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France
2007-10-22 04:59:00
France ? The other word for beauty.France Fashion image courtsey: moldova.org Its language poetic, people beauty-conscious and fashionable, its beaches clean, and mountains romantic, altogether the word France spells, class and charm. Top artists poets, philosophers, revolutionaries all jointly add a touch of unearthliness to this part of the land. A model state in secularism, which treats people of all caste and creeds equal and a paradise of human independence and innovativeness, France has always approached issues in a philosophical angle (the recent ban of girls wearing veil at school, and people dressing odd to expose their religious faith had attracted much ire from fundamentalists, but France stood firm on its principles), this firmness is something unthinkable to other countries which ardently vouch secularism in every breath. . Stats. France Flag France is in Western Europe, with an area of 547,000 Sq. KM and population of over 64 million. Its literacy level is...
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New Zealand
2007-10-18 11:42:00
New Zealand - Oceania.New Zealand Flag image courtsey: nz.com A Part of the Greater Oceania Oceania denotes the mid-south part of the Pacific Ocean with numerous scattered islands. There are about 25,000 islands in this area including Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand is a ?small? and ?young? nation- small as it has only a combined area of about 268680 Sq. K M- comparable to Britain, and ?young? as it has only a short history of about 700 years of human inhabitation. The capital of New Zealand is Wellington, Oak Land, Hamilton, Christ Church are the main cities. Though small in size the nation?s principled stand on ecology, non-proliferation of atomic weapons, and international as well as domestic affairs makes New Zealand a leader as well as model for all peace loving, and ecology-friendly people of the world. Bold women and model men. In gender equality New Zealand leads other nations by leaps and bounds; it has already implemented reforms several ?advanced?...
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Argentina
2007-10-16 07:16:00
Argentina (Argentine Republic) ? South America.Argentina image courtsey: wikimedia.org Silver glitters! The word argentum in Latin means silver and ?Argentina? means the glitter of silver. The Spanish voyagers under Juan Diaz de Solis who landed there (in AD 1516) found local people wearing silver ornament aplenty and they came to a conclusion that there may be mountains of silver on this part of the land! They named this land Rio de la Plata (plata also stands for silver in Spanish) meaning river of silver. Spanish people flocked there in search of the ?silver mountain? though they could not find it these trysts enabled them to colonize the fertile land in as early as 1580. It was in Buenos Aires Spain established their first colony which later grew in to a mega city and still continues as Argentina?s capital. In tune with the Incas. There are evidences that Argentina?s Patagonia region had human inhabitation since 11000 BC, during 1AD a civilization based on maize ...
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Jewellery
2007-10-14 17:28:00
Jewellery.Jewellery Has been here for long time! From time immemorial jewellery (also spelt as jewelry derived from the French word jovel originated from Latin jocale) had been here adorning men and women spelling their class, rank, and social status. 100,00years old remnants of nassarius (shells of marine mollusks) have been found by archeologists to prove the history of ornaments. For poor people of India their daughters? marriage is a nightmare as huge quantity of jewellery is the pre-requisite (dowry) to be paid to bridegroom! It is here to stay! The passing of time could change the stuff of which ornaments are made of; while their functions remain the same. Cowries, animal bones, tooth, wood, shells and carved stone gave way to silver, gold, platinum, precious stones etc. Beads, shells or bird-feathers worn by tribal chieftains to exhibit their social status were replaced by expensive watches, suits, foot-wears- jewellery worn by the new breed of tribal chiefs ...
