A Thought for Today-145:

Grateful thanks to Vinod for the photo - clicked by him with his Nokia N70M

When the young behave badly, it is because society has already behaved worse. We have the teenagers, like the politicians and the wars that we deserve - J.B.Priestly.

Eyecatchers-113: "Nobel Peace Prize for Martti Ahtisaari"

Finland's former President, Martti Ahtisaari, won the 2008 Noble Peace Prize for a long career of peacemaking around the world from Namibia to Kosovo.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.11, 2008.

Detailed Wikipedia article on "MARTTI AHTISAARI":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martti_Ahtisaari

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

S&T Watch-31: "Hydrogen-powered Cars"

This interesting news is from 'NEW SCIENTIST'. I receive their e-newsletter, 'Science in the News' regularly. Excerpts from this news item:

"Hydrogen is in many ways the perfect fuel - it can be burnt in combustion engines and produces only water as a by-product. But, for the hydrogen-powered vehicles, the gas tank is a big limiting factor.

Weight for weight, hydrogen is three times as energy dense as petrol, but the gas is difficult to store....The latest prototype vehicles can travel only up to 450 kilometres or so on a full tank.

Being able to store more hydrogen, more easily, could advance the technology at a stroke. And a new generation of hydrogen fuel tanks that store gas inside solids or liquids are not starting to make that possible." (http://snipurl.com/43com).

For the full article, "High-tech sponge could take hydrogen cars further" by Colin Barras in NewScientist.com News Service, Oct.3, 2008:

http://technology.newscientist.com/article/dn14867-hightech-sponge-could-take-hydrogen-cars-further.html

Grateful thanks to 'Science in the News" e-newsletter, Mr.Collin Barras and New Scientist.

Eyecatchers-112: "e-Cigarettes, Alternative to Smoking and Quit-Smoking"

I read this interesting piece of news in SiliconIndia. Now that the Govt of India has banned public smoking, e-cigarettes or just e-cig have come into the market. e-Cigarettes cost about Rs.1000/- and there are about 35 manufacturers of e-cigarettes. But let me make it clear. I am anti-cigarette and anti-tobacco and never shall I recommend cigarette or e-cig for that matter to anybody.

For the full article on e-Cigarette from SiliconIndia, just click:

http://www.siliconindia.com/shownews/47284

Detailed Wikipedia article on "e-CIGARETTE":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-cigarette

Grateful thanks to SiliconIndia and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

A Thought for Today-145:

Grateful thanks to Vinod for the photo - clicked by him on his Nokia N70M

The Secret of Inner Peace is a Healthy Life: Exercising Regularly, Eating Properly, Breathing Deeply. - J.Donald Waters

Facts & Figures-50: "Stalin Vs. Hitler"

In my limited knowledge of Russian history, I understand that Stalin was responsible for the death of around 15 million people during his 31-year dictatorship rule. Stalin easily surpassed Hitler in the scale of genocide. (Hitler's score was only a paltry 6 million). The Russian strongman also destroyed thousands of churches and sent tens of thousands of clerics to gulags and their death.

Excerpt from "Non-Sense File: Saint Joseph Stalin" by The Colonel in THE WEEK, August 24, 2008.

Grateful thanks to 'The Colonel' and 'The Week'.

In Lighter Vein-1:

The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the diseases.

Courtesy: The New India Express (Wisecracks - Other details not available).

Grateful thanks to The New Indian Express.

My Photo Album-24: "Dad being honoured"

Dad being honoured for meritorious service by the then Governor of Tamil Nadu, Hon'ble Sadiq Ali, during the Railway Week celebrations at Chennai. I don't remember the year. Sri Sadiq Ali was Governor of Tamil Nadu during 1980-82. So it is more than 25 years old.

Letters-43: "End the Violence"

1. The editorial "Stop the violence against Christians" (Oct.4) was strongly-worded and timely. We salute The Hindu for its non-partisan, positive outlook and its strong voice that is heard by all sections of people, including those who rule the nation.

