Have a Hearty Laugh-1: Dhoni Reduces Milk Consumption!

Dinamalar, a Tamil daily from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, reports that Mahendra Singh Dhoni, captain of the Indian cricket team, now consumes only one litre of milk a day. He used to consume six litres of milk a day. But, now, as the price of milk has gone up due to inflation, he has reduced the consumption to one litre a day!

Nellaiappan's Column-2: "Busy Vs. Too Busy"

In most cases, the readers are more intelligent than the writers. It has been proved again yesterday. I received a phone-call about my last article. The caller surprised me, by talking about what I was going to write. He said, “I know your next topic is about Lin Yutang”. He was unable to hide his pride and continued, “I know all your tricks; you have brought his name in your last article though there was no need for that”. I thanked him and appreciated his shrewdness.

But till then, I had no idea of what to write for the next one. I am grateful to the caller for providing me with an idea and to my old friend Mr.VE.Annamalai, who gave me “The importance of living” 25 years ago; let me share something I learnt from Lin Yutang.

“Those who are wise won’t be busy, and those who are too busy, can’t be wise.” When I read this for the first time, I was a college student. Though I was enjoying the quotation, I have not realized its full implication. After taking up ‘manufacturing’ as my ‘bread and butter’ and while I was struggling to manage my time effectively during my initial years, I understood and appreciated the wisdom behind it.

Even today many workaholics, especially executives, spend 12-16 hours a day in the office. I only pity them. Are they really contributing? Is there really any value addition? If so, can’t it be done within the stipulated working hours?

The fact is there is no need to do so. These hardcore workaholics not only spoil the working atmosphere, but cause huge damages to their own home front. This wrong concept has to be unlearned.

What we do at the time of emergency is different. But emergency cannot become a way of life. I know people who simply stay extra hours in office and derive a sort of pseudo-satisfaction.

Lack of systems, lack of resources and fear to delegate work are the major reasons for such work behavior.

I happened to work for one owner-cum-incharge and he was almost living in the factory. What is more he was expecting me also to do the same. I had to tell him point blank that why I could not do so.

Job is for bread and butter and to keep a respectable roof over your head. But life has other meanings and one needs to spare one’s time to pursue these other dreams, other goals, which could be higher, elevating, uplifting and ennobling and hence more fulfilling and more satisfying. You cannot earn money first and then pursue your dreams, these other goals. Both have to go hand-in-hand, simultaneously. It is very unfortunate that one spends any amount of time to work and other daily chore but does not find time to pursue one’s dreams, the higher goals of life.

If one spends all one’s time in work and other routine matters, when and how does one think and find time for pursuing one’s life purpose, the greater goals of life?


Lucky are the people who still manage to ride the two horses simultaneously like a circus-man: the breadwinner riding the horse of family and work and the dreamer riding the horse of higher goals of life. One finds fulfillment when one is able to manage both. The rest of us have to compromise somewhere, one overlapping the other or one at the cost of the other.

When I say busy, it is not just the timeframe, but also the tension that accompanies it. More often than not, the tension is due to delaying action till the last minute.

Well, management gurus have discussed in length about important Vs urgent, and I am not going to reproduce any of that here.

I always believe in team work and team building is an art. Where ever I work I take it as my first priority to develop my subordinates. When the team is in tact I never feel the urgency.

As I am aware that 90% of my work can be done by my subordinate I always look for sharing the work of my boss. I always encourage the down line people to take decision and to tell you the truth, most of the time they have come out with better solutions.

When some of their solutions are not up to the mark, I simply ask them few questions and they will immediately realize their mistake and the final result will be commendable.

Most of the people do the reverse of this. I once retorted with “why keep a dog and bark yourself?” to my old boss when he tried to do my job, which I usually give to my subordinates.

The secret is, train your people well and through some challenge and they will never allow you to be busy.

Oh! There is an emergency call from my house and let me attend to that first. See you again, bye!

Health Watch-17: Millions die of Preventable Surgical Injuries Every Year! - Kounteya Sinha/TNN

More than seven million people across the globe suffer from preventable surgical injuries every year, a million of them even dying during or immediately after the surgery, a World Health Organisation study has said.

The UN body has for the first time quantified the number of surgeries taking place every year globally – 234 million! It said surgeries had become common, with one in every 25 people undergoing it at any given time. ..WHO said that safety of patients during surgery had emerged as a substantial public health concern.

According to it, China conducted the highest number of surgeries followed by Russia and India.

