LIFE’S LIKE THAT

Today is exactly two years that I lost my entire family in an accident. As I sit in the living room of my house I mentally quote Shakespeare “Life is a tale told by a fool, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. How true! This is the very room where the entire family gathered every evening watching the T.V. or sharing our day’s events and experiences or discussing our hopes and aspirations. The room seems to reverberate the sentiments shared and how empty it all seems now. I feel as though the walls are closing in on me. Ours was a close knit family comprising of my parents and sister. There never was a day in our lives when we two sisters hadn’t shared all our secrets, we fought, we laughed and we roamed about together. Today when I see her empty chair or bed, I realize how we take life for granted how death is an unreality until it comes to your house. For more than a year I battled with my self. I was living and I had to go on. When I did manage to get my grief under control, I realized that somewhere along the way laughter had gone out of my life. The joys the family shared in little innocuous things like a long drive, a movie or a dinner at our favorite restaurant was of the past. Now when I go out, it’s only out of necessity. A chapter of my life has closed permanently. I am no longer the same person either. I loved traveling to different parts of the country, now if a relative puts forth any such proposition; I am the first one to back out. I also loved buying if possible or just window shopping at all the gadgets shops, looking up the latest mobiles of different companies, comparing their features and rounding in on one (never mind I did not purchase it), the latest cassettes were another passion along with the stereo systems. Today when I go out I realize that this is not the person I was before. It does not occur to look up the latest gadgets. My cousin gifted me with a stereo on my birthday this year in September, but believe me I have not opened it as yet.
On that fateful day itself I had decided that I will not wallow in self pity, I will not be dependent on anyone and from now on I will never recall the past in any manner. It may sound dramatic but the numbness of the moment helped me I suppose. Relatives slowly made themselves scarce out of fear of a burden, and I slowly tried to rebuild my life from a scratch. Being the youngest in the family, I was never required to take any momentous decisions or to think about the financial aspects, but the changed circumstances forced me to do exactly these things, after all I will have to live on, death is not for the asking. I had to change myself nearly 3600, I was having to interact with people of my father’s age without the sense of being a child in front of guardians. I held on to my own and at last managed to over come these inhibitions. Today I have earned the respect of many, but I have lost my old self in order to deal with a multitude of different situations.
But life is such that I have not really accepted their demise. Even today absent-mindedly I find myself pondering that when they return what will their reactions be to my decisions. I realized that I was leading a dual life whereby I was always thinking what would be the decisions of my parents on certain matters and that reflected the decisions I was forming. Then I decided that in order to accept in totality the loss, I need to live all those moments all over without my mind numbed. This is one such step at such an endeavor and I pray that I succeed in my efforts. After all death is a reality which no one can ignore, but it is something you don’t accept until it has hit your home. We all very superficially speak of death as being the ultimate reality but to know its intensity and depth is not easy from outside. I suppose like I used to say, others also say ‘life’s like that’.

REAL FRIEND TEST!

This is GOOD...I expect it back too!
I especially like the last sentence!!!! !!

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself and doesn't feel even the least bit weird shutting your
'beer/Pepsi drawer' with her foot!

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend shoulder is soggy from your tears..

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book..

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after they've gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it!
A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when
you have an argument.
A real friend calls you after you had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

A simple friend reads this e-mail and deletes it.
A real friend passes it on and sends it back to you!


Pass this on to anyone you care about........if you
get it back you have no beginning, no end.

It keeps us together, like our Circle of Friends.
Today I pass this on to you. Pass it on to someone who is a friend to you..

'Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile. '


--The task ahead of you, is never as great as the power behind you.

When you look into the mirror,
It’s not yourself you see,
But a strange dreadful apparition,
dressed in fearful symmetry.

Age creeps up on us so slowly that all of a sudden one day we look into the mirror and find that the outer self does not seem to keep up with the sparkle in the eyes reflecting the youthfulness within anymore. Then we begin to reflect on our past and how things would have been different had we taken a different path other than the one we had taken. Were all the decisions we had taken in the course of living right? Had the sacrifices we made for others worth it?
In the ultimate analysis life is to be lead to a person’s own satisfaction with depth and passion. In short; LIVE LIFE KING SIZE. After all for all we know, we have only one life to lead, so why not live it on our own terms? This may sound highly impractical, but what I mean is that when we do or try to do things which may please our near and dear ones, but not our own selves, we are creating the plinth for our own misery and thereby the misery for all those around us.. You can spread happiness only if you yourself is happy. Going against your nature helps no one.
I may seem to be advocating selfishness and self-centeredness. No, I am trying to say that living on your own terms mean that at the end of the day or more precisely at the twilight of your life you should not have any regrets or remorse. A person who at the end of life’s journey can smile adieu is the person who has lived well. Opposed to this is the person who is found often to sigh about lost opportunities, about the wrongs that befell him because of others. You should be able to associate with all your decisions and actions and take full responsibility for it.
As we get on in years, our minds and souls should feel the peace and joy of life and living. This can happen when we have been able to soak in the experiences and learnt from it, not just superficially remembered it. The feel of the past is very satisfying and pulsating. We should be the gardener’s of our own minds, keeping it free of all the weeds and only growing the flowers and fruits. These flowers and fruits mirror our soul’s development and unfoldment under circumstances trying to press it down.
When we get the call from the other world let us leave without turning back with a sigh of regret. Our self reflection should show our life’s experience etched and it should be a happy one.

MOBILE MANIA

My mobile handset of ten years had decided to hang up its boots. I was in a fix because the electronic device which was invented by Martin Cooper, a Motorola researcher, as the first practical mobile phone for hand held use back in 1973, had come a long way from its origin, not only in its looks but also in its features and the number of utilities. When I had purchased my hand set about a decade back, a Nokia hand-set which was black in color and quite big in size although not as big as its first hand-set which was something I had wanted to purchase.
When I decided that I definitely need a new mobile phone and went around asking friends and foes alike regarding the best and not-so-best handsets of different companies, I was completely stumped by the counter questions I faced. ‘Do you want a mobile with Bluetooth, internet browser with HTML?’ another friend asked if I wanted a folding handset, sliding, twisting or touchscreen handset. I was already feeling a country bumpkin who has just come to town. My idea of a phone is very archaic; I should be able to call and receive calls where ever I am. If I want internet connections, recorders, radios, cameras etc. I will purchase them separately. Apparently the technological world thought differently.
I then asked my brother whose costly mobiles seem to run out of steam ever so often, that he is forced to purchase a new one every three years or so. He tries to live up with the Joneses’ so the handset has got to be expensive. He gave me certain salient features of today’s smart phones.
Mobile phones often have features beyond sending text messages and making voice calls, including call registers, GPS navigation, music (MP3) and video (MP4) playback, RDS radio receiver, alarms, memo and document recording, personal organiser and personal digital assistant functions, ability to watch streaming video or download video for later viewing, video calling, built-in cameras (1.0+ Mpx) and camcorders (video recording), with autofocus and flash, ringtones, games, PTT, memory card reader (SD), USB (2.0), infrared, Bluetooth (2.0) and WiFi connectivity, instant messaging, Internet e-mail and browsing and serving as a wireless modem for a PC, and soon will also serve as a console of sorts to online games and other high quality games. Some phones also include a touchscreen.
After going through the catalogue all that I understood was that in a mobile handset you can have the world on your fingertips. I wonder how small we will make the world. Since the advent of television people’s social aspects got highly sidelined, no going out for the romantic evening drives, no spending time at a movie hall no more walking along an avenue without any purpose. Now with the new set of mobile phones there is going to be further cocooning of a person in his own mind and shell.
So now that my knowledge was enhanced, I decided that I want a handset which would be medium large, black in color and having the basic features. Now came the question of which company’s handset do I want. Again I was thrown off my feet as the goodness of many a company was vouchsafed by my friends. I decided that I will take a poll among all the known people and then come to any conclusion. This was easy (the polling) as everybody right from the corporation sweeper to the vegetable vendor, maid, milkman all had a mobile. The difficult task was when I wanted to know the company’s name. Most mistook it for the service provider. At last when I tallied the results, I saw that three companies were equally voted for, I was again in a spot. Then I decided that my former handset was with me for ten years without giving me any trouble whereas the same set had gone kaput within five years for my cousin who had bought it along with me from the same store the same day, so there is also a luck factor involved regarding the longevity of your mobile. I purchased one of the same company but although the handset is a long one, it’s too slim. It does have a camera, video, internet etc. I have packaged my old mobile and kept it by as a memento of good old days of sturdy, practical mobile handsets.

