Life is beautiful with Kids around!!!

Kids!!! Everyone says that it's the best thing that can happen to someone. For the record, it is not easy to bring up kids. I certainly couldn't have managed without my mother to whom I owe more than I can ever put in words. My 5-year old daughter has an endless source of energy, asks probably 437 questions in a day on an average, perennially tries to get attention by absolutely not allowing us to talk to anyone but her and gets adored by all and sundry even after that. Now that would explain the cause of my mother's headache by the end of the day and also why life's beautiful with her around.

 

This morning, a friend of mine was telling me about a lady whose husband divorced her after a 5-year old marriage and a 3 year old child. She now cribs about how her child has ruined her life because she has no time for any social life and having a child's custody has virtually ruled out her chances of resettling again. I wonder what her heart is made up of. I, for once, cannot ever imagine thinking on those lines. My life is centered on my daughter and she comes first no matter what. It is hard even to imagine my life without her.

 

Kids bring sunshine to your life. It's amazing to see kids marvel and get excited at petty things. I have quoted this earlier and will quote this again – "There are no seven wonders in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." Having a kid is like looking into the future and planning what you want to be again and what you want to make of your life. You know what a house without kids is like? Quiet. It is indeed quiet and there is no fresh life chirping around you. If on any weekend, my daughter's school is open, that is one of the most boring weekends I can have. All during the weekend I act bossy with my daughter, get irritated with her mischievous ways, try and teach her 'how to behave', but two days without her around and I feel like as if there is no motivation in my life; like there is no life.

 

Mothers have a special bond with their kids. They have given birth to the child and that child is a part of her. No matter how much the child grows up, he/she would continue to be a part of their mothers. This is one bond that was built by nature never to be broken. Mothers will forgive their kids for no matter how grievous mistakes. They would love them unconditionally no matter whether the feelings are reciprocated. But then, there is no point describing all this. It is simply sufficient to say she's a mother.

 

I feel blessed to have the sweetest, loveliest and most adorable child in the world. And I think this statement holds good for every mother on this earth.

Rockstar rocks and how

I happened to catch Rockstar yesterday. It was one helluva experience, I must say. Haven't really been able to get it off my head till now. The music keeps ringing in my ears and Ranbir Kapoor's intense look and brisk walk with Journos and Cops in tow keeps floating in front of my eyes.

 

Till date I had been indifferent to Ranbir Kapoor. Although I had never disliked his performances, I had never found them something to go gaga about. (I do admit he was 'good' in Rajneeti). But, with Rockstar I am forced to sit up and take notice. He seethes, cries, pains and barges into the company of amazing 'Actors' and 'Performers'. Jordan is one of the most complicated characters presented on screen in the recent times and Ranbir plays it with élan. I had accorded Hrithik's performance in Guzaarish (Ethan too was a very complicated character to play) a lot of respect and now I would place Ranbir in Rockstar at par if not higher.

 

If Ranbir is the body of Rockstar, the film's music is its soul. It is heart rendering and heart warming both at the same time. A.R. Rahman's genius shines after a long time now and Irshad Kamil's lyrics are very introspective and apt. The songs haunt you for a very long time. Mohit Chauhan's silky voice serenades the entire movie and makes Ranbir's character actually work.

 

Among other artists, Nargis Fakhri is an absolute non-actor with a strange and stiff body language. It is kind of difficult to fathom why there's such a hue-and-cry about her looks. The girl playing the Journo looks and acts better than her anyway. The actor playing Khatana and Shernaz Patel are natural and support well. Shammi Kapoor looks great in unfortunately his last on screen appearance. I also want to add a word of praise for Ranbir's stylist (I guess it's Aki Narula but I am not sure) for the amazing look he has created for Ranbir. A refreshing change from the pre-set characteristic rockstar looks depicted in the past right until "Rock On!" although it's more or less on the same lines.

 

In the end, I want to add a lot more in praise of Rockstar but then… jo bhi main kehna chahoon, barbaad karein alfaz mere…

The first lesson in countering oppression

Oppression, tormentation and mental trauma – these are the atrocities being meted out to women folk since ages. Many women face the harassment at the very places of their existence – at home, at work. The relativity or the degree varies, just as the perception of today's folks. E.g. a newly married bride when restricted to go out per her own will by her husband and in-laws; there could be two kinds of reaction depending on the woman's background. If the bride is an uneducated (or having only basic education and literacy) woman belonging to a society where she has seen her mother and sisters, sister-in-laws being meted out with similar treatment; she is likely to accept it as granted and keep quite. Then again, if the bride is a fairly educated girl from a reasonable background who has grown up in an equal opportunity world / environment; she is likely to term it as suppression and denial of her freedom which she obviously knows is her birth right; which is actually every person's birth right. For one it might be a minor issue which can better be ignored to maintain peace and tranquility at home; while for another it is an incident which should be voiced against at the very outset to make it known to her family that she has an equal place and an equal right to her freedom as any man or, for that matter, woman (say, the mother-in-law) in the house.

Some girls do make a mistake in tackling situations like these (and even much more serious issues leading to domestic discords in the families). I personally feel that if you really feel you are being oppressed or curtailed in any manner, at least speak out once and make your feelings known even if the other family members may agree to disagree with you. Now, I am not here promoting extreme feminism by preaching girls to take up arms against your family or shout back and vent your anger towards the other party. But, "dislikes" can certainly be expressed positively, politely, without shouting back or disgracing your upbringing by using any kind of foul language. Don't we often abstain from doing certain things which people around you (at home, at work, etc.) dislike. Similarly, the first expectation in simple expression of "dislike" towards a certain thing, action or behavior would be an abstention by the other person in subjecting you to what you dislike. Many a problems can be tackled here; for one must understand that just as keeping quite about it is not a solution, neither is shouting your frustration out. Both the scenarios increase the problem in the long run.

In case such things do not yield desired results then other things may be tried. I am not a marriage councilor to tell you extreme measures, but remember every personal battle is important and small battles won initially reduce the possibility of an uncalled-for- oppression.

Climb Every Mountain In Life

By: Sean Swarner

I'm actually the first (and only) cancer survivor to summit the world's highest mountain... Mt. Everest. When I was only 13, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease and given three months to live. When I was 15, I was diagnosed with Askin's Sarcoma. The prognosis was much worse as the doctors gave me only two weeks to live. Again, I survived.

Being the only person in the world to have ever had these two cancers, I really felt I should share my story to help motivate others and influence lives. On May 16th, 2002 at 9:32am, I became the first cancer survivor to summit Mt. Everest.

Since then, I have been lucky enough to reach the summits of three more of the world's seven highest peaks and have spoken internationally about my life and adventures to countless people and organizations. On the summit of Everest I brought a flag adorned with names of people who have been affected by cancer and left it on the top of the world forever commemorating the struggle of cancer patients worldwide.

I did the same to the highest point in Africa, Europe and just recently returned from 23,000-foot Aconcagua in South America! My ultimate goal is to climb the highest mountain on each continent AND trek to the North and South poles.

I am covering the globe with inspiration. There are plans for live chat sessions during the expeditions as well as TV spots and live summit bids from a number of the mountains! The reason for these expeditions is to inspire those affected by cancer (as well as anyone with a pulse!) to dream big and never give up.