In developing countries, the death rate was nearly 10% for a major surgery.

Mortality from general anesthesia affected in one in 150 patients.

Dr.Sudhir Cecil Joseph of St Stephen’s Hospital, who is conducting the study in India, told Times of India that any surgery – no matter how minor – could be life threatening.

“Cases of surgeries being done on the wrong patient, on the wrong part of the body and surgical equipment being left behind are very common in India……” he said.

Courtesy: The Times of India, Chennai, June 27, 2008.

Articles on “Patient Safety” and “Surgery”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patient_safety
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surgery

Grateful thanks to Mr Kounteya Sinha and The Times of India.

Environment-7: Three Lakh Highly-polluting Vehicles Off the Road!"

Beijing began its Olympic Games car ban by forcing up to 300,000 highly-polluting vehicles off the roads, state press reported. Vehicles that failed to meet emission standards were banned from the streets until September 20.

Excerpt from Deccan Chronicle, July 2, 2008.

Wikipedia article on “Emission Standards”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emission_standard

Grateful thanks to Deccan Chronicle and Wikipedia.

Facts & Figures-33: "Four Lakh People Quit Smoking!"

More than 4,00,000 people in England have given up smoking as a result of the ban on lighting up in public places introduced in July 2007, according to a study.

Researchers say 40,000 deaths will be prevented over the next decade as a result of the ban.

Smoking was made an offence in all enclosed public spaces in England, including pubs and restaurants, on July 1, 2007.

Another study to be published by the Department of Health will show that a total of 2,34,060 people have stopped smoking with the help of a special service offered by the National Health Service since the ban came in.

Dr.Robert West, Director of Tobacco Studies, UK, said: “I never expected such a dramatic impact …. If the Department of Health can keep up the momentum this has created, there is a realistic prospect of achieving a target of less than 15% of the population smoking within the next ten years” - AFP

Excerpt from ‘4 lakh people quit smoking since ban: Despite some opposition to the law in England, compliance has been almost total’ (AFP), The Hindu, Madurai, July 1, 2008.

Article on “Smoking Ban” from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_ban

Grateful thanks to AFP, The Hindu and Wikipedia.

Eyecatchers-85: "Launch of Apple's iPhone 3G Causes Great Excitement!"

In more than 20 countries, ‘Apple’ stores will open early to cater to throngs of aspiring iPhone 3G users. Analysts say sales could pass the billion-dollar mark within days.

iPhone fanatics began camping outside Apple’s flagship store in New York City on July 4, while in Tokyo some 30 people had begun queuing on July 9.

If such anticipation is any indication, Apple’s latest device will be a smash hit.

Online orders for iPhone 3G handsets at British Telecom carrier O2 reportedly topped 13,000 a second on July 7, overwhelming the website and causing it to crash.

Industry tracker iSuppli predicts Apple might sell as many as two million iPhone 3G devices at the launch.

Apple will sell iPhone 3G models in the US for $199 and $299, depending on memory capacity.

Apple is continuing its strategy of locking iPhones exclusively to one telecom carrier per country. iPhone service providers are AT&T in US, T-Mobile in Germany, O2 in Great Britain, and Orange in France, where iPhone 3G launches on July 17.

Belgium will evidently be home to the most expensive iPhone 3G devices, which will be priced at $826 and $968 because law there prevents subsidizing hardware costs with service plans. (AFP)

Excerpt from ‘The next big smart phone’, The Hindu, Madurai, July 11, 2008.

For technical details and photos of Apple iPhone 3G:
http://www.apple.com/iphone/

Grateful thanks to AFP, The Hindu and Apple.

S&T Watch-15: "Large, Energy-saving Organic Displays(OLED)"

Japanese government is funding a joint project with leading firms to develop a key technology to produce large, energy-saving organic displays.

The organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel, which is self-luminescent and does not require a backlight, is seen as a promising next-generation display amid fierce competition in the sector.

Smaller OLED screens are used in cellphones and portable music players but no technology has yet been developed to produce large screens.

The project is aimed at developing a core technology to mass-produce 40-inch or larger OLED displays in the late 2010s.

OLED displays, which sandwich a very thin layer of organic material between plates, offer brighter images and wider viewing angles than the liquid crystal display panels that are currently in use widely. (AFP)

Excerpt from ‘Japanese Firms Team Up on OLED Panels’,

The Hindu, Madurai, July 11, 2008

Detailed article from Wikipedia on ‘Organic Light-Emitting Diodes(OLED)’: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLED

Grateful thanks to AFP, The Hindu and Wikipedia.

