A Girl's Mind

Overheard :-

"You know, it's very difficult to decipher and understand a girl's mind!!", said someone.

"Why do you say so?", asked the friend 

"Well, decoding a lady's mind is much more complex than solving a Rubik's cube", was the reply.

A Girls Mind is complex than A Rubik Cube

A pregnant pause and raised eyebrows followed.

"Unlike a Rubik's cube, the answer does not lie in arranging the same color on all the faces of the cube. The mysterious solution lies in a jumble of colors on each of the faces. And if you plan to ask about the mix of color on each face, let me tell you that it is a far cry from the fact that the sun always rises on the east."

A stony silence followed for the next 5 seconds. It seemed like hours.

"What do you suggest? Is there a solution?" asked the person who made the initial statement.

"Well, it's quite simple." the friend replied. "When you can't solve her mind, figure out her heart. The rest, as they say, will be history!!"

A Complex Mind

And before the conversation could continue, the elevator had reached the ground floor. And I walked away.

P.S. A Rubik's cube has 43 quintillion (43,252,003,274,489,856,000) combinations.

Going Bonkers

India is Going Bonkers. Period.

The events of the last one week or so have left me completely disillusioned. Every single day I hear some news which confirms one fact - there is no dearth of people waiting to be climb the pedestal of stupidity.

Going Bonkers

Let me start with our Honorable Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The railway budget was presented on 14th March by the then Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi. A bold man (or so he said) that he was raised the railway fares for the first time in 9 years.

His actions were appreciated both by the PM and FM. They lauded his "progressive budget".

However, his boss - Mamata Banerjee of Trinamool Congress - saw red, and had the Railway Minister sacked in the next 10 days. Her appointee cancelled the fare hikes across majority of the travel classes.

And what did our PM and FM do? They kept mum. It is an absolute shame to see the minister presenting the budget not being responsible in the Parliament to answer questions on the budget. It's an absolute disgrace for the Government of India. 

As for Mamata Banerjee, she should be crowned as the alter ego of the communists.

And just a few days back, the GoI announced India had 5 crore less poor people. 

As per them, if you earn Rs. 28 per day, you are not poor. It means that if two people work in a family of 4, then Rs. 56 is sufficient to get you out of the poverty bracket. 

Rs. 56 for 4 people certainly means that the person is living in difficult conditions. Our Government thinks otherwise. 

All through our lives, we are taught to aim for the skies. However, our Government and its educated policy makers are setting an abysmal targets to show themselves in better light.

Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission had the guts to say "Whatever way you measure, poverty has come down." 

Mr. Ahluwalia :- "Whom are you comforting with such rosy words? If the poverty would have increased, you would be out of your job. And aren't you ashamed to say that in a nation of 125 crore people, with all the machinery and money at your disposal, all you can do is get 5 crore people out of poverty? And that too with a scale which appears to have been set in Athenian times?"

A couple of days later, another scam came to light. We, Indians, lost a whopping 10.67 lakh crores ( 10670000000000.00 INR or 209 Billion USD) thanks to the GoI (again) not auctioning coal blocks. "Coalgate" was born.

Coalgate

Now, I am completely flummoxed by these numbers. Is the coal really worth so much that we could have got 209 Billion USD? And if yes, why on this very earth didn't we try to earn this money, which could have solved a multitude of other problems?

Or is the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) exaggerating the figures? 10.67 lakh crores is too huge an amount to be true.

Consider this calculation. 

• India's population is 125 crores

• Number of poor people - 30% = 375000000 = 37.50 crores.

• Distribute 10.67 lakhs crore rupees among the 37.50 crore people. Each of them would get Rs. 28453. For a family of 4, it would mean Rs. 113812.

Wouldn't this be a very substantial security for someone who earns just Rs. 28 a day?

Only God knows the truth in this case. The stand of the GoI is standard, as it was in other scams. They comfort us by sayhng India hasn't lost so much of a money. 

If anyone can play agony aunt, its the Government of India.

And if such puzzling news was not sufficient, the Indian judiciary too decided to join the circus. In a verdict given in Delhi, non consummation of a marriage on the wedding night was cited as a reason for a divorce.

Now this is completely mind boggling. Will the courts decide what people do before or after marriage? For something which is a very personal and mutual choice?

