Letters-61: "Chennai High Court Incidents: Appalling"

1. The behaviour of lawyers in the Madras High Court first when they assaulted Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy inside the court hall and on February 19, when they indulged in a pitched battle with the police on the court premises was appalling. It will be apposite to quote a passage from a celebrated decision of the Supreme Court: "The legal profession is a solemn and serious occupation. It is a noble calling and all those who belong to it are its honourable members. Although entry to the profession can be had by acquiring merely the qualification of technical competence, honour as a professional has to be maintained by its members by their exemplary conduct both in and outside the court." - M.Mahadevan, Kovilpatti.

2. When the police remained mere onlookers during the violence in the Chennai law college, they were widely criticised. And now by taking action against lawyers in the High Court, they have landed in a fix. Under which law are lawyers permitted to behave in an unruly manner? - S.Shankar, Chennai.

3. The police are a disciplinary force who are denied rights like trade unionism. It is only reasonable that they are treated fairly. In the High Court incident, the judiciary seems to be treating the lawyers with kid gloves although public opinion is critical of their conduct. - S.Rajagopalan, Chennai.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 4, 2009 ("Letters to the Editor")

Grateful thanks to M/s.M.Mahadevan, S.Shankar and S.Rajagopalan and The Hindu.

S&T Watch-52: "Space Rock gives Earth a Close Shave"

An asteroid of a size similar to a rock that exploded above Siberia in 1908 with the force of a thousand atomic bombs whizzed past the earth on Monday, March 2, 2009, astronomers said on Tuesday.

2009 DD45, estimated to be between 21 and 47 metres across, raced by at 13.44 GMT, the Planetary Society and astronomers' blogs reported.

The gap was just 72,000 km, or a fifth of the distance between the earth and the moon and only twice the height of a satellite in geosynchronous orbit, the website space.com said.

The estimated size is similar to that of an asteroid or comet that exploded above Tunguska, Siberia, on June 30, 1908, flattening 80 million trees in a swathe of more than 2000 sq.km.

Excerpt from AFP news item entitled, "Space Rock gives Earth a Close Shave" in The Hindu, Madurai, March 4, 2009.

Grateful thanks to AFP and The Hindu.

Letters-60: "Movie with a Message"

1. When I saw Slumdog Millionaire, I was spellbound and told myself "this is an Academy Award production." The story is seen through a western perception which is why it reached the Oscars. Had it been made by an Indian, it would have been just another movie as most of the truth would have been obfuscated. Why should we cry hoarse over the exposure of our slums? The slums that were shown in the movie are nothing compared to the ones I have seen in Mumbai. Why is no one talking about the demeaning manner in which Jamal, the participant in the millionaire show, is addressed? We see it happening everywhere to persons from a humble background. I hope the movie will serve as an eye-opener to all those who copy Hollywood movies from to frame, and stars who demand crores. - Joe L.Sinnathamby, Kottakkal.

2. Slumdog Millionaire should serve as an eye-opener to our leaders who claim that India is growing fast and poised to become a superpower. There is also a lesson in it for the media, which have digressed from their basic objective as they run after money and sensation. Slumdog is a wonderful film with a wonderful message for the nation. - Shibin Joe, Kozhikode.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 27, 2009.

Grateful thanks to M/s.Joe L.Sinnathamby, Shibin Joe and The Hindu.

Letters-59: "On Slumdog Millionaire"

1. Slumdog is a fascinating tale of the victory of hope over despair. But do we always need a Richard Attenborough or a Danny Boyle to bring us glory? Yes, because Bollywood is obsessed with the box office. Our movies are either extended video recordings of Indian weddings or an exaggerated attempt to transport us to the world of fantasy. A majority of our movies lack a good story and are dependent on half-a-dozen irrelevant songs. Very few producers attempt to make socially relevant movies. They lack the financial muscle, the propaganda machinery and the wherewithal to market their venture to the Academy. So till Bollywood achieves the size, scale and perhaps purpose comparable to that of Hollywood, we will continue to need foreigners like Boyle to redeem us. - Mithileshwar Thakur, Kochi.

