4bI8Zv-lca1Fz9tBZ3QCLcB/s400/Picture%2B059.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~Abscess-forming cheek of Perci~</td></tr>
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Her bite at the neck developed into an abscess after three days. </div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">When it was ready to burst, my husband did an incision. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">There was too much </span>pus<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> Geez, I have never seen so much pus in my entire life! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Anyway, she seemed better after that surgery. But the incised area expanded. Instead of a small cut, it became</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> big...big enough to fit my two fingers inside. We thought of getting it stitched! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Then I remembered, </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Droolee</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">, our cat who had an abscess we didn't even know. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Her cut was bigger than this and we did nothing. We just let it healed on its own. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">After a few days, no one would even suspect that she had a cut in that area. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">So we decided to let nature take its course. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">True enough, a few days later <i>(I think more than a week because she kept scratching it)</i>, </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">the cut was healed on its own.</span></div>
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Weeks later she suffered from an infection, which one, we didn't know. </div>
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She didn't eat anything for 3 days. She only kept drinking water and slept....most of the time! </div>
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We force-fed her with a gruel made of ripe papaya, dates, flax seeds, banana, apple, and cashew nuts. She liked it.</div>
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The fourth day she was perfectly all right! The infection passed without <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">any "help" from antibiotics or any other medications. We trusted nature </span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><i>(as we often do)</i></span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"> more than these things, except of course if the situation is fatal and only modern medicine can help.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~Perci's Carpal flexural deformity~</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">Then she began limping. At least she looked like she was limping. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">At first, we thought her limp was a footpad infection, which is quite common among puppies,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;"> though we couldn't find any wrong in her foot or paws. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">So we thought the limp will heal on its own. But a week passed and she still limped. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">We didn't know what to do. Days passed without knowing what to do with her limp until the wrist got deformed. She walked as if she was scooping something. And then the right leg got expanded as if to level with the left leg. Instead of walking on paws, the wrist was also touching the ground. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">Nobody around knows anything about her situation, too. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">And as first-time carers of dogs, we didn't know much also. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">So we turned to Google. </span>Perci<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;"> was actually suffering from </span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">carpal flexural deformity</b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;"> -a deformity, which is common among giant breeds, caused by too much protein in the diet and too much spending walking on smooth surfaces. Before we noticed her limp, we were giving her an egg a week since she's too young to be separated from her </span>mum<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">. She certainly needed her </span>mum<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">'s milk. This and our floor surface must have contributed to her deformity.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">So we splinted her left leg -a homemade light wood, shaped like a splint. I wrapped it with cotton, taped it with surgical tape, and placed it on the back of her left leg and finally tied with a gauze. She tried to remove it many times. I also kept putting it back again. Then, the idea of taking her around the campus right after she's splinted worked. She forgot about it. At least for a while. So while at home, I kept an eye on her. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;">The splint was on her for just a day and a night. After that, her deformity got resolved....so quickly. It was amazing. We also stopped giving her egg.</span></div>
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With all the things happened we even forgot the idea of giving her away. My husband and I talked about it, though. And I ended up crying. The thought of giving her away was unbearable. "<i>She will never get papaya, apple, grapes, dates, tomatoes, cashew milk, etc. anymore." </i>I murmured.</div>
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So one day we decided to keep her. When she misbehaved <i>(from our own perspective, of course),</i> we thought of finding someone to take her in. Then again, we changed our mind. </div>
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When she kept waking us up at night because she wanted to go out to do number one or two </div>
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<i>(We made a blunder by not training her to do them in the bathroom -water problem is heavy here, not an excuse though)</i>, I get pissed off and I complained. </div>
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Then again, we thought of giving her away. </div>
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Every time we asked ourselves what to do when we leave this place always gave us the go signal to give her away. But then again, we changed our mind and we kept telling ourselves "we'll see".</div>
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To be continued.......</div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-85794217967995411832016-07-03T20:50:00.002+05:302018-08-06T21:02:57.878+05:30Khirsu: A Picturesque Hill Station in Pauri Garhwal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>~one of those few days when the towering snow-capped mountains are visible~</i><br />
<i>(This isn't the best Himalayan range one can capture during these days. The Horticulture is where a wide range of the Himalayas can be photographed. The Chaukamba will be mighty up there.)</i><br />
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Khirsu is a hill station located at around 1700 meters above sea level and about 19 kilometers from the capital district, Pauri. From Delhi, the routes to Khirsu are Delhi-Kordwar-Pauri or Delhi-Rishikesh-Pauri. The latter is longer.<br />
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Khirsu is a community development block headquarters in the hills where villagers practice terrace farming and animal agriculture (cows, sheep, and goats for milk and meat). The market, though small, has three to four vegetable shops, a few grocery shops, small tea stalls and hotels, stationery stores, computer service, among others. Because it is a block headquarter, all government offices which cater the need of the Khirsu block are located here including India Post office, State Bank of India (with ATM), BSNL (broadband is available), police station, <a href="http://thegirlandhercamera.blogspot.in/2015/08/khirsu-community-health-center-hospital.html" target="_blank">government hospital</a>, veterinary office, Forest Department and rest house, GMVN Hotel and Restaurant, Inter-College, etc.<br />
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Khirsu is known for the <u>Himalayan range view</u> in winter <i>(November to February ) </i> and the <u>Forest Department's Botanical Park</u> in winter and summer.<br />
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Because of the two features mentioned above, many tourists from nearby states of India come here to unwind and keep themselves from the hustle bustle of the cities even just for a few days. <i>(Well, some are so detached with nature that even at this serene place they play loud music without realizing that their stupidity disturbs the forest and the animals in it and the neighbors, the nearest happens to be a hospital which is supposed to be a silent zone?).</i></div>
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Summer seems to be the season when tourists flock in great number to this place to escape the heat and deadly pollution of industrial cities. They generally stay at GMVN where accommodation can be arranged by phone or in person. Inquiry reveals a whopping Rs. 1600 per room for a night stay in season and Rs. 200 less during offseason. </div>
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Quite costly huh? </div>
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Well, that's what tourism does (one of)!<br />
<i>(I'm not sure though if it's the same price this year).</i><br />
There are also cheaper accommodations available in and around Khirsu. The Hotel Taj Himalaya which is located along the national highway, a few meters from the entrance to Khirsu is one. Another one is Shri Badri Vishal guest house located just a few meters from The Hotel Taj Himalaya and just along the highway. I am not familiar with their charges, but they are cheaper than GMVN.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>~a home away from home, GMVN, Khirsu~</i></span></td></tr>
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People in the vicinity come on weekends with their families, too, to enjoy a day of tranquility and greenery of the Forest Department Park.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>~one side of the park~</i></span></td></tr>
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It's pleasant, quite big, and with open spaces and huts where one can lay their picnic baskets and simply savor the pleasant sight of the forested surroundings, the bees and other insects that are busy doing their day's work and the mellifluous songs that birds sing.</div>
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Or, one need not bring their own food supply. A few local hotels serve tea, pakoras <i>(gram-coated onions or potatoes)</i>, and chow mien <i>(noodle snack)</i> and other cold drinks.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e2f43EOI42A/Vac7M4Z-iNI/AAAAAAAABos/6hM17Slr7Pw/s1600/DSCN2884.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Where there are people, hotels are always in operation! It's always is.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>~another part of Khirsu Botanical Park where kids' playground is situated~</i></span></td></tr>
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<i>(It's upsetting and maddening to witness how a beautiful place is being turned into a dustbin where people leave and throw thoughtlessly litter: plastic bags, paper plates, bottles, cans, etc. Please, be always reminded that doing such -<b>not disposing of unusable things properly</b> -reflects who we are. Also, since we love and are happy to be in this kind of places, we have the responsibility to maintain its beauty, protect it, and keep it clean. Let us do our part!)</i><br />
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<i>~bloom time @ Khirsu Botanical Park~</i><br />
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So, let's move on!<br />
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<u><b>In and Around Khirsu</b></u></div>
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<span style="background-color: #ffd9de; text-align: center;"><b class="">Chaubatta</b></span></div>
The nearest, walkable market in Khirsu is Chaubatta. It is the stop point towards various villages. It has a bigger market so people generally get their goods and other items from here, if not from Srinagar or Pauri.<br />
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<b>Khirsu Horticulture</b></div>
The first place (longest trek) we visited a few days after we arrived (June) in Khirsu was the Horticulture, which is located in Raikal, around 3 km. from Khirsu, about an hour walk through the shortcut via Khirsu market with an 800 meters trek climb among Deodar, Oak, Rhododendron, Kafal, and among other trees and bushes.<br />
