"Everything you are against weakens you. Everything you are for empowers you" -Wayne Dyer, American Psychotherapist & Author
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
A Thought for Today-52: August 17, 2007
"A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. A goal is what specifically you intend to make happen. Dreams and goals should be just out of your present reach but not out of sight. Dreams and goals are coming attractions in your life." - Joseph Campbell
A Thought for Today-51: August 16, 2007
"Peace without justice is tyranny" — William Allen White, American writer and newspaper editor (1868-1944)
A Thought for Today-50: August 15, 2007
Desperation is sometimes as powerful an inspirer as genius - Benjamin Disraeli
A Thought for Today-49: August 14, 2007
"Among those whom I like, I find this common denominator, all of them make me laugh." - W H Auden
Eyecatchers-20 : ' In Death, Woman gives Life to Three' - UNI
New Delhi, Aug.27 : A woman suffering from fatal brain tumour, gave life to three other persons in her death through multiple organ transplant.
Leela Devi, 26, lost the battle with her brain tumour on Sunday. But showing the courage and compassion, the husband, Lance Naik GS Bisht of 26 Rashtriya Rifles, consented to donate her organs after she was pronounced brain dead.
A combined team of over 40-doctors and para-medical staff from army hospital and base hospital here on Sunday successfully transplanted her liver into a serving soldier with terminal cirrhosis due to Hepatitis B and one kidney into a 12-year-old daughter of a soldier suffering from end-stage kidney disease.
The other kidney was handed over to AIIMS, where it was transplanted into a 45-year-old with chronic kidney failure. Organ donation after brain death is rare in India. The armed forces launched the Armed Forces Organ Retrieval and Transplantation Authority (AORTA) earlier this year to increase awareness on organ donation. According to Col. A.K.Seth, director of AORTA, hundreds of serving personnel and their families have already pledged to donate their organs following a sustained campaign.
Eyecatchers-19 : ' A Baby named '@'
Beijing: A Chinese coupled tried to name their baby "@" , claiming the character used in e-mail addresses echoed their love for the child, an official trying to whip the national language into line said.
The unusual name stands out especially in Chinese, which has no alphabet and instead uses tens of thousands of multi-stroke characters to represent words.
While the "@" symbol is familiar to Chinese e-mail users, they often use the English word 'at' to sound it out - which with a drawn out 'T' sounds something like 'ai ta', or 'love him', to Mandarin speakers - World Vignettes - Agencies
(Courtesy: The New Indian Express, Madurai, Aug.17, 2007)
Eyecatchers-18 : 'Motilal Nehru's Bank Account' by Piyush Srivastava
It is a savings account that no one has operated for the past 76 years. The family members forgot all about it as did the State Bank of India, Main Katcheri Branch, Allahabad, till someone recently stumbled upon the name of the account holder: Motilal Nehru - freedom fighter, the father of the first Prime Minister of the country, Jawaharlal Nehru, the patriarch of India's most influential political dynasty.
Opened in 1897, the account still has Rs.2,650/-. Incidentally, during the last 200 years the bank has destroyed many of its old records and ledgers, but somehow 1897 and 1907 survived. "As we say, history is eternal, so is the record which informed us about the glorious past of our bank," said K.Vaidyanathan, the AGM of the Bank.
(Courtesy: The New Indian Express, Aug.17, 2007)
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Monday, August 20, 2007
Eyecatchers-17 : 'Scientists seek ways to feed the world', The New Indian Express, Aug.18, 2007
On an agricultural research station, south of Manila, a group of scientists are battling against time to breed new varieties of rice as global warming threatens one of the world's major sources of food. According to the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), more than than half the world's 6.6 billion people depend on rice for nourishment.
Indian plant geneticist, Kumar Singh, grows 2000 rice varieties inside giant metal cabinets, the seedlings sprouting above styrofoam trays soaked with varying degrees of brine to simulate the seawaters that threaten to engulf rice-growing areas over the next century.
The three IRRI scientists (Moroccan crop physiologist, Rachid Serraj; Chinese scientist, Peng Shaobing and Indian plant geneticist, Kumar Singh) are entrusted with ensuring that the half of mankind who depend on rice will not go hungry as rising temperatures and ocean levels threaten one of the world's most important crops.
(Excerpted from 'World Panorama' of The New Indian Express (Madurai) of Aug.18, 2007)
Eyecatchers-16 : 'Blu-ray Disc' : Education Express, The New Indian Express, Aug.17, 2007
With the introduction of high storage Blu-ray Discs, the music and film industry is set for yet another revolution.