2. Many have argued that Slumdog has exported poverty. Cinema is a medium of art, and the Oscars are a form of appreciation of excellence. For Indians, cinema is just entertainment and business. An Indian film should have 6-7 songs at the Alps, New Zealand and so on, a few fights, and artificial emotions. More number of producers should come up with realistic films and win accolades at home and abroad. The audiences must also change their attitude towards cinema. Till such time, we have to wait and hail others. - K.R.K.Prabhakara Murty, Vijayawada.

3. Slumdog Millionaire has created history and those who made it deserve to be congratulated. But apart from the genius of Rahman and Pookutty, what else is there for us to celebrate? The movie has shown to the world India's darker side. Apart from one or two scenes like the hero jumping into a cesspool as a child to have a glimpse of a hero, nothing else was exaggerated. The movie marketed India much more than the brochures issued by the Ministry of Tourism to showcase Incredible India. We, as a nation, should feel the pain. Imagine the plight of the children experiencing luxury in Los Angeles when they return to their routine life and stand in a queue with a mug of water outside a makeshift toilet awaiting their turn. I hope our elected representatives will do something to improve the living conditions of the poor. Let us collectively resolve that in future if somebody wants to make a movie on slums and slum dwellers, they should not even think of India. - Titus George, Abu Dhabi.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 26, 2009 ("Letters to the Editors")

Grateful thanks to M/s.Mithileshwar Thakur, K.R.K.Prabhakara Murty, Titus George and The Hindu.

S&T Watch-51: "Tailoring Plants for Biofuel Use"

Michigan State University researchers are speeding up identification of genes affecting chloroplasts' function. Plants could be tailored for biofuel use or delivering high levels of nutrients.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 26, 2009 ("Snapshots")

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

Health News-20: "Helpline for Smoking Ban Violation"

A round-the-clock helpline at toll-free number 1800-110-456 has been set up by the Union Ministry of Health to report violations of the smoking ban in public places.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 26, 2009

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

Letters-58: "Slumdog Millionaire: A Reality"

1. Slumdog Millionaire has explored the unhealthy, obscure and traumatic life led by slum dwellers. Is not it ironical that we appreciate reality when it is portrayed in reel life but don't do much to help in real life? We should draw inspiration from such works to make the lives of slum dwellers better. - Shalabh Katiyar, Kanpur.

2. Hearty congratulations to A.R.Rahman, Gulzar, Resul Pookutty and the entire team of Slumdog Millionaire. Why mar this moment of gaiety with controversies? India is undeniably one of the fastest growing economies. But Dharavis too are a reality. - Shalet Jimmy, Thiruvananthapuram.

3. Slumdog is a reality, not a fallacy. That is perhaps the reason why it has fetched eight Oscars. The fact that the film was directed by a British does not make the film any less Indian. Its story, setting, actors, music and emotions are all Indian. Rahman would have composed Jai Ho even if an Indian had directed the movie. Gulzar too would have written the same lyrics. Let us not take away their credit just because there was a foreign connection to the movie. On the flip side, a few millionaires earned name, fame and some more millions. In a few days the glory will fade, the euphoria will die, and the slum children will return to where they belong, forgotten and used up until another Danny Boyle, Mira Nair or Gurinder Chadha comes looking for them. - R.Venkataraman, New Delhi.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 25, 2009 ("Letters to the Editor")

Grateful thanks to M/s.Shalabh Katiyar, Shalet Jimmy, R.Venkataraman and The Hindu.

Health News-19: "Diabetes Jump"

Diabetes cases are soaring in Britain, jumping 74% between 1997 and 2003. Medical experts link it to rising obesity rates caused by unhealthy diets.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 25, 2009.

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

How To-54: "How to Manage Change in Life"

How to Manage Change in Life

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Implementing a life's plan requires change.
Changes, adjustments, alterations, modifications or whatever it may be, are all terms we use to describe the things necessary to advance our lives in a new direction.