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The climb starts from the first bore well found along the road a few meters from this intersection. You have to take the road towards Khirsu-Khakra-Rudraprayag route.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>~The boards that tell you which way to go. Raikal is forward ahead.~</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(This is connecting road: one forward goes to Rudraprayag where Rahaikal road is, to the right goes to Khirsu and Pauri, then the back section goes to Srinagar)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span> <span style="font-size: small;">After around 20 minutes of climbing with a few stops for photographs, we reached the area and welcomed by the area-in-charge, Mr. Bisht. (This year -2016-, it is Mr. Premsingh). We told him we will take whatever fruits or vegetables he has. He then told us to roam around and pluck whichever fruit that is ready as much as we can eat. That, indeed, we did! I got to climb their trees, too, which I haven't done in a long time.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The feeling that you are eating fruits right from the tree was simply delightful. Plus you get to eat pesticide-free produce.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>~aadu or peach (maroon variety) which was not ready at that time~</i><br />
<i><br /></i> In 2015), we were not able to taste this peach. It seems like we were late and Balu or bears have also claimed our share. Anyway, it's good to know they got something to eat. So it doesn't matter if we didn't.<br />
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This year, 2016, they were diseased...must be the weather. Though there were a few which seem okay enough to eat, Balu, again, knocked down the trees before they are ready. So, yeah, guess we just need to wait for next year?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>~fresh, half-eaten apricot (bigger variety) which is so juicy~</i></td></tr>
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This variety was nothing like in the market, or at least, I haven't found this variety myself. Generally, what's available is the smaller variety. Earlier this year though they didn't yield much because of climate change. We were only able to take home about 3 kilos. And the department itself was not able to harvest for the local market.</div>
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<i>~The view of the community health center (CHC) Khirsu (tallest building) and </i><br />
<i>GMVN (white building, right) from </i><i>one of the house roof-tops at Khirsu market area~ </i><br />
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My husband worked at PHC Khirsu, now CHC, as a resident doctor and wherever he works comes the adventure of exploring the place and its neighbors, documenting everything our camera can capture from cycling, trekking, to hiring a taxi to take us to places far enough for our feet could bear, let alone the bird watching and naming, leopard spotting, and barking deer bark-tailing.<br />
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The next photo was taken after it rained the whole night:<br />
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<i>~view from the hospital~</i></div>
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The three-pointed snow-clad mountain is Gangotri range. The towns and villages which are normally visible from afar on brighter days are fully covered in fog. What's visible is the helipad hill. It's non-operational, never was, I guess. Only the H sign is still there.</div>
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<i>To be continued........</i></div>
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<i>Some more pictures to be uploaded once broadband is back. Right now, I am on a data card. Keep visiting!</i></div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-16261744706448842462015-10-30T19:05:00.000+05:302020-10-02T11:28:16.368+05:30Homemade Tomato Paste: Quick and Easy To Make Sauce/Dip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I have been wanting to make a tomato paste at home with spaghetti in mind</div>
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but never been able to do so for various reasons. </div>
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One, I don't have a regular use for it (referring to tomato paste). </div>
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Two, I am no longer fond of it (not the spaghetti per se, but the processed pasta).</div>
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Three, neither does my husband (doesn't like both at all).</div>
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But I saw a facebook post of <a href="http://hubpages.com/food/Vegan-Afritada-A-Tomato-Based-Recipe" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Vegan Afritada</span></a><span style="color: purple;">, </span>a dish made of potato, garbanzo beans, and bell pepper with TVP and seasoned with tomato paste, garlic, etc. That propelled the "trying things out" in me. And so finally, for the first time in my life, I made my own version of tomato paste.</div>
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It really turned out delicious. In fact, a much sumptuous than the regular tomato paste that I have tasted before.<br />
Even B (my husband) says, <i>"It's not bad at all"</i> and <i>"Yeah, quite good"</i>.<br />
And when asked if it can be made again.<br />
<i>"Yes"</i>, he said. And that is the cue because he generally says <i>"not bad at all, but cannot be made again and again"</i>. Yet this one, among a few, made it across his line of <i>"can be made again"</i>.<br />
(Just a tip, my husband will rather eat raw food than cooked ones. Unfortunately, there isn't enough variety of fruits and vegetables than can be eaten raw here in our area, so, we made a deal to manage what raw items we can get with 1 meal-cooking a day).<br />
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Plus!<br />
<i>(Referring now to the tomato paste)</i><br />
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It's homemade so it's preservative-free!</div>
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And you really know what's in it.</div>
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~<b>Picture 1</b>: </div>
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pureed tomato, black pepper powder, </div>
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garlic, palm sugar, olive oil~</div>
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So, here's the recipe. It's so simple, quick and easy to make<br />
that there's no need to make it bulk.<br />
<i>(Now I realized)</i><br />
Just make it whenever there is a need for it.<br />
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Ingredients:</div>
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<li>6 tomatoes, ripe and red</li>
<li>2-3 cloves garlic</li>
<li>1/2 tsp. black pepper powder</li>
<li>1 small cube palm sugar</li>
<li>1 tsp. olive oil</li>
<li>a pinch of salt</li>
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Instruction:</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Wash tomatoes properly. Make a cross slit at the bottom and boil to soften them. The tomatoes are ready once their skin starts to peel off. Keep them cool. </li>
<li>Once cooled, keep them in a blender and make a puree. You can do this in batches and make sure that everything is well-churned.</li>
<li>Once the puree is done, pour into a deep pan. Add a little water to the blender to remove the remaining traces of tomato puree.</li>
<li>Add crushed and minced garlic, palm sugar, black pepper powder, a pinch of salt and olive oil (see picture 1).</li>
<li>Bring to a boil. Simmer till it slowly becomes drier. You can cover and stir occasionally.</li>
<li>Once desired consistency is achieved, check the taste. Adjust if necessary. </li>
<li>Turn off the stove and let it cool. The tomato paste is ready!</li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>NOTES:</b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>~</b>Some people boil the tomatoes and then peel and discard the skin. I prefer to leave it on.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>~</b>I tried churning the tomatoes immediately once (meaning, I didn't boil them) and I couldn't make out any difference. The main reason I boil them is that our blender is not a heavy-duty one. So if your blender/mixer's performance is excellent, you might as well try this method.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>~</b>Others strain or sieve the puree and only the juice is used for the making of paste, but my version includes the pulp.<br />
<b>~</b>Instead of crushing and mincing the garlic, you can churn the cloves along with the tomatoes.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>~</b>I have not tried making much of it for later use because there is no need to do so. The next time that I will be using a tomato paste will be 15-20 days later, or even 1 month.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-5299694575230267112015-08-17T18:19:00.001+05:302018-04-04T20:45:23.293+05:30The Day of Compassion: An Essay For Social Psychology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">The Day of Compassion is an invitation to use social psychology for the greater good by living 24 hours as compassionately as possible and by reflecting on the experience. This was introduced by Professor Scott Plous of Wesleyan University as part of the Social Psychology class assignment at </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><a href="https://www.coursera.org/" target="_blank">Coursera</a>. Professor Plous also includes this activity in his regular Social Psychology class at the Wesleyan University.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Here's my essay on it, written in August 2013.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Nb0Sqa6uNs/VdHXI1s7B6I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/OgtiX-6Bp94/s1600/lend_a_helping_hand_md_wm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Nb0Sqa6uNs/VdHXI1s7B6I/AAAAAAAAB3Y/OgtiX-6Bp94/s400/lend_a_helping_hand_md_wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~lend a hand when needed~</td></tr>
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I see myself as a compassionate person and I saw it not only to my fellow human beings <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">but more to the non-human animal population and to the environment as well.</span></div>
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Compassion to me means two things. First, it is choosing to help in any way I can even though helping may cause interference in my life. If I see a man somewhere on the street who looks to be in pain I will cautiously approach him and ask if there is anything I can help him with and try to do something about this need even though I have to be someplace else. It sometimes even costs me money or time but it is nothing if it’s worth it. And second, it is choosing not to harm even though I may stand to gain from harming. I adopted a vegetarian diet to allow a sentient being lives its own life even though I could gain nutrients from eating its meat. Our fruit & vegetable peelings go back to land as fertilizer; bottles & cans are saved for recycling; plastics that are non-recyclable are burned because they get the same fate in dumping areas and, most of the times, are thrown into the river. I might as well ensure that they are disposed of well enough not to cause any injuries to others, especially to other animals that forage in such areas.</div>
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Compassion, therefore, is about choosing to live a life that helps more and harms the least possible. Sometimes it works well with participation, other times with non-participation.</div>
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Behaving compassionately is letting go of my inconsistencies, biases, and prejudices and try to make my attitudes relate <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;">to</span> my behaviors, to embrace a newer better self. When I saw a glitter of tears in an old woman’s eye while listening to her story, even though I didn't understand the whole of it, I knew it was happiness. When that reaction made me smile, too, I knew I did something right. The sight of animals grazing freely in the hills is an image that reminds me of peace. And I don’t want to take that away from them. I know because I wanted the same for myself –freedom and peace. The feeling that my actions are in harmony with nature feels so wonderful that I would want to experience it again. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">Consequently, to me, behaving compassionately is the reward itself and its benefits are priceless and certainly outweigh all costs. It must be true because I love the self that has come out of that realization.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YR0q7bzuqbc/VdHXcH8bZkI/AAAAAAAAB3g/bDr_U6ycQYg/s1600/pigncat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YR0q7bzuqbc/VdHXcH8bZkI/AAAAAAAAB3g/bDr_U6ycQYg/s400/pigncat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~loving one but eating another isn't compassion~</td></tr>
