Our Oxygen?

Nuclear deal.. is it on or off??

My friend George wrote thus .......

Yogurt Can Save Your Life

Take time to read what Sunny Sky has to offer in her blog. I am sure we have many of our own home remedies which we seldom use.

I remember during my childhood, mother never used any OTC medicines, but she always had her own home remedies and it always worked. This was more because we grew up in a remote area so before the medicines could be procured we were already on our way to recovery. My mother got so used to this concept that even now she has much difficulty in taking medicines.

Outsourcing

I thought Child Labour is more in China than in India. We are more civilized aren’t we? Remember we send them to schools instead...

I thought outsourcing means those Call Centers, but outsourcing equals child labour too.

Gap has huge contracts in India, which boasts one of the world's fastest-growing economies. But over the past decade, India has also become the world capital for child labour. According to the UN, child labour contributes an estimated 20 per cent of India's gross national product with 55 million children aged from five to 14 employed across the business and domestic sectors.
Gap may be one of the best-known fashion brands with a public commitment to social responsibility, but the employment [by subcontractors ultimately supplying major international retail chains] of bonded child slaves as young as 10 in India's illegal sweatshops tells a different story,' says Bhuwan Ribhu, a Delhi lawyer and activist for the Global March Against Child Labour.

Next time we buy cheap clothes made in India, China or Thailand, I guess we should ask ourselves how we get it so cheap. But alas, you and me will never do that since we are already sagging under our own financial burdens.

But I guess the Corporate world is under scanner and is forced to enforce stricter laws. This is a relief. There is no other way child labour can be stopped.

Qurbani

Hubby was playing a few old Hindi movies in the car and that is when I heard the song “Aap Jaisa Koi “ from Qurbani. I am sure none has forgotten the sweet voice of Nazia Hassan, the Pakistani singer. It was during my school days that Qurbani was released and the songs were being played everywhere. No music collection was complete without these songs. Later we heard that Nazia was diagnosed with cancer. We dint hear much about her. Today I wanted to find out and googled. Yes.. she succumbed to cancer in the year 2000. What a loss. I am not sure if she continued singing until her death. But her voice was terrific. The songs were also good.

Hindi Song Title: Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye
Hindi Movie/Album Name: QURBANI
Singer(s): NAZIA HUSSAIN

Hindi Lyrics:
Aap Jaisa Koi Meri Zindagi Mein Aaye
To Baat Ban Jaaye, Haan Haan Baat Ban Jaaye …

Phool Ko Bahaar, Bahaar Ko Chaman
Dil Ko Dil, Badan Ko Badan
Har Kisiko Chahiye Tan Ka Milan
Kash Mujh Par Aisa Dil Aapka Bhi Aaye
To Baat Ban Jaaye …

Maein Insaan Hoon, Farishta Nahin
Dar Hai Behak, Na Jaun Kahin
Tanha Dil Na Sambhlega Pyar Bina Yeh Tadpega
Aapsa Kahan Hai Dil Aapko Hi Paaye
To Baat Ban Jaaye …


Albums
1. Disco deewane (1980)
2. Young Tarang (1984)
3. Hotline (1987)
4. Camera Camera (1992)
5. Kismat (2006)

Slap slap..

Those days are gone.. yet it was shocking to hear that an actress was slapped by a director.

I like Padmapriya. She reminds me of yet another actress that I love to watch on the screen - Shobana.

Padmapriya left her executive job to pursue a career in acting and she is an inteligent girl. The director's excuse that it was because she was not acting properly is pathetic.

You are left!

This is what we face now. Anyone who opposes the nuclear deal are dumped with the Left and they are also seen as opposing the one saving factor that will help India to achieve the Global power status.

I am neither left nor right. But after seeing the world through my eyes all these years, I have my reservations.

Somehow I like this article that I found in Outlook...

Poll-Tricks

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." This is what Jesus told Pharisees and Herodia (who were sent to trap him) when he was asked about paying taxes to Ceaser. What an apt response and how crystal clear was the reply!

You might wonder why I am writing this here. It is about the recent media hype on late Mathai Chacko. Pinarayi’s violent reaction on the Bishop’s statement looked pathetic. Can Pinarayi ever decide who loses or gain faith in their own religion? Has he taken over the minds of his communist flock? Is he God to read the minds of his cronies? If Mr. Chacko did have faith can Pinarayi do anything to change it. Why was Pinarayi so shocked and agitated?