The attacks on Christians in Orissa and the vandalism and violence caused by communal elements are against the principle of Sanatana Dharma. Such acts militate against the noble concept of ekam sat vipra bahudha vadanti (Truth is one; sages call it by various names). - Ko.Shafee Ahmed, Chennai.

2. In 1947, there live a Hindu sage in the person of Mahatma Gandhi, who told his fellow countrymen not to kill one another in the name of religion. He was ready to starve himself to death to stop them from indulging in madness in the name of religion.

Are there no more sages left in India to tell the cowards in Orissa to stop raping nuns and burning to death helpless people because they belong to a different religion? - Kurian Alex, Kottayam.

3. The fact that in several instances the police watched the atrocities in silence and refused to register cases is shocking. The incidents in Orissa seem to be a replay of what happened in Gujarat in 2002. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had to face an embarrassing situation abroad thanks to religious terrorism perpetrated against the minorities by a few unscrupulous elements belonging to the majority community. - M.Haneef, Kottayam.

4. The Prime Minister seems to have realised that something is terribly wrong in Orissa only after visiting France. Every secular citizen is not only embarrassed but also angry at what is going on in Orissa. The turmoil created by saffron forces in the State is a national shame.

It is time we realised that there is no place for fundamentalist organisations such as the VHP and the Bajrang Dal in a secular country. There is enough ground to ban these groups. - Dhananjay Tripathi, New Delhi.

5. Hinduism is known for tolerance. Its fair name is being tarnished by a few. I urge the leaders of the Christian and Hindu faiths to sit across the table and resolve the issues. - Subramanyam Sridharan, Chennai.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.6, 2008 ("Letters to the Editor").

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

S&T Watch-30: "Gene Link found to Cleft Lip"

Scientists said on Sunday (Oct.5, 2008) that a single change in a sequence of a gene called interferon regulatory factor 6 or IRF6 is a major cause of cleft lip.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.6, 2008 ("Nescape").

Detailed Wikipedia article on "CLEFT LIP AND PALATE":

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

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

Eyecatchers-111: "Mittal suffers £16.6 billion loss"

NRI steel tycoon Lakhsmi Mittal has lost £16.6 billion in the global credit crunch owing to plummeting stock markets in the last four months, media reports said.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.6,2008 ("Snapshots")

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

Gandhiana: "Leicester to install Gandhi statue"

Residents of Leicester will install a statue of Mahatma Gandhi on Belgrade Road, the busiest street of the British town, said British MP Keith Vaz.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.6, 2008 ("Snapshots")

Related article, "Mahatma Gandhi statue in Leicester soon" from The Times of India:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mahatma_Gandhi_statue_in_Leicester_soon/articleshow/2909180.cms

Grateful thanks to The Hindu and The Times of India.

A Thought for Today-144:

Thanks to Vinod for the photo - clicked by him using his Nokia N70 M

Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact - William James

Nellaiappan's Column-9: "Cost Reduction"

The most commonly misunderstood concept, in my opinion, but widely used in corporate circles, is “cost reduction”. Other euphemisms/ synonyms for cost reduction are austerity measures, retrenchment, golden handshake, trimming and ETOC (every thing on contract).

I have found all these things extremely counter-productive. Cost reduction is definitely not stopping some expenses, curtailing few facilities extended, rationing some entertainment and disowning some responsibilities. It cannot be at the cost of values and ethics.

In one company I know, at the pretext of austerity measures they stopped the daily morning and evening tea to all contract employees. The explanation given was that it was the duty of the contractor and not the company’s. The saving arithmetic was 70 people x 2 times x 365 days x 3 rupees. But the feelings of the 70 people with flesh and blood were completely ignored. There were visible repercussions and the damage caused was heavy, but it was not tangible for the costing department.

The admin people to their credit, allowed all Air Conditioners in the company only two hour operation per day to save money on electricity. The problem was not more of physical but the very idea irritated most of the employees and that became a hot topic for quite some time.

