2008 to 2014. Was this time period really a short or a long journey for me?

This time, I will not write more. Instead, I chose to express through some of the photos which I have maintained over the years. The call of of nature automatically is, " To rise high is to fall down one day". Similarly, I am not surprised but obviously, I know there is a change in part of my life from bachelor to married life to family life. At the end of the day, all I have to do is to embrace these changes. Here are some of the photos which clearly underlines the state of my life has changed.


1. 2008. First Year in the College of Dairy and Food Science Technology. Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan India.

 

2. 2012. Final Year in the College of Dairy and Food Science Technology. Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan India.

3. 2013. My first year in Civil Service and marriage. Married at the age of 26.

4. 2014. We welcomed our first child Tshering Choden into our life. This fetches me a sense of fatherhood.

Life has to go on and on.

35th US President John F Kennedy's Inaugural Speech.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), commonly known as Jack Kennedy or by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination in November 1963. His Inaugural address delivered on January 20, 1961.

Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice president Nixon, President Truman, Reverend Clergy, fellow citizens: We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom--symbolizing an end as well as a beginning--signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe--the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. This much we pledge--and more. To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do--for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder. To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom-and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. To those peoples in the huts and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required--not because the communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge--to convert our good words into good deeds--in a new alliance for progress--to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house. To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support--to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective--to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak--and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run. Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction. We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed. But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course--both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war. So let us begin anew--remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms--and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce. Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah--to "undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the oppressed go free." And if a beach-head of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved. All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe. Now the trumpet summons us again-not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need--not as a call to battle, though embattled we are--but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"--a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease and war itself. Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort? In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility--I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it--and the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.

11 Everyday items that could actually end up killing you. What do you think?

Dear friends,

I read this link a few minutes back and I could not control myself from sharing it in my blog thinking that at least one among thousands/millions will give a second thought after reading it.  Indeed, it is a call for us to explore what is locally available around us instead of targeting for a hi-fi imported food products. 

I know people residing in urban areas in Bhutan have certainly developed a health consciousness in choosing foods but they generally give least importance to foods produced locally due to numerous factors like poor presentation, poor packaging coupled with lack of sustainable supplying ability. However, the flow of local products into the market is gearing up and it will gain momentum with time. 

Therefore, I URGE other readers to kindly give a wise thought in choosing foods.

Well, you must have seen some warning signs on some everyday items. We often see such warnings like Caution, Danger, but tend to ignore them. It is all because honestly, we don't give a damn. However, we're living in a time where it's important to get serious about such warnings. Studies and research undertaken by some renowned professionals have shown that some of our everyday items which we use daily, contain some lethal toxins and chemicals. Sad but, unfortunately, true.

Take a look at some everyday items that could be killing you.  

1. Microwave popcorn

Our favorite time-pass snack is packed in bags which are lined with PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). This chemical is also found in Teflon. Studies have shown that this chemical can be linked with infertility in women and exposure significantly increases the risk of kidney, bladder, liver, pancreas and testicular cancers.

2. Artificial sweeteners

Nowadays, many of us have started opting for artificial sweeteners in our diet. However, many studies have shown that a number of users of this product actually end up gaining weight. When a breakdown of certain chemicals takes place, a deadly toxin called DKP is produced, which is known to cause brain tumours. A report by National Cancer Institute, USA, states that the use of this product may be hazardous to your health. In fact, the product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals.

3. Alcohol

An occasional consumption of alcoholic drinks is fine. But always getting bhand is never advisable as experts working with the World Health Organization Research on cancer found evidence that alcohol is the main cause of mouth, oesophagus (food pipe), liver, colon, rectum, and female breast cancers. A friendly reminder - studies show that every year, alcohol causes 4% of cancers in the UK, which is around 12,800 cases.

4. Processed meats

What with restaurants these days serving fried mice and brains, processed meat can never be an everyday option. In fact, some studies have shown that people who regularly ate processed meats increased their chance of early death by as much as 43%. The American Institute of Cancer Research published article stating that eating even small amounts of cold cuts or other processed meats on a regular basis increases the risk of colorectal cancer.

5. Potato chips

This one's quite a no-brainer. Potato chips, much to everyone's dismay, are the perfect recipe for causing cancer. These chips include high trans fats with sodium, both of which spell disaster for the body. But all's not lost. Dr. Andrew Weil, a renowned M.D and best-selling author on holistic health, says, "If you're following a healthy diet, there's not much reason to worry about the Acrylamide (which causes cancer) in an occasional indulgence in French fries, cookies and the other foods mentioned by the FDA. If you eat those foods regularly, you should be more concerned about all the unhealthy oxidized polyunsaturated fat and refined starch in them, which are likely greater threats to health than the amounts of Acrylamide they may contain.

6. Hydrogenated oils

This basic cooking ingredient is actually deodorised and colored. Plus, excessive Omega-3 fatty acids can cause health issues. David Lawrence Dewey, a journalist, raised the warning flag to consumers of hydrogenated oils in 1996. He said that hydrogenated oils lead to a myriad of health problems including coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, autism, food allergies and autoimmune diseases.

7. Red meat

Red meat is heavy for the body to digest. Sadly, an everyday diet rich in red meat makes one susceptible to increased risk of cancer. In fact, a study released by the British Medical Journal showed that younger women who ate red meat had a slightly increased risk for developing breast cancer. The study involved close to 90,000 women followed for 20 years, meaning that, from a statistical perspective, it was respectable.

8. Toothpaste

We have been using this for a very long time to protect our teeth. But studies done by Hemad Yasaei, professor at Brunel University, London, have concluded that chemicals like BPA (used in plastics) or Triclosan, used in toothpastes, are known to have other ill-effects including cancer.Shocking but true!

9. Plastic food container

We rely on plastic food containers almost on a daily basis. But as reported by Professor Hemad Yasaei, additives added in plastic, PVC and polycarbonate products like plastic food containers belong to the category of chemicals having the potential to cause cancer.

10. Carpets

Something most of us have in our homes. But carpets have now become the hallmark of cancer as the stain repellent present in them includes cancer cells that have ability to multiply indefinitely, resist aging, creating disturbance in metabolism and developing genetic mutations, as reported by Brunel University, London. 

11. Liquid handwash

It's time to switch back to soaps as Biocides, a chemical used in making handwash, is carcinogenic in nature.

Now, the decision is all yours.

Thank you for your time in reading it.