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Khayyam and Jaidev?s relationship with Mohammad Rafi
2007-10-11 17:04:00
Khayyam and Jaidev?s relationship with Mohammad RafiWhen we visualise the golden era of music in Indian cinema we primarily think about the giant music directors like Shankar Jaikishan, Naushad, etc., or lyricists like Shakeel Badayani, Shailendra, Majrooh Sultanpuri or singers like Rafi, Lata who made major contribution to the music of that age. Among the legendary giants there were other composers who composed music for less number of films but created their identity and everlasting appeal even with the less number of compositions. Jaidev and Khayyam are two composers who received numerous awards for their classic performance and still remain few of the offbeat composers without whom the firmament of music would be colourless.Jaidev who came to Bombay initially from Ludhiyana to become an actor learnt music from K. Jaokar and Janardan Jaokar and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and after ashort span of stay in his home town Ludhiyana, returned to Bombay with his immense command of folk and cl...
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Navaratri
2007-10-10 08:41:00
Navaratri ? The Nine Holy Nights.Navaratri festival A celebration of womanhood. October 12, 2007 is a very special day for the Hindus as it marks the beginnings of the Navaratri festivals; a celebration that spans nine nights; each day with its own significance. It all starts from the bright fortnight day of the month Puruttasi as per the Indian Calendar (September 12th to 21st) when the Sun enters the Asterism Sign (location of a prominent group of stars) as per astrology. The most significant part of these continuous celebrations of nine consecutive nights is that it is entirely dedicated to Durga a symbol of womanhood in its frighteningly virile forms. Durga the fearsome goddess!Navaratri Pictures courtsey: mayukhi.com Durga the goddess worshipped during Navaratri is dark, tongue protruding, bears the head of one demon in one hand and a hack on the other hand and she stands on the top of a man. She wears a necklace made of skulls! One lion leaning against her ri...

Myanmar
2007-10-08 05:12:00
Myanmar / Burma - a teardrop on the cheek of AsiaFree Burma Campaign Cry my beloved country! Burma a nation with a rich history that spans thousands of years and linked with all the neighboring nations has become isolated and got cut off from the rest of the world. The ruling generals have made it a living hell. The long roots of military have penetrated its roots to every institutions in that unfortunate country like education, law-making, judiciary and execution.Monks protest in myanmar image courtsey: boston.com The military is implementing their agenda in a generation of people by spoiling their mind thought and actions. They are binding people in the chains of fear and letting them grow in an atmosphere that is devoid of free thinking and innovation. When the whole world wakes up to belong to the 21st century, this great nation is destined to live under a barbarian regime that is insensitive to the extreme. Once tasted blood! The uniformed have tasted blood and...
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India in the Western Eye
2007-10-05 09:12:00
India in the western eye. It was a fine Saturday morning stock markets closed and there was practically nothing left for me to do, a stroll through the crowded streets seemed a good idea; a book stall can do wonders when one has got time to spare. That day also worked some wonders although in a different fashion. The Book stall owner with his usual smile brought good news ?Sir we have a prepublication offer on a three book series on world nations. The book itself is a good bargain for the discounted prepublication price and to make the offer irresistible on offer is a set of National Geographic CD roms on Forces of Nature and one on Designs. Then there is also a six CD single pack from The Discovery Channel School titled World Geography worth Rs 1245 free with the book. ?How much for the book?? I asked. ? sir, three volumes 2500 pages, as a ?gold card holder? (a special privilege offer to regular customers) you get substantial discount extra?. This offer was irresistible...
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Angies List
2007-09-29 11:01:00
Angies List As per the official Angies list site More than 500,000 Homeowners in 124 major cities use Angie's List mainly for ratings and reviews on various topics. The Angies list offers Easy Tips to Live Green. A poll conducted in 2007 of Angies list members found that about 94 percent of the members considered the environment and its preservation important to them. About three-fourths of the participants to the poll said they actively participate in curbside recycling. And two-thirds of the participants pay nothing, while just 2 percent say they pay $35 or more per year. Most of the members who participated in the poll said it would be great to purchase a hybrid car or install solar panels over vehicles that use fossil fuels and electricity produced from conventional methods, but it should be admitted that we can't make big changes like that all by ourselves but be could certainly do our part and as more and more people join the efforts it be certainly make a difference. T...

