Letters-41: "Another Blast"

1. Once again the terrorists have struck. If our leaders are helpless and clueless, they should quit honourably. Mere sermonising will not do. And the declaration that the existing laws are enough to tackle terrorism is no longer convincing. - K.R.A.Narasiah, Chennai.

2. I suppose it is time the Prime Minister realised that there are much more important things to do other than signing the nuclear deal with the U.S. When government is unable to secure even the Capital, how can it protect the rest of India? Every bomb blast is a slap in the government's face. - Divya Velayudhan, Palakkad.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Sep.29, 2008.

Grateful thanks to Mr.K.R.A.Narasiah, Ms Divya Velayudhan and The Hindu.

Eyecatchers-108: "Apple Sells Unlocked iPhones"

Apple has started selling unlocked models of its popular iPhone 3G in Hong Kong which allow users the freedom to select the telecom provider of their choice.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, September 28, 2008

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

Facts & Figures-49: "World Heart Day 2008"

Statistics released on the occasion of the World Heart Day 2008 (September 28th) are frightening. One should take it as a warning signal and take due care of oneself.

* 1.5 billion people or nearly one in three adults over the age of 25, will have high blood pressure, one of the biggest single risk factors for Carrdio Vascular Disease(CVD), the world's number one killer.

* High blood pressure and CVD are increasing in prevalence, including among the young, and need immediate action and attention.

* World Heart Day, a major heart health awareness campaign now in its ninth year, is run by the World Heart Federation's member organizations in over 100 countries.

* World Heart Day activities include health checks, organised walks, runs and fitness sessions, public talks, stage shows, scientific forums, exhibitions, concerts, carnivals and sports tournaments.

* Cardio vascular diseases have been projected to cause 4.6 million deaths annually in India by the year 2020.

* High blood pressure (Hypertension: >140/90 mmHg) is directly responsible for 57% of all stroke deaths and 24% of all coronary disease deaths in India at an underestimate, there are 31.5 million hypertensives in rural and 34 million in urban populations.

* In the treatment of heart disease alone, non-compliance with drug regimens and inability to change lifestyle is believed to cause as many as 1,25,000 avoidable deaths.

Excerpts from "Know Your Risk of CVD" by Dr.R.Sivakumar, Senior Consultant, Interventional Cardiologist, Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre, Madurai in The Hindu, Madurai of September 28, 2008.

Wikipedia article on "CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiovascular_disease

Grateful thanks to Dr.Sivakumar,The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A Thought for Today-143:

Photo by Vinod

Unity is the test of truth. Everything that makes for Oneness is truth. Love is truth, and hatred is false, because hatred makes for multiplicity. It is a disintegrating power - Swami Vivekananda

A Thought for Today-142:

Photo by Vinod

The poison generated by hatred could kill twenty persons. When hate somebody you are poisoning yourself. So in your own interest, don't hate anybody - Unknown.

Eyecatchers-107: "Cows and Horses Freely Roaming in Texas!"

In parts of Texas hit by Hurricane Ike, an estimated 20,000 cows and horses roamed free. Four thousand cows had been found dead, and officials thought that many more would never be found. "They are being eaten," said Texas AgriLife Extension Service spokeswoman, Kathleen Phillips, "by alligators".

Courtesy: Sam Stark, Harper's Weekly, Sep.23, 2008.

Wikipedia article on "HURRICANE IKE":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ike

Grateful thanks to Sam Stark, Harper's Weekly and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Facts & Figures-48: "The Chip is 50 years old!"

A grateful world celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Integrated Chip or simply IC as it is known to everybody.

To quote Dan Nystedt of IDG News Service, “chips are the brains and nervous system of every electronics device around, from computers to iPhones and are finding their way into more devices all the time, including cars and refrigerators, to make them more energy efficient”.

The inventor of the IC, Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments, went on to win the Nobel Prize for 2000. Unfortunately the co-inventor, Robert Noyce, passed ten years before that.

The annual revenue of the IC industry today is $ 300 billion.

Based on “Celebrating the IC’s 50th Anniversary” by Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service, September 12, 2008, which appeared on Network World.(http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/091208-celebrating-the-ics-50th.html)

Wikipedia article on “Integrated Circuit:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_circuit

Grateful thanks to Dan Nystedt, IDG News Service, Network World and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

S&T Watch-28: "Space Elevator!"

Japanese experts are working on a Space Elevator. It may sound like science fiction or science fantasy. But it may become a reality.

Cables made of carbon nanotubes (180 times stronger than steel) are to be used to run the carriages carrying cargo and people.

A day that is not too far off may come when we will be travelling into space.

Based on "Japan hopes to turn sci-fi into reality with elevtor to the stars" by Leo Lewis in Tokyo, The Times, Sep.22, 2008

For the full article from TimesOnline:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4799369.ece?print=yes&randnum=1222229303718

Grateful thanks to Leo Lewis and The Times, UK

Eyecatchers-106: "Spilling 3.7 million nickels!"

