Little Master Blaster

Lankans would love to restrict master blaster Sachin Tendulkar from breaking Brian Lara’s world record in the forthcoming three Test series to be held in Sri Lanka, country’s captain Mahela Jayawardane, said on Monday.

Sachin is mere 171 runs behind Lara’s aggregate of 11,953 runs and is expected to set the new mark during India’s three Test series in Sri Lanka in July-August 2008.

“I would be happy to curtail Sachin with 170 runs in six innings to be played in our country,” Jayawardane said at Sri Lankan Airlines press meet which roped in Sri Lankan cricketers to promote the various tourists destination of that country.

“No doubt Sachin is a great player and we have to admire Sachin’s achievement in the last 19 years,” the Sri Lankan captain said.

“Sachin deserves to surpass Lara’s record, but breaking record won’t be a big deal for the great batsman, as it would not be in his mind,” ace spinner Muthiah Muraleetharan said.

The great spinner said, Twenty20 is a game of fitness and there can’t by any preplan for this short version of the game.

While in Tests one waits and sees how the batsman reacts and of course skill should be good.

All versions of cricket should survive, the spinner said.

Sachin Tendulkar Quotes

And that is the reason why this victory is great, because different players have made contributions to the win.

At least with me, the match starts much, much earlier than the actual match.

Beating Pakistan is always special because they are a tough team and we have a bit if a history regarding Pakistan.

Before coming here I had a minor back problem and I thought whenever I play Pakistan I get a back problem.

But eventually it is a game of cricket.

But it is not fair to blame a particular individual in a team comprising 11 members.

Every individual has his own style, his own way of presenting himself on and off the field.

From the spinners, Anil and I have been together for a long time and I respect him a lot.

I always had a dream to play for India but I never let it put pressure on me.

I am not thinking too far ahead, just want to take it one thing at a time.

I believe every era has its significance and the same holds true for players and coaches.

I didn’t want to prove a point, cause bowlers always want to make a statement and my job is to go out and score runs for India.

I feel when somebody has been playing cricket for a long time, he creates a separate identity for himself.

I find it difficult to sleep even after all these years because my mind is constantly working and that is the way I have always prepared.

I hate losing and cricket being my first love, once I enter the ground it’s a different zone altogether and that hunger for winning is always there.

I have never believed in comparisons, whether they are about different eras, players or coaches.

I have never thought where I will go, or forced any targets on myself.

I have never tried to compare myself to anyone else.

I have played for 15 years and it has been a dream.

I just keep it simple. Watch the ball and play it on merit.

I just want to continue the way I am going.

I myself want to learn to play the guitar because I just love music and I want to learn to play at least one good musical instrument.

I never played with a runner in my entire life, even in schools, because only I know where the ball is going and how hard, when I hit the ball, something my runner will never know about.

I want to give my six hours of serious cricket on the ground and then take whatever the result.

If one man is representing India in cricket, then yes, blame that person when things go wrong.

Imran Khan did not become Imran Khan overnight. He worked hard to become a legend.

Isn’t cricket supposed to be a team sport? I feel people should decide first whether cricket is a team game or an individual sport.

It doesn’t always happen according to the way you have planned things out but I feel if you have covered most of the aspects, it does help out there in the middle.

It has been very good here, but the World Cup game was different. It had a different significance to it.

It is my job to make runs for the country and win. That is the job I have to do.

Lara’s done very well recently and I never had any doubts about the abilities of Lara or Waugh.

Moment there is contact your sub conscious mind knows whether it’s a single or more. It’s that fraction of contact that matters.

My first strategy was not to give any wickets in first five to six overs because first 10 overs were important.

My point of view is that when I am playing cricket I cannot think that this game is less or more important.

New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori is a very good bowler.

Obviously after such a long gap, one itches to get back to the game and score big runs.

Shoaib Akhtar has been playing for 5, 6 years and is an experienced bowler.

The Australian tour was good for us; it was ideal preparation for us.

There are a few players who don’t like to think about the game.

Wasim and Waqar were amazing bowlers. I would put them right up there with the best in the world.