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Encouraging others to be compassionate is not easy but not impossible. Thus, if I were to encourage others I would use the same or similar techniques like the central and peripheral routes of persuasion. For example, showing a 5 or 10-minute video featuring flood or cloudburst victims getting helped by numerous people to school children, most of whom don’t have TV at home, can lead to a discussion on disaster preparedness, ways to extend help or even ways to avoid such occurrences. This in itself is compassion to avert suffering. Another is using salience. A colored print out of The Healthy Eating Plate<b><sup>1</sup></b> <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">was</span> posted in a conspicuous area of the hospital where my husband works to facilitate awareness about people’s diet and lifestyle choices. The idea was effective! Some people requested for copies, others talked about it, and a school teacher, who came for a consultation, asked for the source so she can print it herself and post it <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;">on</span> their school bulletin board. It is an indirect way of showing compassion but it could lead to behavioral change. If they act accordingly, it may benefit them, their family members, the non-human animal population and the environment as a whole. A foot-in-the-door technique is another. A request was made <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;">to</span> a neighbor to keep their empty bottles and cans separately to be collected later was also successful. This was one step up to making them agree <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;">for</span> a bigger request –making them segregate their biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes instead of throwing them all together near the river –a terrible sight around here.</div>
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<b>Empathy</b> & <b>Role playing</b> is another technique that was successfully used by my husband in one incident when we caught kids throwing stones to a family of monkeys (I understand Hindi a bit but can’t converse). He asked them,</div>
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<i>“Should I throw stones at you, too?”</i></div>
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<i>“No”</i>, they answered.</div>
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<i>“Why not?”</i></div>
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<i>“It hurts”</i>, they replied.<i></i></div>
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<i>“Then why are you throwing stones at them?”</i></div>
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They couldn’t answer.</div>
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And so, he went on to say, <i>“Mat <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">karo</span>! (Don’t do that!) If they try to attack you without reason, grab a rock or stone and show it to them like you are going to hit them but don’t hit them. They’ll get the message and leave you alone. <span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;">Theeki</span> (Okay)?”</i></div>
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<i></i>They nodded.</div>
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I really hoped they learned something that day.</div>
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One of the best ways to foster a more compassionate society is through education and social psychology is providing that. By conducting studies and researches in order to understand how people behave and how this behavior influence self and others, social psychology provides opportunities to evaluate our attitudes and behaviors, criticize our self-schemas, test our locus of control and know our selves better. This course itself is a means for sharing and exchanging knowledge, information and experiences among each other, to learn from each other. But these opportunities will continue just as opportunities unless we choose to be educated. We, too, have personal responsibilities to take.</div>
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Like taking the third side and acting like the hummingbird, behaving compassionately is an everyday gift that can be given in many ways to everything that surrounds us if we so choose it. Through education, anything is possible and is more likely once we accept that we are ALL connected. What we do, no matter how little, affects others directly or indirectly in a positive or negative way. We might as well affect others in a more positive way.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em; text-align: left;">As for me, I am going to be as compassionate as I can be to my fellowmen; to the animals that I call friends; and to my only home –Earth, not only today but every day of my life.</span> </div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Update:</b> When I wrote this essay, I wasn't vegan yet. But in another assignment, I promised to go vegan soon. And yes, a year later I become one. Everything is in its proper place now, and I am not only happier than ever before but I am also leaner and healthier physically and mentally.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;">Source:<br /><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">(</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">1</span><span style="line-height: 1.5em;">) http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-eating-plate/</span></span></h2>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-59854514998052547172015-08-11T20:50:00.001+05:302018-04-04T21:00:33.606+05:30Top 15 Vegan Dont's: Explained The Way I Understand Veganism<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is only one reason for going vegan -the animals. They, in any way, should not be deliberately harmed. Their freedom to live a fulfilling life should not be taken from them. The rest of the reasons people speak about: for health, for world hunger, for the planet, are just the expected results of veganism.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />This post talks about vegans and veganism the way I understand them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />
<b>1. Vegans don't consume meat, honey, eggs, milk, and dairy. </b>They see to it that they ask for the ingredients of a dish when they eat out in a non-vegan or vegetarian restaurants. As much as possible, though, they find and dine in vegan restaurants only. Also, they don't allow any non-vegan cooking in their kitchen nor any non-vegan foods to be served in their own house. </span><br />
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<b>2. Vegans don't buy packed or wrapped or canned foods without reading food labels.</b> Many food items in grocery stores contain animal products such as milk solids. They educate themselves about unfamiliar terms in product labels. Although many vegans are fond of <i>"veganized"</i> foods, many are also avoiding such stuff and trying to follow a lifestyle that is nearest to nature.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WwV0RzDxw48/VcoGXt4U25I/AAAAAAAAB2w/bzUA-diSgao/s1600/just-a-chipmunk-reading-a-nutrition-label.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WwV0RzDxw48/VcoGXt4U25I/AAAAAAAAB2w/bzUA-diSgao/s400/just-a-chipmunk-reading-a-nutrition-label.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">~even chipmunk reads label~</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">(image via iquitsugar.com)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>3. Vegans don't ride horses, elephants, buffaloes, mules, or horse-drawn carriages, etc. for whatever purpose.</b> Using their own two feet is better for health and best for the animals. Animals are not beings to carry human goods or belongings. Cement and bricks on a mule's back are just an example of human exploitation. Poor animals, they have no use of those things and yet they are burdened with such heavy loads. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Vegans treat animals as friends. And friends are not used.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sf79PbnlrBE/VcoEbZ_cmsI/AAAAAAAAB2k/wD8tQpc0CNU/s1600/mules.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sf79PbnlrBE/VcoEbZ_cmsI/AAAAAAAAB2k/wD8tQpc0CNU/s400/mules.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">~just because we can, we should?~</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b> <b>4. Vegans don't support circuses, zoos, and other forms of entertainment that enslave or cage animals.</b> They are rather involved in campaigning against these types of abuses and trying to liberate captive animals. In other words, they entertain themselves in other ways like playing/listening to music, chatting with fellow vegans, writing, etc. Instead of <i>"enjoying"</i> at the expense of animals, they rather view it as sad and pathetic for obviously there are other means of enjoyment without the need for animal abuse.</span><br />
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<b>5. Vegans don't wear leather, fur, silk, or wool.</b> They make sure that the goods they're buying have no history of torture and death. If they own one or two of these products before they went vegan, some give them away to homeless people, some continue to use them until they wear out and choose to never buy them again.</span><br />
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<b>6. Vegans don't eat honey.</b> Honey is food for bees who work very hard for it and not for some humans who purposely destroy bee hives for food and money.</span><br />
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<b>7. Vegans don't drink animal milk.</b> Cow's milk is for its calf, cat's milk is for its kittens, goat's milk is for its kid. What this means is that vegans don't take milk whether it's in their tea or coffee, bread or pastry. No butter, no ghee, no cheese, no paneer, no curd or yogurt. Well, you got it, right? Zero animal content in any food.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />No animal milk means vegans use coconut milk, soy milk, almond or cashew milk, instead. Ice creams, cakes, and other products are made nowadays with plant-based milk, and they are delicious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>8. Vegans don't litter around.</b> Veganism and protecting/conserving the environment is highly synonymous with each other that if one is an environmentalist and not vegan, he or she is a subject for a huge joke...a joke with empty humor. So vegans segregate wastes, recycle, reuse, and reduce consumption of unnecessary things that are a bane to the planet. They reduce their carbon emission, too. Instead of driving their own car, they choose public transport or instead of motorcycling often, they do it when in needed basis.</span><br />
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<b>9. Vegans don't breed.</b> Unless they already have a child before going vegan. If they have, they make sure that they don't contribute anymore to the human population. They rather adopt another human being or a non-human person like a dog or a cat or a pig or a calf. Vegans have a wider concept of family. Their concept of a family no longer stays in the four corners of their home where their biological connection starts. It is extended towards non-human beings as well -the animals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />Veganism and not breeding are interconnected. Vegans realize that the root cause of all our problems, especially hunger, poverty, and climate change goes all back to people -too many people emptying every inch of our natural resources. </span><br />
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<b>10. Vegans don't have </b><b>a religion. </b>Religion, throughout history, has abused, exploited and treated animals so viciously that anyone who opposes violence and exploitation, in any form, towards the innocent has to ponder deeply and try to understand once more the brutal role of religion, not only to human beings but more to animals. When a religion adheres cruelty, it is time to reject that religion. Goodness, kindness, or compassion knows no religion. It is intrinsic in each of us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br />If the one thing that prevents you from doing a heinous crime is because it is not allowed in your religion, then we have to analyze your character immediately, for whether you agree or not, you don't wrong others purposely because you know well yourself that rape, robbery, or murder is wrong! And to realize that doesn't need any religion.</span><br />
