Monday, October 3

Why Me?: It Takes A Geek

Worth reading short stories :-)

Friday, August 26

A different person

I was out of blogging, not blogging, but many activities for almost a month. First it was vacation, then, work that was pending. Again, fell sick for a week, and now, back to work in normalcy.

Infact, the work is so intresting that I find less time for any other activity.

When I came to work last week, there was a mail from a colleague speaking of a charity show being conducted for the sake of HIV positive children, and I neglected that first, not that I was not intrested, my health was so bad that nothing went to my mind. LAter, I was thinking that missed out an imp thing and finally my mail box showed it to me.

Tried to see that as many tickets as possible are sold and in the process contacted a friend from TIG. He immediately accepted to buy some tickets, not only brought , but also made some of his colleagues buy them. Thanks to him and his colleagues. Even many of our colleagues came forward to donate/help. Coming back, he said that he would come down and came in the noon to meet me.

A little about this person first. He is an Engineering Graduate from a University here, who is working as a software engineer, trying to see that disabled persons are trained and placed well in organizations, working for the cause of a virtual university that helps people who are physically disabled to get education in a convenient way. There is nothing special in these qualities, cos, many of us, the so called normal people try for one or some of the above. The point is that he is not fortunate enough to be called normal by the society, cos, he cannot walk. But when considered as an Individual, he is as normal as everyone of us.

I came across him at TIG, through a discussion forum and our interactions made us stay in constant touch. Today, when I met him in person, am really shocked, but, then, immediately could not help myself in appreciating him and his strong will. I was thinking that this guy is a strong willed person, nope, he is a person with a very strong will and guts. There is a lot to learn from him, for everyone.

Instead of sitting back on our weakness, we can try to make a diference, in our lives and the lives of others.

May God give you more strnegth to reach your goal..

Monday, August 8

Power Withing

'An old Hindu legend says there was a time when men were gods. But they abused their divine powers so much that Brahma, the master of all gods, decided to take these powers away and hide them in a place where they would be impossible to find. All that remained was to find a suitable hiding place.

A number of lesser gods were appointed to a council to deal with the issue. They suggested this: "Why not bury man's powers in the earth?" To which Brahma replied, " No, that will not do because man would dig deep and find it."

So the gods said, "In that case, we will send their divinity to the deepest depths of the ocean."

But Brahma replied again, "Sooner or later man will explore the depths of the ocean and it is certain he will find it and bring it to the surface."

So the lesser gods concluded, "Neither land nor sea is a place where man's divine powers will be safe, so we do not know where to hide it."

At that moment Brahma exclaimed, "This is what we will do with man's divinity! We will hide it deep within him because that is the only place he will not think to look."

From then on, according to the legend, man searched the world over; he explored, climbed, dove, and dug in search of something that was inside himself the whole time.

(Eric Butterworth, Discover the Power Within Yourself)"

Thursday, August 4

Help required with Blogging software

Hey,

anyone who come across this post, I need a help.

We are planning to host Blogging software in our organization so that our colleagues would start posting their entries for intranet.

I am on lookout for a software that's suitable for corporate environment, but is open source.

After going through all the available Open source or GPL licensed software, am confused on which of the following is the best

1. Drupal
2. Wordpress
3. Textpatten
4. Pivot
5. b2Evolution

The numbering is not in the ranking of the prefrence, but, if someone can help me in the ranking, that would be a great help.

Thanks
Kiran
Serenity Of Knowing
Acceptance
The world is a palette of varied beauty with subtle and not-so-subtle differences in brilliance and hue. But, like all we perceive subjectively, many things can fail to meet our expectations. People don't behave as we'd wish them to, situations turn out differently than we'd imagined, and the end result is often unhappiness. The remedy is acceptance - an open-minded, understanding perception that brings the serenity of knowing every individual, situation, or difficulty is unique and valuable in some way. It is a mode of respect for differences, of seeing beyond faults or disappointments and reaching contentment. Though acceptance necessitates recognizing and acknowledging situations or attitudes that exist in the present, it does not imply that you need also give your approval. To approve or to disapprove is to judge, but in accepting, you simply understand that all situations and all people are in a constant state of flux. Likewise, each of us is also in the process of changing and by choosing to accept ourselves (in the past, present, and future); we can truly begin to understand who we really are. Acceptance is freedom from the need to retain preconceived notions, control of others, favored outcomes, or the anxiety that can come when the unexpected occurs. It is more than tolerance, though resisting the urge to react to the choices of others is a large part of the process. Rather it is a patience and gentleness that extends outward, beginning in one's own soul and extending to other people and the world at large. Sometimes the process works in reverse because accepting others can be easier than accepting oneself, though the latter is the inevitable result of true acceptance. In fostering acceptance, the need to judge is quelled because the belief that others ought to live up to your expectations (or 'should thinking') is eliminated because everything is evolving and deserves to do so without interference. And in letting growth happen and understanding that each person, place, thing, or situation is as it is meant to be, a blissful quiet of the mind and strong feelings of worth can be realized.


An article from Daily OM

Tuesday, July 12

Mount Kailash

Today, its all spritual.
I used to hear of Mount Kailash and Manas Sarovar as a child from different people. It used to be a strange thing for me. A Place in Himalayas, said to be an abode for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati (Shakthi), land where sages and rishis can reach through their dedication and meditation, land which is inaccessible for mere mortal. And then, various fables associated with it from all the ancient scriptures, like Ravana lifting the mountain with his hands, Lord Hanuma residing there in meditation for past thousands of years, in the form of an old sage, all these and many more...

The first time I had a chance to see some snaps of the Kailash Parvat or Kailash Mountain was when my paternal Aunt visited it in 1997. She made a trip to Kailash and Manassarovar in Himalayas, Tibetan region, now under the control of China. And when she returned, she brought some snaps of both the places. Its then that I saw the picture like above.

She explained to us her experiences there while doing the parikramas for Kailash and Manas Sarovar. She told that she felt like walking in a walled Kingdom and when checked, there were no walls, except stones. She also told me that no one can reach the actual mountain by crossing the dunes of rocks laid before it, and any one who tries cannot return

Her trip made me curious and I started doing research on Internet whenever possible on the place. I learnt many a things in the process.