MONEY MATTERS

I have come to the conclusion that ultimately it’s your wealth which counts. All your ugly/evil traits are easily overlooked and forgiven if you have a hefty bank balance, God is with you otherwise. When all my family members were living and was in a position to give others in cash and kind, our house was never free of visitors and guests. Once they all left and I was bereft of any cash or contact, they all disappeared. After catching up with all the financial nitty-gritty and having been able to release all the cash of my family from different financial centers etc,. They resurfaced from nowhere.
The maid at my place swears by very thing she holds sacred that her loyalty to me can never be doubted. The moment she or any of her family members fall ill, it’s me who provides her the medicine and doctor’s advice etc., but if an emergency arises at my place she will not be available, because the other house-hold where she works she gets a higher salary. So all the good work does not count. The rickshaw pullers of my locality callously tell other passengers that they will not to go to the passengers destinations because it’s their meal time or because it is very hot etc., but once they sight me they are more than willing to forget their meals or the power of the sun’s rays – the reason being the fact that I pay them a couple of extra rupees than the rate. I do it because I hate human labours and not for any other reason. People might say ‘Oh! These maids and lower class people are all the same. I disagree. My dad worked in a very high rank in a British co., so we had a host of relatives who visited us every summer and winter, as a child I remember at times there were more than a dozen relatives at our place. They got the best of treatment. My parents organized sight-seeing tours, picnics and the club recreations which they unabashedly took and proffered that my parents were their favorites. Once my dad retired and a lot of the pomp and glory dimmed, these same relatives became scarce, and then their excuse was some one in the family insulted them by looking at them in a certain manner etc. and once my parents expired, they simply vanished into thin air. If I rang them, they made excuses which blatantly displayed their desire to sever all ties. Now that I have set up my own business and by God’s grace have found success and also was able to get a hang of the financial settings my dad left behind, I have rediscovered that they do care for me! Now a wedding in the family is incomplete if I don’t attend, every weekend some one or the other will drop in to enquire after me. Now that I give them a miss, does not stop them from coming. My brother had the same experience with the relatives. Now that he is in the top most position of a highly reputed company, I hear that all the old acquaintances try to keep in touch with him.
Money may is important but only as a means to gain your end. If it is made a goal then a person forgets to live with self respect. I have vowed I will never ever be generous with 99% human beings even if it means going against my nature and its best to maintain a distance with so-called near and dear ones because they are the people who can befool you. My cats and dogs at least have never bothered to fool me into believing of their undying love.

GHOSTS-FACT OR FICTION

I was watching the movie “BHOOTNATH” last evening and that reminded me of my days in a haunted house where we resided for two years. I would like to share some of my experiences with you.

The house we resided in was a large bungalow with a large garden set all around the house. The house itself was made of stone and had an imposing aura. It was built some time in late 1950s. It was set at equidistance to the entry and exit driveway. The main gates were of wrought iron, so any one entering the compound was very easily heard.

Soon after taking up residence there, our school friends very discreetly asked us whether we liked staying in such a big house. One lady laughingly told my mother that since the bungalow lay uninhabited for a long time, it was generally referred to as the ‘bhoot bungla’.

At nights we often heard noises which could not be explained away rationally apart from convincing ourselves that since it was an isolated locality a lot of noises could easily be misconstrued as emanating from within the house.  Every night exactly at midnight we would hear a crunching footfall at the entrance main gate, but the moment any one of us came out to investigate, we could not find the source. We had a swing in our compound which we often found swaying for no earthly reason and this happened even at nights. There was a children’s park right in front of the house, so that was the explanation (although the park kept no guards and funnily had no swings). We mentioned this to our middle-aged driver who had resided in the outhouse of the bungalow for a decade but left a year before we shifted in citing lack of space for his large joint family the reason. At first he beat around the bush but after a lot of persuasion admitted that the actual reason for leaving the house were the eerie noises and eerie happenings in and around, such as soulful weeping of a lady coming from the first-floor and finding in the middle of the night all lights lit on the first-floor which was then uninhabited. He advised us to talk our father to leave the house. My father was not a believer of the super natural and so ignored us. After a month or two, suddenly my father started advising us not to go out to the lawn at night, my mother also joined in saying that no one will stay out after sun down etc.

There were more than a couple of incidents which confirmed our fears and apprehensions. The first one was on a summer night after midnight; my sister and I were awake and studying for our final exams. My brother had come home from the hostel and was acting the big brother by supervising our studies, when all of a sudden we heard the clattering of utensils in the kitchen area which was located on the ground floor. I was paralyzed with fear my siblings ran downstairs, my parents woke up and followed them. The kitchen was as spick and span as it was left before we went up to bed. This was followed with the noise of a walking stick striking the wooden floor of the first floor. Just imagine!  Another remarkable incident that I remember so well was again on a summer night. It was very hot and so my sister and I kept the bedroom door leading to the balcony open in the hope of some cool night breeze. As my sister was dozing off, she was awakened by the noise of some one pulling the bamboo chair placed in the balcony. My sister thought it was father and so called out to enquire after him. On not receiving a reply she was scared hell. She woke me up and the two of us started calling out for our father. He came a while later groggy eyed and when he heard what had transpired he quietly shut the door to the verandah and advised us to sleep with the lights on. Later we learnt that just a night before he was sleeping when he suddenly felt as if some one was tapping his shoulders but on waking found no one around.

Another incident which deserves a mention here is one that happened on a winter night. The family had returned very late at night after attending a party, and since by then we were all fear ridden, no one stayed either upstairs or downstairs alone. I was washing up in the bathroom which was situated next to the back verandah which could also be reached via the bathroom through the janitor’s door. All of a sudden there was a thundering kick on the janitor’s door! The kick was so forceful that the entire house shook. Imagine my condition, I had frozen on the spot and the rest of the family assumed that I had a humpty-dumpty fall. Ten burly men together could not have kicked that powerfully.

Another factor which appeared to confirm our worst fears was the sudden change in the behavior of the maid’s son; they lived in the outhouse. The ten year old roly-poly jolly boy suddenly appeared to grow thin and he developed dark circles around his eyes which started wearing a haunted look, his happy countenance completely gone. He used to burst into tears at the slightest excuse. One day his mother reported that she woke up in the middle of the night hearing his cries, and when she found him, he was lying in front of the main gate and crying. This happened several nights over after which my mother advised her to shift out from this house. Two months later he was fit and fine.

Then we decided to ask some pertinent questions to the people who had been around for quite some time and finally what we got to know was that about a decade prior to our coming to the house, a middle-aged couple lived there with their two college going daughters. Apparently the lady of the house had some problem living in a locality where habitation was sparse and also her social life was not taking off. The daughters wanted to live in the company bungalow which was more recently made so far more modern amenities were available and their friends circle would be close by. But the gentleman, for reasons of his own, refused to leave this house and there were daily quarrels and threats etc. One day one of the daughters tried to commit suicide by jumping from the first-floor verandah and in an attempt to save her, the father slipped and fell to his death (the gentleman had a arthritic foot so always used a walking stick). Remorse ultimately forced the daughter to consume some pesticide and kill herself. The mother and the other daughter soon after felt the city. Since then the house remained locked up and three years before our coming one divorcee gentleman stayed on the ground floor guest room. The first-floor was never inhabited since then.

