Health News-21: "Bionic eye gives blind man sight "

Ron who has not been able to see for the past 30 years is able to see now, thanks to 'bionic eye'. He is 73! The 'bionic eye' is still in experiment and may soon become available to all. For more details (video presentation from BBC, UK):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7920600.stm

Grateful thanks to BBC.

Facts & Figures-55: "India's Power Requirements"

India's power requirements will be of the order of 3 lakh megawatts by 2020.

Source: Education Plus, Supplement to The Hindu, March 9, 2009.

Grateful thanks to The Hindu, India's National Newspaper.

Letters-63: "Epicentre of Terror"

1. The daring terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team confirms that Pakistan is a sanctuary for terrorists. The Frankenstein monster created by it to destroy others is now taking its toll. Unfortunately, the government is continuing to turn a blind eye to the reality and collaborating with fundamentalist forces such as the Taliban to buy peace. As a neighbouring state, India has to do a lot more to insulate itself from the lawlessness spreading in Pakistan. - Satwant Kaur, Mahilpur.

2. Pakistan is fast becoming the epicentre of terrorism. It produces and exports terrorism. It poses a grave threat to not only India but also the entire world. All countries should join hands to pressure Pakistan into dismantling the terror infrastructure on its soil. - G.Gandhi Raja, Chennai.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 5, 2009 ("Letters to the Editor")

Grateful thanks to M/s.Satwant Kaur, G.Gandhi Raja and The Hindu.

Health Facts-3: "Berries"

Berries contain plant nutrients called anthocyanidins. These are incredible antioxidants and some have high levels of resveratrol, which help fight heart disease and cancer.

Source: Chennai Times, Feb.22, 2009.

Detailed Wikipedia article on "BERRIES":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berries

Grateful thanks to Chennai Times and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

S&T Watch-53: "New Generation Solar Cells"

Plants' ability to turn sunlight into energy through photosynthesis has been successfully mimicked by scientists at the University of Southampton to produce a new generation solar cells.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 5, 2009 ("Snapshots").

Detailed Wikipedia article on "Solar Cells":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cells

Grateful thanks to The Hindu, India's National Newspaper and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lettters-62: "Srikrishna Report"

1. The editorial "Telling it as it happened" (The Hindu, March 7) has rightly pointed out that Justice B.N.Srikrishna has presented an objective report on the violence involving the police and the lawyers in the Madras High Court on February 19. It is about time the lawyers realised that they cannot resort to unlawful behaviour on emotive issues and consider themselves above the law. What is worrying is the failure of the court administration to nip the unruly acts in the bud. Equally worrying is the behaviour of the police who went berserk while carrying out the order of a lathi charge. I am sure there are norms in place for executing such orders. - Paingannan Senthil Kumar, Gurgaon.

2. Justice Srikrishna has rightly castigated the lawyers for their unruly behaviour and in equal terms the police for their excess action. The behaviour of a few lawyers has brought disgrace to the entire lawyer community. When the situation on February 9 reached alarming levels, the police were left with no choice except resorting to force. The lawyers forgot that they were an important part of the elite society and they have the responsibility to follow the law. Their attempts to pressure the judiciary to act in their interests speak of the extent to which vested interests have penetrated the so-called noble profession. The lawyers who are on a war path should realise that they can no longer hold society to ransom and put the litigants to hardship. It is earnestly hoped that wise counsel will prevail upon them and they will return to work without further complicating the issue. - Nemani Vivekananda Rao, Hyderabad.

3. Justice Srikrishna's report proves that the lawyers acted as if they were above the law. The police have also come in for criticism for their high-handedness. That the very people who pray for justice and enforcement of human rights in courts violated the principles of law and resorted to unruly behaviour is unfortunate. One hopes better sense will prevail on both the police and lawyers and they will work in harmony as law-abiding citizens. - Varijakshan Edakkazhiyoor, Malappuram.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, March 9, 2009 ("Letters to the Editor")

Grateful thanks to Paingannan Senthil Kumar, Nemani Vivekananda Rao, Varijakshan Edakkazhiyoor and The Hindu.

CNN Videos-2: "US Airways Jet crashlanding into the Hudson River"

How To-55: "How to Put Together a Hard Puzzle"

How to Put Together a Hard Puzzle

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
These days, puzzles can have thousands of pieces. All of them can be done, but the question is, how long will it take?

Steps

1. Do the border of the puzzle. This is the easiest because the edge pieces will tend to have a straight edge. Therefore, this should always be first.
2. Separate all the pieces into groups according to their texture or color.
3. Start putting pieces of the same group together. It should form an image. Look on the box to see where that image goes and put it there.
4. Make all the other images shown on the box.
5. Connect the images using the colored pieces of whatever the background is.

Tips

• Consult the picture on the box whenever you are confused.
• This may take a few days; you can leave the puzzle on a table until you are finished.

Warnings

• Be patient and don't get too frustrated if it's hard.

Related wikiHows

• How to Finish Jigsaw Puzzles Faster
• How to Assemble a 3D Puzzle
• How to Solve a Sudoku
• How to Be Patient

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 Put Together a Hard Puzzle. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

CNN Videos-1: Defeating Militancy in Pakistan

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.