We defeated England in Natwest and also in Sri Lanka, but it’s was psychological game and I wanted to settle a score because of memories of losing at Wankhede Stadium were there.

When I was 15, I started playing first class cricket and always dreamt of being a Test cricketer, wanted to do something for the country, married in 1995, have 2 kids it’s been great.

When there is time to think about cricket, I think but when there is time to be with family, I try to do justice to that aspect of my life as well.

My big sister gave it to me after returning from a trip to Kashmir, which is known for its high-quality willows. It wasn’t the best bat, but it was like a piece of gold to me. I used to imagine myself batting for India, hitting fours and sixes, the people cheering.
I used that bat until it broke ..

I was the only one supporting John McEnroe — everyone used to call me “Mac” because I styled myself on him. I made my father buy me the same headbands and sweatbands and even grew my hair long. You wouldn’t believe the pictures of me from that time. I was also extremely naughty. Very, very difficult to handle. …I had a nanny who used to run after me virtually 24 hours a day, because I never wanted to go home

My father, who died in 1999, was never a cricket fan, not at all. He was a writer and a poet: he taught Marathi, my mother tongue, at the local university. But he understood exactly how to get the best out of me. He always encouraged me and told my mother that he had full faith in me. It was probably reverse psychology, but as I got older I felt like I could not misuse that trust. He warned me against taking short cuts and told me to just keep playing, despite the ups and downs. My parents taught me that it is important to live every day of your life with grace and honour.When it came to choosing between cricket and going to university, he said: “You can play cricket, I know that is your first love, so go for it.”
Of course, my parents were extremely happy when I became the youngest player to play for India, at 16. ..

Cricket is something very, very special to me. It has never been about owning this or that car and the other things that come with this life.. An obsession with money or worldly matters was always thumbed down. My only dream was to wear the Indian cap and the Indian colours. In that respect, my childhood dreams have come true…..

Having children brings back all my old childhood memories, wonderful years. Now, every minute is measured and calculated. I still dream — without dreams, life is flat, you stagnate. I don’t go to the temple every morning, but I do pray. I thank God for everything he has given me, because life has been very good to me.

Rahul - The Gandhi

Name	Rahul Gandhi
Profession	Politician, Consultant
Date of Birth	19th June 1970
Birth Place	New Delhi, Delhi
Nationality	Indian
Zodiac Sign	Gemini
Family	Father - Rajiv Gandhi (former Prime Minister) Mother - Sonia Gandhi (President of the Indian National Congress) Sister - Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Brother-in-law - Robert Vadra Niece-Miraya Nephew-Raihan Girlfriend-Veronique
Famous relatives	Great grandfather: Jawaharlal Nehru (former and first Prime Minister of India) Great grandmother: Kamala Nehru Grandmother: Indira Gandhi (former Prime Minister of India) Grandfather: Feroze Gandhi (Politician) Uncle: Sanjay Gandhi (Politician) Aunt: Maneka Gandhi (active Politician, animal activist) Cousin Brother: Varun Gandhi (active in politics)
Education	* Schooling at Modern School,New Delhi * Home schooled for most of his school years * Enrolled for History (Hons) at St. Stephen's College, New Delhi * Completed a four-year AB course in Economics at Harvard University but did not get his degree. * He transferred later due to security reasons to Rollins College in Florida where he completed a B.A. in 1994. * Received an M. Phil in Development Economics after attending Trinity College, Cambridge.
Constituency	Amethi , Uttar Pradesh
Political party	INC (Indian National Congress)
Jobs held	* He worked in London as a consultant with the strategy consultancy firm Monitor Group * He currently owns a computer consultancy firm in New Delhi.
Politics	* In May 2004, he won the Lok Sabha elections from his father's constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and won a landslide majority. He won by a margin 300,500 votes. * His sister Priyanka was his campaign manager. * He concentrates mainly on constituency issues and the politics of Uttar Pradesh. * Is Member, Committee on Home Affairs * Was made Congress general secretary and inducted into the Congress Working Committee on September 24, 2007. Will be in charge of the Youth Congress and the National Students Union of India (NSUI)
Cricket	He and his sister, Priyanka went to Karachi and watched the first ODI match between India and Pakistan in March 2004 and the public in Pakistan were happy to see them.
Controversies	* Newsweek alleged in late 2006 that he had not completed his degrees at Harvard and Cambridge or kept his job at the Monitor Group. *He says that if anyone from the Gandhi-Nehru family had been active in politics then, the Babri Masjid would not have fallen. *He says once the Gandhi family decides on something, it makes sure that is accomplished — whether it is throwing out the British, breaking up Pakistan or taking India into the 21st century. * According to him Bachchans are liars
Special Interests	* Promotion of primary education * Issues related to the empowerment of the dalits and other oppressed sections of society * Preservation of marine environment * International Affairs
Pastimes	Reading, internet, listening to music, playing chess and flying
Sports and Clubs	* Scuba diving, swimming, cycling, playing squash, target shooting; Member, Indian Habitat Centre * Excelled in rifle shooting
Social And Cultural Activities	Associated with : * Rajiv Gandhi Foundation * Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund * Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Trust * Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust * Rajiv Gandhi Computer Shiksha Kendra
Veronique	She is an architect and met her when he was studying in England.
Facts	* He was 14 years old when his grandmother, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by her security men. * Incidentally, he is the same age as his late uncle Sanjay Gandhi was when he won the elections from Amethi years ago. * Like his father he trained at a shooting range in the Aravalli ranges near Delhi. *He was not admitted to St Stephen's on merit, but from the sports quota. * Media enquiries report that he attended under the alias "Rahul Vinci".
Goal	"There is a work that my father had started, a dream he had dreamt. I come to you today saying…allow me to turn that dream into reality"
About him	Dr Anil Wilson, the principal of St Stephen's College: "He was a diligent student. He had no airs about the famous family he belonged to. I think he left college because of security concerns. We really did not get an opportunity to assess his academic brilliance." Astrologers: Communicator. Social, outgoing. Sees and blends opposites/both sides of an issue. Vivacious, quick, flexible, versatile, lively and changeable. Mentally ambitious.