A truck carrying 20 tons of money from the Philadelphia Mint to the U.S.Treasury in Miami crashed, killing one passenger and spilling 3.7 million nickels onto I-95.

Courtesy: Sam Stark, Harper's Weekly, September 23, 2008.

Grateful thanks to Sam Stark and Harper's Weekly.

My Friends-1: "Mr.M.Senthil Kumar"

Senthil is a dear friend of mine, though he is younger to me by more than a dozen years. But he looks much younger. His many sterling qualities have endeared him to me. If there is any public activity, he will be there in the forefront, shouldering some important responsibility and doing his best. He is a Home Guard. His civic sense and social awareness are worth emulating. For example, he will not take carrybags from shops. He always carries cloth-bags to keep materials he purchases.

Our friendship deepened during our FASOHD days. He is so affectionate to me he would call me now and then and ask me whether I need any help. He has been helping me in almost all of my ventures. He is a tower of strength to me. I fondly and gratefully remember his great help on the days following my father's death and also during and after my daughter's marriage. My people say I exploit his kindness. Maybe true. Whenever I need any help, I immediately think of him and I do not hesitate to take his help whenever required. I do not know how I am going to repay him for his kindness.

May God bless him and bestow on him and his family all that is best.

Thank you, Senthil, thank you very much for all your kindness.

Eyecatchers-105: "Global Financial Crisis!"

American financial institutions faced the worst credit crisis since the Great Depression. Global stock markets lost $3.1 trillion in four days. American International Group (AIG), the world's biggest insurance company and a leader in the $62 trillion credit-default swap market, was nearly bankrupted. The US Federal Reserve loaned AIG $85 billion at 11% interest and took control of the company, which was founded in China in 1919 and driven out thirty years later by Mao. AIG was replaced in the Dow Jones Industrial Average by Kraft, the makers of Cheez Whiz. Central banks poured hundreds of billions of dollars into the market, and the Securities and Exchange Commission temporarily banned the short-selling of 799 financial-institution stocks.

Excerpt from "Harper's Weekly", September 23, 2008 ("Sam Stark")

Wikipedia article on "FINANCIAL CRISIS OF 2007-2008":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_crisis_of_2007-2008

Grateful thanks to Sam Stark, Harper's Weekly and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Nellaiappan's Column-7: "Communication Skills"

“Long time no see!” - When the Shift Officer greeted the Chairman of the organization who just dropped in, his immediate reaction was a “What!?” To explain that “what” in writer Sujatha’s words, it was 10,000 kilowatts. The GM-HR who accompanied the Chairman and who was also the son of the Chairman came to the rescue of the officer by diverting the conversation.

Actually the Chairman along with his family members was passing by the factory to a distant place and to break the tedious journey for some refreshment, they all just went to the factory. Because it was a Sunday, no higher official was available at the site and our poor officer rushed to greet them with a “long time no see.”

It was a shock to the officer. He could not make out the reason why the Chairman was so annoyed. Because the GM-HR knew the officer well, he intervened and saved him.

Our poor officer learnt the idiom only on that particular day, from the column “know your English” of a popular English daily. After learning something new, he applied it at the first opportunity. When he was expecting some pat on the shoulder for his knowledge it misfired.

That was not the only time his communication put him in trouble. Our officer was pet to the then GM. Every now and then he was inviting the GM to his house for a dinner. GM also was kind enough to invite him to his house. But somehow the dinner was eluding for quiet some time.

On an auspicious morning, both were discussing about the eluding dinner and decided to have that on the same day at 7.30 P.M. Our officer prepared a splendid dinner in his house for the GM and his family. Till 8 P.M no one turned up. When the officer phoned the GM, he came to know that the GM has made similar arrangements in his house and was waiting for the arrival of the officer and his family.

The Master Trainer of the organization and his Prime Disciple failed miserably in their communication. Both prepared dinner at their place and waited for the other to turn around.

They felt ashamed about their communication skills and decided not to let others know about it. They rescheduled the dinner for the next day and double confirmed the time. When the north Indian GM arrived at the house of the officer to taste the southern dishes, our officer was promptly knocking the doors of the GM Bungalow.

The telephone operator got our unfortunate officer in his mobile once, while he was standing on the open terrace above the 4th floor in the plant, supervising some civil work. She told him that VP was on the line. He answered with a “will call after half an hour”. She promptly informed the VP to call after half an hour. VP got annoyed and it has taken almost 6 months for the officer to bridge the gap.

I need not tell you, who that unfortunate officer was. But I should tell you that his experience helped many fortunate officers to improve their communication skills.

What about a delicious supper at 9.30 tonight? Somehow we should make it!

