| Tue, Oct 21 05:30 PM Adriana Loeff, Forbes.com As venerable financial institutions collapse, tens of thousands are laid off and bonuses are slashed, managers on Wall Street face yet another challenge: how to inspire the shell-shocked workers still on the job. "What really motivates employees is not money or position," says Jon Katzenbach, author of half a dozen books on the topic and one of the founders of Katzenbach Partners, a management consulting firm. "What motivates employees is how they feel about the work itself." Wall Street may be home to the alpha male, but the biggest mistake many financial firms make, he argues, is to base their entire system on bonuses and promotions. When crisis hits, money is short and new opportunities scarce, managers simply can't motivate their employees. "You'll find that the finest firms in the industry, the 'Goldman Sachses' of the world, go beyond that." Katzenbach says. In the early days of the financial crisis, Subha Barry, global head of diversity and inclusion at Merrill Lynch, commissioned a study of employee motivation in financial services along with with counterparts at Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Moody's. Carried out by the Center for Work-Life Policy and Sylvia Ann Hewlett Associates, the study found senior executives in the financial sector were "angry, anxious and deeply stressed." "I am grinding my teeth so badly that I'm developing cracks," said one banker. The study found that employees' loyalty, engagement and trust have plummeted in the past year. More than three in five participants said that they were considering quitting their jobs, and one in four were actively looking for another one. To keep staff--and to keep them committed--in times of great stress, "you need to start with something as simple as more effective communication," says Barry. Hold town hall meetings with senior managers. Organize team briefings to inform everybody of the latest news. That way you keep everyone together and prevent employees from finding out about their future through the media. Massive layoffs make those who kept their jobs feel insecure. A manager can deal with this is by stressing that more work means more job security--companies rely more on their remaining employees, says Kerri T. Perez, a member of the Employee Relations Special Expertise Panel at the Society for Human Resource Management. Managers should also show that they are there to stay, says Perez. "Most of the times, when a company has a problem in a downturn, people are afraid that the person they report to or the leader in their area is going to leave them. It's just human nature." During this financial meltdown, workers have had less sleep, more anxiety and shown a wide range of physical and psychological problems: ulcers, memory loss, high blood pressure, fertility complications and depression. Mangers have to counter this sentiment expressed by one study participant: "It seems pointless to overcommit to work since the company does not seem to commit to its employees." One option is to exercise flexibility. Take the team out to lunch, a drink after work or a workout in the park. That helps strengthen bonds inside the office and motivate employees. Be "more considerate about people wanting to take time out to go to the gym," adds Barry. "Working out is a great way of relieving the stress." This is especially true since many employees in the financial sector have reported turning to caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol, food, painkillers and sleeping pills to cope with the stress. Some managers also suggest organizing "Fast Fridays" (employees rotate to take half the day off) or offer mini-sabbaticals of less than six months. If a company is going to lay off employees, it should act fast, says Katzenbach. "Until it's done, everybody is insecure, and as long as everybody is insecure, that's all they're going to be worried about." It is difficult for them to focus on anything else and motivation is jeopardized, he says. For this reason, how you treat employees who are leaving the company and how you help them find alternative employment are crucial. Keep in touch with those who leave though an alumni organization or a talent bank with work opportunities. For those losing their jobs, chances to rebound or find another one may shrink. For survivors, crisis is opportunity. Senior ranks are trimmed during reductions. That may open opportunities for employees to climb the ladder. Managers can also help workers learn from the turmoil and be better prepared to face new challenges. "In the 20 years I've been in different businesses, when people make it through the crises they're stronger and they're better," says Perez. "And they end up doing something that they're much happier at." |
Thursday, October 23, 2008
How To Keep Morale High When Business Is Down
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Key to Charisma
There is a close association between personal charisma and success in life. Probably 85 percent of your success and happiness will come from your relationships and interactions with others. The more positively others respond to you, the easier it will be for you to get the things you want.
The Law of Attraction
In essence, when we discuss charisma, we are talking about the law of attraction. This law has been stated in many different ways down through the centuries, but it basically says that you inevitably attract into your life the people and circumstances that harmonize with your dominant thoughts.
You Are A Living Magnet
In a sense, you are a living magnet, and you are constantly radiating thought waves, like a radio station radiates sound waves, that are picked up by other people. Your thoughts, intensified by your emotions, as radio waves are intensified by electric impulses, go out from you and are picked up by anyone who is tuned in to a similar wavelength. You then attract into your life people, ideas, opportunities, resources, circumstances and anything else that is consistent with your dominant frame of mind.
The law of attraction also explains how you can build up your levels of charisma so that you can have a greater and more positive impact on the people whose cooperation, support and affection you desire.
Perception is Everything
The critical thing to remember about charisma is that it is largely based on perception. It is based on what people think about you. It is not so much reality as it is what people perceive you to be. For example, one person can create charisma in another person by speaking in glowing terms about that person to a third party. If you believe that you are about to meet an outstanding and important person, that person will tend to have charisma for you.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
One of the most charismatic people in the world was Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In a physical sense, she was a quiet, elderly, frail woman in poor health, and she wore a modest nun's habit. She might have been ignored by a person passing her on the street, were it not for the tremendous charisma she developed and for the fact that her appearance was so well-known to so many people as a result.
How Would You Feel?
If someone told you that he was going to introduce you to a brilliant, self-made millionaire who was very quiet and unassuming about his success, you would almost naturally imbue that person with charisma, and in his presence, you would not act the same as you would if you had been told nothing at all. Charisma begins largely in the mind of the beholder.
Lasting charisma depends more upon the person you really are than upon just the things you do.
Continually look for ways to improve other's perceptions of you so that you can be more influential with them. Be a living magnet.
Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.
First, be clear about the messages you are sending and the perceptions you are creating in others. Are these perceptions consistent with the impressions you want to make?
Second, see yourself and imagine yourself every day as an important powerful and charming person. Treat others as you would if you were already strong, famous and influential.
Fake it until you make it!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Successful Marriages
An interesting article posted on the website
http://marriage.lifetips.com/cat/11054/dos-and-don-ts/
exercepts as below..
Successful Marriages
Research suggests that successful marriages have the following six
components: appreciation and affection, commitment, positive communication,
time together, spiritual well-being, and the ability to cope with stress
and crisis.
Learning Patience
Patience is a virtue! Patience helps marriages. Often in our busy society
we rush and rush to get things done. In marriages we often act the same way
society does, we rush and rush until life is no fun [taking a line from
Alabama´s song]. The best place to slow down is in marriage. This may
require some patience due to the pace our society pushes us. But I
recommend that we take time for talking, take time for sex, take time for
an evening out, and take time to show your love. This isn´t really patience
it is common sense.
Discussing what you don´t understand
If you don´t understand or like what your partner is doing, ask about it
and why he or she is doing it. And vice versa. Explore. Talk. Don´t assume.
Giving Your Spouse a Compliment
Brag about your spouse to others, especially when they´re in ear shot. It
will boost your spouse´s ego & they will want to continue making you happy
& proud of them. Also, the other people will have more respect for them
since you do too.
Honesty and Trust in Marriage
Honesty and trust are the foundation of a good marriage. If you don´t have
trust, you can´t have love. This is the one place in your life, at least,
that you should always be open and honest.
Pains of Pornography
Pornography has become a big part of our society. More and more marriages
are impacted by it. Many women have told me how pornography has impacted
their marriage. In many instances, the women have been uncomfortable with
their spouses use of pornography. I suggest pornography has a high
likelihood of negatively impacting a marriage. I have found that many
couples struggle with this issue. I have never heard a couple say that
pornography has helped their marriage. Based on the negative feedback I
have received, I have come to believe that marriages will be more positive
if pornography can be eliminated from a marriage.