Maybe you can't blame the courts and the judges. When everyone around is playing a joker, everyone else would also love to join the party.

And today, our distinguished Army Chief let the cat out of the bag by telling the world that he was offered a bribe of 14 crore rupees for purchasing sub standard vehicles. 

I was attempted to be Bribed  - Army Chief

For most practical purposes, this incident would have happened more than 6 months earlier (after all, the Chief was busy fighting with the Government over his age for the last 6 months or so). And our honorable Defence Minister sat on this matter for a long long time, without initiating any action.

And today, when the matter became public knowledge, the minister ordered an inquiry. Once again, this is a very shameful response. It seems that the Government of India needs to be rapped on the knuckles to get into any action.

Or they love Status Quo.

Or to say it in a very sarcastic way, I would quote my friend.

~~

We Indians work on the "Principle of rockets".
It doesn't mean we aim for the sky.
It means that we don't start working unless our tail is on fire.
~~

Be it Lokpal, Coalgate, the Army Chief Bribe, each of the instances would reflect such my-tail-is-on-fire action.

All in all, the events of the recent past have made me realize that remaining sane in such insane times would be extremely difficult. Possibly one principle would work - Blinkers On.

P.S. I need some Ice Gate keep myself cool. Is Ice Gate in the offing?

A Plethora of Thoughts

They say, an idle mind is a devil's workshop. Well, it's true to some extent. 

An idle mind also offers an interesting opportunity to introspect. The realisations that a mind has in these simple moments are often deep and usually real. And we, in our busy lives, fail to identify with them.

I would like to make a note of few thoughts which crossed my mind - either at work, or before I slept, or in moments I was alone.

~~~~

• Common Sense is a misnomer.

• An unanswered question is an hydrogen balloon on the loose. The mind is your sky.

• Ignorance is not bliss. Never. In fact, it's a time bomb.

• Confidence is when I can look at you, into your eye.

• Nothing is more comforting than a friend who knows you well and understands you well. Be thankful to God for such friends.

~~~~

A Plethora of Thoughts

P.S. The sky is the limit for such intriguing thoughts.

The Graveyard Shift

How about picking up the phone at the first ring - at 2 am in the morning? Even though it isn't an interesting proposition, there are moments of time when you need to do it. 

On the Phone in the Night

A zombie me has done this the very thing on an occasional night or so, for the last many years. Courtesy - work. And there have been nights when such early early morning calls have been frequent. These are the moments when you realize the value of sleep.

Although I sympathized with myself for this situation, my heart went out to my friends and colleagues who made that call. They are the real heroes. I was just a spoke in the wheel.

Whilst I lost a couple of hours of precious sleep, I admire them for doing The Graveyard Shift.

I am Working Late through the Night

What exactly is The Graveyard Shift? Well, it's the work which you do in the night - usually after 11 P.M. It is a.k.a. the Night Shift.

Think about the watchman who works in the night shift. The nights are dark, lonely and cold. The empty roads are stalked by howling dogs. Yet, he goes about his work, doing the rounds and providing security to the people as they enjoy their sleep peacefully.

Unable to Carpe Diem

Recollect the receptionist at the hotel. As you check-in yourself into the hotel, she manages to give you a warm smile as she welcomes you, even though the clock might read half past midnight. Her smile sparkles brighter than the glowing moon.

And as you get the few hours of sleep before the long day at work tomorrow (sorry, it's today), she manages you to give the wake up call at quarter to seven in the morning. You wonder, did she sleep at all though the night?

How about the pilots and their team? Usually, they have to do the graveyard shift. Flying a super jumbo is a difficult task in itself. How about getting the jumbo to lift off in the middle of the night, making a roaring sound as the world sleeps? 

The Dreaded Night Shift

And then resisting the desire to sleep as the plane makes its way towards the destination carrying a thousand dreams, surrounded by darkness. As the mean machine grumbles on its journey, the men and women are chasing a sunrise.

Have a thought for the people who have to clock hours through the night, day in day out, as part of their job. The human mind is designed to sleep through the night. Yet, these people are supremely alert in the work. 

The business process outsourcing industry has made the world glocal. As a result, you have people in India responding to phone calls from America. When America is awake, India is asleep. Yet these people keep the American engines chugging, sacrificing their precious sleep, all in the name of a job, to earn a living.

