ADAM TEASING – 1952

The present day Grand Ma will call her growing-up little girl to her side and will give an historic account of the ideal Indian girl that she was in her teens. She will give a lecture on morals and the necessity to keep away from the opposite sex. It is common knowledge that such advice does not have any impact now on the new generation. Eve teasing is as old as the history of creation. Adam Teasing too was no exception; but very little being publicized in the open.

During my second year in the college - 1952 - I was called in to accompany the Secretary of the Social Service League of my college to the nearby Catholic Women’s College to invite the Mother Superior for an annual function. We had to reach the third floor office of the college to meet the Mother. We had heard about the Mother Superior as a strict disciplinarian with a morose look. Climbing the two stairs, we passed through columns of girls - single, double and groups - who at times winked and made vitriolic comments on our looks and gaits. I consoled myself that they wanted to let out the steam of suppression by the Motherhood-prohibited Mother Superior. As we reached the office, the Secretary was called in to the Mother’s room. I had to wait outside close to the window of a hall where a class was going on in full swing. Suddenly I saw a girl rushing to the window from her seat. She appeared searching for something - perhaps to fool the teacher. She came close to me near the separating wall and murmured in Malayalam which in translation to English would mean “You are charcoal black; but don’t worry, your features are good” and retreated fast to her seat. Good, it was those days. Had this happened now, I would have rushed out to buy the only trumpeted solution -‘What a Change' -Whitening Face Cream’ fairness solution marketed in different brands a few years ago - K. Mathew Thomas

THE TRAGEDY OF THE OLD MAN

Print-outs from a photo-sensitive mind

In 1952, I was doing my second year graduation in St. Berchmans College in Kerala. For the Students, College never was an attraction. But the Masala Dosa of Nehru Cafe and the nearby New Theatre were big student pullers. The short, stocky, bald-headed New Theatre Owner Mathachen had many antics to attract the students. One day suddenly a big banner appeared in front of the theatre with three sexy teenagers painted over it. Their dance was a bonus for the cinema viewers. Before the dance, the three girls in their gowns were presented to the audience along with their father - a handsome graceful looking person in his late sixties. I saw the dance, which was crude and soon forgot about it. In the sixties I came down to Madras from Bombay as a Salesman of Johnson & Johnson Ltd.

Opposite to my house there lived a family with hosts of children and an old fair-complexioned person. I was then a bachelor and my stay in Madras was confined to a week or so in a month as I had to tour all over the South. This old man was a regular visitor to my place and he used to share his woes with me. I could make out that I was a great relief for him and he enjoyed my company and my traditional self-prepared Kerala brand black coffee. I too loved this man for his plain speaking. Since his accounts may taste bitter to many where old parents stay along with their children, I refrain from going into the details. But one particular instance he referred to, I will never forget and I want every one to read it. It ran like this:-

“This morning I went to the Egmore station to book a ticket and from there I had to walk down to the Govt. Eye Hospital. It was around 2.00 p m. On the right side of the road I saw many beggars sitting on the footpath and having their food. I looked at their aluminum plate and I found two to three items along with the rice in it. I compared myself to them and I suppressed my emotion and tears”.

One day he said he belonged to Kottayam, a town in Central Travancore. I told him of my job related Kottayam connection and added that I had my college education in St. Berchmans, Changanacherry. He had loved me as a son and had nothing to hide from me. “That town is known to me. My children had a dance program in a theatre there”. Suddenly it struck that this was the graceful old person I had carried in my memory for years. Our loving relationship went for months together. The opposite house where he lived was the finest example of a house of what that should not be. When the quarrel between the spouses reaches the high pitch the old man used to run out and seek refuge in my house. I was very good to him, and he was so noble and upright that he had never used to exploit my warmer feelings for him. My heart was full of pity and sympathy for him.

In the middle of one night during such a high pitch tussle between husband and wife, he rushed to me and he wanted to spend the rest of the night with me. I had no great facility to accommodate him, but both of us shared the room for the rest of the night. Early morning he got up and both of us prepared and shared a hot black coffee. He then asked for a favour from me for the first time. He said he wanted to go to Kottayam and see his first daughter. He wanted money. He promised that he would come back soon. Immediately I obliged because to me he was a fatherly figure in my heart. With tears in his eyes he looked at me for sometime and in a cracking voice he mumbled “Life has become very difficult for me. I trace my sufferings decades back when my wife went on heavenly call leaving these three girl children under my care. God only knows the trials I went through these decades to bring them up to this stage. Now I have become the ‘old man out’. He continued “One day I will put my head on the rail and this unwanted life will end once for all”. “That would be a rash act” was my response. He wiped his tears off the face and left. The next day he left for Kerala.

He returned after a week or so, but I was not in Station. I was on business tour.

I returned after a fortnight and the opposite house was very clam. I looked for the old man as I had such a liking for him and his smile was my greatest motivation and inspiration, I ever had in my life. But that smile was no more, his graceful face was no more and his tears were also no more. Days earlier, in the dead of night he left the house, went to a busy railway crossing, placed the head on the rail and the approaching train cracked his neck upwards. The man broke his journey of life forever and the train and his cruel family continued its journey in different directions.

To the best of my understanding the family recognised the body at the mortuary but did not claim it to save money on funeral expenses. It was buried or utilised like any unclaimed body.

At times I go through that phase of my life with him and tears flow through in plenty, unchecked. - K. Mathew Thomas

WHAT YOU DO NOT EXPECT -

IT MAY AT TIMES HAPPEN!

Things we never dream of happening, sometimes happen. In 1957 I was in Bombay in search of a job. After a day’s desperate attempt to land in one I used to go in the evening to the GateWay of India to relax for some time. I used to observe fat wealthy women alighting from posh cars; take some coins in their hand and throw it in the sea to please their God, in the midst of poor people stretching their hands for alms. The logic of their action still confuses me. Hotel Taj faces the Gate Way of India. I have seen escorted well-clad men and women alighting from beautiful limousines go in accompanied by the front office guard. I was sure I would not make it, but I exercised my freedom of imagination. I imagined myself to be one Taj resident for my own sadistic satisfaction. Then I will remember the fox after the grapes story and will abstain from such wild imagination. In 1960, I landed in a job in Johnson & Johnson of India Ltd. A job in it was the most coveted one then. This spider failed twice, but never yielded. In the third attempt the spider made it. And that too in the Sales Department under the awesome leadership of a genius, the late Win Chadha who left his job in the early sixties. In 1967 during a conference as the District Manager in the Southern Zone, I was allotted a room named ‘Viceroy Suite’, the most prestigious and expensive one in Taj with mini bar facilities. Bar was always a bar to me. So I did not use it. But for two days I stayed in a facility that was the exclusive domain of the top privileged beings in India, Maharajas, Viceroys and others in the top rung. When I look back many reverses in my life project before me. These reverses have always turned out to be good for me in later years. Along with are great surprises like this Taj episode. Learn this from me: I interact with my God direct and he does not have to look for my broker to channel the flood of his blessings on me. - K. Mathew Thomas

MOST SPOKEN

LANGUAGES IN THE WORLD

Given in three parts –
1st - Name of the language
2nd - Spoken by counted in millions
3rd – Countries where spoken mostly

1 Mandarin - 1051 - China, Malaysia, Taiwan
2 English – 510 - USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand
3 Hindi - 490 - North and Central India
4 Spanish - 425 - The Americas, Spain
5 Arabic - 255 - Middle East, Arabia, North Africa
6 Russian - 254 - Russia, Central Asia
7 Portuguese - 218 - Brazil, Portugal, Southern Africa
8 Bengali - 215 - Bangladesh, Eastern India
9 Malay, - 175 - Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore
10 French -130 France, Canada, West Africa, Central Africa
11 Japanese - 127 - Japan
12 German -123 - Germany, Austria, Central Europe
13 Farsi – 110 - Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia
14 Urdu - 104 - Pakistan, India
15 Punjabi – 103 - Pakistan, India
16 Vietnamese – 86 - Vietnam, China
17 Tamil - 78 - Southern India, Sri Lanka, Malyasia
18 Wu Sino- 77 - China
19 Javanese - 76 - Indonesia
20 Turkish –75 - Turkey, Central Asia
21 Telugu - 74 - Southern India
22 Korean - 72 - Korean Peninsula
23 Marathi - 71 - Western India
24 Italian - 61 - Italy, Central Europe
25 Thai - 60 - Thailand, Laos
26 Cantonese – 55 - Southern China
27 Gujarati - 47 - Western India, Kenya
28 Polish - 46 - Poland, Central Europe
29 Kannada - 44 - Southern India
30 Burmese - 42 - Myanmar

Source: Unknown

A SILVER STREAK IN

A DARK HORIZON!