S&T Watch 14: "Mercury shrinking and Earth shrieking!"

Scientists who study radio waves say that Mercury is shrinking and Earth is shrieking.

Courtesy: Harper's Weekly, July 8, 2008 (Chantal Clarke)
Articles on "Mercury" and "Earth" from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_%28planet%29
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EartH
Grateful thanks to Chantal Clarke, Harper's Weekly and Wikipedia.

Health Watch-16: "Dangers of Junk Food"

British studies warned that eating junk food during pregnancy might cause lasting damage to the child, and that eating too much tofu could lead to dementia.

Courtesy: Harper's Weekly, July 8, 2008 (Chantal Clarke)

Article on "Junk Food" from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_food

Grateful thanks to Chantal Clarke, Harper's Weekly and Wikipedia.

Environment-6: Decarbonise Transport Sector

Only yesterday I came across some statistics about carbon emission in California, US, and mentioned it in my blog. Now I have across in today’s newspaper, (The Hindu, Madurai, July 9, 2008) an interesting, emphatic article with more authentic data entitled, “The Challenge of Change” by Sudha Mahalingam, Member, National Security Advisory Board. It worries me and should worry everybody else. But the planners and policymakers are they paying any heed to all these?

A brief excerpt from the article:

“Currently, the world consumes about 83 million barrels of oil daily. International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that by 2030, this will go up to 116 mbd of which Asia alone will demand an additional 20 millions barrels of oil daily, thanks to its misplaced emphasis on private transport as the engine of economic growth.

If we persist in our current growth paradigm, our carbon emissions will go up by 500% in the next 25 years. Does it not, therefore, make sense to make transportation a thrust area when dealing with carbon emissions? What better timing than now, to decarbonise our transportation sector, when skyrocketing crude prices and ballooning subsidies give us the sorely needed excuse for drastic intervention?”

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, July 9, 2008.

For an article on "The King Review of low-carbon cars" from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Review

Grateful thanks to Ms Sudha Ramalingam, The Hindu and Wikipedia.

Letters-28: "If a journalist cannot write, then who else will?"

1. This refers to the editorial, “Strong message to the intolerant” (The Hindu, July 4, 2008). The Supreme Court’s act of quashing the summons issued by a Gujarat court to Ashis Nandy shows the power of Indian democracy. Individual freedom is the basic requirement of a healthy democratic society. True democracy becomes meaningless when freedom of speech and expression, including speech and creative work, is threatened. It is shameful that even after 60 years of Independence, some rulers display the suppressive attitude of the colonial era. - J.M.Rahim, Thiruvananthapuram.

2. Although the Supreme Court’s intervention time and again brings relief to the victims, it does not guarantee that Gujarat-type incidents will not recur. A country which has fought the mightiest of empires to get freedom through non-violence is resorting to violence at the drop of a hat. More often than not, issues are created and fanned to reap political mileage. Only when the people are educatred and do not get misguided by vested interests will such intolerance end. – V.Harine, Chennai;

3. The Supreme Court’s observation, “If a journalist cannot write, then who else will?” (The Hindu, July 2, 2008) is pertinent. The Narendra Modi regime should realize that India is a thriving democracy with pluralist ethos. Freedom of speech and tolerance is central to the success of democracy. The inability to put with an opposing point of view and the consequent attempts to silence critical voices will not succeed in India because the people are mature enough to discern the motives behind such obnoxious moves. – P.Prasand Thampy, Thiruvalla.

4. It has been the practice of politicians to misinterpret the Constitution to suit their needs and inflame the sentiments of the people. It is frightening to think of the plight of the common man who has no access to courts. – G.Ramesh, Chennai.

5. In a pluralistic society such as ours, where religious and political ethos often get mixed and fragility looms over the social secular fabric perpetually, intellectuals need to be more cautious and responsible. A society where diametrically oppositge views are held on every subject from morality to spirituality, they must resort to respectful disagreement and higher criticism. – Yasir Malik, New Delhi.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, July 5, 2008 (Letters to the Editor)
Grateful thanks to M/s. J.M.Rahim, Thiruvananthapuram; V.Harine, Chennai; P.Prasand Thampy, Thiruvalla; G.Ramesh, Chennai; Yasir Malik, New Delhi; and The Hindu.

