:Where Worklife Matters

An important aspect of planning the events and preparations for your wedding lies in the selection of a photographer. Some people are intimidated by the concept of arranging for professional wedding photography because they fear the cost will be too exorbitant. Professional wedding photography is certainly not cheap, but it is one of those things in life where the old adage “you get what you pay for” is certainly true. You can use an amateur for your wedding photos if you so desire, but the difference in the end result will be readily apparent. Still, there are ways to get good quality wedding photography, performed by a professional, and still have enough cash left for the honeymoon.

When selecting a professional to handle your wedding photography, price will be a factor in your decision. While you get what you pay for, there is no reason to pay more than you have to. Before deciding on any one photographer or photo studio, do some comparisons. Look at the sample photos that you are shown and ask if they have samples you can take with you. Compare the look of the photos from each photographer with one another. If you find two that seem to be of similar quality but with vastly different prices, then the decision is easy. Obviously the less costly photographer can do the same or similar work for less.

Another consideration in selecting a professional photographer for your wedding is what you get for your money. Most professional wedding photographers offer package deals that include a set number of prints of different shapes and sizes for one price. These packages can vary greatly in terms of content and price from one photographer to another. Look at all they have to offer and make your decision after weighing what you think is the best deal for the money in terms of what you actually get.

One thing many people do not consider when selecting a photographer for their wedding is the impact of copyright law. The photographer may hold a copyright on your wedding photographs. If so this technically makes it illegal for you to create additional prints, copies, or even computer scans of the photographs for reproduction elsewhere. Find out when interviewing photographers what rights they exercise over your photos, if any. You’ll find that most photographers do exercise some form of copyright over the finished product. Others will sell you the entire package, including the negatives for you to do with as you please. This is not the most important part of selecting a photographer, but it is something to consider carefully.

Professional wedding photography is one part of your overall wedding experience that will, unfortunately, cost you some money. There is no way around that if you want the best wedding photos you can get. With a little investigation and comparison, however, you can still save money on this most important feature and make sure that you get the absolute most for your money that you possibly can.

Kirsten Hawkins is an event planner from Nashville, TN. Visit www.wedding411.net/ for more event planning tips, strategies, and resources.

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A good nights sleep has many important health benefits which I will write about in this article. I am the kind of person who is just unable to perform to my best if I have only had a small number of hours of sleep, I also have a step-daughter who is extremely moody during the next day, if she has not had slept for around seven hours during the night.

I would have to say that I would even class sleep as a hobby of mine, you may think that this is a bit strange but it is true. I feel very safe and comfortable when I am in bed and some people suggest that it is possibly like the way young infants feel when they are in their mothers womb.

When I am in the type of mood that means I find it hard to get to sleep, for example when I have a lot on my mind, I imagine that I have driven off to some long off place in the distance, parked up the car and then have gone to sleep in the back of the car with around four pillows and three quilts. I suppose this is a way of me dreaming of running away from my troubles to an area where no-one can hurt me and again making myself extremely warm and comfortable. This again might be a bit weird in some peoples eyes but it helps me to get to sleep. It certainly beats counting sheep.

Sleep itself has many benefits. People who often find themselves in a depressed state, which is what I have been in the past, can find that a good nights sleep can have a very positive affect on their overall state of mind. This could be because it helps people to think in a clearer and more positive way. The sleep helps bring more life and energy into people helping them to start fighting their problems and challenges.

Sleep can also help people who are often stressed. This is very much for the same reasons as above. What people may of course say is that they actually find it hard to sleep when they are stressed or depressed. This is very understandable and the example above where I have described how I manage to get myself to sleep in this situation, may hopefully be of use to people. Other methods would be to think of other ways of trying to switch off the mind from over worrying about things, as an example people can read part or all of a good book before attempting to fall asleep.

