Test your psychic sense

Test your psychic sense

My Quiz Result: Wow, you have a strong psychic sense.

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Do you care for animals?

Do you care for animals?

My Quiz Result: You care for animals. You love and adore them. You cannot bear any injustice against animals. You go out of your way to protect animals. Keep it up.

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Are you a visual or an auditory person?

Are you a visual or an auditory person?

My Quiz Result: Looking at your responses, it seems that you are more of a visual person.

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Are you compassionate?

Are you compassionate?

My Quiz Result: You are a compassionate person. Your love and care will surely help your friends and family.

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Is your partner your soulmate?

Is your partner your soulmate?

My Quiz Result: Your partner is your soulmate. You are a very lucky person. Do tell him/her this fact right away.

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What kind of dating personality are you?

What kind of dating personality are you?

My Quiz Result: You have a balanced personality about dates. You neither want to go to date with anyone you come across, nor you want to impress him/her at any cost. You are not desperate for dates, but you enjoy them.

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The cool hunk test

The cool hunk test

My Quiz Result: You are not a cool hunk. You are sober and simple.

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Are you making Valentine's day special?

Are you making Valentine's day special?

My Quiz Result: You take efforts to make Valentine's day extra special for your lover.

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Are you the perfect sibling?

Are you the perfect sibling?

My Quiz Result: You have a very bland relationship with your sibling(s). You have more of a formal relationship. Try to be more caring and loving.

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Are you a cleanliness freak?

Are you a cleanliness freak?

My Quiz Result: You are crazy about cleanliness. In fact more than required at times. Keep your freakiness under control if you find yourself going over the top. Otherwise cleanliness is a good habit.

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Are you getting joy in your relationship?

Are you getting joy in your relationship?

My Quiz Result: You are enjoying your relationship. Continue in the same vein.

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Are you a bookworm?

Are you a bookworm?

My Quiz Result: It is good that you like reading books, but what is appreciable that reading is not an obsession with you.

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Are you addicted to programming?

Are you addicted to programming?

My Quiz Result: Whoa! You are addicted to programming. And you seem to be proud of the fact.

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You rule fashion or fashion rules you?

You rule fashion or fashion rules you?

My Quiz Result: Fashion rules your life to a large extent. Try to achieve a balance in life. Do not let fashion affect your social relationships and other things in life. One must be fashionable, but to a limit.

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Can you make it big in your career?

Can you make it big in your career?

My Quiz Result: You have some of the qualities which can help you make it big in your career.

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Do you need a job change?

Do you need a job change?

My Quiz Result: You are very unsatisfied with your current job. If you believe that changing jobs will improve your life and career, go ahead and do it.

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Do you love boy bands?

Do you love boy bands?

My Quiz Result: You are a big lover of boy bands.

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Which music suits your personality?

Which music suits your personality?

My Quiz Result: The music genres which suit your personality are rock, rap and hip-hop.

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Do you make quick friends?

Do you make quick friends?

My Quiz Result: You make friends very quickly. This is an admirable quality. You are an extrovert.

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Are you a romantic girl?

Boys want girls to be romantic. Take this quiz to find out if you are a romantic girl.

Are you a romantic girl?

My Quiz Result: You are a very romantic girl. Your guy is lucky to have you in his life. Way to go!

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Are you a good girlfriend?

Are you a good girlfriend?

My Quiz Result: You are a good girlfriend. Your boyfriend is lucky to have you.

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Can you become a pirate?

Can you become a pirate?

My Quiz Result: Yo ho! You have the credentials to become a pirate. Just don't try to loot us.

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Will you grow together till old age?

Will you grow together till old age?

My Quiz Result: You are in deep love with each other. Both of you certainly have the spark to grow together in love, till old age.

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Are you more feminine or masculine?

Are you more feminine or masculine?

My Quiz Result: You are more feminine than masculine.

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Are you a romantic girl?

Are you a romantic girl?

My Quiz Result: You are a very romantic girl. Your guy is lucky to have you in his life. Way to go!

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Is your long distance relationship rocking or is it in the rocks?

Is your long distance relationship rocking or is it in the rocks?

My Quiz Result: Your long distance relationship is in the rocks. Somewhere in your mind, you feel that your relationship could be a lot better.

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Is he only looking for some fun or is his love real?

Is he only looking for some fun or is his love real?

My Quiz Result: Men are difficult to predict. With your responses, it may look that your man is more for fun. Wait for some time, and try to know him better.

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Are you a pig?

Take this funny quiz to find if you are a pig.

Are you a pig?

My Quiz Result: It won't be long before people start calling you a pig and avoiding you. Your manners and looks resemble that of a pig. Oink. Oink.

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Are you obsessed with your body?

Loving your body and taking care is fine. But are you over obsessed with it? Find with this health quiz.

Health Quizzes

Are you an obsessive girlfriend?

Are you an obsessive girlfriend?

My Quiz Result: You are an obsessive girlfriend.

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Martin Luther King Quotes

Get Martin Luther King quotes for myspace or blogs here. Display your favorite Martin Luther King quotes in myspace, blogger, friendster, tagged, hi5, xanga, orkut, myyearbook or elsewhere with graphics or flash widgets.




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Thinking Of You

Also works in Tagged, Blogger, Orkut, Myyearbook, Wordpress, Multiply, LiveJournal, Ning, Xanga and social networking / blogging sites which allow flash. Works in profiles of Friendster and Hi5 but not in their comments.



Myspace Comments, Thinking Of You Comments at WishAFriend.com

Are you a party girl?

This quiz will tell you if you are a party girl or not.

Are you a party girl?

My Quiz Result: You are totally a party girl. You are the life of any party.

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Orkut Graphics

Get fun orkut scraps to send to your orkut friends. Click on the links below and get the codes for your friend's orkut scrapbook. Try these cool orkut scraps and orkut graphics today. The orkut scraps in flash - you will not find anywhere else.