Show your love
Don´t only tell your partner that you love them, but show it every day.
Love is shown through little gestures such as holding hands, kissing on the
porch, complimenting your spouse in public. Such acts show your love.
Make a normal day a special holiday
Stimulate your marriage by creating a special holiday. This day can be once
a month, or once a year. But make it your holiday. Celebrate your marriage
on a day that isn´t unique to anyone else but you. This day shouldn´t be
your anniversary either.
The Compromise
Marriage is a compromise. Be ready to compromise some of your wants for the
sake of your partner`s wants.
Sending double messages
A double message is a message that has two meanings that contradict each
other. For example, if you are mad at your spouse and they ask if you are
mad at them and your response is in a rough voice, "NO". Your actions speak
louder than your words. Double messages are hard to interpret and can hurt
the marital relationship.
Being The Right Person
A wise man once said, "Marriage is not so much finding the right person as
it is being the right person." If everyone would take this saying and make
it a part of their life we would have better marriages and a better
society.
5 Dos
Below is a list of five things to help your marriage.
A) Create time just to be with your spouse
B) Listen without criticizing
C) Ask for ideas on how you can make your marriage better
D) Be willing to do the things you want your spouse to do
E) Smile often
5 Don'ts
Below is a list of five things that can hurt your marriage.
A) Avoid resolving problems
B) Hide your emotions and true feelings from your spouse
C) Criticize your spouse
D) Lie
E) Avoid creating fun memories together
A Fun Date Idea
If you would like to have a fun date. Sit down and write 10 things that you
like about your spouse. Then go out to dinner and share those ten things
with each other over dinner. Then give your copy to your spouse for them to
keep and read when things are not going so well.
Smiling
One of the best ways to value your partner is to show them by smiling at
them and letting them know that they are of great value to you. Both men
and women like it when their spouse smiles at them and tells them they love
them. Further, look your spouse in the eyes and let them know they are the
best.
The Greatest Gift
While most of us spend lots of money during the holidays and on our
anniversaries(Christmas, Valentines Day), seldom do we consider what gift
would really make a difference in our marriage. My suggestion is to give
ourselves. How?
1) Show love in ways your spouse needs you to
2) Be happy
3) Give without expectation of return
4) Find ways to make your spouse feel special
Remember the greatest gift you give will always take time and will include
love.
Adding Some Spice to Your Married Life
Variety is the spice of life. I feel that marriages become complacent. Both
parties feel that the chase is over,and once the marriage takes place,they
no longer need to try as hard. Each person takes the other for granted.
This happens with couples that experienced great relationships while
dating. You often see couples split up,then get back together again. It´s
the old you never miss the water til the well runs dry syndrome.
I think the marriage vow starts us off on the wrong foot with til death do
us part. It should be that I will stay with you,as long as you keep
improving,and our marriage continues to grow. No employer says that you
have your job forever,as you would not be motivated to perform well. What
motivates a married couple that feels that someone is stuck with them til
death. Prepare for everyday as your first date, anticipate that if your
lucky, you may have a sexual encounter. We always feel that the other party
will be available to take care of our needs.
How can you add spice to your marriage today? I bet you know just think
about it.
A Few NOTS That Can Tie Up Your Marriage
There are numerous habits that can hurt marriages:
A) Taking your partner for granted.
B) Not being there when they need you. Thus oh!he or she can wait, or it is
not so important.
C) Not listening. Start paying attention to comments made. Listen to what
the partner has to say and be compassionate.
D) Not sharing: many partners keep to themselves, they do not tell their
mates what bothers them, problems at work, school and so forth.
E) Not spending time together: many partners do not do things together,
they think the other may not be interested or will not participate because
he/she does not care.
If patners do the above a lot will be resolved for a healthy and
sustainable mariage.
Marriage & Friendship
Marry your best friend. He/she knows all the ins and outs of your life and
accepts you anyway. What better person to spend the rest of your life with
than some one who understands you. Always look for that friendship quality
in the person and then let nature take its course. I married my best friend
(26) years ago, we have taken licking but we are still going strong.
How to Destroy Your Marriage
While most people don´t set out to destroy their marriage, many of these
same people don´t realize how easy it can be. While this tip is a little
"tongue in cheek" think how many things on the list below fit with the
people you know who have divorced.
TIPS FOR DESTROYING YOUR MARRIAGE
1) Have an affair--one sure fire way to get your spouse off your back is to
have an affair. This not only destroys their trust in you, it also hinders
their ability to trust others.
2) Become verbally abusive-- One way to get everything you want in marriage
is to criticize your spouse as much as you can. If you are really good you
can act kind in public towards her/him and like a big jerk in private. This
takes talent, but after lots of practice no one will believe your spouse
when they say your are verbally abusive.
3) View pornography--Turn to pornography as a way of satisfying yourself.
With internet making pornography so accessable forget your spouse. Who
needs a companion who is real and loving anyway.
4) Work long hours--If the first three do not ruin your marriage, start
working long hours. If you leave early enough and don´t come home until the
children are in bed and/or your spouse is exhausted you can clearly show
your spouse that they don´t matter to you.
Good luck to you--These are just a few of the ways that you can destroy
your marriage. If you want more ideas on how to destroy your marriage--just
look around you people are doing it all the time.
Find Consensus in your roles
Couples that agree on their roles succeed in marriage. Marital satisfaction
increases if the roles aren´t set in stone throughout the marriage. Couples
who agree to be flexible and take the needs of their spouse into
consideration find more satisfaction in the marriage.
Learning to express your anger
Every couple needs to trace the source of behaviors and attitudes, many of
which turn out to have been handed down through their families of origin.
Much unhappiness in relationships can be traced to the fact that one
partner learned as a family rule never to express anger, or even perhaps
happiness. Many people grow up learning to subjugate their own needs and
feelings to those of others. Still the feelings influence present
relationships, and until they can be brought into awareness and spoken, it
is very difficult to improve current relationships.
Day to Day Living
In the day to day living in marriage, we are often least polite to the ones
who need and deserve it most. Thank each other for the things you do,
praise each other and never forget to say I´m sorry. These may sound like
trivial things, but lack of them has broken many a marriage.
good marriage tip
trust, trust, trust..if she says she feels like this way, she does, it´s
not your fault, same goes for you..feelings are neither right nor wrong and
trust each other in feelings as well as the relationship,(my hubby looks
but i don´t get jealous,he comes home to me) jealousy gets you no where.
Avoiding Psychological Games
When one person in a conflict seeks to inflict a loss on the other--to
establish a "winner" and a "loser"--the couple has entered a pattern of
interaction that may be considered a psychological game. These games keep
couples from becoming closer and prevent the resolution any problems.
A Gift To Remember
Some gifts simply last longer than others. Sometimes we think that it is
the tie or tool set that we give to dad that he remembers. In reality the
best gifts that we give aren´t necessary material gifts they are gifts from
the heart. Listed below is a short list of gifts that you can give to your
loved one that can last a lifetime.
1) A letter apologizing for the things you did that may have hurt your
loved one.
2) A poem written to your loved one expressing your love for them.
3) A picture book of your most favorite memories with them.
4) A gift or present that they wanted as a child but never received.
5) Spending a whole day with them instead of just one or two hours.
This is just a short list--If you have some other ideas that have been
helpful to you and your loved one please email me and I will include them
on this site.
Understanding the Value of Your Spouse
Unfortunately, many people don´t recognize the value of their spouse until
it it too late. It is easy to slip into the comfortable stage of
relationships where we take each other for granted. One way to avoid this
mistake is to take time each day to think about how your spouse benefits
you. Then share your thoughts with your spouse. Let them know how much they
mean to you.