Steps

1. It is critical to remain focused on the goal.
   
2. Do not be engulfed in the euphoria of sticking to traditional ways of doing things.
   
3. Constant review and evaluation of the process is essential in determining the level of change that needs to be attempted.
   
4. Adjust your strategies and approach as necessary to accomplish your ultimate goal. The right adjustment at the right time may make a great difference.

Tips

• The power to be is in you.
  
• Fear of change is the elder cousin of procrastination, the thief of profit and greatness.
  
• Sometimes what seems like a retreat is in fact an advance in a new direction.
  
• Just remember that change is something that is meant to happen but can feel strange and bad because of the memories that we hold of the old and familiar. So to truly change, you don't need to forget but you just need to accept the change that was inevitable.

Warnings

• Never be afraid of a change.
  
• Adjust if necessary.
  
• Timing of changes and adjustments are critical.
  
• You need the energy it takes to affect the adjustments.

Related wikiHows

• How to Adapt to Spicy Food
  
• How to Change Habits
  
• How to Break a Bad Habit
  
• How to Live After the Death of a Spouse
  
• How to Deal With a Boyfriend Who Is Married and You Love Him

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Manage Change in Life. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-53: "How to Motivate Staff"

How to Motivate Staff

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Helping to motivate staff can be difficult at times, especially if the staff doesn't feel motivated any longer.

Steps

1. Make sure you're setting a good example of productivity and cheerfulness. Don't let your own moods distract other employees from their work.
   
2. Develop your listening skills. This means using active listening to its fullest potential, not just pretending interest.
   
3. Be clear about the purpose of the job, and the big picture of the company's mission and goals. Foster pride in working at that company, whether it is designed to make the world's best sandwich or build the world's best bridge. Make sure everyone knows the big picture and where their department and individual jobs fit in.
   
4. Don't let your personal likes and dislikes blind you to who is actually productive on the job. Be fair.
   
5. Don't sweat the small stuff. If you have a good worker who is frequently 10 minutes late, let them know that you expect them to be on time, but don't belabor the point if their work is otherwise above average. Employees are human beings with strengths and weaknesses, not worker robots.
   
6. Set goals and reward the staff when the goals are achieved. The reward can be as simple as a star on the calendar and a bigger reward at the end of the month if there are enough stars for each day.
   
7. Be open, friendly, and professional with the staff, they're your hard workers and deserve to be treated with respect.
   
8. Make it an atmosphere where doing a good job is recognized and appreciated.
   
9. Encourage communication among people who have to work together. People may feel blocked in and unable to relate to coworkers when they're hidden in a cubicle. Ask the staff how they would like to see the workspace organized and set up opportunities for people to work collaboratively.
   
10. If you have a problem employee, do not avoid the problem. Talk to that person and make sure they know what they're doing wrong, as well as what they're doing right. Make a plan and a time chart to correct problem behaviors. If the employee will not or cannot improve after several performance meetings, and it is in your power to do so, terminate their employment. It is very demoralizing to the other staff members to have a fellow employee who isn't pulling their weight.

Tips

• Think of ways to help people bond with each other and enjoy coming to work:
  
• Do something purposely silly, such as playing a kiddie accordion during lunch hour. Make it fun to come to work. Laugh at other people's jokes.
  
• Give the staff a break every once in a while. If there's something relaxing that people enjoy, rotate that "chore" around. For instance, if somebody needs to take the mail down to the mailbox, and several people like to get outside every once in a while, let various people do it.
  
• Have a staff party, play games and give out prizes. Relate the games to the job. You could do a pop quiz to see how many phone extensions people have memorized, or who can list the most company products that start with a certain letter.
  
• Make an idea/suggestion box, review it occasionally, and implement the good ideas. Take all suggestions seriously. Sometimes it's the unusual ideas that can revitalize a workplace.
  
• Recognize that most people work for their living, and that encouragement goes only so far before people want raises when they are consistently productive at their jobs. If you truly cannot give raises, give perks to deserving employees, such as a better workspace, more interesting projects, or the chance to meet people who can advance that employee's career.