Send free orkut graphics to all your friends. The orkut graphics are available in a variety of topics. Browse the links below. Your friends will love your comment graphics.

Romantic Thoughts Graphics

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Wedding Countdown Clocks

Make a Wedding countdown here. Choose from the Wedding myspace countdown clocks below. Post your Wedding countdown clock on myspace, friendster, hi5, blogger, etc.





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Age Calculator

Calculate your exact age in years, months, weeks, days, minutes, seconds with your photo. Post it on Facebook, Myspace, Blogger, Twitter, Orkut, Friendster, Hi5, Xanga, etc.

Age Calculator by WishAFriend.com

Will you have a wonderful Valentine's day?

Will you have a wonderful Valentine's day?

My Quiz Result: You will have a wonderful Valentine's day.

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3d Pregnancy Ultrasound

3D Pregnancy Ultrasound by Nichole Clark

3D pregnancy ultrasound is a medical technique which provides three dimensional pictures of a fetus while it is in the womb. The technique is harmless to both mother and baby, and neither will feel anything during the procedure. The pictures are much clearer than 2D ultrasound, which has been used for many years in the general healthcare of pregnant women all around the world, and can often be linked with 4D ultrasound which enables you to have an actual DVD of your baby moving around in the womb, which many parents-to-be find just too much to resist.



3D pregnancy ultrasound is often used to determine the gender of the unborn baby. Whilst some state that this is possible from around 15 weeks, it is most widely considered to be more reliable at around the 20 week period. There are no guarantees that the gender information is correct, but at 20 weeks it is remarkably accurate (around 95%). You should still proceed with caution before buying items or decorating the nursery in a very gender orientated fashion. Some couples decide that they do not want to know the gender of their child before the birth, and they should clearly state that before the 3D pregnancy ultrasound sessions begins. It really is a matter of personal preference and the choice is entirely up to you.



If you are having a 3D pregnancy ultrasound, unlike your regular medical ultrasound appointment, you will not be told to drink lots of water and hold on to it just before the scan. This can prove to be extremely uncomfortable so it may be a relief to a lot of potential clients. However, they do advise that you drink plenty of water for the 2 weeks prior to your visit, to ensure that there is a good amount of clear amniotic fluid around the fetus and ensuring a good, clear picture.



3D ultrasounds are best if they are done between about 20 and 32 weeks. After 32 weeks the baby will probably start to engage in which case getting a good picture will be nigh on impossible.



The images on 3D ultrasound are much clearer than the conventional 2D images which have been used routinely for so many years. Although you will probably have to pay a private clinic for the use of this technology at the moment, many hospitals and health centres are beginning to see the benefits of this advanced technology and will be making it available in the near future.



If you are unsure about whether a 3D pregnancy ultrasound is right for you, there are lots of websites with further information that you can easily find. There are also many photographs which proud parents have exhibited, and these clearly show the superior quality of these images, compared to the original type. To watch your baby moving on the screen and then have a good, clear picture of your unborn child can significantly help the bonding process between parents and baby, and also other members of the family.



At Adorable Baby 3D/4D Ultrasound, you are able to "meet" your unborn baby! We use brand new 3D and 4D ultrasound technology so that you can actually see your baby in live 4D motion while in your womb.To book an appointment call 925-522-5700 http://www.adorablebaby3d.com Article by Nichole Clark



Article Source: Fun Personality

Indian Tiger Welfare Society, moved by the plight of the members of "Cat Family" like tigers due to shrinking habitat and large scale poaching, Indian Tiger Welfare was founded to spread awareness and work towards building safe haven for tigers that include Royal Bengal tiger, and Indian white tiger. The organisation shares the global conerns of protecting these endangered species and has joined hands with many such organisations who share the same conerns.The organisation shares the global conerns of protecting these endangered species and has joined hands with many such organisations who share the same conerns.

The tiger, one of the most magnificent animals in the world, is also one of the most endangered. A cat of beauty, strength, and majesty, the tiger is master of all and subject to none -- except humans. Of the eight original subspecies of tigers, three have become extinct within the last 60 years; and there are less than 50 South China tigers left on this planet -- few, and possibly none, survive in the wild.

There are five different kinds or subspecies of tiger alive in the world today. These tigers are called Siberian, South China, Indochinese, Bengal, and Sumatran. Their Latin name is Panthera tigris. Tigers are an endangered species; only about 5,000 to 7,400 tigers are left in the wild. Three tiger subspecies, the Bali, Javan, and Caspian tigers have become extinct in the past 70 years.

Poachers are continuing to exterminate the world's remaining Tigers. New demand across Southeast Asia for the skins, teeth and claws of tigers is endangering much of the great cats, particularly the Sumatran tiger. Currently, the demand for Tiger parts is centered in several parts of Asia where there is a strong market for traditional medicines made from items like tiger bone and body parts. Volumes are sizeable and there has been little enforcement action against poachers and traders

What Needs to be Done to Save the Tiger:
- Local institutions and people Scientists who were closely involved in managing tigers at the local level, Hemendra Panwar of India and Hemanta Mishra of Nepal, pointed out an important lesson more than a decade ago: unless local community needs are met, conservation of the tiger will not succeed and protected areas will perish. Therefore, conservation programmes

must reconcile the interests of people and tigers. In most situations, a sustainable tiger conservation strategy cannot be achieved without the full participation and collective action of individual rural households whose livelihoods depend on rights of access and use of the forests where tigers live.