This may sound like a fiction but believe me this is true. Since then my faith /fear in spirits got strengthened. Prior to this I always allowed myself the benefit of doubt, but not any more. I would definitely like to know if any of you experienced any such thing.

I am not superstitious; touch wood!

While cleaning the book-shelf yesterday, I came across an old magazine detailing the different superstitions in different parts of the world and that got me thinking. What really is this superstitious? Is it really an idle mind’s creation or is there some logic to it?

 According to European medieval scholars the word was used to any belief outside the Christian beliefs; western superstitions are believed to have originated during the plagues that swept through Europe. In Latin etymology, religious believers have often seen other religions as superstition. Religious practices are labeled as superstition by people of other religious beliefs if they include beliefs in extraordinary event, supernatural interventions or the efficacy of prayer, charms etc. Romans believe that such beliefs are because of fear of god which is termed as desidaimonia. The Roman Catholic Church considers superstition as a sin because it shows a lack of faith in God.

My maternal grandmother was always very critical in this matter and would always come up with some sort of a scientific reason or logic.

There is the prevalent superstition that you should never walk under a ladder as this will bring bad luck. This came from early Christian belief that a leaning ladder formed a triangle with the wall and the ground and thus was associated with the Holy Trinity and walking through it made you to be in league with the devil. The early Egyptians believed that a ladder would be left for the departed souls to climb up to heaven or wherever they were meant to go, so if a person walked under a ladder it would damage the ability for the person that passed on to be trapped on earth. In Europe the ladder was generally used for getting a body off the lynching pole, so if one walks under it they would meet death. My grandmother had told me that walking under a ladder when a person was atop it more often than not could cause an accident in case the person atop slipped and fell or dropped something on your head. Very logical.

Black cats being considered evil are prevalent in almost all religions and customs. As a child I remember my Dad complain that a junior officer refused to come to office as a black cat had crossed his path. No threats of dire consequences could change his mind and the office suffered a heavy loss. In ancient Egypt, the Goddess Bast was a black female cat. When the Christian priests tried to do away with other religions, they convinced their followers that the black cat stood for evil demons and so the black cats along with those who cared for them should be wiped out as these caretakers were actually witches. The logic seems in a belief that since the black cat was always seen with people practicing some sort of evil practice or witchcraft, they also must be influenced by some powers which is mainly negative since the company they kept and black being a non-absorbant color, (the reason we avoid black clothing in summer) the bad influences of the witches on them could be dispersed into the surrounding atmosphere.  So when a black cat walks away from you it emits the evil influence on it and any person passing by may absorb it. At the same time, it is believed that if a cat, black or otherwise walks towards you then it is a good omen.

During the 6^th century, it was a norm to bless a person when he sneezed as it meant that sneezing causes the dispelling of the evil from the body. Then when the plague struck Europe, it was taken for granted that the person will not survive and hence it was required to bless the sneezing person. I wonder whether plague and swine flu are cousins. My grandmother says that when a person sneezes it indicates a cold is about to set in and so in order to think positively or display one’s faith in the Almighty, you pray to God to bless the sneezer. It is also believed that when a person sneezes the person’s heart skips a beat, so it was considered necessary to bless the sneezes in order to keep this from happening.

Another highly prevalent superstition is opening an umbrella indoors. It is thought to be highly ominous as it portends death in the family. If you think about it, you will realize the dangers of opening an umbrella inside the house, you might end up poking the thin reeds of the umbrella into some one’s eyes or nose or some other sensitive points like the temple etc. If an umbrella gets burnt or catches fire it is considered a bad omen.  Obviously as the umbrella stands for shelter and protection, it getting burnt or singed is always indicative of losing a parent figure. I myself found this true. One evening an umbrella caught fire from a candle lit close-by, though not too close and within a week I lost one of my parents.

Breaking mirrors always heralds a seven year bad luck phase is also believed in almost all parts of the world. The reason could be explained. Mirrors, when first discovered were very expensive and if you happened to break one, you needed nearly seven years earnings in order to purchase another. Another superstition related to mirrors is that you should never stare into a mirror by candlelight or you will see the spirit of a lost loved one. One reason is of course wasting oil unnecessarily and secondly if you look into a mirror at night by a candle light, then for sure you cannot see yourself clearly, only a distorted form of yourself which may or may not bear a resemblance to some relative or the other.

 The unlucky number thirteen is another superstition and especially if it happens to fall on a Friday. I learnt from reliable sources that on the deadly combination of thirteenth and Friday twelve witches and one devil are present at Satanic ceremonies and hence inauspicious. It is also believed unlucky according to the book “Dungeon, Fire and Sword” is that on that day a certain King of France put the last Grand Master of the Knights Templar to the stake and burned him alive along with other Knights. Knights Templar, DeMolay, was very well liked by the common people. As he was burning he cursed the Pope and the King to die within a year, which actually happened. Another belief is that if you count the original Christian group along with Jesus and Judas is thirteen (counting Jesus as the first and Judas as the thirteenth) and he betrayed Jesus. Jesus was also crucified on a Friday.

So far touching wood is concerned, there are many beliefs regarding it. Knocking on wood was supposed to keep the evil spirits in the wood from coming out and putting a spanner to one’s good luck. Touching wood is to protect a statement made by a person from all evil eyes. This is mainly because wood being a non-conductor the hopeful statement will not turn into a hopeless one. Knocking on the wood is supposed to keep the devils living in the wood from hearing any ill considered idle comments. This habit is also to prevent bad luck by the Roman custom and by knocking you communicate with the dryads and it was also good luck to have the dryads in one’s favor.

Besides these all-pervasive superstitions, there are others which differ from one to another like some believe that if your nose itches then some one is thinking about you whereas I have also heard that if your nose itches then it portends impending bad health. Incidentally, I always get an itchy nose as soon as I enter a dusty region which is nearly a regular diet.

Some believe if you have a mole in the centre of your left or right palm you will be a good cook. I have others saying that it is indicative of a very harsh and severe life. My sister has a prominent mole in her right palm and she is neither a good cook nor a person ever bothered by any pronounced negativity in her life.

There is also the belief that if your right palm itches you will loose money and if your left palm itches then you come into money. My cousin’s palm itched when he had an allergy bout.

There is a belief that it is bad luck to have a house where you can walk straight from the front door and get out of the back door without any wall impeding your path. I suppose feng-shui has to be brought in here as it is considered to be dealing with the different angles of a house and its significance scientifically.

There are thousands of other superstitions which many believe in like ‘Never step over a person, then the person does not grow tall’, ‘never sleep with your head facing the door or the south as dead bodies are carried out of the house head first or that sleeping with your head facing south causes your blood pressure to drop or pulled down thereby causing many an ailment.

In India there is the black tilak which is applied right from infants to a person looking good or when good luck enters a household, just to ward off all evil spirits casting an evil spell and destroying the good aspects.

Another strong superstition is a dog howling. Whether it is ‘Christabel’ by Samuel Coleridge where the dog howling indicated to the readers that an evil spirit was entering the house or my housekeeper getting frantic as soon as a dog starts howling, everybody finds it ominous. This is believed that the dogs having extra-sensory perception can see dead people or spirits and the howl is indicative of their fear or horror of it. Somewhere along the way a dog howl has come to be associated with death. As soon as a dog howls, everyone starts wondering who it is in the area that is on the way out. My personal experience in this matter is that they howl not only when there is death lurking in the area but also when they realize that their own end is not too far. So far I have seen that three stray dogs in my locality howled day and night for about a month before they passed away.