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<b>11.Vegans don't support capitalism.</b> M<span style="background-color: white;">eat consumption is just one of the symptoms of a larger evil that pervades our society, which is capitalism. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The disease of capitalism erodes compassion and makes humans see, not only other creatures, but also other humans, as commodities which only have value for the profit that they may fetch in the market, regardless of all other considerations. A capitalist mind-set, not only prioritizes profit, but also terminates everything else that it sees as not marketable. Since values are arbitrarily set by the market, in a capitalist system, a large proportion of the planet’s beings, both living and non-living, are arbitrarily discarded, as the market sees no value in their existence. And the ones that are seen as valuable are most often seen as valuable only for their final value of profit, thereby leading to horrific holocaust-like conditions for all their existence until their ruthless extermination in the name of generating profit.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">This is why, as what I have understood about veganism, vegans don't support capitalism.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;">By the way, the first two paragraphs are excerpts from my entry to "I Am a Vegan" contest, which will be included in a book by Ms. Butterfly Katz.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;"><b>12. Vegans don't exploit other human beings. </b>Vegans don't exploit animals, hence the word vegan. But just because they don't exploit animals, they can be allowed to exploit other human beings. No! They can't and they shouldn't! Some vegan businesses are owned and managed by vegans. Their products are highly priced, as high as the Himalayas. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;">To price a small layer of strawberry cake for Rs. 800 is ridiculous. A liter of soy milk costs Rs. 95 is, obviously, overpriced. That's exploitation and it is contemptible! And it must not be empowered!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;"><b>13. Vegans don't have non-vegan partners.</b> Vegan for animals is a core value. It is something that cannot be sold nor bought. It is one of the many moral values that people in a relationship should hold on to for a great relationship to blossom. Otherwise, that reason for being vegan is very weak, it can break anytime or the vegan partner has not really understood what veganism is and is not.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;"><b>14. Vegans don't use the term <i>"vegan diet"</i> when referring to a <i>"plant-based diet"</i>.</b> Veganism isn't a diet. It's a philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;">When a man follows a diet without animal products for health reason, he is into a plant-based diet and not a vegan diet. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;">When you say, vegan diet almost killed you because you found out that you were not getting enough nutrition, do not blame it on "vegan" diet. Blame it on your lack of interest to know proper nutrition. A diet with meat and animal products can also kill you, without even a warning!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;">A plant-based diet can kill you, too. You can consume all the pasta in the world, add plant-based noodles or bread or ice cream or burgers or pizzas with it. It's a plant-based diet but a very unhealthy plant-based diet. It is the kind of diet that you should take if you are in a hurry to join with your worm friends 6-feet underground. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kfpQDJggL6c/VcoR8t-809I/AAAAAAAAB3A/T0cwNrze7fQ/s1600/rabbit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kfpQDJggL6c/VcoR8t-809I/AAAAAAAAB3A/T0cwNrze7fQ/s400/rabbit.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>15. Vegans don't feel alone.</b> Veganism is still unknown to, and if known, is ignored and resisted by the majority of the world's population. If you are a vegan and you feel alone because none of your family members or friends understands your awakening or enlightenment, don't be. You have to change that mentality. Don't focus on yourself. Think about a homeless cat or a dog who may not have had food today. Think about the animals in zoos. Even though they are in numbers, they are caged, no escape! Remember that your family just got extended. You have fellow vegans all over the world. Proximity doesn't matter anymore these days. And of course, you have the animals with you, literally or figuratively speaking.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: white;">It's okay to feel sad, but not alone. The cause of your sadness is based on reality, the state of affair when you want to do something for the animals but you couldn't. When the reason for going vegan is so clear for you but seems so dark for others to see. It's okay. It is a reality that you have to overcome. Our present world is like that. Instead, </span><span style="background-color: white;"> b</span><span style="background-color: white;">e strong. The animals need your strength and valor. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>"The world is vegan if we choose it".</i></span></span></div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-56717898924272575342015-08-10T11:37:00.001+05:302018-04-04T21:03:38.326+05:30Vegetarians vs. Vegans: Who They Are<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Believe it or not, there are still many people who think vegetarian and vegan are the same people. Well, they are not!<br />
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The topic seems so old to discuss that we assume everybody gets it already. But no! Many are not even familiar with the word <i>"vegan"</i>, and since the word resembles <i>(a little)</i> with the word <i>"vegetarian"</i>, they conclude that the two are one and the same. Some have not even heard that word (vegan) at all.<br />
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They have one thing in common, though. Both don't consume meat!<br />
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Time to know the difference.<br />
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<b>Vegetarians. </b>Though they<b> </b>don't consume meat they are okay taking eggs, milk, honey, and their by-products such as curd, cheese, ghee, paneer and other food items that contain eggs, milk, and honey such as ice cream, cakes & pastries, etc. They may also have no issues with wearing wool, silk, leather, or fur. They may also not think or believe that using an animal for recreation or for carrying goods is wrong. They just don't want to eat meat -all kinds of meat, including fishes. Yes, fish is meat and if you call yourself vegetarian but eat meat and other water/ocean creatures, you are a non-vegan person, not vegetarian. It's really a fact, confessed by a few I know, that some people think vegetarians eat fish.<br />
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<u>Note:</u> Some vegetarians don't eat eggs but drink milk and by-products of milk.<br />
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<b>Vegans</b>, on the other hand, don't use or consume animal or animal products. Compassion is their key reason for going vegan. They acknowledge the fact that all non-human animals are sentient, they have emotions. They are sentient beings. And since they are sentient beings, they feel pain and suffering. And since eating meat and eggs, or drinking milk, or taking honey is not possible without harming or causing the animal pain and death, vegans refuse to participate in that. They reject all kinds of animal exploitation. For them, it is wrong to take a life of another sentient being.<br />
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Animals, therefore, are not food, not clothing, not for human entertainment, not a commodity to be used for human benefits. Vegans, in other words, view non-human animals as friends and company.<br />
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Vegetarians are vegetarian for various reasons. One is health, another is religion. Could be both or something else.<br />
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Vegans are vegans for ethical reason.<br />
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The picture below discusses the misconception between the two.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBaghpZc6Jw/Vcg_FpXw-JI/AAAAAAAAB1I/37Rl_jLj36g/s1600/vegevsvega.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VBaghpZc6Jw/Vcg_FpXw-JI/AAAAAAAAB1I/37Rl_jLj36g/s400/vegevsvega.jpg" width="378" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~uploaded by Maribel Salmon @ Pinterest~<br />
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-28062681650536141862015-08-08T13:49:00.000+05:302018-04-04T21:03:11.008+05:30Immorality: Which One Really Is Immoral?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkZP34FyxEc/VcDI9NfbqjI/AAAAAAAABw0/0U26rov2fQU/s1600/leaving%2Bjob.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZkZP34FyxEc/VcDI9NfbqjI/AAAAAAAABw0/0U26rov2fQU/s400/leaving%2Bjob.jpg" width="270" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~via wholelifemagazine.com~</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Once upon a time, there was a situation when I have to question what immorality truly means. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For most people, especially those who follow Christianity <i>(being a Christian doesn't mean one has the characteristics of Christ for I see the big difference between the two)</i>, they concentrate its meaning base on sex <i>(intercourse, pre-marital sex in particular)</i> and they couldn't see anything else. I am not that sure about the views on this from other religious sects but I believe they share the same. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway, I see immorality differently.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This <i>once upon a time</i> happened when a woman employee was kicked out of her job because she got pregnant out of wedlock. What? Yes! The management specified the following: get married and you get to keep your job otherwise, you have to resign! Why, if you ask? Because according to some company policy <i>(this company particularly)</i>, pregnancy out of wedlock will ruin its image, its reputation! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As simple as that! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You might agree with what the policy entails but it is wrong and heartless!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sex out of marriage is not an act of immorality, and definitely, a woman is not immoral if she gets pregnant with a runaway father!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When a single woman employee gets pregnant and the boyfriend refuses to marry her, does she need to lose her job? Kindly also tell me whether the company is <b>"not"</b> immoral when it denied its employee the job she needed the most, denying her child the comfort her salary can give?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px; line-height: 19.0909080505371px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sex is private - between two people - and as long as the employee is doing her job properly and efficiently, the company has no right to interfere with her personal life. It's a personal choice. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px; line-height: 19.0909080505371px; text-align: left;">Sex becomes immoral </b><b style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12.7272720336914px; line-height: 19.0909080505371px; text-align: left;"><i>only</i> </b><b style="font-size: 12.7272720336914px; line-height: 19.0909080505371px; text-align: left;">if <i><u>one is against in doing it</u></i> or <u><i>if one is forced to do it</i></u>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do you know what's more immoral than having sex out of marriage?</span></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Throwing garbage anywhere is immoral. It simply puts yourselves at the center of the world because for you, getting rid of your waste is more important than anything/anyone else thereby forgetting your waste could bring harm to others!</span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Killing animals for food or simply being the reason for these animals to be butchered so you'll eat is immoral and inhumane. It, again, puts yourselves in the center, for you don't value any other live beings apart from yourselves forgetting that they, too, are creations of god <i>(if you believe so)</i> that have rights to share the earth as much as you do.</span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cutting trees, bulldozing the earth for the so-called development is immoral. This, again, makes you forget that by doing so you make all the birds and other animals that depend on them homeless.</span></li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vaTq1EVUEY/VcDKVh-7AQI/AAAAAAAABxA/fLc089rDvCQ/s1600/chicken.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2vaTq1EVUEY/VcDKVh-7AQI/AAAAAAAABxA/fLc089rDvCQ/s320/chicken.jpg" width="314" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Is it moral to dip innocent beings in boiled water? <br />He or She didn't harm you in any way!