From a personal point of view, I have found that even though it is important to sleep for quite a long time (around seven or eight hours per night), that it is also important not to over stay in bed in the morning. I am not sure exactly why this is but I always have a sense of feeling heavier. This leaves me in a negative and lethargic mood all day. This could be just me of course. I basically in general go to bed at around ten at night and wake up at around seven in the morning.

What I enjoy most of all is what happens in my house at around eight o’clock most evenings. This is when my son goes upstairs to bed. He always has around an hour of playing with his toys before he decides he is ready to go to sleep and he likes me to listen to him whilst he is playing. This is fine by me as it allows me to lie in my bed and relax. I do not always fall asleep but it is extremely enjoyable to hear him play while at the same time I am in a way re-charging my batteries.

In conclusion, I would advise people to enjoy the benefits of sleep. Sleep in some peoples eyes is a hassle and they would rather be watching the television or socialising with their friends. As previously stated I treat sleep as a hobby and look forward to going to bed. For people who are prone to depression or who are often stressing about this or that, a good nights sleep could be exactly what you need.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

stuttering

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aviation cleaning solutions

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One way to tell if you are dealing with a good gambling site is to find out what kind of customer service department they have. You do not want to ever do business with a site that does not offer a high level of customer support and service. If you should ever have a problem or a question you will be glad that you chose to do business with a site that prides itself on offering top notch customer service to all of its members.

While searching out an online gambling site to join, you will want to test out the customer service department first hand. This can be done in a couple of different ways. First off, you will want to give the 800 number a call and ask any questions that you may have. Keep in mind how long your waiting time is. If you are always going to have to wait a half hour for support you may want to consider joining a site that is more efficient. Also, when you get off the phone ask yourself how well they answered your questions. Did they answer them to your satisfaction, or did they just dance around the question until you finally got fed up with it?

Next, you will want to test out their email system. Send a quick email to the customer service department and see how long it takes for them to get back to you. Most good companies offer same day or 24 hour turnaround time. You should not have to wait any longer than that.

By taking a survey of the different customer service departments you will be able to get a good idea as to what kind of site you are going to be dealing with. Do not forget this step when you are searching for an online gambling site. It will go a long way over the course of your time with the site.

Our expert sportsbook author at http://www.easybaseballbetting.com is Kris Lazaro.

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If you have a boat, you need boat insurance!

Shopping for boat insurance is a bit different from shopping for car insurance, even though the concept is much the same. Boat insurance will protect you against losses incurred while operating your boat, and while transporting your boat. Most boat insurance includes coverage for the boat, the motor, and the trailer.

When shopping for boat insurance, it is usually best to start with the insurance company that insures your cars and your home. Insurance companies usually give deep discounts to their current customers. Most insurance companies will also give deep discounts to people who have successfully completed a boating safety course.

Ask each insurance company that you contact about such discounts. In most cases, they won’t tell you about the discounts unless you specifically ask.

Don’t settle for the rate that your current insurance company quotes! Just get the quote, and tell them you will call them back soon. Using that quote as your base, you need to see if you can get the insurance cheaper elsewhere.

Using online resources is a great way to start. Get the quotes, and then contact the agents personally to see if you can work out a better deal. Believe it or not, insurance companies will compete with each other for your business. Don’t be afraid to tell them the lowest quote that you have been given so far - make them work for your business!

Know what type of insurance you want and need before contacting any agents. Some agents will try to sell you too much insurance, causing your premiums to skyrocket, while others aren’t as knowledgeable about the insurance needs of boat owners and won’t sell you enough coverage!

You should be protected against losses caused by sinking, fire, storms, theft, capsizing, stranding, collision, and explosion. The policy should cover anchors, oars, trolling motors, fuel tanks, seat cushions, skis, tow ropes, dinghies, tools, canopies, life preservers, and any equipment that is permanently attached to the boat.

The different types of insurance that you need include Watercraft Liability, Watercraft medical payments, Newly acquired watercraft coverage, coverage for repairs, coverage for emergency services, and coverage for wreck removal. In most states, the liability coverage entails Watercraft Liability and Watercraft Medical Payments.

