Those who haven’t visited Goa tend to imagine it as some kind of Indian Costa Brava but with more cosmic karma and, thanks to this image, many people vow never to set foot there. However, Goa, like everywhere in India, is never quite what you expect. So let me tell you more about it. Goa is India’s smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population. Located on the west coast of India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.
Panaji is the state's capital. Vasco da Gama is the largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the influence of Portuguese culture. Portuguese first landed in Goa as merchants, in the early 16th century, and conquered it soon after. The Portuguese overseas territory existed for about 450 years, until it was annexed by India in 1961.
Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by hundreds of thousands of international and domestic tourists each year. It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hot spot.
Even I was one of the tourist last year! During the last December Holidays, I went to Goa with my grandparents. It was an fun and enjoyable trip. We went to Goa from Mumbai by car hence it took us about 12 hours to reach Goa. We were all wearied by the time we reached the hotel called ‘ First World International Hotel.’ The weather in Goa was quite pleasant unlike the weather in Singapore which has high humidity. The following day we went to the counter to find out the place of interest in Goa. I found out from my dad that 75% of the people living were Christians due to the Portuguese occupation. I was shocked when I heard that! We first went to the church called Basilica of Bom Jesus. The church was very enormous. It is one of the most world renowned churches because it contains the body St. Francis Xavier. Located in Old Goa, this church is rich in ornamentation. The Basilica of Bom Jesus enshrines the sacred remains of St. Francis Xavier, a member of the Society of Jesus who died on a sea voyage to China in 1552. Legend has it that when the body of Xavier was transferred to Goa the following year, the body was found as fresh as the day it was buried. Consequent to this miracle the title of 'Saint' was conferred on Xavier and his mortal remains, confined inside his tomb. It is believed that Francis Xavier's remains which are preserved in this church is still fresh today. Devotees from different parts of the world come to this church to offer their prayers. The body is kept for public to see after every ten years. Lastexposition was in 2004.
Hence we left the church with the knowledge of Saint Francis Xavier. Just in front of the church, I saw a Monginis Cake Shop. Monginis cakes are famous in the whole Goa. Thus, we decided to buy a piece for each of us. When, I took the first bite, the soft cake and cream melted in my mouth. It was indeed a mouth watering dessert but I had to resist my temptation of eating another one because I knew the cake was very fatty. Next, we visited the Dona Paula Beach. This beach was fringed by palm trees and the casuarinas groves which added to the holiday mood. The sand there was very smooth hence wetook off our shoes.Dona Paula Beach has also served as the setting for several Indian movies, increasing its popularity as a tourist spot. The beach was being thronged by hundreds of tourists. Although there were a lot of water sports activities, we did not try it out as we had experienced all that in another place so we knew the experience would be the same. After relaxing for sometime, we went back to the hotel for lunch. After a sumptuous lunch, we retired in our beds and we slept like logs until 5pm.
Then, we got ready to sit on a cruise to nowhere for one hour called 'Santa Monica'. It was quite a large ship. When we boarded, we sat on the top deck where the concert was going to be held. First we got to see the traditional dance of Goa. It is called the 'Konkani Dance'. Later the DJ called the couples to rock the dance floor. A respected amount of daring couples volunteered themselves. Their dance was accompanied by hit Bollywood songs. But a disaster soon took place. When the DJ asked the ladies to light the dance floor, now one was daring enough to go up and let herself out and show of her skills. But overall, it was an enjoyable experience in Goa. The following day, we bade Goa goodbye and left for Mumbai. But before going, we all bought a Goa shirt each and some seashells on which it was written ' I Love Goa.'
The new Sony VAIO Z laptop delivers incomparable performance capabilities to provide exceptional mobile computing without the slightest compromise. Advanced processing technology heightens your mobile enjoyment and you can maximise efficiency or accelerate graphics for cutting-edge performance with a click.