- Technologies for conservation of resources There already exists a wide range of technologies and practices in forest and watershed management and agriculture, both traditional and new, for conservation of resources. The biological processes that regenerate forests and make agriculture less damaging to tiger habitats take time to become established

- Use of external institutions Institutions, such as NGOs, government departments, and banks, can facilitate processes by which local people develop their sense of ownership and commitment. When little effort is made to build local skills, interest, and capacity, people have no interest or stake in maintaining structures or practices once the incentives for conservation stop. Success hinges on people’s participation in planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, which leads to the formation of new institutions or the strengthening of existing ones

- Conservation of tiger habitat and of prey In many areas peripheral to tiger habitat, grazing lands for livestock have been converted to crops or degraded by excessive use; livestock is of poor quality and of poor productivity; wood for fuel and building has been exhausted; and sources of income are limited. The rehabilitation of the natural resource base of local people is essential if they are not to seek their requirements in protected areas. This requires ecodevelopment with the support and cooperation of specialized government organs and the non-governmental conservation community.

What you can do to save the tiger?

The tiger is not just a charismatic species. It’s not just a wild animal living in some forest either. The tiger is a unique animal which plays a pivotal role in the health and diversity of an ecosystem. It is a top predator and is at the apex of the food chain and keeps the population of wild ungulates in check, thereby maintaining the balance between prey herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed. Therefore the presence of tigers in the forest is an indicator of the well being of the ecosystem. The extinction of this top predator is an indication that its ecosystem is not sufficiently protected, and neither would it exist for long thereafter.

If the tigers go extinct, the entire system would collapse. For e.g. when the Dodos went extinct in Mauritius, one species of Acacia tree stopped regenerating completely. So when a species goes extinct, it leaves behind a scar, which affects the entire ecosystem. Another reason why we need to save the tiger is that our forests are water catchment areas.

When we protect one tiger, we protect about a 100 sq. km of area and thus save other species living in its habitat. Therefore, it’s not just about saving a beautiful animal. It is about making sure that we live a little longer as the forests are known to provide ecological services like clean air, water, pollination, temperature regulation etc. This way, our planet can still be home to our children.

Spread the word: Go out loud and tell others that tigers are dying and that they need our help. You can form forums (or join existing ones) on the web for discussions and exchange views on tiger conservation. Reach school going children. WWF can help you in this regard.

Be a responsible tourist: The wilderness is to be experienced and not to be disturbed and polluted. Follow the forest department guidelines when visiting any wilderness area, tiger reserve in particular. As the saying goes ‘Don’t leave thing anything behind except foot steps, and don’t take anything except memories.’

Write to the policy makers: If you are really concerned and feel that more needs to be done for tiger conservation, then write polite letters to the decision makers - the Prime Minister, the Minister for Environment and Forests or even your local MP.

Informing the nearest police station: If you know of any information on poaching or trade of illegal wildlife. You can also contact TRAFFIC- an organisation fighting the powerful poachers and pass on the information to them.

Reducing pressure on natural resources: By reducing the use of products derived from forests, such as timber and paper.

Indian Marriage License

The procedure for a foreigner (e.g., an American citizen) to get married in India depends on whether the parties wish to participate in a religious ceremony or a civil ceremony. If required, the Embassy can issue a “no objection” letter to any American citizen who wishes to obtain an Indian marriage certificate. The letter can be obtained free of charge from the American Citizen Services Unit any weekday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., simply by presenting a U.S. passport.

If after marrying, you are interested in obtaining an immigrant visa to the United States for your new spouse, please contact the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (previously known as “INS”) to obtain more information about filing an immigrant visa petition. Their website is www.uscis.gov. Their office at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi can be reached by writing to ins.ndi@dhs.gov, or by calling 2419-8506 (begin by dialing 011-91-11- if calling from the United States).

Religious Ceremonies

In India, a religious marriage ceremony is considered a legal marriage. However, for Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists, the certificate issued by the temple or gurudwara may not be legally sufficient for all purposes. Rather, members of these religions may seek a formal marriage certificate from the Registrar of Marriages. If one of the parties is a U.S. citizen, the registrar may request a “no objection letter” from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and also may request proof of termination of any previous marriages, before a marriage certificate will be issued.

If the parties are married in a Christian, Muslim, Parsi, Jewish, Baha’i or other religious ceremony, the certificate issued by the religious authority (e.g., the church’s marriage certificate, the mosque’s nikah nama, etc.) generally is sufficient proof of marriage, and no certificate from the marriage registrar is necessary.

Civil Ceremonies

Parties who do not wish to marry in a religious ceremony can instead opt for a civil ceremony pursuant to the Special Marriage Act. Again the American citizen who wishes to participate in a civil marriage ceremony may be required to present to the marriage officer a “no objection letter” from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, as well as proof of termination of any previous marriages. The parties generally are required to wait at least 30 days from the date of initial application to formalize the marriage so that the marriage officer can publish a newspaper ad allowing for the opportunity for any objections to the marriage to be voiced.

In India, a religious marriage ceremony is considered a legal marriage। However registration of marriage is now a legal requirement in most of the states in India. Moreover, for visa and immigration purposes a formal marriage certificate from the Registrar of Marriages is required. There are different rules and regulations for different religions. For example there are Hindu Marriage Act, Muslim Marriage Act, and Christian Marriage Act and for the Parsee there is Parsee Marriage and Divorce Act.

Hindu Marriage Ceremony

The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 is applicable to Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists. A religious marriage which has already been solemnized can be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The Hindu Marriage Act is applicable in cases where both husband and wife are Hindus, Buddhists, Jains or Sikhs or where they have converted into any of these religions. The Hindu Marriage Act provides for the conditions of a marriage where under the bridegroom should be the age of 21 years and bride of 18 years, they both should not be within the degree of prohibited relationship.