Eyecatchers-84: "200th Anniversary of Louis Braille"

The prototype of a US coin with Braille characters on a silver dollar commemorating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille has been unveiled.

Courtesy: The Hindu, July 4, 2008.

For a detailed biography of Louis Braille from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Braille
Grateful thanks to The Hindu and Wikipedia.

Environment-5: 500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide!

In California alone, 500 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere every year!

Source: Reader’s Digest, June 2008

For more details and related info:

Greenhouse Gas: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_emission>

Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide :

http://www.oism.org/pproject/s33p36.htm

Carbon dioxide: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide>

Carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide_in_the_Earth%27s_atmosphere>

Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_the_Study_of_Carbon_Dioxide_and_Global_Change

CO2 Science: <http://www.co2science.org/>

Grateful thanks to the Reader’s Digest, Wikipedia, Petition Project and CO2 Science.org.

India Watch-1: Astra, indigenous beyond visual range misslle, ready!

The first full test flight of the indigenous beyond visual range missile, Astra, is likely "anytime in the next 45 days.".

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, July 7, 2008 ("Snippets")
Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

Nellaiappan's Column-1: Story of the Chinese Cooks

This is not another Zen story. Nor has it any link to the great Confucius or even my favourite writer, Lin Yutang. It is just a management lesson, which I learnt from Bhimraoji, the hard way.

My association with Bhimraoji was short and was more than professional. We both were trying our luck together, me as a production head and he, as a technocrat. It is a 25-year-old story.

Prior to becoming a technocrat, he was associated with the paper industry and had undergone training in US. Like other “States Return”, he used to brag every now and then about his US experiences. But again this has nothing to with US; it is just a story he learnt in US.

By the way, do you know anything about Chinese cooks? They are the best cooks in the world, Bhimraoji used to say. They invent new dishes with the available materials. That is, they will never say something is not there to make a dish but improvise with the available materials and come with a new dish with a new name, yet tasty. They are famous for their improvisation and managing the show with available resources.

Well, whenever I approached him with a list of requirements for our factory, Bimraoji would repeat his oft-repeated question: “Don’t you know why Chinese cooks are very famous?” Fearing repetition of the story, I would interject, I got your point, sir.” He would nod his head approvingly and the matter ended there. I would cannibalize or do some such thing and would somehow manage the situation without the required materials.

Picking up the cue from my boss, I also started taunting people below me with the Chinese Cook Story. When somebody wanted some facility or modification in the plant, I would do a 'Bhimraoji' to him and he would also disappear saying, “Yes, sir! Yes, sir!”. Deep down everybody was resenting it; but all of us were helpless anyway.

One day when Bhimraoji started talking about quality improvement in the finished goods. I interrupted him, “Don’t you know the story of the Chinese Cook, sir!’ He was stunned. You would get a tasty dish but it will not be the one you wanted. Then came the anticlimax a month later.

When all of a sudden, batches started failing without any significant reason; we were checking all main ingredients for quality and found them to be okay. We have even stopped production for few days to fix the problem but in vain. Then one of the shopfloor supervisors raised doubt about the quality of the neutralizing agent. Then we found that when there was a shortfall in calcium carbonate stock due to transporters’ strike, the stores-in-charge had applied our Chinese cook story and had used the calcium carbonate from effluent treatment plant. What he did not realize was that there was a major difference in quality of both carbonates!

When Bhimraoji came to factory one week after that incident, with a sad face, I told him that how our Chinese cook story had got us into deep trouble.

Thereafter Bhimraoji never talked about the Chinese cooks to anybody. But I used to quote this in all my training programs while stressing the importance of ‘not compromising on quality and the dangers of 'ad-hoc'ism’.

If you happen to come across Bhimraoji somewhere in and around Hubli, please tell him how much I adore him.

When something is needed to deliver the result, do not hesitate to ask for it; demand it! If you stick to your demand and repeat at every opportunity, invariably you will get it. Always ask for the best quality. The secret is, “quality is always cheap in the long run”. If you have a long term perspective, you will realize its importance.”

Well, my cook, sorry, my betterhalf is waiting for me with some bittergourd soup. If you believe in destiny, I shall meet you again with another story!

You have not lived a good life if....

You have not lived a good life if ......

* You don't marry the person whom you love.
* You don't make your mother proud.
* You have not visited Genting Island in Malaysia.
* You do not have a pet.
* You have not visited a temple.

