Violence begets violence, toughness begets toughness, love begets love, and peace begets peace – Gary Ryan Blair
Grateful thanks to Magnus Rosendahl and Public-Domain-Photos.com for the photo and Mr.Gary Ryan Blair for the quotation.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Health Watch-14: '“Secret of Longevity"
If it is longevity you are after, you may want to consider spending more time with members of the younger generation, according to a new animal study.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 27, 2008 (Newscape)
If you want to read the article on 'Longevity' in Wikipedia:
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 27, 2008 (Newscape)
If you want to read the article on 'Longevity' in Wikipedia:
"Why we age: Anti-aging Research and Discussion" from the website, http://www.whyweage.com/:
"The Secrets of Long Life" from National Geographic Interaactive Edition:
Grateful thanks to The Hindu, Wikipedia, Whyweage.com and National Geographic.
Random Thoughts-10: "ON NUMEROLOGY"
On my morning walk yesterday, the signboard of a tailorshop caught my eye. It used to be “Julie Tailors”. Only now it has become “Jully Tailors”. I know the chap from his apprentice days. After a very good apprenticeship with a popular tailor, he put up a shop in the heart of the town and was coming up. Then tragedies started raining in his personal life, reducing him to penury. He closed his shop was not to be seen. Then after a few years, he opened his shop at the outskirts of our place in a humble way. Obviously, he was recovering slowly. Probably, at this stage, somebody must have suggested numerology to him. Desperate for revival, he must have taken the idea and so you have now, “Jully Tailors”. God bless him!
I know another chap, who had more than his share of business failures. He was desperately looking for solutions. He tried palmistry, astrology and then what? You guessed it, “Numerology!” He paid a princely sum of Rs.5000/- for an appointment with a famous numerologist. Got his name changed. That was years back. As far as I know, his problems still remain. Sensibly he has returned to the name given to him by his parents. God bless him too!.
My full name is a long one, which once a friend remarked looked like a “goods train to him”. Funny! I could not see the connection. But I generally use the short form, ‘SURI’ everywhere but for official documents. A colleague of mine who was avidly reading books on numerology told me: “Do you know if a person has “U” and “I” in his name, he will always have money in his pocket; knowing me personally, then he added defensively: “Though it may not always be his.”
Now, those of your believers in numerology, don’t pounce on me. I am not denouncing numerology. I have an open mind and only I am yet to come across people who have been helped by numerology. Maybe there is something in it, or maybe not. I only feel that one should use one’s brain to find solutions to problems. Faith in oneself, hard work, perseverance and some prayer may help. Don’t you think so?
I know another chap, who had more than his share of business failures. He was desperately looking for solutions. He tried palmistry, astrology and then what? You guessed it, “Numerology!” He paid a princely sum of Rs.5000/- for an appointment with a famous numerologist. Got his name changed. That was years back. As far as I know, his problems still remain. Sensibly he has returned to the name given to him by his parents. God bless him too!.
My full name is a long one, which once a friend remarked looked like a “goods train to him”. Funny! I could not see the connection. But I generally use the short form, ‘SURI’ everywhere but for official documents. A colleague of mine who was avidly reading books on numerology told me: “Do you know if a person has “U” and “I” in his name, he will always have money in his pocket; knowing me personally, then he added defensively: “Though it may not always be his.”
Now, those of your believers in numerology, don’t pounce on me. I am not denouncing numerology. I have an open mind and only I am yet to come across people who have been helped by numerology. Maybe there is something in it, or maybe not. I only feel that one should use one’s brain to find solutions to problems. Faith in oneself, hard work, perseverance and some prayer may help. Don’t you think so?
Incidentally, Wikipedia has a lot of information on Numerology. If you are interested, just click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerology
Monday, May 26, 2008
Letters-18: "Countering Terrorism"
1. This refers to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that the Jaipur blasts were aimed at derailing ties between India and Pakistan. Over a decade has passed since the serial bomb blasts took place in Mumbai. Many more terrorist attacks have taken place after 1993. It is only now that a Prime Minister has spoken about the need for a separate agency to investigate “all crimes with multi-state aspects” such as terrorism. One wonders how many more innocent lives will be lost before the Centre and the State governments put in place a counter-terrorism apparatus that is reliable. – K.Vijayakumar, Bangalore.