Warnings

• Don't expect to be friends with people you supervise, even if you were friends before you were their supervisor. You are now primarily their supervisor, and casual or inappropriate speech, especially suggestive comments, can lead to lawsuits.

Related wikiHows

• How to Get Along With Others Well
  
• How to Make a Staff

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Motivate Staff. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-52: "How to Embark on Something New in Life"

How to Embark on Something New in Life

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

We often set out to accomplish many things in life and find we fail miserably. We spontaneously decide what we want to do and haphazardly pursue it. Like everything else spontaneously deciding to do something takes a bit of planning.

Steps

1. Make a list of everything that you want to do. Obviously set your goals within the realistic realms of humanity.
   
2. Begin by eliminating the most short term goals. For instance watching the first season of Lost takes a lot less time than learning Spanish.
   
3. Schedule a time or times to accomplish that one goal. Do these one at a time. Unless one goal seeks to accomplish the other.
   
4. Cross off the item off your list.

Tips

• Organize activities in terms of difficulty level and timespan.
  
• Avoid some of the common pitfalls of goal accomplishment.

Warnings

• Try not to do more than 5 things at the same time unless you have had some practice.
  
• Do not be discouraged if you can't accomplish a goal. There is more on that list.

Related wikiHows

• How to Embark on a Journey of Self Improvement (josi)
  
• How to Not Be Bored
  
• How to Overcome Boredom

Sources and Citations

• Common Pitfalls of Goal Setting - http://hubpages.com/hub/Goal-Setting-Success-Strategies

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Embark on Something New in Life. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-51: "How to Balance Work and Parenting As a Single Parent"

How to Balance Work and Parenting

As a Single Parent

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Are you a single parent who is tired of hiring babysitter after babysitter and never getting to spend time with your little angel? Always feeling burnt out? Never feel like you are going to catch up? Read on!

Steps

1. Write down a list of all of your commitments and responsibilities and analyse it. The big commitments are easy to identify: working, volunteering, appointments, and activities. Don't forget to put the day to day stuff like laundry, dishes, and shopping on your list as well.
   
2. Analyse your list of commitments. Is there anything on that list that you can resign from, delegate to someone else, or hire help with? Are there things you can rearrange or group together to save time doing or getting to? Make the necessary changes to your schedule.
   
3. Buy a clean new calendar. Any calendar with space to write down what needs to get done will work. Weekly calendars work best.
   
4. On your new calendar, start with writing your work schedule on it and then filling in the commitments that you have decided to keep. Colour coding helps to identify the different types of commitments you have.
   
5. Hire or set up someone to be the primary caregiver (daycare, grandmother, friend or relative) when you are away and set the pay rate in advance. Target obtaining services for the time that you need someone on a regular basis to watch your child, usually during your work hours. If money is tight and you have to pay for someone to watch your child, target using a regular service only for your work hours and then promptly pick up your child after work. Hire an occasional sitter for special occasions.
   
6. Try to line up about 3-5 people that you can call to watch the little one in different situations that may come up..and they will.
   
7. Do something fun with with your child every week. It does not have to be expensive, but try to vary the activities instead of doing the same thing every week. It will give you both something to look forward to and will relieve stress.
   
8. Always plan a month or two ahead, if possible. If you don't have childcare planned well in advance it will be much more difficult to find someone to watch the baby.
   
9. Ask your boss/supervisor if you may be able to bring your child to work once in a while. Ask for a schedule change, if that would help.
   
10. Spend undivided time with your chid every day. If the child, especially younger children and babies becomes to used to another person, instead of their parent, they could become more attached to the other caretaker.
    
11. Make sure your child is happy, even if you have had a bad day and are tired. You will enjoy your rest even more once you know your child is happy. Your children's smile is well worth what you are going through right now.

Tips

• Colour code your calendar with doctor's visits, work days, holidays, days off, etc.
  
• Always make sure that baby gets your undivided attention and affection for at least 1 hour a day.
  