What is Right ?
Try this!
A group of children were playing near two railway tracks, one still in use while the other disused. Only one child played on the disused track, the rest on the operational track.
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?
Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make................
The train is coming, and you are just beside the track interchange. You can make the train change its course to the disused track and save most of the kids. However, that would also mean the lone child playing by the disused track would be sacrificed. Or would you rather let the train go its way?
Let's take a pause to think what kind of decision we could make................
..
...
..
Scroll down
Scroll down further
Most people might choose to divert the course of the train, and sacrifice only one child. You might think the same way, I guess. Exactly, I thought the same way initially because to save most of the children at the expense of only one child was rational decision most people would make, morally and emotionally. But, have you ever thought that the child choosing to play on the disused track had in fact made the right decision to play at a safe place?
Nevertheless, he had to be sacrificed because of his ignorant friends who chose to play where the danger was. This kind of dilemma happens around us everyday. In the office, community, in politics and especially in a democratic society, the minority is often sacrificed for the interest of the majority, no matter how foolish or ignorant the majority are, and how farsighted and knowledgeable the minority are. The child who chose not to play with the rest on the operational track was sidelined. And in the case he was sacrificed, no one would shed a tear for him.
The great critic Leo Velski Julian who told the story said he would not try to change the course of the train because he believed that the kids playing on the operational track should have known very well that track was still in use, and that they should have run away if they heard the train's sirens. If the train was diverted, that lone child would definitely die because he never thought the train could come over to that track! Moreover, that track was not in use probably because it was not safe. If the train was diverted to the track, we could put the lives of all passengers on board at stake! And in your attempt to save a few kids by sacrificing one child, you might end up sacrificing hundreds of people to save these few kids.
While we are all aware that life is full of tough decisions that need to be made, we may not realize that hasty decisions may not always be the right one.
Everybody makes mistakes; that's why they put erasers on pencils.
Friday, August 22, 2008
90/10 principle
90/10 principle
It means 10 % of life is made up of what happens to you; 90% of life is
decided by you how you react.
Example
You are eating breakfast with ur family
Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto ur business shirt.
(You have no control over what has happened. What happens next will be
determined by how you react).
You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the cup over
She breaks down in tears.
After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize her for placing
the cup too close to the edge of table.
A short verbal battle follows..
you storm upstairs and change ur shirt.
Back downstairs, you find daughter has been too busy crying to finish
breakfast and get ready for school.
She misses the bus.
You rush to the car and drive the daughter to school.Your daughter runs
into the building without saying goodbye.
After arriving late at the office, work seems to get worse and worse
You look forward to coming home. When you arrive home, you find a small
wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter. why ? Because of
the reaction that morning.
You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in
those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.
Apply the 90/10 principle. It will change your life, atleast the way you
react to situations.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Eleven Ways to Minimize Your Speaking Nerves
Eleven Ways to Minimize Your Speaking Nerves
A good article on managing Nervousness from this site..
http://www.mikekerr.com/pics/ManagingNerves.pdf
1. Remind Yourself That It's NORMAL to Be Nervous Don't beat yourself out because you're nervous, this will only serve tomake you more nervous and stressed out. Remind yourself that most people list public speaking as a top fear, and that 89% of Canadians in a survey said they were afraid of public speaking. So relax – you're not alone if you're nervous, in fact, you are in good company that includes some very famous celebrities, actors and professional speakers. Use this fact to remind yourself that virtually everyone in the audience is on your side as a presenter (even if they disagree with your message!) and that they only want to hear what you have to say about the topic your speaking on. They key then, is not eliminating your fear altogether, but harnessing in that nervous energy and making it work for you, rather than against you.
2. Plan, Plan, Plan and Practice, Practice, Practice According to research, practicing a talk can reduce up to 75% of your nerves and contributes up to 90% of your ultimate success as a presenter It is especially important to practice and memorize your introduction: If you "nail" your opening and build an instant and confident rapport with the audience, your nerves should be reduced substantially. And, contrary to popular belief, practicing does not take away from your ability to be relaxed, natural and spontaneous, in fact, it is just the opposite. The more you practice and gain a command of your material, the more at ease you will be, so the more natural and spontaneous you'll come across because you won't be so focused on just surviving your presentation!
3. Visualize Your Performance Beforehand Athletes and performers do it because it works and has been proven to enhance performance. If at all possible, check out the room you'll be speaking in beforehand so you feel more comfortable in the space and can visualize yourself in the actual setting you'll be speaking in.
4. Reprogram Your Brain It's not the audience that is freaking you out: it's what your brain is telling you about the audience and the talk you need to deliver. "What if they hate me?" "What if I forget something?" "What if someone in the audience knows more than I do about this topic?" Train your brain: Reprogram it with more positive messages about your talk. This isn't just hocus pocus, this has been proven to work! So instead, tell yourself: "I'm just going to do the best I can do, and that's all I can do." "I'm just going to have with this." "There's a reason they want, and need, to hear me speak." "I'm going to be in control of my presentation, not the other way around!"
5. Get to Know the Audience Beforehand If there is time and the opportunity, chat up the audience beforehand – introduce yourself or ask them questions related to your talk. This will accomplish three things, all which will help reduce your nerves: > It will help you to get to know who's in your audience so you can possibly adapt your material or add examples based on what you've learned about who's there > It helps your build a rapport before you have even begun to speak > It helps to remind you that that "scary audience" is actually made up of (usually!) friendly, smiling folks who are truly on your side
6. Prepare for Possible Pitfalls A lot of our nerves and fears are based on imagined problems in our talk. So the more you can assure yourself that your have thought about, and indeed, planned for most conceivable problems, the less nervous you should feel. Have cheat notes available in case you lose your place Know your material inside and out Have back up audio visual support, including spare bulbs and batteries Prepare funny recovery lines ("oops, my train of thought just derailed") Remove/alter potential tongue twisters
7. Eat Properly Beforehand Avoid milk, cream, coffee, alcohol; and avoid eating too much. Eat lightly and drink warm water - so that your vocal chords don't constrict and cause you to sound like Minnie Mouse (or is that, Minnie Mouth?)
8. Practice Deep Breathing and Stretching Exercises Relax yourself beforehand by stretching, practicing a few yoga techniques or by taking a few deep breaths to center yourself. Remember to pause and breathe deeply before you being to speak as well, most presenters rush too quickly into their talk, and if you can give yourself a few minutes to calm your nerves and center yourself before you open your mouth, it will help you make sure you are in control of the presentation from the onset.
9. Arrive at the Room Before Your Audience If Possible Psychologically, this helps put you in the position of "owning" the room, of playing host to your guests, an advantageous position to be in when it comes to controlling your nervous demons.
10. Tap Into Your Sense of Humor Laughing has been proven to reduce fears, and tapping into your sense of humour beforehand, and during the talk, can remind you to take yourself lightly (but the talk seriously), change your perspective and keep you loose and relaxed. A simple way to reframe things humorously, is to ask the following questions about your talk and have FUN with the answers: "What's the most ridiculously, outrageous worst case scenario thing that could happen during my presentation? "What if an alien lands during my talk and asks me a question?" "What's the good news/bad news scenario about this presentation?"
11. Reducing Your Nerves During a Talk > If your body starts to shake, that's a sign your body has some built up energy it wants to decapitate, so move around a bit. Gesture to avoid your hands from shaking. Walk around a bit to avoid your legs from shaking. > If you get a case of DRY mouth, take a sip of warm water (and don't worry about pausing to gather your strength, the audience won't mind!). You can also try gently biting on the inside of your tongue to produce more saliva. > If your voice is shaky, this is a sign you need to RAISE the volume a notch
Final advice: Above all else, HAVE FUN! Speaking can, and indeed most of time, should be about having a fun time.