Sean Swarner
seanswarner.com
The CancerClimber Association
www.cancerclimber.org
1st Cancer Survivor/Patient to Summit Everest
International Inspirational Speaker
Chief Spokesperson, International Spirit of Life Foundation

RIP Steve Jobs: May your soul find peace while your vision lives on

I am not a fan of Apple products. In fact, I have never used an Apple product till date. Though I would love to buy an iPhone or an iPad some day; may be even an Apple Computer too; but they haven't yet managed to tempt me enough to put them above my other priorities. But, I do admire the Apple Journey – Steve Jobs' Journey.

I do not know anything about his personal life. Never cared to read about it too either. But for me, he was a man who dared to dream big and then worked hard to make that dream a reality. He had a vision and he had the courage to realize the same. He was the one man who revolutionized the way we listen to music today, or work on computers, or even the way we use our phones – or should I rather say what all we can do with our phones. There have been many followers. Some even claim to have surpassed the iPhone or at least have given it a run for its money; but even to this day an iPhone is an iPhone. It's not a phone, it's an iPhone. You know what I mean? It's a class apart.

And of course, there is iCloud. It's a technology we couldn't have imagined 5 years ago. But, five years down the line, it's here. Thanks to Apple. Sorry, thanks to Steve Jobs' Apple. For no matter what, irrespective of how many people take over the executive or managerial responsibilities at Apple, irrespective of how many Tim Cook's succeed the coveted (am I allowed to call it) Throne; Apple will continue to be Steve Jobs' baby. His soul continues to live in Apple.

Steve Jobs was a fighter. Only a true fighter can start from an as humble a beginning and make it as large as Apple today. The fact that obituaries are pouring in from any nook and corner of the world is enough to realize what an impact he made on the lives of people all over. He was an inspiration. He fought his battle with life. After every blow, he would bounce back and stand up in front of the world with his new offering. Not only did the people rave about his products, but also about his strength and determination not to give up. He definitely inspired millions of people who are fighting grave sicknesses or any other sort of problems for that matter. Let's just hope he continues to inspire people long after he has gone.

A friend of mine tweeted a few days back, "‎3 apples changed the world, 1st one seduced Eve, 2nd fell on Newton and the 3rd was offered to the world half bitten by one Steve Jobs..." It's crazily funny, but very aptly true. Steve Jobs' Apple has indeed changed the world.

Thought for the weekend: Motivation

This is a story of two brothers. One was a drug addict and a drunker who frequently beat up his family. The other one was a very successful businessman who was respected in society and had a wonderful family.

 

Some people wanted to find out why two brothers from the same parents, brought up in the same environment, could be so different.

 

The first one was asked, "How come you do what you do? You are a drug addict, a drunk, and you beat your family. What motivates you?" He said, "My father." They asked, "What about your father?" The reply was, "My father was a drug addict, a drunk and he beat his family. What do you expect me to be? That is what I am."

 

They went to the brother who was doing everything right and asked him the same question. "How come you are doing everything right? What is your source of motivation?" And guess what he said? "My father. When I was a little boy, I used to see my dad drunk and doing all the wrong things. I made up my mind that that is not what I wanted to be."

 

We are all Motivated – Either Positively or Negatively

 

Both were deriving their strength and motivation from the same source, but one was using it positively and the other negatively.

Negative motivation brings the desire to take the easier way which ends up being the tougher way.

A Tribute to all the people who used me for their ulterior motives

I surely am not the only one to go through this. Most people are sometimes or the other used by others for their ulterior motive. So was I.

 

I have been thinking off late that how could I not see it then? Or, maybe I could, at least in some cases, but did not accept it and did not admit it then. But, now when I look back, some of it looks all too obvious.

 

My best friend in school; with whom I stayed glued for almost seven years. She basked in all the glory of being the closest accomplice to a good student (at the risk of being immodest, I was actually one of the top rankers often addressed by the teachers in common terminology as a "good student"). I was exempted from classes on and off to participate in and practice for debates, extempore, quizzes, school magazine editorials and also assist the teachers in art work for various events. She was by default excused on pretext of helping me with stuff. Every teacher and student who knew me would also know her and she used that quite to her advantage. But, as we moved out of school, she severed all ties with me. I tried to keep in touch but to no avail. I have gone through major ups and downs in life thereafter but she wasn't there to share the pain. Instead, I found a very dear friend in another girl who was also close to this old school friend of mine; and my new friend (should I be calling her new when I knew her for just as long although we were not so close in school?) has stuck on with me through thick and thin. I lost my childhood friend but gained an understanding that "A friend in need is a friend indeed".

 

Then there was this person, whom I entrusted my life and my future. What did I not do for him? I confided in him and bore open my soul. I gave up every ambition, every dream, every friend, and every relation for him. I would help him in everyday things and also in his work. He would tell me that we would have a very good life soon once his current pursuits bear fruit and I believed him. I was cursed to a life I hated but took it with grace because I had adopted his dreams for myself. Somewhere deep down I knew I was being used, but I had trust in the relationship and I had hoped all would be well soon and once the struggles are over, we would have a much better life. I hoped he would realize my worth one day. However, that day was never to come. He cheated on me and treated me like dirt. When I stood by my principles, I was asked to leave. I did leave, never to turn back and look. I lost love but gained wisdom that one should not change oneself in "love" so much as to loose one's identity; and remember that if the other person really loves you, he/she would accept you for what you are.

 

I was lucky to get my life back on track after the disaster of a failed relationship and a break in a booming career, thanks to the education and backing my parents have provided me with. I feel blessed to have a good respectable profession and be in a comfortable situation to fulfill my responsibilities. I truly believe that God has granted me these blessings because I have never knowingly done any wrong to anyone. I try and continue to do so no matter my past experiences in the hope that the Lord Almighty would continue to shower me with his blessings. I meet many people on a day-to-day basis and try my best to help them in any way I can. There was this girl, over-enthusiastic, euphoric for no reason and filled with all the romance a teenage girl well-protected from the evils of a professional organization can imbibe (though she was well in her late twenties). Not being used to the corporate culture, she felt hurt when asked to conform to the dictates of the organization structure and reporting lines. Fortunately or unfortunately, I happened to be her line manager for a while. Although I might have been strict at times, but, I did my best to guide her whenever required; correct her when she committed mistakes; shielded her when she couldn't meet her expectations; and rescued her when she was being made a perfect corporate scapegoat. Eventually, she did manage to achieve a role transfer she had been trying for since over a year. I even helped her in transition, taking over tasks which she was required to accomplish as part of the handover so that she is relieved easily. But, what did I get in return? She spread lies about me among some of my good friends leading to the breaking of some healthy friendships. I lost the goodwill of a friend but I gained an understanding of the length to which a person would go to achieve his/her own motives and appear innocent and genuine.

 

Last but certainly not least, there was this guy, my peer at work, who was going through a personal and professional hell. He found a good friend in me when he was going through the toughest time of his life. He would seek advice from me on personal matters; would ask for my honest opinion on the happenings in his life; would discuss his next course of action; would seek my view on the worst case scenarios; would vent his anger and disappointment at any minor occurrence; and would in general tell me every now and then how much he trusted me and valued me as a "true" friend. And then, the "true" friend suddenly became "a liar with double standards" as soon as a third party spread a few lies and baseless rumours about me. All the trust suddenly vanished and he did not even have the courtesy to explain to me what happened and what the issues for differences were. I tried to talk and sort it out but he did not even afford me a decent chance to do so because one person whom he earlier described as "immature", "lacking own judgment or opinion", "brainless and prude" suddenly became a forlorn younger sister he never had and my friendship was easily forgotten. I was hurt because this time I did not see this coming and I still do not completely understand what transpired, but, I still continue to be gracious in any conversation / interaction with him and the person I attribute his attitude change to. I lost a confidant but I gained wisdom that there is only so much that you can do and that sometimes it's better to realize the worth of the person you are being good to before even being nice to him/her.