Watercraft liability will protect you in the event of an accident that results from the ownership, maintenance, or use of your boat. It should include bodily injury coverage, property damage coverage, and even legal defense coverage. It should also protect anyone who drives your boat, as long as they were legally allowed to drive the vessel.

Watercraft Medical payments coverage will pay medical expenses up to specific limits for you and the occupants of your boat in the even of an accident.

Other types of coverage are usually voluntary, but should be strongly considered. There is quite a bit that can happen when you transport or operate a water vessel, and protecting yourself legally should be a high priority!

Again, know what you want in terms of coverage before you talk to an agent, and make sure that you get the coverage that you need.

Compare rates online, and then contact the agents that offer you the lowest quotes. Attend a boating safety course, and make sure that you get that discount! Once you’ve found lower rates than the original quote that your current insurance company offered you, call them back and let them know that you found a lower rate. See if they can compete - in many cases they will offer to match that rate, just to keep your business! Again - make them work for your business!

CopyRight Ian D. Major 2005.

Ian D. Major makes it easy to understand Boat Insurance, quickly and easily. Learn all you need to know by visiting Why You Need Boat Insurance an entirely FREE source of information about Boat Insurance.

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This will be last and final event of the Great Tribulation. The Bible says that immediately after the Tribulation occurs, Jesus will return back to us for His second coming! Here are 2 key verses on this battle and how it all gets set up in the first place.

1. This 1st verse is very, very interesting. It implies that the Antichrist does not have full control over the entire world. It says that he hears “news” from the east and north that trouble him. This news causes him to go out in “great fury” to annihilate many. My guess is that China and Russia do not want to come under his rule and they are setting up to come against him. Here is the verse:

“But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountains; and yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.” (Daniel 11:44-45)

This verse tells us that he is going to meet his end and that no one is going to be able to help him. As you will see further down, Jesus is the one who will be putting an end to him - so this verse is showing us that this event will lead up to the battle of Armageddon.

2. In this next verse, the word Armageddon is actually used to describe the place where this battle is going to take place. Armageddon is the plain of Megiddo which forms the only pass through the mountains which enters from the North and South of Israel. It is in northern Israel and it is a natural pass from the Mediterranean Sea through the mountains and the interior of Israel.
This next verse tells us that the Euphrates River will dry up so that a pass and a way is made for the kings of the east to come against Israel and the Antichrist in this last battle. Here are the verses describing all of this:

“Then the sixth angel poured his bowel on the great river Euphrates, and its water dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to that great day of God Almighty … and they gathered them together to a place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” (Revelations 16:12-16)

Also notice that the demons that are in the Antichrist and False Prophet will be the ones that will go out and draw the rest of the nations to Armageddon for this last and final battle. The stage is now set. You have what is probably China coming in from the east, possibly Russia, Libya and Iran coming from the north and the troops from the Antichrist’s 10 nation European confederacy coming in from the east - all converging onto Armageddon to battle it out - probably to see who will rule the world. What happens next? Read our next article in this series.

About the Author

Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible commentary and teaching.
If you do not want to wait for the next article,
you can go to our end times section.
Copyright © 2005 by Michael Bradley. All Rights Reserved.

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You’re in the market for your wedding rings. You’ve put alot of
thought into them, and you don’t want the plain bands everyone
else is wearing. You want something different, more unique.
Here’s some ideas to toss around.

You can have custom bands done by a jeweler. You could pick a
theme that’s important to both of you. Or you could just choose
a style and design you both like. When you choose your jeweler
make certain he is creating a one of a kind set for you and then
disposing of the mold. Otherwise, your unique bands won’t be
unique for long. Choose a design and style that fits your likes
and lifestyle. It will give a hint of your personality and make
your fashion statement!

