Jordan - Officials from Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority met along the shores of the Dead Sea to settle details of a study to save the shrinking body of water, agreeing to proceed with plans to draw water from the Red Sea.

The surface level of the Dead Sea — the saltiest water in the world at the lowest point on Earth that is estimated at 1,200 feet below sea level — has fallen about three feet a year in the past 20 years because of evaporation and allegedly the diversion of rivers by Syria and Israel.

The Dead Sea and its surrounding has been the source of much human social history and it is linked to the three monotheistic religions — Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

In 2005, the three concerned parties appealed to the World Bank to coordinate financing the feasibility study. The World Bank have agreed and appealed to the donor countries.

Four donor countries — France, Japan, the United States and the Netherlands — have committed themselves to participate in financing the $15 million study. The study will look at the environmental and social consequences of transferring water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea, Jordan's Minister of Water and Irrigation Mohammed Thafer al-Alem said Sunday.

Geological experts warned that the drop in the water level would increase the earthquake possibilities. They also warn the Dead Sea will disappear in 50 years if current trends persist.

The Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure, Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, said the "study is an excellent example for cooperation, peace and conflict reduction."

The Red-Dead Sea canal project, which is expected to cost more than $1 billion, would exploit the 1,320-foot difference in altitude between both areas.

If implemented, the 248-mile desert area between the two seas would benefit from the fresh water to turn the region into an agricultural hub for the benefit of the three countries. A desalination project is also envisaged to provide drinking water for Amman. Israel and the Palestinian territories would also benefit from the drinking water.

For more information on why Dead Sea is Dying, Click here...

On a ship, the Project managers of three different companies belonging to 3 different nations were traveling with their Trainee guys.

They started an argument on whose Trainee engineer had more guts.

The American PM called for one of his men and told him to jump off and take a round swimming around the moving ship.

The Trainee did as he was commanded. The American PM boasted of by saying, "See the guts!"

Now the German PM called out for one of his men and asked him to take two similar rounds around the moving ship.

The Trainee did as he was told. When he came back from the water the German PM said, "See the guts!"

Now the Indian PM called out for his most courageous man and asked him to take five similar rounds.

The Trainee promptly replied, " Why the hell should I ???"

The PM proudly said, "See the guts!"

How a BOY withdraws cash from ATM.

1. Park the car
2. Go to ATM Machine
3. Insert card
4. Enter PIN
5. Take money out
6. Take ATM Card out
7. Drive away

How a GIRL withdraws cash from ATM

1. Park the car
2. Check makeup
3. Turn off engine
4. Check makeup
5. Go to ATM
6. Hunt for ATM card in the purse
7. Insert card
8. Hit Cancel
9. Hunt in purse for chit with PIN written on it
10. Insert card
11. Enter PIN
12. Take cash
13. Go to car
14. Check makeup
15. Start car
16. Stop car
17. Run back to ATM
18. Take ATM card
19. Back to car
20. Check makeup
21. Start car
22. Check makeup
23. Drive for 1/2 mile
24. Release handbrake

 I think most of you wonder whats there to write about sleep.. and most of the software engineers think that this is about a function called "sleep( )"-which delays the execution by the specified number of seconds... for those kind of people, leave those second thoughts, this is about the daily night sleep only... 

         What if restless nights are normal instead of the exception?

         Sleep deprivation isn't just bad for us, it's also bad for people around us: tens of thousands of traffic accidents are attributed to sleepy drivers every year.

 Most of the people, particularly in the IT Industry, dont take this habit of sleeping a seriuos one, as they dont know the significance of sleeping. They realise its value only after seeing the name of sleeping pills in their doctor's prescription. So I just wanted to make my friends, who are reading this blog, aware of the importance of Sleeping. I'm not an expert in this area, but i can suggest some sites where you can find lots of information about sleeping. Please do spend some time in those sites. I can hear that you are saying that "i can find lot of info by searching. why this fellow wasting time to give links for site...". Just think for a moment that how many times have you entered "sleep" in the search engines??? So here are some of the links:

 http://www.sleepfoundation.org/doze/
 http://health.howstuffworks.com/sleep.htm
 http://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleeplibrary/index.php?secid=&id=53

- and for more, its right-time for you to search for "sleep"... atleast now...

Whats Diwali/Deepavali?
Diwali (also called Deepavali, दिवाली or दीपावली or தீபாவளி in Tamil) is a major Hindu, Jain, Sikh and Indian Buddhist festival/celebration. Known as the "Festival of Lights," it symbolises the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. The reason for celebrating Diwali or Deepawali (lines of earthen lamps) is the return of Lord Ram, after killing Ravan (Demon) during his exile for 14 years. The day of killing Ravan is celebrated as Dussehra (19~21 days before Diwali). Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional diyas (as illustrated). Fireworks are associated with the festival in some regions of India.

The Five days of Diwali

Diwali is celebrated over five days in most of North India. All the days except Diwali are named using the designation in the Indian calendar. A lunar half-month is 15 days. Diwali as a new-moon day, marks the last day of a 15-day period.

1. Dhan-trayodashi or Dhan teras: Dhan means "wealth" and Trayodashi means "13th day". Thus, as the name implies, this day falls on the 13th day of the first half of the lunar month. It is an auspicious day for shopping. (Gujarati: Dhan Teras)
2. Naraka Chaturdasi: Narak means 'of a new era of Light and Knowledge'. Chaturdasi implies fourteenth day. (Gujarati: Kali Chaudas)
3. Diwali: the actual day of Diwali, is celebrated on the third day of the festival, when the moon completely wanes and total darkness sets in the night sky.
4. Varsha-pratipada or Padwa: Beginning of the New Year (Kartikadi Vikram). Pratipada means the first. (Gujarati: Bestu Varas)
5. Bhayiduj (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) -- on this day, brothers and sisters meet to express their love and affection for each other. (Gujarati: Bhai Bij)

The celebrations vary in different regions:

• In Southern India, naraka chaturdashii is the main day, with firecrackers at dawn.
• The main festival is on Amavasya evening with Lakshmi Puja which is followed by lighting of oil lamps around the house.

For more info on Diwali/Deepavali: search in www.wikipedia.org

or visit http://www.festivalsinindia.net/diwali/index.html

     Not only our technical knowledge helps, but also the presence of mind and the right answer at right time. Even if u don't know the answer for a question just confuse the questioner.

    Question and the Answer given by Candidates oh sorry they are IAS Officers now.

Go for the link below...

http://plezer.blogspot.com/2006_09_03_plezer_archive.html

    Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods. 
    You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.

Listen to the Exhortation of the Dawn!
Look to this Day!
For it is Life, the very Life of Life.
In its brief course lie all the
Verities and Realities of your Existence.
The Bliss of Growth,
The Glory of Action,
The Splendor of Beauty;
For Yesterday is but a Dream,
And To-morrow is only a Vision;
But To-day well lived makes
Every Yesterday a Dream of Happiness,
And every Tomorrow a Vision of Hope.
Look well therefore to this Day!
Such is the Salutation of the Dawn!
                                              -Kalidasa.