I wish to share with you an incident I would cherish throughout my life. This morning I was at a Punjab National Bank Office desk talking to one of its officers. Suddenly a lanky old man of majestic stature walked in. In his deep voice he said that he wanted to open a Savings Bank Account. He was so old that I thought he was not serious. But the Bank Officer asked details about his residence; source of the cheque he was holding and how he wished to operate his account in future. He said he lived nearby; the source of the cheque was a Government Agency and it was issued in his favour as an honorarium for his service with Indian National Army (The liberation Army of 40’s founded by Nethaji Subhash Chandra Bose) and his need was limited to the presentation of only this cheque. I was observing the talk with great interest and when I heard that he was an Indian National Army I stood up in respect and offered my seat to him. The old man took out from his cloth bag all the credentials and presented it to the Bank Officer. I was expecting the Officer to find out some ways to get rid of the person, as he did not matter much to the Bank, as it would end up in a one-time transaction. It didn’t happen that way. Instead he went in and got an application form and asked a lady assistant to help him fill in the application. I was deeply moved when wiping out his tears the Officer asked me to observe the plight of time-expired freedom fighters, who slog to live and live unrecognized while we enjoy the fruits of freedom and most of our leaders go on draining the Nation itself. I didn’t remain there long and while going out I asked the old man his name and age. He said he was Sethuramalingam. And the age of the man who did not have a walking stick or an aid in case of an emergency! Just 86 years! The aftermath is unknown to me but I am sure from what I have seen transpired there that he got his job done and that too with deserving respect and honour. A noble gesture indeed, when these days emotions do not surface and remain dry in bottom for ever!
I would like to know what you think of the conduct of the Bank Officer and request you not to fail in leaving your mark in the comments provision below. K. Mathew Thomas

"Between 2001 and August 2006, India lost 23,753 people to terrorism. Tens of thousands of others were maimed and injured. Hundreds of thousands were bereaved. Millions of lives were disrupted.The direct and developmental costs of this terrorism would amount to uncalculated billions.At the same time, the principal state supporter and sponsor of terrorism in South Asia is feted by the world- and the U.S in particular - as the "frontline state" in the "Global War on Terror".

Dr.Ajai Sahni, a terrorism expert on Terrorism

Declaration Of Interdependence


We who create life with our own, have the POWER to change the universe:

Together, we can change LIFE back to what it was meant to be;

Together, we can win the battle EVIL wages against GOOD;

Alone, we lose all that's GOOD to all that's EVIL.

You are NOT alone!!!
"Nothing is impossible...until you quit and nothing is possible...unless you start!"

Top 10 Reasons

Why Financial Disasters Are Inevitable
Irena Whitfield

1) No financial education. This is definitely the number one reason why we mess up our financial lives -because no one taught us how to manage it! Think about it: who teaches you how to manage your finances? The answer is a resounding "no one". The conventional school we attend does not teach us, neither does business school nor our bosses. Since you and I know that more than 95% of the human population are not rich, either, our neighbors next door are obviously just as blind as we are.
2) Leaving your money management to others (and often, the wrong people!). Strangely enough, not many people are too concerned about their finances, thinking that others will take care of it for them. This explains why most of us "jump shelters" from our parents to our employers and maybe the government. We erroneously assume that a "responsible" boss or government would help take care of our finances. Well, in your dreams! In truth, your personal finances are your own responsibility. How can people expect "other people" to take care of them when they do not even want to take care of themselves? Also, perhaps the best government can provide the guidance and opportunities but it is still you to take care of your OWN finances.
3) Relying on incompetent advisors. And since many folks do not have the "know how" on managing their own finances, they turn in their own financial "steering wheel" to so-called "experts" such as financial planners, remisiers, and even... insurance salespeople! While there are genuinely great people among these ranks when it comes to finances, most of them are NOT personal finance gurus.
4) Expensive "free" advice. Lousy "free" advice cannot only come from your own family members who have never "been there, done that", but they can even come from professionals! Be careful of people who kept saying "just my 2 cents worth", because in many cases, their advices are more costly than that - and you are probably going to pay for it! As a school of thought, seek advice from people who have truly "been there, done that".
5) Greed. Like any other drug, greed empties our minds of our logic and this is the main reason why some people are throwing in their life savings into the stock market or any "get rich quick schemes" without having proper education or at least professional information and guidance.
6) Insufficient knowledge. Investing simply without knowing what you are doing is a financial suicide! That is like driving a car without knowing how and where to go!
7) No priorities in personal finance management. Even though many folks think that personal finance management is important, they are not treating it just as important, but too lightly in fact. By the time they realize, it is often too late. They are either out of time or money or even both. Creepy!
8) No desire to learn and invest in financial education. Another irony is that many others do not want to learn how to manage their finances because they are afraid of being labeled as "money-faced". How misguided are these people! Learning how to manage your own finances has never driven you to ignore other important aspects in life and never will! Instead, it makes you a more matured person. You will quickly realize that mastering your finances means mastering a bigger portion of the rest of your life, because whether you like it or not, almost everything you do today is related to money in one way or another.
9) No specific financial goals. A wise man once said that if you are not planning to go anywhere, you are guaranteed to get there! And that seems to be the case with many of us today. By the way, "making lots and lots of money" is not clear enough a goal. And more often, that is a fantasy rather than a realistic goal worth achieving. And because most of us do not have proper financial goals, we just wander aimlessly and drift through life.
10) "Following the crowd" mentality. Some call it the "herd" mentality, too. Having said that a large percentage of the population is not rich and that wealth is in the hands of the very few, you are probably not doing anything right more than 90% of the time especially when it comes to your finances and also especially if you are taking other people's tip or advice. A quick tip to get around this is to NOT do what the majority of the crowd is doing, or do exactly the opposite. That would make you a contrarian at times, but why join everyone else in jumping down from a tall building when you can take a lift down to the ground floor? However, in reality, everyone tends to follow the crowd and try to be "in". We are, after all, social creatures, and we would like to know and be in what is the latest trend and be cool in our own ways. Nothing wrong with being in the latest trend but believe me, when it comes to managing your finances -it is never cool to be broke, even though all of your friends are and they are making fun of you for not joining them.

Learn more and get your Financial IQ Guide on How To Manage Your Money Right to Create True Wealth.http://money.thecassiopeia.com/

Some tips on child rearing:

When cooking, encourage your child to help. For example, if a recipe calls for 3 eggs, ask her to get 3 eggs from the fridge. She’ll feel like she’s helping and counting will help develop her math skills.

Turn chores like laundry into learning activities. Ask your child to identify colors, help you separate lights and darks, or count the number of socks. These activities will help build math and cooperation skills.

Bedtime should follow a schedule. For example, bath, teeth brushing, bedtime story, nightlight, kiss good night and sleep. A consistent schedule helps children learn to go to sleep by themselves.

Turn an errand into a fun learning game that helps your child make sense of the surrounding world. If your child likes trucks, look for trucks as you drive and see who can yell "truck" first

Organizing Your Thoughts

Does your stomach do flip-flops at the mere thought of public speaking? - When presenting your ideas to a group of people, do you become so stressed that you want to hand in your resignation?

If you answered "yes" to either of these questions, you're not alone.
According to the book of lists, the fear of public speaking is the number one fear of all fears, outranking the fear of death, which comes in at number seven. Additionally, recent surveys show that over 41% of the population has some anxiety when asked to speak in front of a group, no matter how small it may be.

Obviously, public speaking is a common source of stress for many people. Those who have difficulty staying cool under this high-pressure experience report all kinds of symptoms, from sweaty palms and an accelerated heart rate to memory loss and even difficulty breathing.