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Examples could go on and on but one thing is clear, immorality <b><i>does</i> </b>happen most of the times and that we should be ready to discuss many things about it other than claiming that sex is immoral. And that we should never agree to one thing and condemn another thing just because it doesn't apply to our liking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But if having pre-marital sex is immoral, is getting married after doing it makes you moral? How about the man who got his girlfriend pregnant but refused to marry her, is he immoral? What if it's the mane employee got his girlfriend pregnant and refused to marry her? Will he lose his job, too?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't think there is a valid justification for firing an employee because the company believes that pregnancy out of wedlock is immoral.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The irony of this situation is that the company is into providing livelihood projects to communities, helping men or women, married or single become self-sufficient. How hypocrites and blind can the people in this company be when they could not even provide a decent livelihood to their own employees, and yet they talk about immorality? They better take care of their own first rather than showing some things to others and do different things on the other side.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dAKS-Mhts_4/VcDLCNRhISI/AAAAAAAABxI/FNsIEBgx3Gc/s1600/chopped%2Btrees.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dAKS-Mhts_4/VcDLCNRhISI/AAAAAAAABxI/FNsIEBgx3Gc/s320/chopped%2Btrees.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>~chopped trees as if no one lives on them; <br />as if it's so easy to grow one single tree;<br />as if felling has no consequences~</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I saw how merciless the said policy is so I questioned it, not because the person concerned is a neighbor or a friend or a family member. I just refused to stay silent. That part of me just couldn't tolerate it anymore. I don't expect that after I brought their attention to this I could change them. No! Far from that. Because for change to happen it has to start from understanding what is right and what is wrong.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This case is just one of the many injustices, inequalities on earth that need change and change is difficult, even harder having people with such kind of mentality!</span></div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-69969525226400904442015-08-06T21:53:00.000+05:302018-04-04T21:02:24.520+05:30Lace-Inspired Crocheted Top: In Blue, Orange, Green & White Combination<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inspired by <a href="http://www.bhg.com/crafts/knitting/clothing/lace-inspired-crocheted-top/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">this pattern</span></a>, which is free, I decided to make one of my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At first, I wanted all white to match with my flowery pants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Later on I decided to make it in 4 colors since I have 4 yanks of white yarns, 2 yanks each of dark blue, orange, and green. Then again, while doing the project many ideas came to my mind and I ended up having an opening in the front (<i>instead of the back)</i> with crocheted buttons, as you can see in the picture. You can have it as a design or really an opening for easy fitting in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The pattern is somewhat confusing at first. It took me a while to figure out how to start.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Since I have done it, I'll try to guide you through this design for you to follow the pattern with ease.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Click the link above for the pattern.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But you can follow mine if you find it easier to follow.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mj0ierYVzP0/VcGw8YvwdxI/AAAAAAAABxk/AYT49g0OZIU/s1600/Picture%2B088.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Mj0ierYVzP0/VcGw8YvwdxI/AAAAAAAABxk/AYT49g0OZIU/s400/Picture%2B088.jpg" width="348" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~front~</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Because we don't usually find the exact materials that are recommended for a project, we need to try whether the size fits our size or not. It requires addition, multiplication, and sometimes subtraction to get the proper measurement for our body size. Since this project was finished quite a long time ago, I struggle to recall how I made the entire thing. But because the pattern is available for free, what I will do is guide you through the confusing parts of this project.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Looking at the pattern <i>(I suggest you to copy and paste it where you can access it anytime), </i>here'swhat you should do: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Notes:</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I used 4-ply acrylic and 4mm crochet hook (3 yanks white, 1 yank each dark blue, orange, & green); 3 old semi-flat buttons; sewing needle and thread</span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">yo</u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> - yarn over the hook</span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sc2tog:</u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> Draw up a lp in each of the next 2 sts, yo and draw through all lps on hook.</span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3-dc cluster:</u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> (yo, insert hook in st, yo and draw up a loop, yo and draw through 2 loops on hook) 3 times in specified st, yo and draw through all loops on hook.</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>PETAL PATTERN</u></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Foundation chain of 52. <i>(Your first petal pattern)</i>. </span></b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hdc </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(half double crochet) </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">in 3rd chain from hook, (<i>loop on hook counts as 1st).</i> Hdc across. Ch2 </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(counts as 1st hdc of next row)</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. Turn.</span></div>
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<li><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Skip row 1, and continue working on row 2. Maintain that 51 sts</b></u></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Row 1</u>. Sk first dc, *hdc in next ch-1 sp, hdc in next dc; rep from * across. Ch 2, turn.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Row 2</u>. Skip first hdc, then hdc in each hdc across. Ch3 <i>(counts as 1st dc of next row)</i>. Turn.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 20px;"><u>Row 3</u>:</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"> Sk first hdc, *work 3-dc cluster in next hdc, ch 3, work 3-dc cluster in top of cluster just made <i>(see pictures below)</i>, sk next 2 hdc; rep from * across, end 3-dc cluster in next hdc, dc in last hdc -- 17 vertical cluster, 16 horizontal cluster. Ch 3, turn.</span></span></li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DFPoCOXnRM/VcLkjdfnR3I/AAAAAAAABzQ/KgwD8kgR8cA/s1600/ist.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DFPoCOXnRM/VcLkjdfnR3I/AAAAAAAABzQ/KgwD8kgR8cA/s640/ist.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jATDOVu7ezk/VcLlcuL5QUI/AAAAAAAABzg/kTpORbpOSTM/s1600/3rd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jATDOVu7ezk/VcLlcuL5QUI/AAAAAAAABzg/kTpORbpOSTM/s640/3rd.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u>Row 4</u>:</span> Sk first dc, work 3-dc cluster in top of first cluster, *ch 2, sk next horizontal cluster, 3-dc cluster in next cluster; rep from * across, end dc in 3rd ch of turning ch -- 17 cluster, 16 ch-2 sps. Ch 2, turn. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u>Row 5:</u> </span>Sk first dc, hdc in first cluster *work 2 hdc in next ch-2 sp, hdc in next cluster; rep from * across, end hdc in 3rd ch of turning ch-3. Ch 2, turn. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u>Row 6:</u></span> Work as for Row 2, except work ch 4 (counts as first dc and ch-1 at beg of next row) to turn at end of row. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u>Row 7:</u></span> Sk first 2 hdc, *dc in next hdc, ch 1, sk next hdc; rep from * across, end dc in turning ch-2--25 ch-1 sps. Ch 4, turn. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><u>Row 8:</u></span> Sk first dc and ch-1 sp, *dc in next dc, ch 1; rep from * across to last sp, end sk next ch, <b>dc in next ch</b>. Ch 2, turn. (<i>This last ch 2 must be of different color, if you are making this pattern with varied colors. To do that, on the last ch of the last dc -one highlighted in row 8, instead of drawing the same color, draw a yarn of different color, then tie both yarn ends together as tight as possible to avoid your work from getting unfastened later on).</i></span></span></li>
<li><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px;">Repeat rows 1-8 for Petal Pattern</u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">. Make 14 repeats of this Petal Pattern. I only made 11 in mine, enough to have a wrap around from waist to middle thigh.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Next.</span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">With WS <i>(wrong side)</i> together, connect foundation ch edge and last row of the last Petal Pattern by working sl st in each st across, working through both pieces at once <i>(looks like a tube and the back seam is formed).</i></span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Now, for </span></span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">DRAWSTRING BAND,</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> you can follow the original pattern. In my project, instead of sc in row 2 and 5, I did dhc. Read below.</span><br />
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<li><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Round 1</u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">: With RS </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">(Right Side)</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> facing, join thread of your choice </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">(if doing in multi-colored)</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> with sl st at back seam on one end of Torso tube; work 14 sc along each 8-row repeat of Petal pattern as follows; 2 sc along Rows 1-2; 5 sc along Rows 3-4; 2 sc along Rows 5-6; 5 sc along Rows 7-8; join with sl st to first sc. </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">(14 sc X 11 repeats of Petal pat=154 sts</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">)</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><u>Round 2</u>: Ch 1, hdc in each sc, and at the same time dec 4sc evenly spaced by working hdc2tog, join with sl st to first hdc. <i>(150 sts or multiples of 5)</i></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><u>Round 3</u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">: Ch 3 </span><i>(counts as first dc); </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">dc in next hdc</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">; ch 2; sk next 2sc, *dc in each of the next 2 hdc, ch 3, sk next 2 sc; rep from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3.</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><u>Round 4</u>: Ch 1, work sc in each dc and 2 sc in each ch-2 sp, join with sl st to first sc.</span></span></li>
