Wednesday, July 25, 2012
A Thought for Today-572: Wisetrack, Chennai Times
If you are out of ideas, try the outdoors; nature is always a good source of inspiration – Wisetrack, Chennai Times, June 30, 2012
Grateful thanks to The Times of India.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Letters-91: Dumping of Toxic wastes
A letter by Manicklal Chakraborty, Chennai, in the City Mailbox of the Chennai edition of The Times of India dated July 18, 2012:
Apropos the news report, "INDIAN PORTS STUCK WITH TOXIC WASTE FROM EUROPE" (July 17, 2012), the fragile ecosystem along the 7,600 km-long Indian coastline faces a serious threat. Even as dangerous foreign waste continues to be dumped here, it is unfortunate that the shipping ministry promises immediate action but does little. Before things go from bad to worse, the ministry of surface transport and the ministry of environment and forests must act to save our ecosystem. Will they?
The article that appeared in the Times of India issue of July 17, 2012, under the caption, "Indian ports stuck with toxic waste dumped by Europe" by Arun Janardhanan, TNN:
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-17/india/32712799_1_indian-ports-toxic-waste-major-ports
For more info on Toxic Wastes from Wikipedia:
An Overview of Toxic Waste Facts, Toxic Waste Information from the National Geographic:
Learn about the causes and effects of Toxic Waste at National Geographic, and ... Violations, like dumping hazardous waste:
Grateful thanks to Mr.Manicklal Chakraborty, The Times of India, The National Geographic and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Eyecatchers-161: Adarsh scam: Post-PIL, Chavan returned Rs.69 lakhs paid for flats
I came across this shocking news with the above caption by Rebecca Samervel, TNN, in the Chennai edition of The Times of India dated July 23, 2012. Further, I surfed the net and gathered some more info. The gist of the news:
As you may be aware, the Adarsh housing scheme was meant for the welfare of serving and retired personnel of the Defence Services. But breaking all rules, politicians and bureaucrats were allotted flats. It has come to light that the former CM of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan, was allotted two flats, for which money was paid by Malav Shah, son of his close associate and builder Jayant Shah. Chavan's mother-in-law, his sister-in-law and his father-in-law's brother were also allotted flats.
Chavan had stated that the CBI was a conspiracy by his rivals to malign him.
Chavan returned to Malav Shah Rs.69 lakhs(Rs.55 and 14 lakhs) after a PIL was filed. These facts find a place in the CBI's 38-page synopsis (chargesheet runs to 10,000 pages!).
To know more about the Adarsh Housing Scam from Wikipedia:
Grateful thanks to Ms Rebecca Samervel, The Times of India and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
A Thought for Today-571: Voltaire
Work spares us from three evils: BOREDOM, VICE and NEED – Voltaire, prolific and famous French writer, historian and great philosopher
To know more about Voltaire:
Voltaire's magnum opus, Candide, full text from Project Gutenberg:
Grateful thanks to Project Gutenberg and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Self-Improvement-103: Power of Thought - A Quantum Perspective - By Kent Healy
A scientific approach to explaining the power of thought. We have all heard it before, "Your thoughts create your reality." Well, new quantum physics studies support this idea. Learn about recent research about how the mind can influence the behavior of subatomic particles and physical matter. If you enjoy the video, please pass it on to friends and family.
Uploaded by KentHealy on Apr 12, 2009
This video has been seen by 445,664 persons so far!
This video has been seen by 445,664 persons so far!
Grateful thanks to Mr.Kent Healy, www.coolstuffmedia.com and YouTube.
A Thought for Today-570: Dr Norman Vincent Peale
Do not build up obstacles in your imagination – Dr Norman Vincent Peale
Sunday, July 22, 2012
A Thought for Today-569: Kalidasa
Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is only a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope - Kalidasa
Source: Sacred Space, The Times of India
Grateful thanks to The Times of India.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Eyecatchers-160: Suburban (Railway) Network's killer line claims one life every day!
Excerpt from the article, "Suburban Network's Killer Line Claims 1 Life Every Day - 220 killed in last six and a half months on Beach-Guduvanchery stretch; Railway Force launches Awareness Drive to address issue" by D.Madhavan, TNN in the Chennai edition of The Times of India dated July 20, 2012:
I felt sad reading the above news item. Most of those killed are between 18 and 30 years of age. Talking on cellphone while crossing tracks is the main reason for the deaths. Due to lack of sidewalls, trespassing is frequent. Another cause is footboard travel.
People are dying unnecessarily at the prime of their life, making the life of their parents and other relatives miserable and painful. Carelessness (talking on mobiles while crossing tracks), laziness(to use the overbridge) and recklessness(footboard travel) these will be avoided if only one thinks of their loving dear ones waiting for them at home.
Grateful thanks to The Times of India.
Letters-90: Cry, my beloved country!
Excerpt From a Letter from a reader in the Mailbox of The Times of India dated July 17, 2012:
....We live in a country of barbarians who have no fear of law or respect for civility. The culprits are the authorities who are callous and nasty. The recent incident in Assam is said to be of a jilted goon who has the patronage of the powers that be The farce of a few arrests is laughable. It is just a re-enactment of the charades we have witnessed against parents who kill children for honour and members of organisations who strip girls in the open. The latest Taliban-type diktat against women in UP is another case in point. The root cause of the malaise is politicians who do not move even their little finger for fear of antagonising vote banks. - Mukund Kumar, Mumbai
Grateful thanks to Mr.Mukund Kumar and The Times of India.
Eyecatchers-159: HC raps school for retaining certificates of resigned teachers
I came across this news with the above caption in the Chennai edition of The Times of India dated July 20, 2012. A gist of the article:
The Madras High Court came down strongly on a private school for refusing to return the original certificates of three teachers who had resigned and ordered police to initiate criminal action against the management. The management admitted the certificates were in its custody but said that at the time of entering service, it was agreed that any teacher leaving service in the middle of an academic year would have to pay back three months salary to get back original certificates and contended that as such no direction could be issued by the court for filing a case. The court disagreed and said the original certificates were properties that could not be transferred even by means of an agreement and held that the agreement was unlawful.
It is a common practice in many private institutions. I myself know of many instances where private institutions do this sort of thing and blackmail the employees and how agonising it was for the employees; the managements would make the employees cringe before them and beg. It is heartening to see an end to this blackmail and I would like to join the affected parties and thank the court for the verdict.
Grateful thanks to The Times of India.
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