2. Another city has been successfully added to the terrorists’ hit list. The government predictably has praised the spirit of the citizens of Jaipur and appealed for peace and calm. It is shameful that we in India tolerate terror acts. For all the criticism heaped on George W.Bush, he has had the last laugh. No terrorist has dared to attack the U.S. after 9/11. Forget evolving a policy on terrorism, we are afraid to carry out even the Supreme Court’s sentence given to a terrorist after due legal process. – Sanjeev Sayeeraman, Sunnyvale, California.
3. Terror attacks are continuing unabated and not one police official is held responsible for them. And not one case has been closed till date. True, the intelligence agencies should have prevented the attacks but that is no reason to go easy on the mistakes committed. Each time there is a blast, the Home Minister enlightens us with some analysis. What people are looking for is some action to make their lives safe. – S.Sudhir Kumar, Hyderabad.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 21, 2008.
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and the individuals who wrote the above letters, which reflect not only my own feelings but that of many others.
2. Another city has been successfully added to the terrorists’ hit list. The government predictably has praised the spirit of the citizens of Jaipur and appealed for peace and calm. It is shameful that we in India tolerate terror acts. For all the criticism heaped on George W.Bush, he has had the last laugh. No terrorist has dared to attack the U.S. after 9/11. Forget evolving a policy on terrorism, we are afraid to carry out even the Supreme Court’s sentence given to a terrorist after due legal process. – Sanjeev Sayeeraman, Sunnyvale, California.
3. Terror attacks are continuing unabated and not one police official is held responsible for them. And not one case has been closed till date. True, the intelligence agencies should have prevented the attacks but that is no reason to go easy on the mistakes committed. Each time there is a blast, the Home Minister enlightens us with some analysis. What people are looking for is some action to make their lives safe. – S.Sudhir Kumar, Hyderabad.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 21, 2008.
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and the individuals who wrote the above letters, which reflect not only my own feelings but that of many others.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
A Thought for Today :
Beach-2[2] by Jon Sullivan from You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty – Mahatma Gandhi
Grateful thanks to Jon Sullivan and Public-Domain-Photos.com
for freely providing the above photo.
Health Watch-13: '“10,000 Steps a Day!"
From the Mailbag of The Hindu Weekly Magazine, April 27, 2008:
One of our readers, Mr.Manoranjan Rao, had a specific query regarding the article on walking we published in The Hindu, April 13, 2008. He wrote in to say, “It was with great pleasure that I read your excellent article on walking. I am rather surprised that you have not mentioned anything about the age except saying that a person above 40 needs medical clearance. What I would like to know is your prescription for the elderly. For example, I would like to know if the minimum of 10,000 steps per day also applies to senior citizens (above, say, 65). Or, would you recommend a different regiment for them?
Dr.Sheela Nambiar’s Reply:
Thank you for your response to my article. I think your query is very pertinent and I will do my best to answer it.
10,000 steps/day is not a magic number but only a guideline. As I mentioned, most of us adults cover only about 3000-4000 steps per day. There is no real body of research however that mandates 10000 steps. One study showed that taking 6000 steps was also good in preventing cardiovascular disease.
By and large
Taking under 5000 steps/day is indicati9ve of a “sedentary” lifestyle;
5000-7500 steps is indicative of a “somewhat active” lifestyle that includes adequate daily activity (such as household activities and some amount of exercise);
7500-10000 steps is indicative of a “fairly active” lifestyle;
10000 steps is indicative of an “Active” lifestyle;
More 10000 steps is considered “Highly Active”;
Children need more than 12000 steps per day.
The elderly need to first assess how many steps they currently walk and make gradual increments of about 10000 to 20000 steps per week. They may not ultimately be able to reach a 10000 steps per day mark, but the objective is more to increase activity. Even 6000 steps per day has been found to be adequate for elderly.
Grateful thanks to The Hindu, Dr.Sheela Nambiar and Mr.Manoranjan Rao.
One of our readers, Mr.Manoranjan Rao, had a specific query regarding the article on walking we published in The Hindu, April 13, 2008. He wrote in to say, “It was with great pleasure that I read your excellent article on walking. I am rather surprised that you have not mentioned anything about the age except saying that a person above 40 needs medical clearance. What I would like to know is your prescription for the elderly. For example, I would like to know if the minimum of 10,000 steps per day also applies to senior citizens (above, say, 65). Or, would you recommend a different regiment for them?
Dr.Sheela Nambiar’s Reply:
Thank you for your response to my article. I think your query is very pertinent and I will do my best to answer it.