Myanmar ? Burma
2007-09-29 08:58:00
Myanmar ? Burma Myanmar image courtsey: cardinalphoto.com A sorry figure! Myanmar was once a part of the Indian Union until it got separated by the ruling British (1937). With an area of 678500 sq miles and a population of 43 million Myanmar is the biggest nation in South-East Asia. It is bordered by China, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, the Andaman-Sea (at the south) and Bay of Bengal (at south-west). Though Myanmar got its ?independence? in 4th January 1948 from the British, the sun of true independence is yet to shine upon this unfortunate piece of land. As a nation that is still trying to wriggle out from the vice-grip of the military junta since 1962 Myanmar cuts a sorry figure in 21st century when all other nations worth its name have embraced democracy. The present leader of the junta is General Than Shwe who is engaged in a bitter struggle against the Buddhist Monks who are out to see him thrown out. Virulent and strong!Myanmar burma image courtsey: riverc...
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Bengali Classic Literature and Bollywood Films
2007-09-29 03:49:00
Influence of Bengali Classic Literature in Bollywood filmsBengal in the eighteenth and nineteenth century had produced intellectuals of different dimensions in different fields including academics, politics, music, literature, social science, etc. Social reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Vidhyasagar brought social awakening through the prohibition of evil practices like Sati and bringing modern legislations with the help of the British Government in the colonial era like Widow Remarriage Act. In the field of religion Swami Vivekananda redefined Hinduism in his Chicago Conference in USA and provided the deliberations of Sri Ramakrisha in condemning materialist philosophy. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was one of the most dynamic personalities of the freedom struggle movement of India. Literature is a field where the immortal works of the Bengali Legendary thinkers have influenced the silver screen the most which even has significance after around 50 years of creation of the classic ...
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Shilpa Shetty
2007-09-28 03:33:00
Shilpa Shetty arrested at Mumbai Airport over her Kiss with Richard GereShilpa Shetty image courtsey: petaindia.comThere's been a buzz on the internet relating to this incident that occured at the Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai today (Wednesday, September 26). Shilpa Shetty was on her way to Germany for her West End musical 'Miss Bollywood', premiering in Berlin this weekend. There's been a court order preventing her from travelling abroad as she was wanted in a obscenity case over her infamous clinch with Richard Gere. It is to be noted that the news was a hoax and there's been no such thing as an arrest the authorities merely verified Shilpa Shetty's clearence papers.Shilpa Shetty Richard Gere kissHollywood star Gere, 58, caused an outcry when he grabbed Shetty, 32, swept her backwards, and kissed her several times on the cheek at an Aids-awareness event earlier this year.Gere swooped down on Shetty after shouting in Hindi to thousands of truckers "No c...
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September 27 2007 World Tourism Day
2007-09-27 14:05:00
World Tourism Day September 27 2007September 27 is celebrated all over the world as World Tour ism Day to display awareness that tourism is vital to the international community and to show how it affects the social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. This practice started in 1980. This date was chosen to coincide with an important milestone in world tourism: the anniversary of the adoption of the WTO Statutes on 27 September 1970 at the Third Session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Torremolinos, Spain, in September of 1979.. September 27 is all the more appealing as World Tourism Day in that it comes at the end of the high season in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of the season in the southern hemisphere, A point of time when tourism is in everyone?s mind and hundreds of thousands of people make their travel plans thus creating an electric atmosphere in the entire tourism industry. The industry responds by hiked expenditure in advertisements and thus f...
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Food Habits and Physical Fitness
2007-09-27 13:13:00
Physical Fitness and food habits.Fitness image courtsey: sdmesa.edu A duty to the Almighty Health is said to be wealth; in that sense it is the most precious wealth far more valuable than a expensive mansion or a piece of prime land. Health is also described as a condition without any disease (in Sanskrit ?arogya? (aa = no + roga = disease) is the word for health). Lack of a visible disease is not just enough; a person should be as fit as a fiddle and with a little effort nothing prevents him to be so. Human body is one of the most beautiful creations of god (The Bible states that god created man after giving life to all other beings). As his final work the Almighty would have utilized all his resources and previous experience for making human body. Therefore by all means it is the prime duty of everyman to retain its original charm. Pull off your shirt with pride!Arnold Image courtsey: hecklerspray.com Having an attractive face is good but remember, shape and physica...