© Michael Kerr, Speaking of Ideas, 2002
Michael Kerr is an international professional speaker who trains and coaches speakers.
You can reach Michael at 1-866-609-2640, mike@mikekerr.com
www.mikekerr.com
A good article on managing Nervousness from this site..
http://www.mikekerr.com/pics/ManagingNerves.pdf
1. Remind Yourself That It's NORMAL to Be Nervous Don't beat yourself out because you're nervous, this will only serve tomake you more nervous and stressed out. Remind yourself that most people list public speaking as a top fear, and that 89% of Canadians in a survey said they were afraid of public speaking. So relax – you're not alone if you're nervous, in fact, you are in good company that includes some very famous celebrities, actors and professional speakers. Use this fact to remind yourself that virtually everyone in the audience is on your side as a presenter (even if they disagree with your message!) and that they only want to hear what you have to say about the topic your speaking on. They key then, is not eliminating your fear altogether, but harnessing in that nervous energy and making it work for you, rather than against you.
2. Plan, Plan, Plan and Practice, Practice, Practice According to research, practicing a talk can reduce up to 75% of your nerves and contributes up to 90% of your ultimate success as a presenter It is especially important to practice and memorize your introduction: If you "nail" your opening and build an instant and confident rapport with the audience, your nerves should be reduced substantially. And, contrary to popular belief, practicing does not take away from your ability to be relaxed, natural and spontaneous, in fact, it is just the opposite. The more you practice and gain a command of your material, the more at ease you will be, so the more natural and spontaneous you'll come across because you won't be so focused on just surviving your presentation!
3. Visualize Your Performance Beforehand Athletes and performers do it because it works and has been proven to enhance performance. If at all possible, check out the room you'll be speaking in beforehand so you feel more comfortable in the space and can visualize yourself in the actual setting you'll be speaking in.
4. Reprogram Your Brain It's not the audience that is freaking you out: it's what your brain is telling you about the audience and the talk you need to deliver. "What if they hate me?" "What if I forget something?" "What if someone in the audience knows more than I do about this topic?" Train your brain: Reprogram it with more positive messages about your talk. This isn't just hocus pocus, this has been proven to work! So instead, tell yourself: "I'm just going to do the best I can do, and that's all I can do." "I'm just going to have with this." "There's a reason they want, and need, to hear me speak." "I'm going to be in control of my presentation, not the other way around!"
5. Get to Know the Audience Beforehand If there is time and the opportunity, chat up the audience beforehand – introduce yourself or ask them questions related to your talk. This will accomplish three things, all which will help reduce your nerves: > It will help you to get to know who's in your audience so you can possibly adapt your material or add examples based on what you've learned about who's there > It helps your build a rapport before you have even begun to speak > It helps to remind you that that "scary audience" is actually made up of (usually!) friendly, smiling folks who are truly on your side
6. Prepare for Possible Pitfalls A lot of our nerves and fears are based on imagined problems in our talk. So the more you can assure yourself that your have thought about, and indeed, planned for most conceivable problems, the less nervous you should feel. Have cheat notes available in case you lose your place Know your material inside and out Have back up audio visual support, including spare bulbs and batteries Prepare funny recovery lines ("oops, my train of thought just derailed") Remove/alter potential tongue twisters
7. Eat Properly Beforehand Avoid milk, cream, coffee, alcohol; and avoid eating too much. Eat lightly and drink warm water - so that your vocal chords don't constrict and cause you to sound like Minnie Mouse (or is that, Minnie Mouth?)
8. Practice Deep Breathing and Stretching Exercises Relax yourself beforehand by stretching, practicing a few yoga techniques or by taking a few deep breaths to center yourself. Remember to pause and breathe deeply before you being to speak as well, most presenters rush too quickly into their talk, and if you can give yourself a few minutes to calm your nerves and center yourself before you open your mouth, it will help you make sure you are in control of the presentation from the onset.
9. Arrive at the Room Before Your Audience If Possible Psychologically, this helps put you in the position of "owning" the room, of playing host to your guests, an advantageous position to be in when it comes to controlling your nervous demons.
10. Tap Into Your Sense of Humor Laughing has been proven to reduce fears, and tapping into your sense of humour beforehand, and during the talk, can remind you to take yourself lightly (but the talk seriously), change your perspective and keep you loose and relaxed. A simple way to reframe things humorously, is to ask the following questions about your talk and have FUN with the answers: "What's the most ridiculously, outrageous worst case scenario thing that could happen during my presentation? "What if an alien lands during my talk and asks me a question?" "What's the good news/bad news scenario about this presentation?"
11. Reducing Your Nerves During a Talk > If your body starts to shake, that's a sign your body has some built up energy it wants to decapitate, so move around a bit. Gesture to avoid your hands from shaking. Walk around a bit to avoid your legs from shaking. > If you get a case of DRY mouth, take a sip of warm water (and don't worry about pausing to gather your strength, the audience won't mind!). You can also try gently biting on the inside of your tongue to produce more saliva. > If your voice is shaky, this is a sign you need to RAISE the volume a notch
Final advice: Above all else, HAVE FUN! Speaking can, and indeed most of time, should be about having a fun time.
© Michael Kerr, Speaking of Ideas, 2002
Michael Kerr is an international professional speaker who trains and coaches speakers.
You can reach Michael at 1-866-609-2640, mike@mikekerr.com
www.mikekerr.com
Monday, July 21, 2008
Indian Economy
The Indian Economy
Large, dynamic and steadily expanding, the Indian economy is characterized by a huge workforce operating in many new sectors of opportunity.
The economy of India is as diverse as it is large, with a number of major sectors including manufacturing industries, agriculture, textiles and handicrafts, and services. Agriculture is a major component of the Indian economy, as over 66% of the Indian population earns its livelihood from this area.
However, the service sector is greatly expanding and has started to assume an increasingly important role. The fact that the English speaking population in India is growing by the day means that India has become a hub of outsourcing activities for some of the major economies of the world including the United Kingdom and the United States.
Outsourcing to India has been primarily in the areas of technical support and customer services.
In general, the Indian economy is controlled by the government, and there remains a great disparity between the rich and the poor. Ranked by the exchange rate of the United States Dollar, the Indian economy is the twelfth largest in the world.
In Purchasing Power Parity GDP, the figure for India was 1.5 trillion US Dollars in 2008. The per capita income of India is 4,542 US Dollars in the context of Purchasing Power Parity. This is primarily due to the 1.1 billion population of India, the second largest in the world after China. In nominal terms, the figure comes down to 1,089 US Dollars, based on 2007 figures. According to the World Bank, India is classed as a low-income economy.
Recent trends have seen India exporting the services of a numerous information technology (IT) professionals. IT professionals have been sought for their expertise in software, software engineering and other financial services.
This has been possible as a result of the high skill levels of Indian IT professionals.
Other areas where India is expected to make progress include manufacturing, construction of ships, pharmaceuticals, aviation, biotechnology, tourism, nanotechnology, retailing and telecommunications. Growth rates in these sectors are expected to increase dramatically.
Over the years the Indian government has taken an economic approach that has been influenced, in part, by the Socialist movements. The Indian national government has maintained a high and authoritative level of control over certain areas of the Indian economy like the participation of the private sector, foreign direct investment, and foreign trade.
It may be observed that in spite of the tremendous debate about the justification of the privatization of industries traditionally owned by the government, the process of privatization has still continued at a steady pace.