 

I learnt my lessons each time I was used by someone for his/her ulterior motives. So, I do not regret these people coming into my life and being a part of it. If at all, I have become wiser as a person, more mature in my conduct to people, more choosy in befriending people and hopefully more enlightened as to the people worthy of being nice to. I do not regret my past; I only choose to be more careful in future. And this is my Tribute to the People who brought this positive change in me.

A daring letter by an IIT'an to Rahul Gandhi

A REPLY LETTER WRITTEN BY:

NITIN GUPTA (RIVALDO)
B. Tech, IIT Bombay

ON Rahul Gandhi: "I feel ashamed to call myself an INDIAN after seeing what has happened here in UP".

Dear Rahul,
YOU REALLY WANT TO FEEL ASHAMED???????
But don't be disappointed, I would give you ample reasons to feel ashamed... You really want to feel Ashamed..?
* First Ask Pranav Mukherjee, Why isn't he giving the details of the account holders in the Swiss Banks.
* Ask your Mother, Who is impeding the Investigation against Hasan Ali?
* Ask her, Who got 60% Kickbacks in the 2G Scam ?
* Kalamadi is accused of a Few hundred Crores, Who Pocketed the Rest in the Common Wealth Games?
* Ask Praful Patel what he did to the Indian Airlines? Why did Air India let go of the Profitable Routes ?
* Why should the Tax Payer pay for the Air India losses, when you intend to eventually DIVEST IT ANYWAY!!!
* Also, You People can't run an Airline Properly. How can we expect you to run the Nation?
* Ask Manmohan Singh. Why/What kept him quiet for so long?
* Are Kalmadi and A Raja are Scapegoats to save Big Names like Harshad Mehta was in the 1992 Stock Market Scandal ?
* Who let the BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY Accused go Scot Free? (20,000 People died in that Tragedy)
* Who ordered the State Sponsored Massacre of SIKHS in 84?
* Please read more about, How Indira Gandhi pushed the Nation under Emergency in 76-77, after the HC declared her election to Lok Sabha Void!
* WHY ONLY HIGHLIGHT THIS ARREST?
Dear Rahul, to refresh your memory, you were arrested/detained by the FBI the BOSTON Airport in September 2001.
You were carrying with you $ 1,60,000 in Cash. You couldn't explain why you were carrying so much Cash.
(Incidentally He was with his Columbian girlfriend Veronique Cartelli, ALLEGEDLY, the Daughter of Drug Mafia. 9 HOURS he was kept at the Airport. Later then freed on the intervention of the then Prime Minister Mr. Vajpayee.. FBI filed an equivalent of an FIR in US and released him. When FBI was asked to divulge the information, by Right/Freedom to Information Activists about the reasons Rahul was arrested ... FBI asked for a NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE from Rahul Gandhi. So Subramaniyam Swami wrote a Letter to Rahul Gandhi, " If you have NOTHING to HIDE, Give us the Permission" HE NEVER REPLIED!)
Why did that arrest not make Headlines Rahul? You could have gone to the Media and told, "I am ashamed to call myself an INDIAN?".
Or is it that, you only do like to highlight Symbolic Arrests (like in UP) and not Actual Arrests (In BOSTON)
Kindly Clarify.....In any case, you want to feel ashamed, Read Along...
YOUR MOTHER'S SO CALLED SACRIFICE OF GIVING UP PRIME MINISTERSHIP in 2004.
According to a Provision in the Citizenship Act, A Foreign National who becomes a Citizen of India, is bounded by the same restrictions, which an Indian would face, If he/she were to become a Citizen of Italy. (Condition based on principle of reciprocity)
Now Since you can't become a PM in Italy, Unless you are born there.
Likewise an Italian Citizen can't become Indian PM, unless He/She is not born here!
Dr. SUBRAMANIYAM SWAMI (The Man who Exposed the 2G Scam) sent a letter to the PRESIDENT OF INDIA bringing the same to his Notice.
PRESIDENT OF INDIA sent a letter to Sonia Gandhi to this effect, 3:30 PM, May 17th, 2004. Swearing Ceremony was scheduled for 5 PM the same Day. Manmohan Singh was brought in the Picture at the last moment to Save Face!!
Rest of the SACRIFICE DRAMA which she choreographed was an EYE WASH!!!
In fact Sonia Gandhi had sent, 340 letters, each signed by different MP to the PRESIDENT KALAM, supporting her candidacy for PM.
One of those letters read, "I Sonia Gandhi, elected Member from Rai Bareli, hereby propose Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister."
So SHE was Pretty INTERESTED! Until She came to know the Facts! She didn't make any Sacrifice, It so happens that SONIA GANDHI couldn't have become the PM of INDIA that time.
You could be Ashamed about that Dear Rahul!! One Credential Sonia G had, even that was a HOAX!
THINK ABOUT YOURSELF.
You go to Harvard on Donation Quota. ( Hindujas Gave HARVARD 11 million dollars the same year, when Rajiv Gandhi was in Power)
Then you are expelled in 3 Months/ You Dropped out in 3 Months....
(Sadly Manmohan Singh wasn't the Dean of Harvard that time, else you might have had a chance... Too Bad, there is only one Manmohan Singh!)
Then Why did you go about lying about being Masters in Economics from Harvard .. before finally taking it off your Resume upon questioning by Dr. SUBRAMANIYAM SWAMI (The Gentlemen who exposed the 2G Scam)
At St. Stephens.. You Fail the Hindi Exam. Hindi Exam!!!
And you are representing the Biggest Hindi Speaking State of the Country?
SONIA GANDHI's EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
Sonia G gave a sworn affidavit as a Candidate that She Studied English at University of Cambridge
According to Cambridge University, there is no such Student EVER! Upon a Case by Dr. Subramaniyam Swami filed against her, She subsequently dropped the CAMBRIDGE CREDENTIAL from her Affidavit.
Sonia Gandhi didn't even pass High School. She is just 5th class Pass!
In this sense, She shares a common Educational Background with her 2G Partner In Crime, Karunanidhi.
You Fake your Educational Degree, Your Mother Fakes her Educational Degree. And then you go out saying, " We want Educated Youth into Politics!"
WHY LIE ABOUT EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS?
Not that Education is a Prerequisite for being a great Leader, but then you shouldn't have lied about your qualifications!
You could feel a little ashamed about Lying about your Educational Qualifications. You had your reasons I know, Because in India, WE RESPECT EDUCATION!
But who cares about Education, When you are a Youth Icon!!
YOUTH ICON
You traveled in the Local Train for the first time at the Age of 38.
You went to some Villages as a part of Election Campaign. And You won a Youth Icon!! ... That's why You are my Youth Icon.
For 25 Million People travel by Train Every day. You are the First Person to win a Youth Icon for boarding a Train.
Thousands of Postmen go to remotest of Villages. None of them have yet gotten a Youth Icon. You were neither YOUNG Nor ICONIC!
Still You became a Youth Icon beating Iconic and Younger Contenders like RAHUL DRAVID.
SURNAME
Shakespeare said, What's in a Name?
Little did he knew, It's all in the Name, Especially the Surname!
Speaking of Surname, Sir DO YOU REALLY RESPECT GANDHI, OR IS IT JUST TO CASH IN ON THE GOODWILL OF MAHATMA?
Because the Name on your Passport is RAUL VINCI. Not RAHUL GANDHI..
May be if you wrote your Surname as Gandhi, you would have experienced, what Gandhi feels like, LITERALLY ( Pun Intended)
You People don't seem to use Gandhi much, except when you are fighting Elections. ( There it makes complete sense).
Imagine fighting elections by the Name Raul Vinci...
You use the name GANDHI at will and then say, " Mujhe yeh YUVRAJ shabd Insulting lagta hai! Kyonki aaj Hindustan mein Democracy hai, aur is shabd ka koi matlab nahin hai! YUVRAJ, Itna hi Insulting lagta hai, to lad lo RAUL VINCI ke Naam se!!! Jin Kisano ke saath photo khinchate ho woh bhi isliye entertain karte hain ki GANDHI ho.. RAUL VINCI bol ke Jao... Ghar mein nahin ghusaenge!!!
You could feel ashamed for your Double Standards.
YOUTH INTO POLITICS.
Now You want Youth to Join Politics.
I say First you Join Politics. Because you haven't Joined Politics. You have Joined a Family Business.
First you Join Politics. Win an Election fighting as RAUL VINCI and Not Rahul Gandhi, then come and ask the youth and the Educated Brass for more involvement in Politics.
Also till then, Please don't give me examples of Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora and Naveen Jindal as youth who have joined Politics. They are not Politicians. They Just happen to be Politicians.
Much Like Abhishek Bachchan and other Star Sons are not Actors. They just happen to be Actors (For Obvious Reasons)
So, We would appreciate if you stop requesting the Youth to Join Politics till you establish your credentials...
WHY WE CAN'T JOIN POLITICS!
Rahul Baba, Please understand, Your Father had a lot of money in your Family account ( in Swiss Bank) when he died.
Ordinary Youth has to WORK FOR A LIVING. YOUR FAMILY just needs to NETWORK FOR A LIVING.
If our Father had left thousands of Crores with us, We might consider doing the same. But we have to Work. Not just for ourselves. But also for you. So that we can pay 30% of our Income to the Govt. which can then be channelized to the Swiss Banks and your Personal Accounts under some Pseudo Names.
So Rahul, Please don't mind If the Youth doesn't Join Politics. We are doing our best to fund your Election Campaigns and your Chopper Trips to the Villages.
Somebody has to Earn the Money that Politicians Feed On.
NO WONDER YOU ARE NOT GANDHIs. YOU ARE SO CALLED GANDHIs!!
Air India, KG Gas Division, 2G, CWG, SWISS BANK Account Details... Hasan Ali, KGB., FBI Arrest..
You want to feel ashamed..?
Feel Ashamed for what the First Family of Politics has been reduced to... A Money Laundering Enterprise.
NO WONDER YOU ARE NOT GANDHI'S BY BLOOD. GANDHI is an adopted Name. For Indira didn't marry Mahatma Gandhi's Son.
For even if you had one GENE OF GANDHI JI in your DNA. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN PLAGUED BY SUCH 'POVERTY OF AMBITION' (Ambition of only EARNING MONEY)
You really want to feel Ashamed?
Feel Ashamed for what you ' SO CALLED GANDHI'S' have done to MAHATMA'S Legacy..
I so wish GANDHI JI had Copyrighted his Name!
Meanwhile, I would request Sonia Gandhi to change her name to $ONIA GANDHI, and you could replace the 'R' in RAHUL/RAUL by the New Rupee Symbol!!!
RAUL VINCI : I am ashamed to call myself an Indian.
Even we are ashamed to call you so!