10,000 steps/day is not a magic number but only a guideline. As I mentioned, most of us adults cover only about 3000-4000 steps per day. There is no real body of research however that mandates 10000 steps. One study showed that taking 6000 steps was also good in preventing cardiovascular disease.
By and large
Taking under 5000 steps/day is indicati9ve of a “sedentary” lifestyle;
5000-7500 steps is indicative of a “somewhat active” lifestyle that includes adequate daily activity (such as household activities and some amount of exercise);
7500-10000 steps is indicative of a “fairly active” lifestyle;
10000 steps is indicative of an “Active” lifestyle;
More 10000 steps is considered “Highly Active”;
Children need more than 12000 steps per day.
The elderly need to first assess how many steps they currently walk and make gradual increments of about 10000 to 20000 steps per week. They may not ultimately be able to reach a 10000 steps per day mark, but the objective is more to increase activity. Even 6000 steps per day has been found to be adequate for elderly.
Grateful thanks to The Hindu, Dr.Sheela Nambiar and Mr.Manoranjan Rao.
Friday, May 23, 2008
A Thought for Today :
Cactus-95[1] by Paolo Naofrom Public-Domain-Photos.com
Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth,
and hatred with love - Peace Pilgrim
Grateful thanks to Paolo Nao and Public-Domain-Photos.com
for freely providing the above photo.
Letters-17: "“On Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project"
1. I wish to thank The Hindu for publishing the article, “A mockery of science, conservation and environmental laws” (May 19). The scientific establishment of India, Tamil Nadu in particular, dealing with marine systems should do some soul-searching. Government documents such as the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Environmental Impact Assessment done by NEERI and similar studies by others in the domain make us wonder whether such exercises are a mere eyewash. The stretch along the east coast of Tamil Nadu to north-west Sri Lanka, including the waters, islands, sediments, the barrier reef and their dynamics, constitute the ecosystem. This will be endangered by the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project. The needs of the hour is an effective campaign to stop it. – C.B.S.R.Sharma, Puducherry.
2. While it has been proved that the SSCP is not economically viable, the government is going ached with it with the least respect for the economy and ecology. Though, on sediment dynamics of this area, various experts have given different values, NEERI’s EIA has used the values selectively. Nobody seems to know the exact quantum to be dredged for maintenance dredging. – K.R.A.Narasiah, Chennai.
3. After going through the article and many more articles on the SSCP, I feel the tax-payers’ money has been dumped into the sea for no reason. No doubt, the government has to answer uncomfortable questions on why it ignored its own environment laws. I was shocked to learn that corals, which are Schedule 1 species and enjoy the same status as that of tigers, will be killed if the SSCP materializes. Who will be accountable for the ecological disaster? The Alaska experience has taught us that the damage caused to the environment is irreversible and can prove very costly. – Antony Rohan, Chennai.
4. The article was informative and thought-provoking. It was a rare piece that rightly highlighted the environmental dimension of the project. It drove home the disastrous consequences of the SSCP for the region, which is rich in bio-diversity. It also exposed the fact that the project ignores the existing environmental laws of the country. – Anis Ahmad, Faridabad.
5. The SSCP is a classic example of non-sustainable development. The article has advanced genuine arguments against the project. It is different from the holier-than-thou concern expressed by some for legend and myth, and the dangerous communal argument being put forward by the BJP which initially supported the project. The UPA government must listen to the experts and abandon the project. – Vasantha Surya, Chennai.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 21, 2008 (Letters to the Editor)
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and the individuals who wrote the above letters.
2. While it has been proved that the SSCP is not economically viable, the government is going ached with it with the least respect for the economy and ecology. Though, on sediment dynamics of this area, various experts have given different values, NEERI’s EIA has used the values selectively. Nobody seems to know the exact quantum to be dredged for maintenance dredging. – K.R.A.Narasiah, Chennai.
3. After going through the article and many more articles on the SSCP, I feel the tax-payers’ money has been dumped into the sea for no reason. No doubt, the government has to answer uncomfortable questions on why it ignored its own environment laws. I was shocked to learn that corals, which are Schedule 1 species and enjoy the same status as that of tigers, will be killed if the SSCP materializes. Who will be accountable for the ecological disaster? The Alaska experience has taught us that the damage caused to the environment is irreversible and can prove very costly. – Antony Rohan, Chennai.