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John Force Car Crash in NHRA Video
2007-09-24 04:26:00
John Force the Drag Racing Champion Breaks Both Legs, Injures Arm In Texas Funny Car Crash John ForceJohn Force, one of the most celebrated NHRA drag racer who has 122 career victories to his name and has won the Funny Car Championship 14 times was seriously injured in a crash at the O'Reilly Auto Parts Fall Nationals in Ennis, Texas involving John?s Castrol GTX High-Mileage Ford Mustang, and Kenny Bernstein, bottom, and his Monster Energy/Lucas Oil Dodge Charger on Sunday, September 23, 2007.John Force and Kenny Bernstein racing side by side at NHRAJohn and Kenny were racing side-by-side just before the accident but as he crossed the finish line against Kenny Bernstein. Bernstein's Funny Car drifted into Force's lane clipping the final timing cone, which subsequently punctured Force's tyre forcing him into Bernstein's car before making contact with the retaining wall. Luckily Bernstein did not suffer any injuries in the accident.John Force suffered a compound fracture to his ...
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Sudhin Dasgupta
2007-09-23 17:22:00
Sudhin Dasgupta ? A creative genius of Golden age of Bengali Modern songsIn the 50s, 60s and 70s, during the Golden age of Bengali Modern songs, it was very difficult to create a distinct identity in terms of compositions as it was a transition period between use of classical music with westernised effects and incorporation of folk and other rural tunes in the urbanised music base. On one hand the classical legacy created by Legends like Viswadev Chatterji, Ghyanendra Prosad Goswami, Tarapodo Chakraborty were carried forward by Manobendra Mukherjee, Manna Dey, Dhanonjoy Bhattacharya, Satinath Mukherjee, Akhil Bandhu Ghosh and others. Although the noted singers did use pure classical only in certain songs but the classical touch was evident in all their performances. On the other hand the folk singers like SD Burman, Nirmalendu Choudhury inspired Shyamal Mitra and others to maintain the colour, flora, fauna of Bengal?s romantic landscape 1. In the golden age, music composers and lyri...

Plano Balloon Festival
2007-09-22 12:19:00
Plano Balloon Festival Plano Balloon Festival image courtsey: planoballoonfest.org Plano Balloon Festival ? Texas. No kidding. September 21, 22 and 23 are the days for Texans to celebrate and whole of the US join along with Texans for the Plano Balloon Festival. As it is said the Texans always make it big, if they gain; they gain millions and if they lose they lose millions! And when the celebrate they celebrate it big. Plano Balloon Festival is an example for the largesse these people show in the simple game of ?flying balloons?! It is a kids? game others may think but Texans made the game such a big thing (not just the size of the balloons) a ?game business? worth millions; taken quite seriously. When the Texas sky is filled with Balloons of all shapes and kaleidoscopic colors, the real game is on the ground; an entertainment business worth several millions go smooth on the wheels of commerce. Aiva the cow to Felix the cat. The spectators who assemble to participat...
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Gobi Desert
2007-09-21 04:35:00
The Gobi Desert Gobi desert is Asia?s largest and the fourth largest desert in the world. Gobi is a great desert bounded by the rocky mountains and grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the tiger plateau to the southwest and by the north India plain to the south east. Gobi lies in the rain shadow region of the Himalayas, meaning the desert is formed because Himalayas blocks the rain carrying clouds from reaching the gobi. Gobi desert is characterized by extreme whether where temperatures sours to 40° C. in summer, and drops down to a -40 in winter. Some areas of the dessert gets rain only once in 2 or 3 years and Precipitation averages less than 100 mm per year. As if these are not enough deterrents to keep humans away the dessert has in store another surprise is strong winds that easily reaches speeds in excess of 140 km/hr. Be warned travel to this dessert is dangerous in spring and fall. Hard to imagine any life forms under such extreme climatic conditions but The ...