The Graveyard Shift

I have also worked through the night sometimes. If there is one temptation which is overwhelming on such days, its the need to sleep. And if you have been working continuously (the previous day) without a wink, such desires are extreme.

And just yesterday, I slept off on my computer at 3 in the morning. No, I was not working, but talking to a friend. Incidentally, she told me that she was full of energy - even though the clock read 3. :-). 

Recently, a friend of mine asked a doctor as to what she was doing awake at 1 in the night. She indicated that a call from the hospital was the reason, and she had to stay awake for another call which was expected soon. She said that it was common. Hats off to her, for putting her duty ahead of herself.

It's not only about staying awake here. Some of the work done during the graveyard shift have an added important responsibility of taking decisions. And taking decisions is difficult to say the least, since such decisions would influence subsequent actions. And it can be as serious as a matter of life and death.

Who is your best friend on such night shifts? Well, it is a cup of coffee. Or a friend or colleague with whom you can talk to through the night. Or sleep herself.

Coffee - Best Friend in the Night Shift

Coming to sleep, there are nights when she takes you over - even though we are working. On such nights, its best to relent to her temptation rather than resisting her. After all, who would resist such a charming empress.

If I have recollect a few places where I would have caught a nap while working in the night, I can come up with an interesting collection. For some nights, it has been a 4 ft shelf. Om other nights, three lined up chairs have been my bed. Sometimes, even two chairs. 

Sleeping in Office

And on other nights, just a single chair - wherein you have to sit and sleep. On odd days, the office floor - although a bit hard and slightly dirty - has been a precious bed. When sleep is taking you over, everything else takes a back seat.

The examples I have quoted would not be enough glorify the people who burn their midnight candles for the benefit of the few. As the world takes a nap, they are full of energy, doing their tasks.

Robert Frost's lines would echo their sentiments in the best manner.

~~
The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
~~

And for anyone who has worked through the night, the advertisement would reflect your thoughts and feelings.

P.S. After every dark night, there is a sunrise. Maybe it is this thoughts which pulls the people through the Graveyard Shift.

Show Your Love

One of my friends is a keen observer and wonderful at building co-relations. A few days back he narrated an interesting anecdote which caught his keen eye.

The incident went as below.

~~

He brought three cups of hot tea. It was a group of four. She hesitated to have one of the cups. She must have thought, is one me them for me? 

You could see the hesitation in her eyes. You could also sense her expectations. You could feel the apprehension, and the desire. He failed to notice either. 

Either he was ignorant, or didn't feel strongly enough to ask her to drink her cup. After all, one of the cups was for her. 

Time passed. A studied silence followed. 

The shy lady that she was, she went about her chores, hiding her expectations. Finally, after 15 odd minutes, when he asked her to drink, she humbly accepted. Neither did she raise any questions, nor did she show any reluctance. 

Thoughtful about Warmth

She had a couple of sips. The tea was cold. It had lost its warmth. She couldn't gulp a sip more. 

And within the next ten seconds, she threw the cup of once warm tea - almost full - out of the running train. 

~~

The lesson. 

~~

Well, its simple. When you give something to people, tell them that its for them. People are happy when they are told about things which are done specially for them.

And if you are giving love, telling is important. 

Subtle hints work, sometimes. Speaking aloud works, quite a few times. Clear indications work, almost always.

Remember, an expectant heart is always on look for that signal. A green signal. 

Love which is dished out from the bottom of the heart is warm. If it gets lost in time, it becomes cold. 

And if given gracefully, with the right intent, and accepted humbly, in time - it remains warm forever, like the molten kernel of the earth. It is at the core, and it lasts more than a lifetime. 

Show your Love and Care.

~~

Show that You Love

Green Earth

Whatever I say would not be enough to extol nature's beauty.

Let me go straight to the pictures.

Mountains in Mauritius 

Jim Corbett National Park

On We Trudge - Jim Corbett

Oasis in a Desert - Dubai

Jungle Trail - Kanha National Park

An Ideal Backyard - Kanha National Park 

Miles to Walk - Kanha National Park

Such idyllic settings and infinite vastness make me ask one question - I am a speck in this tiny, beautiful universe. What  is the purpose of my life? 