Kailash PArvat is a place of worship for Hindus as well as Buddhists. Common belief for both is that its a land of Sages/Monks. Yet another common belief is that by doing the parikrama of the mountain for a certain number of times, you acheive eternity. Aunt was telling me that there would be a dog accompanying every piligrim and that its a sacred one. The same was confirmed by many in their list of experiences noted on Web. Some wrote that its the guardian angel and some wrote it as monks in the form of Dogs. But, once we are done with the parikrama, the dog disappears itsims.

I read somewhere that doing parikrama around the mountain, with concentration and dedication, will bring peace and tranquility to mind, body, health.

I read about the experiences of others and gained some knowledge. But, I am waiting for the day when I can visit the place and get myself immersed in the beautiful nature. I am waiting for the day when I can enjoy each and every moment of the trip, right from the trekking to parikrama and if possible, spend more time at that place. Awaiting for the call....

Kailash Temple of Ellora, Maharshtra

Kailash Temple is situated at Ellora and is believed that it was constructed by excavating approx. 200,000 tones of rock and is possible the world's largest monolithic structure. Representing Shiva's Himalayan home, the temple is exquisitely sculpted and is considered as one of the most astonishing 'buildings' in the history of architecture. A crowning glory of the art, Kailash temple at Ellora is indeed unique. Instead of carving down into the face of a cliff and creating underground halls which had been the practice, the sculptors/architects set aside all convention and created a full temple, identical in every detail to a structural, 'built-up' example, by carving vertically down into the living rock.

I was searching for some images of Mount Kailash, and in the process of searching, came across Kailash Temple.
I was surprised to see the pictures and the history of the temple located in midst of Ellora Caves. Immediately, decided to make a blog here.

This is added to the list of must visit places now. This place has to be visited in the next one year. else, I may never do that.

Some of the urls on net that give more info/pictures are as follows:
http://www.samadhihermitage.org/Blissbook-Pages/Image27.html
http://www.indhistory.com/hindu-temple/hindu-temple-kailash-temple.html
http://www.cultureholidays.com/Temples/kailash.htm
http://www.travel-pictures-gallery.com/imagepagesind10.html
http://www.ou.edu/class/ahi1113/html/ch-03-1.htm
http://www.anthroarcheart.org/tblo72.htm

I also came across some more intresting things related to India, Vedic culture, Hinduism, etc. Will blog them also here after studying them completely.

In the mean time, an extract from one of the above sites:

The depiction of the demon Ravana shaking Mount Kailash is a masterpiece contain the scenes of semi-mythological history, the royal court and popular life of the ancient times, as told in romances and plays. Some pictures recall the Greek and Roman compositions and proportions, few late resemble to Chinese manners to some extent. But majority belongs to a phase which is purely Indian as they are found no where else. These monuments were constructed during two different periods of time separated by a long interval of four centuries. The older ones were the product of last to centuries before Christ and belongs to Hinayana period of Buddhism in later part of 2nd century AD when Buddhism was divided into two sections, after the conduct of the fourth general council under another great king, Kanishka.

Friday, July 1

MP's Salary in India

IndiaPolicy Institute: Policy Clearing House: Laws of Indian Corruption

A friend has sent me a mail with the following text:
Salary & Govt. Concessions for a Member of Parliament
(MP)

Monthly Salary : 12,000
Expense for Constitution per month : 10,000
Office expenditure per month : 14,000

Traveling concession (Rs. 8 per km) : 48,000 (For a
visit to Delhi & return: 6000 km)

Daily BETA during parliament meets : 500

Charge for 1 class (A/C) in train : Free (For any
number of times)
(All over India)

Charge for Business Class in flights : Free for 40
trips / year
(With wife or P.A.)

Rent for MP hostel at Delhi : Free

Electricity costs at home : Free up to 50,000 units

Local phone call charge : Free up to 1,70,000 calls.

TOTAL expense for a MP per year : 32,00,000

TOTAL expense for 5 years : 1,60,00,000

For 534 MPs, the expense for 5 years : 8,54,40,00,000
(nearly 855 cores)
And they are elected by THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, by the
largest democratic process
in the world, not intruded into the parliament on
their own or by any qualification.
This is how all our tax money is been swallowed and
price hike on our regular commodities.......
Think of the great democracy we have.............


On seeing the article, I was tempted to make a search on internet and came across the above article. It was really a good sarcastic article on the MP's. Please do take a look.

To think that we are spending a whopping 170 crores of visible expenditure on our honorable member of Parliaments, I now understand why we have many uneducated people at power.

Instead of saying "God save India", I prefer to say "Let us save India"

India and its influence on other nations...

To my previous post, Kiran Chakravadhanula has given a comment
"Nice post.I believe there are Vishnu temples in angkor (cambodia) and also Muktinath, nepal.India is a very unique place culturally, it has influenced much of Asia if not the world to a great degree. Too bad that many Indians dont realise this."

As I was composing this text, I received a mail from a friend with the following contents:
Some of the following facts may be known to you. These facts were recently published in a German magazine, which deals with WORLD HISTORY FACTS ABOUT INDIA .

1. India never invaded any country in her last 1000 years of history.
2. India invented the Number system. Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
3. The world's first University was established in Takshila in 700BC. More than 10,500 students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects... The University of Nalanda built in the 4 th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
4. According to the Forbes magazine, Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software.
5. Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.
6. Although western media portray modern images of India as poverty striken and underdeveloped through political corruption, India was once the richest empire on earth.
7. The art of navigation was born in the river Sindh 5000 years ago. The very word "Navigation" is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH. (Course of a Boat)
8. The value of pi was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is now known as the Pythagorean Theorem. British scholars have last year (1999) officially published that Budhayan's works dates to the 6th Century which is long before the European mathematicians.
9. Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India . Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11 th Century; the largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Indians used numbers as big as 1053.
10. According to the Gemmological Institute of America, up until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world.
11. USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century-old suspicion amongst academics that the pioneer of wireless communication was Professor Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.
12. The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
13. Chess was invented in India .
14. Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted surgeries like cesareans, cataract, fractures and urinary stones. Usage of anaesthesia was well known in ancient India .
15. When many cultures in the world were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu Valley (Indus Valley Civilisation).
16. The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.


Well, all these are some of the great things regarding India. rather I should say, Bharatdesh. India is a name given to us by Britishers and Hindustan is what our patriots call it. I prefer to call my Country Bharat.

