A Thought for Today-242:

Without a rich heart, wealth is an ugly beggar - Emerson

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Sunrise at Silver Beach, Cuddalore -
Photo by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 camera.

A Thought for Today-241:

Intolerance is itself a form of violence and an obstacle to the growth of a democratic spirit - Mahatma Gandhi

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Self-Improvement-57: "Positive Thinking Slideshow"

Grateful thanks to Boomeratv and YouTube.

A Thought for Today-240:

Selfishness in any and every form is dissipation, weakness, death; unselfishness in its spiritual aspect is conservation, power, life - James Allen

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Self-Improvement-56: "Conquering Negative Emotions and Anger"

Grateful thanks to Sathguru Jaggi Vasudev, Isha Yoga Foundation and YouTube.

A Thought for Today-239:

Those who find happiness within are destined never to lose it; but those who seek it elsewhere are doomed never to find it - Jim Beggs

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Self-Improvement,-55: "A Story about Positive Thinking"

Grateful thanks to 'Murugabhaktan' and YouTube.

A Thought for Today-238:

Circumstances are beyond the control of a man; but his conduct lies within his own power - Disraeli

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A Thought for Today-237:

Be studious in your profession and you will be learned.

Be industrious and frugal and you will be rich.

Be sober and temperate and you will be healthy.

Be in general virtuous and you will be happy.

At least, you will, bu such conduct, stand the best chance for such consequences.

- Benjamin Franklin

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Letters-78: "Email ID for Every Employee"

The decision of the Kerala Chief Minister to provide email IDs to every employee is in the right direction. This will make the administration transparent, paperless and decisions will be taken fast; and the people will get the communication and feedback immediately. I suggest that this move to be replicated by all State Governments, the Union Territories and the Central Government. - K.V.Suryanarayanan, Coimbatore.

From "Letters to the Editor, The Hindu, Sep.19, 2009.

Grateful thanks to Mr.K.V.Suryanarayanan and The Hindu, India's National Newspaper.

A Thought for Today-236:

Today the world is like a ship with no captain heading for the rocks. It is swept by passion and folly. We do not know whether it is passing through birth-pangs or death-throes. If we adopt the path of greed, hatred and self-interest, we will become something less than human. If we take the other path of fortitude, unselfish service and sacrifice, we will reach heights of splendour in body, mind and spirit of which we can hardly dream. - Dr.S.Radhakrishnan

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A Thought for Today-235:

One does not grow old; one becomes old by not growing - Unknown

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A Thought for Today-234:

It is not the load we carry that bears us down, it is the way we carry it - Unknown

Letters-77: "Law against Hunger"

1. When it comes to tackling hunger, India should learn a lesson or two from Bhutan. Instead of hankering after technological advancement, our tiny neighbour has focussed on health and education. It measures its prosperity with the unique index of "Gross National Happiness." Our leaders have wasted time and resources on Pokhran, mission to the moon and Ram temple - Kajal Chatterjee, Kolkata.

2. A large section of the population still suffers from hunger. Skyrocketing prices of essential commodities and changing lifestyles have added fuel to the fire. Unless concrete steps are taken, the government cannot achieve the projected growth in the near future - Ippili Santhosh Kumar, Srikakulam.

3. Looking at the effectiveness of government's policies in the 62 years since independence, one wonders if hunger and poverty will ever be eradicated. Our representatives spend most of their time persuading coalition partners and signing overseas contracts. Do they ever go to the field to check if the local authorities are implementing welfare schemes properly - R.Preethi, Tirunelveli.

4. We have many laws without teeth because our politicians do not care about their implementation. If our leaders do not change their ways, cartoonists will forever portray villagers with figures of a hut and coir-bed near them. Shame on us. - Unnikrishnan Manjeri, Malappuram.

From 'Letters to the Editor, The Hindu, August 29, 2009.
Grateful thanks to M/s. Kajal Chatterjee, Ippili Santhosh Kumar, R.Preethi, Unnikrishnan Manjeri and The Hindu.

TED Talks-5: Amy Tan on "Nurturing Creativity"

Grateful thanks to Amy Tan and TED Talks.

A Thought for Today-233:

A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an IDEA lives on - Unknown

Picture of the day-44:

A Thought for Today-232:

We must look the world in the face with calm eyes even though the eyes of the world are bloodshot today - Mahatma Gadhi

Picture of the day-43:

Main Falls, Courtallam -
Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 camera

A Thought for Today-231:

No man can live a life that is wrong and be happy - Dr Norman Vincent Peale

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A Thought for Today-230:

The great secret is that happiness is not to be found in getting but in giving. It is not what you do for yourself that will give you the greatest happiness, but, rather what you do for others. You can prove this to yourself by noticing that warm glow which comes when you do a kindly act. That is why the Great Thinker, Jesus, who talked much about these things, said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Excerpt from Dr.Norman Vincent Peale's "The New Art of Living"

Picture of the day-41:

Photo taken by Suri with his Canon Powershot A590 camera -
Road to Five Falls, Courtallam

A Thought for Today-229:

Beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances.

Pure thoughts crystallize into habits of temperance and self-control, which solidify into circumstances of repose and peace.

Thoughts of courage, self-reliance and decision crystallize into manly habits, which solidify into circumstances of success, plenty, and freedom.

Energetic thoughts crystallize into habits of cleanliness and industry, which solidify into circumstances of pleasantness.

Gentle and Forgiving thoughts crystallize into habits of gentleness, which solidify into protective and preservative circumstances.

Loving and Unselfish thoughts crystallize into habits of self-forgetfulness for others, which solidify into circumstances of sure and abiding prosperity and true riches.

Excerpt from "As a Man Thinketh" by James Allen.

Picture of the day-40:

My Photo Album-41:

The above photos of Achu were taken by Suri
during his last visit to Achu's house.

Self-Improvement, -54: "How to Improve Communication Skills"

Grateful thanks to ExpertVillage and YouTube.

A Thought for Today-228:

Bestial thoughts crystallize into habits of drunkenness and sensuality, which solidify into habits of destitution and disease.

Impure thoughts of every kind crystallize into enervating and confusing habits, which solidify into distracting and adverse circumstances.

Thoughts of fear, doubt and indecision crystallize into weak, unmanly and irresolute habits, which solidify into circumstances o failure, indigence and slavish dependence.

Lazy thoughts crystallize into habits of uncleanliness and dishonesty, which solidify into circumstances of injury and persecution.

Selfish thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of self-seeking, which solidify into circumstances more or less distressing.

- James Allen

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A Thought for Today-227:

Nothing limits achievement like small thinking. Nothing equals possibilities like unleashed thinking - William Arthur Ward

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A Thought for Today-226:

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

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A Thought for Today-225:

Travel light, live light, spread the light, be the light - Yogi Bhajan

Self-Improvement-53: "How to Overcome Shyness"

Grateful thanks to Dr.Paul Vehorn, ExpertVillage.com and YouTube.

A Thought for Today-224:

If you were to destroy in mankind the belief in immortality, not only love but every living force maintaining the life of the world at once be dried up. Moreover, nothing then would be immoral, everything would be permissible, even cannibalism - Fyodor Dostoevsky in 'Brothers Karamazov'

Picture of the day-35:

Better World-1: "How can we make the world a better place" by Dr Deepak Chopra

Grateful thanks to Dr Deepak Chopra and YouTube.

A Thought for Today-223:

Simplicity of character is no hindrance to subtlety of intellect - John Viscount Morley

Picture of the day-34: