Inspirational Stories... lets you inspire...

STORY NUMBER ONE

            Many years ago, Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. Capone wasn't famous for anything heroic. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from bootlegged booze and prostitution to murder. Capone had a lawyer nicknamed "Easy Eddie." He was Capone's lawyer for a good reason. Eddie was very good! In fact, Eddie's skill at legal maneuvering kept Big Al out of jail for a long time. To show his appreciation, Capone paid him very well. Not only was the money big, but Eddie got special dividends, as well. For instance, he and his family occupied a fenced-in mansion with live-in help and all of the conveniences of the day. The estate was so large that it filled an entire Chicago City block. Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago mob and gave little consideration to the atrocity that went on around him. Eddie did have one soft spot, however. He had a son that he loved dearly. Eddie saw to it that his young son had clothes, cars, and a good education. Nothing was withheld. Price was no object. And, despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddie even tried to teach him right from wrong. Eddie wanted his son to be a better man than he. Yet, with all his wealth and influence, there were two things he couldn't give his son; he couldn't pass on a good name or a good example.

            One day, Easy Eddie reached a difficult decision. Easy Eddie wanted to rectify wrongs he had done.   He decided he would go to the authorities and tell the truth about Al "Scarface" Capone, clean up his tarnished name, and offer his son some semblance of integrity. To do this, he would have to testify against The Mob, and he knew that the cost would be great. So, he testified.   Within the year, Easy Eddie's life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago Street. But in his eyes, he had given his son the greatest gift he had to offer, at the greatest price he could ever pay. Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a crucifix, a religious medallion, and a poem clipped from a magazine. The poem read:   "The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour. Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still."

STORY NUMBER TWO

World War II produced many heroes. One such man was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. He was a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington in the South Pacific. One day his entire squadron was sent on a mission. After he was airborne, he looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to top off his fuel tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete his mission and get back to his ship. His flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back to the fleet. As he was returning to the mother ship, he saw something that turned his blood cold; a squadron of Japanese aircraft was speeding its way toward the American fleet. The American fighters were gone on a sortie, and the fleet was all but defenseless. He couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time to save the fleet. Nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from the fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes. Wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazed as he charged in, attacking one surprised enemy plane and then another. Butch wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until all his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the planes, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many enemy planes as possible, rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon arrival, he reported in and related the event surrounding his return. The film from the gun-camera mounted on his plane told the tale. It showed the extent of Butch's daring attempt to protect his fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft. This took place on February 20, 1942, and for that action Butch became the Navy's first Ace of W.W.II, and the first Naval Aviator to win the Medal of Honor. A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His home town would not allow the memory of this WW II hero to fade, and today, O'Hare Airport in Chicago is named in tribute to the courage of this great man.   So, the next time you find yourself at O'Hare International at Chicago, give some thought to visiting Butch's memorial displaying his statue and his Medal of Honor. It's located between Terminals 1 and 2.

SO WHAT DO THESE TWO STORIES HAVE TO DO WITH EACH OTHER?

Butch O'Hare was "Easy Eddie's" son.

Waiting for you, all day, all night - where have you gone, wanna hug you so tight

This song has been written for the tune of "Aao na Aao Naa" of Kyun Ho Gaya Na movie read it accordingly to enjoy it.... ;)

ನೀ ಬಳಿಯಲಿ ಬಂದು ನಿಂತಾಗಲೇ, ಏಕೆ ವ್ಯಾಮೋಹ ಅತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ
ನಿನ್ನ ಕಂಗಳು ಏಕೆ ಕಂಡಾಗಲೇ, ಮನದಂಗಳದಿ ಬೆಳಕಾಗಿದೆ
ನಿನ್ನ ಮಾತು ಇಂಪಾಗಿ ಝೇಂಕರಿಸಿದೆ
ಮನವೀಗ ಗರಿಗೆದರಿದೆ