I would like to mention my grand-aunt here who was a roly-poly jolly little lady and she embodied all the above mentioned superstitions in her everyday life. As a child I was afraid to go to her place because of it. Right from the moment she got and till such time she went to sleep, it was superstition that was guiding her and her actions like a possessed spirit. First thing when she opens her eyes no one should be around, now since she had no fixed time of waking up, that was a tall order. As soon as she realized the presence of another person in the room she would shut her eyes and ask the concerned person to leave. The reason given was that the first thing in the morning should be a very pleasant one otherwise the entire day would be marred. After her morning bath, no one should cross her path to the puja room (imagine, she is on the ground floor the puja room is on the second floor and the house hold consists of twelve members).  No one could sneeze or call out to her when she had her back to that person, and if any one unwittingly did commit that grave folly then she would go around the particular room at least three times before she continued with her interrupted progress. In the kitchen you cannot talk on any topic which had the potentiality of even a slight depression or grief, according to the grand lady the cook’s mental state influences the cooking and also passes on the mournful air into the meal, never fathomed how!  The afternoon siesta was never to be taken on the bed the person sleeps at night it brings in laziness into a person. If you have had a bad dream then tell someone about it and that someone should say “whatever you saw was actually good” this neutralizes the bad dream! Never count the steps while climbing up or down it brings your progress to a standstill. Girls must sleep on their left side at night and the boys on their right. The reason being the females’ left side is auspicious and the right side for the males. I remember the many nights she woke me up because I was lying on my right side. The females should put their left foot first and men the right. If a female has any defect however miniscule, on the right side of her being then she is inauspicious. I have a right thumb injury scar so she always told my mother to have it rectified so that my inauspiciousness can be wiped away. While leaving the house never say ‘I am going’ always say ‘I am coming’!

I have come to the conclusion that although superstitions may have been based on some scientific or logical reasons initially, human minds made a mountain of this mole hill. We all are affected by it in varying degrees however much we would like to deny it. Whenever a good luck struck us and we associated it with a prior action, we immediately considered that to be the good charm and turned it into another superstition. This way superstitions kept adding up to form a formidable wall which we cannot ever overcome.

DOGGY DAYS

I would like to discuss this case concerning a dog. In my neighborhood a “gentleman” has the habit of picking up lovely looking pups from God alone knows where and as soon as they grow up he stops tending them under one pretext or the other. The latest is a stray-mixed breed dog whom he had adopted similarly some 5-6 years ago. When I first sighted the dog, I was totally enamoured by him. He is a giant dog with playful eyes and was always seen bounding around the neighborhood and was named Tyson. He is friendly with one and all, and he often played about near my residence, once I got friendly with him. Since he had a collar I assumed he was some one’s pet and rued not finding him before the other person did.
About a year back I suddenly noticed that Tyson was more often than not spending his time in our locality and he had turned thin, and when I mentioned this to my house-keeper, she told me that the dog has injured himself while fighting with a pack and the scruff area was badly mauled. I told a neighbor who knew the owner since I did not know him, about the state of affairs so that proper treatment could be administered. I was appalled to learn that the owner, who Tyson even in that injured state, followed about, had said that since the dog tends to fight with other dogs, he has decided to disown him! In the meantime the wound was getting from bad to worse, he was getting thinner by the day, so I rang up a vet asking him what it was that could be done and he told me to administer a certain tablet for a period of time along with some powder on his wound. It was already very late and after the giving the medicines for a week with no perceptible positive results, I again rang the vet who then advised me to hospitalize him immediately. I rang up the necessary authorities as was advised by the vet and then I suddenly realized that this dog’s owner might not like it, and can create trouble for me because I did not bother to mince my opinion of him to his acquaintances. So I went to seek his permission, especially as the vet had told me that Tyson’s chances of survival were near nil. I then learnt that he had some sort of pharmaceutical business and his family consisted of himself, his wife and son, no reason not to care for the dog. When I told him about the condition as it stood, he was more than eager to hand over the responsibility to me. While conversing he told me that he had stopped giving the dog any meals as his wound was stinking!
Tyson returned from the hospital three months later. His wound had healed, but very thin and hungering for food. The “owner” and his nephew thanked me over and over again and I thought that at last the dog was secure. Within a span of three months I again see him roaming about aimlessly, again turned thin and hungry. He kept visiting our place at meal-times (there are a couple of street dogs we feed twice a day) and snatching the other dogs’ meals and in short behaving very wildly. Upon enquiry, I hear the person has said the dog barks too much and hence disturbs his sleep so he is no longer interested in keeping him and that the people, who saved his life last time, alluding to me, should actually care for him. Is this dog a plaything, that he keeps him in the house as long as he desires and when he has lost interest, the poor dog becomes homeless? I sent him some addresses where he could keep the dog by paying a certain amount for his maintenance, even that did not appeal to the ‘gentleman’. I am now seeing to it that he gets something to eat, but for a dog of his size (whenever out of affection he gets up on his front paws, he reaches up to my shoulders and I stand 5 ft 5 in tall, so you can imagine his size) and my inability to add another dog to my already existing number of 4 dogs and 7 cats. This is now causing a big mental problem for me, because neither can I ignore him nor can I feed him to his capacity. I spoke to his nephew who smartly disengaged himself from the whole issue by saying that since he is shifting out of his present residence he is helpless and also that he cannot impose on his uncle to look after Tyson. It seems that having him cured was actually a curse for him. Had I known that this was going to be the state of affairs I would definitely not subject him to this life. You can punish people who catch the stray animals and kill them in order to sell them to some of the reputed companies who in turn use the bones and blood of these carcasses for various purposes, which I will not go into details, keeping people’s sensibilities in mind, but how can you force people like these to bear the onus of their responsibilities? Once a pet becomes a nuisance you just can’t wash your hands of it. I would like to ask the man whether he would mete out the same treatment to his own son under similar circumstances.

THE NEW EDUCATION POLICY.

The new education policy that was unveiled yesterday, leave a lot to be desired. The policy seems to concentrate only on the aspect of reducing the fears of board exams and nothing else. How else can you interpret the policy where nothing changes apart from the examination procedure? Mr. Sibal says “This is good system which will very well judge the potential of a student,” I ask Mr. Sibal how is that possible? It has been said that the current form of evaluation of the students will be replaced by a new system of continuous and comprehensive evaluation (CCE) which will consist of two sets of formative assessment – based on performance in class quizzes, participation in class discussions and projects etc - and one term end of summative assessment (SA) based on a test which will be held by the school. The marks will be added in the proportion of FA1 (20) +FA2 (20) + SA (60).

The entire procedure sounds like the death-knell of our revered education policy. By introducing gradation method instead of marks, there is going to be no change whatsoever as we are well aware of the marks quotient in each grade. More importantly, how will it benefit any one? There is no change in the course itself. The students suffer because of lop-sided syllabi and not because of the examinations and that aspect has not been addressed at all. The burden of books is likely to increase instead of decreasing with new aspects being included in the form of extra-curriculum. There should be a balanced comprehensive course for each class in order to make education more realistic. I see that certain subjects of IX or X standard students, the subject-matter of which at one time was considered to be of college-level, where as in some subjects the standard is so appallingly low. For example in West Bengal the indecisiveness of the Government regarding English language has left the students with very little knowledge of the language and has in turn ruined or narrowed their job opportunities. The inclusion of XI and XII standards was really not necessary, instead of that if after the class X examination a year of pre-university course was introduced where a student can make up his or her mind as to the subject he or she would like to pursue, would be actually beneficial.

I would also like to know whether CCE will not put immense pressure on the students. Importantly, the inspection at random to be held at the schools will always be suspect. As the principal of DAV boys school Dr Sathish said “If the CBSE has only a continuous evaluation system, the state board might not accept the marks awarded by private schools. The choice should be given to the students either to do the board exam or follow the continuous evaluation system. I’m not sure how two systems can function in one school,” Instead of addressing these problems Mr. Sibal has taken a route which is full of sound and noises but signifies nothing. The non-educational aspect of education has been dealt with, without giving actual education a practical and realistic syllabus.