You can choose a different mix of metals. Titanium has become
very popular, as has stainless. You might find something a
little different in these metals. They won’t be truly unique,
but they won’t be common either. You can also choose from white
gold, platinum, gold, sterling, and a host of mixes.

Celtic bands have become very popular, offering a host of
various celtic knots. Dragon bands have also gained popularity.
There are some very unique and unusual Celtic Bands on the
market. They are works of art with plenty of history tied to the
designs.

Engraving on the bands has become very popular. In the past one
might engrave something on the inside of the band, but these
days inscriptions are being engraved on the exterior as well.
Today bands are being engraved, on the inside, outside, center,
where ever you wish. Engraving has become an art form onto
itself.

Wanting to engrave them, but don’t want them to say the same old
thing you always see like your wedding date, or I love you. Then
come up with your original saying or inscription. Something that
is important to you.

Here are a few more unusual inscriptions you might want to
consider. Amor VIncit Omia [latin - love conquers all], Now &
Forever, From This Moment On, Mon Coeur est a vous [French - my
heart is yours],

If your looking for something funnier try - Nonrefundable, All
sales final, Or I can’t return him/her I lost the manual.
Something simpler, try your wedding date with your initials, how
about the title of your wedding song, or the title of your
favorite song, My best friend, Love is Eternal. Symbols work
nicely also.

Some of the more common engravings are - all my love, my love
forever, with all my heart, the date of your wedding with your
names, just your names, or just the date.

Uniqueness is dependant on you as a couple. By this time in your
relationship you know what is special to both of you, so choose
a theme and go with it!

© Copyright Sher Matsen, All Rights Reserved.

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Are you too old for weight lifting? Will weight lifting help
you stay and look younger? The answer to the first question is
no and to the second is a resounding yes. Weight lifting will
help both men and women stay fit and supple and might even help
you look younger. And, no matter what your age, you’re not too
old to start.

In 1982, Dr.Walter Bortz,writing in The Journal of the American Medical Association, stated that a number of the physical
changes we undergo as we age, such as loss of muscle tone,
organ deterioration, and osteoporosis are “indistinguishable
whether caused by age or inactivity.” He believed that exercise
could delay many of the diseases associated with aging, adding
“at least a portion of the changes commonly attributed to aging
are in reality caused by disuse and, as such, subject to
correction”.

As we age, we lose bone density and muscle mass. We get stiff
and our joints creak. Instead of using our body, we “rest” it
even more, starting a very dangerous downward spiral. The
synovial fluid dries up, the tendons become brittle, the sinews
grow weak. It hurts to move, so we don’t.

More recently Dr Henry Lodge and Chris Cowley published a new
book on this theme, “Younger Next Year: A Guide to Living Like
50 Until You’re 80 and Beyond”. The premise of this book is that weight lifting will help reverse the loss of both bone density and muscle mass that begins to take place as we get older. And they’re not talking about light weights, but rather big heavy weights.

In July 1983, Terry Todd wrote in Sports Illustrated that “Anyone who has spent much time in what is sometimes called the “Iron Game” has, of course, seen weight trainers over 40 whose physiques were…surprisingly youthful. Apparently there is something about the act of regularly stressing your body with heavy exercise that gives it the wherewithal to resist the visual manifestations of advancing age…research in this area suggests that men and women of middle age
will respond to systemic progressive resistance with weights by
becoming more powerful and more flexible, with more endurance and less fat.”

In 2003, the Centers for Disease Control reported that strength
training “can be very powerful in reducing the signs and symptoms of numerous diseases and chronic conditions, among them:arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, back pain and depression.”

Strength training will also increase your flexibility and balance, which decreases the likelihood and severity of falls. One study in New Zealand in women 80 years of age and older showed a 40% reduction in falls with simple strength and balance training.

I don’t agree that we need to undertake heavy weight training to see substantial benefits.