What about the idea of getting eight of your favourite movies copied in single disc? Wondering how it is possible? The introduction of VCDs and DVDs had revolutionalised the film and music world and the industry is set for yet another revolution with the introduction of Blu-ray Discs (BD). With their high-storage capacity, Blu-ray Discs can hold and play large quantities of high-definition video and audio, as well as photos, data and other digital content.
What is Blu-ray?
Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of world’s leading consumer electronics, p[ersonal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.
A single-layer Blu-ray disc can hold 25 GB data and a dual-layer, 50 GB. Over nine hours of high-definition (HD) video can be stored on a 50 GB - BD. BDs are more durable and less susceptible to dust, fingerprints and even scratches.
(Compiled by Edex Team)
What about the idea of getting eight of your favourite movies copied in single disc? Wondering how it is possible? The introduction of VCDs and DVDs had revolutionalised the film and music world and the industry is set for yet another revolution with the introduction of Blu-ray Discs (BD). With their high-storage capacity, Blu-ray Discs can hold and play large quantities of high-definition video and audio, as well as photos, data and other digital content.
What is Blu-ray?
Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of world’s leading consumer electronics, p[ersonal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.
A single-layer Blu-ray disc can hold 25 GB data and a dual-layer, 50 GB. Over nine hours of high-definition (HD) video can be stored on a 50 GB - BD. BDs are more durable and less susceptible to dust, fingerprints and even scratches.
(Compiled by Edex Team)
(Excerpted from ‘Education Express’, Supplement to The New Indian Express, August 17, 2007)
Monday, August 13, 2007
Small is Beautiful
When we light a small earthen lamp, without a question and with least hesitation it sheds its humble light. It does not look around to watch if any other lamp is shedding its lustre. It is not dismayed also if no other light is burning in the vicinity.
It is content to be given to shed its own little light. It is not worried how much more darkness need to be removed from over the world. Is it a small privilege to be given to remove even a jot of darkness?
The small is beautiful. Have you not seen a tiny grass flower? Natured needed to exercise all its talents to create that tiny flower, complete in its own size of glory. If little things had no meaning they would not be there. Scientists have by now told us how much power, mystery and glory are there in in the tiny atom.
Let us not be nervous about our smallness. For, without grains of sands, even the loftiest monuments could not be built. In fact, the ultimate brick of the greatest monuments is the sand particle.
There are people who think too highly of themselves. They have what is called a superiority complex. That abominable thing is too bad for themselves, and not good for others.
There are, again, those who think too lowly of themselves. They have an inferiority complex. This is worse than the superiority complex. They think that they are good for nothing. By continuously thinking that way, they really become so.
Such people can never become good citizens. When we discuss momentous issues concerning mankind, and the responsibility of doing our mite, they throw up their hands and dogmatically declare that small persons like them can do nothing about these great problems.
So they shy away even from discussing these problems. Taking shelter behind their so-called or supposed smallness they take an inverse pride in declaring that they have nothing to do with the ambitious scheme of solving world problems.
We should clearly understand that even a small lamp has the capacity and the privilege to give light. Often enough, these days, thanks to frequent power shortages, we are given the opportunity to appreciate the usefulness of the good old, humble candles. When proud powerhouses fail, humble candles give light. Even today the basic measure of all magnificent light is the candle power!
If thousand suns do not suddenly burst forth in our horizon, there is no reason to be disheartened. In fact that would be too tragic for our planet. Let us light thousand small lights.
Enlightened citizenship is every individual’s responsibility. That is the spirit of the times. That is the basic assumption of democracy. This is also the teaching of Vedanta. You are, whoever you may be, the centre of light, you are verily that! "Tat Tvamasi!" True enlightened citizenship cannot be worked for in lesser terms. We can gain nothing by letting go our grip on the highest truth, whereas by remaining anchored in the highest truth we can eventually enlighten ourselves and others.
Swami Vivekananda teaches: You are part of the Infinite. This is your nature. Hence you are your brother’s keeper. Not one can be happy until all are happy. When you hurt anyone, you hurt yourself, for you and your brother are one. …Each is responsible for the evil anywhere in the world. He is indeed a yogi who sees himself in the whole universe and the universe within himself.
Enlightened citizenship is very much a home-grown affair, in the sense that your home can become a light-house. The light that is within you, when that shines without also, that is enlightened citizenship.
The greatest legacy that Gandhiji has left to mankind is to have shown by his own example that each human being has a direct responsibility to world peace by the progressive day-to-day transformation of the individual soul. In fact, for all practical purposes, enlightened citizenship is a spiritual adventure.