We did have an influence on many countries in Asia and Europe. There were many historical events and still some places in East Asia follow the culture imparted by our rulers hundreds of years back. It is from India that the concept of greeting people with clasped palms and fingers has arisen. Clasping of palms and fingers in a posture where the palm is drawn near to the heart means that we are welcoming the visitors wholeheartedly. And the same could be seen in Some countries in East Asia, like Thailand, Malaysia, etc.

The Symbol Swastik used by Hitler is borrowed from India. They say that many Vedic Scriptures were taken away from India by foreigners, for they contain many secrets. And Vedic scriptures containing secrets is true.

This is all our past. In the present day, we are fighting, not realising the harm we are doing for ourselves. We love to claim our ancestral roots, but we never take care to preserve them or restore them. We dont even care to follow some of the age old established values, which were proved to have scientific meaning. Why comment on others, even I dont follow. I am aware of the change that has come in myself over the past few years. And the same could be seen in everyone.

Inspite of all the changes that we make to ourself, if we can still preserve our culture, our rich heritage, the values passed on from elders to us, I am sure that we can be doing a better living than what we are today.

I feel surprised to see people who cant speak in their mother language or read/write in that lang. They fancy themselves and speak in english. I dont say that speaking in other languages is not good. You got to speak, in as many languages as possible. only then you can communicate with people of other cultures. But, whats the use when you cannot speak in your mother toungue, the one in which your people speak.

And I am sure that this is not restricted to India alone. This is visible world wide.

Early 1900's saw a revolution in which people across the world changed a lot, major change was seen in lifestyles and the way people perceived relationships. Divorce rate increased slowly. Now, something similar is happening. Lets wait and watch how the tide of time will turn the things and people's attitude.

Tuesday, June 28

So Much in common, yet...


This is an image taken by a friend at Yjog Jakarta and I borrowed the image as I could not make it to the place.

Shown in the picture is the birth of Buddha.

If I had not mentioned about the place, then, many could easily take it for Indian Art. Just notice the striking resemblances between this image and the images seen in Indian temples.

Even culture is similar. At many places over SE Asia, greeting people with "Folded hands" is common. They eat rice and other vegetables. Traditional houses are similar to Indian dwellings.

I had been to a museum in Jakarta, and there in the displays, I happened to notice the script of Tamil as in Pallava period. The rituals followed are same as what we follow in India.

So much in common, yet so much difference. Difference in the practices of religion, dressing, all came over the time.

If a land as far as Indonesia can have so much in common, Pallavas ruled it during 12th century is a fact, but 12th century is long back, will we not have much in common with our neighbours? Those neighbours with whom we separated only 50 years back. I cant understand why the hatred is being pursued instead of brotherhood?

Personally, I would like to travel to any part in Subcontinent, without visa, safe and happily, visit all the lands where our ancestors dwelled, and make friends with the locals. Is my dream possbile to become true? Time has to reveal...

Wednesday, June 8

Change in Lifestyles....

India is divided - not on political issues or issues of borders. But it is divided in terms of values, culture, climate, languages, etc. Division on the basis of language, climate and cultural aspects is a fact known to many. We all read during school that "India is land of diversity...", we named that division as diversity.

The difference is that this cultural diversity has increased with new variations of existing culture coming into effect as well as new definitions for age old values sprouting up. Change is seen in all areas, making this diversity a striking fact. Change is common and it is to welcomed. Else, life would be monotnous and dull. But, this change also effects human relations, thinking, it effects every walk of life.

It is this change that is seen today, making the youth confused, making the generation gap visible in people who are born with two to three years of difference, etc. Sometimes, its even spoiling the relationships with elders.

Increased death rate by heart failure in youngsters and youth due as a result of increased stress levels, increasing display of carefree attitude, loss of childhood for kids, all these are effects of change in a negative way.

Gone are the days when being a child meant enjoying the life they wish, without caring for exams or competition or high percentage or rather homework. Very few kids of today are enjoying these pleasures, pleasures that are very valuable to a kid.

Gone are the days when majority of the woman are confined to the thresholds of the house and men recognised as bread winners for the family. Roles have reversed in many families. A girl in the family reaching 18 years means its time to search for groom is a bygone in many families, yet its the situation for many a gal.

Women are reaching out to the world, extending their career, yet, there are instances of foetus deaths and child marriages. Men being subjected to harrasment is as common as women facing the harrasment. Unfortunately, only woes of a woman are spoken out and considered by many. It is still a common notion that Men are meant to be brave, never let their emotions out; Women are weak by nature, they should limit themselves to softwork.

All the above points would be the point of focus for some of my bolg entries. I have my thoughts and feelings on the above issues. Many times, I feel that we are fooling ourselves in the name of values and many times leading a wayward life on the name of freedom. I want to put my feelings and thoughts in writing. I invite discussions on these issues, cos, I believe that sharing of thoughts would always enlighten a person and an healthy argument is required in every aspect, to know the other side of the coin.

All these are my thoughts, the thoughts that crop in my mind when I think of any thing, and these include both negative and positive thinking.

Change...

Now, the style of this blog would change, the change is to be seen and felt, and am not going to reveal anything. Its not going to be a drastic change, that is for sure. As a friend said some time back, "No change that comes overnight stays for ever". He also said that "Those who display drastic change should not be trusted"

There was a time when many used to say to me "Kiran, you got to change","Kiran, change this xxx habbit to yyyyy" or like that. I used to try and at the same time fail. I was getting irritated when people told me the same. Let me tell you, many of these people were my colleagues, and now I would say happily, my wellwishers and friends. I could not answer them back for two reasons: firstly the respect and high regards I hold for them and secondly some of them are my seniors, very seniors to me at work

One fine day, when yet another colleague, whom I again treat with High respect was telling me the same, I was out of control and then asked him "why is it that every one asks me to change this and change that attitude/habbit of mine. And yet, when I change, they keep on telling me the same"

Then he replied "You should never let change come in you because others want it, you should let it come because you want to. Unless you have the will to change, and the change comes naturally, it is not a change, it is an act. No change happens overnight, it is a process that takes its own time, which cannot be defined. And if a person displays a change overnight, one should never trust him"

Thanks to him and his words, I understood where I was faltering and now, I am not the same person I was 2 years before. I was not even the person I was six mnths back or one month back.