Another point I would like to mention is that since childhood, we heard and witnessed the teachers’ personal feelings towards the students were displayed in the mark-sheet, I myself was a victim of it where my geography teacher saw to it I always failed in the subject and told my parents that I was not at all able to grasp the subject-matter as I lacked the brains for it. In the board-exam I secured a 61% in the language.

We are actually going back to the previous examination format, i.e., to the format which was taken from the Cambridge University, where a single board examination was held in standard XI and on successful completion you get admitted to a college. The students had to decide the stream, i.e., science or arts when they reached standard IX (the option that is missing here). I find the add-ons totally irrelevant to actual education.

BY GOD! MY DOG!

Dogs are considered to be mankind’s best friend, I am sure they are, but I would like to know what you think of this dog of mine which by breed is a stray mongrel who I lured into my house with as many goodies as possible thus spoiling him rotten from day one. From childhood I always wanted a dog as my pet but circumstances at that point of time was not conducive to get one home so when we did at last have a permanent address, my childhood desire resurfaced.  So, my journey of keeping a pet at home began with this white with black spotted dog with lovely black eyes who was named “Montek” (please, there is neither a direct or indirect hit at Mr. Ahluwalia or any one I know of that name, it just fell in place with him) and his sister who is pitch black with a white patch at the scruff and the endings of her tail and legs white which gives her an elegant look, she has been named “Saloni”. They are now four years old. These two along with five cats and two house-keepers cum maids, form my household.

Initially Montek was so wary of us all that he did not let us touch him for over a month, although he had escape routes via the main gate grill, he did not leave either.  He would not eat his meals if any one stood too close to his bowl. This went on for a month or more and at last after a lot of cajoling, he decided that we meant no harm to him. Then started our contribution to spoiling him. We gave him butter bite biscuits along with dog biscuits and let him do as he wished, but giving the devil his dues, he was very responsive to a stern command thus rarely repeating a mistake. He and his sister played about in the garden the entire day in such an energetic manner that passer-bys stood and watched them. I first realized the extent of their intelligence when one day within a year of their coming I could not locate a kitten at night. I frantically searched our entire compound but to no avail. Out of worry and frustration I asked them as to the whereabouts of the kitten, they looked at me and then looked up at the terrace. I at first thought cynically, mongrels after all what will they respond (we all think that the stray dogs have neither intelligence nor are they good guards) then on a second thought, I looked up to the terrace and sure enough the kitten was curled up at one corner. When they are sent up on the terrace and if some one from another roof-top throws stones at them, as this seems to be the general practice among human beings, they immediately come down barking and nudge us till we accompany them and fight it out with the miscreants.

Montek has all along shown an extra keen perceptivity. Every morning the first thing he does when he wakes up is to wake me with peculiar noises which are a mixture of a bark and woof. He likes having a bath. He is extremely moody regarding his meals in the sense that if he is depressed or is angry, or if he doesn’t like what is served he will not eat. If the dog meal is cooked by any one apart from my housekeeper, he will not have it. Once the meal is served, I will have to be present there and only then will he eat, even if he has been deliberately kept on a fast for the whole day. As soon as he is summoned for his meal, he comes up to me and keeps nudging me till I go and stand there. Occasionally when I am not at home during his meal-time he will wait till I return, even if it is over an hour, and then have his meal. If you keep some victuals in front of him and go away, he will not touch it until he is told to eat it. Another trait of his is that apart from the residents of the house he will not tolerate any one within the compound whether it’s the sweeper or plumber or others who frequent the house. A relative had come to stay for a week and this doggy of mine made her life miserable by following her about when she was alone in the house and barking and growling at her if she so much as touched a comb. He is very protective of the cats in the house though, if one is hurt he will sniff the injured cat and then give it a slight lick although, his licks are very very rare whether it is humans or other animals.. If ever a resident cat gets beaten by a non-resident one, he will chase that cat away for months on end. He belies the saying of let sleeping dogs lie, because even when he is fast asleep and if perchance we happened to step on him, he will jump up with a squeaking sound but will not even snarl leave alone bite.

In the early morning of the first day of this year, I suddenly heard a loud shriek of a bird within the compound, at first I thought nothing of it but when the shriek persisted, my housekeeper and I went to investigate. To our horror we saw that a cat from somewhere got hold of this bird by the neck and was trying to kill it. I went with a stick at the cat and the housekeeper ran in to fetch some water to throw at the cat. The sight of the stick of course did the trick, the cat fled. This dog of mine stood by the injured bird and chased away all the other birds who were trying to prey on it. He stood guard till such time we found a suitable cardboard box to put it in. we kept the bird in the puja room so that the cats could not get in, but if a cat so much as went and sniffed the door, he was sure to chase it.

I will tell you one very touching incident with this dog. A fortnight before a family member of mine passed away due to a sudden heart attack (we were not aware that she had a heart problem), he sat outside the room and no amount of coaxing or yelling made him move from there. He stopped eating two days prior to that day. On the black day of the demise, he just let out one howl in the morning, the member passed away that night. Next day when people had come to pay their respects, he sat quietly in a corner with water flowing down his face. I don’t know how to express my feelings. I don't want to think of a day when he will not be around.

UMBRELLA

I have a penchant of losing my umbrellas ever so often, that I decided to do away with it when I last lost it a month back.  Since then, whenever I went out, I sorely missed its presence (I wonder how I can lose it).  I and the Sun have a special relation, no matter what the weather is like; whenever I go out of the house it is sure to come out in its full glory to have a good look at me. Today when I went out and felt the heat (literally), I got thinking as to the origin of the umbrella. What induced the maker of it to make one?

The definition of an umbrella as given in the Thesaurus is a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy. It is colloquially referred to as brolly or gamp. There is no date given as such regarding its invention although it is often seen depicted in old paintings and sculptors. In ancient Greece umbrella was an indispensable prop to a fashionable lady. It also had religious significance. In the Scirophoria, the feast of Athene Sciras, a white parasol was borne by the priestesses of the goddess from the Acropolis to the Phalerus. In the feasts of Dionysius the Umbrella was used, and in an old bas-relief the same god is represented as descending ad inferos with a small Umbrella in his hand.

In the Mahabharat we find the mention of the umbrella in the following legend.  Jamadagni was a skilled bow-shooter and when he would shoot the arrows his wife Renuka would always retrieve them immediately, one day however it took her an entire day to recover the arrows and she blamed the heat of the sun for the delay. Hearing this Jamadagni immediately shot an arrow at the sun. The sun pleaded for mercy and offered Renuka an umbrella.

Jean Baptiste Tevernier in his “Voyage to the East,” says that on each side of the Mogul’s throne were two umbrellas, and also describes the hall of the King of Ava as decorated with an umbrella. The Maratha princes, who reigned at Poona and Sattara, had the title of Ch’hatra-pati, “Lord of the Umbrella.” The cháta of the Indian and Burmese princes is large and heavy, and requires a special attendant, who has a regular position in the royal household. In Ava it seems to have been part of the king’s title, that he was “King of the white elephant, and Lord of the twenty-four Umbrellas.” Persons of rank in the Mahratha court, who were not permitted the right of carrying an Umbrella, used a screen, a flat vertical disc called AA’-ab-gir, carried by an attendant. ….”