The documents required for registering a marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act are as follows:

• Application form duly signed by both husband and wife
• Documentary evidence of date of birth of parties (Matriculation Certificate / Passport / Birth Certificate) Minimum age of both parties is 21 years at the time of registration under the Special Marriage Act
• Ration card of husband or wife whose area SDM has been approached for the certificate
  Affidavit by both the parties stating place and date of marriage, date of birth, marital status at the time of marriage and nationality
• Two passport size photographs of both the parties and one marriage photograph
  Marriage invitation card, if available
• If marriage was solemnized in a religious place, a certificate from the priest is required who solemnized the marriage
• Affirmation that the parties are not related to each other within the prohibited degree of relationship as per Hindu Marriage Act or Special Marriage Act as the case may be
  Attested copy of divorce decree/order in case of a divorcee and death certificate of spouse in case of widow/widower
• In case one of the parties belong to other than Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh religions, a conversion certificate from the priest who solemnized the marriage
• All documents excluding receipt should be attested by a Gazetted Officer

Verification of all the documents is carried out on the date of application and a day is fixed and communicated to the parties for registration। On the said day, both parties, along with a Gazetted Officer who attended their marriage, need to be present before the SDM. The marriage certificate under the Hindu Marriage Act is issued on the same day or within a few days.

Civil Marriage Ceremonies in India

Parties who do not wish to marry in a religious ceremony can instead opt for a civil ceremony pursuant to the Indian Special Marriage Act of 1954.

In case a marriage between an Indian and a foreign national is to take place in India, generally its required to file a notice of intended marriage with a Marriage Registrar of your choice in India. That notice is required to be published for the stipulated 30 days. At the end of the 30 days the Marriage Registrar is free to perform the marriage.

The notice of intended marriage can only be given in India, if at least one partner is permanently and the other partner temporarily resident in India.

If one partner is residing in a foreign country then the partner who is resident in India will have to fill out the “Marriage Notice” collected from the Marriage Registration Office of his/her choice in India and send it to his/her partner in the foreign country who will also have to fill it out. This “Notice” should then be sent back to the partner in India who will have to re-submit it at the Marriage Registration Office. After the stipulated waiting period of 30 days the marriage can take place in India. Under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 a certificate showing the signatures of the persons married, the registrar and the witnesses will be issued. This Certificate is required as proof of the marriage and when applying for a visa to for a foreign country.

The following documents are required for both the partners:

• a valid Passport
• original Birth Certificate showing parents' names
• if the person concerned is widowed, the original death certificate of the deceased spouse
• If divorced, copy of the final decree
• documentary evidence regarding stay in India of the parties for more than 30 days (ration card or report from the concerned SHO)

The American citizen who wishes to participate in a civil marriage ceremony may be required to present to the marriage officer a “no objection letter” from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, as well as proof of termination of any previous marriages. Similarly, a citizen of another foreign country may be required to present to the marriage officer a “no objection letter” from the Embassy or Consulate of his country, as well as proof of termination of any previous marriages.

In a nutshell, under the Special Marriage Act, the parties generally are required to wait at least 30 days from the date of initial application to formalize the marriage so that the marriage officer can publish a newspaper ad allowing for the opportunity for any objections to the marriage to be voiced।

What is a Marriage Certificate and Why is it Needed?

A Marriage Certificate is the proof of registration of a marriage. The need for a Marriage Certificate arises in case you need to prove that you are legally married to someone, for purposes like obtaining a passport, changing your maiden name, etc.

Legal Framework

In India, a marriage can be registered under either of the two Marriage Acts: the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 (External website that opens in a new window) or the Special Marriage Act, 1954 (External website that opens in a new window). To be eligible for marriage, the minimum age limit is 21 for males and 18 for females. The parties to a Hindu marriage should be unmarried or divorced, or if previously married, the spouse by that marriage should not be alive. In addition, the parties should be physically and mentally healthy and must not be related in a way prohibited by the law.

The Hindu Marriage Act is applicable only to the Hindus, whereas the Special Marriage Act is applicable to all citizens of India.

The Hindu Marriage Act provides for registration of an already solemnised marriage. It does not provide for solemnisation of a marriage by the Registrar. The Special Marriage Act provides for solemnisation of a marriage as well as registration by a Marriage Officer.

What You Need to Do to Obtain a Marriage Certificate

Under the Hindu Marriage Act:

Parties to the marriage have to apply to the Registrar in whose jurisdiction the marriage is solemnised or to the Registrar in whose jurisdiction either party to the marriage has been residing at least for six months immediately preceding the date of marriage. Both the parties have to appear before the Registrar along with their parents or guardians or other witnesses within one month from the date of marriage. There is a provision for condonation of delay up to 5 years, by the Registrar, and thereafter by the District Registrar concerned.

Under the Special Marriage Act:

The parties to the intended marriage have to give a notice to the Marriage Officer in whose jurisdiction at least one of the parties has resided for not less than 30 days prior to the date of notice. It should be affixed at some conspicuous place in his office. If either of the parties is residing in the area of another Marriage Officer, a copy of the notice should be sent to him for similar publication. The marriage may be solemnised after the expiry of one month from the date of publication of the notice, if no objections are received. If any objections are received, the Marriage Officer has to enquire into them and take a decision either to solemnise the marriage or to refuse it. Registration will be done after solemnisation of the marriage.

Any marriage already celebrated can also be registered under the Special Marriage Act after giving a public notice of 30 days, subject to conditions। However, as stated above, the bridegroom and the bride must have completed 21 years and 18 years of age respectively.

Positive Thinking People

There are many claims about positive thinking. People who search the term on the Internet will find numerous books, articles, and sites devoted to the subject. Advantages of positive thinking sometimes appear overwrought and the claims about it may seem too good to be true. Sometimes they are, especially when people ignore negatives in their life to the point where they don’t deal with real problems that require their attention. On the other hand, a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that thinking positively may be beneficial in many respects।

There are studies that suggest that positive thinking can help in the treatment of and recovery from illnesses. However, it isn’t a magic bullet. Thinking positive thoughts doesn’t cure everyone of cancer or make every recovery perfect. However it can elevate mood and reduce upsurges in hormones and other chemicals produced in large volume when people are stressed. The main thing seems to be that positive thinking has an advantage over negative thinking, because there are definitely causal links between negative thinking and production of stress hormones that make people feel worse.