ಅಂದದ ನಗೆಯನು, ತೋರೆಯಾ ಚೆಲ್ಲೆಯಾ

ಬಾರೆಯಾ ಸನಿಹಕೆ, ಸನಿಹಕೆ ಬಾರೆಯಾ

ಹೂರಾಶಿ ಇರುವಂತ ಹೂದೋಟದೀ, ನಿನ್ನ ಕಂಪೇಕೆ ಬೀರಿದೆ
ಬೆಳದಿಂಗಳೇ ಇರದ ಈ ಗಗನದೀ, ನಿನ್ನ ಮೊಗವೇಕೆ ತೋರಿದೆ
ಈ ಪರಿ ಏತಕೆ, ಕಾರಣವ ಬಲ್ಲೆಯಾ
ಈ ಪರಿ ಏತಕೆ, ಕಾರಣವ ಬಲ್ಲೆಯಾ
ನಿನ್ನ ಸ್ಪರ್ಶ ಹಿತವಾದ ಒಲವೆನಿಸಿದೆ
ಮನ ರೋಮಾಂಚನಗೊಂಡಿದೆ
ಹೃದಯದ ಮಾತನು, ನುಡಿವೆಯಾ ತಿಳಿಸೆಯಾ
ಬಾರೆಯಾ ಸನಿಹಕೆ, ಸನಿಹಕೆ ಬಾರೆಯಾ

ಪ್ರತಿ ಘಳಿಗೆ ನಿನ್ನ ಸಂಗವಿರಬಯಸಿದೆ, ಮನಸೇಕೋ ಕಳವಳಿಸಿದೆ
ಈ ವಿರಹ ನಮ್ಮ ನಡುವೆ ಇನ್ನೇತಕೆ, ಓ ನಲ್ಲೆ ಬಾ ಮೆಲ್ಲಗೆ
ಮನಸಿನ ಭಾವನೆ, ತಿಳಿಸಲು ನಾ ಬಂದಿಹೆನು
ತೋಳಿನ ಆಸರೆ, ನೀಡುವೆಯಾ ನನಗಿಂದು

ನಿನ್ನ ನೋಡುವ ತವಕ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿದೆ

ನೀ ಒಡನೆ ಬಾ ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ

ಒಲವಿನ ಸಿಹಿಯನು, ತಿನಿಸೆಯಾ ಸವಿಸೆಯಾ

ಬಾರೆಯಾ ಸನಿಹಕೆ, ಸನಿಹಕೆ ಬಾರೆಯಾ

ನೀ ಬಳಿಯಲಿ ಬಂದು ನಿಂತಾಗಲೇ, ಏಕೆ ವ್ಯಾಮೋಹ ಅತಿಯಾಗಿದೆ
ನಿನ್ನ ಕಂಗಳು ಏಕೆ ಕಂಡಾಗಲೇ, ಮನದಂಗಳದಿ ಬೆಳಕಾಗಿದೆ
ನಿನ್ನ ಮಾತು ಇಂಪಾಗಿ ಝೇಂಕರಿಸಿದೆ
ಮನವೀಗ ಗರಿಗೆದರಿದೆ
ಅಂದದ ನಗೆಯನು, ತೋರೆಯಾ ಚೆಲ್ಲೆಯಾ
ಬಾರೆಯಾ ಸನಿಹಕೆ, ಸನಿಹಕೆ ಬಾರೆಯಾ

Comments and suggestions are most welcome....

Illuminati 2011, the annual writing contest

Illuminati 2011................!!

ManipalBlog.com is proud to present it's Annual  All India Online Writing Competition, "Illuminati 2011",  for the first time, beginning tomorrow (15th March 2011). 

The rules and regulations are already up, the prizes at stake will be announced by midnight. The topics for the contest have been decided and and can be accessed at Short Story and Poetry ! Expecting good participation from all of you.