We also find the mention of umbrellas in the histories of Egypt, Persia, China, Europe and many others. At that time the article was mainly used to protect the ruler or church authorities and had not percolated to the common man. I learnt from Wikipedia, however, that in Thomas Coryat’s “Crudities” published in 1611, one and half centuries before the general introduction of umbrella in England, there was a reference to a custom of riders using umbrellas:-

  “And many of them doe carry other fine things of a far greater price, that will cost at the least a duckat, which they commonly call in the Italian tongue umbrellas, that is, things which minister shadowve to them for shelter against the scorching heate of the sunne. These are made of leather, something answerable to the forme of a little cannopy, & hooped in the inside with divers little wooden hoopes that extend the umbrella in a pretty large compasse. They are used especially by horsemen, who carry them in their hands when they ride, fastening the end of the handle upon one of their thighs, and they impart so large a shadow unto them, that it keepeth the heate of the sunne from the upper parts of their bodies.”

The umbrella has become very popular in the last thousand years. Besides protecting against the sun and rain, umbrella has many functions which we often overlook.  It is said that to defend yourself from an attacking tiger, just open the umbrella on its face and it’s sure to leave you alone. Umbrellas also double up for a walking-stick, you can shoo away the street dog who decides to bark and snarl at you for no earthly reason. An open umbrella is a good hiding place for kids trying to avoid detection for one or another reason. Losing an umbrella or an umbrella getting burnt is considered inauspicious by many, as it implies losing someone who is overhead or losing the shelter of the house. Interestingly, at my residence an umbrella caught fire from a flickering candle-light and within a month I lost my Dad. At that point of time I was not aware of this superstition.

Umbrellas have also inspired many a song. Apart from the Hindi film-industry, we also have “Umbrella” which is the first single released from Rihanna’s third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad.

Umbrella is one fashion statement which is affordable by one and all.  It comes in many colours and designs, folding umbrellas or non-folding ones.  Of course the folding umbrellas don't have the romantic old-world charm, although a shorter version can be seen these days. The obvious purpose is protection against rain and sunlight but psychologically it helps in creating a sense of being in a shell or cocoon where a person is totally secure and protected.  This is one of mankind’s best supporter and protector. I am thinking I will purchase another one this evening itself.

What Are Pigtails?

What Are Pigtails?

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PROCRASTINATION

Is there something you ought to be doing now but have postponed it for a later date? This is PROCRASTINATION. It has been seen that procrastination destroys many things than any other single element. Procrastination is a universal phenomenon, about 95% tend to procrastinate and out of which about 20% has made a habit of it. This can cost one's health and wealth with devastating effect on the concerned person and all others around them. Laziness is sometimes interpreted as procrastination, as the symptoms are approximately the same, but laziness is a short-lived state. It is basically things we can do but no reason to it right then.
Everyone procrastinates to a certain degree and it is considered to be natural human tendency especially with those activities we find negative. Fear of failure or success and lack of self-confidence also causes procrastination. Sometimes we set goals for ourselves that aren’t really ours, things we think we should be doing. Procrastination gets ingrained in us over the time. This habit becomes a problem when it becomes a mindset. But take a heart. While we can’t eliminate it, we can try to be conscious of the problem because knowing a problem is solving half of it.
As we grow up and responsibilities come our way, procrastination sets on. After all doing things which are close to our hearts will always come before the things we are not too fond of. We prefer to go for a long drive but don’t like to stop half-way to pay our bills or taxes. As we keep putting off the undesirable for another day, our mental pressure mounts because we are aware that we should be doing it (the undesirable) first, this in turn affects our temperament which will sooner or later come out in the open and affect all around.
What actually we lack is motivation and self-confidence. While this persists, our life-quality decreases and this tendency spread to all aspects of our lives. The first step to resolve the problem is to conduct an honest self-analysis of our self and then determine the weaknesses and strengths in us. We can draw succor from the fact that God has given us all certain strengths alongside weaknesses, which we have to identify and then concentrate on our strengths and also accept our weaknesses. Once we are able to do this we will be able to monitor our mind’s diktat and also correct our mindset to a vast extent. An attempt to be conscious of our shortcomings (which actually leads to procrastination) will go a long way in helping us overcome it. We should then consciously try to complete the tasks which we have been putting off either by making a list of them, or breaking it down into smaller tasks at a single attempt. This may act as a key to success

Eliminate Acne Naturally 9 Essential Homemade Recipes

Author: Charles Silverman

Acne occurs when the sebaceous glands-the oil-secreting glands that lubricate the skin-secrete too much sebum, or oil. Normally, sebum flows from the sebaceous glands to the surface of the skin. But if dead skin cells accumulate inside the pores, they can dog the pores and prevent the normal flow of sebum. As a result, otherwise harmless bacteria that live beneath the surface of the skin and in the pores can multiply. This overgrowth of bacteria, together with the blocked sebum, causes pimples to form.
The skin mirrors internal health, and blemishes or acne can indicate internal problems. Acne sometimes signals a general toxic condition within the body. When the kidneys, lungs, and intestines become overloaded with more wastes than they can eliminate, the skin may be called upon to filter out wastes.
Other factors can make the skin more prone to develop pimples. These include allergies; a diet high in fats, preservatives, sugar, and pesticide and herbicide residues; dehydration; emotional problems; environmental pollution; too much exposure to the sun; heredity; hormones; oral contraceptives; poor hygiene; weakened immunity; and stress.
Proper skin care is crucial for clearing acne. Keeping your skin clean and your pores unclog­ged and reducing oil secretions can help clear up your complexion. Cleanse your skin twice a day, use a facial scrub several times a week, and spot- treat blemishes with essential oils to help control breakouts. In addition, apply a facial mask one or more times a week. This will help minimize oiliness and clear plugged pores. You can customize the skin care products you already use by adding any of the essential oils listed above. Or use the blends below, which are designed specifically for acne, as follows:

* Twice a day, cleanse your skin with Green Clay Cleanser. French green clay is very cleansing and healing for blemished skin. Follow this with an application of Skin-Clearing Toner, then Oily Skin Treatment.

* Dab Spot Treatment or Blemish Blend on indi­vidual blemishes several times a day, as needed, to clear them quickly.

*At least twice a week, massage Grainy Scrub into your skin to discourage blackheads and blemishes.

* Once a week, apply Clearing Mask to remove impurities and to regulate oiliness. Adding en­zymes to the Clearing Mask formula will help the mask to remove dead skin cells that can block pores and contribute to blemishes.

* Once a week, steam your face with Acne-Clear­ing Facial Steam to loosen sebum and bacteria that clog pores. Follow with Green Clay Cleanser, Grainy Scrub, or Clearing Mask.

* Men can use Blemish-Banishing After-Shave toprevent blemishes and infected ingrown hairs.

The aromatherapy blends below are essential oil formulas you can prepare at home.

Green Clay Cleanser

1 teaspoon French green clay powder 1 teaspoon honey or water

1 drop geranium oil 1 drop lavender oil

1 drop tea tree oil

Mix all the ingredients into a paste in your palm. Massage the paste into your skin until it feels clean. Rinse. Repeat if necessary.

Skin-Clearing Toner

8 ounces distilled water

2 drops lavender oil

1 drop palmarosa oil

1 drop rosewood oil

Place the water in a clean bottle, add the essential oils, and shake it to blend. Saturate a cotton ball with toner and apply it to your skin after cleansing. Blend the mixture again before each use.

Oily Skin Treatment

1 ounce jojoba oil

3 drops lavender oil

2 drops lemon oil

2 drops tea tree oil

2 drops ylang ylang oil 1 drop geranium oil

1 drop orange oil

1 drop rosewood oil

Place the jojoba oil in a clean container, add the essential oils, and turn the container upside down several times or roll it between your hands for a few minutes to blend. Apply one or two drops to your skin as a moisturizer. Jojoba oil is very similar in composition to your skin's own natural oils, and helps to balance oil production. It does not aggra­vate acne.

Spot Treatment

1/8 ounce jojoba oil 20 drops lavender oil 20 drops tea tree oil

Place the jojoba oil in a clean container and add the essential oils. Turn the container upside down a few times or roll it between your hands for a few minutes to blend. Apply a dab of Spot Treatment directly to each blemish several times daily.