While the majority of people would like to avoid public speaking entirely, this is simply an unrealistic wish. Whether you work alone or within a large organization, you will eventually need to speak in public to get certain tasks accomplished and ideas across. Additionally, if you want to be a leader or achieve something meaningful in your professional career, you will often need to give presentations to supervisors, other departments and customers to be successful.

No matter what your experience is with public speaking, the good news is that it does not need to be a stressful situation. In fact, by keeping just a few key principles in mind, you can keep your confidence up while giving presentations better persuade others to see your point of view, and make public speaking an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Organize Your Thoughts
1. One of the biggest mistakes people make when presenting their ideas to a group is not organizing their thoughts logically. When speaking, too many people jump from topic to topic in a random order. Not only does this make it difficult for their listeners to follow, but it also keeps the speakers from getting their points across effectively. To make sure you keep your presentation on track, make an outline of the key points you want to address. Whether your outline contains full sentences or just bullet points is entirely up to you. The objective is simply to organize your thoughts in order to present your message logically.
2. Another key to organizing your message is to keep your thinking in a diamond shape so it starts off with a point, expands to the bulk of the matter, and then comes down to a close. Make your initial point something strong and startling to gin people's attention. For example, a powerful statement of the main point, a statistic, or an analogy is an excellent choice. In contrast, when you start with something weak like "Today I'd like to talk about the pros and cons of:", you're not going to get anyone to stop thinking about the E-mail, voice mail and hundreds of other things they need to attend to. Effective speakers grab their listeners' attention from the very beginning.
3. Next, expand your main point with your examples, arguments, and justifications. Be thorough so you can effectively persuade your listeners to your point of view. Finally, narrow your message down to a concise close where you actually ask people to do something. Many times people make their point very well, but in the end they don't call people to action. Say something like, "If we want this result, we must do the following:" By asking people to do what you want, you're giving closure to your message and guiding people to your course of action.

Dr. Reesa WoolfPublic Speaking Coach

Dying Preacher

An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his IRS agent and his lawyer (both church members) to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. Both the IRS agent and lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moment. They were also puzzled because the preacher had never given any indication that he particularly liked either one of them. Finally, the lawyer asked, "Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?" The old preacher mustered up some strength, and then said weakly, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that’s how I want to go, too." Source: Internet

Computer maintenance - DO’S AND DON’TS

Empty your "Recycle Bin" regularly and especially before asking for more drive space
Give the computer enough room to have airflow around it, the monitor gives out heat and computers are prone to overheating.
Keep the computer dry, as electricity and water are a lethal combination for the user as well as the computer.
Keep the air vents clean and free from dust
Use an anti-static cloth to clean the monitor screen
.
Close the computer down correctly by saving your work first, closing down other applications, and using the Operating System procedure to close: Start > Shutdown and switching off
.
Keep your virus protection data files up to date
Use your virus program’s Live Update feature
Backup your critical data often
Using Windows Explorer, copy critical files/folders to a floppy disk, Zip Disk, or CD-R (W)
Use Scandisk often
1. Shut down background programs and screen saver. (Ctrl+Alt+Del)
2. Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scandisks.
Clean out temporary files often
1. Win 98 or ME: Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Cleanup 2. Win 95: Using Windows Explorer, delete all temporary files
Defragment your hard drive periodically
1. Shut down background programs and screen saver. (Ctrl+Alt+Del)
2. Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter
Clean your computer, mouse and keyboard periodically
Shut down all "background" programs when installing a new software application
Restart your computer periodically if you leave it on all the time
Unplug your computer and phone line when lightning is in the area
Use the Eject/Close button
Shutdown and restart (several times, if necessary) if you’re having problems...it cures most ailments!
Try these sequential recovery steps, in order, if your computer "freezes":
1. Press Esc Key
2. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del, and then terminate the program that is not responding by using the End Task Button
3. Try Shutting down Windows using the keyboard commands: Ctrl-Esc, U, and Enter
4. Press Reset Button
5. Depress the On/Off Button for a few seconds
Handle compact disks only by edges...clean them if dirty. Use clean, soft, cotton cloth, rub radially outward
Check your hard drive free space periodically...you should have at least 100MB

Don’t leave the computer unattended for more than 15 minutes. It could get rebooted and you may lose your work
Block the air vents by stacking coats, bags, and books in front or on them
Eat or drink near the computer, crumbs will clog the keyboard, and drinks can permanently damage the computer.
Expose the computer to temperatures that are very high or very low
Switch off or pull the plug without closing down properly
.
Move the computer whilst in operation as it may damage the Hard Drive
Plug/unplug cables when computer is operating
Place floppy disks or Zip disks near magnetic fields (speaker, cell phone, screwdrivers, etc
Keep liquids near keyboard/Mouse
Use your computer before windows or other programs fully load
Use your computer when drive lights are energized or "hourglass" cursor is showing
Give your credit card number when not in a secure Web site
Shut down Windows by using the on/off switch
Operate without a good surge protector (or UPS) for computer and peripherals (modem, printer, scanner, etc)
Open E-Mail file attachments or download files from Internet without active, up-to-date virus protection
Use a floppy disk from others without first virus checking it
Push your CD-ROM tray shut
.
Use the CD-ROM tray as a cup-holder
Turn your printer off while it is still printing (causes paper jam on many printers). Instead, remove paper from feeder tray
Locate your computer/monitor in a tight, enclosed area with inadequate ventilation
Depend on floppies for long-term permanent storage/archiving of critical data
Unplug keyboard, mouse from the computer when it is running (PS2)
.
Use wet cloth for cleaning the backside of the CPU
Open the CPU cabinet without
proper guidance from a qualified engineer
Unplug or plugging any hardware component when the computer is running. Unless it’s a hot swappable

Issued in the interests of Computer users by
PRECISION GROUP OF COMPANIES, LEADERS IN IT SOLUTIONS

PASSWORD DOS & DON’TS

DON’T use a word contained in English or foreign language dictionaries, spelling lists, proper name lists, encyclopedias, or other lists of words. Password cracking programs use these electronic resources tirelessly looking for password matches.

DON’T use your login name in any form (i.e., reversed, capitalized, doubled, etc.)
.
DON’T use your first, middle, or last name in any form.

DON’T use a friend’s name, your spouse’s, or child’s name
.
DON’T use other information easily obtained about you. This includes license plate numbers, telephone numbers, social security numbers, the make of your automobile, the name of the street you live on, etc.

DON’T use a password of all digits, or all the same letter
.
DON’T use a password shorter than six characters.

DON’T share your password with anyone.

DON’T write your password down.

DON’T leave your PC logged on and unattended.

PASSWORD DO’S

DO use a password with mixed-case alphabetic.

DO use a password with a combination of alphabetic and non-alphabetic characters (digits or punctuation)
.
DO use a password that is easy to remember, so you don’t have to write it down
.
DO use a password that you can type quickly, without having to look at the keyboard.

DO choose a line or two from a song or poem, and use the first letter of each word and add some non-alphabetic characters. Source: Internet

The Greek Priest

A Greek priest is driving down to New York to see a show, and he’s stopped in Connecticut for speeding. The state trooper smells alcohol on his breath, sees an empty wine bottle on the floor, and asks, "Sir, have you been drinking?"
The minister replies, "Just water."
The trooper asks, "Then, why do I smell wine?"
The minister looks down at the bottle and exclaims, "Good Lord, He’s done it again!" Source: Internet

Reasonable Doubt

A defendant was on trial for murder. There was strong evidence indicating guilt, but there was no corpse. In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client would probably be convicted, resorted to a trick.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all," the lawyer said as he looked at his watch. "Within one minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this courtroom." He looked toward the courtroom door. The jurors, somewhat stunned, all looked on eagerly. A minute passed. Nothing happened.
Finally the lawyer said, "Actually, I made up the previous statement. But, you all looked on with anticipation. I therefore put to you that you have a reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty." The jury, clearly confused, retired to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returned and pronounced a verdict of guilty.
"But how?" inquired the lawyer. "You must have had some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door."
The jury foreman replied, "Oh, we looked, but your client didn’t."