Sachin Tendulkar Scores 100th Century

Sachin Tendulkar (God for Cricket Lovers in India and across the world) scored his 100th century in International Cricket in style today, silencing all his critics forever. 

In a One Day International match against Bangladesh, played in Mirpur, Dhaka, pregnant with heavy expectations, Sachin finally took the burden off his shoulders and reached a milestone that will stand the test of time.

Sachin Tendulkar scored Century of Centuries

No man - ever - has scored a century of centuries. Sachin is the man.

People break records. Sachin Tendulkar creates records.

I was lucky enough to watch Sachin scored his century in style. As he progressed slowly in the tricky 90s, the entire nation held its breath and prayed that Sachin did not falter on the final steps.

Sachin Tendulkar conquered his mind and did not let the nation down. Taking a single of Shakib Al Hasan, Sachin became the first man (and maybe the only man ever) to score 100 100s. He looked up to God Almighty to thank Him for this stupendous success. 

Sachin was modest in his celebrations. Yet, he would have been immensely happy on reaching his milestone. Most importantly, he told the world that the milestone was for his country. 

Sachin Tendulkar 100th Century

To look back, Sachin has been playing international cricket for the last two decades. 

Sachin made a classical debut against Pakistan way back in 1989. At a young age of 16, Sachin faced the battery of Imran Khan and co, and showed a promise to reach great heights.

Sachin made excellent progress over the years and became the most feared batsmen for bowlers around the world. You can recollect the Desert Storm innings by Sachin, where he knocked the steam out of Shane Warne in Sharjah in the mid 90s.

Sachin has always been hungry for more success. He echoed one thought - Yeh Dil Maange More.

Sachin Tendulkar Yeh Dil Maange More

Sachin launched a thousand cricket careers. Sachin gave many a bowlers sleepless nights. This video says it all.

Sachin's commitment to cricket has been exemplary. During the 1999 World Cup in England, Sachin lost his father. Sachin came back to India to complete his responsibilities, and flew back to England in a few days. In the next immediate match, he scored a century, blessed by God and his father. Need we say more.

In the 2003 World Cup, Sachin powered India into the finals, right from the doorstep of being knocked out in the first round. India lost in the finals, and Sachin's dream of winning the Cup for India was still unfulfilled.

India was knocked out of the 2007 World Cup in the early stages. The entire nation feared that a player as illustrious as Sachin would have to retire without a World Cup win under his belt. Sachin had other things in mind.

And in 2010, Sachin became the first man in the world to score a double century in One Days. He had achieved a feat which was unheard of.

And come 2011, the hopes of the entire nation rested on Sachin and Dhoni's men to win the Cricket World Cup 2011. Dhoni's men won the World Cup in style, sending the nation into a state of delirium. 

The players did it for one man - Sachin Tendulkar.

Sachin Tendulkar World Cup 2011

And as Sachin Tendulkar pursued his century of century for the last 1 year, the chatter for his retirement kept on growing. Sachin, however, persisted. Dhoni kept his faith in the master blaster. 

And today, Sachin achieved the impossible. Sachin scored his hundredth century. He achieved a mind boggling record.

Sachin Tendulkar has created a name for himself in the annals of history. A name that can never be erased.

Let's have a look at Sachin talking about his mega achievement.

It is not without reason that people say in India - Cricket is a religion, Sachin is the God.

Sachin has knocked the antics of the shameless Mamata Banerjee from the first page of the news papers. Sachin has taken of the glam (or disappointment) from today's Union Budget.

And tonight as he sleeps, he can sleep peacefully with the hope that he has realized peoples expectations from him, if not anything else.

Finally, it would be worthwhile to recollect this quote.

==

"When Sachin Tendulkar travelled to Pakistan to face one of the finest bowling attacks ever assembled in cricket, Michael Schumacher was yet to race a F1 car, Lance Armstrong had never been to the Tour De France, Diego Maradona was still the captain of a world champion Argentina team, Pete Sampras had never won a Grand Slam.

When Tendulkar embarked on a glorious Career taming Imran and company, Roger Frederer was a name unheard of, Lionel Messi was in his nappies, Usain Bolt was an unknown kid in the Jamaican backwaters. 

The Berlin Wall was still intact, USSR was one big, big country, Dr Manmohan Singh was yet to "open" the Nehruvian economy.