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<li><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Round 5</u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">: Ch 1, hdc in each sc and at the same time dec (sc2tog) 9 sc evenly spaced around, join with sl st to first hdc. </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">(141 sts or multiples of 7 + 1)</i></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">Next. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">SCALLOP PATTERN</u><u> (needs multiple of 7 + 1)</u></span></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><u>Row 1 (RS):</u> Sc in first st, *sk 2 sts, 5 dc in next st -- scallop made; sk 2 sts, sc in next st; rep from * across. Ch 3, turn. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><u>Row 2</u>: Work 2 dc in first sc, *sc in center dc of next scallop, scallop in next sc; rep from * across, end sc in center dc of next scallop, 3 dc in last sc. Ch 1, turn. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><u>Row 3</u>: Sc in first dc, *scallop in next sc, sc in center dc of next scallop; rep from * across, working last sc in 3rd ch of turning ch-3. Ch 3, turn. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Repeat Rows 2 - 3 for Scallop patern </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Work back and forth in Scallop pattern till desired length is achieved, changing colors if preferred. Fasten off. <i>(This opening can be a back or front opening. If back opening is preferred, I suggest to use flat buttons so it doesn't hurt when lying down or sitting against a chair or wall).</i></span></span></li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zLUOWX12kxk/VcLxN17Ug-I/AAAAAAAABzw/GZvgYwOMCEE/s1600/Picture%2B093.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zLUOWX12kxk/VcLxN17Ug-I/AAAAAAAABzw/GZvgYwOMCEE/s400/Picture%2B093.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~21 rows of scallop pattern, sc and wsc for button edges~</td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">STRAP</span></u></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(Remember that I used 4mm crochet hook)</span></i></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Foundation chain of 55. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Row 1: Hdc on the 3rd ch from hook and in each across =54 hdc total. Ch2. Turn.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Row 2:Sk first hdc, hdc in each st across.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Row 3-4: Refer to Petal Pattern rows 3-4</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Row 5: Refer to row 5 of Petal pattern. Ch 2, turn. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Row 6: Sk 1st hdc, then hdc in next 10 hdc, dc in next 11 hdc, tr in next 10 hdc, dc in next 11 hdc, and hdc in last 11 hdc.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Row 7: Sc in first 2sts, *sk next 2 hdc, 3 dc in next hdc, then (ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook) 3 times to form a triple picot <i>(see picture below)</i>; sk next hdc, 3 dc in next hdc, sk next 2 hdc*; sc in next hdc; repeat from * to *; sc in last 2sts. Fasten off.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3CfCIPYBEU/VcNsqya73wI/AAAAAAAAB0E/P9ig2gWwR2c/s1600/Picture%2B067.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f3CfCIPYBEU/VcNsqya73wI/AAAAAAAAB0E/P9ig2gWwR2c/s400/Picture%2B067.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~example of row 7* ~</td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">LOWER BORDER</span></u></b></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Round 1</u>: Refer to row 1 of Drawstring Band except that instead of sc, work in hdc= 154 sts</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Round 2</u>: Ch 2 </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">(counts as first hdc)</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">; sk first hdc, hdc in each hdc around, join with sl st to top of beginning ch-2.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Round 3</u>: Ch 4 <i>(counts as first dc and ch-1 sp)</i>; sk first 2 hdc, *dc in next hdc, ch 1, sk next hdc; repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Round 4</u>: Ch 4, sk first dc, *dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * around, join with sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-4. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Rounds 5-7</u>: Refer to round 4. </span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_7x0GKlEw4/VcN0HtdrPRI/AAAAAAAAB0g/2ksE8xVTa1o/s1600/Picture%2B069.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_7x0GKlEw4/VcN0HtdrPRI/AAAAAAAAB0g/2ksE8xVTa1o/s400/Picture%2B069.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~lower border~</td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Round 8: Ch 2 <i>(counts as first hdc)</i>; sk first dc, hdc in each ch-1 sp and dc around, skipping 2 hdc evenly spaced around; join with sl st to 2nd ch of beg ch-2. (=152 sts).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>Round 9</u>: Ch 1, sc in first hdc, *sk next 2 hdc, 3 dc in next hdc, (ch 5, sl st in 5th ch from hook) 3 times -- triple picot formed; sk next hdc, 3 dc in next hdc, sk next 2 hdc**, sc in next hdc; rep from * around; join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>EDGING FOR FRONT OPENING</u></b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For upper side where button holes are made, I did sc evenly for 1st row.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For 2nd row, I did a wsc or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKOWXqNFecE&noredirect=1" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">wrapped single crochet</span></a> <i>(click the link for a video tutorial)</i> with chaining 3 in right places where I intended to place the buttons. Depending on how big your button, you can chain 4 or 5.</span></li>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For the underside, sc evenly in 1st row; then wsc for as many rows you like to have an extra layer <i>(mine has 3 rows of wsc)</i>. Sew in buttons in place to correspond to button holes. Just sew in the extra edge of wsc layer made.</span></li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LXWHueMkFw8/VciCQu6yZ7I/AAAAAAAAB1c/yCdHQZuycsI/s1600/Picture%2B100.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LXWHueMkFw8/VciCQu6yZ7I/AAAAAAAAB1c/yCdHQZuycsI/s400/Picture%2B100.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~back side of the top~</span></td></tr>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Notes:</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~You need a lining for inside or any plain sleeveless top.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~You can insert a ribbon as drawstring or a single crocheted band.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~Try the garment on before sewing the strap to get the proper place where to attach the edge to the tube.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~For crocheted buttons, I got the idea from <a href="http://www.craftstylish.com/item/6550/how-to-crochet-a-button" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">this site</span></a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~For any clarification, just leave a message. I'll try to answer them as possible as I can.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~the final look~</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do take a look at my other crochet stuffs!</span></u><br />
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-41261876964286928662015-08-06T13:16:00.001+05:302018-08-06T20:57:37.063+05:30Khirsu Community Health Center: A Hospital On A Hillstation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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From a Primary Health Center (PHC), Khirsu Government Hospital has just recently got upgraded to Community Health Center (CHC) with 2 permanent MBBS doctor assigned; 1 dentist; and other hospital staffs: pharmacist, nurse, ANUMs, and other hospital personnel.<br />
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An ANUM training center and a hostel are also located at this hospital campus.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="424" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzz3-PsHRS8/VbY6mAKAS3I/AAAAAAAABsE/lAckadCkIu0/s640/DSCF3516.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~hospital compound as seen from Khirsu market~</td></tr>
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The hospital opens at 8 am to 2 pm Mondays to Saturdays in summer and 9 am to 3 pm in winter. It is an OPD service. Minor emergency cases are handled in the hospital while serious cases are referred to higher centers -Srikot, Srinagar or Pauri hospital or in Dehradun.<br />
<span style="font-size: 14px;">Delivery cases are quite less and are handled by a nurse and ANUM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">GVK-EMRI (call 108) provides emergency response services under PPP or Public Private Partnership framework and is ready on call anytime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Housing facilities are provided for doctors and other hospital staffs. Electricity supplies come and go, sometimes for about 5-15 minutes or 1 hour to 12 hours especially when a major repair is going on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14px;">Water supply, on the other hand, is problematic, especially during summer days. Water tank truck which comes from Pauri supplies to areas without water.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~hospital compound as seen from Pauri-Khirsu road,<br />
the towering building is the hospital~<br />
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Khirsu's location is situated in a very strategic point where a view of the Himalayas can be clearly visible in winter behind those cloud-covered mountains.<br />
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GMVN (Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam) Hotel and Restaurant is located just below the hospital.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GCSQihMLcaI/VtBz_ej9UKI/AAAAAAAAB5M/oc-Y3W5l1-8/s1600/kh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GCSQihMLcaI/VtBz_ej9UKI/AAAAAAAAB5M/oc-Y3W5l1-8/s640/kh.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
~Chaukhamba mountains are on the right. I can't name the others.<br />
These are the mountains visible from Khirsu<br />
between December and early February.<br />
This picture was taken in early February after<br />
a night and day of rain.~<br />
<i>[This photograph was taken from the hospital campus]</i><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xii0dxRD8mo/VtB0B7a9SdI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/KB8jiiD6mYk/s1600/kh2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xii0dxRD8mo/VtB0B7a9SdI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/KB8jiiD6mYk/s640/kh2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
~The view visible from Khirsu. This was taken from Khirsu hospital~<br />
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For more information regarding Khirsu CHC, just leave a comment.<br />
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-38841449364770726112015-08-05T09:41:00.001+05:302018-04-04T21:01:37.199+05:30Empathy: The Capability To Share Another Being's Emotions And Feelings<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The word empathy is one of the most common words in man's vocabulary. Though the above definition says another being, most people apply this word to HUMAN beings only and not to NON-HUMAN animals. Many fail to imagine themselves to be <i>them</i>, non-human animals, which somehow made me question, "is empathy exclusive to mankind only?"</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uiIHnidXRwA/VcDEH4K92CI/AAAAAAAABwY/8PGUPUBd5Ck/s1600/deer%2Band%2Bdog.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uiIHnidXRwA/VcDEH4K92CI/AAAAAAAABwY/8PGUPUBd5Ck/s400/deer%2Band%2Bdog.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Well, many people are generally kind and caring who may love their dogs or cats - their pets, in other words, but they seem to have forgotten their concern towards other animals like the plight of pigs, chickens, turkeys, sheep, cows, etc. in slaughterhouses getting ready to be sold and eventually be served on their dinner table. Can a man be this hostile?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now let me ask you! Are you one of these people who empathize with human pains and sufferings only? Or are you different?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Will there be a chance for you to be different from now on?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In <a data-mce-href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358456/" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358456/" style="color: rgb(41, 124, 207) !important; font-weight: bold !important; text-decoration: none !important;">Earthlings</a>, a documentary film about the society's treatment of animals as food, clothing, entertainment and scientific research, I couldn't help myself but say <i>"Good!"</i> when the elephant ran amok and injured and killed people who treated him mercilessly just for the sake of entertainment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In the movie, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063442/" target="_blank">The Planet of the Apes</a>, humans are dumb just like how humans think of animals today. They are in the situation where they are hunted for sport and dissected or sliced for scientific study. Good thing apes were vegetarian, otherwise human meat would have been their favorite. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Could this be a consolation for humans?