A Chines Proverb
If you want happiness for an hour – take a nap.
If you want happiness for a day – go fishing.
If you want happiness for a month – get married.
If you want happiness for a year – inherit a fortune.
If you want happiness for a lifetime – help someone else.


Think awhile!

Who amongst us is not fraudulent? Mathew Thomas

THINK LIKE A LAWYER

The professor of a contract law class asked one of his better students, "If you were to give someone an orange, how would you go about it?"
The student replied, "Here’s an orange."
The professor was outraged. "No! No! Think like a lawyer!"
The student then replied, "Okay. I’d tell him ‘I hereby give and convey to you all and singular, my estate and interests, rights, claim, title, claim and advantages of and in, said orange, together with all its rind, juice, pulp, and seeds, and all rights and advantages with full power to bite, cut, freeze and otherwise eat, the same, or give the same away with and without the pulp, juice, rind and seeds, anything herein before or hereinafter or in any deed, or deeds, instruments of whatever nature or kind whatsoever to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding...’"

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS

Pride is excessive belief in one’s own abilities, that interferes with the indiidual’s recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity
.
Envy is the desire for others’ traits, status, abilities, or situation.

Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires.

Lust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body.

Anger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.

Greed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.

Sloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work

How To Offset Higher Gas Consumption

One way to deal with increased gas prices is to drive less. Another is to improve your driving habits; easy on the gas pedal. But old habits are hard to break.
Another conservation measure is to be sure your car is using no more fuel than it was designed to use by keeping track of your gas mileage.
You may not notice a drop in fuel economy month by month but it could add up to a substantial figure.
If the engine needs a tune-up it could be wasting 15% (or more) of its fuel, due to misfiring spark plugs, inefficient fuel system and malfunctioning emission controls.
If tires are underinflated, not an uncommon condition, rolling resistance of the tires increases by 5%.
If wheels are just 1/4" out of alignment, another factor that affects rolling resistance, chalk up another 2%. Note: this condition, as well as underinflation, accelerates tire wear, thereby adding to the cost of neglect.
A cooling system thermostat stuck in the open position, causing the engine to run too cool, can reduce engine efficiency by another 7%. Tthis hypothesis is intended to emphasize preventive maintenance in terms of energy conservation, it also bears on safety and reduced exhaust emissions. A heavy foot when the light turns green also guzzles gas.

Courtesy: Internet

BASIC DOs and DON’Ts to follow when responding to reporter questions during a crisis or controversy.

Unfortunately, bad things sometimes happen to good people or threaten to happen. When a potentially troublesome issue appears on the horizon or lands in your backyard, the best thing is to be prepared to respond to media inquiries.
Preparation can help you minimize the negative effects on your business and even turn around a negative story.

DO’s

· Gather all the facts.
· Appoint a single spokesperson to handle all reporter calls.
· Respond quickly, dealing only in the facts and providing as much detail as possible to prevent suspicion and rumors. Avoid descriptive adjectives or exaggerations.
· Stick to your core messages.
· For radio and television, train yourself to think about speaking in quotable sound bites – the broadcast equivalent of a direct quote in a newspaper or magazine. Include the most important information at the beginning of a sentence to increase the likelihood of that information making the final editing cut.
· Try to tell the whole story at once, rather than keeping it alive in the media while additional facts are being announced or uncovered. Several small negative stories are worse than one big negative one.
· Be accessible to the media so they won’t go to other sources for news.
· Report your own bad news. If media have to dig it out, you will appear guilty until proven innocent and will have lost control of your own story.
· Provide sufficient evidence of statements, enlisting credible third-party sources when possible and appropriate.
· Inquire whether the reporter has interviewed other sources. Suggest other resources the reporter might contact.
· Try to contain the crisis to a limited geographic area, keeping the "media story" a local one when possible and appropriate.
· Maintain relationships with key media under normal circumstances to increase chances of fair and accurate coverage during a crisis.


DON’Ts
· Avoid saying "no comment." If you can’t discuss something, explain why. If you don’t know the answer, reply that you will gather the information and supply it as soon as possible.
· Don’t attempt to place blame. First address the problem at hand and express concern for everyone involved. When the facts are available on the cause of a crisis, then release them.
· Don’t speculate or give personal observation on anything; release only confirmed facts.
· Don’t make "off the record" comments. During a crisis, there is no such thing. Tell reporters that, as a matter of policy, you don’t respond to questions regarding rumors or speculation.
· Don’t repeat negative or inflammatory words. It might end up as part of your quote or be attributed to you.
· Don’t use business jargon that is understood only by people within your industry and no one else.
· Don’t cherry-pick reporters. Return all phone calls.
· Don’t release information about people injured in a crisis. This information, if released at all, should come from the police or medical authorities. Source : Internet

NETIQUETTE

Courtesy: Lisa Mirza Grotts

The Golden Rule your parents and teachers taught you as children was simple: Do unto others as you would have others to do unto you. This began with the basic courtesies of Please, Thank You and May I, and you were bound by your first of rules. Online, social graces are even more pronounced as there is no face to face communications, just the screen, words and more words.
As with any new culture - and cyberspace is a culture all its own - how to behave properly online is easy if you know the rules. If you don’t, you’re liable to fumble and perhaps offend your friends and colleagues without meaning to do so. To make matters worse, we tend to forget that with each point and click there is a human face on the other end, not just numbers and characters. WYSISYG (What You See Is What You Get)? You can’t be sure online.
NETiquette, the do’s and don’ts online, should be treated differently that other forms of daily communication. Creating a positive impression, just as you would in person, essential in cyberspace.
Although many Internet messages are short and informal, it helps to remember the following e-manners:
· Always type in a subject with your e-mail.
· Avoid typing messages entirely in capital letters. This is the equivalent of shouting and is considered offensive.
· Don’t sell or advertise anything on e-mail. This is called "spamming" and it’s like sending unsolicited mail.
· For informal e-mail’s, perhaps to a family member typing a colon and a right parenthesis together is interpreted as a smile.
· It’s okay to send a message without a greeting or signoff if you and the recipient have that understanding. Otherwise, a salutation and a signoff are good form.
· Don’t pass on jokes or other sensitive materials, especially to large groups of people. It’s in poor taste, plus they may contain viruses that may diminish the value of a relationship (not to mention a hard drive).
· Don’t use e-mail for formal invitations or announcements. A thank-you call, note of gift would be in first choice, but an e-mail thank you is better than none.
· For special occasions (especially Valentines Day) a caring personal message is warmer and show more thought than an electronic greeting card.
· Don’t pass on long articles gleaning from the Internet. Most people don’t want to spend hours staring at the screen. Better to use snail-mail or that old fashioned machine, the fax.
· Do check your grammar and spelling. It’s just as important here as it would be in a letter.
· Remember that the "D" key does not mean delete. E-mail’s have been proven to be discoverable in a court of law, so be warned: Never put anything in writing that you don’t want to see on the cover of A News paper
Netiquette should also be adhered to for telephones, pagers and fax machines. For speakerphones, Big Brother and Sister could be listening, so watch what you say. Most executives prefer good old-fashioned receivers.
Today, many cell phones have voice-mail, which is ideal when you wish not to be disturbed, such as at a place of worship, a party or in a meeting. If you must carry a pager in public, be sure to switch it to the vibrate mode. Incoming "beeps" can always be stored for later retrieval.
As for fax machines, don’t clog up the lines with lengthy pages. Always attach a cover sheet explaining what you are faxing. Remember, it may be seen by any number of people, so if your savvy, you’ll avoid discussing your superior’s new haircut, making a tryst with your lover, or boasting about how you fudged on your tax return.
These hectic days, more than ever before, manners count. An old Italian proverb says it well: "A man’s hat in his hand never did him any harm."