Jena 6
2007-09-20 19:37:00
Jena 6, what happened and how. What is Jena 6 - The Jena 6 Story. In Jena Louisiana last fall it so happened that two black students sat in a ?white tree? shade, next day these black students saw some nooses hung on the tree. This was what that happened in a school campus that triggered to such incidences. White tree is not a tree with white stem or leaves; it was just a tree where white students alone sat during resting time. The desire of some black students to sit in the particular tree was just their mark of protest of them no allowed to sit there. Those nooses (like those used to hang prisoners) were symbolic of the oppressors? way of threatening the blacks with dire consequences. The black students complained the Superintendent of the institution about the nooses that were hung on the ?white tree?; but he underplayed the whole incident as just prank of teen-agers. Not satisfied by the Superintendent?s action black students went on with their protests. The District Attor...
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Aloe Vera
2007-09-20 17:01:00
Aloe Vera ? The Plant of Immortality.Aloe Vera image courtsey: earthlink.net The Historical Cure. Aloe Vera has been a craze among consumer products in recent times, soaps, shampoos, creams lotions and almost everything of daily use come with Aloe vera. Intestinal ailments, skin disorder and almost all ailments including cancer and even Aids are claimed to be curable by extracts of this wonder plant. Diascorides the ancient physician who accompanied the Roman army was an ardent fan of this plant and he had prima facie knowledge of its enormous power to heal wounds of soldiers injured in war. The prominent Greek Scientist Celsius was also a supporter of this wonder plant. Kopra?s ?The Indigenous Drugs of India? a 400 year old book also have references about Aloe vera. Let us see what this magical plant is and how much useful it actually is? Some facts about the plant. Though Aloe vera is a native of the Tropical Africa it grows even in cold areas and is widely cultiv...
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Manobendra Mukherjee
2007-09-19 03:49:00
Manobendra MukherjeeThe versatile legend of Bengali modern song The 50s, 60s and 70s constitute the period of time when Bengali modern songs reached its peak of excellence and is called the Golden age of Bengali Adhunik Gaan. Bengal had a very unique collection of Basic discs which inspired composers and lyricists to create innumerable treasure of creative music during the age which were independent creations. Bengali modern songs were in fact more popular than film songs composed in the Bengali cinema which also reached it level of excellence in the 50s and 60s. Manobendra Mukherjee, the most stylish Classical singer immerged in the golden age, when Bengali modern songs were also glorified by outstanding performance of Dhanonjoy Bhattacharya, Manna Dey, Satinath Mukherjee, Akhil Bandhu Ghosh to name a few. Being inspired by uncle Sidheshwar Mukherjee and Ratneswar Mukherjee, Manobendra shocked the listeners with his first basic disc in 1953, titled ?Naichondon Lekha Sriradhar chok...

Vinayaka Chathurthi
2007-09-15 19:16:00
Vinayaka ChathurthiVinayaka chavathi image courtsey: dalsabzi.com Vinayaka Chathurthi Pooja (Ganesha Chathurthi Pooja) Saturday September 15th 2007. A day for revelation. Vinayaka Chathurthi is a day of revelation for Hindus all over, the first thing which may occur in mind is that it may be the birthday of Lord Ganapathi the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Sri Parvati. Ganesha or Vinayaka is a strange god with head of an elephant and there is a story behind his origin which is stranger than his shape. In fact every thing associated with this lovable little god is strange and interesting. Lord Ganesh is worshipped by Hindus before starting any thing of important and his blessing is considered must for the success of all human efforts. Birth stranger than fiction. Let us see how he was born, one day while Lord Shiva had gone for hunting; Goddess Parvathi had to take bath and as no security was available she made a small clay image by her magical power she inflicted lif...