P.S: Popular Media is either bought or blackmailed, controlled to manufacture Consent! My Guess is Social Media is still a Democratic Platform.
(Now they are trying to put legislations to censor that too!!).
Meanwhile, Let's ask these questions, for we deserve some Answers.

YOURS SINCERELY
NITIN GUPTA ( RIVALDO)
B. Tech, IIT Bombay

‘Jan Lokpal Bill’: Perfect example of misuse of ‘Jan Shakti’

As the second leg of protests in the Lokpal Bill row crosses a 10-day mark, I wonder whether Team Anna would be able to get what they want. I hope they arrive at a compromise solution and the government is not forced to yield to all of Anna Hazare’s demands. The uproar is amazing, stunning, shocking and overwhelming. People are actually coming out in the streets and supporting Anna Hazare. Starting for people in their 20s, 30s and right till senior citizens of the country, people are shouting slogans, holding candlelight vigils, sitting on hunger-strikes at nook and corners of the country. Anna Hazare is being hailed as a Hero, the new-age Gandhi, and role model for the new generation.

Personally, I feel quite daunted and deterred by all this. Anywhere I go, all the people I interact with are talking only about Anna Hazare and how his struggles would free us from corruption. I am forced to think do these people even understand what is going on around. How many of these people know the background of the Lokpal Bill? How many of these people know what Anna Hazare is demanding by going on a hunger-strike? What does the existing Lokpal Bill draft actually entail? What is extra that ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’ is demanding? Have these people – that autorikshaw driver wearing the Anna Cap; that person holding Booze in hand and coming out of a Night-club and shouting “Anna Hazare Zindabad” slogans; that teenager getting a Anna Tattoo to showcase that he too is supporting Anna; that group of middle-aged Aunties taking the metro to reach Ramlila Maidan; in short, the common man of today – have they even read what is stated in both these drafts?

Most of these people, I believe, are simply fascinated by the idea of being part of a so-called “Revolution” that will “eradicate a social evil”; and they hope to brag to their grandchildren some day about “those were the days when we were getting soaked in the rain protesting against corruption so that you people can have a good life that you have today”. They don’t realize that corruption is NOT an “On-Off” switch that has gone wrong and can be repaired by passing the Lokpal Bill. Corruption is very deep routed in the Indian Culture by now and cannot be weeded out unless some other “social evils” are weeded out. We talk and think about corruption in the sense of high-level scams like 2G Spectrum, etc. but forget about the ground-level corruption fuelled by us, the people. A Traffic Policeman hauls you up for bunking traffic lights, we would prefer slipping a Rs. 100 Bank-note in his hand rather than surrendering our Driving License. After all, who has the time to go to the court and get it released? People file a RTI Application in the school to demand explanation for denial of admission to their kid; school “bends some rules” and offers the kid a seat, they withdraw the application. Other kids’ problem is not their problem really, is it? One seat in a Medical College becomes empty, some agent demands Rs. 30 Lacs to give it to a student, and I can bet there would be more than a couple of takers. Why should they let it go if they have an opportunity to take it? If they don’t, someone else will.

And then we all go out shouting slogans in favour of ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’ to eradicate corruption. Tell me one thing, dear supporters, is only the person ‘taking’ bribes to blame? Are we, who give them bribe, not equally guilty? We most definitely are guilty – equally if not more.

We also have to understand that the real solution to the problem of corruption is to tackle it at its roots. The Root cause of corruption is lack of equal opportunities for everyone. This encourages people to make payments, give favours, etc. to get what is available for yourself before anyone else grabs it. The real solution lies in dealing with the problems of population, poverty, lack of basic amenities and facilities like education, health services, etc. Putting a Lokpal Bill in place can at best be an interim measure to deter people from faltering by making penal actions stringent. Meanwhile we should strive to tackle the real problems.