People were making fun out of these austerity measures and have even gone to the extent of recommending half-pant and shirt uniforms for employees, instead of full shirt and pant. One accountant seriously asked why Rs.500 per month was given to a priest for performing weekly 'puja' in company premises and suggested to perform the same by one of the company employees.

One important inference from all the above is an amenity once given if stopped suddenly will have adverse effects and more often that not will be counter-productive. For saving hundreds, you may be losing thousands. Further, it affects the morale of the employees, disturbs their sense of belonging and the grudge they carry in their minds is bound to affect productivity and performance.

One of the unit heads declared in the company’s group meeting that he was ready to retrench 15 employees with immediate effect and with a nod from the top and it was implemented at once. Selected 15 People with 15 to 20 years of experience in the company were asked to leave with short notice. The after-effects of the above incident were a great blow to the management. 50 % of the employees - all good people left the organization without or with short notice. Only employees who had no option remained.

It is proof that such measures could send wrong signals to the other employees like the company is in trouble or the same thing could happen to them in future. So they conclude it is better to leave the sinking ship.

The employee turnover was very high and as a measure to retain the employees the management increased the remuneration package to all its employees. But it was too late and most of the good people had already left the organization. Many people realized their own potential only then, and got good placements. The inferior lot who remained in the organization was rewarded with revision for their inability to move out of the organization.

To fill up the gap created by the resignation of good employees, the company recruited many new ones with high starting pay.

Many public limited companies announced golden handshake to get rid of inefficient employees. Contrary to the expectations, all good employees availed the opportunity and thus weakened further the system in existence.

The feeling of oneness and the family concept is lost in letting work on contract basis. Contract workers always carry a grudge against the company and its employees and at the very first opportunity they ditch both.

There is no compromise in the cost of safety and environment. Any compromise in these two will be detrimental in the long run.

The real cost reduction comes from increased productivity and innovative process changes and modifications. Savings by all other methods are very marginal and if overdone will become counter productive. Here one should remember Parato’s 80-20 principle.

No doubt a saving is a saving however small it may be. But one act of improved productivity will excel hundred such trivial savings all put together. Leaders always look for big leap. Being a leader I hope you will also vouch my statement.

Self-Improvement-14: "The Grammar of Right Living"

Get your grammar right! Live in the active voice rather than in the passive, thinking more about what you do than what happens to you. Live in the indicative mood rather than in the subjunctive, concerned with things as they are rather than as they might be. Live in the present, without regret for the past or worry about the future. Live in the first person, criticizing yourself rather than finding fault with others. Live in the singular number, caring more for the approval of your own conscience than for the applause of the crowd. If you want a verb to conjugate, you can do better than 'love'.

Courtesy: Prabuddha Bharata (a monthly journal of the Ramakrishna Order started by Swami Vivekananda in 1896) May 2002.

S&T Watch-29: "Bio-Insecticides"

Patiala-based Thapar University has announced the commercial production of neem-based bio-insecticides. Four tonnes will be produced in the first year.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.4, 2008 ("Newscape").

Wikipedia articles on "INSECTICIDES", "BIOLOGICAL INSECTICIDES",

"ECOLOGICAL INSECTICIDES" and "NEEM":

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

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

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

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

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

Letters-42: "Jodhpur Tragedy"

1. The stampede at the Chamunda Devi temple in Jodhpur on Tuesday (Sep.30, 2008) could have been averted - or at least the death toll reduced - if the authorities had made proper security arrangements. That there was no ambulance at the site shows the utter lack of responsibility on the part of the authorities.

Failure to provide proper security and infrastructure at temples during festivals and later announcing a few lakhs of rupees in the name of compensation have become the habit of governments and authorities. - M.C.Vijay Shanker, Chennai.

2. Tragedies can be averted if volunteers of Hindu organisations and temple officials spend their energy in guiding devotees. Why not the sangh parivar concentrate more on such issues before fighting forces from outside? Community education on the dos and don'ts while participating in festivals will help avert such ghastly tragedies. Any festival should inculcate a sense of devotion and discipline. - G.Sankara Bhanu, Hyderabad.