Its unique Selling points are: 1. Powerful Intel CPU The latest Intel® Centrino® 2 Processor technology, including Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P9500 and 4GB* of DDR3 memory, and a 320GB* HDD to supply all the performance of a desktop machine in an executive notebook without compromise.
2. Dynamic Hybrid Graphics Systems Advanced graphics capability is ensured by Sony’s innovative Dynamic Hybrid Graphics System that fine-tunes the VAIO Z’s operation to suit any business situation. You can switch to the Stamina Mode or the Speed Mode for full graphics acceleration at any time without rebooting the VAIO Z.
3. Compact yet advanced The VAIO Z is exceptionally compact, thanks to a new 12-layered high-density mounting board. Weighing in at a mere 1.48kg, the VAIO Z successfully delivers both computing power and thermal efficiency without compromising its stylishly compact footprint.
4. Silent A newly designed fan is the key to a more satisfying user experience created by the VAIO Z. Sony has of course reduced operating decibel levels, but has also gone one step further with deeper reductions made in those frequency ranges that people find unpleasant.
5. Rugged To assure solid performance in any mobile gruelling business situation, the VAIO Z is rigorously tested for durability. Further enhancing the sense of high quality and protecting the LCD at the same time is the use of tough multi-layered carbon fibre on its top cover and bottom cabinet. The carbon fibre material allows the VAIO to be built light and compact. It also a special scratch resistant coating on its surface. Capable of withstanding knocks form the height of 90 and 70 cm and shocks common on frequent business travels, the VAIO Z is built tough for even the most seasoned road warrior.
6. Highly Secure Maintain confidentiality while speeding up logins. VAIO Z is equipped with a convenient fingerprint sensor and added protection provided by TPM(Trusted Platform Module) security chip. that lets you quickly log in by simply swiping your finger over the sensor during start-up.
7.A replacement for Desktop PC The real wide 13.1" screen makes the VAIO Z suitable for use as both a desktop PC and as a portable machine. It also provides ample room for the simultaneous viewing of multiple windows and ideal for wide screen presentation. It has vibrant clarity. The Clear Tough LCD display with scratch-resistant and low-reflection coatings. The colour gamut of this LCD is Beautiful. It lets you view any image, document, or movie in HD quality. New pre-installed VAIO Presentation Support software heightens the convenience and flexibility of business presentations by displaying the external monitor's presentation material in a separate window. It makes business presentations easier.
The unique cylindrical form of the VAIO Z - traditionally one of the most distinctive features of VAIO design - integrates the glowing power button into its silver hinge and connects part of the battery, monitor and keyboard in a beautiful, seamless design. Slightly rounded and bevelled at the front and back for a beautiful flowing effect, the keyboard panel is clearly crafted for the elite executive. This exclusive panel has a finely brushed palm rest that impresses like a piece of sculptured art. Finely finished in sophisticated matte black and tastefully accented with a prestigious silver VAIO logo that subtly reflects your surroundings, the carbon fibre cover conveys your executive status and cultured sense of style. Even the keys are not spared from Sony's precise engineering and premium styling. The seamless keyboard features isolated keys that augment typing comfort while responding silently to finger-tip input. It's clear to see everything about the VAIO Z is designed for operating ease and comfort.
My review: I believe Sony's unique, curved case still turns heads, but despite its perks, it's hard to overlook the Z1's lackluster performance. If you're hell-bent on getting a Sony, check out the company's other, faster thin-and-light, the VAIO V505 series. The system measures 12.4 inches wide, 9.7 inches deep, just 0.9 inches thick in front, and 1.5 inches thick at the back where the battery props it up. It weighs 4.7 pounds by itself and 5.4 pounds with the AC adapter, a weight that's on the low end for thin-and-lights. Instead of a swappable bay, the Sony Z1 includes either an integrated DVD/CD-RW drive or a DVD-RW drive.