Instead, here we are shouting that we cannot accept a Bill made in a closed room by 5 Members of Parliament. Sorry to say, these Members of Parliament are OUR chosen representatives, chosen by US to represent US in the parliament. If we don’t trust them, we should not have stationed them there. And if we have voted them in, we have no right to complain about any law that they would draft on our behalf. The right to vote is the biggest power vested in the hands the people and if we don’t use it judiciously, we have no right to come out in the streets and blackmail, through indefinite fasts and protest marches. We call ourselves ‘Civil Society Representatives’. Personally, I do not think this is the way a civil society works – forcing the government into yielding to our demands by holding the country at ransom. The “either-it’s-my-way-or-no-way” approach is certainly not the method adopted by the ‘Civil Society’.

I am not against Anna Hazare. He is a great leader to have stimulated the feelings of so many people and leading them to action. (Although I wonder how many people knew him until Aamir Khan spoke in his favour during his first leg of protests – at least I didn’t.) Neither am I in favour of the Congress government. Congress only had largely been in power during the four decades the Lokpal Bill had been held up without even being presented in the Parliament. I certainly am in favour of having a Lokpal Bill; even if it does not include all of the clauses of the ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’. But, the key is that something is better than nothing. As of now, we do not have anything in place to charge the corrupt people against. Besides, we come to know the drawbacks of a law, the impracticalities, and the difficulties in implementation only after the law has been in place for a while. There are quite a few examples to vouch for this fact e.g. FERA, TADA, POTA, etc. Then, of course, we go for amendments as required.

Talking about the bill itself, I do not personally agree with all demands from Team Anna. I do not think keeping judiciary under the ambit of Lokpal Bill is a good idea. Supreme Court should be ideally over and above the Lokpal who may refer the cases to the same. In case Supreme Court is under scanner of Lokpal, then it cannot and should not decide on matters referred to it by the Lokpal. Judiciary has its sanctity and this can be maintained only by having a separate bill for Judiciary. Arvind Kejriwal says that if the Income tax department and its officers have the right to send a notice to a Supreme Court Judge then the Lokpal might as well have jurisdiction on him as well. I am actually amazed to find that an educated and honourable person like him does not understand the difference between the two. When Income Tax department sends a notice to the Supreme Court Judge, he actually sends the notice to the Judge in his individual capacity; and we are discussing over here are the Judges in their capacity as Judges. We are actually talking about keeping the office of the Judges under Lokpal scanner. Again, I do not think Lokpal should have the right to impose penal action. That power should continue with the Judiciary. We should not vest so much power in the hands of any person, even if it’s the Lokpal. Power is the biggest intoxicant ever and by allowing the Lokpal to suo moto initiate inquiries, pass judgements, and decide penal actions; we are giving him supreme powers. Powers too should be adequately balanced between people in charge and as they say, “segregation of duties” should be maintained in all cases.

Hence, though I am not entirely in favour of the ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’, but, a mid-way solution would certainly be welcome to put an end to this furor engulfing us all around. Meanwhile I pray that the supporters of ‘Jan Lokpal Bill’ actually go out and read and discuss the existing draft and the proposed draft.

Note: Those who would briefly like to know the chief differences between the two drafts may refer the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_Lokpal_Bill

Where The Mind is Without Fear

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

-    Rabindranath Tagore

On the eve of Independence Day, let us try and imbibe this thought in our lives and appreciate the freedom we have inherited.

 

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY !!!

Fwd: FW: Chetan Bhagat's Article for Indian Women (A nice artile from Connect)

" Alright, this is not cool at all. A recent survey by Nielsen has revealed that Indian wom! en are the most stressed out in the world: 87% of our women feel stressed out most of the time. This statistic alone has caused me to stress out. Even in workaholic America, only 53% women feel stressed.

What are we doing to our women? I'm biased, but Indian women are the most beautiful in the world. As mothers, sisters, daughters, colleagues, wives and girlfriends - we love them. Can you imagine life without the ladies?

For now, i want to give Indian women five suggestions to reduce their stress levels.

One, don't ever think you are without power. Give it back to that mother-in-law. Be who you are, not someone she wished you would be. She doesn't like you? That's her problem.

Two, if you are doing a good job at work and your boss doesn't value you - tell him that, or quit. Talented, hard-working people are much in demand.

Three, educate yourself, learn skills, network - figure out ways to be economically independent. So ! next time your husband tells you that you are not a good enough wife, mother or daughter-in-law, you can tell him to take a hike.

Four, do not ever feel stressed about having a dual responsibility of family and work. It is difficult, but not impossible. The trick is not to expect an A+ in every aspect of your life. You are not taking an exam, and you frankly can't score cent per cent (unless you are in SRCC, of course). It is okay if you don't make four dishes for lunch, one can fill their stomach with one. It is okay if you don't work until midnight and don't get a promotion. Nobody remembers their job designation on their dying day.

Five, most important, don't get competitive with other women. Someone will make a better scrapbook for her school project than you. Another will lose more weight with a better diet. Your neighbour may make a six-dabba tiffin for her husband, you don't - big deal. Do your best, but don't keep looking out for the report card, and defin! itely don't expect to top the class. There is no ideal woman in this world, and if you strive to become one, there will be only one thing you will achieve for certain - stress.

So breathe, chill, relax. Tell yourself you are beautiful, do your best and deserve a peaceful life. Anybody trying to take that away from you is making a mistake, not you. Your purpose of coming to this earth is not to please everyone. Your purpose is to offer what you have to the world, and have a good life in return. The next time this survey comes, i don't want to see Indian women on top of the list. I want them to be the happiest women in the world. Now smile, before your mother-in-law shouts at you for wasting your time reading the newspaper."

Cherish Womanhood…….

A Tale to Understand - Love and Marriage

A student asks a teacher,
"What is love?"

The teacher said, "in order to answer your question, go to the wheat field and choose the biggest wheat and come back. But the rule is: you can go through them only once and cannot turn back to pick."

The student went to the field, went through the first row, he saw one big wheat, but he wondered.... may be there is a bigger one later. So he moved on...

Then he saw another bigger one... but may be there is an even bigger one waiting for me, he thought.

Later, when he finished more than half of the wheat field, he started to realize that the wheat is not as big as the previous one he saw, he knew he had missed the biggest one, and he regretted.

Disappointed, he went back to the teacher empty handed.

The teacher told him, "...this is love... you keep looking for a better one, but later you realise, you have already missed the right person...."

"What is marriage then?" the student asked.

The teacher said, "in order to answer your question, once again go to the corn field and choose the biggest corn and come back. But the same rule applies: you can go through them only once and cannot turn back to pick."

Again, the student went to the corn field, and this time he was careful not to repeat the previous mistake, when he reached the middle of the field, he picked one medium corn that he felt satisfied with, and came back to the teacher.

The teacher told him, "mm...this time you brought back a corn.... good, so you looked for the one that was just nice, and you had a great belief and trust that this is the best one you could get.... this is marriage."!!

REFLECTION
Love manifests, not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly, and this feeling develops with mutual trust in eachother. To love someone is to see a miracle in them which is invisible to the others.

It is a gift of one's inner most soul to another so that both can be whole. It has nothing to do with what we are expecting to get, but only with what we are expecting to give - which is everything.

Love is a flower which ripens into the fruit at marriage. Marriage is that love personified. The real act of marriage takes place in the heart, not in the temple or church or wedding hall. It's a choice we make, not just on our wedding day, but over and over again and that choice is reflected in the way we treat our husband or wife.

Success in marriage is much more than finding the right person, it is a matter of being the right person! What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much on how compatible we are, but how much we can deal with incompatibilities.

A successful marriage often requires falling in love many times, always with the same person. The more we invest in marriage, the more valuable it becomes.

Do not marry the person whom you think you can live with, marry the person whom you think you cant live without!

Perseverance

Through the transformation of a tiny insect that once crawled to a brilliantly coloured creature that can fly, nature gently unfolds the message: 'Good things come to those who wait' and inspires us to persevere.

Feeling low...

It's there at times... if not often... the sinking feeling... the feeling that's described as "feeling low". It can happen due to anything: things not going your way, friends loose touch, misunderstandings, arguments, relationships falling short of expectations... anything... It can happen for any reason... or even for no reason at all. It's difficult to explain. And at times even more difficult to get over it. What to do? What do I do?

I... umm (would need to reflect)... I guess I sometimes talk to a friend... sometimes go online and surf for something that interests me... sometimes I scan the day's newspaper... sometimes I blog... at times it helps... at times it doesn't... this seems to be one of those days...

Justice denied, yet victorious: Aruna Shaunbaug

Not too late after the movie Guzaarish brought the topic of Euthanasia (mercy killing or Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS)) into limelight, the case of Aruna Shanbaug resurfaced adding a spark to the debate. In layman's terminology, Euthanasia is the bringing about of the gentle death of a patient in the case of a painful, chronic and incurable disease. Now, those who argue about Euthanasia allow equal importance to all these adjectives. A painful disease is one in which the patient suffers unbearable and excruciating pain. A chronic disease is a long lasting one and an incurable disease is one whose cure has not been found till date.

For the uninitiated, Aruna Shaunbaug was a nurse at Mumbai's King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital who was a victim of a brutal sexual attack 37 years ago. On the night of 27th November 1973, Aruna's, then a 25 yr old pretty, bubbly girl, dreaming of marrying her fiance - a young doctor colleague, world was shattered when Sohanlal Bhartha Walmiki, a ward boy, who resented being castigated by Aruna for his misdemeanors, decided to extract a cold blooded revenge. He attacked her one night in the hospital basement as she was changing out of her uniform before going home. He tied a dog chain round her neck, choking her, cutting off the blood supply to her brain and sodomized her. Then he left her lying there and went away, but not before robbing her of her earrings. Next day, Aruna was discovered by a cleaner, unconscious, lying in a pool of blood. It was then realised that the assault and resulting asphyxiation with the dog chain had left her cortically blind, speechless and paralysed due to a brain stem and cervical cord injury. Since that fateful day, Aruna has been lying in an irreversible vegetative state. Her own family and her fiance gave up on her and for these 37 years, she has been kept alive and cared for by the nurses at the KEM hospital. She faded from public memory untill 1998, when journalist Pinki Virani wrote 'Aruna's Story', a book that brought her back into the public consciousness.

Now, having heard about this case, I was also curious as to know what happened to the ward boy who has been responsible for bringing a beautiful and charming junior nurse to this despicable condition. A simple google search was enough to find out that the devil, whose momentary "pleasure" ruined the life of this girl, actually got away without even being charged for "rape". The police case was registered as a case of robbery and attempted murder on account of the concealment of anal rape by the doctors, perhaps to avoid the social rejection of the victim, and her impending marriage. Walmiki was caught and convicted, and served seven-year sentence for assault and robbery, not for rape or sexual molestation, nor for the "unnatural sexual offence" (which could have got him a ten-year sentence by itself). He got just 7 years of sentence while his victim got 37 years of agony and counting.

I feel disgust for this man from deepest cores of my heart and I wonder if guilt is even allowing him to lead a normal life. For certainly, life is not normal for 61 year old Aruna. She deserved a normal life: marriage, kids, old age, grandkids, etc. which obviously did not happen due to this one man. However, even though she was denied justice, Aruna has been victorious. She might not know about it, being in a persistent vegetative state and unable to communicate in any manner, but she was responsible in making life a bit easier for other nurses. Following the attack, nurses in Mumbai went on strike demanding improved conditions for Shanbaug and better working conditions for themselves, which were granted to them.

Now, coming to the issue being debated today. Pinki Virani, on Aruna's behalf, filed a plea with the Supreme Court of India to end Aruna's life and requested that the hospital be asked to stop force-feeding Aruna to allow her to "die with dignity". The plea was admitted in the Supreme Court in December 2009. The plea was opposed strongly by the doctors and nurses at the KEM hospital as well the Indian government. On 24th January 2011, after she had been in this status for 37 years, the Supreme Court of India responded to the plea by setting up a medical panel to examine her. Though the medical panel admitted in its report that the chances of Aruna coming out of this painful, comatose condition are very low, the court turned down the mercy killing petition on 7th March, 2011. However in its landmark judgment, it allowed passive euthanasia in India. "Active euthanasia is illegal," the judges ruled on Monday, but added: "Passive euthanasia is permissible under certain conditions, but it should be done under the supervision of the High Court." This is yet again a victory for patiets like Aruna. Though for Aruna, the courts answer is in the negetive. For to be considered, the plea should be filed by the people taking care of the patient suffering from this extreme and painful conditions. In Aruna's case, the plea was actually opposed strongly by the doctors and nurses at the KEM hospital as well the Indian government.

Aruna lost the case and her caretakers distributed sweets for her "re-birth". However, in a first step towards legalising euthanasia, The Law Commission of India, Ministry of Law and Justice has decided to recommend to the Indian Government to allow terminally ill to end their lives. On 7th March, 2011, the government said a serious debate was needed on the issue of euthanasia as there were no laws at present on it in the country. Then again, it needs to be ensured that the law is not misused for killing people.

Now, why am I calling it a victory? For I do believe in allowing Euthanasia on a case-by-case basis. In Aruna's case, my answer is a big "Yes". (Let me mention here, that my answer was not that confident a "Yes" in case of Ethan Mascrenhas in Guzaarish for even though there could be no doubt as to the suffering of Ethan, he was a jolly natured person who spread happiness, joy and hope. But, Aruna's suffereing is hidden from none.) Such painful existence is worse than death. Every person has a right to live. Even the opponents of Euthanasia would agree with me on that. But, if a person has a right to live, he/she has a right to live with dignity, he/she has a right to live with respect and honour. And, as a corollary, if a person has a right on his/her life, he/she has a right on his/her death. He/she has a right to choose if life is becoming a burden, the mode of putting an end to the same. He/she has a right to choose to die if his/her life is becoming the albatross on his/her neck. Every person has a right to die with dignity. So does Aruna. Then, again, my argument should not be taken to mean that suicides should also be allowed. I only mean to say that when there are valid and established reasons to believe that the person seeking death has no hope of a normal dignified life, he/she sould be allowed to rest in peace. Life has to be meaningful, whether sick or healthy, a person has the right to know and understand that he/she is alive and for this reason. When there is no such knowledge or understanding, the person can choose to leave life and rise to peace.

Now that a well-known person, a celebrity like Hrithik Roshan has spoken in favour of Aruna, let's just hope that the public understands the concern better and come out in support of Aruna. Till then we can only pray for her.

Happy Women's Day!

You can do almost anything you put your mind to... You can swim the deepest ocean and climb the highest peak... Be a doctor or fly a plane... You can face adversity and still walk tall... You are strong, beautiful, compassionate and much more than words could ever say!


Today is yours, and so is ever other day.

Happy Women's Day!