There are a number of ways in which positive thoughts are introduced in therapy. Two key therapy concepts that use thinking as a means of recovery from mental illness are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). In particular, ACT can focus in part on how to interpret events in their best light, instead of interpreting them as a personal affront. It attempts to keep people from going negative and using negative self-talking by changing the way they perceive a situation, and by evaluating the different motivations that can drive other people.

CBT can evaluate how people get into destructive thinking patterns based on core beliefs that are really not true. People can move from these old destructive beliefs into ones that are more modulated and realistic. Both ACT and CBT are considered legitimate means to help in the treatment of mental illnesses and they have been shown to improve outcome, even when used with severe conditions.

Positive thinking isn’t just for those suffering from mental illness. There are many methods that employ such thoughts in every day life. Athletes can use positive visualizations in order to “see” achieving a goal or executing a perfect move. Students may visualize great test scores and then achieve them by reducing test anxiety and by studying. Many people adopt optimism as a life strategy. Even in bad times, they try to find the silver lining or use tough times to commit to helping others.

There can be some disadvantages to positive thinking too। People can become overly optimistic, a condition called optimism bias. They believe that they are immune to bad times or they simply believe that likelihood of good things occurring is greater than the likelihood of bad things occurring. This might lead to a smoker believing he or she won’t get lung cancer, for instance. Optimism needs to be tempered with realism, which isn’t the same as being negative. A favorite quote among many Christians is "act as if everything depends upon you; pray as if everything depends upon God.” In other words people shouldn’t use faith in the divine or optimism to substitute for living in positive ways that will likely improve their chances of having positive outcomes.

Those who have tried to improve themselves as well as their knowledge, know very well how life is easier to live as they exercise positive thinking. But not many people know how to train themselves to let positive thinking dominate their minds. So let us first find out some characteristics of positive thinking people, then we can start to follow suit.

1. They see problems as challenges.

This is in contrast to the way some people see problems as ordeals too great to bear as to make their lives most miserable.

2. They enjoy their lives.

Positive thinking makes people light heartedly accept whatever conditions their lives are in, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they stop trying to better their lives.

3. They always open their minds to welcome ideas and suggestions.

By doing so, they have the chance to get something new that might enable the betterment of many things in life.

4. They immediately expel any negative thought as soon as it crosses their minds.

Keeping any negative thought longer may as well be waking up a sleeping tiger. It actually is indifferent but potential to bring about troubles.

5. They count their blessing.

They don’t complain about not having or getting what they want.

6. They don’t listen to gossips.

There’s no doubt that gossips are closely related to negative thoughts so positive thinkers never let themselves come into listening to aimless and meaningless talks.

7. They don’t make excuses but act straightaway.

You likely have heard how the abbreviation of NATO is jokingly said to represent: No Action Talk Only. Clearly positive thinkers are not its followers.

8. They apply positive way of speaking.

They use sentences with optimistic tone, like : “this problem will surely be solved soon” and “you are quite talented, no doubt”

9. They carry positive body language.

Namely : smiling face, steady strides, expressive gestures, convincing nods etc.

10. They care about their self image.

They take care of their good appearances, outwardly and inwardly as well।

Positive Thinking True Power

The true power of positive thinking lies in faith. Faith can cause a person's success and may also lead to his downfall. It is said that there is more faith in a doubtful man than in every priest in the world. This is very true.



"If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you can move mountains."



This is one of the most inspirational verses in the Bible. It also tells us just how much faith can affect our lives. The power of positive thinking can be observed in what people with enough faith have accomplished in history.



People have built businesses based on the faith that they would not fail. People have dared to think that creating the Suez Canal was possible, and they did it. The true power of positive thinking is not found in finances, it is in human achievement.



The mentality of people today is so materialistic that we tend to measure achievement in terms of cash. We only understand the marvel of a building if we learn just how much it cost. We tend to measure a person's success in his or her profession by how much he or she makes, not by how much he or she has contributed to the field of study. That is the reason why we have forgotten about the true power of positive thinking.



You can see how much a self-doubting man can lose in a matter of days. You can observe just how many failures a person with self-doubt can experience in his or her lifetime.



Positive thinking can turn this around. If self-doubt is a form of faith, then it will take another form of faith to overcome it. The true power of positive thinking lies in the fact that it can eliminate self-doubt.



The greatest battle that man takes part in happens within. The power of positive thinking helped the allied forces win World War II. The power of positive thinking is evidenced in the way the paratroopers of Easy Company jumped from their planes, knowing in the back of their minds that they will win the war.



The power of positive thinking is that it defeats the worst enemy man has ever known: the self. Whenever you are trying to make a decision, you have an internal conflict. One road leads to greatness and the other leads to failure. Without positive thinking, you will not be able to do the things that you need to do in order to become successful. In fact, without positive thinking, you won't be able to do anything at all. You will just wait on that decision until your action (or lack thereof) becomes irrelevant.



Did that scenario sound familiar? Have you ever experienced an event in your life when you struggled so long with your self-doubt that time erased the relevance of your decision? The power of positive thinking is that you will be able to make decisions when they are needed. The power of positive thinking is that it can overcome that feeling of being frozen on the spot. Because of optimism, you will be able to look for any opportunity that will lead to your success.



The true power of positive thinking is not about making you a lot of money. It is about letting you do what you need in order to succeed. Whatever your definition of success is, the power of positive thinking can help you achieve it.