Blemish Blend

1/8ounce jojoba oil

8 drops lavender oil 8 drops rosewood oil 8 drops tea tree oil

4 drops chamomile oil 4 drops geranium oil

4 drops helichrysum oil 4 drops lemon oil

Place the jojoba oil in a clean container, add the essential oils, and turn the container upside down a few times or roll it between your hands to blend. Dab a bit of the mixture on each blemish several times daily.

Grainy Scrub

1/2teaspoon oat flour

1/2teaspoon blue cornmeal

1 drop lemon oil

1 drop ylang ylang oil

1/2teaspoon (approximately) honey or water

Combine the oat flour, blue cornmeal, lemon oil, and ylang ylang oil in your palm. Add enough honey or water to form a paste. Massage the paste into clean skin for one minute. Rinse.

Clearing Mask

1 teaspoon French green clay or bentonite 1 teaspoon honey

1 drop helichrysum oil

1 drop orange oil

1 drop rosemary oil

1/4 teaspoon enzyme powder (optional)

Mix all the ingredients together well in your palm. Apply the mask to clean skin and leave it on for ten minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

Acne-Clearing Facial Steam

1 quart steaming water

2 drops tea tree oil

1 drop clary sage oil 1 drop lemon oil

1 drop palmarosa oil

1 drop ylang ylang oil

Pour the water into a two-quart glass bowl. Drop the oils into the water and gently disperse them. Lean your clean face over the bowl and drape a towel over both your head and the bowl to capture the steam. Steam your face for five min­utes. Cleanse your skin afterwards with Green Clay Cleanser or your favorite cleanser.

Blemish-Banishing After-Shave

8 ounces distilled water

2 drops sandalwood oil 1 drop cedarwood oil

1 drop tea tree oil

1 drop vetiver oil

Add the water to a clean bottle, drop in the essential oils, and shake to combine. Splash the mixture on your skin after shaving. Shake again before each use.

Fast Acting Acne Remedies

Charles Silverman N.D., a Naturalist and Herbalist since 1979, His articles are

published on several web sites like ezinearticles.com and naturalhealthweb.com

and he is regularly interviewed by various publications and newspapers like the

Montgomery News of Alabama. All his knowledge has been transferred to his web

site and now to this amazing book, that takes advantage of the latest technology

in order to bring you the most complete guide for home healing ever made.

Article Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_1043056_28.html

Electronics

In present life, technology is developing at an unprecedented rate. What was thought unimaginable before is the truth today. The amount of wholesale electronics and gadgets available for each and every purpose is outstanding.

Our daily life revolves around so many electronic devices. Many are necessity and some for pleasure. Cell phones has become the highly anticipated gadgets ever. It provides so many easy channels for communication and has grown indispensable. So is the case with other wholesale electronics too.

As often as they are dreamed, wholesale electronic might be evenly high-priced too. With the growing needs of teens and grownups alike to have the latest electronic goods, paying for them wholesale electronics is the best and the most practical viable choice.

Movie players, mp3's and mp4's, TV sets, computer products, mobile phones, digital cameras, security related devices, video game consoles-any electronic product, you list it and it is readily ready for sell in the wholesale electronics enterprise.

The benefits of purchasing wholesale electronics from wholesale sellers are numerous. For several electronic equipment there are different types and varieties available and when it comes to buying from wholesale electronics, the borders exceed all our expectations.

The prices for all these goods are also very reasonable. In the business of wholesale electronics, where the number of items to be purchased is a lot, buying in wholesale electronics provider aids us in saving a lot of money. Thus we can save money and also purchase all the products that we want. What can be better than that scenario?

Another thing to be regarded while buying wholesale electronics is to verify the quality of the items as sometimes, we might come up with fake electronic products, to make sure that the provider we are purchasing from is trustworthy and his business is recognized and to know the reactions and reviews of all the products we desire to purchase and also of the wholesale electronics seller as this assists us in getting a clear visualization of their standing.

There is no dearth of wholesale electronics marketers, especially online buying wholesale electronics may become a good feeling .

Hello! My Name is KHAN!

Hindi film actor Shah Rukh Khan was detained at America’s Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday for a couple of hours for interrogation and later released when the Indian consulate vouched for him. This has created uproar in the country which was further aggravated by the actor’s comment that he was treated shabbily because his last name happened to be ‘Khan’. I think the people of this country who are renowned for loving the two Cs; Cinema and Cricket, overreacted and there were demonstrations and protest and comments like ‘if the same was done to Hillary Clinton’, that it was deliberately done to spite us, etc.

I wonder where was their patriotism when in July former president A.P. Abdul Kalam was frisked at New Delhi Airport by U.S. based carrier Continental Airlines. When this was brought out in public the concerned airlines put in their apologies and the matter was done away with. There was no demonstration or protest of this magnitude, come to think of it, this happened in our own capital city, New Delhi. In April last year the then finance minister P. Chidambaram was frisked when he was leaving Washington after attending the meetings of the World Bank and the IMF,

It is not as if the people from the film fraternity always got away smoothly either. Earlier this year actor Neil Nitin Mukesh was detained ostensibly because he was too fair to be an Indian. Ironically he was visiting to shoot for the film ‘New York’. Irrfan Khan was detained twice in America when he had gone to receive awards for ‘Namesake’ and second time when he had gone to receive an award for ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. Kamalhasan was detained because of his name, last year.

So why the brouhaha when Shah Rukh Khan was detained? The US immigration authorities also gave an explanation for it. They denied that he was singled out because of his name or Asian identity. The allegations “happen to be incorrect,” US Customs and Border Protection spokesman Elmer Camacho said, adding Khan was inspected because his baggage had not arrived, and as part of the inspection process was to examine the baggage but his bags were not available because of the airlines not loading it. “His documents and papers were checked, which were found to be in correct order,” Camacho told PTI. After a “normal” check at the airport, Khan was taken to a different room where he was waiting for his turn since many other people were already there. “The entire process ended in a little over one hour,” the spokesman said. The procedure, he said, was handled in a “professional manner” and there was no evidence of Khan being pointed out because of his name or Asian identity. . Later in Chicago, where he had gone to take part in the South Asian Carnival on the occasion of India’s Independence Day, Shah Rukh Khan told PTI that “I think it is a procedure that needs to be followed. But it is an unfortunate procedure.” Asked whether he would seek an apology for the incident, the actor replied in the negative. In Kolkata on Sunday, cricketer Harbhajan Singh called it a “normal affair” and that this happens to him and his colleagues all over the world, and that the media was creating a fuss.

What I find interesting is the point that we are over looking: Is this not the right manner to maintain a country’s security? After all Shah Rukh Khan may be a famous celebrity in India but in another country which is not fed a daily diet of Indian cinema, there can be a mix-up, especially as security should be a top priority for any country. I suppose this is the sort of security which has saved the US from a plethora of terrorist attacks. Everyone should let themselves be subjected to security test for that is the only way to staunch the terrorists. Al Gore was recently screened twice but he did not make a noise about it. If the general people don’t help in maintaining the security of a country then how can you expect a bunch of officials to do it all? It does not become of us to criticize any actions taken for the security of a country as we have suffered so miserably by terrorist attacks so often that we ourselves think twice before going anywhere. If we had such a tight security then perhaps we would not have had terrorists coming into the country by air, land or sea and plundering our lives and image of the country to the rest of the world. Foreigners fear coming to India because there is no faith in our security system, we ourselves don’t have much faith in it. The recent World Badminton Tournament is an example of it, where some countries pulled out because of security concerns.