Courtesy: “ENLIGHTENED CITIZENSHIP” - A Ramakrishna Math, Delhi, publication
A Thought for Today-48: August 13, 2007
"Diamonds are nothing more than chunks of coal that stuck to their jobs." - Malcolm Forbes
A Thought for Today-47: August 12, 2007
"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy." - Rabindranath Tagore
A Thought for Today-46: August 11, 2007
"Be a Columbus to whole new continents and worlds within you, opening new channels, not of trade, but of thought." - Henry David Thoreau
A Thought for Today-45: August 10, 2007
"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future." - Paul Boese
Ten Pledges for Students from Dr A P J Abdul Kalam
1. I shall pursue my education and my work with dedication and I shall excel in it.
2. From now onwards, I shall teach at least ten persons who cannot read and write to read and write.
3. I shall plant at least ten saplings and shall ensure their growth through constant care.
4. I shall visit rural and urban areas and permanently wean away at least five persons from addiction and gambling.
5. I shall constantly endeavour to remove the pain of my suffering brethren.
6. I shall not support any religious, caste or language differentiation.
7. I shall be honest and endeavour to make a corruption-free society.
8. I shall work for becoming an enlightened citizen and make my family righteous.
9. I shall always be a friend of the mentally and physically challenged and shall work hard to make them feel normal, like the rest of us.
2. From now onwards, I shall teach at least ten persons who cannot read and write to read and write.
3. I shall plant at least ten saplings and shall ensure their growth through constant care.
4. I shall visit rural and urban areas and permanently wean away at least five persons from addiction and gambling.
5. I shall constantly endeavour to remove the pain of my suffering brethren.
6. I shall not support any religious, caste or language differentiation.
7. I shall be honest and endeavour to make a corruption-free society.
8. I shall work for becoming an enlightened citizen and make my family righteous.
9. I shall always be a friend of the mentally and physically challenged and shall work hard to make them feel normal, like the rest of us.
10. I shall proudly celebrate the success of my country and my people.
Eyecatchers-15 : R K Narayan Birth Centenary Celebrations
R.K.Narayan, the master storyteller, whose sensitive, well-drawn portrayal of twentieth-century Indian life is set mostly in the fictional South Indian town, ‘Malgudi’, received rich tributes from the students of Madura College during his birth centenary celebrations organized by the English Dept of the college recently.
About 200 teachers and students participated in a seminar on ‘R.K.Narayan – the Master Storyteller’ sponsored by the Madura College Board. Thirty papers were presented dealing with the works of Narayan, followed by a brainstorming session.
Prof.Jamuna Rani of Sri Meenakshi Govt College, Prof.Thayyalnayaki of GTN College and Prof.Padma Srinivasan chaired the paper presentation sessions. The students also presented skits based on short stories of Narayan as a part of the celebrations.
About 200 teachers and students participated in a seminar on ‘R.K.Narayan – the Master Storyteller’ sponsored by the Madura College Board. Thirty papers were presented dealing with the works of Narayan, followed by a brainstorming session.
Prof.Jamuna Rani of Sri Meenakshi Govt College, Prof.Thayyalnayaki of GTN College and Prof.Padma Srinivasan chaired the paper presentation sessions. The students also presented skits based on short stories of Narayan as a part of the celebrations.
(The New Indian Express, Madurai, Aug.13, 2007)
Eyecatchers-14 : Scientific Breakthrough in Oxygenation of Blood - Express News Service
A professor from the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) and a cardiothoracic surgeon from the Apollo Hospitals claimed to have come out with a pathbreaking concept to help treat acute and chronic lung failures.
After two years of joint research, A.Subrahmanyam of the Dept of Physics, IIT-M and consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon of the Apollo Hospitals, Dr.Paul Ramesh on Friday shared the details of their new method, ‘Photocatalytic oxygenation of human blood’ with the mediapersons.
In the acute and chronic lung diseases, often there is a need for oxygen to be supplied from external sources. Presently, ventilators or extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) is used to provide oxygen to the patients. “However, ventilators cannot increase the amount of oxygen in tissues beyond a point. The ECMO too has many limitations,” explained Dr.Ramesh.
However, the duo have now developed an easier way to send oxygen to lungs which helps patients to make oxygen using sunlight.
Subrahmanyam explained, “Blood contains 80% of water which has oxygen and hydrogen. So, we thought of splitting the oxygen from it.” The oxygen thus formed could be sent to the blood and delivered to the tissues circumventing the lung.