Some Interesting facts

The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~
Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.
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Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.
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Coca-Cola was originally green.
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It is impossible to lick your elbow.
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The state with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
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The percen tage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% ( now get this...)
The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
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The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
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The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
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Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
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The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.
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The youngest pope was 11 years old.
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The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
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Those San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
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Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David,
Hearts - Charlemagne,
Clubs -Alexander, the Great
Diamonds - Julius Caesar
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111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987, 654,321
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If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.
If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle.
If the horse has al l four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
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Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th:
John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
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"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
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Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that makes them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.
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Q. What occurs more often in December than any other month?
A. Conception.
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Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?
A. Their birthplace
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Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?
A. Obsession
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Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?
A. One thousand
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Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?
A. All invented by women.
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Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?
A. Honey
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Q. There are more collect calls on this day than any other day of the year?
A. Father's Day
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Q. What trivia fact about Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny) is the most ironic?
A. He was allergic to carrots.
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Q. What is an activity performed by 40% of all people at a party?
A. Snoop in your medicine cabinet.
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In Shakespeare' s time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes.
When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on.
Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep tight".
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It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding,
the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink.
Mead is a honey beer and because their calendarwaslunar based,
this period was called the honey month we know today as the honeymoon.
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In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England,
when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them mind their own pints and quarts and settle down.
It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"
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Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups.
When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service.
"Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.
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In Scotland, a new game was invented.
It was entitled Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden... .
and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
At least 75% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow
Did you try it?

If

Some of you may have read this Poem, but its worth reading it once again…!... For those who haven't its worth a read.

Have a lovely day.

If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

-- Rudyard Kipling

Some things never change...

It's true... Some things never change...


No matter how much you grow up or what you accomplish, some feelings are special. The excitement before a get together of friends, the anxiety before an important review / test, the joy of seeing family after a while, the spring in your step after a compliment, the rise in spirits after sharing your frustations with a dear pal, the glow on your face after a brief walk in fresh air and sunshine, the light-heartedness after spending some time with little children, and the list goes on...


These things are timeless, precious, priceless... Yet beyond realisation most of the time...

Why I Give: Warren Buffett

In 2006, I made a commitment to gradually give all of my Berkshire Hathaway stock to philanthropic foundations. I couldn't be happier with that decision.

Now, Bill and Melinda Gates and I are asking hundreds of rich Americans to pledge at least 50% of their wealth to charity. So I think it is fitting that I reiterate my intentions and explain the thinking that lies behind them.

First, my pledge: More than 99% of my wealth will go to philanthropy during my lifetime or at death. Measured by dollars, this commitment is large. In a comparative sense, though, many individuals give more to others every day.

Millions of people who regularly contribute to churches, schools, and other organizations thereby relinquish the use of funds that would otherwise benefit their own families. The dollars these people drop into a collection plate or give to United Way mean forgone movies, dinners out, or other personal pleasures. In contrast, my family and I will give up nothing we need or want by fulfilling this 99% pledge.

Moreover, this pledge does not leave me contributing the most precious asset, which is time. Many people, including -- I'm proud to say -- my three children, give extensively of their own time and talents to help others. Gifts of this kind often prove far more valuable than money. A struggling child, befriended and nurtured by a caring mentor, receives a gift whose value far exceeds what can be bestowed by a check. My sister, Doris, extends significant person-to-person help daily. I've done little of this.

What I can do, however, is to take a pile of Berkshire Hathaway stock certificates -- "claim checks" that when converted to cash can command far-ranging resources -- and commit them to benefit others who, through the luck of the draw, have received the short straws in life. To date about 20% of my shares have been distributed (including shares given by my late wife, Susan Buffett). I will continue to annually distribute about 4% of the shares I retain. At the latest, the proceeds from all of my Berkshire shares will be expended for philanthropic purposes by 10 years after my estate is settled. Nothing will go to endowments; I want the money spent on current needs.

This pledge will leave my lifestyle untouched and that of my children as well. They have already received significant sums for their personal use and will receive more in the future. They live comfortable and productive lives. And I will continue to live in a manner that gives me everything that I could possibly want in life.

Some material things make my life more enjoyable; many, however, would not. I like having an expensive private plane, but owning a half-dozen homes would be a burden. Too often, a vast collection of possessions ends up possessing its owner. The asset I most value, aside from health, is interesting, diverse, and long-standing friends.

My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest. Both my children and I won what I call the ovarian lottery. (For starters, the odds against my 1930 birth taking place in the U.S. were at least 30 to 1. My being male and white also removed huge obstacles that a majority of Americans then faced.) My luck was accentuated by my living in a market system that sometimes produces distorted results, though overall it serves our country well. I've worked in an economy that rewards someone who saves the lives of others on a battlefield with a medal, rewards a great teacher with thank-you notes from parents, but rewards those who can detect the mispricing of securities with sums reaching into the billions. In short, fate's distribution of long straws is wildly capricious.

The reaction of my family and me to our extraordinary good fortune is not guilt, but rather gratitude. Were we to use more than 1% of my claim checks on ourselves, neither our happiness nor our well-being would be enhanced. In contrast, that remaining 99% can have a huge effect on the health and welfare of others. That reality sets an obvious course for me and my family: Keep all we can conceivably need and distribute the rest to society, for its needs. My pledge starts us down that course.

(Source: http://givingpledge.org/#warren_buffett)

10 things women should know about men's brains

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-specials-what-you-should-know-about-mens-brains/20110105.htm

According to Live Science, here are the things you need to know about guys' minds.

Having a tough time understanding what's going on in your man's mind? Things might just get easier for you, as experts have revealed ten things you should know about a man's brain.

A man's brain varies tremendously over his lifetime. From his wandering eye to his desire to mate for life, there are some things every woman need to know about a man.

According to Live Science, here are the things you need to know about guys' minds.

More emotional
While females are generally considered the more emotional, infant boys are more emotionally reactive and expressive than infant girls, researchers have found.

Adult men have slightly stronger emotional reactions, too -- Adult mbut only before they are aware of their feelings, found a 2008 study published in the Scandinavian Journal of Psychology.

More vulnerable to loneliness
While loneliness can take a toll on everyone's health and brain, older men seem particularly vulnerable, said Louann Brizendine, of the University of California, San Francisco, and author of The Male Brain.

"Men tend to reach out less than women, which exacerbates loneliness and the toll it takes on their brains" social circuits, she said.

Focused on solutions
While many studies suggest that women are more empathetic than men, Brizendine stressed this is not entirely true. The empathy system of the male brain does respond when someone is stressed or expressing a problem. But the "fix-it" region quickly takes over.

Hard-wired to check out women
While often linked to aggression and hostility, testosterone is also the hormone of the libido. And guys have six times the amount surging through their veins as women, said Pranjal Mehta, of the Columbia University in New York.

Mehta and colleagues found that testosterone impairs the impulse-control region of the brain. While it has yet to be studied, this may explain why, as Brizendine says, men ogle women as if on "auto-pilot."

They often forget about the woman once she is out of their visual field, said Brizendine.

Must defend turf
"Part of the male job, evolutionarily speaking, is to defend turf," said Brizendine.

More research is needed in humans but in other male mammals, the "defend my turf" brain area is larger than their female counterparts," she said.

While women too have fits of possessiveness, men are much more likely to become violent when faced with a threat to their love life or territory, she said.

Embraces chain of command

An unstable hierarchy can cause men considerable anxiety, said Brizendine. But an established chain of command, such as that practiced by the military and many work places, reduces testosterone and curbs male aggression, she said.

Matures over time, really
Pre-occupation with establishing pecking order, which starts as early as age 6, motivates the "male dance, where they are always putting each other down," added Brizendine.