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who stand up and face the music, and those who run for cover. Cover is better.
- Lt. Col. Frank Slade


The difference between a Serial Killer and a Serial (Television) lover
The Serial Killer kills many in series - A Serial Lover serially gets killed psychologically and emotionally over a period of time.
Mathew Thomas

The A B C of life

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of "Camp Complaining"
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To "thank" is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We’ll run the race with gratitude
X alting God most high
Y Es, there’ll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!
Author Unknown

CELL PHONE ETIQUETTE

1. Cell Phone should be switched off while dining unless an urgent call was expected. Turn your cell phone off or set the ring to "silent" or "vibration" when in these locations: restaurant, airplane, theater, library, museum, church, classroom, business meeting, hospital.
2. When in public, always keep the conversation very brief and to the point. Long conversations should take place in private.
3. Keep your voice low when talking in public so as not to distract others around you.
4. When in small enclosed spaces such as a doctor’s waiting room, leave the room and go out in the hall to converse.
5. When you are with someone and you need to answer your cell phone, excuse yourself. If the conversation will be more than a minute, move a slight distance away to carry on the discussion.
6. Driving and talking is not about manners or etiquette, but about safety. It’s best to avoid using a cell phone while driving. If you receive a call, you can always call back at a more safe and convenient time.
7. Ear buds: hands free works well, especially when driving.

Courtesy: E-mail

Virginia tech.

a glimpse into what america has inflicted on iraq

Thanks to Sherwood Ross for this perspective. Each of these deaths is a tragedy, an unnecessary horror. Each of these people is dear to someone. Each has lost their precious human life. I am saddened for all, including the deeply disturbed young man who ran amok in Virginia:

At the memorial ceremony for those slain at Virginia Tech, President Bush said today [April 17] he did not know what the victims had done to deserve their fate. How this nation wept as one when thirty innocent Americans perished and twenty more were wounded! There is almost nothing else on the television news but this tragedy --- not even news from the ongoing slaughter from the war in Iraq.

Here we have the sorry spectacle of the man in the White House who made the war on Iraq, where a disaster comparable to the Virginia Tech massacre occurs four or five times a day every day, leading the nation in prayer! Yet when does this man go on television to ask the American people to pray for the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have been murdered in the illegal war he launched? And just as the students and teachers who perished at the hands of a crazed killer on the Virginia Tech campus had done nothing to deserve their fate, neither have the people of Iraq committed any crime to endure the unendurable they are suffering at the hands of a president who professed to be “horrified” at the events on a peaceful campus.

If a South Korean student is regarded as a berserk killer for murdering thirty people what is President Bush, whose invasion to control oil-rich Iraq has cost nearly three quarters of a million lives, created four million refugees, and plunged the Middle East into turmoil?

The American people, including the families of the murdered Virginia Tech innocents, have collective blood-guilt on their hands. I have not gone to jail to protest the war machine, so I am no better than they and probably a good deal worse because I have given the issue some thought. How many of those parents in the audience hearing the President’s words had elected to Congress men and women who voted for lax laws on gun ownership? How many of those parents in the audience had also voted for legislators who backed the president’s illegal invasion of Iraq? Are we, as a nation, too obtuse to grasp the connection between our “gun culture” policy at home and our militarist policy abroad that murders and mutilates human beings at every turn? Practically any one in America can buy a gun, and abroad, any dictator in the world can buy weapons made in America because we just happen to be the world’s biggest arms peddler.

What kind of a society has America become? Why do we have two-million men in our prisons? Why, in some cities, is every second or third male either in prison or out on parole? Why is the murder rate soaring in so many cities? Why is there on average more than one killing a day in a city like Philadelphia? Why are our own terrorists murdering 30,000 Americans each year and injuring tens of thousands more with rapid-fire handguns of the sort used on the Virginia Tech campus? Do we realize, speaking of terrorists, that ten times as many Americans are being killed by Americans each year as all our troops in Iraq? Osama bin Laden is everywhere in America. He has a thousand faces. They are the faces of our own dispossessed, our own poverty-stricken, our own unemployed, our own underclass, our own idolized gangsters , our own youth who grew up in front of television sets that ooze violence and blood.

Who is responsible for the killings in Iraq except the same now bereaved parents of the murdered students at Virginia Tech? It’s not that some of them voted to elect George Bush. Anyone can be deceived, particularly by a notorious liar. But when the president broke the law and invaded Iraq, violating the UN Charter, how many of them protested? Today they are upset that a young, crazed gunman has ran amok on the campus of a peaceful university, but where were they when President Bush defied the United Nations and ran amok in Iraq? Do they know, as Amnesty International reported on the same day as the Virginia Tech murders, the Middle East “is on the verge of a massive humanitarian crisis” because three-million Iraqis have been “forcibly displaced” by the war the grief-stricken Mr. Bush began? Who do the American people think made this humanitarian crisis in the Middle East if not the American people?

The same parents who weep for their children might consider that they and their neighbors are also spending a half trillion dollars a year so that the Pentagon, just over the horizon from Virginia Tech, can wage a war that is snuffing out the lives of children of other parents just like their own. Thousands of Virginians work for the military-industrial complex. They work for the Pentagon. They work for defense contractors. They work for the Central Intelligence Agency. They are in the business of killing directly or indirectly, yet how many of them are haunted by the consequences of their “jobs” in their dreams at night?

All across America, people who attend church and regard themselves as “good” people, such as the bereaved at Virginia Tech, are working in the plants that make atomic bombs and warplanes and napalm and cluster bombs and are creating new, demonical designs of germ warfare and space-based weapons so vile and horrible they defy description.

America as a nation has become an organized nightmare. Yesterday, the nation woke up to the pain of the kind of killing it has been inflicting widely around the world since its fleets of bombers roared out to destroy Dresden, since it leveled Hiroshima and Nagasaki, since it laid waste to Vietnam, since it overthrew Chile, and now since it has invaded two Middle Eastern nations in its thirst for oil. Yes, weep for the innocent victims of Virginia Tech, who only wanted to study and live in peace. But weep also, America, for the people of Iraq! If President Bush cared as much for them as he cares for his own, he would have to hold four news conferences a day. He would never stop grieving.
::link

--Sherwood Ross is an American writer who covers military and political topics.

ACTUAL INSTRUCTION LABLES

ON A HAIR DRYER: Do not use while sleeping.

ON A BAG OF FRITOS: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.

ON A BAR OF DIAL SOAP: Directions: Use like regular soap.

ON A FROZEN DINNER: Serving suggestion: Defrost.

ON A HOTEL-PROVIDED SHOWER CAP: Fits one head.

ON TESCO'S TIRAMISU DESERT:Do not turn upside down. (Printed on the bottom of the box.)

ON MARKS & SPENCER BREAD PUDDING: Product will be hot after heating.

ON PACKAGING FOR A ROWENTA IRON: Do not iron clothes on body.

ON BOOTS CHILDRENS' COUGH MEDICINE: Do not drive car or operate machinery.

ON NYTOL (A SLEEP AID): Warning: may cause drowsiness.

ON A KOREAN KITCHEN KNIFE: Warning: keep out of children.

ON A STRING OF CHINESE MADE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS: For indoor or outdoor use only.

ON A JAPANESE FOOD PROCESSOR: Not to be used for the other use.

ON SAINSBURY'S PEANUTS: Warning: contains nuts.

ON AN AMERICAN AIRLINES PACKET OF NUTS: Instructions: open packet, eat nuts.

ON A SWEDISH CHAINSAW: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hands

A New Disease

Medical researchers have discovered a new disease that has no symptoms. It is impossible to detect, and there is no known cure. Fortunately, no cases have been reported thus far.
George Carlin

A Brief History Of Medicine:

I have an earache.
2000 B.C. - Here, eat this root.
1000 A.D. - That root is heathen, say this prayer.
1850 A.D. - That prayer is superstition, drink this potion.
1940 A.D. - That potion is snake oil, swallow this pill.
1985 A.D. - That pill is ineffective, take this antibiotic.
2000 A.D. - That antibiotic is artificial. Here, eat this root.

Inner Peace

I think I've found inner peace. My therapist told me a way to achieve inner peace was to finish things I had started.
Today I finished 2 bags of potato chips, a lemon pie, a fifth of Jack Daniels and a small box of chocolate candy.
I feel better already.
Unknown


Chocolate is a Vegetable

Chocolate is derived from cocoa beans.
Bean = vegetable.
Sugar is derived from either sugar cane or sugar BEETS.
Both of them are plants, in the vegetable category.
Thus, chocolate is a vegetable.
To go one step further,
chocolate candy bars also contain milk,
which is dairy.
So candy bars are a health food.
Chocolate-covered raisins, cherries,
orange slices and strawberries all count as fruit,
so eat as many as you want.