The American College of Sports Medicine strength training
guidelines say we should start with at least two days a week of
any type of resistance exercise by doing 8 to 10 different exercises and doing 8 to 12 repetitions per day. A repetition is how many times you lift the weight or do the exercise.

So start off with a weight that you can lift correctly for at least 8 reps, even if it’s only 2 to 5 pounds. Rest between each set of repetitions and between each exercise. If you can’t make it to 8 reps during the first few tries, don’t give up. Do as much as you can do. You’ll be suprised at how soon you will feel like you need to add a bit more weight.

But the goal is not to become a body builder, but rather to restore your muscle tone and joint movement. You can gradually work your way up to heavier weights if you desire, but you will obtain the best benefit by avoiding injury and sticking to the program - lifting weights every two or three days.

An excellent resource on this subject is Getting Stronger: Weight Training for Men and Women by Bill Pearl and Gary Moran, Ph.D. I have the edition that came out in 1986. A newer one is now available. I have referred to it constantly over the last 19 years.

The book gives you tips and pointers on how to set up a strength training regime. There are illustrations of every exercise with step by step instructions on how to do them properly.

You can either learn beginning to advanced body building, sports fitness routines to help you do better in 22 different sports, exercises to help prevent injuries at work or just the principles of general conditioning and strength training.

And you don’t need any fancy equipment to get going. Almost all the exercises use cheap dumbbells and weights that are available in just about every sporting goods store. All in all, this is a very comprehensive book on weight training and is especially helpful to those of us who have never lifted weights before.

If you have any disease, injury or physical disability, consult the doctor who has been treating you before undertaking these exercises. Follow his advice on how to get started and do not strength train if he says not to.

Start off slowly with light weights. Follow the diagrams in the book to make sure you’re positioning your body correctly to avoid injury and obtain the best result from your workout.

After several weeks, you will be well on your way to improving your appearance, physique and general attitude toward life, while doing wonders for you internal organs and maybe even fighting off disease.

“Use it or lose it” applies to just about every part of your body. Don’t “lose it” because of inactivity and disuse.

This article is for informational purposes only. It does not purport to offer medical advice. Consult a qualified physician before undertaking any exercise program.

Jean Bowler

Ms Bowler has been a ballet dancer and teacher, a gynmastics coach, and aerobics teacher and a private coach.

She has a strong interest in antiaging research.

She is the editor of Ageless Beauty, Your AntiAging Exercise Resource

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What is the main purpose in getting your work printed? The
purpose is for others to read them and get something out of
them. By getting something out of these prints, there lies the
basis for your printing job to become the success that you have
intended it to be. Business wise, these prints are the money
generators that these owners have the great need for. The
smallest of printing material can make phenomenal revenues.

Postcards, even in their tiniest sense, can be the best source
of keeping the income coming into a business or a company. The
purpose in sending postcards into your prospective customers is
to make money than the money you spend in the mailing of these
cards. If you think you would not profit from this, the
probability is you will not send it in the first place. Then
there is also the fact that the more creative and beautiful your
postcard is, the more response it will bring than those that are
plain and boring looking.

In getting the right quality prints into your postcards, the
first thing is obviously the expensive cost that it will take.
If you think about it in a more productive way, getting to pay a
little bit more can be compensated for getting the result you
would want. The purpose is to get more response from the people.
To get that, you will need all the resources and the strategies
you can think of. Having the positive result will make up for
the money you spent by doubling or even tripling your money.

The best way to get about this is to have a great design and
make many copies of that. The front of postcards should state
clearly what you have to say about your business. This front
side is supposed to attract the attention of the readers enough
to make them go through what you are trying to say. Getting them
interested firsthand, they would be able to scan the whole
length. Ways of making use of what you are offering would come
next which means profit to you.

The back part is a way of these people to get to you. Contact
details, like email addresses, telephone numbers and locations
should not be forgotten to be put into this part of the card. A
few words of encouragement and marketing will also help keep the
interest alive. This would guarantee a definite response.