My current colleagues say that I am becoming more calm and that they cant understand the reason. I too dont know, but, one thing I understood is that I still feel the need to change and hence the slow transformation in me.

Sometimes, our innerself takes over the control of mind and drives us. And it can happen unknowingly. Whether this change is for good or bad, its time that would tell. And its the same in my situation also now. :-)

One year on Blogger

Time flys very fast, and it also treasures many a moments. Its an year since I started blogging and thats where I say time flied very fast.

Many things / events happened in this year, learnt a lot of lessons, met with changes in life, got new friends, visited new places, lots and lots of things. When I think about them, I feel like, its a long long ago. But still, its like yesterday.

Thanks a ton to Blogger for helping me in discovering my self and learning things about others.

Monday, May 30

blog: Definition and Much More From Answers.com

blog: Definition and Much More From Answers.com: "blog

(WeBLOG) A Web site that contains dated entries in reverse chronological order (most recent first) about a particular topic. Functioning as an online journal, blogs can be written by one person or a group of contributors. Entries contain commentary and links to other Web sites, and images as well as a search facility may also be included.

Although some blogs invite feedback and comments from visitors, Internet newsgroup discussions, which started long before the Web, tend to be more question-and-answer oriented (see newsgroup)."

Thursday, May 26

Life on its way...

Everyday, I find some topic on which I plan to write in this blog, and I prepare the text. The moment I come to my desk, mails will be waiting and then the task list.
Daily schedules are irritating, but, nothing could be done, as long as its the work and its what the client requires.

I made some promises to myself and some to others. I made some friends at TIG, the online community where I participate and had not yet fulfilled them. I prmised myself long time back that I would get MCAD by mid of 2005. But, not yet.

Now, apart from completing my tasks, I am working on acheiving MCAD, then, Coldfusion Certification, (aiming for advanced programmer), and then CAPM. All these by year end. I know that I need to put in lots and lots of effort and I am prepared for that.

At home, my parents are worried that I am getting too involved in my career. My friends warn me that its time to take care of my personal life also, but, frankly, I dont find any intrest in taking care of that. My parents are looking for a suitable groom and when they find one, then, the process of Indian marriage system would go.

Taking some decisions is tough and one is about marriage. So, I left it for my parents.

One thing that I am planning to do is to write some intresting stuff, stuff other than my thoughts, some thing like Rajesh Advani does. He is indeed a good writer and am sure he would become a good writer out of electronic media, if he attempts. Some may disagree with me, but it all depends on one's likes and dislikes.

I was speaking to Vinod while writing this post. Vinod is a friend of mine from TIG, and supports different organizations/causes. He is a Musician and he was telling me about the way payments are made in Music Industry. Will write about it in detail later.

Selva from Lasersoft is yet another friend, again from TIG, he is a person who has accomplished many a tasks by sheer will power. I want to write about him, but that would make a long post. I would write about him at a later date.

Thanks to TIG, I met many intresting people and got some good friends. There is a lot I need to write about them, and their activities. There are some other friends whom I met online, but never in real life. yet, they made an impact on me and my attitutde/thinking.

Time to write about all of them and would do that.

Time to leave for home and take some rest before bouncing back to work tomorrow. 10:20 PM here now and I started to write this at 4:00Pm in the evening.

Thursday, May 12

What can you tell me about the first Ferris wheel?

"What can you tell me about the first Ferris wheel?
Jenny
Euless, Texas

Dear Jenny:
The Ferris wheel has been a featured attraction at amusement parks and carnivals for over a century. In fact, this twirling contraption has been around for so long, it's easy to forget what an incredible feat of engineering it represented. And the story behind the first Ferris wheel is as amazing as the ride itself.
Invented by a bridge builder from Pittsburgh named George W. Ferris, the wheel first debuted at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. According to legend, the Windy City wanted an attraction that rivaled the Eiffel Tower in Paris, host to the 1889 World's Fair. Architects from all over the country submitted plans for various structures but none were thought worthy -- until Mr. Ferris scribbled down plans for a giant wheel that would spin around on its axis while carrying passengers.
Sounded good in theory, but Mr. Ferris had yet to deliver the goods. He did, and not surprisingly, the Ferris wheel was an instant hit. This article from 1893 captures the enthusiasm visitors felt for the rotating marvel calling the wheel the 'chief sensation of the World's Fair.' The most ardent admirers even went so far as to tie the knot at the attraction.
The Ferris wheel performed perfectly during its original run. It was later sold for the paltry sum of $1,800 and transferred to St. Louis. Failing to attract many riders, the wheel was blown up with 200 pounds of dynamite. A rather undignified end to what was arguably the 'World's Greatest Ride.' "

Banished Words List :: Welcome

Banished Words List :: Welcome: "Lake Superior State University Banished Words List
�You�re fired!�
That�s how Lake Superior State University selected words and phrases that make up its 30th annual List of Words Banished from the Queen�s English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness.
A svelte word banishment committee, fresh from a low-carb diet, said the process of selecting this year�s words was an amazing journey through hundreds of nominations.
�We�re �ber-serious about this list,� said one committee member, who noted the committee would issue its list through a traditional press release rather than using a blog or webinar."

What are blogs, and how did they become so popular?

What are blogs, and how did they become so popular?: "What are blogs, and how did they become so popular?
Befuddled by Blogs
Madison, Wisconsin

Dear Befuddled:
We knew that 'blog' was short for 'weblog,' so we searched on 'history of weblogs' to answer your question.
A weblog is usually defined as a personal or noncommercial web site that uses a dated log format (usually with the most recent addition at the top of the page) and contains links to other web sites along with commentary about those sites. A weblog is updated frequently and sometimes groups links by specific subjects, such as politics, news, pop culture, or computer issues.
Some people are of the opinion that Mosaic's What's New page in 1993 was the first weblog. It was essentially a list of links that a few people thought were worth passing along to others. However, it wasn't until December 1997 that Jorn Barger coined the term 'weblog' in his Robot Wisdom Weblog.
In 1998, only a handful of blogs existed, and many of the bloggers knew each other and linked to each other's sites. Rebecca Blood, author of The Weblog Handbook, notes that one preeminent site listed only 23 blogs in existence at the beginning of 1999. The media started noticing blogs later in 1999 and drew attention to the phenomenon. But it was the proliferation of free weblog-creation programs in 1999 that made blogging into a hugely popular pastime. Before this software was widely available, most weblogs were hand-coded by web developers and others who taught themselves HTML. The new programs made it easy for anyone to create their own weblog.
Blogger was released in August 1999 and was an immediate hit. This simple weblog application allows users to create any kind of weblog they desire. By October 2000, Blogger users were creating 300 new blogs a day, and the Blogger directory "

What are the seven wonders of the world?