Remember - - -
"STRESSED" spelled backward is "DESSERTS"
Send this to four women and you will lose 2 pounds.
Send this to all the women you know (or ever knew), and you will lose 10 pounds.
(If you delete this message, you will gain 10 pounds immediately.)"That's why I had to pass this on - - - - - I didn't want to risk it."

Courtesy: Internet

Actual Documentations Found in Patient Records

Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for over a year.

On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.

The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.

Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.

Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful.

The patient refused autopsy.

The patient has no previous history of suicides.

While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.

Patient was alert and unresponsive.

She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.

The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he took a job as a stock broker instead.

Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.

From Nursing Guide Erika Lowndes(http://nursing.about.com/index.htm)

The Top 10 Reasons to

Not Believe All Experts.

1. "What can be more palpably absurd than the prospect held out of locomotives traveling twice as fast as stagecoaches?"
--The Quarterly Review, England, March 1825

2. "The abolishment of pain in surgery is a chimera. It is absurd to go on seeking it....Knife and pain are two words in surgery that must forever be associated in the consciousness of the patient."
--Dr. Alfred Velpeau, 1839, French surgeon

3. "Men might as well project a voyage to the Moon as attempt to employ steam navigation against the stormy North Atlantic Ocean."
--Dr. Dionysus Lardner, 1838, Professor of Natural Philosophy and Astronomy, University College, London

4. "[W]hen the Paris Exhibition closes electric light will close with it and no more be heard of."
--Erasmus Wilson, 1878, Professor at Oxford University

5. "Well informed people know it is impossible to transmit the voice over wires and that were it possible to do so, the thing would be of no practical value."
--Editorial in the Boston Post, 1865

6. "Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible."
--Lord Kelvin, 1895, British mathematician and physicist

7. "While theoretically and technically television may be feasible, commercially and financially I consider it an impossibility, a development of which we need waste little dreaming."
--Lee DeForest, 1926, American radio pioneer

8. "There is not the slightest indication that [nuclear energy] will ever be obtainable. It would mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will."
--Albert Einstein, 1932

9. "Where a calculator on the ENIAC is equipped with 19,000 vacuum tubes and weighs 30 tons, computers in the future may have only 1,000 vacuum tubes and perhaps only weigh 1.5 tons."
--Popular Mechanics, March 1949

10. "I have traveled the length and breadth of this country and talked with the best people, and I can assure you that data processing is a fad that won't last out the year."
--The editor in charge of business books for Prentice Hall, 1957

From the 'Experts Speak: The Definitive Compendium of Authoritative Misinformation,' by Christopher Cerf and Victor Navasky

SMOKING!

Walt Disney 1901-1966 Animator, film producer and director, head of entertainment corporation Famous for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disneyland died of Lung cancer.

About half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their habit.

Smoking causes at least 80% of all deaths from lung cancer, around 80% of all deaths from bronchitis and emphysema and around 17% of all deaths from heart disease.

30% of all cancer deaths can be attributed to smoking. Cancers other than lung cancer which are linked to smoking include: cervical cancer, cancer of the pancreas, cancer of the kidney, liver cancer, cancers of the lip, mouth and throat, bladder cancer, stomach cancer and leukaemia.

Ian Fleming 1908-1964 Journalist, intelligence specialist and novelist Famous for creating James Bond and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang died of Pleurisy and heart attack. Fewer than 10% of lung cancer patients survive five years after diagnosis.

Tobacco kills more men in developing countries than in industrialised countries and if current trends continue, it is likely that tobacco-related deaths will soon be the same amongst women.

Approximately 0.1 billion people died from tobacco use in the 20 th century. This figure is set to increase 10 fold in the 21 st century

How smoking harms you!

HAIR- smell and staining
BRAIN and MENTAL EFFECTS-strokes, addiction/withdrawl, altered brain chemistry, anxiety about harm caused by smoking
NOSE-reduced sense of smell
TEETH-discoloration and stains, plaque, loose teeth, increased risk of gum disease
MOUTH and THROAT-cancer of the lips, mouth, throat and larynx, sore throat, reduced sense of taste, bad breath
RESPIRATION and LUNGS-lung cancer, cough and sputum, shortness of breath, colds and flu, pneumonia and asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema
LIVER-cancer
KIDNEYS and BLADDER-cancer
Emphysema damages the delicate air sacs in your lungs. They become large and hard, and lose their ability to exchange air. With damaged air sacs, you cannot get enough air to breathe, and always feel that you cannot catch your breath.MALE REPRODUCTION-reduced number and quality of sperm, infertility, impotence
DIABETES- non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus (Type 2-adult onset)
LEGS and FEET-increased leg pain and gangrene; peripheral vascular disease, poor circulation
EYES-eyes sting/water, blink more, blindness (macular degeneration), cataracts
SKIN-wrinkles, premature aging
HANDS-poor circulation (cold fingers);peripheral vascular disease, stained and smelly fingers
HEART-harms, blocks and weakens arteries of the heart, heart attack
CHEST-cancer of the esophagus
ABDOMEN-stomach and duodenal cancers, cancer of the stomach, pancreas, colon, aortic aneurysm
BONES-osteoporosis, increased risk of spine and hip fractures
FEMALE REPRODUCTION-period pains, earlier menopause, cancer of the cervix, infertility and possible delay in conception
BLOOD-leukaemia
BURNS-from fires caused by cigarettes and smoking related materials IMMUNE SYSTEM- weakened - Courtesy: Intermet

Here are the demerit point penalties for driving offences in Ontario, Canada. Remember - these are demerit points, not brownie points! :)

7 points
failing to remain at the scene of a collision

6 points
careless driving
racing
exceding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more
failing to stop for a school bus

5 points
driver of bus failing to stop at unprotected railway crossing

4 points
exceding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h
following too closely

3 points
exceding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h
driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
failing to yield the right-of-way
failing to obey a stop sign, traffic light, or railway crossing signal
failing to obey the directions of police officer
driving the wrong way on a divided road
failing to report a collision to a police officer
improper driving where road is divided into lanes
crowding the driver's seat
going the wrong way on a one-way road
driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road
crossing a divded road where no proper crossing is provided

2 points
failing to lower headlight beam
improper opening of a vehicle door
prohibited turns
towing people - on tobaggans, bicycles, skis, for example
failing to obey signs
failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing
failing to share the road
improper right turn
improper left turn
failing to signal
unnecessary slow driving
reversing on a divided high-speed road
driver failing to wear a seat belt
driver failing to ensure that a passenger less than 23 kg is buckled into seat belt or child safety seat driver failing to ensure passenger under 16 years wearing seat belt - Courtesy: Internet

These are some of India’s

Most Expensive Possessions;

1. Petrus Wine – Bottle cost mere Rs. 92000/-. It is served @ The Taj Mahal, Mumbai

2. Mortlac Whisky, 1936 – A peg costs Rs. 24000/- & the bottle

Rs. 6, 00,000/-. It is served @ The Grand, Delhi

3. Wasabi, Traditional Japanese Restaurant @ Taj Mahal, Mumbai's most expensive restaurant & the dinner with serving of SUSHI & SASHI will cost Rs. 12000/-

4. Hotel Rooms- Kohinoor Suite, The Oberoi's, Amarvil as. One Night costs only about Rs. 1.27 Lacs. Presidential Suite, The Taj Mahal, Delhi. One Night costs only about Rs. 2.50 Lacs.

5. Maybach, 21 feet long car, costs a mere 6.0 Crores

6. Mont Blanc Pen – The range of these pens is from a mere Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 1.0 Lac

7. Napoleon Bonaparte, range of watches starts from a around Rs. 12,000 & runs into Crores
8. Most expensive house in India is situated very much in Mumbai. It is in Maker Towers, Cuffe Parade and costs a Bomb of 18.0 Crores

COURTESY: E-mail.

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is a method of prevention, correction and treatment of a disease, illness, injury or pain by encouraging the body to promote natural healing and improve functioning. This objective is implemented by the stimulation of certain biologically active points on the surface of the body (acupuncture points). These strategic points can be stimulated by the insertion of acupuncture needles or by non-invasive techniques and other means of physical stimulation. A key feature of acupuncture as a kind of medical intervention is that there is no administration of any chemical substances in any form or delivery system.