• Hire or accept offers for help. It is amazing how much of a difference having an extra set of hands around for even an hour makes. Think about hiring a responsible neighborhood teenager to play or entertain your child while you get caught up on household chores.
  
• Always thank the people who do help you. Helping you is something they don't have to do. Be mindful that their help might not be the way you may do something, but help getting a job done is much better than having do everything yourself.
  
• Choose your battles and don't waste time on the ones that you can't win or get you to where you want to be. Same goes for friends, family, and obligations.
  
• Keep items that you need to drop off in your car, a box in the trunk or passenger seat works great so they don't get lost. Combine trips to drop off items with your regular errands to save time and gas.
  
• Make and freeze meals in advance. Not only is this a great time and money saver, eatting home cooked meals is usually healthier for you and your child too!
  
• Get organized! Save time by knowing where everything is and having a place for everything so you don't waste time searching for items you need.

Warnings

• Don't stress out when you do this, just relax and plan your schedule. Things get easier when you write them down and you are actually honest with yourself that you may be over committed.
  
• If things don't work out, do be afraid to go back to what you were doing before. However, try giving any new plan at least a month or so to work. Just because the first day didn't go as planned doesn't mean the next day won't be fantastic.

Things You'll Need

• A calendar
  
• Markers to work with the calendar colour code system
  
• A babysitter, a daycare, or a nearby relative
  
• Pen and paper

Related wikiHows

• How to Be Calm in a Stressful Situation
  
• How to Cope With Being Alone at Night
  
• How to Be Friends With Your Parents
  
• How to Deal With Teenagers As a Single Parent
  
• How to Budget and Save on a Small Income as a Single Parent
  
• How to Balance Work and Play
  
• How to Succeed As a New Stay at Home Mom

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Balance Work and Parenting As a Single Parent. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Health Warning-9: "Dangerous Shampoo! Dangerous Toothpaste!!"

Two days back I received a mail from a friend in Dubai, forwarding material with the above caption. Though an infrequent user of shampoo, I was curious and went through the whole article. It was highly disturbing and so I alerted my people at home, who are regular users of shampoo. I am sharing the info with you and with a request to take care.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or SLS is used as a floor cleaner. But it has come to light it is used in some shampoos and toothpastes also. Imagine what a floor cleaner can do to your hair and scalp or to your gums! It could damage the very roots of your scalp and the tender gums.

The forwarded note also warns all to ensure that the shampoos and toothpastes they use are SLS-free. It seems these are banned in Dubai and the friend has named a few shampoos. The names are:

Clear, Fructis, Vo5, Palmolive, Paul Mitchell, L'Oreal, Body Shop

However, we don't have to take his word; it can be easily checked and verified if you surf the net. All you have to do is type 'SLS Free Shampoo' or 'SLS Free Toothpaste' in Google.com to get a list of companies selling SLS-free shampoos and toothpastes. But then I don't know what these other so-called safe materials contain; what is the guarantee that they don't contain some other equally noxious chemical if not some other worse chemical? I feel that it would be wise to avoid all these things and resort to some simpler material, especially home-made preparations which our grandmothers were making and using. 'Simple Living and High Thinking' is really a lofty ideal to follow.

If you have more info on this or some better idea that you could share with us, you are most welcome to mail it to me.

Update

After posting the above, I found time to browse to find out more about SLS. I could easily find some more info. SLS could be really harmful and is a real health hazard. It could cause skin irritation and skin corrosion, besides hormone imbalance and eye iritation. It is also a suspected carcinogen. Take care!

Thanks to Natural Health Information Centre.com. The link to this article is:

http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sls-health-implications.html

The site contains a wealth of wonderful health information. It also gives a useful list of various SLS-free and Chemical-free Cosmetics. Those who are interested, may take a look at it.

Grateful thanks to Natural Health Information Centre.com.