3. The stampedes at Jodhpur, at the Naina Devi temple in Himachal Pradesh a few months ago and many others point to the failure to review the creaking infrastructure in many temples. Do we need to tell our administrators that elementary precautions are necessary on such occasions? Lack of education is partly the reason why so many fatalities occur. - S.Kamat, Bardez.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, Oct.2, 2008 ("Letters to the Editor")

Grateful thanks to M.C.Vijay Shanker, G.Sankara Bhanu, S.Kamat and The Hindu.

Eyecatchers-110: "Govt of India bans Smoking in Public Places!"

If Gandhi Jayanthi 2007 was observed as the first International Day of Non-Violence, Gandhi Jayanthi 2008 is another great day; the Govt of India has banned smoking in public places and violation of the ban attracts a fine of Rs.200/-. This is a great achievement; for, the Tobacco Lobby and some votebank-politicians have been blocking it. Union Health Minister, Dr Anbumani Ramadoss deserves special appreciation for almost single-handedly fighting the above forces and imposing the ban under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003.

Smoking affects not only the health of the smoker, but also that of other people who are exposed to it; for Passive Smoking also kills. So banning smoking in public places is a right step and deserves appreciation. The dangers of Passive Smoking can be perused in the Wikipedia article (link provided).

Wikipedia articles on "SMOKING BAN" and "PASSIVE SMOKING KILLS":

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

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

Grateful thanks to Dr.Anbumani Ramadoss and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Eyecatchers-109: "International Day of Non-violence"

The United Nations General Assembly decided on June 15, 2007 to observe October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, as International Day of Non-Violence. Kudos to the UN; it is a fitting tribute to the Mahatma. Let us pledge that we will do our best to promote non-violence and spread love and fellow-feeling among people.

Wikipedia article on "INTERNATIONAL DAY OF NON-VIOLENCE":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Non-Violence

Article from UN News Service:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22926&Cr=non&Cr1=violence

Grateful thanks to UN News Service and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Random Thoughts-14: "On Gandhiji"

Gandhi Jayanthi (Gandhiji's birthday) is being celebrated today not only in India but all over the world. On this day, I paid my humble homage to Gandhi by offering flowers to his portrait, reading a few inspiring passages written by him and also by posting my thoughts of him in my blogs.

Not that I think of him on his Jayanthi only; actually his smiling portrait adorns the foyer of our office and daily while entering the office, I mentally offer my respects to him and seek his blessings to live truthfully.

To me Gandhiji stands for, as I have said elsewhere in my blog:

NON-VIOLENCE IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED

TRUTHFULNESS IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED

UNIVERSAL LOVE

SIMPLE LIVING AND HIGH-THINKING

NON-COVETOUSNESS AND NON-POSSESSIVENESS and

SELFLESS LIFE AND SELFLESS SERVICE.

I should like to think that I am moving towards these ideals albeit inch by inch.

I also have a desire to read his complete works (I think they run into more than 100 bulky volumes), before I die and quote from them extensively in my blogs. I hope they will inspire and guide me, as also others who visit my blogs and have the patience to read them.

Some of his lofty and wonderful thoughts I have posted in my blog, "Role Models and Inspiring Lives". Just a look at them would convince anybody how great and noble a soul he was.

I shall be immensely happy if the younger generation, especially my children, Priya and Vinod, read his writings and benefit by them.

I salute you, Mahatmaji, on this day and may I always keep you in my mind so that inspires me to tread the path of Truth and follow your noble ideals! No matter how many times I fail, I should still pursue these goals till the end, without losing heart.

Detailed Wikipedia article on: "MOHANDAS KARAMCHAND GANDHI": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahatma_Gandhi

Full text of Gandhiji's Autobiography, "THE STORY OF MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH": http://wikilivres.info/wiki/An_Autobiography_or_The_Story_of_my_Experiments_with_Truth

Grateful thanks to Wikilivres and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.