One of the major challenges before the Indian economy, or those who are responsible for operating it, is to remove the economic inequalities that are still persistent in India after its independence in 1947. Poverty is still one of the major issues although these levels have dropped significantly in recent years. As per official surveys, it has been observed that in the 2004, almost 27% of the working Indian populace was living below the poverty line.
Poverty is a challenge that's becoming increasingly important in relationship to the alarming rate of new births. This implies that ever more rapid change, or birth control policies like the 'One Child' policy in China, are needed to reduce the numbers affected by poverty in the vast Indian economy.
World Economy
The world economy grew 5.2% in 2007 powered by growth in China (11%), India (9%) and Russia (8%). The global economy faces a real risk of 1970s style stagflation however, with resource constraints tighter than ever before.
Things could scarcely have looked rosier for the world economy at the start of 2007. The Emerging Markets, led by the giants of China, India, Russia and Brazil (the BRIC countries) had been posting 7%-10% grow rates for years. Property and stock market booms had brought consistent growth in North America and Europe. Investment was bringing economic development to much of the Middle East and Africa, and even Japan was recovering from its deflationary 'Lost Years'.
Theories were even circulating that thanks to the growth of the developing world, we might enjoy years of unfettered growth, as new markets would go through successive growth spurts and counter the effects of slowing growth elsewhere. It was suggested that Asia was 'decoupling' from the US and able to grow under its own steam thanks to its two 'Awakening Giants'. What a difference a year makes.
The global economy has been hit by a rapid one-two punch that may be setting the stage for stagflation to make a come-back.
It started with the sub-prime crisis in the US, caused by loans to risky or 'sub-prime' mortgagees who did not have strong credit histories. While house prices were rising there wasn't a problem. But as house prices slowed and then crashed to earth, default rates started to rise.
To add fuel to the fire, sub-prime loans had been packaged and re-packaged in a range of derivative financial instruments such as Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs). It was not always clear what the contents CDOs consisted of, as they were combined, sliced and re-sold between financial institutions and funds, and which in some cases allowed risky debt such as sub-prime loans to be packaged as part of low-risk instruments.
Vast swathes of CDO investments had to be written off, and banks became suspicious of investment, borrowing and lending, since it was not always clear what the underlying security was. Once banks stopped lending the Credit Crunch hit.
We then witnessed extraordinary scenes of government regulators in US and UK having to help save collapsing banks in order to avert a meltdown of the financial system, and to Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) from the developing world taking large stakes in venerable western banks like Citibank and UBS in return for keeping them liquid.
The second part of the one-two punch has involved the rise of commodity prices. Just before the dawn of the 21st century, oil average $16 a barrel. By July 2008, less than 10 years later, oil hit a high of $146 a barrel – a stunning rise of more than 800%. From early 2007 to mid 2008 alone the price has risen more than threefold from the mid $40s.
During the Oil Crisis of the 1970s, oil spiked at a nominal peak of $38. In today's prices (adjusted for inflation), that is $106, a figure that we blew past in early 2008.
The price of food has also started spiraling. Rice and other grain prices have doubled from 2007 - 2008, leading to food riots in a score of developing markets. Most agricultural and farm produce prices have been going through the roof. In fact almost all commodities, including those used for energy, construction and consumption, have been rising rapidly.
Price rises have been fueled by the demands of the emerging markets, particularly the BRIC nations, who together account for nearly 3 billion people. In order to maintain their high rates of growth and help lift more of their populace out of poverty, they require more and more commodities.
A bigger worry for economists, however, is whether the natural resources exist to meet these burgeoning demands.
A similar crisis was faced in the 1970s. After a period of strong global economic growth, when the world economy was averaging 5% a year GDP increases, the world hit supply constraints in oil and food. For the next fifteen years, global GDP growth slowed to an average of 3.2% per year.
This became known as the stagflation era. Growth opportunities were limited, but prices continued to rise with a continued lack of supply.
A great debate ensued as to whether we had reached the limits of the earth's ability to support our growth. In 1972 the Club of Rome famously argued exactly that, saying that the global economy would collapse.
And yet the opposite happened. According to Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, world crude oil production grew from 21 million barrels per day in 1960 to 56 mbd in 1973, a growth of 166%. The stagflation crisis also brought about a 'Green Revolution' through fertilizer and irrigation development, and through the development of stronger seed strains. This led to much higher agricultural productivity levels.
Since 1970 however, crude oil production has only grown 30% worldwide. More worrying still is that crude oil production in the Middle East has peaked at 21 mbd in 1974 and remained stagnant, while mature fields in the North Sea, Norway and Alaska are all in decline.
In fact there is a growing school of thought known as 'Peak Oil' that believes we have – or will soon – reach peak oil production capabilities. In the 1950s Dr M. King Hubbert correctly predicted peak oil and decline rates for the mainland US oil industry. His model came to be known as The Hubbert Peak Theory. It predicts that world peak oil production will be reached sometime between 2000 and 2010, and will decline thereafter.
This impending crisis has also helped to raise the price of food, since increasing amounts of land are being devoted to biodiesel crop development, and since higher oil prices raise the cost of fertilizer (for which petroleum is a key ingredient) and food transportation.
It seems increasingly likely that a massive investment in renewable energy sources will be needed in order to avert another stagflationary period in the world economy, or even a global recession. The jury is still out as to how quickly oil supplies will decline or how fast alternative energy sources can be brought online.
World Economic Statistics at a Glance: World GDP (PPP) $65 trillion
GDP Growth Rate 5.2%
Growth Rate of Industrial Production 5%
GDP By Sector Services: 64%
Industry: 32%
Agriculture: 4%
GDP Per Capita (PPP) $9,774
Population 6.65 billion
The Poor (Income below $2 per day) 3.25 billion (approximately 50%)
Millionaires 9 million (approximately 0.15%)
Labor Force 3.13 billion
Exports $13.87 trillion
Imports $13.81 trillion
Inflation Rate – Developed Countries 1% - 4%
Inflation Rate – Developing Countries 5% - 20%
Unemployment – Developed Countries 4% - 12%
Unemployment & Underemployment - Developing Countries 20% - 40%
Sources: CIA World Factbook, IMF, UNDP
Things could scarcely have looked rosier for the world economy at the start of 2007. The Emerging Markets, led by the giants of China, India, Russia and Brazil (the BRIC countries) had been posting 7%-10% grow rates for years. Property and stock market booms had brought consistent growth in North America and Europe. Investment was bringing economic development to much of the Middle East and Africa, and even Japan was recovering from its deflationary 'Lost Years'.
Theories were even circulating that thanks to the growth of the developing world, we might enjoy years of unfettered growth, as new markets would go through successive growth spurts and counter the effects of slowing growth elsewhere. It was suggested that Asia was 'decoupling' from the US and able to grow under its own steam thanks to its two 'Awakening Giants'. What a difference a year makes.
The global economy has been hit by a rapid one-two punch that may be setting the stage for stagflation to make a come-back.
It started with the sub-prime crisis in the US, caused by loans to risky or 'sub-prime' mortgagees who did not have strong credit histories. While house prices were rising there wasn't a problem. But as house prices slowed and then crashed to earth, default rates started to rise.
To add fuel to the fire, sub-prime loans had been packaged and re-packaged in a range of derivative financial instruments such as Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDOs). It was not always clear what the contents CDOs consisted of, as they were combined, sliced and re-sold between financial institutions and funds, and which in some cases allowed risky debt such as sub-prime loans to be packaged as part of low-risk instruments.
Vast swathes of CDO investments had to be written off, and banks became suspicious of investment, borrowing and lending, since it was not always clear what the underlying security was. Once banks stopped lending the Credit Crunch hit.