The Sony VAIO Z1's arrangement of the keyboard and touchpad is less impressive than its angular case. The reasonably wide and comfortable keyboard is firm, but it's nothing spectacular. The touchpad works fine, although the two matchstick-size mouse buttons underneath the pad could be larger. A strip of average-sounding speakers is centered above the board. Three buttons are the only standout features on the keyboard deck: two programmable application buttons in the upper-right corner, plus a convenient wireless on/off switch above the two buttons. As usual, the buyer has to fork out a substantial premium to own this piece of beauty.
iPhone Introducing iPhone 3G. With fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store, iPhone 3G puts even more features at your fingertips. And like the original iPhone, it combines three products in one — a revolutionary phone, a widescreen iPod, and a breakthrough Internet device with rich HTML email and a desktop-class web browser
Its Unique Selling points:
1. A very responsive Touch screen The 9 cm (3.5 in) liquid crystal display HVGA touchscreen with scratch-resistant glass is specifically created for use with a finger, or multiple fingers for multi-touch sensing. The screen is also capable of rendering up to 262,144 colors. The display responds to three sensors. A proximity sensor shuts off the display and touchscreen when the iPhone is brought near the face during a call. This is done to save battery power and to prevent inadvertent inputs from the user's face and ears. An ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness which in turn saves battery power. A 3-axis accelerometer senses the orientation of the phone and changes the screen accordingly.[33] Photo browsing, web browsing, and music playing support both upright and left or right widescreen orientations.
2. Ear Soothing Audio Loudspeakers are located above the screen and the left side of the bottom of the unit; the microphone is located on the right. Volume controls are located on the left side of the unit and as a slider in the iPod application.
The iPhone's headphones are similar to those of most current smartphones, incorporating a microphone. A multipurpose button in the microphone can be used to play or pause music, skip tracks, and answer or end phone calls without touching the iPhone; newer versions also incorporate volume controls. Wireless earpieces that use Bluetooth technology to communicate with the iPhone are sold separately. 3. Long Lasting Battery The iPhone features an internal rechargeable battery. The iPhone's battery is stated to be capable of providing up to seven hours of video, six hours of web browsing, eight hours of talk time, 24 hours of music or up to 250 hours on standby.
4. Grandma Friendly Interface
The interface is based around the home screen, a graphical list of available applications. iPhone applications normally run one at a time. The home screen can be accessed at any time by a hardware button below the screen, closing the open application in the process.By default, the Home screen contains the following icons: Text (SMS messaging), Calendar, Photos, Camera, YouTube, Stocks,Google Maps, Weather, Clock, Calculator, Notes, Settings, iTunes and App Store. Docked at the base of the screen, four icons for Phone, Mail, Safari (Internet), and iPod (music) delineate the iPhone's main purposes. iPhone users can rearrange and place icons on up to nine other adjacent home screens, accessed by a horizontal swipe. Each home screen holds up to sixteen icons, and the dock holds up to four icons. Almost all input is given through the touch screen, which understands complex gestures using multi-touch. The iPhone's interaction techniques enable the user to move the content up or down by a touch-drag motion of the finger. For example, zooming in and out of web pages and photos is done by placing two fingers on the screen and spreading them farther apart or bringing them closer together, an gesture known as "pinching". Scrolling through a long list or menu is achieved by sliding a finger over the display from bottom to top, or vice versa to go back. In either case, the list moves as if it is pasted on the outer surface of a wheel, slowly decelerating as if affected by friction. In this way, the interface simulates the physics of a real 3D object
My review : I believe iPhone is a revolutionary grandma friendly mobile phone that allows you to make a call by simply tapping a name or number in your address book, favorites list, or call log. It automatically syncs all your contacts from a PC, Mac, or Internet service. And Visual Voicemail lets you select and listen to messages in whatever order you want-just like email. It is also cool as the games are motion sensor games so they respond only when you move the phone up,down and so on.This gives a 3-D feeling hence it stimulates the interest.The phone also lets you arrange the applications at your own will.