Christina Gray is a recognized authority on the subject of positive thinking। Her website www.selfimprovementsguide.com provides a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you will need to know about self improvement. All rights reserved. Articles may be reprinted as long as the content and links remains intact and unchanged.

Positive thinking is a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that are conductive to growth, expansion and success. It is a mental attitude that expects good and favorable results. A positive mind anticipates happiness, joy, health and a successful outcome of every situation and action. Whatever the mind expects, it finds.

Not everyone accepts or believes in positive thinking. Some consider the subject as just nonsense, and others scoff at people who believe and accept it. Among the people who accept it, not many know how to use it effectively to get results. Yet, it seems that many are becoming attracted to this subject, as evidenced by the many books, lectures and courses about it. This is a subject that is gaining popularity.

It is quite common to hear people say: "Think positive!", to someone who feels down and worried. Most people do not take these words seriously, as they do not know what they really mean, or do not consider them as useful and effective. How many people do you know, who stop to think what the power of positive thinking means?

The following story illustrates how this power works:
Allan applied for a new job, but as his self-esteem was low, and he considered himself as a failure and unworthy of success, he was sure that he was not going to get the job. He had a negative attitude towards himself, and believed that the other applicants were better and more qualified than him. Allan manifested this attitude, due to his negative past experiences with job interviews.

His mind was filled with negative thoughts and fears concerning the job for the whole week before the job interview. He was sure he would be rejected. On the day of the interview he got up late, and to his horror he discovered that the shirt he had planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out wearing a shirt full of wrinkles.

During the interview he was tense, displayed a negative attitude, worried about his shirt, and felt hungry because he did not have enough time to eat breakfast. All this distracted his mind and made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and consequently he materialized his fear and did not get the job.

Jim applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. He was sure that he was going to get the job. During the week preceding the interview he often visualized himself making a good impression and getting the job.

In the evening before the interview he prepared the clothes he was going to wear, and went to sleep a little earlier. On day of the interview he woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time.

He got the job because he made a good impression. He had also of course, the proper qualifications for the job, but so had Allan.

What do we learn from these two stories? Is there any magic employed here? No, it is all natural. When the attitude is positive we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive images, and see in our mind's eye what we really want to happen. This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy and happiness. The whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even the health is affected in a beneficial way. We walk tall and the voice is more powerful. Our body language shows the way you feel inside.

Positive and negative thinking are both contagious.
All of us affect, in one way or another, the people we meet. This happens instinctively and on a subconscious level, through thoughts and feelings transference, and through body language. People sense our aura and are affected by our thoughts, and vice versa. Is it any wonder that we want to be around positive people and avoid negative ones? People are more disposed to help us if we are positive, and they dislike and avoid anyone broadcasting negativity.

Negative thoughts, words and attitude bring up negative and unhappy moods and actions. When the mind is negative, poisons are released into the blood, which cause more unhappiness and negativity. This is the way to failure, frustration and disappointment.

Hollywood Horror Movies

Horror Films are unsettling films designed to frighten and panic, cause dread and alarm, and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience. Horror films effectively center on the dark side of life, the forbidden, and strange and alarming events. They deal with our most primal nature and its fears: our nightmares, our vulnerability, our alienation, our revulsions, our terror of the unknown, our fear of death and dismemberment, loss of identity, or fear of sexuality.

Whatever dark, primitive, and revolting traits that simultaneously attract and repel us are featured in the horror genre. Horror films are often combined with science fiction when the menace or monster is related to a corruption of technology, or when Earth is threatened by aliens. The fantasy and supernatural film genres are not synonymous with the horror genre, although thriller films may have some relation when they focus on the revolting and horrible acts of the killer/madman. Horror films are also known as chillers, scary movies, spookfests, and the macabre.

Introduction to Horror Films

Horror films go back as far as the onset of films themselves, over a 100 years ago. From our earliest days, we use our vivid imaginations to see ghosts in shadowy shapes, to be emotionally connected to the unknown and to fear things that are improbable. Watching a horror film gives an opening into that scary world, into an outlet for the essence of fear itself, without actually being in danger. Weird as it sounds, there's a very real thrill and fun factor in being scared or watching disturbing, horrific images.

Horror films, when done well and with less reliance on horrifying special effects, can be extremely potent film forms, tapping into our dream states and the horror of the irrational and unknown, and the horror within man himself. (The best horror films only imply or suggest the horror in subtle ways, rather than blatantly displaying it, i.e., Val Lewton's horror films.) In horror films, the irrational forces of chaos or horror invariably need to be defeated, and often these films end with a return to normalcy and victory over the monstrous.

Of necessity, the earliest horror films were Gothic in style - meaning that they were usually set in spooky old mansions, castles, or fog-shrouded, dark and shadowy locales. Their main characters have included "unknown," human, supernatural or grotesque creatures, ranging from vampires, demented madmen, devils, unfriendly ghosts, monsters, mad scientists, "Frankensteins," "Jekyll/Hyde" dualities, demons, zombies, evil spirits, arch fiends, Satanic villains, the "possessed," werewolves and freaks to even the unseen, diabolical presence of evil.

Horror films developed out of a number of sources: folktales with devil characters, witchcraft, fables, myths, ghost stories, Grand Guignol melodramas, and Gothic or Victorian novels from Europe by way of Mary Shelley or Irish writer Bram Stoker. In many ways, the expressionistic German silent cinema led the world in films of horror and the supernatural, and established its cinematic vocabulary and style.

I know that the subject of remakes has been beat more than one of Michael Vick’s pooches (too soon?), but is also a subject that is not going to go away in the near future. A quick glance of the slated horror releases for the next few years has no fewer than 12 remakes including The Birds, Evil Dead, Nightmare on Elm Street, Hellraiser…I could go on.