Instead of letting our emotions run riot at the first go, let us think it over and decide whether it was truly a biased act. Shah Rukh Khan’s immediate reaction was that of a person used to adulations but later admitted that it was a procedure that needs to be followed. Every non-American has to go through this process in the US. Are we not over-reacting and blowing the issue out of proportion? I feel the immigration officials did nothing wrong and they also gave an explanation for the delay.

Our problem is that we don’t learn from our experiences and expect others to be like us. Had that been the case then by now the terrorists would have owned the whole world. I wish the alacrity with which we reacted to the above incident was also present in our own actions in dealing with terrorist attacks. We all must have noted the innumerable lapses on the part of the police and intelligence services when Mumbai was attacked in November last year, and I had read quite a few articles saying that such things can never happen in countries like the US because of their extremely dedicated and alert intelligence services. Today we denounce them because it involves a much-adored film-star. Are we being realistic?

Swine flu

Swine flu fever (metaphorically) has gripped the country. If you happen to sneeze, cough or just clear your throat in public, the reaction is worth watching. I am prone to catching a cold and recently I had visited my relatives living in Delhi. On my return, my neighbours covertly asked my maid where I had been and how I was feeling etc. On hearing this, I walked over to their place and assuaged them that I was nowhere near Mumbai or Pune (as if the disease is restricted to these two cities) and that I had undergone all the necessary tests to confirm that I have not contracted H1N1 virus.

The media hype has actually aggravated the situation and spread panic among the people. The common cold and influenza have lost their individual identities. The pampering that we got from our friends and foes alike at such times are a thing of the past. All the symptoms have been renamed under one umbrella and that is H1N1 virus or commonly, swine flu. Many people would like to keep a phial of Tamiflu handy in case…. The government is being blamed for holding back free marketing of Tamiflu.

Actually it has been acknowledged that the type of flu that has pervaded in here is of a milder version (frankly I don’t know what it really means, I am just quoting some articles I have read), and we need not go running for all the tests in case we have contracted a common cold. There are of course some precautions we should maintain and at the same time be aware of the actual symptoms.

The symptoms include a very high temperature, i.e., over 100.4⁰, a constant feeling of fatigue, lack of appetite and over all a cold and in some cases it has been observed a runny nose, nausea, sore throat and diarrhea. The flu symptoms are felt sooner than in case of common flu and headache is very severe usually with equally severe aches and pains and cough. Swine flu can only be confirmed after a lab test which is conducted at designated hospitals of the State health department. Those who have traveled from the affected regions of the world and show the above symptoms should go in for this test.

Those who are at risk from this ailment are people with chronic lung disease, those suffering from asthma; people with chronic heart, liver and kidney diseases, those suffering from HIV, diabetes, pregnant ladies, young children and aged people.

The disease is highly contagious and spreads when a diseased person sneezes or coughs without covering their nose and mouth. Proper hygiene is the only way to prevent the disease from spreading. Covering your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing, washing your hands after coming home from public places, the ones with a temperature remaining in confinement for at least a day after the fever subsides. Drinking lots of water or some fluids in the form of juices, soups, help from being dehydrated and also cleanses the system. As far as the question of wearing the mask is concerned, the proven knowledge about its effectiveness is limited.

Prevention is better than cure is a known fact, so eat a healthy diet comprising of proteins, vitamins and minerals as they help in boosting and strengthening our immune systems and along side also regular exercise can prevent this disease. I have been told that Swami Ramdev has claimed that regular Pranayam can help in preventing the disease.

Precautions in the form of washing your hands with antiseptic soaps frequently, staying away from people suspected of swine flu patients and abstaining from touching your eyes, nose or mouth before washing your hands often help in preventing the disease from spreading.

15th August

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge. At the stroke of midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom…” Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech on the eve of India’s Independence in 1947.

I suppose the time has come for us to renew our pledge while also trying to fathom the actual malady that has gnawed into our own social and cultural structure and eroded many a value which India had always epitomized. 15^th August is a day when we are reminded of the value of our independence. It is the day when we gained our freedom from the British colonial rule and became an independent, sovereign country that we are today. I wonder how many of us really cherish this hard-earned independence. I had read an article where it was mentioned that while fighting for freedom, Bhagat Singh had expressed his fear of the ‘Black Sahib’ taking over from the ‘White Sahib’. His fear was not unfounded we all realize now.

Independence Day has come to epitomize a paid holiday when you go out with your entire family and enjoy which ever manner you would like to. Some wear the ethnic dress and we all get to hear a lot of patriotic songs whether over radio or TV, but do we ever try to think or feel the pulse of that era? It really is difficult. The least that we can do is to try to stand-by their values and fulfill their wish for a country free from foreign domination of any kind. This is something which we have failed in doing.

Although my education was in convent schools, I remember the sisters telling us never to forget the gift that was handed down to us by our freedom fighters and always to cherish it. Nowadays I watch the school children and hear them talk, I do not feel that they really understand the value of the gift that was handed down to them. How will they anyway? We may be physically independent but mentally we are still as much enslaved if not more, than what we were previously.

As kids we were taught to stand up and maintain complete silence when the National Anthem was played, but today when I attended a small gathering on the occasion of Independence Day, I was appalled to see people popping peanuts in their mouths and catching up with friends while the National Anthem was being played. In fact when an elderly gentleman did stand up, he became the butt of extreme curiosity.

Apart from a few apolitical gatherings, (I will leave politics out of it all) where the national flag was sighted, I only found vendors in the market-place fluttering the flag. Is this our sense of patriotism? In today’s newspaper the ads were thus “Celebrate this Independence Day by buying ----” a foreign product. When other countries who had gained their independence more than a century back can keep their patriotic feeling alive, why can’t we? A country’s identity is determined by the culture of the people of that country. We are so besotted by foreign culture, modes and all else that in the process we have lost or forgotten what is our own true identity.

India is a unique country where diversities abound, whether in culture, religion or way of life and the uniting factor was to have been the Indians. No country in the world is as naturally gifted as this, but we only cherish that which some foreigner may find good. Our classical dance forms are the most intricate as well as difficult to learn but also the most satisfying to learn, but we find that most of us run to learn the western form of dancing and if we do not do so our friends will call us ‘backward’ and that is a horror. Our music is the most soulful and melodious but we are always singing paeans in the name of western music. I am not undermining the western culture; I just want to know why we have this mindset.

If you cannot speak English you are not socially accepted however capable you may be, and have lot more caliber than all your friends rolled in one. So we have spoken English schools sprouting at all places, but nothing to teach us our mother-tongue. English may be a necessity but to be ostracized is a little too much to take.

I wonder how many of my country-brethren have toured this country more often than they have toured foreign lands. Any one with a handsome bank balance is always holidaying abroad. Anything which is purely Indian is always looked down upon. If you read the fashion magazines, you will find nearly all the celebrities naming foreign goods as their favorite, be it cosmetics, appliances, apparels etc. What is wrong with us all? Why are we ashamed of anything and everything that is to do with our own culture and mode of life?

It is this Independence that is being handed down to the present generation where there is no true feeling for the country and more importantly, also no attachment to it. The other day I had gone to visit my uncle where my aunt wanted to show me the recent photos of her two sons settled in America. The first thing she showed me was their foreign friends and acquaintances and lastly her sons. What do you do?

We may have developed in a lop-sided manner because before our own culture could mature out from the villages to city and thereon, it was thrust upon us by the foreign rule, but I think this is an inborn mentality among 90% of our population and that cannot be changed. It has just got to be as given. I had read that Emperor Aurangazeb had delved into astrology and had said that India astrologically has an unique combination to Venus and Saturn that could be the cause for this servile nature. That means even at that time the natives of this land had displayed this imitative nature.

The question that remains unanswered is whether we need this Independence. Whether our freedom fighters were from another planet and so the patriotism. For whom did they actually give their lives for? We surely are not worthy of it. Celebration of Independence Day or Republic Day is nothing more than a farce in my view.