The method goes like this – researchers have used a thin film technology and developed a nano porous layer of titanium-dioxide and indium tin oxide which is only 500 nano metre thick (thickness of a human hair) and used UV light to demonstrate effective oxygenation of human blood.
Soon, they will conduct tests on animals and later clinical trials. “The functional device should be ready in two years,” said Dr.Ramesh.
At present, the experiments were conducted in-vitro (laboratory) conditions. But the duo are planning to create a device which could be fixed inside the body of the patient.
According to Dr.Ramesh, this would help in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases which has a prevalence of 11.6 and 8.77 per 1000 in men and women respectively.
After two years of joint research, A.Subrahmanyam of the Dept of Physics, IIT-M and consultant cardio-thoracic surgeon of the Apollo Hospitals, Dr.Paul Ramesh on Friday shared the details of their new method, ‘Photocatalytic oxygenation of human blood’ with the mediapersons.
In the acute and chronic lung diseases, often there is a need for oxygen to be supplied from external sources. Presently, ventilators or extracorporeal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) is used to provide oxygen to the patients. “However, ventilators cannot increase the amount of oxygen in tissues beyond a point. The ECMO too has many limitations,” explained Dr.Ramesh.
However, the duo have now developed an easier way to send oxygen to lungs which helps patients to make oxygen using sunlight.
Subrahmanyam explained, “Blood contains 80% of water which has oxygen and hydrogen. So, we thought of splitting the oxygen from it.” The oxygen thus formed could be sent to the blood and delivered to the tissues circumventing the lung.
The method goes like this – researchers have used a thin film technology and developed a nano porous layer of titanium-dioxide and indium tin oxide which is only 500 nano metre thick (thickness of a human hair) and used UV light to demonstrate effective oxygenation of human blood.
Soon, they will conduct tests on animals and later clinical trials. “The functional device should be ready in two years,” said Dr.Ramesh.
At present, the experiments were conducted in-vitro (laboratory) conditions. But the duo are planning to create a device which could be fixed inside the body of the patient.
According to Dr.Ramesh, this would help in treating chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases which has a prevalence of 11.6 and 8.77 per 1000 in men and women respectively.
(Courtesy: The New Indian Express, Madurai, August 12, 2007)
Eyecatchers-13 : India’s Best and Worst: NDTV Poll Findings
Mahatma Gandhi has been voted the greatest national icon in an opinion poll of icons, events and landmarks conducted by NDTV for the program “India at 60”.
Other findings are:
Democracy is the greatest national pride and Bribery its worst shame; the IT revolution is the one event that changed the country, while Operation Bluestar and the anti-Sikh riots are its greatest political blot. The NDTV poll was conducted using direct questionnaires administered at street corners in 13 cities, SMS responses, and voting on the worldwide web.
Sachin Tendulkar was voted the country’s greatest sportsperson; ‘Mother India’ the greatest film; and the patriotic ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ the greatest song.
In the perception of the respondents, the Mahatma was ahead of Mother Teresa. Other personalities in the list of icons are JRD Tata, Indira Gandhi, Narayana N.R.Murthy, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jawaharlal Nehru.
The poll found that the national achievements, besides democracy, that give Indians the greatest pride are secularism, the IT industry, the armed forces, the Railways, and the judiciary. Hunger comes next only to bribery as the worst shame, followed by untouchability, dowry and manual scavenging.
(Courtesy: The Hindu, Tamil Nadu Edition, Madurai, Sunday, August 12, 2007)
Other findings are:
Democracy is the greatest national pride and Bribery its worst shame; the IT revolution is the one event that changed the country, while Operation Bluestar and the anti-Sikh riots are its greatest political blot. The NDTV poll was conducted using direct questionnaires administered at street corners in 13 cities, SMS responses, and voting on the worldwide web.
Sachin Tendulkar was voted the country’s greatest sportsperson; ‘Mother India’ the greatest film; and the patriotic ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’ the greatest song.
In the perception of the respondents, the Mahatma was ahead of Mother Teresa. Other personalities in the list of icons are JRD Tata, Indira Gandhi, Narayana N.R.Murthy, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jawaharlal Nehru.
The poll found that the national achievements, besides democracy, that give Indians the greatest pride are secularism, the IT industry, the armed forces, the Railways, and the judiciary. Hunger comes next only to bribery as the worst shame, followed by untouchability, dowry and manual scavenging.
(Courtesy: The Hindu, Tamil Nadu Edition, Madurai, Sunday, August 12, 2007)
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