As fans of the genre, of course we hate the idea of remakes. What ever happened to the saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? So many of our favorites are getting makeovers, and then the makeovers are getting their own sequels? What the hell is up with that? Kinda bullshit. There are also those remakes, however, that I think are allowed. A film that was released over 50 years ago, in my opinion, is eligible for a remake, or “reimagining.” Take Wolfman for example. Judging from the posts on the discussion board on this site, I’m not the only one absolutely stoked for the release of the remake. I saw the trailer, and there are clearly scenes that are an homage to the original, but I’d bet my entire savings account ($223.24 – ugh, no wonder I’m single) that less than 5% of people who go see the film in December have seen the original Lon Cheney version. This is the situation where a studio exec can say that they’re bringing an old story to a new generation, and I’ll actually buy it. When they try to use that line when referring to a remake of a movie made in the 80’s, however, it makes me want to punch them in the side of the neck.

So why all the remakes? None of us are idiots, we know it’s all about the $. Studio heads, or at least their Development heads, have been groomed in the Hollywood system, and taught that they have one job, and that one job is to bring in revenue to the studio. I’ve heard many a complaint about the fact that nobody in Hollywood has creativity anymore, or that everyone only cares about the money. I don’t necessarily think that is the case. It’s just that the people with the creativity aren’t the ones making the decisions.

Hollywood is not run by fans of horror; it’s not even run by fans of movies in general. The 1990’s ultimately destroyed the original horror film. It was in the 90’s that big companies got bigger, ate other companies, then merged with other big companies to become uber-companies. Studio execs were hired to improve the bottom line, not create good product. This is when focus groups, trends, and statistics started deciding what movies got made. An exec knows in order to keep his job, he’s got to greenlight movies than bring back big returns. Knowing his job is on the line, of course he’s going to pick a sure thing over a creative, potentially great idea.

Had I walked into Lionsgate with a pitch for The Blair Witch Project, they would have smiled and escorted me out of the building. (Actually, they’d say “We really like it, let us talk internally to our finance people, and get back to you with the company go-ahead right away.” Then I’d wait 3 weeks, try to call, and they’d refuse to return any of my messages, and I’d never hear from them again. Seriously.) But when Blair Witch hit big on the festival circuit, all of a sudden it got scooped up by Artisan, an affiliate of Lionsgate, and went on to be the biggest grossing independent film of all time to that point. It wasn’t until the execs physically saw the impact the film had that they got on board.

This signified the beginning of the age of horror we are now in. Every decent horror film comes either from another country, or an independent producer. When GE and Time Warner and their kind took over Hollywood, they eliminated creativity and passion from the upper echelons of studio management and replaced it with words like profit margin, corporate sponsorship, and investment returns. A whole lot of rich people looking to get richer.

We are a massive fan base with more passion and creativity than any of the suits in Hollywood could ever imagine having. We long for them to create weird, different, off the wall, original films, the likes of which we’ve never seen – but words like “weird” and “different” don’t work next to words like “investment returns,” so instead, they give us a sequel to the “reimagining” of Friday the 13th because their “stats” say that’s what will make us stuff our hard-earned money into their pockets.

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Life Of Snakes

An ongoing package of practical LIFE Nature support is helping Hungarian authorities protect and improve the conservation status of one of Europe’s endangered snakes.

The Hungarian meadow viper (Vipera ursinii rakosiensis) is classified as threatened and vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. As such the conservation status of this endangered European species remains a high priority. The small venomous snake was once more prolific, inhabiting parts of Austria, Romania and Bulgaria, but the only remaining populations are now found in isolated pockets throughout Hungary. Intensification of agricultural practices is linked to the decline of this species and LIFE Nature projects have been used effectively to help boost the viper’s conservation status.

Swarms of snakes are attacking people and cattle in southern Iraq as the Euphrates and Tigris rivers dry up and the reptiles lose their natural habitat among the reed beds.

"People are terrified and are leaving their homes," says Jabar Mustafa, a medical administrator, who works in a hospital in the southern province of Dhi Qar. "We knew these snakes before, but now they are coming in huge numbers. They are attacking buffalo and cattle as well as people." Doctors in the area say six people have been killed and 13 poisoned.

In Chabaysh, a town on the Euphrates close to the southern marshland of Hawr al-Hammar, farmers have set up an overnight operations room to prevent the snakes attacking their cattle.

Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles
. Their sight is impaired and they are legless. Consequently, they crawl over the ground. Snakes are of different types and can have different habitats depending upon their body structure. Thus, snakes having flattened body have to live in an aquatic environment
. The snakes that have long and slender bodies and prehensile tail have in live in trees or arboreal habitat. Snakes with compact bodies have to live in terrestrial habitat. Generally, forests are a natural environment of these snakes. They are even found in deserts and prairies.

Snakes feel vulnerable in the open. They also possess venomous glands due to which they are feared by the people. Thus, these animals live in hiding and even are equipped with camouflage apparatus for their safety. They have colours similar to those found in their environments that protect them from their predators.

LIFE actions

LIFE actions are targeting around 95% of the remaining Vipera ursinii population. Initially, nearly € 325 000 was awarded to a four year LIFE Nature project which was launched in January 2004. This has subsequently been followed up by a larger LIFE + project contributing around € 1 700 000 for viper conservation works that will continue in Hungary until the end of 2013.

The 2004 LIFE project focused its attention on reducing the decline in species numbers by helping Hungarian conservation bodies acquire the land where vipers were known to live. This approach was considered necessary to provide maximum protection for the endangered species and also facilitate rapid restoration of relevant habitat features to help boost the sustainability of snake populations. Core conservation works involved recreating grasslands, removing forest stands close to viper habitats and developing ecological corridors that helped to both reconnect isolated populations as well as provide the endangered species with a safe winter hibernation environment on elevated ground where risks from high seasonal groundwater levels were minimised.