4. The article was informative and thought-provoking. It was a rare piece that rightly highlighted the environmental dimension of the project. It drove home the disastrous consequences of the SSCP for the region, which is rich in bio-diversity. It also exposed the fact that the project ignores the existing environmental laws of the country. – Anis Ahmad, Faridabad.
5. The SSCP is a classic example of non-sustainable development. The article has advanced genuine arguments against the project. It is different from the holier-than-thou concern expressed by some for legend and myth, and the dangerous communal argument being put forward by the BJP which initially supported the project. The UPA government must listen to the experts and abandon the project. – Vasantha Surya, Chennai.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 21, 2008 (Letters to the Editor)
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and the individuals who wrote the above letters.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
A Thought for Today :
Cactus-5[1] by Paolo Nao fromPublic-Domain Photos.com
The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes - William James
(Grateful thanks to Paolo Nao and Public-Domain-Photos.com for freely providing the above photo.)
S&T Watch-6: "Dying Star Erupting into Supernova"
Astronomers on Wednesday (May 21, 2008) said they witnessed for the first time how a dying star erupted into a supernova, one of the mightiest yet most elusive sights in the Universe.
Supernovae are massive stars that run out of fuel, collapse under the weight of their own gravity and become an ultra-dense object known as a neutron star.
They then send out a shockwave that rips the star apart and leaves a sizzling cauldron of radiation.
These colossal events are among the most thrilling phenomena for astronomers but are also agonizingly hard to detect. They are usually only spotted days or weeks after they occur, becoming visible when material from the blast collides with gas and dust that the star had shed earlier. This high-energy smash creates a dramatic flare which eventually fades.
In January, though, a “once-in-a-lifetime” stroke of luck enabled astronomers to spot a supernova in its infancy, skygazers reported in the British journal, Nature.
Princeton University’s Alicia Soderberg had asked NASA mission controllers to orientate their orbital X-ray telescope, Swift, to observe the glowing remnants of a two-week-old supernova in a spiral galaxy called NGC 2770, 90 million light years from Earth.
But, by sheer good fortune, another supernova was brewing nearby, sending out a burst of X-rays that Swift instantly picked up and started to record. “It is a really lucky chain of events. It was all over in a matter of minutes,” said Ms.Soderberg.
The satellite’s precious 530 seconds of data confirm a theory postulated nearly four decades ago that supernova would be heralded by an X-ray burst. – AFP
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 22, 2008 (Grandstand View of Supernova).
Grateful thanks to AFP and The Hindu.
Supernovae are massive stars that run out of fuel, collapse under the weight of their own gravity and become an ultra-dense object known as a neutron star.
They then send out a shockwave that rips the star apart and leaves a sizzling cauldron of radiation.
These colossal events are among the most thrilling phenomena for astronomers but are also agonizingly hard to detect. They are usually only spotted days or weeks after they occur, becoming visible when material from the blast collides with gas and dust that the star had shed earlier. This high-energy smash creates a dramatic flare which eventually fades.
In January, though, a “once-in-a-lifetime” stroke of luck enabled astronomers to spot a supernova in its infancy, skygazers reported in the British journal, Nature.
Princeton University’s Alicia Soderberg had asked NASA mission controllers to orientate their orbital X-ray telescope, Swift, to observe the glowing remnants of a two-week-old supernova in a spiral galaxy called NGC 2770, 90 million light years from Earth.
But, by sheer good fortune, another supernova was brewing nearby, sending out a burst of X-rays that Swift instantly picked up and started to record. “It is a really lucky chain of events. It was all over in a matter of minutes,” said Ms.Soderberg.
The satellite’s precious 530 seconds of data confirm a theory postulated nearly four decades ago that supernova would be heralded by an X-ray burst. – AFP
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 22, 2008 (Grandstand View of Supernova).
Grateful thanks to AFP and The Hindu.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
A Thought for Today:
What a noble gift it is, the power of playing upon the souls and wills of men, and rousing them to lofty purposes and holy deeds. - "Beautiful Thoughts" by Henry Drummond(Grateful thanks to Jon Sullivan and Public-Domain-Photos.com for freely providing the photograph)
Letter-18: Campaign against Alcohol, Tobacco & Junk Food
Dr.Ramadoss (Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Health Minister) deserves our whole-hearted praise for his undaunted campaign against alcohol, tobacco and junk food in spite of the unfair criticism heaped on him by industrial lobbies. Women and children are the worst affected, directly and indirectly, by the three evils. Youngsters are increasingly taking to smoking and junk food, tempted by advertisements and lifestyles of their favourite heroes. - R.Ponnarasi, Vellore, Letter to the Editor, The Hindu, Madurai, May 14, 2008.