On the other side why did the Bishop drag poor Mathai Chacko to the center of this controversy? If Mathai lost his faith who is to blame for this? The religious institutions cannot wash their hands and stand by claiming to have no part to play. If it was in response to the statement from the Communist Leaders, then it was totally un-called for.

Religion is something personal and it is between you and the Almighty. And the Almighty sees only your heart, he is not bothered with the flags that you wave down on this earth. Even if one takes the last rites or not, it is after all your own heart that communicates with the Almighty. As Nikesh of India Vision commented, it is not the job of a Bishop to reply in the same coin to the politicians. Their job is only to look after the spiritual health of their sheep and if you have done right, they will for sure choose the right path. And if you want to bring them back to your fold, please choose the right means.

But then.. it is again dirty politics.. and sadly even the Church seems to love all the attention. Or are they diverting the attention from other glaring truths? Maybe the Sister Abhaya Case?

Tales From Mouse Ward

Since many of you are working in the IT sector, thought I shall share this article.. if you havent read it already. I know it is stale news.. but still...some needs reminders!


Tales From Mouse Ward

Urban Indians are paying with their health the price of being in computer-intensive jobs

Nothing about Vijaykumar’s daily schedule suggested any kind of health risk. For a young man, still pushing 33, he seemed to have an impeccably balanced lifestyle. He woke in the morning to drive to the Bangalore offices of IT major Cisco, where he worked as a programmer. He spent eight or nine hours at his computer, steadily tapping out code. His was a serious workday, but not an oppressive one, compared to the 14-hour shifts call centre workers clocked in over on Bannerghata Road. When he had time, he swam a few laps in the pool, and headed home to spend time with his family.
In 2003, however, something changed.

"It was a numbness in the hand," he recalls. "Then a cold sensation from my shoulder to my palm, and sometimes my hand became paralysed." We’re all getting older, he thought, gritting his teeth, and this must be the beginning of the inevitable wear-and-tear. And so he swam more to stay limber, tried yoga, ointments and pranayam to ease the pain. He relaxed his pace of work, moved the mouse from his right hand to his left. But that only shifted the pain to different places. The orthopaedist he consulted told him not much else could be done.
The condition progressed. A year ago, Vijaykumar stopped driving his car. Then he discovered he could not lift his kids—one and three years old—and carry them in his arms. "Five months ago, people started telling me I looked thin and worn out," says Vijaykumar. "And I realised I was living with a lot of pain, and barely sleeping at night.


So, I had to take indefinite leave, and hoped the problem would die down." It wasn’t till he was home one afternoon, browsing the web, that he came across a website that described his symptoms perfectly, and he realised it was his computer doing the damage all along.


...It afflicts even those who are young, fit, starting their first computer-dependent job. Average age: 27.




In the computer-intensive sectors of the Indian economy, bad ergonomics and work habits are more the rule than the exception. Businesses operate out of rented spaces, pre-equipped with shoddily designed desks and flimsy chairs. Hands, elbows and torsos lock in crooked formations between monitors, keyboards and mouses. The glaring screens look like they were installed to kill flies.

Rice

Can someone tell me why the export of Indian rice has been stopped?

It is a fact that most Indians cannot do without rice. As for me, if I havn't had my quota of rice for the day then I had nothing!

When I first landed in Kuwait, there was not much choice of rice. The closest rice to our taste was “American Chef”. It looked just like the rice back home and was clean and easy to cook. We were completely hooked onto it until the arrival of a variety of rice like the “Palakkadan Matta”, “Nirapara" etc. Though the cooking time was more than the American one, we switched over to the Indian variety. I always preferred the brown rice to the white one.

And now they say this will be stopped. I am sure the prices will soar and we will soon be back with the Amercian Rice. There is the Egyptian rice too, but it is too thick and not like the ones we are used to.

Whatever may be the reasons for this ban, it is the Indian government who stand to lose to the American and Thai rice. And it was only the Indians who were consuming this rice.

Shameful!

We mallus were very eloquent when it came to criticizing the ill treatment meted out by the Sponsors in Gulf. We were astonished, shocked and in tears seeing those who were tortured by their sponsors.. but now it is more shocking to realize that we may be no better.

The treatment given to those two ladies were shocking. One was even pregnant and yet she was not spared. We even saw a child trying to stop this and being tossed around. And the reason – they suspected her of stealing an anklet. No proof, yet verdict given so easily.