What are the seven wonders of the world?: "What are the seven wonders of the world?
Benny
Santa Rosa, California

Dear Benny:
Darn you, Benny. Why weren't you more specific? As it turns out, there are several lists of wonderful wonders -- one ancient, one modern, and one 100% natural. We'll touch on all three.
The list of seven ancient wonders was meant as a tribute to man's ability to alter the natural landscape. Interestingly, as this site points out, not all of the wonders were around at the same time. 'Even if you lived in ancient times you would have still needed a time machine to see all seven.' Today, the pyramids in Egypt are the sole survivor. Sadly, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Temple of Artemis, the Statue of Zeus, the Lighthouse of Alexandria, the Mausoleum of Halincarnassus, and the Colossus of Rhodes have all disappeared.
While it's unfortunate that six of the original seven have vanished, the modern world has plenty to offer. The American Society of Civil Engineers compiled a list of modern wonders that represent the 'greatest civil engineering accomplishments of the 20th century.' It includes: the Channel Tunnel, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Empire State Building, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Panama Canal, the Itaipu Dam, and the North Sea Protection Works in the Netherlands.
Finally, Mother Nature deserves a shout out. The seven wonders of the natural world are: the Grand Canyon, the Northern Lights, Mt. Everest, the Great Barrier Reef, Victoria Falls, Paricutin volcano, and the harbor at Rio de Janero. We're pretty sure these babies aren't going anywhere. "

Does a blood transfusion change your DNA?

Does a blood transfusion change your DNA?: "Dear Yahoo!:
Does a blood transfusion change your DNA?
Lori
Evart, Michigan

Dear Lori:
The short answer is 'no,' and the longer answer is 'no way.' We assembled our own little blog of blood to explain, drawing from a San Diego Union Tribune column, a posting on the MadSci Network, and several other sources.
It seems blood is composed of four main elements: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. And, indeed, white blood cells do contain DNA. However, most blood transfusions involve only red blood cells, which do not contain DNA. And even in a rare whole blood transfusion, no traces of foreign DNA from the white blood cells have been detected in a recipient's blood.
On the other hand, there is at least one situation in which a transplant can change your DNA. After a bone marrow transplant, the DNA in a blood sample may actually reflect the donor rather than the recipient. That's because in this case, blood stem cells are transferred. The recipient will produce blood that contains the donor's cellular elements but almost none of his or her own DNA. And yes, this would affect DNA blood evidence (though there are other ways to test for DNA.)
Then there's the even rarer case of blood being transferred due to the anti-social behavior of vampires. But that's a whole other ball of serum"

Is there a national standard for the number of school days per year?

Is there a national standard for the number of school days per year?: "Dear Yahoo!:
Is there a national standard for the number of school days per year?
Poindexter
Front of the Class

Dear Poindexter:
If you're asking about the United States, the answer is no. The U.S. government doesn't require a certain number of school days per year. Each state determines school-year length on its own.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, American schools average 180 days of instruction per year. That figure includes public and private schools at both the elementary and secondary levels.
A July 2004 report (MS Word document) from the Education Commission of the States lists each state's school-year requirements. Thirty states have 180-day school years, two have school years longer than 180 days, and 11 have school years shorter than 180 days. Minnesota is the only state that doesn't require a set number of days or instructional hours for schools. Each district can dictate its own school year.
Many countries have longer school years than the U.S. According to a UNESCO study of 43 countries, 33 of them have school years longer than 180 days. Some go as many as 220 days per year. Whether or not the number is nationally mandated varies from country to country. "

Why don't school buses have seat belts?

Why don't school buses have seat belts?: "Why don't school buses have seat belts?
Otto


Dear Otto:
Two things all moms tell their kids -- don't smoke and always wear a seat belt. No problem on the not smoking, Ma -- but wearing a seat belt on the school bus? That's rarely an option. So what's the story? Shouldn't school buses have the same safety features as cars, trucks, and SUVs?
Well, not necessarily. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration argues that seat belts aren't the most effective way to protect passengers on school buses. Instead the big yellow beasts employ something called 'compartmentalization.'
Think back to your days on the good ol' school bus. Remember how those rigid green seats were wedged closer together than on even the cheapest no-frills airline? That's compartmentalization in action. Sitting in 'strong, closely-spaced seats that have energy-absorbing high seat backs,' passengers are effectively protected from crashes. Of course, the method can't prevent all injuries, but the NHTSA argues it's the best possible solution. Several studies have shown seat belts would provide 'little, if any, added protection.'
School districts are permitted to add seat belts to buses, but they also must make sure the seat belts are used properly. And as anyone who's ever ridden on a bus full of elementary school children knows, that's no easy task.
Even so, plenty of folks feel seat belts on school buses should be mandatory. The National Coalition for School Bus Safety believes compartmentalization doesn't protect against 'rear-end, lateral and rollover collisions.' And they contend that seat belts are affordable, even for cash-strapped school districts. "

Has anyone ever tried putting on a costume to be a real superhero?

Has anyone ever tried putting on a costume to be a real superhero?: "Has anyone ever tried putting on a costume to be a real superhero?
Cory
Seatac, Washington

Dear Cory:
OK, first off, can we all agree that moms, firefighters, and teachers are not superheroes? Sure they're great, but they don't don capes and assume secret identities. So let's take a cheese-free approach to the question. Surprisingly, even with our cold-hearted restrictions, the answer is still 'yes' -- more than a few 'normal folks' have tried their hands at masked avenging.
The most famous real world hero is probably Angle-Grinder Man from the U.K. His mission is simple -- to help distressed motorists remove the dreaded 'boot' from their cars. Those whose cars are being held captive by the government only need call the man, and he quickly appears in costume, ready to free the ride with his enchanted tool belt. Not exactly legal, but hey, Batman doesn't always play by the rules, either.
While he's arguably the most celebrated, there are others -- for example, Terrifica. Dressed in scarlet spandex and a Valkyrie-style bra, this New Yorker has sworn an oath to make sure women who've had too much to drink aren't taken advantage of. With a blinding flash of crimson, she storms bars, tells preying Casanovas to scram, and walks the drunken damsel in distress home so she might live to drink another day.
Other masked wonders include the snow-shoveling Polarman and Superbarrio, possibly the first social activist who wishes to remain anonymous.
While few have actually witnessed these heroes out prowling the streets, their legends still cast an impressive shadow. Criminals and metermaids beware! "