We then witnessed extraordinary scenes of government regulators in US and UK having to help save collapsing banks in order to avert a meltdown of the financial system, and to Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) from the developing world taking large stakes in venerable western banks like Citibank and UBS in return for keeping them liquid.
The second part of the one-two punch has involved the rise of commodity prices. Just before the dawn of the 21st century, oil average $16 a barrel. By July 2008, less than 10 years later, oil hit a high of $146 a barrel – a stunning rise of more than 800%. From early 2007 to mid 2008 alone the price has risen more than threefold from the mid $40s.
During the Oil Crisis of the 1970s, oil spiked at a nominal peak of $38. In today's prices (adjusted for inflation), that is $106, a figure that we blew past in early 2008.
The price of food has also started spiraling. Rice and other grain prices have doubled from 2007 - 2008, leading to food riots in a score of developing markets. Most agricultural and farm produce prices have been going through the roof. In fact almost all commodities, including those used for energy, construction and consumption, have been rising rapidly.
Price rises have been fueled by the demands of the emerging markets, particularly the BRIC nations, who together account for nearly 3 billion people. In order to maintain their high rates of growth and help lift more of their populace out of poverty, they require more and more commodities.
A bigger worry for economists, however, is whether the natural resources exist to meet these burgeoning demands.
A similar crisis was faced in the 1970s. After a period of strong global economic growth, when the world economy was averaging 5% a year GDP increases, the world hit supply constraints in oil and food. For the next fifteen years, global GDP growth slowed to an average of 3.2% per year.
This became known as the stagflation era. Growth opportunities were limited, but prices continued to rise with a continued lack of supply.
A great debate ensued as to whether we had reached the limits of the earth's ability to support our growth. In 1972 the Club of Rome famously argued exactly that, saying that the global economy would collapse.
And yet the opposite happened. According to Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, world crude oil production grew from 21 million barrels per day in 1960 to 56 mbd in 1973, a growth of 166%. The stagflation crisis also brought about a 'Green Revolution' through fertilizer and irrigation development, and through the development of stronger seed strains. This led to much higher agricultural productivity levels.
Since 1970 however, crude oil production has only grown 30% worldwide. More worrying still is that crude oil production in the Middle East has peaked at 21 mbd in 1974 and remained stagnant, while mature fields in the North Sea, Norway and Alaska are all in decline.
In fact there is a growing school of thought known as 'Peak Oil' that believes we have – or will soon – reach peak oil production capabilities. In the 1950s Dr M. King Hubbert correctly predicted peak oil and decline rates for the mainland US oil industry. His model came to be known as The Hubbert Peak Theory. It predicts that world peak oil production will be reached sometime between 2000 and 2010, and will decline thereafter.
This impending crisis has also helped to raise the price of food, since increasing amounts of land are being devoted to biodiesel crop development, and since higher oil prices raise the cost of fertilizer (for which petroleum is a key ingredient) and food transportation.
It seems increasingly likely that a massive investment in renewable energy sources will be needed in order to avert another stagflationary period in the world economy, or even a global recession. The jury is still out as to how quickly oil supplies will decline or how fast alternative energy sources can be brought online.
World Economic Statistics at a Glance: World GDP (PPP) $65 trillion
GDP Growth Rate 5.2%
Growth Rate of Industrial Production 5%
GDP By Sector Services: 64%
Industry: 32%
Agriculture: 4%
GDP Per Capita (PPP) $9,774
Population 6.65 billion
The Poor (Income below $2 per day) 3.25 billion (approximately 50%)
Millionaires 9 million (approximately 0.15%)
Labor Force 3.13 billion
Exports $13.87 trillion
Imports $13.81 trillion
Inflation Rate – Developed Countries 1% - 4%
Inflation Rate – Developing Countries 5% - 20%
Unemployment – Developed Countries 4% - 12%
Unemployment & Underemployment - Developing Countries 20% - 40%
Sources: CIA World Factbook, IMF, UNDP
Sunday, June 22, 2008
A video on Hiroshima
A video on Hiroshima [For folks who haven't seen this video]
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3f6_1193034132
I avoid putting a write-up on Hiroshima, as i don't want the writings to be in favor of any nation/people.
It is only to show how harsh the face of war can be to any nation, especially an atomic war.
Let us pray for the people who died in this war irrespective of nation; hope we hate "violence" and "foul-cry" in every way.
Love Peace and Harmony are the words I would like to spread through this message.
bye folks,
Rajesh
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3f6_1193034132
I avoid putting a write-up on Hiroshima, as i don't want the writings to be in favor of any nation/people.
It is only to show how harsh the face of war can be to any nation, especially an atomic war.
Let us pray for the people who died in this war irrespective of nation; hope we hate "violence" and "foul-cry" in every way.
Love Peace and Harmony are the words I would like to spread through this message.
bye folks,
Rajesh
Monday, June 09, 2008
Relationships !
TRUST is a very important factor for all relationships. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation.
A telephone operator told me that one day she received a phone call.. She answered, "Public Utilities Board." There was silence. She repeated, "PUB." There was still no answer. When she was going to cut off the line, she heard a lady's voice, "Oh, so this is PUB. Sorry, I got the number from my Husband's pocket but I do not know whose number it is."
Without mutual trust, just imagine what will happen to the couple if the telephone operator answered with just "hello" instead of "PUB".
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
NO POINTING FINGERS
A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?"
The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticize your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than you."
We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves.
If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
CREATING PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS ?
A person visited the government matchmaker for marriage, SDU, and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The SDU officer said, "Your requirements, please." "Oh, good looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour, if I don't go out. Telling me interesting stories when I need companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The officer listened carefully and replied, "I understand you need television."
There is a saying that a perfect match can only be found between a blind wife and a deaf husband, because the blind wife cannot see the faults of the husband and the deaf husband cannot hear the nagging of the wife. Many couples are blind and deaf at the courting stage and dream of perpetual perfect relationship. Unfortunately, when the excitement of love wears off, they wake up a nd discover that marriage is not a bed of roses. The nightmare begins.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
NO OVERPOWERING
Many relationships fail because one party tries to overpower another, or demands too much. People in love tend to think that love will conquer all and their spouses will change the bad habits after marriage. Actually, this is not the case. There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "It is easier to reshape a mountain or a river than a person's character."
It is not easy to change. Thus, having high expectation on changing the spouse character will cause disappointment and unpleasantness.
It would be less painful to change ourselves and lower our expectations. .
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
RIGHT SPEECH
There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation." Many relationships break off because of wrong speech. When a couple is too close with each other, we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party.
A friend and her millionaire husband visited their construction site. A worker who wore a helmet saw her and shouted, "Hi, Emily! Remember me? We used to date in the secondary school." On the way home, her millionaire husband teased her, "Luckily you married me. Otherwise you will be the wife of a construction worker." She answered," You should appreciate that you married me. Other wise, he will be the millionaire and not you."
Frequently exchanging these remarks plants the seed for a bad relationship. It's like a broken egg - cannot be reversed.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
PERSONAL PERCEPTION
Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them rides on the donkey? "Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.
Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman."
The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.
It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.
Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if our conscience is clear..
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
BE PATIENT
This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.
Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide.
Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired.. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.
People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.
"Good Life starts only when you stop wanting a better One"
A telephone operator told me that one day she received a phone call.. She answered, "Public Utilities Board." There was silence. She repeated, "PUB." There was still no answer. When she was going to cut off the line, she heard a lady's voice, "Oh, so this is PUB. Sorry, I got the number from my Husband's pocket but I do not know whose number it is."
Without mutual trust, just imagine what will happen to the couple if the telephone operator answered with just "hello" instead of "PUB".
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
NO POINTING FINGERS
A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?"
The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticize your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than you."