Next time we open our big mouths to criticize, let us stop and think…

FATHER FORGETS W. Livingston Larned

The other day, I discovered that our son was not eating his sandwiches, lovingly packed by myself. He used to keep it in his bag and I as usual used to ask him daily if he finished it. "Yes" was the answer always. Naturally I was mad with him for lying, for not eating and for wasting food.

I asked him why and he said he wanted to play during break time. I lost my temper and thrashed him! Yes I did.. and then remorse set in. Why did I do it? but my poor son is as always very forgiving... he lovingly accepted all the kisses that I showered upon him. Sometimes I cant but act out the proverb "Spare the rod and spoil the child" .. anyway thank God it only rarely and my Hubby has much better patience when it comes to thrashing, more because he feels he will go out of control. But as for criticism, I guess both of us are equally bad.. we expect too much from our kids.

I am reading Dale Carnegie's book - How to win people and influnse friends.. a great book and I came across this article which was re-printed from the Readers Digest...

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

Listen, son: I am saying this as you lie asleep, one little paw
crumpled under your cheek and the blond curls stickily wet on your
damp forehead. I have stolen into your room alone. Just a few
minutes ago, as I sat reading my paper in the library, a stifling wave
of remorse swept over me. Guiltily I came to your bedside.
There are the things I was thinking, son: I had been cross to you. I
scolded you as you were dressing for school because you gave your
face merely a dab with a towel. I took you to task for not cleaning
your shoes. I called out angrily when you threw some of your things
on the floor.
At breakfast I found fault, too. You spilled things. You gulped down
your food. You put your elbows on the table. You spread butter too
thick on your bread. And as you started off to play and I made for
my train, you turned and waved a hand and called, "Goodbye,
Daddy!" and I frowned, and said in reply, "Hold your shoulders
back!"
Then it began all over again in the late afternoon. As I came up the
road I spied you, down on your knees, playing marbles. There were
holes in your stockings. I humiliated you before your boyfriends by
marching you ahead of me to the house. Stockings were expensive -
and if you had to
buy them you would be more careful! Imagine that, son, from a
father!
Do you remember, later, when I was reading in the library, how you
came in timidly, with a sort of hurt look in your eyes? When I
glanced up over my paper, impatient at the interruption, you
hesitated at the door. "What is it you want?" I snapped.
You said nothing, but ran across in one tempestuous plunge, and
threw your arms around my neck and kissed me, and your small
arms tightened with an affection that God had set blooming in your
heart and which even neglect could not wither. And then you were
gone, pattering up the stairs.
Well, son, it was shortly afterwards that my paper slipped from my
hands and a terrible sickening fear came over me. What has habit
been doing to me? The habit of finding fault, of reprimanding - this
was my reward to you for being a boy. It was not that I did not love
you; it was that I expected too much of youth. I was measuring you
by the yardstick of my own years.
And there was so much that was good and fine and true in your
character. The little heart of you was as big as the dawn itself over
the wide hills. This was shown by your spontaneous impulse to rush
in and kiss me good night. Nothing else matters tonight, son. I have
come to your bed-side in the darkness, and I have knelt there,
ashamed!
It is a feeble atonement; I know you would not understand these
things if I told them to you during your waking hours. But tomorrow
I will be a real daddy! I will chum with you, and suffer when you
suffer, and laugh when you laugh. I will bite my tongue when
impatient words come. I will keep saying as if it were a ritual: "He is
nothing but a boy - a little boy!"
I am afraid I have visualized you as a man. Yet as I see you now,
son, crumpled and weary in your cot, I see that you are still a baby.
Yesterday you were in your mother's arms, your head on her
shoulder. I have asked too much, too much.
Instead of condemning people, let's try to understand them. Let's try
to figure out why they do what they do. That's a lot more profitable
and intriguing than criticism; and it breeds sympathy, tolerance and
kindness. "To know all is to forgive all."
As Dr. Johnson said: "God himself, sir, does not propose to judge
man until the end of his days."
Why should you and I?


Principal I - Don't criticize, condemn or complain...

Hope to condense the book and put it up here.. I am sure many have done it already....

Aradhana

I think it was the song "Mere Sapnon Ki Rani" that brought me running to the entertainment box.. nd there I sat to watch this old, yet beautiful movie.

Call me old fashioned, but there is something lovely, innocent, dignified in these old movies. The herione looks great and even sexy but yet she has not exposed herself.

Both Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila have acted so well. I love watching the dimples play upon Sharmila's cheeks.