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just a few weeks ago, a neighbor killed a cobra because he, his family, and his other neighbors are afraid of it. They are scared that the would enter into their houses and bite them. That's all they can think of -bite them, and so he/she has to die through their hands. <span style="line-height: 1.5em;">My husband and I tried to persuade them not to kill him/her, to just let him/her go on its way for he/she's just passing by. But no! The man still brought a big round stick and smashed him/her to death. I literally burst out into tears and walked away. I couldn't bear the hostility of man, who is supposed to be far more intelligent than any other being yet he couldn't hide the beast in him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In another incident around here, a big cat was hunted and killed <i>(I am referring to a different leopard, not the pictured one below)</i> because he killed a 5-year-old kid. <i>Many commented and said it should have not killed the kid, it should not hunt humans. It can kill dogs, sheep, goats and other animals but not humans! </i>And so he was killed. But who would you blame? The big cat that has gone hungry for many days because his habitat has been destroyed by endless human population growth or the humans themselves who think that they can empty the forest, that these animals don't have the right to inhabit the earth like they do? </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-an9ud0MYi2U/VcDGFuQJIUI/AAAAAAAABwo/Epvn6Omos7w/s1600/leopard-lynching.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-an9ud0MYi2U/VcDGFuQJIUI/AAAAAAAABwo/Epvn6Omos7w/s400/leopard-lynching.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~one innocent earthling against hundreds of men~<br />(visit <a href="http://indianexpress.com/article/india/west-bengal/villagers-chop-off-claws-tail-of-leopard-forest-officals-launch-operation-to-nab-culprits/" target="_blank">indianexpress</a> for the story)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Here, I confirmed how idiots humans can be because of selfishness and apathy. How can they even think that there is only but one man-eating leopard roaming around in this area? What if the one got killed was not the one they were looking for? But, oh well, they are not capable of thinking this way, aren't they?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then, why kill the animal? There is forest department that is supposed to handle this situation the right way - tranquilize the cat and transport him to a jungle where he can thrive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But they resorted to killing him.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUFksBFkFos/VcDFfHyR7vI/AAAAAAAABwg/91E3zJyfBBQ/s1600/caged%2Bdogs%2Bwww.ed.ac.uk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YUFksBFkFos/VcDFfHyR7vI/AAAAAAAABwg/91E3zJyfBBQ/s400/caged%2Bdogs%2Bwww.ed.ac.uk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;">~dogs for dog meat trade, via </span><span style="line-height: 21px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">www.ed.ac.uk~</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The above scenarios are just a few instances where humans have shown their hostility, selfishness, idiocy for the sake of their own benefit. No wonder man survive this long wiping out the weak along the way for them to thrive in great numbers.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know that many cannot understand and connect these issues what I am mumbling about. I don't have control over that. But for those who are capable of putting themselves in the paws and hooves of these animals, they already know what to do, if they haven't done anything yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yet again, compassion or kindness is innate in every person. But somehow, along the way it got lost, but it is something that could be lost but also can be found again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Don't fail to put yourselves in the lives of these animals, which you considered scrumptious! It's time to evolve and become that man who is part of nature but on a different level altogether.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You can be a part of nature and choose to kill and eat your fellow earthlings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Not that!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Instead, be a part of nature, and at the same time, choose not to exploit animals in every possible way. Be that man! Be that man who says, empathy is for all creatures who live on this planet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Empathy is something that is extended towards non-human animals.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I failed for 27 years but I changed my ways. I passed and still doing my best part to protect and respect them. I just don't have sympathy for them, I deeply <b><i>empathize</i></b> with them. I clearly see their value, not as food that fills my belly, but as <i>beings </i>that exist because they have every rights to share this beautiful planet with me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I want to live my life and I know, every single animal out there wants to live his or her life, too, free from any threats from mankind.</span><br />
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-51649511136566675312015-08-04T12:13:00.001+05:302018-04-04T21:09:53.502+05:30Random Thoughts of A Wandering Mind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><u>A Child is A Miracle</u></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Having a child is not a miracle. It’s biology. Not to mention the fact that humankind is going to out-breed our little planet. We are like lemmings—burdening our environment until a mass-killing is needed to equalize the overpopulation. People don’t think about how much having a child impacts the world. If you consider yourself an environmentalist, or against war, or poverty and hunger, then you would be wise to consider the impact your fertility has on the planet".....(</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: left;">Excerpt from this blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://asynchronouspollywog.blogspot.in/search/label/childfree" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://asynchronouspollywog.blogspot.in/search/label/childfree</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Finally, someone is bold enough to say the truth that many "experts" are scared to talk about! It is a must to discuss human population growth. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br /></span> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A Recipe for Disaster</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The belief that you need someone to take care of you is a perfect recipe for disaster!</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></b> <b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>A Twisted World</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our world is such a twisted one! The sick or ill get sick leave from work, get their hospital bills and medication reimbursed, while the healthy-especially the ones who really want to stay that way don't get anything! They don't get extra pay for not being sick, they don't get reimbursed when they enroll themselves in gym or buy bicycles to stay fit and healthy, they don't get paid to buy fruits, vegetables and nuts to certain their well-being!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Pregnant women get paid maternity leave when they are the ones who contribute to the already over populated world. They are the ones who add to the consumption of earth's exhausted resources. They also pollute, in every possible way!</span></div>
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<i>It's not our world that is twisted, actually, but the people who are on it (not all but most).</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKPr_z1DfNY/VcBdXW243XI/AAAAAAAABvs/2u5mePUNxcg/s1600/thinking-man.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vKPr_z1DfNY/VcBdXW243XI/AAAAAAAABvs/2u5mePUNxcg/s400/thinking-man.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(via gallery4share.com)</span></i></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>Cease to Change</u></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's just a sad fact to know that no matter how precautions or factual information you share with people (family, friends, acquaintances) about health and values in life, they still cease to change. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is the time when you have to realize yourself that there is a limit to everything. You can't continue to go on and on. You have to let them be and, yeah, you don't need to have anything to do with them.</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>Chance</u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Everybody deserves a chance to get informed or be educated with something that is very important. But then, it's up to them whether to take that education and do something good about it!</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Criticize Idea Not The Person Who's Holding The Idea</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To criticize the person instead of the values, beliefs, thoughts and ideas, or opinion he or she holds is the highest level of immaturity and the lowest form of intelligence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Found A Friend?</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The moment you met a person whom you can talk to about the important social issues in life with open-mind, without feeling upset or attacked because you are talking about views and values that are exactly opposite to his or hers, that is the moment that you just found a friend!</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><u>Help To Most People</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The problem with most people is that when they need your help they expect the kind of help they want from you and get upset or angry when this expectation is not met. So, for example (among many) when you tell an obese or an overweight person to lose weight and be more active, they give you all the excuses they can think of and try to justify their health issues...and on top of that they want your sympathy when something "bad" happens to them when the reality is, the sympathy<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"> they were looking for was already presented to them only that they were too self-absorbed to even notice that help was already given.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's like visiting a friend or a family member in a hospital who has met a terrible road accident because of reckless and fast driving to</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> show that you care</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">. Telling him/her over and over again to drive slow and carefully is NOT help or support when, the truth is, that is the greatest help you can ever extend to another person!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Prevention is always better than cure, because most of the times, there is no cure...other than 6 feet under ground...sooner or later!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Ignorance, Not A Big Deal</u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Ignorance is not a big deal! But when you are presented with knowledge, at least, have an open-mind to accept it and change your ways.</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>Intelligence</u></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u><br /></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Students' intelligence these days is measured by their ability to memorize facts and retrieve these facts and apply them at a proper place at the right time! And that's basically scoring marks!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Students graduate with honors, receive awards and scholarships but are really poor in critical thinking.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Laws Are Useless</span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Laws are useless!</span><br style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">They have not prevented bad people from </span></span><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">committing</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"> all types of crimes. </span></span></span><br style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">On the other hand, good people don't need laws. They will never be seen littering, robbing, cheating, or murdering. </span><br style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Laws are made to control!</span><br style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">And when people have to fight for justice, that is even worse!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><u>Lesson in Life that Many Choose to Fail</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Murdering animals for food or clothing or using them for human benefits is one of those lessons in life that each and every one of us failed to pass earlier. This time, many are still failing not because they can't pass this basic lesson. They are failing because they refuse to pass, they choose to fail. Hence, there are still so many non-vegans out there who, deep inside them, accept that the act is wrong but still continue to include flesh on their diet.