If you ask about 1) the venue 2) the menu 3) the host 4) the guest 5) the dress (formal or informal) 6) wet or dry 7) transport and 8) the agenda… well then you are smarter than the officer I was talking about.

My Photo Album-23: "Suri feeding birthday cake to Aravind"

The photo was taken on Aravind's birthday. After he cut the cake, Suri was feeding Arvind. See the joy in Aravind's face. He radiates joy wherever he goes. How simple a child's life is! How great it would be if one could become a child again! The next best thing is to keep children like Aravind by you so that you become young at least in spirit. (It is an old photo; must be several years old; I came across it while looking for something else. Immediately I put it in my bag deciding that it should find a place in my blog.)

Eyecatchers-104: "Man donates blood 150 times!"

Suresh Kamdas broke the myth that donating blood frequently lowers a person's immunity, making him prone to infections.

The 75-year-old, who first donated blood in 1962, is part of a select club of centurion donors. He has donated blood over 150 times. And now he has taken on the task of propagating the benefits of frequent voluntary blood donation.

Excerpt from "Man donates blood 150 times and breaks a myth" by Kounteya Sinha/TNN.
The Times of India, Chennai, June 14, 2008.

Grateful thanks to Kounteya Sinha, TNN and The Times of India.

Facts & Figures-47: "Mental Depression in the USA"

With all their riches and modern gadgets, one in five persons between the age group of 12 and 20 suffer from mental depression in the USA.

A study says that 27% people in the USA find it difficult to concewntrate on anything they do.

It has been estimated that in the year 2000 alone, due to mental depression, a loss of $ 300 crore has been incurred.

39% males and 22% females hafve been severely affected by mental depression in the USA.

Based on news item in Dina Malar, Tamil daily, Madurai, September 9, 2008.

Wikipedia article on "Major Depressive Disorder":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_(clinical)

Grateful thanks to Dina Malar and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

S&T Watch-27: "Accidental Fungal Growth leads to Cancer Drug"

A drug developed using nanotechnology and a fungus that contaminated a lab experiment may be broadly effective against a range of cancers, US researchers reported.

The drug, called lodamin, was improved in one of the last experiments overseen by Judah Folkman, a cancer researcher who died in January. Folkman pioneered the idea of angiogenesis therapy - starving tumours by preventing them from growing blood supplies.

Lodamin is an angiogenesis inhibitor that Folkman's team has been working to perfect for 20 years. His colleagues say they developed a formulation that works as a pill, without side-effects, reports New Scientist.

Tests in mice showed it worked against a range of tumours, including breast cancer, neuoblastoma, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, brain tumours known as glioblastomas and uterine tumours.

It helped stop so-called primary tumours and also prevented their spread, Ofra Benny of Children's Hospital, Boston, and Harvard Medical School and and colleagues reported.

"Using the oral route of administration, it first reaches the liver, making it especially efficient in preventing the development of liver metastasis in mice," they wrote in their report. "Liver metastasis is very common in many tumour types and is often associated with a poor prognosis and survival rate," they added.

The drug was known experimentally as TNP-470, and was isolated from a fungus called Aspergillus fumigatus fresenius.

Harvard's Donald Ingber discovered the fungus by accident while trying to grow endothelial cells - the cells that line blood vessels. The mold affected the cells in a way known to prevent the growth of tiny blood vessels known as capillaries - Reuters.

Excerpt from "Accidental Fungal Growth Results in New Cancer Drug" that appeared in The Times of India, Chennai, July 1, 2008.

Grateful thanks to Reuters and The Times of India.

Environment-12: "Chlorine Check"

Many recent pollution prevention efforts in the pulp and paper industry have focused on getting rid of the use of chlorine for bleaching, a process which helps to increase the brightness of the paper. Elemental chlorine (that is, pure chlorine) or chlorine dioxide is generally used for bleaching but, in the process, large amounts of chlorinated pollutants such as dioxins - a persistent organic pollutant with very high cancer-causing potential - are released into the water. Hence, there is an increasing trend worldwide to reduce the use of both elemental chlorine and chemical containing chlorine.

Two bleaching processes, which are increasingly being adopted by Western nations are elemental-chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching and total-chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching. In India, most of the paper and pulp companies are small or medium ones. Hence, there is little scope for investment in pollution-prevention technologies.

Courtesy: "Down to Earth" (sorry, other details not available).

Grateful thanks to Down to Earth.

A Thought for Today-129:

Grateful thanks to Paolo Nao and www.public-domain-photos.com for the above photo.

Is it so bad to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. - Ralph Waldo Emerson.

My Photo Album-22: "Suri with his kids"

Suri with his kids. I think it was taken in a photo studio some 25 years back.

My Photo Album-21: "Suri with his kids"

Suri with his kids. I think it was taken in a photo studio some 25 years back.