Ravi Shankar Sharma and Mohammed Rafi
2007-09-14 14:57:00
Ravi?s memorable combination with RafiRavi Shankar Sharma image courtsey: hindu.comRavi, better known as Ravi Shankar Sharma, emerged in the film arena in the 1950s when success of most of the movies were dependant on strong story base and everlasting music composed for those films. Even more significantly the composers like Shankar Jaikishan, Roshan, Naushad, Madanmohan and lyricists like Shakeel Badayani, Shailendra, Majrooh Sultanpuri, Hasrat Jaipuri, never compromised with the producers in respect of compositions. Further Directors like Bimal Roy, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, had tried to built in realistic approach in respect of picturisation of song sequences.It was difficult for any new composer to create his identity in that scenario. Ravi began his journey by composing music in the film Wachan in 1955, but got acclamation of music lovers with his landmark composition in the film Chaudavi ka Chand in 1960. Mohammad Rafi, the man with the golden voice, had gal...
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Incumbents Vs Debutants
2007-03-16 06:21:00
A Lot of Unfair Advantages but not one to deter the real contender.Image Courtsey: wikipedia.org Do Incumbent Politicians have an Unfair Advantage ??? Government perquisites, sponsors, media and everything money and office can buy stands for the incumbent candidate making him formidable one for a debutant opponent. In this high profile tussle the opponent who has nothing of the
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Ten Incarnations of Lord Vishnu
2007-03-15 12:21:00
The Ten Incarnations of Lord Vish nu (Desa-Avatara) and Charles Darwin.Image courtsey: harekrsna.com As per Hindu mythology there are three aspects of god, one for creation (Brahma), one for upkeep (Vishnu ) and the next for extermination (Shiva). This holy-trinity is also considered as three separate gods. The ten incarnations our subject today was taken by Lord Vishnu the nurturer of
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Cricket World Cup 2007
2007-03-15 08:24:00
World’s Most Ignored Sport Fans. Image Courtsey : Wikipedia.org There were a couple of matches going on at the world cup yesterday. Australia, the favorites for the tournament, was playing against minnows Scotland. In another match a war of the minnows were going on between Kenya and Canada. Both matches had predictable results. Both were a cure for those suffering from even the acutest insomnia.
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2007 Cricket World Cup – WI v Pak
2007-03-14 14:11:00
West Indies wins on the back of good show by young guns Image Courtsey : Wikipedia.org In a contest between two of the most mercurial sides in world cricket West Indies came out triumphant over an erratic Pakistan. What would be most heartening about this victory is that its chief architects were from the younger generation of its players. Players like Samuels, Smith and Bravo came to the party
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What the f**k is a blog anyway?!
2007-03-13 11:39:00
The beauty of the thing is that every single man or woman can jump in and start scribbling. And its hectically beautiful indeed. U don’t have to be a pro writer or some dick inorder to write a blog (good for me,eh?). The blog is a space where you can be you. Correction. The blog is one of the very few spaces left where you can be you. And its changing. Rapidly. The reason? The green stuff as
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Cricket World Cup 2007
2007-03-13 07:47:00
The Caribbean Carnival BeginsImage Courtsey : Wikipedia.org Here we are! Cricket ’s biggest carnival has finally arrived. It was fitting that the greatest cricketer of all time, Sir Garfield Sobers, declared the world cup open. The organizers departed from the usual formality of the head of state of the host nation declaring the world cup open, and instead asked one of its erstwhile greats to do
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Forbes List
2007-03-12 14:50:00
The gap gets ever wider The Forbes list of the richest people in the world was published recently. According to the list, which gets made annually, the number of billionaires in the world is on the rise (946 to be exact). The combined worth of these people grew by 35% in the past year to $3.5 trillion. This is more than the GDP of every nation in the world other than the USA, China, Japan and
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