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><u>Money From Cruelty</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">To make money from cruelty is the lowest form of humanity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Examples: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Cockfighting, which is very common in the Philippines, every Sunday or during fiestas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">Bull fighting; selling animal goods; selling birds as pets; breeding animals for food, clothing, etc.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">You are better than these people who are involved in such atrocious forms of livelihood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><u>On Blood Donation</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; line-height: normal;">I don't understand the need for blood donation camp, actually! It seems pretty useless to me...stocking blood in case someone needs it badly. I mean the only time you need a blood donor is when you met an accident and the only way to save your "precious" life is a blood from another person. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So what if your blood goes to a person who is already sick because he's been so neglectful about his health his body slowly deteriorates and only now he needs something, like blood, so he can keep on living? What if, after he gets blood donation he continues to do the same thing he did before he needed the blood? Does it make any sense to you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It doesn't to me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rather than holding a blood donation camp, why not hold a more useful camp like educating people to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle to avoid such unnecessary activity in the first place? Encourage local community to plant their own vegetables and fruits; implement strict segregation of waste and no single biodegradable waste should go out of each house -must be composted! These, among other many things, are, for me, more important than wasting time holding a blood donation camp. And nobody takes account on how much blood goes to waste later on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Instill personal responsibility on people! Blood donation is just like a patch...patching a hole that can totally be avoided just by being responsible for your own health.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The only question that only retains in my mind is that, what if your blood goes to a person who doesn't deserve to be saved? (This goes to organ donation, too, which is why I like (somewhat) that movie of Will Smith, 7 Pounds).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What will you do?</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rhH-mUgovdE/VcBewAC0WPI/AAAAAAAABv4/iyzNmqQEmUE/s1600/Thinking_36_tnb.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rhH-mUgovdE/VcBewAC0WPI/AAAAAAAABv4/iyzNmqQEmUE/s400/Thinking_36_tnb.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Something Not Shallow: A Poem</span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">It is sad, I know. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">But if we give up on each other,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">It's not because of something shallow.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">In fact, it's because of one common fellow.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">They're still on your plates whole, chopped, dry, and gravy</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><br />A necessity, you say.<br />Something valued traditionally.<br />But friends they are to me<br />Who I adore dearly.<br />So you see, it's rather easy.<br />It's either<br />I let you be<br />And I'll be on my way<br />Or together,<br />You and me<br />On a journey towards something extraordinary!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><u>The Dalai Lama</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"The Dalai Lama eats meat because he gets sick if he doesn't"</i> is a piece of information that is not new to me. And the first time I heard about it, <i>"what a hypocrite"</i>, was my first remark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So he decides to take the lives of sentient animals so he continues to live, huh! What an incredible idea!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am a vegan myself but I am not against eating meat. It's the killing of animals for food is what I am against of. These animals have equal rights to inhabit the only home I am inhabiting free from harm, torture, and threat of untimely death because of human craving for flesh, which is actually bland and not tasty at all.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And an authority like the Dalai Lama, who is supposed to be advocating non-violence, is an offensive figure for me! </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><b><u>To Complete Me</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have been hearing and reading this phrase for a long time and it is mostly coming from women who are looking for a boyfriend or a husband material and/or from a mother who wants to have a child.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I mean, come on. You needed someone else to complete you? I mean, you yourself are not complete? But how can you ask for somebody to complete you when you are not complete yourself? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's like giving a half-baked cookie to someone. You are the half-baked cookie and you are looking for somebody who would take you, not cooked!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Would you like to take a half-baked cookie?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is the same with somebody who always say "I need somebody to make me happy". Nobody can give you happiness except yourself and to ask or look for it from somebody else is, really, a perfect recipe for a disaster. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Please, learn to love yourself. You can only give happiness if happiness is already in you.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: left;"><u>Veterinarians</u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Veterinarians: The only doctor whos eat their patients!</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>What You Are</u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's no longer, "Tell me who your friends are and I'll tell you who you are!"</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's now, "Tell me what you eat and I'll tell you what you are!"</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><u>What's Wrong?</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What's wrong with meat, eggs, and milk?</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There's nothing right about them!!!</span></span></div>
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3715013889295789337.post-21421281631590491732015-08-03T12:22:00.000+05:302018-04-04T21:09:16.982+05:30Ginger-Garlic Fried Rice: A Quick and Simple Rice Dish for the Family<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Philippines is a rice country. Breakfast, lunch, supper...every time there is rice, including during snack time!</div>
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India, especially in South, is the opposite. </div>
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Imagine my fate without rice...</div>
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I survived though!</div>
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I don't have that craving for rice, that feeling that I want rice. </div>
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Zero!</div>
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My husband, on the other hand, can live without it though he eats occasionally!</div>
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And the only rice dish that he likes is fried rice or <a href="http://thegirlandhercamera.blogspot.in/2015/02/palak-spinach-rice-recipe-better-way-to.html" target="_blank">palak rice</a>, but palak rice is only made when palak or spinach is available, which is not throughout the year unlike in cities where it is<i> (I assume) </i>available most of the year.</div>
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As for me, plain or with something, rice is rice and I like it.</div>
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We also like mushroom fried rice but is made only during the mushroom season. We stopped using canned mushroom because of health issues <i>(I encourage you to avoid buying and using canned items, too, because anything that has long shelf life will definitely make your life shorter).</i></div>
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So we almost always end up making vegetable fried rice when we have the cravings for rice, but never plain rice.</div>
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Ginger-garlic fried rice, as usual, is my husband's idea <i>(thinker, eh)</i>.</div>
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The first time I made it, I didn't add any vegetables.</div>
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<i>(Carrot is nowhere no matter where I look).</i></div>
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Then, a kilo of locally-grown capsicum, freshly harvested from a nearby farm courtesy of Mr. Ashok, a patient of my husband, was delivered to us -for free. </div>
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So instead of a repeat, we decided to add capsicum to ginger-garlic fried rice, our lunch the following day which was already decided the night before.</div>
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<i>"Okay, let's try it after all capsicum is almost always there in every fried rice",</i> I said.</div>
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So here it is, something to be shared with you because the recipe is very simple and you can add vegetable of your choice and see how it goes.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j1k47yPUS3M/VbuJe10-faI/AAAAAAAABuY/dv_1Zbctvdg/s1600/Picture%2B001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j1k47yPUS3M/VbuJe10-faI/AAAAAAAABuY/dv_1Zbctvdg/s400/Picture%2B001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>What are needed?</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b> 1. Rice, 1 cup, cooked a night before (I used brown rice this time).<br />
2. Capsicum, 3 medium-size, chopped into small pieces<br />
3. Garlic, plenty, minced-keep for 20 minutes before using (I used big ones up to 7 heads)<br />
4. Ginger, 3 inches, minced (skin not removed, wash properly and remove not so good-looking parts)<br />
5. Onions, 4, medium size, chopped into small pieces<br />
6. Black pepper, 1 tsp.<br />
7. Salt to taste<br />
8. Vegetable oil ( I used sesame oil, mustard oil, olive oil -little of each)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdjHlxK5rZE/VbuO1rSkNuI/AAAAAAAABuo/Xr2ycULkbhE/s1600/Picture%2B009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UdjHlxK5rZE/VbuO1rSkNuI/AAAAAAAABuo/Xr2ycULkbhE/s400/Picture%2B009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><u>How to do it?</u></b><br />
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1. Get all ingredients ready.<br />
2. In a deep pan, heat oil in high flame.<br />
3. Add in ginger and garlic together. Fry till brown while pressing once in a while. Lower the flame if necessary.<br />
4. Pour in onions followed by salt. Fry till translucent.<br />
5. Add capsicum. Cook for 1-2 minutes in a high flame. Don't overcook capsicum.<br />
7. Then add rice. Mix the mixture well in a high flame for a few more seconds making sure that no lumps of rice are seen till all ingredients get mixed.<br />
8. Sprinkle black pepper. Check the taste. It's the ginger and garlic, salt and black pepper that make this dish tastier.<br />
9. Turn off the stove.<br />
10. Serve hot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wfbzx_vi3ww/VbuPp6nc6QI/AAAAAAAABu0/Qi-Ew8gGPsY/s1600/Picture%2B017.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wfbzx_vi3ww/VbuPp6nc6QI/AAAAAAAABu0/Qi-Ew8gGPsY/s400/Picture%2B017.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">~my share! we had it with fresh and immature cucumbers, locally grown~</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><u>Notes:</u></b><br />
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~ White rice was also used in this recipe.<br />
~ Carrots can be added instead of capsicum or with capsicum.<br />
~ Make sure to use lots of garlic and ginger, hence the name.<br />
~ It's tastier when dry so I never use ginger-garlic paste again.<br />
~ The rice should be cooked dry, not wettish, so don't overcook it.<br />
~ Soya chunks might go well with this so next time I'll try it. You can also try already. Just boil soya chunks with salt. When cool, squeeze to remove excess water, then dry after adding onions.<br />
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Enjoy this very quick and simple rice recipe!<br />
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Spring Rainhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15295267120449106918noreply@blogger.com0