The entries can be sent to using the entry form available on the website from Midnight tonight. Entries will be accepted between 12:00 AM of 15th March and  12:00 AM of 15th April. The entries will be published online at Illuminati 2011, on 15th April 2011 and one month will be given for the readers to appreciate them. Results will be announced within 45 days of the completion of the contest!

About Illuminati 2011

This is the first edition of the ManipalBlog.com "Illuminati" writing competition.

The Illuminati, writing competition is being organized for the first time this year to encourage writers in India to explore and celebrate their talents by sending in their new, untried work. Writers may try their hand in two categories this year:  Short Story and Poetry.

Poetry

1. Poems can be rhyming or non-rhyming, although non-rhyming poetry reads better.
2. Suggestion is that you write about real emotions and feelings and that you have some special person or occasion in mind as you write.
3. Poems are judged on the basis of originality and uniqueness.
4. English-language entries only, please.
5. Enter as often as you like!

Poetry Contest Rules
All entries must be the original creation of the submitting author.
All rights to the entries must be owned by the author and shall remain the property of the author.
The author gives permission to Manipalblog.com  to publish and display the entry on the Web (in electronic form only).

 Short Story

The story should be between 800 - 1500 words in length on any one of the following themes/topics

1. I was about to cross the road, when .....
2. Like a moth to a flame
3. I talk to walls.... on facebook.

Short Story Contest Rules

All entries must be the original creation of the submitting author.
All rights to the entries must be owned by the author and shall remain the property of the author.
The author gives permission to Manipalblog.com to publish and display the entry on the Web (in electronic form only).

Assessment and Prizes

Criteria : The entries will be assessed based on a combination of their popularity (Facebook shares, Tweets and Comments they generate) and assessment by the judges. Needless to say, the Judges decision carries higher weightage and their decision will be final!

For Poetry and  Short stories individually

 

First prize : Rs 1500
 

 Second prize : Rs 1000
 

Third prize : Rs 750

 Critics choice award*

At this time looks are on at a Prize money of Rs. 10,000, with a likelihood of an increase, depending on how many sponsors get attracted. The greater the entries, more likely to attract more sponsors.


* Value will be decided at a later stage

Rules and Regulations

1. Anyone who is a resident of India is eligible to take part except admins of ManipalBlog.com
2. Multiple entries in each category are allowed.
3. Entries must be the original, unpublished work of the writer, and must not have been accepted for publication or submitted elsewhere.
4. Each article must contain solely the entrant’s original ideas and language. Your submission of the article and entry form is your guarantee that you are the sole author and copyright holder of the article.
5. Articles must be appropriate for posting on ManipalBlog.com’ website. Obscene, inappropriate or otherwise questionable content will not be considered. ManipalBlog.com retains sole discretion as to what constitutes inappropriate content.
6. Contestants hereby agree to submit their entries under the following terms and conditions: 

6.1  ManipalBlog.com may use any ideas, concepts, material, in whole or in part, contained in an entry
6.2  Entrants agree that their entry may be used by ManipalBlog.com in whole or in part for any purpose whatsoever without compensation to non-prize winner entrants or without additional compensation to the winning entrants.
6.3  All materials submitted are free from any lien or claim by anyone
6.4  Entrants have obtained all rights, permissions and licenses necessary to use the entries for any purpose
6.5  No entry or any part thereof infringes any trademark or copyright or otherwise violates anyone’s right of privacy or publicity
6.6  Entrants indemnify and hold harmless ManipalBlog.com from any claims, suits, losses, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) that arise from any breach of the following conditions.
6.7  They further agree, if chosen as Grand Prize Winner, Second or Third Prize Winner, to assign all rights, title and interest in all material and agree to sign such documentation as is necessary to formalize this assignment.

 Winners will be contacted within 45 days of the deadline date. 

 

Contact:

Illuminati 2011, the annual writing contest of Manipal Blog....! For ANY queries, clarifications and sponsorship opportunities, contact us on illuminati2011@manipalblog.com, to get back to you asap.