Letters-57: "Attack on Dr.Swamy"

1. Temples of justice cannot be allowed to degenerate into platforms for display of muscle power. It is a matter of grave concern that an attack could take place in a court hall right in front of the judges by a group of advocates. All the guilty advocates in the attack on Janata Party leader, Dr.Subramanian Swamy (Feb.18, 2009) must not only be prosecuted on charges of physical assault, criminal intimidation and contempt of court, but the Bar Council must also take suo motu notice of the matter and debar the lawyers concerned from practising in any court of law. After the murderous attack by a group of law college students a few months ago, this incident shows how Tamil Nadu is becoming notorious for intolerance. It is Dr.Swamy's constitutional right to freely plead his case before the court of law. - Avuthu Srihari, Hyderabad.

2. The attack on Dr.Swamy is shocking. That the lawyers had the audacity to attack a person on the premises of Madras High Court speaks volumes about their unruly behaviour. The court of law is a sacred institution in a democracy and such behaviour by those expected to uphold the law is unfortunate. As a lawyer, I feel ashamed as such behaviour tarnishes the image of the profession. - Viraj Deshpande, New Delhi.

3. The total breakdown of law and order in the Madras High Court caused by advocates is condemnable. The court must summon the advocates concerned and prosecute them for contempt of court and their licence to practise as a lawyer must be revoked. This must be executed within seven days. - Air Cmde V.V.Nair VM (Retd), Manipal.

4. The dastardly attack is highly deplorable and amounts to an attack on democracy. There are many avenues to highlight the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils. The government should take stern action against the group of advocates and prevent the recurrence of similar incidents. - N.C.Sreedharan, Kannur.

5. It is time civil society stepped in and curbed such developments - be it a caste clash between students or the recent attack on Dr.Swami and an Assistant Commissioner of Police and others. If a person in Z plus security can be attacked with impunity inside a court of law in front of two judges, what is the fate of the man on the street? - G.P.Srinivasan, Thillaistanam.

6. It is an assault not merely on an individual for his views, but also on the judiciary and the judicial process. Unlike other professionals, lawyers take oath under the Constitution to uphold the rule of law and democracy when they are enrolled as advocates. All the more reprehensible was the shouting inside the court hall against a particular community. It is time the Bar and Bench in Tamil Nadu sat together and found ways to avoid such incidents. - S.Ayyathurai, Chennai.

7. The issue between Dr.Swamy and the agitating lawyers being personal, casteist remarks within the court premises are in bad taste. The Chief Justice of the High Court and the Chief Justice of India should intervene and initiate action against the advocates concerned - S.Gopalan.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 19, 2009 ("Letters to The Editor").

Grateful thanks to M/s.Avuthu Srihari, Viraj Deshpande, Air Cmde V.V.Nair, N.C.Sreedharan, G.P.Srinivasan, S.Ayyathurai, S.Gopalan and The Hindu.

S&T Watch-50: "Cancer Sniffing Nose"

An artificial nose, similar to a dog's olfactory system, has been developed by Israeli scientists, so that it could sniff cancer at an early stage "efficiently".

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 19, 2009 ("Newscape").

A Wikipedia article on the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, mentions a team of scientists at UMass, led by Vincent Rotello, have developed a molecular nose that can detect and identify various proteins. The research appeared in the May 2007 issue of Nature Nanotechnology, and the team is currently focusing on sensors which will detect the malformed proteins made by cancer cells.

Related articles from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"CANINE CANCER DETECTION":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_cancer_detection

"ELECTRONIC NOSE":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_nose

"ODOR":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odor

"OLFACTION":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olfaction

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

Facts & Figures-54: "Spending on R&D"

1. The European Union's overall spending on research is currently 1.84% of the GDP. However, it has set a goal of 3% by 2010.

2. Of the three major countries of the EU, only in the case of Germany, there is a marginal increase in allocation for R&D, while France and UK have registered a decrease.

3. The spending on R&D by the US declined over the period 2000-2006 from 2.74% to 2.61%.

4. Now, under President Obama, the US has earmarked $15 billion for research and science infrastructure.

5. While funding of research by business in EU countries declined from 1.05% in 2000 to 1% in 2006, the decline in US is 0.21%.