2. HP Touchsmart IQ804 Intel Desktop PC Are you ready for the latest innovation from HP that responds to your every gesture? This is a all in one computer.High-speed networking is available with an integrated gigabit LAN and the fastest available wireless version: 802.11b/g/n. Get the quality and flexibility you need from a compact PC that is so easy to use you won’t take your hands off it!It is running on Windows Vista Premium 64-bit SP1.
Its Unique Selling points are:
1. Touch screen : Your digital life at your fingertips • Touch-screen technology puts your digital life at your fingertips with fast, easy access to info, entertainment and social networks. • Next-generation HP TouchSmart software simplifies access to photos, videos, music and applications. • Quick and easy touch access to your digital world.
2. The slim, stylish, next-generation PC • Sleek, next-generation design combines a 25.5" diagonal hi-def widescreen with a powerful energy efficient Intel Core 2 Duo processor. • Plug one power cord into the wall and you’re ready to go. • Wireless keyboard and integrated WLAN offer a truly wireless experience.
3. New HP TouchSmart Software : Watch your photos, movies and music come to life • Next generation HP TouchSmart software brings a new level of fun to your photos, videos and music. • Watch your favorite shows on the integrated 25.5” diagonal hi-def widescreen–makes for amazing slideshows too! • Enjoy high quality sound through the integrated premium stereo speakers. • Watch and burn your personal videos with the built-in DVD burner.
4. Great Screen, Video & Audio The touch-enabled 25.5-inch widescreen BrightView LCD offers height/tilt adjustment for optimal viewing. It offers a native resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which includes 128 MB of dedicated video memory .Intel Clear Video Technology provides outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and customizable color controls. 5. Built-in Bluetooth Wireless connectivity Be ready for the next platform in wireless connectivity with the integrated tri-mode Wi-Fi chip. Based on the draft 802.11n Wi-Fi specification, it offers up to five times the performance and twice the wireless range as existing 802.11g wireless. you'll enjoy wireless connectivity to a wide range of peripherals with the built-in Bluetooth.
My Review : Whether you plan to use this gizmo to enhance productivity or play multimedia files, this desktop PC provides a high-flying experience. Also, the HP TouchSmart desktop PC features a sleek piano black finish and modern design with stylish espresso side-panel highlights.
The new TouchSmart IQ804 desktop PC is a sleek all-in-one touch-screen desktop that can double as a TV with a huge 25.5-inch diagonal high-definition widescreen. It is a versatile entertainment system that puts a satisfying digital lifestyle right at your fingertips. With the intuitive user touch interface of the TouchSmart, users can quickly check the weather; play music and create playlists; crop, edit and share photos; or watch TV with only a tap or swipe of a finger. The wall mountable TouchSmart IQ804 desktop PC offers an image resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels and a fast response time of 5ms, providing a stunning high-definition experience.
Other features built into the sleek TouchSmart IQ804 desktop PC include a built-in webcam and microphone array for video chats with friends and family; colored HP Ambient Light to change the intensity of light glow; a memory card reader to easily access multimedia files and other files directly from a memory card HP Pocket Media Drive Bay for adding an additional hard drive; premium internal speakers for a powerful audio quality when listening to music or watching movies; and slot-loading optical drive for reading, writing, playing and watching DVDs and CDs. The TouchSmart IQ804 desktop PC is compatible with 64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium. With this platform, it certainly delivers a powerful way to enjoy all of your digital entertainment such as photos, music, TV, movies, home videos, radios, and a world of applications and services – all with the benefit of added security and reliability.
The simple yet sleek design and natural user interface adds style and elegance anywhere it is placed. The HP TouchSmart PC is all about reinventing the personal computer experience.