Grateful thanks to Ms.R.Ponnarasi and The Hindu.
Health Watch-14: Asian Tiger Mosquito
A Mosquito Goes Global
Martin Enserink
Martin Enserink
The Asian tiger mosquito is on a rampage. Entomologists are impressed, public health officials are nervous, and many of the rest of us are swatting furiously. How did Aedes albopictus become such a scourge?
Full story at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/320/5878/864?sa_campaign=Email/sntw/16-May-2008/10.1126/science.320.5878.864
More about Asian Tiger Mosquite from Wikipedia:
Saturday, May 10, 2008
A Thought for Today :
'Cactus-88[1]' by Paolo NaofromPublic-Domain-Photos.com
(www.public-domain-photos.com)
People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily - Zig Ziglar
Grateful thanks to Paolo Nao and the Public-Domain-Photos.com for freely providing the above photograph.
S&T Watch-5: "Disposal of Dead Bodies: A New Option"
Since they first walked the planet, humans have either buried or burned their dead. Now a new option is generating interest – dissolving bodies and flushing the brownish, syrupy residue down the drain.
The process is called alkaline hydrolysis and was developed in the U.S. 16 years ago to get rid of animal carcasses. It uses lye, 150 degree Celsius heat and 60 pounds of pressure a square inch to destroy bodies in big stainless-steel cylinders that are similar to pressure cookers.
Getting the public to accept a process that strikes some as ghastly may be the biggest challenge.
Alkaline hydrolysis does not take up as much space in cemeteries as burial. The process could also ease concerns about crematorium emissions, including carbon dioxide and mercury from silver dental fillings – AP
Excerpt from “New Idea in Mortuary Science: Dissolving Bodies”, The Hindu, Madurai, May 10, 2008
The process is called alkaline hydrolysis and was developed in the U.S. 16 years ago to get rid of animal carcasses. It uses lye, 150 degree Celsius heat and 60 pounds of pressure a square inch to destroy bodies in big stainless-steel cylinders that are similar to pressure cookers.
Getting the public to accept a process that strikes some as ghastly may be the biggest challenge.
Alkaline hydrolysis does not take up as much space in cemeteries as burial. The process could also ease concerns about crematorium emissions, including carbon dioxide and mercury from silver dental fillings – AP
Excerpt from “New Idea in Mortuary Science: Dissolving Bodies”, The Hindu, Madurai, May 10, 2008
About "Mortuary Science" from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortuary_Science
Grateful thanks to AP and The Hindu and Wikipedia.
Grateful thanks to AP and The Hindu and Wikipedia.
Health Watch-13: '“New MRI System"
U.S.researchers have developed a potential magnetic resonance imaging system that is much faster and more sensitive than the standard MRI.
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 10, 2008 (Newscape)
Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, May 10, 2008 (Newscape)
About MRI in detail from Wikipedia:
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
A Thought for Today : April 10, 2008
'Cactus-41[1]' by Paolo NaoTwenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain
Grateful thanks to Paolo Nao and the Public-Domain-Photos.com for freely providing the above photograph.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Osama bin Laden's Declaration of War from Wikisource
The English translation of the Declaration of Jihad Against the Americans by Osama bin Laden written in 1996.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden%27s_Declaration_of_War
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Osama_bin_Laden%27s_Declaration_of_War
Biographic details of Bin Laden from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osama_Bin_Laden
Grateful thanks to United States Govt,Wikisource and Wikipedia.
Eyecatchers-73: "My Private Will and Testament" by Hitler
Here is another important and interesting historical document. ‘My Private Will and Testament’ written by Adolf Hitler on 29 April 1945.
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/My_Private_Will_and_Testament
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/My_Private_Will_and_Testament
Biographic details of Adolf Hitler from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler
Grateful thanks to United States Govt, Wikisource and Wikipedia.
Grateful thanks to United States Govt, Wikisource and Wikipedia.
Health Watch-12: '“900 Persons die daily of TB!"
A PTI report quoting Union Health Minister, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, says 900 die every day due to TB in India.
About TB in general with more details from Wikipedia:
Grateful thanks to PTI and Wikipedia.
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