Source: "Research Funding Imperatives", Editorial of The Hindu, Madurai, Feb.18, 09.

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.

Letters-56: "Interim Budget, a Disappointment!"

1. This refers to the editorial, "Wasted Opportunity" (The Hindu, Feb.17). The interim budget is a huge disappointment to all sections. Pranab Mukherjee's presentation, enumerating the UPA government's achievements, sounded like an election speech. At a time when the aam aadmi is reeling under the impact of the global meltdown, the budget ought to have addressed the bread and butter issues. The government has indeed squandered a golden opportunity. - B.Suresh Kumar, Coimbatore.

2. There is nothing in the interim budget to show that the government is serious about tackling recession. Industry, which is in a deplorable condition, has nothing to rejoice at. Bereft of any bold step, the budget looks like an ordinary document. - Sagar D.Kokate, New Delhi.

3. The Congress-led UPA government has failed to address the brewing economic crisis. It appears that it does not want to be seen as addressing the crisis during its tenure. The government should have exhibited responsibility, as thousands are losing jobs across several sectors. - N.Sekar, Salem.

4. The government leaves behind a perfect economic mess for the next dispensation. The nation's economic health is nightmarish, and it may take several years to get the economy back on track. - A.Vani, Hyderabad.

5. Though a budget cannot satisfy all sections, it could have had something for everybody, instead of everything for somebody. There is every reason for the salaried and business class to feel despondent as their year-long wait for tax relief has gone in vain. A considerable outlay for the development of the rural sector is no guarantee that it will meet its end, if the past is any indication. - S.Ramakrishnasayee, Ranipet.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 18, 2009 ("Letters to the Editor").

Grateful thanks to M/s.B.Suresh Kumar, Sagar D.Kokate, N.Sekar, A.Vani, S.Ramakrishnasayee and The Hindu.

Open Access-8: "US Congressional Records Set Free!"

I am reproducing below a mail I received from Mr.Subbiah Arunachalam, which may be of interest to many of you. He has very kindly given the source as well, which is Peter Suber's article, "OA for CRS Reports" from "Open Access News". Some hot topics like "US Casualties in Iraq", "Causes of the Financial Crisis", "The Federal Medical Assistance Percentage in Medicaid" etc find a place in these reports:

"Congressional reports commissioned by the United States Congress and held till now as quasi-secret documents are now freely available thanks to Wikileaks. As of today nearly 6.800 reports running to more than 127.000 pages (and valued at nearly a billion dollars) are available to the public. Active contributors to this project include the Federation of American Scientists, the National Council for Science and the Environment and the Thurgood Marshall law Library of the University of Maryland.

It is only fair in a democracy that all reports generated using public funds are made available to the public."

Grateful thanks to Mr.Subbiah Arunachalam and Mr.Peter Suber, Open Access News.

Health Warning-8: "Laser Printers"

A new Australian study has shown that potentially harmful ultra-small particles are released by toners used in laser printers.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 15, 2009.

Detailed Wikipedia article on 'LASER PRINTERS":

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

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

Letters-55: "Pakistan's Admission"

1. It was not because of India's diplomatic campaign that Pakistan finally admitted to its role in the 26/11 attack. It was because of the arm-twisting by the United States and the other countries whose citizens were killed in the attack that Pakistan finally relented. - P.R.Mahesh Kumar, Chennai.

2. Despite the relentless diplomatic pressure India and other nations exerted on Pakistan to get to the bottom of the conspiracy leading to the Mumbai terror attack and bring the conspirators to justice, Pakistan did everything to derail the investigation. In this context, Pakistan's 30 questions to India, some of which refer to possible local involvement in the attack, are hardly surprising. At a crucial time, when the whole nation was required to stand firm in its resolve to eradicate terrorism from our neighbour's stated policy, some of our politicians unfortunately played into its hands. - Capt.T.Raju(retd.), Secunderabad.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, February 16, 2009 ("Letters to the Editor")

Grateful thanks to Mr.P.R.Mahesh Kumar, Cpt.T.Raju and The Hindu.