We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves.
If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
CREATING PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS ?
A person visited the government matchmaker for marriage, SDU, and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The SDU officer said, "Your requirements, please." "Oh, good looking, polite, humorous, sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour, if I don't go out. Telling me interesting stories when I need companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The officer listened carefully and replied, "I understand you need television."
There is a saying that a perfect match can only be found between a blind wife and a deaf husband, because the blind wife cannot see the faults of the husband and the deaf husband cannot hear the nagging of the wife. Many couples are blind and deaf at the courting stage and dream of perpetual perfect relationship. Unfortunately, when the excitement of love wears off, they wake up a nd discover that marriage is not a bed of roses. The nightmare begins.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
NO OVERPOWERING
Many relationships fail because one party tries to overpower another, or demands too much. People in love tend to think that love will conquer all and their spouses will change the bad habits after marriage. Actually, this is not the case. There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "It is easier to reshape a mountain or a river than a person's character."
It is not easy to change. Thus, having high expectation on changing the spouse character will cause disappointment and unpleasantness.
It would be less painful to change ourselves and lower our expectations. .
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
RIGHT SPEECH
There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation." Many relationships break off because of wrong speech. When a couple is too close with each other, we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party.
A friend and her millionaire husband visited their construction site. A worker who wore a helmet saw her and shouted, "Hi, Emily! Remember me? We used to date in the secondary school." On the way home, her millionaire husband teased her, "Luckily you married me. Otherwise you will be the wife of a construction worker." She answered," You should appreciate that you married me. Other wise, he will be the millionaire and not you."
Frequently exchanging these remarks plants the seed for a bad relationship. It's like a broken egg - cannot be reversed.
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
PERSONAL PERCEPTION
Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home, a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them rides on the donkey? "Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.
Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman."
The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.
It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.
Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if our conscience is clear..
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
BE PATIENT
This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.
Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, "Daddy, I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide.
Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone u love. Trucks can be repaired.. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.
People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.
"Good Life starts only when you stop wanting a better One"
Sunday, June 01, 2008
Yokohama - Second Largest City of Japan
Hi folks !,
Go ahead and enjoy watching Yokohama
http://picasaweb.google.com/rajeshkvp/Yokohama?authkey=6XvNQ7wd4Y4
bye
Rajesh
Go ahead and enjoy watching Yokohama
http://picasaweb.google.com/rajeshkvp/Yokohama?authkey=6XvNQ7wd4Y4
bye
Rajesh
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Where to be in an earthquake ? - this is not a joke
Where to be in an earthquake ? - this is not a joke
Remember that stuff about hiding under a table or standing in a doorway?? Well, this guy has a completely reverse opinion.This is very
interesting, different from what we were all taught. Boy! Is this ever
an eye opener. Directly opposite of what we've been taught over the years! I can remember in school being told to, "duck and cover" or stand in a doorway during an earthquake. This guy's findings is absolutely amazing. I hope we all remember his survival method if we are ever in an earthquake!!!
Please read this and pass the info along to your family members; it could save their lives someday!
EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE: "TRIANGLE OF LIFE"
My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake.
I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries.
I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.
The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time know that the children were told to hide under something.
Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the "triangle of life".
The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the "triangles"
you
see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.
TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
1) Most everyone who simply "ducks and covers" WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position.
You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.
3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake.
If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created.
Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on The back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.
6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different "moment of frequency" (they swing separately from the main part of the building).
The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads - horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.
8) Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible
- It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.
9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact.
Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.
Spread the word and save someone's life... The Entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared!
"We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly"
In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul , University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did "duck and cover," and ten mannequins I used in my "triangle of life" survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions , relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover.
There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the "triangle of life." This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe , and it was seen in the USA , Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Microsoft Windows Vista vs XP
Compare installation phase
Let us start discussion on comparison from the process of installation itself. In Windows XP, the system prompts for user information, CD-Key, and other information etc. after the process of copying files is done. In Windows Vista, it will ask for information such as computer name, CD-Key before the copying process. One cannot install Windows Vista in drives formatted using FAT32 file systems! One need to have NTFS formatted partition for installation of Windows Vista, which aims at secured future operating systems. Security in FAT32 is less compared to NTFS. Installation process was also fast, compared to Windows XP.
Booting process
Next significant change is in the booting process. The NT Boot Loader which was present in the other older operating system has been replaced by Windows Boot Manager. Windows Vista does not allow storing our own or application files in Windows installed boot drives such as ‘C:’ for security reasons, for users including administrator.Start Menu
Microsoft redesigned the desktop items, such as start menu. The task bar which consist of start button, which is similar in look of Windows XP start button. But, the default color of the task bar has been changed. Instead of classic blue, the default color has been changed to coffee black.
Aero & 3D Effect
There is a new feature called “Aero” which is enabled for use if the system contains a high graphics card, which supports DirectX 9.0 and higher. This feature which is not present in Windows XP enables one to view the open windows as 3D windows. The task bar and open windows can be given translucent, which means semi-transparent effect, through “Aero” option.
Larger Icons on Desktop
The address bar of the Windows Vista Explorer is redesigned to show path as “Computer > Local Disk (C:) > My Folder > My Next Level Folder >” instead of “C:My FolderMy Next Level Folder” which was in Windows XP. The icons appearing on the desktop has been made larger compared to Windows XP. Microsoft has done away with word “My” in the terms such as My Computer, My Document, in Windows Vista.
Sidebar to save time
Microsoft brought a side bar similar to the side bar of MS-Office 97. Programs can be quickly accessed, through customizable buttons provided for the purpose. We need not navigate through Start > Programs > Program Group > Program Name” to run a program. Instead, we can create a short cut on the side bar such that Program Name can be directly accessed.
Adding an old hardware devices have a problem in Windows Vista too, similar to Windows XP. It is said that Windows XP Compatible hardware doesn’t have any problems. Hardware devices which are not detected by Windows XP have problems in Vista too. So, look for a logo “Windows Vista or XP compatible” before buying the hardware. Some old devices can be made to work, if the manufacturer of the device can provide the needed XP or Vista compatible drivers. But, some old devices or the system itself may start to behave differently when we install a XP or Vista compatible drivers which are provided by the manufacturers.
Parental Control- Lets you control your Kid's activity
Vista on the other hand, has a new feature called Parental Control, which is not present in Windows XP. Parents can control their children who make use of the computer for playing their popular games. Parents can now deny access to the computer, deny playing games, and deny even surfing internet. Parents now even can check the status of guessing passwords.
Better Gaming performance
Performance wise, vista surges ahead compared to Windows XP. The various tests such as iTunes encoding, Photoshop CS2 image-processing, 3D games testing using F.E.A.R., has shown that better performance can be achieved in Windows Vista, than Windows XP.
Additional cost to computer user
But, with Windows Vista, it is hard time for people with old systems, as they need to burn some of their extra energy, in purchasing hardware. The RAM needed to be at least 256 MB. One cannot run Vista Aero feature, without a good 3D graphics card that too should support Direct X 9.0. Performance will be slow, if the processor speed is lower than 2.0 GHz.
source: -
http://www.vistahunt.com/compare-windws-xp-with-windows-vista.html
What is the best operating system and why?
In: Windows, Apple and Mac, Linux
The best desktop operating system to use depends on what its intended use will be and who will be using it. There is no specific operating system which can be called "the best" overall, and since most current operating systems share most common and advanced features there is much debate on the topic. A few of the most popular operating system, their pros and cons, and some of their best uses are described below.
Microsoft Windows
Pros:
The largest library of programs and applications.
Some commercial games work only with Windows and DirectX.
Almost all hardware has drivers which are compatible with Windows.