From the first few minutes of the film, introducing us to Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) and Rachael Holloman (Michelle Monaghan), we see a connection on the big screen. Not necessarily between the two of them but between the viewer and them. You actually start to care for these two strangers very quickly. You want to know what is happening, who their family is and most of all what their story is. Then all of a sudden the ride starts and doesn’t end for another hour and a half. This thrill ride follows two ordinary folks, or so it seems, through a maze of calculated steps to achieve an end goal of extraordinary measures.
The United States armed forces have a lead on a suspected terrorist in the Middle East, but as the man is a recluse, getting a positive ID proves difficult, and the DOD's computer system recommends that the mission be aborted. The Secretary of Defense (Michael Chiklis) agrees with the abort recommendation, but the President orders the mission be carried out anyway. This turns into a political backlash when all those killed turn out to be civilians, and retaliatory bombings are carried out in response. Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) lacks direction and faces financial difficulty. He finds out his twin brother Ethan, an Air Force lieutenant, is dead.
Following the funeral in January 2009, he goes to withdraw some money from an ATM and is surprised to see that he has $751,000 in his account.
When he returns home, he finds his apartment filled with a large amount of weapons, explosives, and forged documents. He receives a phone call from an unknown woman, who explains that the FBI is about to apprehend him in thirty seconds and that he must escape.
Not believing her, he is caught by the FBI, and is sent to an interrogation room where he meets Special Agent Thomas Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton). When Morgan leaves the room to meet with Air Force Office of Special Investigations Special Agent Zoe Perez (Rosario Dawson), the unknown woman arranges Jerry's escape over a phone and has him join up with single mother Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan). Rachel is being coerced by the unknown woman into assisting Jerry, by threatening to kill her son, Sam, a trumpet player on his way to Washington, D.C. from Chicago for a band recital.
The woman helps the pair to avoid the Chicago Police and FBI units, demonstrating the ability to remotely control virtually any networked device, such as traffic lights, cell phones, and even automated cranes. While Jerry and Rachel follow her instructions, the woman, has other 'agents' have a crystal explosive made into a necklace and its sound-based trigger placed inside Sam's trumpet. Jerry and Rachel are led from Chicago to Washington, D.C. via Indianapolis and Dayton through various means. They reach an electronics store to which the woman directs them. Over several televisions she introduces herself to them: she is a top secret supercomputer called "Autonomous Reconnaissance Intelligence Integration Analyst" referred to as Ariia tasked with gathering intelligence from all over the world. Ariia can control virtually anything electronic and has been monitoring both their lives and brought both Jerry and Rachel to her.
In light of the mistake made by the President at the beginning of the film, Ariia has decided that the executive branch is a threat to the public good and must be eliminated. Ariia plans to destroy the President's cabinet, and calls this Operation Guillotine. It has decided to leave the Secretary of Defense, who agreed with its recommendation to abort the mission, as the successor to the presidency. She does not reveal this to Jerry or Rachel, merely explaining that she is trying to help the people of the United StatesAt the Pentagon, where Ariia is housed, Agent Perez discovers that Ethan worked as a technician for the computer and locked it down to prevent Ariia from carrying out her plan. Perez warns the Secretary of Defense and they discuss the situation in a sealed room to prevent Ariia from hearing their conversation. Jerry and Rachel arrive at the Pentagon and are led to the supercomputer, where Ariia forces Jerry to impersonate Ethan and use an override code allowing her to go ahead with the plan.
Jerry observes CCTV footage displaying Ethan's fatal car crash (due to sabotaged traffic lights), realizing Ariia orchestrated Ethan's death since his twin could have stopped her. She then instructs Rachel to eliminate Jerry to prevent the lock from being reinstated, but Rachel cannot bring herself to do it. Rachel is led out of the building by Ariia while Jerry is caught by Agent Morgan. Having been warned by Agent Perez, Morgan believes Jerry's story and takes him to the United States Capitol. On their way, however, Ariia sends an MQ-9 Reaper UCAV after them. Agent Morgan sacrifices himself to destroy the craft and save Jerry.