Ammu, TV Compere
Courtesy: Chennai Times, June 5, 2008 (Good Life)
Grateful thanks to Ms Ammu and Chennai Times.

Health Facts-1: Nerve Impulse and Nerve Network

The speed of the nerve impulse can be as high as one hundred meters per second. For instance, if we touch something, these impulses can travel to the brain through the nerve network at a rate of 350 feet per second.

Courtesy: Chennai Times, June 8, 2008 (Toons & Trivia)

Grateful thanks to Chennai Times.

Facts & Figures-32: "Galaxies and Stars"

Our galaxy has approximately 250 billion stars and it is estimated by astronomers that there are 100 billion other galaxies in the universe.

Courtesy: Chennai Times, June 5, 2008

Grateful thanks to Chennai Times.

Focus-1: "Soaring Prices and Stifling Inflation"

I had been to a marriage about ten days back. After the ‘muhurat’, there was a time gap for the lunch. Some of us gathered in a corner and were having a casual chat to while away the time. Somebody brought the topic two-digit inflation after more than 13 years. The OPEC was to blame as they raised the crude oil prize, causing spiraling effect all over, remarked one friend. Before we knew, more people have joined us and everybody seemed to have strong views on the subject. Somebody started abusing the ‘three economic wizards of India’ and ended with a prayer to God to save India from them. Everybody was getting excited and a torrent of violent, vituperative language was heaped on the ‘wizards’. This gathering consisted of men and women of different ages and almost all of them had nothing good to say about the present government at the Center. They were all giving vent to their fury and this seemed quite natural as the price of everything had gone up and everybody was feeling the pinch; further, they feared what the future might hold in store for them. If this gathering represented the majority of the people of this country and if the people could sustain their fury till the elections, I felt that the Congress party was in for severe drubbing.

Then somebody suggested that instead of attacking persons, they could attack problems and come up with solutions. Immediately another remarked that who was going to care for our suggestions. The former persisted that at least it would be an exercise for the brain. After a minute’s silence, everybody started coming up with suggestions. As a silent observer, recorder and compiler, I here try to post at least some of the ideas, for whatever they are worth:

1. Scrap all direct and indirect, central and state taxes on petroleum, diesel and other petro-products.
2. Ration petrol and diesel.
3. Petrol bunks to be closed every 4th day.
4. Petrol bunks to work from 6 am to 9 pm only.
5. Dual pricing of petrol and diesel – cheaper rate for public transport and two-wheelers and higher rate for gas-guzzlers and costly cars.
6. Production of battery-operated cars and two-wheelers to be encourage by tax exemption and subsidy, if need be. (Pollution problem is also gets reduced).
7. More public transport.
8. Ban future trading of essential commodities.
9. Ban online trading of essential commodities.
10. Speculators to be stopped from entering the essential commodities market.
11. Ban MNCs from entering the essential commodities market.
12. Permanently ban export of food grains and other essential commodities.
13. Encourage farmers to produce more by offering them fair levy price and making good storage facilities all over the country.
14. Finance Ministry, Commerce Ministry and Planning Commission to be headed by people-friendly politicians and send home the so-called ‘economic wizards’ who always take sides with MNCs, big business and capitalist countries.
15. Appeal to people to avoid using vehicles for short distances.
16. Promote and popularize cycle.
17. Special lanes for cycles on the road in cities.

You may also have idea. If so, I shall be thankful if you could kindly send it to me. If it is good, I would like to post in my blog. Even otherwise, you can offer your comments, which are most welcome.

Letters-27: "Stringent RTI Act to Fight Corruption"

This is with reference to the editorial ‘Sleaze Matters’ (The Times of India, Chennai, June 16, 2008). It is disturbing to note that, according to the recent UN report, corruption continues to be a crippling problem in the Asia-Pacific region. Of course, India is no exception to the issue of corruption. Corruption is not only the root cause of the major problems facing the country today, but also a stumbling block to the country’s economic growth. Recently the World Bank cut $2 billion in funds for the health sector in the country after learning that its previous welfare schemes were plagued by corruption.

As a first step, people should take the initiative of fighting corruption in all possible ways. They should vehemently protest against officials demanding money for paperwork. Maintaining transparency and retaining accountability in the administration is also essential. In this regard, the RTI Act is the best option.

P.Senthil Saravana Durai, Hyderabad.
'My Times, My Voice’, Mail Box, The Times of India, June 27, 2008.
Grateful thanks to Mr.P.Senthil Saravana Durai and The Times of India.