The Strongest Man of India

The Great Khali is often referred to as "The Strongest Man of India" and has made his country proud on the International Wrestling Scene. He is one of the very few Indians to make it to the International Professional Wrestling scene. The only other Indian currently wrestling professionally is Ritesh Bhalla who wrestles under the name of Sonjay Dutt in the TNA (The Wrestler Sabu is billed as being from India but he is neither an Indian nor has any Indian ancestry)

The Great Khali hails from the Dhirana village of Himachal Pradesh (India) and currently resides at Jalandhar in the Punjab State of India. He is one of the tallest and most powerful wrestlers ever to set foot in the World Wrestling Federation, with only Giant Gonzales (also referred to as El Gigante) being taller. The Great Khali has wrestled throughout the world, including Japan, where he is regarded as a popular wrestling icon.

The Great Khali has also worked in a film in Hollywood called The Longest Yard. The film enjoyed considerable success and Khali played his part well.

Khali's fan site Khali.info aims at keeping people updated with all the latest news on The Great Khali, our website also has The Great Khali wallpapers, Ringtones, Videos, Audios, Interviews and all other news that you require. So sit back and browse... the Lair of The Great Khali.

Moreover if you are a fan of the Great Khali you could leave a message over at the fans section and we will send your messages regularly by email and post to the Great Khali himself, if we get a response we will share that will the other fans too!

Mini Biography of The Great Khali

The Great Khali's real name is Dalip Singh Rana. He was born on 27th August 1972 in a poor family of the Dhirana village in Himachal Pradesh, his parents weren't as tall as he is today, but his Grandfather was a tall person of over Six Feet Six inches. He had Seven other brothers and sisters, and was the third oldest among them in age.

He didn't attend much school due to poverty but because of his exceptional growth and power, he started working as a Roadside stone breaker at a young age on daily wages to provide bread for his poor family. As he grew up he started playing various sports and prooved to be a really good sportsman. He also took interest in Body building and carved his body in a wonderful shape, at this time he was still working as a Roadside laborer.