Sigh.... they dont make such movies anymore.

Banner: Shakti Films
Producer-Director: Shakti Samanta
Story: Sachin Bhowmick
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi
Music: S D Burman
Cinematography: Aloke Dasgupta
Starring: Rajesh Khanna, Sharmila Tagore, Sujit Kumar, Abhi Bhattacharya and
Farida Jalal

I-Pill

Here comes the I-Pill.. the one solution to your reckless moments. The advertisement has been so frequent and clear that even the kids have it imprinted in their minds.

So what can we expect out of this?

More promiscuity?
More rapes?
More extra-marital affairs?
More teenage puppy loves and broken hearts?

And how subtly they have worded it.. unwanted pregnancy. If it was unwanted then why go for it in the first place?

And has any doctor published the side-effects of these drugs? I am sure any drug will have its own side effect. I read that most of the enquiries came from men. Why? Are they happy that now they can enjoy the moments and pop a pill into their partner’s mouth for peace of minds.. after all, the killing part will be done in their partner’s womb and not his.

Whatever they may call it, this is just another quick fix abortion. But please stop calling it otherwise.

Credibility

Has he has lost it?

Power corrupts and we are seeing it. Until this time, he never reached the office of the CM and finally when he got it, he seems to have lost his integrity. It is time he resigned like Anthony. When Anthony could not keep up his clean image, he resigned. Maybe it was weakness from his part but then it was better than to lose the trust a multitude of people placed upon on you.

V.S. sent 3 of his best men to Munnar with great speeches but now the same team has been replaced with more efficient members. Why?
The Public Works is in great need of a Minister, yet the CM does not want to take a decision. He prefers to wait for the tainted Joseph to return.

Is it time to measure the land of our CM too?

Gandhi Jayanti

Today is Gandhi Jayanthi.

For India today is a national holiday, while the world observes today as the "International Day of Non-violence".

Gandhiji and his ideas of non-violence is getting more relevant in this present world. In Trivandrum a course offered by Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi is having many takers from the young and the old but to the astonishment of many the majority is the young from communist Kannur District - known for its long history of political violence. This course is offered for a fee or 100 IRS and runs for 1 year. From Gandhiji’s principles to his messages of love and the hardearned lessons of freedom that the Mahatma taught using ahimsa would be part of the curriculum. They will also have a project at the end of the course.

Mahatma stressed that "literacy is not the end of education nor even its beginning. It is only one of the means whereby man and woman can be educated and that only those who receive a fulsome education of body, mind and spirit can play an effective role in resisting violence and fighting injustice and oppression. They alone can build a social order that promises human dignity". He stressed on character building and value education.

I think Gandhiji left us with a lot of valuable and timeless tools, but sadly it still remains in "quotes" and "speeches". Some political parties want only his name but forgets all what he stood for.


Is life relevant?
Is truth relevant?
Is morality relevant?
It has become a fashion to question the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi today. I suspect the people who ask this question are the ones who are convinced that he is irrelevant and useless. I want to ask them if they feel life, truth and morality are also irrelevant? Because the corner stones of the Gandhian philosophy are life, truth and morality.

See through Frogs!

I am sure everyone remembers their Zoology labs for one thing... dissection of frogs. I remember mine and how I detested the very act of cutting those poor souls. And then we had to pin them up for inspection. The smell of formaldehyde still lingers...ugh!

Maybe.. kids will not have to do that anymore.... The Japanese as usual let their gray matter to do some work... the See Through Frogs

September 28, 2007—For high school students everywhere, this revealing amphibian may be a cut above regular frogs.

That's because the see-through frog does not require dissection to see its organs, blood vessels, and eggs.

Masayuki Sumida, a professor at the Institute for Amphibian Biology at Japan's Hiroshima University, bred the frog to be a humane learning tool.

"You can watch organs of the same frog over its entire life, as you don't have to dissect it," Sumida told the news agency Agence France-Presse. The scientist announced his research last week at an academic meeting.

Dissecting animals for science has sparked controversies worldwide, even prompting some companies to create computer simulations as cruelty-free alternatives.

Researchers bred the sheer creature—a type of Japanese brown frog—for two recessive genes that make it pale.

Though not yet patented, the frog is the first four-legged, see-through animal to be bred by scientists. Some fish species are also clear.

Only 1 in 16 frogs end up see-through, and Sumida's team has not yet figured out how to pass on the transparent trait to offspring.