Meanwhile, Agent Perez returns to the supercomputer and is successful in destroying it (by smashing her CPU), but not before Ariia uploads 27% of its memory to another location. Rachel is unknowingly given the explosive necklace by a corrupt official and sent to watch the President's speech. Sam's class, whose recital has been moved from the Kennedy Center to the Capitol for the President's State of the Union Address, begins to play.
The trigger that will set off the explosive necklace is set to activate when Sam plays a high F on his trumpet corresponding to the word "free" in the last stanza of the U.S. national anthem. Jerry successfully infiltrates the vicinity dressed as a Capitol policeman and fires his pistol into the air, stopping the performance and emptying the room just as Sam starts to play the note. Jerry is then shot several times by a Secret Service agent, who is unaware of the reason for Jerry's actions. In the aftermath of the chaos Ariia caused, the Secretary of Defense urges that another supercomputer should not be built. Ethan posthumously receives the Medal of Honor while Jerry, injured but alive and well, receives the Congressional Gold Medal. The film ends with Jerry attending Sam's birthday party. Rachel thanks him for attending and kisses him on the cheek. She then tells Jerry that she's glad he's there. He then responds, "Me too."
Overall I would recommend this thriller movie to almost anyone, short of folks who are stupid enough to bring their young children to any movie. The action is non stop, the intelligence is believable and the world we live in just got creepier as the computer ‘Ariia’ can control almost everything like changing the traffic lights, calculating the speed Jerry and Rachael must drive. With a twist of fate, the two each receive a phone call from a woman with very explicit instructions to follow. This is when the action becomes so intense I thought my fingers lost circulation from holding onto one another so tight. Hence it is interesting to see how the computer plays with the lives of two people. It is quite an interesting plot as it is about a new futuristic topic thus grabs the people’s attention. Although this movie received 3 stars, I think this is the best movie I have watched so far. This movie will do well and I promise you, the movie will be worth price of admission. The direction from Caruso was great if you ask me. The way the camera moves and the acting by Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monahgan made me believe that I was part of their crazy thrill ride.
The 2008 Summer Olympic Games, took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A record total of 10,500 athletes competed in 302 events in 28 sports. The centrepiece of the 2008 Summer Olympics is the brand new, spectacular ‘Beijing National Stadium’, nicknamed the Bird's Nest The Games saw 43 new world records and 132 new Olympic records set. The opening ceremony was held in the new Beijing National Stadium. It featured a cast of over 15,000 performers, and was dubbed beforehand as "the most spectacular Olympics Opening Ceremony ever produced".
I think the opening ceremony was a grand, unprecedented success for China. The ceremony depicted China’s three gifts to the world: gunpowder, paper and printing. The synchronization of all the performers was enthralling. The years of hardwork by the performers was well received by a record 120,000 spectators in the stadium and a few billion TV viewers around the world on their Television.
For me, the Most memorable moments of this Olympics were :
Michael Phelps winning a record 8 Gold Medals in swimming
Usain Bolt setting a world record in 100 metres run, 200metres run and 4x100 metres relay
Our home team Singapore winning its first Olympic silver medal in Table Tennis
Michael Phelps, an American swimmer broke the record for most golds in one Olympics and for most career gold medals for an Olympian Beating Mark Spitz. Michael Phelps went a perfect 8-for-8 in Beijing, breaking Mark Spitz's single-Games record for gold medals. He swam 17 times over nine days and broke the world records in all the 8 events.
Michael Phelps
I think Phelps is an amazing swimmer. He not only won 8 gold medals but also broke all the 8 world records with the aid of his fellow companions in some team events. So kudos to his team also. In a TEAM, Together Everyone Achieves More. Some people criticized Phelps for wearing a ‘special’ swimming suit to improve his timings. I believe that the swimming suit he is wearing can only help him a little bit to swim faster but we can’t ignore the fact that he has also trained very rigorously for years to achieve such a great feat. I think that he has received the fruits of his labors and as the saying goes “Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.” He is now my hero, my idol.