The Director General of Punjab police Mr. M.S. Bhullar (now retired) saw Dalip and his talent in bodybuilding and decided to help him. He got Dalip a job in the Punjab Police as a constable in 1993. Due to the increased wages, Dalip got more financially relaxed and began putting more effort into bodybuilding. He also joined various Gyms and Boxing clubs in Jalandhar.

Bodybuilding days. From Left to Right: Dr. Randhir Kumar (Khali's Bodybuilding Coach), Dr. Balvir Hastir & Dr. Raj Hastir (The then Sponsors of Khali)

After years of hard work and practice in the local gyms, he won the title of Mr. India in 1997 and 1998 out of hundreds of other participants , which gave him a huge boost in terms of confidence and popularity and he quickly became an icon for the youth of Punjab.

The Magnificient structure of The Great Khali

In 1999, with due support from his colleagues and family, Dalip Singh went to United States of America on a Work permit and joined the wrestling school of All Pro Wrestling. Where he was kept in training for a few months, here he learnt how to use different wrestling moves safely and how to receive them as well, because of his hard working and quick learning attitude, he was made to debut in the year 2000 at All Pro Wrestling.

Wrestling Career of the Great Khali Continued in The Great Khali's Wrestling Career page.

NANO

Tata Motors took the covers off the world’s cheapest car — the Nano.

Over the past year, Tata has been building hype for a car that would cost a mere 100,000 rupees (roughly $2,500) and bring automotive transportation to the mainstream Indian population. It has been nicknamed the “People’s Car.” Over the course of the New Delhi Auto Expo, which began this week, anticipation had grown to fever pitch.

With the theme from “2001: A Space Odyssey” playing, Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Motors drove the small white bubble car onto Tata’s show stage, where it joined two others.

The Tata Nano could sell for around $2,500. (Photo by Raveendran/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images)

“They are not concept cars, they are not prototypes,” Mr. Tata announced when he got out of the car. “They are the production cars that will roll out of the Singur plant later this year.”

The four-door Nano is a little over 10 feet long and nearly 5 feet wide. It is powered by a 623cc two-cylinder engine at the back of the car. With 33 horsepower, the Nano is capable of 65 miles an hour. Its four small wheels are at the absolute corners of the car to improve handling. There is a small trunk, big enough for a duffel bag.

“Today, we indeed have a People’s Car, which is affordable and yet built to meet safety requirements and emission norms, to be fuel efficient and low on emissions,” Mr. Tata added. “We are happy to present the People’s Car to India and we hope it brings the joy, pride and utility of owning a car to many families who need personal mobility.”

The base price for the Nano will be 120,000 rupees, including road tax and delivery. Higher level models will cost more and come with air-conditioning. Sun visors and radios are extra.

The nearest priced competitor is the Maruti 800, which costs roughly twice as much as the Nano. In comparing the Nano to the Maruti 800, Mr. Tata said, “It is 8 percent smaller — bumper to bumper — and has 21 percent larger seating capacity than Maruti 800.”

The Hindustan Times reports reactions from a couple of Tata’s competitors, Maruti and Hyundai:

Jagdish Khattar, a former head of Maruti 800 manufacturer Maruti Udyog Ltd., says it’s too early to say whether the Nano will overtake the original.

“It’s a good product but it’s still too early to say whether it will overtake the 800 because it caters to a totally new market segment,” he said while watching a live telecast of Tata’s press conference after unveiling of the Nano.

But clearly, at least one other manufacturer was worried.

An official of Hyundai Motors, which unveiled an LPG version of its Santro Thursday, was more circumspect.

“We definitely see it as impacting our sales,” he said in halting English, preferring to maintain anonymity.

Anand Mahindra, managing director for Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors’ primary competitor, said before the unveiling, “I think it’s a moment of history and I’m delighted an Indian company is leading the way.”

The Nano will go on sale in India later this year with an initial production run of 250,000 a year. Tata says it will offer the Nano in other emerging markets in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa within four years.