A good design and the proper execution of this is all you need
to hit home run. And it is all in a postcard.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit
http://www.uprinting.com

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Wearing only a green loincloth, a barefooted indian approached me. Lean and muscular, his straight black hair hung down past his ears in a “page boy” style cut typical of “Cholos” or straight-haired people. His flat, broad feet were caked with sand. A two and a half foot long machete was slung across his back by a braided vine thong. A small drawstring pouch hung by its cords under one arm. We looked at each other. Glancing down at the scattering of wood shavings around my feet, the Embera finally broke the silence.

“What are you doing?” he asked in his native tongue.

“I’m making a fishing lure.”

Tipping his head curiously, he squinted at the near minnow-shaped blank of wood in my hands. I continued whittling. More wood shavings fell around his feet. He didn’t move. The Pacific Ocean surf roared and pounded like a lullaby no more than 100 yards away down the sand-paved street. Late afternoon had painted the sky with burnt orange and purple hues. A light breeze easily carried the salt scent to us and felt refreshing against the crushing humidity.

“It will be like one of these”, I said in Spanish, holding up another finished minnow-imitation top water plug. The Rapala-type fishing lure had been finished only yesterday.

Heavy rain and roiling seas had scuttled any fishing plans I’d had for earlier this morning. In the clear afternoon, I opted to work on a couple of lures to pass the sauna-like conditions of Colombia’s Pacific coast. The Choco region is one of the wettest regions in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. More than 43 and a half feet of rain fall each year - enough to flood a building above its fourth floor.

He took a lure from my hands and turned, holding it up, to show another more elderly Indian man who now approached. They spoke a bit between themselves, turning the lure over and over in their hands, mindful of the tail and mid-body stainless steel treble hooks. The first man undulated the lure in a swimming motion imitating a dancing, bobbing fish. Smiling, he handed it back to me.

“I’ve never seen anything like that”, the tan skinned man continued. “Do you have more?”

I nodded a response.

“Do you sell them?”

“Not these. I’ll be using these myself tomorrow.”

“The fish will really like these, especially this one.” He pointed to a red-headed five inch minnow imitation lure with a white body: Its treble hooks glinted in the evening sunlight.

“I hope so.” He proved right couple of days later as I fought a 14-pound Dorado to the gunnels of my boat. My hands cut and bleeding, it took two of us to sling the blue and gold, spotted scrapper up and into the locally built 25 foot wooden launch. I would sport a shameless, white-toothed grin all the way home that morning.

Showing off a few more of my finished lures, we conversed a bit more. They left in wonder at my ability to “make little fish from sticks”. So from that day on, I have been known by the Embera Indians of the Jurubida region of the Choco, as “The man who makes little fish from sticks.” Kinda of catchy, ain’t it? I still can’t quite say it correctly in the Embera’s language, but let me tell you, it’s a mouthful.

Prof Larry M. Lynch is a bi-lingual copywriter, expert author and photographer specializing in business, travel, food and education-related writing in South America. His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News and Brazil magazines. He lives in Cali, Colombia, fishes the South American Pacific coast, Amazon and Orinoco River basins for exotic salt water and fresh water game and food fish. For no-obligation information on how to get original, exclusive Exotic fishing stories, fishing technique articles, fishing-action photography and one-of-a-kind content for your fishing-related newsletter, blog or website contact him today at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com for a free, action photo-packed, South American fishing adventure article.

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A visitor to Moscow would be immediately struck by the fact that an otherwise dull Kremlin now seduces one to break the sound barrier in a mike, rediscover one self on a Compaq or simply feel Warner in a Pringles. If this is not enough then there is always Chairman Mao in Tiananmen Square calling upon workers and peasants to not only carry forward the revolution but also gulp down a Sprite, while they are at it. Numerous more examples abound from the Adriatic, so what does it all signify? Is it truly the end of History? Do we now see a time when a matter of ideology is drinking a Coke or a Pepsi? Closer introspection would reveal that it is not quite so.