Here are the demerit point penalties for driving offences in Ontario, Canada. Remember - these are demerit points, not brownie points!

7 points
failing to remain at the scene of a collision

6 points
careless driving
racing
exceding the speed limit by 50 km/h or more
failing to stop for a school bus

5 points
driver of bus failing to stop at unprotected railway crossing

4 points
exceding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h
following too closely

3 points
exceding the speed limit by 16 to 29 km/h
driving through, around or under a railway crossing barrier
failing to yield the right-of-way
failing to obey a stop sign, traffic light, or railway crossing signal
failing to obey the directions of police officer
driving the wrong way on a divided road
failing to report a collision to a police officer
improper driving where road is divided into lanes
crowding the driver's seat
going the wrong way on a one-way road
driving or operating a vehicle on a closed road
crossing a divded road where no proper crossing is provided

2 points
failing to lower headlight beam
improper opening of a vehicle door
prohibited turns
towing people - on tobaggans, bicycles, skis, for example
failing to obey signs
failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing
failing to share the road
improper right turn
improper left turn
failing to signal
unnecessary slow driving
reversing on a divided high-speed road
driver failing to wear a seat belt
driver failing to ensure that a passenger less than 23 kg is buckled into seat belt or child safety seat driver failing to ensure passenger under 16 years wearing seat belt

LEARN THESE LESSONS TO RISE HIGH

Lesson #1: Be careful to ask what you want. You may get it.

What this means is that do not ask too little either of yourself or the others around you. What you ask is what you get. When I look back at the time when I joined Wipro, I was 21. If you ask me whether I thought that Wipro would grow so by someday, the honest answer is that I did not. But neither did I think it would not. We constantly stretched ourselves to higher and higher targets. Sometimes, it seemed possible, sometimes fanciful and sometimes plain insane. But we never stopped raising limits. And we got a lot more than what we bargained for.

Lesson # 2: Respond, don’t react

Always be aware of your emotions and learn to manage them. There is a huge difference between people who react impulsively and those who can disengage themselves and then respond at will. By choosing to respond differently, we can prevent another person from controlling our behaviour. I remember a small story that illustrates this well. There was once a newspaper vendor who had a rude Customer. Every morning, the Customer would walk by, refuse to return the greeting, grab the paper off the shelf and throw the money at the vendor. The vendor would pick up the money, smile politely and say, “Thank you, Sir.” One day, the vendor’s assistant asked him, “Why are you always so polite with him when he is so rude to you? Why don’t you throw the newspaper at him when he comes back tomorrow?” The vendor smiled and replied, “He can’t help being rude and I can’t help being polite. Why should I let his rude behaviour dictate mine?

Lesson # 3: Intuitions are important for making decisions

It is important to realize that our intuition is a very important part of decision making. Many things are recorded by our subconscious. Use both sides of the brain. Even that is not enough. Some decisions need the use of the heart as well. When you use your mind and heart together, you may get a completely new and creative answer.

Lesson # 4: Learn to work in teams

The challenges ahead are so complex that no individual will be able to face them alone. While most of our education is focused in individual strength, teaming with others is equally important. You cannot fire a missile from a canoe. Unless you build a strong network of people with complimentary skills, you will be restricted by your own limitations.
Globalisation has brought people of different origins, different upbringing and different cultures together. Ability to become an integral part of a cross-cultural team will be a must for your success.

Lesson #5: Never lose your zest and curiosity

All the available knowledge in the world is accelerating at a phenomenal rate. The whole world's codified knowledge base (all documented information in library books and electronic files) doubled every 30 years in the early 20th century. By the 1970s, the world's knowledge base doubled every seven years. Information researchers predict that by the year 2010, the world's codified knowledge will double every 11 hours. Remaining on top of what you need to know will become one of the greatest challenges for you.
The natural zest and curiosity for learning is one of the greatest drivers for keeping updated on knowledge. A child’s curiosity is insatiable because every new object is a thing of wonder and mystery. The same zest is needed to keep learning new things. I personally spend at least 10 hours every week on reading. If I do not do that, I will find myself quickly outdated.

Lesson # 6: Put yourself first

This does not mean being selfish. Nor does it mean that you must become so full of yourself that that you become vain or arrogant. It means developing your self confidence. It means, developing an inner faith in yourself that is not shaken by external events. It requires perseverance. It shows up in the ability to rebound from a setback with double enthusiasm and energy. I came across a recent Harvard Business review which describes this very effectively :
“No one can truly define success and failure for us- only we can define that for ourselves. No one can take away our dignity unless we surrender it. No one can take away our hope and pride unless we relinquish them. No one can steal our creativity, imagination and skills unless we stop thinking. No one can stop us from rebounding unless we give up.”
And there is no way we can take care of others, unless we take care of ourselves.

Lesson # 7: Have a broader social vision

While there is every reason to be excited about the future, we must not forget that we will face many challenges as well. By 2015, we will have 829 million strong workforce. That will make India home to 18% of global working-age population. The key challenge is to transform that into a globally competitive work-force.
This will not be an easy task. Despite all the rapid economic expansion seen in recent years, job growth in India still trails the rise in working-age population. It is important that gains are spread across this spectrum, so that the divide between the employed and the under-employed, is minimised. Education is a crucial enabler that can make this growth as equitable as possible.

Lesson # 8: Play to win

Playing to win is not the same as playing dirty. It is not about winning all the time or winning at any cost. Playing to win is having the intensity to stretch to the maximum and bringing our best foot forward. Winning means focusing on the game. The score board tells you where you are going, but don’t concentrate too much on it. If you can focus on the ball, the scores will move by themselves. I recently came across this story that I thought I would share with you

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went into the kitchen. He returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal- some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – and asked them to help themselves to coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, you were more concerned about comparing your cups but what you really wanted was coffee. Yet you spent all your time eyeing each other's cups.
Now if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to contain Life, but cannot really change the quality of Life. Sometimes, by over concentrating on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee."
- Azim Premji

The source of disharmony and misery

Imagine walking along a sidewalk with your arms full of groceries, and someone roughly bumps into you so that you fall and your groceries are strewn over the ground. As you rise up from the puddle of broken eggs and tomato juice, you are ready to shout out, "You idiot! What's wrong with you? Are you blind?" But just before you can catch your breath to speak, you see that the person who bumped you is actually blind. He, too, is sprawled in the spilled groceries, and your anger vanishes in an instant, to be replaced by sympathetic concern: "Are you hurt? Can I help you up?" Our situation is like that. When we clearly realize that the source of disharmony and misery in the world is ignorance, we can open the door of wisdom and compassion. Then we are in a position to heal ourselves and others.~ B. Alan Wallace,

A LOVE MESSAGE TO DADDY:

Daddy, I love you
For all that you do.
I'll kiss you and hug you
'Cause you love me, too.
You feed me and need me
To teach you to play,
So smile 'cause I love you

Results come from causes

"All results come from causes that have the ability to create them. If we plant apple seeds, an apple tree will grow, not chili. If chili seeds are planted, chili will grow, not apples. In the same way, if we act constructively, happiness will ensue; if we act destructively, problems will result. Whatever happiness and fortune we experience in our lives comes from our own positive actions, while our problems result from our own destructive actions. According to Buddhism, there is no one in charge of the universe who distributes rewards and punishments. We create the causes by our actions and their effects, in the same way that Newton didn't invent gravity. Newton simply described what exists. Likewise, the Buddha described what he saw with his omniscient mind to be the natural process of cause and effect occurring within the mind-stream of each being. By doing this, he showed us how best to work within the functioning of cause and effect in order to experience happiness and avoid pain." ~ Thubten Chodron,

LOVE IN BIBLE

Romans 12:9-21

9. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

11. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

13. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. [c] Do not be conceited.

17. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.

18. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

19. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," [d] says the Lord.

20. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." [e]

21. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

STALIN’S TEST

When Josef Stalin was on his deathbed he called in two likely successors, to test which one of the two had a better

knack for ruling the country.
He ordered two birds to be brought in and presented

one bird to each of the two candidates.