It seems while Time was having his toll on every individual on the face of this planet, he excused one man. Time stands frozen in front of Sachin Tendulkar. We have had champions, we have had legends, but we have never had another Sachin Tendulkar and we never will."

- Author Unknown

==

P.S. It has come to notice that Pakistan bowlers have ordered several packets of Huggies from the local pharmacy. Believe me, it won't help. The hotel staff would have to deal with wet beds for the next two mornings.

Flying Elephants

A friend told me something yesterday, and it goes as below :-

"If you want 'quality', 'low cost', and 'shorter time to deliver'... I can give you only Two".

I would like to add the below.

The person who made the demand (which prompted the above response) can be sometimes (or many a times) unreasonable. Maybe, the person is bound by his internal unreasonable compulsions. 

In such a case, you can reply back to him, "Tell me a way to make a baby in less than 9 months, and I will give you Quality, and Low Cost, all in a Short Time".

If a stunned silence doesn't follow, then the sun will not rise in the east tomorrow morning.

Unreasonable Demands - Flying Elephants

P.S. Flying Elephants exist only in cartoons.

Giving

Every time after I Give, I have second thoughts about my decision. 

Selfless Giving

Should I have not given? Should I have held back? Was it a wise decision? Would the decision stand the test of time?

And being a selfish soul that I am, I calculate how it (read giving) will benefit me? A sense me fear engulfs me. I am apprehensive and nervous. 

My mind flip flops continuously with thoughts and consequential events which could occur, due to this act of giving.

Is there anything that I give which does not elicit a similar response? 

After a lot of thought, I narrowed down on something which is free, yet extremely valuable. It is precious and rare, yet abundant. It doesn't cost a cent, but is priceless. 

You crave for it. However, it is available in limited measures. Sometimes, rare. Many a times, non existent.

It makes the giver and the taker happy. It creates feelings of happiness that know no bounds.

Yes, it is Love.  

Giving Love

P.S. Someone once said, "I love to Give. It takes the weight off my heart, and makes someone happy."

A Spark

A spark. A flash of light in the unlikeliest of the places can change a life. Well, maybe it was a spark, millions of years back, that actually created life on dear earth. 

It's a glimmer in dark. A moment of brightness that can change the course of your destiny. A flare which can define your future. A spark can set a fire. 

That word - Can. The instance of the spark is bubbling with potential, like a pregnant pause. 

The timing of the spark is important. The split second at which the spark occurs can realize your numerous dreams. 

A spark in winter can kindle a flame, which can give warmth. And a spark in the midst of summer can set up a fireball. 

A spark in a rainy season can prevent the fire from starting itself. Yet, if the spark is strong enough, it could translate into lightning, which can open the flood gates of heaven.

The circumstances of the spark can fulfill many a dreams, yet leave some unfulfilled.  

A Spark

A spark is little form of a majestic lightning. Akin to it, it takes a lot of factors to trigger it. And two main elements - the heavens and the earth.

Hopefully, we come across a spark, under the heavens, blessed by God Almighty, in the right settings, which can alter the course of our destiny. And pray that it opens up the flood gates of our good fortune.

The World Crisis 2012

The world has become a giant inter tangled mess. The Mayans, some ages ago, had predicted that the world will end in 2012. By God's grace, I hope, the Mayans are wrong. However, the current custodians of dear earth - you, me, and our fellow earthlings - are not making things easy.

Every single day, we are living under the threat of war. Every single day, we are living under the threat of a collapsed world economic system.

The World Crisis 2012

Let us have a look at the United States of America. In 2008, Obama said - "Yes,  We Can." He held a promise to transform America. Surprisingly, he was also awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 2009.

And as Obama comes towards the end of his tenor in 2012, the world is anything but a peaceful place. Obama did not remain true to the promise he showed 5 years back.  

Obama was served a tough hand at the beginning of his Presidency. He exhausted a major part of his energy and resources in dealing with the most terrible recession in the last 80 years. The wars in Iraq, and Afghanistan, the war on terror in sovereign Pakistan, and military missions in Libya did not help the cause.

Afghanistan is still a dangerous place. It looks like Taliban can be back in Afghanistan, this time as official rulers, with the blessings of the USA. 