Let us begin by noting that the world has not got rid of or minimized the areas of conflict. From the more recent Israeli- Palestinian clashes, to the problems in Chechnya, Kashmir, Sri Lanka, parts of Africa etc. The war on Terror has brought Afghanistan and Iraq into global focus. Tensions persist on one form or another and have the potential to assume more enormous dimensions at any time. Closely related to this point is the fact that there are vast areas of the globe that were, in a sense left behind in time: parts of the middle-east, chunks of Africa and Latin America and especially Afghanistan are regions where modernity as we know it has failed to penetrate let alone reach a critical mess to iron out medieval tensions and propel the inhabitants towards growth and self realization. Such geographical pockets are breeding grounds of what may seem outdated, yet in fact extremely potent ideologies and movements. These regions are not merely trouble spots of the world meant to be fumigated at will by the forces of modernity in their multi-billion dollar corporate avatars but are in fact pointers towards more serious matters. Namely how does one reconcile the difference between the majority of the human population that is battered by pressures of war, disease, hunger, natural calamities, apathetic rulers, poverty and ignorance everyday, and those who suggest that the panacea of all evils is to watch more movies, guzzle more beers drink more colas, and Just Do It?

Tied to the above factors is the fact that all over the world maybe in the countries themselves, the so-called engines of globalization seem to be acquiring local hues and colours as they clank. Be it the fact that fast food giants serving local cuisines, global television channels beaming programmes in regional languages or giant corporations trying to be more uniform global system, driven by the forces of profit and loss seems to be weakening.

If Bill Gates came to Hyderabad to sell his Windows XP, an Indian has moved to Redmond to design it for him. As a result America is browning and in a decade from now, the white man would be a minority on his island. Immigrants are no longer poor Italians, Irish and Jews sailing to their land of opportunity in claustrophobic ships but are in fact an important constituent of the demographic profile of every western country. Over the years these Patils and Changs have emerged as significant pressure groups in the government of their new homeland, and it is only with a passage of time that we will realize the full impact of these movements of migrants on the history of mankind.

Equally significant has been the revolution in the fields of science and technology. We are today witness to a rapid advancement in communication, especially information technology and networking. The world is increasingly shrinking to become one global village. One development in one part of the world soon affects the life of people in other parts of the world. Say for instance, oil production. If Saudi Arabia or any of the major OPEC nations decide to cut production, even if it is a marginal cut, oil prices shoot up and political climate can change. A country’s might and political clout now depends not just on sheer military power but also on the scientific potential. The case of India is ample proof of this and how different countries are analyzing its strategic importance in the 21st century. But here too there is a need to wait and watch as to how these developments affect history and its march forward.

Lastly, the world is seeing new ideologies and movements which cannot be simple bracketed as ‘right’ or ‘left’, ‘privatization’ or ‘nationalization’ and so on and so forth. Whether it is farmers in France preventing the development of genetically modified seeds, truckers in Britain blocking highways to protest against high fuel prices, Germans screaming ‘Inder Statt Kender’, Indians debating the merits of secularism or Americans calling for a ban on abortions and greater acceptance of gay rights, it all shows that each day new issues will present themselves before people and governments. These issues will remain just as pressing and significant even if they will not essentially involve tanks breaching iron fences or iron curtains.

To conclude briefly, all over the world, it seems newer forces are emerging and are yet to make their full impact. Therefore, far from it beginning the ‘End of History’, we have just managed to plough through the first few chapters and many more await us.

About The Author

NAME: MITHUN BHATTACHARYA
ADDRESS:
A/3,Institute of Economic Growth,
Delhi University Enclave,
Delhi- 110007
INDIA
TELEPHONE: +91-11-27667598, 27667665
EMAIL: bsmb@vsnl.com; bhattacharya_mit@hotmail.com
DATE OF BIRTH: 16th of January 1980

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