Bolt came from Jamaica, a relatively small and obscure place. Bolt became the first man to win all three track and field events (100 metres run, 200metres run and 4x100 metres relay) at a single Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984, and the first man in history to set world records in all three at a single Olympics.
Usain Bolt
I think Bolt is an incredible man. I found it mesmerizing to watch him run like the wind and celebrate triumphantly. Despite being a 200m specialist; he set a new world record 9.69s for the 100m. His name and achievements in sprinting have earned him the media nickname "LightningBolt"
Singapore Table Tennis team
Singapore has clinched the silver medal in the Olympic women's table tennis team event. It is the nation's first Olympic medal in 48 years.
Singapore and China played a thrilling final which lasted nearly two hours at the Peking University Sports Stadium on Sunday night.
But despite giving their best shot, the Singapore trio - comprising Captain Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu and Feng Tianwei - were no match for their opponents, losing 0-3 in the end. World number one and Athens singles gold medallist Zhang Yining then stepped up to battle past Li 9-11, 11-3, 11-4, 11-7 in a match peppered by long rallies. Zhang and world champion Guo Yue then paired to steamrolled Li and Wang Yuegu 11-8, 11-5, 11-6 to win the title.
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I strongly believe that the table tennis team has done Singapore proud by winning a silver medal in the Olympics after 48 years. In their journey to finals, they beat greater opponents like Korea, Japan. In the finals, they displayed their “never say die-die spirit” and a good sportsmanship. Although we lost, we should be happy with the Silver Medal. I think their goal in the next Olympic is to get a gold medal. 4. China won 51 gold medals, the most of any nation at these Olympics, and led the gold medal count for the first time in their Olympic history. Athletes from the United States won the most total medals, with 110.
These 2008 China Olympic Games will leave an indelible mark in my memory.
The whole world is currently carefully watching the developments that are taking place in the current Israel’s 21 days military incursions into Gaza Strip.
Background: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict stems from competing Jewish and Arab national aspirations for the region Israel / Palestine respectively.
Before World War II, the country was called as Palestine, ruled over by Britain and where both the Arabs and Jews lived together. After World War II, United Nations approved the partition of Palestine into two parts: one Jewish and one Arab. The Jewish leadership accepted the plan and declared independent Israel in 1948. But the Arabs rejected the plan and a civil war broke out.
In 1988, Independent State of Palestine was established which includes West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem, living in peace with Israel.
Current Situation: On December 27th 2008, Israel cities came under rocket fire attacks from Gaza killing a few Israel soldiers and civilians. These rocket attacks broke the earlier ceasefire between Israel & Gaza. In retaliation, Israel warplanes carried out air strikes on Gaza killing hundreds of Palestinians. Israel army then invaded Gaza with tanks to strip Palestinians of their ammunition & rockets.
My thoughts: I think that the current situation has inflicted damages on both the sides. I wonder how the innocent people who are involved must be living in such dire conditions especially in Gaza. Israeli air strikes have destroyed a whole food storage facility cutting off the food supply for the Palestinian people. The unending pain of Gaza civilians is harrowing. They must be fighting for their lives every day not knowing which day they might be killed. I feel sorry for the relatives of the dead people as they must be going through the hardest part of their life. I cannot imagine their condition if I were in their shoes. I do not know what both the countries get by attacking on each other. Their own people are dying for no reason. They should be worrying about their people instead of fighting with each other. As the saying goes: An Eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. Hence I think Israel and Palestine should come to negotiating tables and broker peace. Only Peaceful co-existence of Arabs and Jews will bring prosperity to both of them. I sincerely hope that this war ends soon bringing relief to the people of both sides.