The Basics of Baby Care

Calming New Parent Fears:

Growing up we all have that beloved pet that and was our best friend. We thought we could never love anything as much until you parenthood and newborn baby care entered our lives. Suddenly, entrusted with that precious little life, baby care products and adhering to the appropriate infant care program are the most vital aspects of life. New baby care makes for a frightening business. There's always that little voice in the back of your mind, that tiny tingle that makes you question ever move you make. You become fixated on what to feed the baby, how to change him and even how much sleeping is normal. Sometimes the joys of parenthood get lost in all that worry. There are a variety of guides geared toward newborn baby care. There is also a booming market for infant care products and even natural baby care. A built-in support system might be closer than you think.

Finding a Support System

First make good use of parenting reference guides that got their start during the Baby Boom generation. Boy did parents need a lot of advice then! Reference guide focus largely on new baby care and what to expect as the child continues to grow. Child care classes can be an e xcellent method of soothing new parent jitters and learning hands-on around people just like you - frightened parents! Finally, Mom, Grandma or Aunt Sue can be a good to guide for questions on conquering colic and making bottles. In fact, an older woman to consult comes highly recommended.

Baby Care

Holding your baby is one of the first lessons you'll give him or her in people skills. They'll need that later in life, you know. Skin to skin contact shows the baby how much love Mommy and Daddy have, even if they make a couple of mistakes every once and awhile. There's an art to baby holding. You want to be sure to support baby's neck and head using your arm and hand. Babies aren't able to support their heads at this stage of their development but they will attain that strength quickly. The umbilical cord will eventually dry out and fall away. This process could take from one to three weeks depending on how stubborn the stub might be. Be sure to rub the stub with alcohol during every diaper change to help it to dry out properly. Use quality baby care accessories for diaper changings and all other aspects of day to day care. Once Baby reaches age two "NO" will become a catch phrase, and ultimately the favorite word. Until then, crying will just have to do. Crying is now Baby's only form of communication, so expect to hear a lot of it. All babies cry when they're in need of a burping, a diaper change, a big bottle of milk or just a hug from Mom or Dad. By being responsive to cries, parents teach babies that they can depend on someone. It's the first lesson in trust.

CD Maintenance

CD Maintenance – How to make sure you CD stays in good shape
by: Keith McGregor

As we all know CDs & DVDs are prone to scratching, marking, cracking & breaking.

If you leave discs out near your PC or stereo, dust will settle or the data side will get scratched or marked. Now the best ways to prevent this happening are simple. They may sound straight forward but you’ll be surprised how many times CDs & DVDs are not protected properly. Following these simple steps will ensure you can use your CD's and DVD's for dvd copying and cd copying for years to come.

Keep your CDs in there Jewel Cases. If not there are PVC wallets which act as ample protection or Card Wallets. For you DVDs you must keep them in their DVD boxes or, as previously mentioned, PVC Wallets and Card wallets will do.

If your CD or DVD gets scratched, you may think that it’s damaged forever……..Wrong! The scratching on the surface of the disc simply fools the laser and makes it skip. Or, if you’re player has difficulty in loading the data, it’s due the surface being scratched and unable to read the digital data below.

However, do not panic! There are plenty of repair kits around to eliminate this problem and allow you to perfrom that all important cd copying or dvd copying. If you’ve thought you’ve lost a CD forever due to mark or scratch, think again!

These repair kits are a compound mixture of polish, which are specially designed for plastic (which discs are made up of). The mixture interacts with the polymer and allows the polish to get to work on the scratch. This polish will remove the majority of the disc that has been damaged and restore the music/data back to full playability.

Therefore, you revive your discs using these kits. However, I suggest you look after your CD or DVD by putting them back into their Jewel Case, DVD box, PVC Wallet or Card Wallet. Keep them in a dust-free environment or storage case.
Keep your discs playing longer...

When you remove your discs from their CD Jewel Cases or DVD box then you risk the centre-hub cracking or breaking. This will lead to disc failures. Especially for console playing or DVD films. Having looked around for a remedy to this common problem, we have found a solution...

It’s in the form of a metal reinforced centre-hub. It’s easy to attach and will reduce the stress that is normally applied when removing CDs or DVDs from Jewel Cases or DVD Boxes. This will prevent the discs from cracking at the centre. “Hurray!” I hear you say.