Thursday, May 5

Laughter is Good For Us

Laughter is Good For Us: "Laughter is Good For Us
Intuitively, we know that laughter is good for us. Think for a moment how your body feels whenever you laugh or smile - words like �relaxed�, �warm�, �whole�, �free� and �light-hearted� often come to mind. Trust your inner-tuition! Laughter, happiness and a joyful heart really do offer a medicinal, therapeutic touch. It is as if health, happiness, humour and a sense of wholeness are a wonderful string quartet that plays a healing harmony and a marvellous melody. "

I felt like I was under stress, considering the way I am behaving with others over the past few days. I dont smoke or drink for someone to give me an advice for doing that. They are a strict NO for me.

I was searching for some good ways through which I can feel relaxed. And I came across this.

This is indeed a good site and we can get a lot of resources for daily routine at office.

btw, I realised that if I can bring that lost smile back onto my face, I can feel relaxed. but, to deal with people and release the stress, let me find out a way

Monday, May 2

Who is the highest-ranking female official in the Catholic Church?

Who is the highest-ranking female official in the Catholic Church?: "Dear Yahoo!:
Who is the highest-ranking female official in the Catholic Church, and what is her title?
Timothy
San Diego, California
Dear Timothy:
Bishops, archbishops, and cardinals traditionally fill the Vatican's most important roles. Because women can't be ordained priests in the Catholic Church, the hierarchy's top positions aren't available to them. About 400 women work at the Vatican, but the majority of them are in administrative or clerical positions. In the U.S., about 48% of the administrative diocesan jobs are held by women.

So are any women near the top? A few. Mary Ann Glendon has been called 'the highest-ranking woman in the Catholic Church' by one archbishop. Glendon is a Harvard law professor, and in 2004, Pope John Paul II appointed her president of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. This group studies economics, sociology, law, and political science to help the pontiff develop the church's social doctrines. Many consider Glendon to be the highest-ranking female adviser in the Catholic Church.

The most senior nun is probably Sister Enrica Rossana. In 2004, she became the third-ranking official in the Vatican office governing men and women in religious orders. No woman had held this post since it was created in the 16th century.

Also in 2004, the first-ever female theologians were appointed to the Vatican's International Theological Commission. Sister Sara Butler and Barbara Hallensleben are members of the most important theology group in Rome, one which former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, presided over for more than two decades."

Saturday, April 30

StumbleUpon Reviews

StumbleUpon Reviews: "StumbleUpon is a network of people and pages. It is a free tool which helps you browse, review and share webpages while meeting new people."

Encyclopedia Mythica: Hindu mythology

Encyclopedia Mythica: Hindu mythology: "Hindu mythology

by Bernard Doyle

The Hindus have created a rich, complex mythology which is still very much alive. Hundreds of millions of people continue to believe in the multitudes of gods which inhabit the Hindu pantheon. This tapestry of religion is the result of millennia of integration. The Indian sub-continent has been a crossroad for several cultures, and the Indian people have incorporated numerous ideas from different faiths."

I was searching for some extensions for firefox and came across one for Stumble. This is a tool bar in Firefox that helps you in reaching across different sites on internet, based on ur intrests. Mythology, being a favorite subject of mine, I went for that and in the search, I came across this site. This site lists mythology of different races.

I got to study the articles on this, for the above article, though informative is also going against certain established beliefs. Initial reaction is "no, it cant be", but then, another thought made me to think rational. Let me read and give my reviews here

Friday, April 29

Working from new office

Finally, we shifted to the new compound and this is much spacious and bigger than the old one. We have everything seggregated according to team. And even things are falling place for me at work with the client.

Time to spend more time on learning as well as work.

Friday, April 22

Working late

These days, due to work pressure, I am not getting time to make any entries, stay in touch with friends or any side activity apart from work.

Its becoming common for me to sit late at night and leave in the morning. Soemtimes, I sit for work, sometimes, sicne it became late and I cant get any transportation, I had to sit late and leave in morning.

when I sit late, people start gasping, you are a gal/lady, you got to leave early. you cant sit late blah blah blah. If I start late from work place, then I get the comments, you cant go out late at night, you ae lady, chennai is not safe at night times, blah blah blah.

And then my parents call me and tell me you got to leave your job if you want to sit late, you have to get married and our culture doesnt accept this.

God, I donno how many things I have to hear everyday. I have some goals and plans. To reach them, I got to prove that I am capable of doing anything. And its common to get hurdles at workplace, for some reason we will be having problems. And while the job is to deal with clients, we will be having more pressure than usual. Cos, we have to meet the expectations of both the management and the client. If anyone is not satisfied, life is nothing but hell.

And I am facing similar situation, to comeout of it, I need to put in extra effort. And for that I need to sit late. They dont understand this and say if you want, you work from home.

Well, if I am put up with parents or if I am on my own/place I can set according to my wish, I can do as I wish. I am put up with my aunt, whose relatives also stay in same compound. Though she takes care to provide me with good comfort and food, as well as keep track of my well being and some minor tasks, there are some limitations that could not be explained. Cos of them, I feel uncomfortable. But, still I stay there, cos of her. She is my aunt and I cant hurt her.

Now that we are shifting to a new office, I am thinking that if the distance increases, I will look for an apartment near office and shift.

let me see.

Friday, March 4

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever from Book 1 of Endymion by John Keats:

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever from Book 1 of Endymion by John Keats:: "A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkened ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old, and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
All lovely tales that we have heard or read:
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink."

I was actually checking for an online version of Mark Twain's "Adventure's of Huckleberry Finn" and then came to the above site. I wanted to pass on the url to a friend who never heard about the book as well as the character.

Then, I browsed the site and when I found a poem by Keats on the famous phrase, I could not resist my self from blogging it. Above is an excerpt from the original poetry.

The above site also provides lot of information on many great writers and poets and check it out if you happen to be a literature buff.