"It is better to be aggressive in a verbal jab than to duke it out," she said.

Psychological studies have shown that one-upmanship holds less appeal for older men. Instead, they pay more attention to relationships and bettering the community, said Brizendine.

The change is likely aided by the slow natural decline in testosterone as a man ages.

Primed for fatherhood
The male brain becomes especially primed for cooperation in the months before becoming a father. Fathers-to-be go through hormone changes -- prolactin goes up, testosterone goes down -- which likely encourage paternal behavior, found a 2000 study in Evolution and Human Behaviour.

Daddy-play
Daddy-specific ways of playing with their kids -- more rough-housing, more spontaneity, more teasing -- can help kids learn better, be more confident, and prepare them for the real world, studies have shown. Also, involved dads lessen risky kids' sexual behaviour.

Covets wedding bells, too
Women want to settle down, and men want to sow their wild oats forever, the refrain usually goes. But this might be one of the largest misconceptions stemming from the U.S. tendency of using undergrads as test subjects.

Infidelities are most likely to occur before men hit 30, found a study of Bolivian men published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society in 2007. After that, men primarily focus on providing for their families, the study found.

The price of children!!!

The US government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle-income family.

But $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down.

It translates into:

• $8,896.66 a year 
• $741.38 a month 
• $171.08 a week. 
• A mere $24.24 a day! 
• Just over a dollar an hour. 

Still, you might think the best financial advice is: Don't have children if you want to be 'rich.'
Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140.00?

• Naming rights. First, middle, and last! 
• Glimpses of God every day 
• Giggles under the covers every night 
• More love than your heart can hold 
• Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs 
• Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. 
• A hand to hold usually covered with jelly or chocolate 
• A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites 
• Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day 
• You get to: 
• Finger-paint, 
• Carve pumpkins, 
• Play hide-and-seek, 
• Catch lightning bugs 
• For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up 
• Keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh 
• Watch Saturday morning cartoons 
• Go to Disney movies 
• And wish on stars 
• You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day 

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck.

You get to be a hero just for:

• Retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof 
• Taking the training wheels off a bike 
• Removing a splinter 
• Filling a wading pool 
• Coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs 
• And coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless 

You get a front row seat in history to witness the:

• First step 
• First word 
• First date 
• First time behind the wheel 

You get to be immortal.

You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match.
In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God.

You have all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits - so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost.

That is quite a deal for the price !!!

Love and enjoy your children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren!!!

It's the best investment you'll ever make !!!

And I think to myself… What a wonderful world!

I am not much into English songs, least of all the Classics. But, there's one song, which I heard first time ages back when I was in school, and which has lingered on in the back of my mind. Now, I did not remember the words, except for the title line which goes "And I think to myself… What a wonderful world!", but I still clearly remember the effect it had on me when I first heard it. I guess this song is filled with happiness and hope. And that is the effect it generates inside me whenever I hear it. It's as if God is trying to reach out to me and say no matter what hardships you encounter, what problems you face, this life is still worth living, this world is still worth seeing. There are pleasures spread over in every nook and corner, you just need to open your eyes and see. There is beauty in everything around us: sunshine, greenery, kids, parents, family, friends… It's only a perspective that is required. With that the same mundane daily chores would seem interesting and something to look forward to.

I heard this song again recently – in the beautiful movie Guzaarish. Ethan, the male protagonist of the film, brilliantly portrayed by the super-talented Hrithik Roshan, who also sang the song in the film sans any background score; actually sings the song at his mother's funeral. I found it so touching that I just couldn't hold back my tears. One would say if this is such a happy song then why at a funeral? I would say that it's because it was symbolic to the legacy that Ethan's mother left him. She was not a rich woman and did not have anything to leave behind to her debt-striken ailing quadriplegic son. But, she left her son hope beyond all vagaries in life and courage greater than all odds put together.

Today, I was suddenly reminded of the song and while I already happened to be surfing the net, I took a few minutes out to search the actual lyrics of the song. It goes as follows:

I see trees of green, red roses too
I see them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself:
"What a wonderful world!"

I see skies of blue and clouds of white
The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night
And I think to my self:
"What a wonderful world!"

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people going by
I see friends shaking hands saying "How do you do."
They really say: "I love you!"

I hear babies crying I watch them grow
They'll learn much more than I'll ever know
And I think to myself:
"What a wonderful world!"
Yes, I think to myself:
"What a wonderful world!"

Quips and Quotes to help you toast the New Year

One of the most innovative holiday greetings I received this new year's eve came from a friend who sent a titled "Quips and Quotes to help you toast the New Year". It contained thoughtful quotes from Harvey Mackay, author of the New York Times #1 bestseller "Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive" and more. Since I am an aphorism junkie and always on the lookout for creative and interesting ways to stay in touch with my friends and readers, I especially welcomed their effort.

In fact, I liked it so much I decided to reproduce the same here to guide you through 2011 and beyond.

• They don't pay off on effort ... they pay off on results.
• No one ever choked swallowing his or her pride.
• Don't just mark time; use time to make your mark.
• People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan.
• Technology should improve your life, not become your life.
• The best way to be somebody is just to be yourself.
• The best vitamin for making friends is B1.
• It is not a question as to who is right but what is right.
• The difference between failure and success is doing a thing nearly right and doing it exactly right.
• Many people hear ... but few people listen.
• There is no free tuition in the school of experience.
• The person who has no goal does not fear failure.
• The best way to get even is to forget.
• It is better to forgive and forget than to resent and remember.
• Make decisions with your heart and you'll wind up with heart disease.
• People have a way of becoming what you encourage them to be—not what you nag them to be.
• You can win more friends with your ears than with your mouth.
• When you kill a little time, you may be murdering opportunity.
• Education is an investment and never an expense.
• Ideas won't work unless I do.
• It's never right to do wrong, and it's never wrong to do right.
• Your smile is more important than anything else you wear.
• Gratitude shouldn't be an occasional incident but a continuous attitude.
• Helping someone up won't pull you down.
• Those that have the most to say usually say it with fewest words.
• If you don't learn from your mistakes, there's no sense in making them.
• People wrapped up in themselves make pretty small packages.
• When is the last time you did something for the first time?

I also wanted to share these gems from unknown authors whose wisdom is timeless.

• Smart is believing half of what you hear; brilliant is knowing which half to believe.
• One thing I can give and still keep is my word.
• Those who beef too much often land in the stew.
• Compromise is always wrong when it means sacrificing principle.
• Most people say they are willing to meet each other halfway; trouble is most people are pretty poor judges of distance.
• If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there.
• Most people aim to do right; they just fail to pull the trigger.
• Most people fail in life because the wishbone is where the backbone should be.
• Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the mastery of it.
• Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.
• Happiness can be thought, taught and caught—but not bought.
• Burying your talents is a grave mistake.
• Praise, like sunlight, helps all things to grow.
• Life just gives you time and space—it's up to you to fill it.
• The heaviest thing I can carry is a grudge.
• A stumble may prevent a fall.
• Failure is no more fatal than success is permanent.

Mackay's Moral: Not just words to live by, words to live better.

So,

Happy NEW YEAR  Friends!!!!!!!!

Here are My Wishes for You...

H ours of happy times with friends and family

A bundant time for relaxation

P rosperity

P lenty of love when you need it the most

Y outhful excitement at lifes simple pleasures

N ights of restful slumber (you know - don't worry be happy)

E verything you need

W ishing you love and light

Y ears and years of good health

E njoyment and mirth

A angels to watch over you

R embrances of a happy years!