The first one grabbed the bird, but was so afraid that the bird could free himself from his grip and fly away that he squeezed his hand very hard, and when he opened his palm, the bird was dead.

Seeing the disapproving look on Stalin's face and being afraid to repeat his rival's mistake, the second candidate loosened his grip so much that the bird freed himself and flew away.

Stalin looked at both of them scornfully.

"Bring me a bird!" he ordered.
They did.
Stalin took the bird by its legs and slowly,

one by one, he plucked all the feathers

from the bird's little body.
Then he opened his palm. The bird was laying

there naked, shivering, helpless.

Stalin looked at him, smiled gently and said,

"You see... and he is even thankful for the human

warmth coming out of my palm."

(Stalin tested with Russian birds. Current Progressive Democrats

elsewhere test military strength with humans of other nations

– The Sunday Digest.)

DESIRE IS THE KEY WORD!

THE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS HAS

PROCLAIMED JOE GIRARD, "THE WORLD'S GREATEST SALESMAN.

"During his days as an automobile salesman, Joe for 12 straight years, soldmore cars and trucks than any other salesperson. In fact, as an individual, hesold more cars than most dealers sell in total, and all of them retail.Coming from hard and humble beginnings, Joe had been thrown out of highschool, fired from over 40 jobs, and had even failed at being a petty thief!

But in 1949 things began to turn around. He met a man who "took him underhis wings" teaching Joe how to be a building contractor. Joe becamepretty successful and in 1961 he contracted to build a number of private homes.

Unfortunately he had accepted the word of a real estate speculator that saidthe area was to have a sewer system installed. Poor Joe, he went on the man'sword instead of checking things out and finally found out this just wasn'ttrue.Individual septic tanks had to be installed which meant the homes becamegreatly de-valued.

As a result, Joe lost his business. It was Christmas and Joe Girard had nojob, no savings, and found himself in debt to the tune of $60,000.

Then the final blow came.....On a cold day in January, June Girard tearfully told her husband therewas no food in the house and the kids were begging for something to eat.

On that day, Joe Girard found himself at the absolute bottom of the barrel.

It was either see his kids starve or go out and find something. After pleading and begging the manager of a car dealership to hire him; the manager

finally gave in and gave Joe a small desk at the back of the showroom.

When Joe's first customer walked in that day, just before closing time,Joe thought to himself, "There's no way this guy is getting out of herewithout buying a car from me."

Joe Girard remembered his hungry kids at home, then looked at his customerand saw......a bag of groceries!

Within a month he became so successful at selling cars that the managerfired him! He was too aggressive and the other salesmen were upset.

But Joe had found his calling and it wasn't very long before he washired at another dealership where he worked until the day he retired in 1978.

Recalling that first sale, and telling what made him the GreatestSalesman In The World, Joe says this:

"Want. My want. That was all I knew. And that want was enough to drive me tosay and do enough of the right things to sell that customer a car. I am notsaying that that's all there is to it, then or now, but that is most of it."

"If you want, and know what you want, you will have most of what you needto be a successful salesman. I mean that. Nobody can be a successful salesmanwithout wanting. Wanting something very much. And the more you want, the more youdrive yourself to do what it takes to sell.

""Once I saw that first customer as a bag of groceries to bring hometo my family, he was sold, whether he knew it or not.

"You and I might not ever become the world's greatest in what we do, but wecan become the best we can possibly be at it. It all starts, continues, andends with 1 simple word: DESIRE

Why and how

to have a PAN

B. Vijaya Kumar

Permanent Account Number (PAN) has become a very important tool to the Income Tax Department in tracking high value transactions and ensuring compliance with the tax laws. Mentioning of PAN has become mandatory in many financial transactions, particularly in the following areas:

Operating demat accounts

Deposit of Rs. 50,000 and above in the banks, Investments in shares, mutual funds and post office savings in excess.of Rs 50,000 each, Sale or purchase of motor vehicles, excluding two wheelers, Sale or purchase of immovable properties valued at Rs 5 lakhs and above, Applying for a new telephone connection (landline or mobile), Payment of Rs 25,000 or more against hotel bills - even if you may not fall under these categories, you need to file Income Tax Return for which PAN is required.

Benefits of having a PAN card

If you have a PAN card, it can be used as a proof of your identity, particularly when you have to check-in on the basis of your airtickets purchased online. You can check whether the taxes paid by you are updated in the database of the Income Tax Department. Further you can now also verify whether your employer or the institution has indeed remitted to the Income Tax Department the tax deducted from the payments made to you.

Is it necessary to file Income Tax
return if you have PAN?

Just because you have PAN, it is not necessary to file Income Tax Return. Income Tax Return needs to be filed only when you have taxable income or you need to claim refund of tax deducted by your employer or the institution making payments to you towards interest or professional services or commission or rent or winnings from lottery / game shows or horse races or contracts etc. However, the converse is true: you need PAN to file an Income Tax Return.

How to get PAN?

It is very simple. You need to submit your details in Form No. 49A to any of the PAN Facilitation centers, located in all cities and major towns, wherever Income Tax offices are located.

Have a PAN number but no card?

The UTI Investors Services Ltd (UTIISL) and National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) are the authorised agencies to accept and process PAN application forms. You may also apply for PAN online through UTIISL's web sitehttp://www.utiisl.co.in/pan/ or NSDL's web site http://tin.nsdl.com/.It will normally take about 2 to 3 weeks to get your PAN card delivered at your door-step. If you need a PAN card urgently, you may also get Tatkal PAN by applying online using your credit card. You will get your PAN on priority basis and the same will be communicated to you through email. The fees payable is only Rs 60 plus service tax presently @ 12.24 percent, totaling Rs 67.

What are the details to be submitted for applying PAN?

Only very few details like the following need to be given in the case of individuals:
Ø Name including your other names, if any
Ø Father's name to be given even in the case of married women
Ø Date of birth
Ø Address ? both official and residential
Ø Main source of your income - salary or professional/business or anyother income
Ø Designation and code of your assessing officer.
Ø You may obtain thisinformation from the facilitation centers of UTIISL or NSDL or fromthe web site of the income Tax Department athttp://incometaxindia.gov.in/ao/Firstlevel.asp


You need to submit the following documents along with your application:
Proof of identityProof of addressA recent colour photograph (3.5 cm X 2.5 cm)
You may submit copies of your passport/credit card/bankstatement/voter's identity card/depository account/driving license/ration card/property tax assessment order to establish proof of identity and address. In addition, there are number of other documents like school leaving certificate/matriculation certificate/degree of a recognised educational institution/water bill for proof of identity.

Getting a credit card?
Likewise, you may use electricity bill/telephone bill/employer certificate/rent receipt for proof of address. Even if you don't have any of these documents, you may obtain a certificate of identity and/or address signed by a MP or MLA or a Municipal Councilor or a Gazetted Officer.

How can I obtain PAN if I don't stay in India?

Non-Resident Indians may obtain PAN by applying through their representative assessee, who has to be an individual residing in India. Recently, non-residents are permitted to apply for PAN by giving their present address, even though it is not in India. In such a case, the non-resident individual has to submit copy of passport for proof of identity and address and bank statement for proof of address (if the address mentioned in the passport is different from the present address). In the case of non-residents, who are foreign citizens, these documents will have to be attested by the Indian embassy in their country. Detailed guidelines are available at the web
sitehttp://tin.nsdl.com/downloads/AdditionalguidelinesNRPAN_newPAN.pdf.Other issues related to PAN!A person can have only one PAN and duplicate PANs, if any, must be surrendered. It is illegal to have duplicate PANs. Even if a PAN is obtained from one place, return of income can be submitted at a different place, in case of change of address or jurisdiction. If you wish to correct the particulars given in the PAN, you may submit an application for making modifications in the PAN. This will ensure that the information in the database of the Income Tax Department is updated. For additional information and FAQs, you may visit the following web site: -

http://incometaxindia.gov.in/PAN/Overview.asp

(the above useful information was e-mailed to us
by Mr. Ramesh Panicker through Mr. Kasturi Rangan)
We have inserted this article in The Sunday Digest too