Thursday, March 3

Alastair Campbell on Blogspot

BBC NEWS | Politics | Profile: Alastair Campbell: "Profile: Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell gave up drink and took up marathon running
Arguably he has been the most famous press secretary the UK has ever seen.

Mr Campbell was appointed as Tony Blair's official spokesman in 1994.

From then up until the announcement that he was leaving his government post, the two men were regarded as so close that his words have often been interpreted as carrying the full authority of Mr Blair.

With his decision to quit the prime minister has lost a man totally devoted to his cause.

Despite opting for a more behind the scenes role as communications chief in recent times, Mr Campbell has proved that he is capable of making the news in his own right.

Speculation over his future began around the time of his appearance, this summer, before MPs investigating whether the government exaggerated the case for invading Iraq."

For those intrested, his blog can be found on Blogspot at Alastair Campbell

Spamming one's own Blog!!!!.. Where is blogging leading to?

I was navigating through the blogspot using the "Next Blog" link and then I came across this site:

http://safetyresources.blogspot.com/

Its having many entries with same content and seeing the profile url, I peeped in. I was surprised to find many blogs created by the user, all having a single entry repeated many times. A blogger spamming his own blogs! or rather misusing the blogspot service. I donno.

Edit: Found some more blogs:

http://dietandweightlossdirectory.blogspot.com/
In the process of navigating, I found some blogs that exhibit prono stuff. God, Where is this concept of Blogging leading to?

Now, I am going to read the Terms and conditions of Blogspot carefully so that I can point them these sites. If anyone knows anything, please do let me know.

There are some good blogs, I will post a separate entry for them.

Tuesday, March 1

Yet another good read from Rajesh Advani

These days I find reading other blogs intresting, particularly, ones like Rajesh's. There are many out in the internet, but, this is one I am reading regularly. I guess others mayalso like this.

Monday, February 21

Am I a plagiarist

These days, I had been reading a lot of articles on Plagiarism in blogs and internet and sometimes, I wonder whether I am one of those Plagiarists.

Today, I got the confirmation that I am indeed one of them, knowingl or unknowingly, I did become a plagiarist.

Well, let me enlighten you more on this.

Recently, I started posting some entries at Indus Nexus and also gave an entry for Just Another Love Story. It was Rajesh who pointed out that he is the author of the story and also a pointer to the original source.

Now, after this, I feel that I am indded one of the plagiarists and I feel bad about it. I should not have been first of all, but, then, I gave many entries here from the emails I received. If I found a site or an intresting article on my own, I always made it a point to point to the original author and anything thats not pointed to the author is the one that I either received by email or wrote on my own. The latter are few.

But, its a decision made today that no more entries will be done based on the articles I get in email. If I do, I will make it a point to mention that its through email that I got it.

Also, I would be glad to give credits to the original authors for the entries in my blogs. If anyone of you happen to be the author, please do turn up and make an entry in my blog so that I can give credits to you.

And my sincere apologies to Rajesh for the inconvenience.

Wednesday, February 16

Dan Brown - Davinci Code, Angels and Demons, Deception Point

I am very fanatic when it comes to reading, the moment I catch hold of a book, I never set it aside till I complete it. And these days I am reading a lot, compared to the same time an year back, looks like I am falling back into my habbit and also learning to manage my time well. I was a book worm as a child and stopped reading for a long time in between.

Well, I first happened to read DaVinci Code, after hearing from many friends and then also my fellow blogging friends. I still remember the feelings that I had when I completed the book and the first thing I did in the morning was to search Internet for information on all the points mentioned by Dan Brown. Not only that, I came to know the more appropriate meaning for Pagan, and now, I would not hesitate to say that the so called Hinduism is nothing but another form of Pagan System.

When I came across Deception Point, another book from DanBrown, I started reading it. Intrestingly, I found very few similarities in the style of writing. But, one striking thing is the effort the author has put in to get to know the facts and the skill with whch he has woven the story is remarkable. But, I couldnot find it as intresting as Davinci Code.

I came across another book in the market, I found the same book with an uncle and asked him to Lend it. Instead, he gave me Angels and Demons and asked me to read it first. That book is said to be a prequel for Davinci code, the first Adventure of Robert Langdon.

This one again took me by awe, the way the story was woven, the information about CERN, Illuminati, the description of the events at Vatican City, just great.

Now, I am waiting to lay my hands on his latest book.

thats all for now

Friday, February 11

Donkey and the Carrot

Filipo really enjoyed helping his father in the flour mill. He led the donkey up to the millstone, tied it securely, fixed over its head a stick, at the end of which he suspended the proverbial carrot.

After that, he only had to give the donkey a couple of shoves to start it moving.

From morning to evening the animal circled slowly following the carrot, while Filipo daydreamed, leaning up against bags of flour. His father Ernesto carried the sheaves of corn to the barn and spent time checking the wheels of the huge mill.

The young boy's donkey was very reliable, and day after day it plodded fruitlessly after the carrot that it would never get.

One evening when the exhausted donkey had finished its last circle and Filipo was helping his father arrange the bags of flour, he said thoughtfully:

"Look at this foolish donkey, going around and around day in and day out in the heat, without food or drink, trying to reach a carrot that it has no hope of getting. I will never be like that."

Filipo's father dropped his last sack, put his hands on his hips and eyed his son,

"Do you think we are so different from the donkey? We work equally hard from morning until night. Then we return home, eat some food and go to bed where we dream that with a little luck, life will be a little easier tomorrow; that fortune will smile on us and that we won't have to work anymore.

But in the morning with our aching backs and our tired hands, we understand just how far away the carrot is, and just how long it will be before we reach it."

..........................................

Is our society any different from the theme of this short story? We chase success relentlessly, to fulfil our desires for wealth and comfort.

The carrot?

The wonderful advertisements, the fabulous shop windows and the salesmen encouraging us to consume.

Wouldn't it be worth minimizing our ambitions and desires so that we could have the possibility of satisfying them - and actually GET the carrot?

(again from Club Positif)

Positive Club


Positive Club: Free ebooks (practical and inspirational guides) and stories on self-growth & self-improvement (motivation, self-esteem), plus topics such as Health, Optimism, Creativity, Success, Stress & more !




I use this to get some guidance and inspiration when in need....

Strange Glow

2 boys, in their early teens were hiking through a wooded area on the way back to their small village when they discovered a cave that a hermit made home.