Coordinated by BirdLife Hungary, in partnership with National Park authorities and the Ministry of Environment, LIFE support during the first four years led to some useful successes and paved the way for the present ongoing project. Much of the work has been undertaken in the Peszéradacs region of Kiskunság, although monitoring activities were carried out in all areas where the species is found, including Bugac, Dabas-Gyón and Hanság.

"We have been surprised in recent days by the unprecedented number of snakes that have fled their habitat because of the dryness and heat," Wissam al-Assadi, one of the town's vets said. "We saw some on roads, near houses and cowsheds. Farmers have come to us for vaccines, but we don't have any."

The plague of snakes is the latest result of an unprecedented fall in the level of the water in the Euphrates and the Tigris, the two great rivers which for thousands of years have made life possible in the sun-baked plains of Mesopotamia, the very name of which means "between the rivers" in Greek. The rivers that made Iraq's dry soil so fertile are drying up because the supply of water, which once flowed south into Iraq from Turkey, Syria and Iran, is now held back by dams and used for irrigation. On the Euphrates alone, Turkey has five large dams upriver from Iraq, and Syria has two.

The diversion of water from the rivers has already destroyed a large swathe of Iraqi agriculture and the result of Iraq being starved of water may be one of the world's greatest natural disasters, akin to the destruction of the Amazonian rainforest. Already the advance of the desert has led to frequent dust storms in Baghdad which close the airport. Yet this dramatic climatic change has attracted little attention outside Iraq, overshadowed by the violence following the US-led invasion in 2003 and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

The collapse in the water levels of the rivers has been swift, the amount of water in the Euphrates falling by three-quarters in less than a decade. In 2000, the flow speed of the water in the river was 950 cubic metres per second, but by this year it had dropped to 230 cubic metres per second.

In the past, Iraq has stored water in lakes behind its own dams, but these reservoirs are now much depleted and can no longer make up the shortfall. The total water reserves behind all Iraqi dams at the beginning of May was only 11 billion cubic metres, compared to over 40 billion three years ago. One of the biggest dams in the country, on the Euphrates at Haditha in western Iraq, close to the Syrian border, held eight billion cubic metres two years ago but now has only two billion.

Iraq has appealed to Turkey to open the sluice gates on its dams. "We need at least 500 cubic metres of water per second from Turkey, or double what we are getting," says Abdul Latif Rashid, the Iraqi Minister of Water Resources. "They promised an extra 130 cubic metres, but this was only for a couple of days and we need it for months." His ministry is doing everything it can, he says, but the most important decisions about the supply of water to Iraq are taken outside the country – in Turkey, Syria and Iran. "In addition there has been a drought for the last four years with less than half the normal rainfall falling," says Mr Rashid.

Large parts of Iraq that were once productive farmland have already turned into arid desert. The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture says that between 40 and 50 per cent of what was agricultural land in the 1970s is now being hit by desertification.

Drought, war, UN sanctions, lack of investment and the cutting down of trees for firewood have all exacerbated the crisis, but at its heart is the lack of water for irrigation in the Tigris and Euphrates. Farmers across Iraq are being driven from the land. Earlier this month, farmers and fishermen demonstrated in Najaf, a city close to the Euphrates, holding up placards demanding that the Iraqi government insist that foreign countries release more water.

"The farmers have stopped planting and now head to the city for work to earn their daily living until the water comes back," said Ali al-Ghazali, a farmer from the area.

"We pay for our seeds at the time of the harvest, and if we fail to harvest, or the harvest has been ruined, the person who sold us the seeds still wants his money." Najaf province has banned its farmers from growing rice because the crop needs too much water.

The drop in the quantity of water in the rivers has also reduced its quality. The plains of ancient Mesopotamia once produced abundant crops for the ancient Sumerians. From Nineveh in the north to Ur of the Chaldees in the south, the flat landscape of Iraq is dotted with the mounds marking the remains of their cities. There is little rainfall away from the mountains of Kurdistan and the land immediately below them, so agriculture has always depended on irrigation.

But centuries of irrigating the land without draining it properly has led to a build-up of salt in the soil, making much of it infertile. Lack of water in the rivers has speeded up the salinisation, so land in central and southern Iraq, highly productive 30 years ago, has become barren. Even such rainfall as does fall in northern Iraq has been scant in recent years. In February, the Greater Zaab river, one of the main tributaries of the Tigris, which should have been a torrent, was a placid stream occupying less than a quarter of its river bed. The hills overlooking it, which should be green, were a dusty brown.

Experts summoned by the Water Resources Ministry to a three-day conference on the water crisis held in Sulaimaniyah in April described the situation as "a tragedy".

Mohammed Ali Sarham, a water specialist from Diwaniyah in southern Iraq, said: "Things are slipping from our hands: swathes of land are being turned into desert. Farmers are leaving the countryside and heading to the city or nearby areas. We are importing almost all our food, though in the 1950s we were one of the few regional cereal-exporting countries."

The experts recommended that, in addition to Turkey releasing more water, there should be heavy investment to make better use of the waterways such as the Tigris and Euphrates. But this year Mr Rashid says that his budget for this year has been cut in half to $500m (£300m) because of the fall in the price of oil.

The outcome of the agricultural disaster in Iraq is evident in the fruit and vegetable shops in Baghdad. Jassim Mohammed Bahadeel, a grocer in the Karada district, says that once much of what he sold came from farms around the Iraqi capital. "But today, the apples I sell come from America, France and Chile; tomatoes and potatoes from Syria and Jordan; oranges from Egypt and Turkey. Only the dates come from Iraq because they do not need a lot of water."

Life cycle

Water snakes mature when they are 2 to 3 years old. Mating takes place in the spring and snakes are born between August and October. Water snakes give birth to live snakes. The eggs hatch within the female body before the birth. Litters of about 20 snakes are common and the newborn snakes have a length of 8-12 inches on average.