Some elements in the US Senate also wants Baluchistan to be a separate nation. And who does America think will rule them? Will it be the Pakistan Taliban? Pakistan, too, is offended by this attack on their sovereignty.

As if the pressure of war was not sufficient, the world is also cornered by an boiling economic crisis. Greece is on the verge of a collapse. Greece has been granted loans exceeding 100 Billion USD. Such numbers are mind numbing.

The Euro Zone also risks being disintegrated. Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, said that the existence of the Euro Zone is important to avoid the risk of war.

Merkel said, “Nobody should believe that another half century of peace in Europe is a given - it’s not. So I say again: if the Euro collapses, Europe collapses. That can’t happen.”

These comments paint a grime picture of the future in Europe.

Hungary's debt ratings have been cut to "Junk". Spain, Italy and Ireland owe foreign debt which runs into Trillions of Dollars. Have a look at this chart to understand more details.

The worst part is that the major economies - the USA, the UK, France, Germany, along with the relatively smaller but significant European nations - have lent to each other, thereby creating a web. A collapse of any of these economies will trigger a domino effect and cause an unbearable strain on the world economy.

Civil wars were the order of the day on 2011. Across Africa - from Libya to Egypt - ordinary people have overthrown leaders who had ruled their countries for decades.

The situation for Russia is slightly similar. Vladimir Putin, who has been the President for 8 years, and the current Prime Minister for 4 years, is once standing for the Presidential elections in March 2012. People are not happy with this action from Putin.

The victory of his party in the state Duma elections resulted in several protests in Russia. In my opinion, Putin will come back to power in 2012. If this triggers another round of protests in Russia, it may snow ball into a conflict between the rulers and the ordinary citizens.

And any turmoil in Russia will have a far reaching impact in Eastern and Western Europe.

In this big economical and political maze, war is once again raising its dirty head. The tensions are rising in the Middle East.

The oil rich Middle East countries provide fodder for the energy hungry nations of the world. From America to Japan, from India to the UK, most nations rely of the oil from the Middle East to keep their world going.

Iran has been ambitiously trying to explore nuclear energy. Maybe it estimates that it needs to have the wherewithal for survival once it runs out of oil. Maybe it is trying to build a deterrent against the super powers who can behave like vultures for its oil.

Their public position has been that the nuclear know how is for developing nuclear energy. This has not gone down well with America and Israel, and their buddies.

In the last few years, 4 of Iran's nuclear scientists have been killed. They have been assassinated. The fingers of suspicion are pointed towards Israel.

Last week, some anti-Israel supporters got together and triggered blasts in Delhi, India and Bangkok, Thailand. A similar bomb attack was foiled in  Tbilisi, Georgia. The perpetrators of the crime are not known. However, Israel has pointed fingers towards Iran.

This blame game can blow up into a war. If Israel looses its cool and bombs Iran, and Iran retaliates, it will be pure mayhem.

World politics is looking like a fight between some kids, where nations are being asked to take sides. The USA has been breathing down India's neck to cut all ties with Iran. India is not showing the inclination to do so, putting its national interests first.

Japan and China do not want Iran to go to war. They are dependent on its oil. The UK, too, has told Israel to avoid war. America says that war is not the only option currently. Well, even if it's one of the options, it still spells doom.

Iran too has been flexing its military muscle. It threatens to close the Hormuz Strait, the narrow piece of sea through which 20% of the world's oil makes its way to the nations across the world. And just yesterday, Iran sent a warship into the Mediterranean.

If Israel puts its prestige first, only God can save us from a war. A war which will send the price of crude oil through the roof. A war which will create an  unbearable pressure on the already stretched world economy. A war where nations would have to takes sides and prove their allegiance.

Well, the last thing that we want today is a war.

History teaches us many lessons. And in these difficult and dangerous times, it would be important to recollect the reason for start of World War 1. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, the heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by a Yugoslav nationalist triggered the World War 1. 

A small match stick can light a fireball. And we can all hope that the leaders of our great nations possesses a calm head to douse the match stick.

After all, we can live in peace. And their is no greater victory than peace. 

A war is a dark blot in the annals of history. Peace is an eraser which can prevent the creation of these dark blots.

On a side note, at the end of 2012, when we welcome the new year 2013, we can take the pride that we have proved the Mayan's wrong.