They had traveled very far and still had a long way to go before they returned home. They were hungry and tired and looking for a place to stay for the night.

When they saw the hermit, they started to run off.

He beckoned to them to stay for a while. He didn't get many visitors and enjoyed company when the opportunity permitted. They started to make an excuse, but he persuaded them to stay.

So he invited them to dinner, and asked them of their journey and of the people and things they've encountered. The two boys enjoyed talking to the old man and were glad they had stayed. The food was very good and they were warm.

After the old man cleaned up from dinner, they sat around the fire, drank tea and continued to talk. The old man then said, "I have something for you boys."
and went off into the cave.

He came back out with a very old wooden box.
He sat down between the boys on the grounding crossing his legs in front of him. He placed the box in his lap and then looked first at the boy on his right, then turned to look at the boy on his left.

They both smiled as he looked at them and wondered what could be in the box.

He lifted the latch and slowly opened the box. To the amazement of both boys, they saw a strange glowing force. I was vaguely ball shaped, yet had no apparent substance. However, the old man lifted it out of the box and held it in his hand.

"Here" he said, "I want both of you to have some of this" and he broke two large pieces off, leaving a very small piece, which he put back into the box. He then gave each piece of the strange mysterious object to the boys.

One of the boys said, "You have given us so much, that you have little left"

The man replied, "It will grow back.

" He then added,

"This is a very magical and powerful thing that I give to you. For if you break off a piece and give it to everyone you meet it will grow. If you do not give it away it will shrink and eventually fade away to nothing."

The boys looked at each other with an expression of doubt and skepticism in their faces. But they were appreciative and thanked the man. It had already been arranged that they would spend the night and boys went off to bed.

The next morning, the smell of breakfast woke the two boys. Knowing they had to leave, the Hermit prepared a simple meal that would hold them until they could return home later in the afternoon. He let them refill their water and gave them some jerky in case the breakfast wasn't enough. They thanked him again and were on their way.

Once the boys got home, they told their families of the man and the strange gift they had each been given.
Both boys made boxes for their gift. The first boy did as the stranger suggested and gave a piece of his to each of this family. The other boy did not. He kept it to himself and refused to give any of it away, even when asked for some.

As the years went by, each boy would show this gift to everyone they would meet. All who saw it marveled at it The first boy continued to give part of his away and over the years it had grown and grown. Several times, he had made larger and larger boxes to keep it in. He gave it to everyone he met, including business associates, strangers and even the woman who became his wife. Each time, he told the story of the hermit and the cave and passed along the instructions to share this fascinating gift. Eventually, his had grown so much that he could not contain it, it consumed his home, his neighborhood and the entire countryside. In fact, he couldn't travel away from it. It seemed to always be around him.

The other did not, he kept his all to himself. He would show it to strangers and when they asked about it or tried to touch it, he would slam the lide shut on the box and return it to it's shelf. He did not realize that each time he held it back without giving a piece of it away, it would get smaller. Eventually, he went to the box and opened it, to find that his gift had disappeared. One day he happened to meet the other who was with him that day they received the gift.

He was somewhat resentful when they met. The man who had always given his away, stood tall and had the look of a successful business man, while he looked old and tired. Still, the successful man, asked him how he's been all these years and was genuinely intersted in hearing his stories. But the second man bitterly stated, "I regret the day that old fool gave us that horrible thing. It's done nothing but wreck my life. After all these years, someone broke into my room and stole it, but I'm glad to be rid it of it.
It's caused me nothing but misery"

"I don't understand." said the first man. "Did you not give it away as the hermit suggested?"

"I did not for if I had done that, I wouldn't have any left for myself"

"But now it's gone anyway, isn't it?" said the first man. "Here I will give you a piece of mine and you can have another start. You see, this gift we were given such a long time ago was not mysterious at all. What it is, is FRIENSHIP and you have to give it away to get some back in return."

Story written by Bob, a Positive-Club member, as it was told him by a scout master. Thank you Bob for sharing it.

Friday, February 4

Greatness of so called Housewife ... Mother

received in mail....

What am I? Housewife, Mother, What?
Anonymous

A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school, another mother I knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation. "Do you know what you and I are?" she demanded.

Before I could answer, and I didn't really have one handy, she blurted out the reason for her question. It seemed she had just returned from renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office. Asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation, Emily had hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

"What I mean is," explained the recorder, "Do you have a job, or are you just a .....?"

"Of course I have a job," snapped Emily. "I'm a mother."

"We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...'housewife' covers it," said the
recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.

The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title like Official Interrogator or Town Registrar.

"And what is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out.

"I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most significant words.

Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out).

I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already have four credits (all daughters)."

"Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it).

But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money." There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (6 months) in the child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another mother." Motherhood...what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the door.

Thursday, January 13

Long time

It has been a really long time since I blogged and there were many reasons for the same. Now, its time for me to get back into action and there are a lot of things that I would like to write.

First, please note the entry below. The child's details, I received them through email and I posted them here so that anyone who sees the child can forward it and help the child in reaching his family.

this Kid is in Thailand, at a hospital in Phuket and is estranged from his parents. Anyone who loves to help this kid, they can take the details from here and forward them or if they want to have the original mail, please mail me so that I can forward the mail to you.

I request each and everyone who comes across this blog to take note of this. Also, if anyone knows any other info about this kid, please do let me know so that I can update the entry accordingly.

Then, my sincere and heart felt condolences to all those who lost their familes, near and dear in the Tsunami that rocked the world. I am too late in responding here, but, I dont feel bad for that, for I had been doing my part of work already.

I happened to change my job, relocate, and then the new work has kept me pretty busy with tight schedules. Now that I am almost into the work, time for me to resume my activbities.

Please keep on reading this blog for more information and views.

Thanks for reading...!!!

Wednesday, January 12

Help this little Chap

Lost the way in Tsunami

This child has missed its parents in the Tsunami incident. just keep passing this, somewhere this child's parents might come to know the whereabouts of this child
Please send this to everyoneman you know, as we don’t have anything to lose. Atleast the boy might regain his family! Looking for his family.

The boy about 2 years, from Khoa Lak is missing his parents.Nobody knows what country he comes from.
If anyboy known him please contactus by phone 076-249400-4 ext. 1336, 1339 or e- mail :info@phuket-inter-hospital.co.th