William Stephenson, On Doing More In Life

William Stephenson, On Doing More In Life
by: William Stephenson

My name is William Stephenson; I grew up in Manasquan and have spent most of my life in New Jersey. I’d like to speak with you about achieving your best, about making the most of your assets and realizing your biggest dreams. I was raised with the adage that my accomplishments were only limited to the heights I could imagine. This was a commonly used and inspirational line that many parents shared with their children. At the time, those words didn’t mean so much to me. Upon further reflection however, the spirit of those words was ever present in my blind sub-conscience. When I was only 9 years of age, I had 2 paper routes on opposite ends of town. It was a morning paper, The Start Ledger; therefore both routes had to be completed by 7am. I pedaled fast to get back from the Manasquan Beach and change in time for school. The early riches that I enjoyed afforded many crucial lessons which would subsequently fuel my future achievements. By learning the power of hard work and money at such an early age, an age where we’re all highly impressionable, it forever solidified the correlation between the two. I am incredibly grateful to my parents for supporting me in those early desires. The significance of this work should not be underscored; to me, it helped form one of my core values in life, responsibility. By learning to do for myself and not waiting for someone else to take responsibility, I not only acquired things more speedily, but I had the good feeling of having earned them myself. This early money was invested wisely, not an IRA, not a 401K, I used those funds for flight lessons at Allaire Airport. At age 13, I was speaking with an Uncle of mine. He was a war hero to me, who fought in Korea. He stated that he always regretted not learning how to fly. For some reason, his regret cautioned me enough not to follow his path. I clipped a 50% off coupon from an Entertainment Guide for an introductory flight lesson. Well, soaring above my home town and central New Jersey served two purposes. First, it sold me instantly on the joys of flight. Second, and more importantly, it extended my reach out into the world; it effectively reduced the size of it and led me to believe that it would be easier to conquer now. Again, I have to thank my parents for allowing me to circle their home at 1000 feet. They clearly hadn’t read all of the accident reports on that scenario. About one year after that first flight lesson, I accomplished one of my most rewarding feats. I had officially been involved with Boy Scout Troop 59 of Manasquan for only 4 years when I had reached a pinnacle by attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. To this day, less than 2% of all scouts make it that far. To this day as well, I still don’t know why that percentage has remained so low. Even at age 14, my drive was surpassing my moments. Each Eagle Scout applicant must appear before a board of review to validate his award and confirm that he in fact extols the virtues befitting the milestone. At this board of review the applicant sits among and across from several elders in his troop as well as a representative from the council level, the governing body for many troops. I perplexed them all that evening, not on purpose of course. All I had to do was answer a few questions and I would be an Eagle Scout. Later, I was told that the elders of my troop were kicking themselves underneath the table. They would have preferred that I had said less rather than more that evening. I was questioned about my awareness of the high honor they would soon bestow upon me. My answers and my feelings in general about the rank of Eagle Scout at the time were slightly dismissive. Quite frankly, I saw the rank of Eagle as just another step along the scouting trail. In fact, as they pressed me about why I didn’t seem as excited about it as perhaps the elders were, I told them that every scout should follow the logical path that I had taken and achieve the rank as well. My unrefined point that evening was that I felt the very act of holding that rank up on a special pedestal was one of the impediments to most scouts attaining it. I believe that more scouts would enjoy the accolade if it were not placed so high above them. Of course, this could possibly dilute the experience at the same time. After much back and forth, I acquiesced and agreed that it was indeed a tremendous accomplishment. I was now one of the younger Eagle Scouts in our troop’s storied history. My years in scouting provided far too many memories and tales to share with you this evening, however, the leadership skills that I cultivated during those early years would prove pivotal. They have played a key part in every major accomplishment and milestone after that. I believe the Boy Scouts to be a fine organization for our youth when accompanied by active parenting. Its affects are incalculable. Psychologists say that the majority of our basic learning is acquired by the age of 16; if this in indeed true, the importance of our early decisions is paramount. The more healthy habits and useful ventures we take part in during this phase of life, the better. Soon, I was off to college at the University of South Carolina. I worked almost continuously through those years and took my virtues to the job place. I found myself in a setting where the status quo ruled. It’s certainly easier in the short term to follow the lead; however, leading the pack at the workplace provides far greater returns in the long run. Standing out and shaking up the system takes courage or simply a set of convictions that disregards the consequences. This is why leading in life is critical. When you place yourself in the driver’s seat you are less beholden to peer-pressures which may lead people astray. Throughout these years my love for flying never ceased. I worked to learn and that correlation always seemed to get me through the tougher days. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in an area unrelated to flying, I returned home and finished the flight ratings required in order to call myself a professional pilot. I was now getting paid to give sightseeing tours up the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty. It was a tremendous feeling being right back where I started 10 years earlier yet so much further ahead. I was now getting paid for every one of those coveted flight hours necessary for advancement, how ironic, I felt? Another crucial lesson learned during this phase of my life was how two steps back could lead oneself miles ahead. I left that wonderful job at Allaire Airport and gambled on a new venture at Teterboro Airport in North Jersey. I made less money and added one hour to my commute each way. Many thought I was crazy, but I was looking beyond tomorrow. For the next 6½ years, I participated in a niche market in the business aviation world. I flew organ transplant teams around our country in Lear jets, King Airs, and Barons. It was hard work; we were often called into action at the last minute and it was typically midnight. Years later I would be rewarded for those efforts in a far greater way than just my pay. More on that treat soon. The challenges that forced my cohorts and I in this last position codified that work ethic learned as a paper boy years earlier. One of the lessons there taught me that we are continually growing and every action or inaction we participate in affects our future. We mustn’t look at each day as just any day. Every morning we wake up is another opportunity to better ourselves. Rarely will anyone of us remain stagnant; we’re either moving a head or behind in life. We make these choices everyday and all day. After just nine years in the aviation industry I had yet again reached a pinnacle. I have taken a job on a Challenger jet flying a Fortune 200 company and its proprietors around the globe. Those early paper route dollars that I invested in flight training have come full circle. Delivering The Star Ledger has broadened my horizons in the literal sense. My world had in fact shrunk that afternoon at age 13, when I took my first flight and my first flight lesson. To help drive this point home, as to how each action we take today lends to our successes or failures tomorrow, let me tell you about my high school prom date. Edie was one of the more unique individuals attending Manasquan High School during my years there. I quickly noted something special about her. At the time of our senior prom, she had a boyfriend from another school. Because of those circumstances, I was certainly not looking short term when I asked her to be my date for that event. I was looking far into my future and recently that has paid off for me as well. On May 5th of this year Edie and I were married in Manahawkin, NJ; my high school sweetheart is now so much more and forever. Now, as promised, the reward worth so much more than a paycheck. About a year ago I found myself at a wake for my friend’s grandmother. At this wake I was introduced to the parents of a 6 year old boy. I was expecting to meet these folks because I knew their son had been given a personal tour of Giant’s Stadium a couple of years prior, compliments of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. We had some mutual friends in that football organization. As I spoke with the boy’s parents, I was less interested in the NY Giants and more interested in what their child had endured to warrant the attention of the foundation. The Father told me that his son Stephen had received a heart transplant in early 2001. As they were asking me about the NY Giants, I persisted with the questions about his son’s heart. Well, as it turned out, at about midnight in early 2001, my copilot and I flew to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut and retrieved Stephen’s heart. Confirming the details of the missionafter the wake made me very emotional. This was the closest I had ever been to realizing the fruits of my labor. About two weeks later, we all gathered at little Stephen’s house and enjoyed the Super Bowl together. Stephen told me after a couple hours, “Thank you for my heart.” Now, in conclusion, I’m no different than anyone else in this room. The only privilege I had growing up was my parents blessing on the myriad of desires I came home with each week. They thankfully had the courage themselves to let me take things to their conclusion. Well, I’m still reaching. When I fly along at 41,000 feet and I gaze out into the stars at night, they just don’t seem so far away. Each and every one of those stars seems to be inviting me towards it. I know there is something behind each one and the more stars that I can look behind, the more confident I grow. Harness each and every day you live and before you know it, you’ll be leading life, not simply living it. Thank you all very much for allowing me to share some of the things I have learned about life in my first 34 years.