Cristiano ronaldo was born on 5 February 1985. He is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger for English Premier League club Manchester United F.C. and the Portuguese national team.Ronaldo became Manchester United's first-ever Portuguese player when he signed for £12.24 million after the 2002–03 season.Last season he scored a amazing 43 goals thus he received four pretigious awards.First he received the Uefa Club Footballer of the Year award followed by the European Golden Boot award then the FIFPro World Player of the Year award.Lastly he received the Ballon d'or award on Dec 7.
I study at Victoria Secondary School,Singapore. Being an ardent fan of Manchester United,I want them to win the EPL this year. Playing badminton and cricket makes me wind down after a hectic day at school.
We first went to the church called Basilica of Bom Jesus. The church was very enormous. It is one of the most world renowned churches because it contains the body St. Francis Xavier. Located in Old Goa, this church is rich in ornamentation. The Basilica of Bom Jesus enshrines the sacred remains of St. Francis Xavier, a member of the Society of Jesus who died on a sea voyage to China in 1552. Legend has it that when the body of Xavier was transferred to Goa the following year, the body was found as fresh as the day it was buried. Consequent to this miracle the title of 'Saint' was conferred on Xavier and his mortal remains, confined inside his tomb. It is believed that Francis Xavier's remains which are preserved in this church is still fresh today. Devotees from different parts of the world come to this church to offer their prayers. The body is kept for public to see after every ten years. 
Last exposition was in 2004.
Hence we left the church with the knowledge of Saint Francis Xavier. Just in front of the church, I saw a Monginis Cake Shop. Monginis cakes are famous in the whole Goa. Thus, we decided to buy a piece for each of us. When, I took the first bite, the soft cake and cream melted in my mouth. It was indeed a mouth watering dessert but I had to resist my temptation of eating another one because I knew the cake was very fatty. Next, we visited the Dona Paula Beach. This beach was fringed by palm trees and the casuarinas groves which added to the holiday mood. The sand there was very smooth hence we took off our shoes.Dona Paula Beach has also served as the setting for several Indian movies, increasing its popularity as a tourist spot. The beach was being thronged by hundreds of tourists. Although there were a lot of water sports activities, we did not try it out as we had experienced all that in another place so we knew the experience would be the same. After relaxing for sometime, we went back to the hotel for lunch. After a sumptuous lunch, we retired in our beds and we slept like logs until 5pm.
We first went to the church called Basilica of Bom Jesus. The church was very enormous. It is one of the most world renowned churches because it contains the body St. Francis Xavier. Located in Old Goa, this church is rich in ornamentation. The Basilica of Bom Jesus enshrines the sacred remains of St. Francis Xavier, a member of the Society of Jesus who died on a sea voyage to China in 1552. Legend has it that when the body of Xavier was transferred to Goa the following year, the body was found as fresh as the day it was buried. Consequent to this miracle the title of 'Saint' was conferred on Xavier and his mortal remains, confined inside his tomb. It is believed that Francis Xavier's remains which are preserved in this church is still fresh today. Devotees from different parts of the world come to this church to offer their prayers. The body is kept for public to see after every ten years. 
Last exposition was in 2004.
Hence we left the church with the knowledge of Saint Francis Xavier. Just in front of the church, I saw a Monginis Cake Shop. Monginis cakes are famous in the whole Goa. Thus, we decided to buy a piece for each of us. When, I took the first bite, the soft cake and cream melted in my mouth. It was indeed a mouth watering dessert but I had to resist my temptation of eating another one because I knew the cake was very fatty. Next, we visited the Dona Paula Beach. This beach was fringed by palm trees and the casuarinas groves which added to the holiday mood. The sand there was very smooth hence we took off our shoes.Dona Paula Beach has also served as the setting for several Indian movies, increasing its popularity as a tourist spot. The beach was being thronged by hundreds of tourists. Although there were a lot of water sports activities, we did not try it out as we had experienced all that in another place so we knew the experience would be the same. After relaxing for sometime, we went back to the hotel for lunch. After a sumptuous lunch, we retired in our beds and we slept like logs until 5pm.