Most widely used.
Cons:
Prone to viruses, spyware, and adware if proper steps not taken such as installation of internet security software, which reduces performance speed.
Requires regular maintenance to avoid system errors and reduced performance.
Even with maintenance, issues can slowly accumulate requiring a re-installation of Windows to restore performance and fix software issues.
Expensive.
Windows Vista has high system requirements.
The Windows market share has seen some decrease in recent years and months.
Notes:
Windows Vista, the most recent consumer version of Windows, has relatively high system requirements compared to its Windows XP and other operating systems. There are also other issues, such as some software and hardware incompatibilities or frequent security confirmations, which are causing many individuals and businesses to continue using the older Windows XP.
The two most common versions of Windows are Windows XP and Windows Vista. Vista, although it has some issues, does have some new features such as search-as-you-type search and a 3D-accelerated desktop, features up until now only found in Mac OS X and some versions of Linux.
With the introduction of Virtual-machine software, Windows has become a popular add-on for Mac and Linux in order allow those computers to support Windows-only software or hardware when needed.
Best uses:
Gamers
People who must use Windows-only software for work or school.
People or businesses looking for an inexpensive computer yet do not have the ability to use Linux.
Mac OS X
Pros:
Relatively simple and intuitive interface with many advanced features.
Not virus or malware prone: there are no Mac OS X viruses in the wild, and with its UNIX base, it is fairly resilient. There are a small number of trojans (malicious software) which have been known to take effect through applications running in Mac OS X, though they are almost always found on illegal-content-based websites and are not of significant concern.
Second-largest selection of software, with many high-quality Mac-only programs in existence, such as those found in iLife. Although at one point software for certain tasks were not Mac-compatible, all software is now either Mac-compatible or has an equivalent that is. Most advanced games have also recently became compatible with Mac OS X.
Reliable and high performance.
Cons:
Limited to Apple-manufactured hardware.
Some hardware does not have Mac-compatible drivers, though the number of this hardware has recently become small and negligible.
It can be difficult to do certain cross-platform network hardware sharing for a Mac OS X based computer in a Windows network or visa-versa. For example, a printer's Mac driver may not support cross-platform printing to a Windows-connected printer, and replacement drivers may or may not exist.
Notes:
There are some security holes in Mac OS X just like in other operating systems, and, like in other operating systems, they are fixed with occasional updates upon their discovery. However, Mac OS X includes a built-in firewall, and hacks aimed at Mac are less common than hacks aimed at Windows, so this is not generally a major concern.
Macs are usually more expensive than PCs made by companies such as Dell and HP. However, the following factors can cause the total price of owning a Mac to be less than that of a PC: Mac OS X and Apple iWork are relatively inexpensive compared to copies of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. PCs experience hardware or software failures more frequently than Macs, increasing service and replacement costs.
With a relatively low market share compared to Windows, there are still individual programs which are only Windows compatible. However, virtual machine software with a Windows installation or compatibility layer software can allow those programs to run even on a Mac.
The Mac has seen significant market share increases in recent years and months, something which has also increased the amount of Mac-compatible software.
Best uses:
Students who are not required to use Windows-specific software (though Windows can easily be installed to use Windows software). A recent study indicated that the number of students intending to purchase Macs has neared that of Windows-based PCs.
Home users looking for an easy and reliable computing experience who are willing to pay more than typical PC prices.
Graphic designers and photographers.
Scientists.
Linux and other UNIX-based
Pros:
Low number of viruses and spyware, similar to Mac OS X
Usually free
Large selection of Linux distributions to choose from.
Has a large amount of free and open source software equivalents to commercial Windows and Mac software
More easily customizable
Can run many Windows programs with the use of a compatibility layer such as Wine. (Programs such as Cedega can be used to run many Windows games)
Reliable with good performance and low requirements.
Cons:
Advanced use and installation of some software may require more advanced knowledge than is required for use of Windows and Mac.
Many commercial programs do not support Linux
Small commercial game library
Notes:
There are a few main types of Linux: Debian, Fedora (formerly Red Hat), and SUSE. Ubuntu, a type of Debian, is highly popular among home users, as is SUSE, to a lesser extent. Fedora is more popular among businesses.
There are many other (non-Linux) UNIX-based operating systems (with the same UNIX base as Linux), including Mac OS X and SunOS (which are based on Free-BSD). There are also some UNIX-like operating systems.
Through customization and software like Beryl, Linux can be made to have advanced desktop effects similar to Aero on Windows Vista or Aqua on Mac OS X.
"Dependency hell" can make installation of certain programs on Linux difficult even for advanced users.
Best uses:
Experienced computer users looking for a good, free operating system.
Businesses looking for reliable and affordable computing, so long as they do not need Windows-only software and have a competent IT manager.
Bottom line
Though there is no one clear best operating system, each does have its advantages and disadvantages, and different people will be best using different ones. Microsoft Windows is the most common operating system and is a reasonable choice for most people. Mac OS X is second-most popular (and gaining market share) and is an excellent operating system for those who can purchase a Mac. Linux is a very good advanced operating system available for free and is recommended for experienced users.
In: Windows, Apple and Mac, Linux
The best desktop operating system to use depends on what its intended use will be and who will be using it. There is no specific operating system which can be called "the best" overall, and since most current operating systems share most common and advanced features there is much debate on the topic. A few of the most popular operating system, their pros and cons, and some of their best uses are described below.
Microsoft Windows
Pros:
The largest library of programs and applications.
Some commercial games work only with Windows and DirectX.
Almost all hardware has drivers which are compatible with Windows.
Most widely used.
Cons:
Prone to viruses, spyware, and adware if proper steps not taken such as installation of internet security software, which reduces performance speed.
Requires regular maintenance to avoid system errors and reduced performance.
Even with maintenance, issues can slowly accumulate requiring a re-installation of Windows to restore performance and fix software issues.
Expensive.
Windows Vista has high system requirements.
The Windows market share has seen some decrease in recent years and months.
Notes:
Windows Vista, the most recent consumer version of Windows, has relatively high system requirements compared to its Windows XP and other operating systems. There are also other issues, such as some software and hardware incompatibilities or frequent security confirmations, which are causing many individuals and businesses to continue using the older Windows XP.
The two most common versions of Windows are Windows XP and Windows Vista. Vista, although it has some issues, does have some new features such as search-as-you-type search and a 3D-accelerated desktop, features up until now only found in Mac OS X and some versions of Linux.
With the introduction of Virtual-machine software, Windows has become a popular add-on for Mac and Linux in order allow those computers to support Windows-only software or hardware when needed.
Best uses:
Gamers
People who must use Windows-only software for work or school.
People or businesses looking for an inexpensive computer yet do not have the ability to use Linux.
Mac OS X
Pros:
Relatively simple and intuitive interface with many advanced features.
Not virus or malware prone: there are no Mac OS X viruses in the wild, and with its UNIX base, it is fairly resilient. There are a small number of trojans (malicious software) which have been known to take effect through applications running in Mac OS X, though they are almost always found on illegal-content-based websites and are not of significant concern.
Second-largest selection of software, with many high-quality Mac-only programs in existence, such as those found in iLife. Although at one point software for certain tasks were not Mac-compatible, all software is now either Mac-compatible or has an equivalent that is. Most advanced games have also recently became compatible with Mac OS X.
Reliable and high performance.
Cons:
Limited to Apple-manufactured hardware.
Some hardware does not have Mac-compatible drivers, though the number of this hardware has recently become small and negligible.
It can be difficult to do certain cross-platform network hardware sharing for a Mac OS X based computer in a Windows network or visa-versa. For example, a printer's Mac driver may not support cross-platform printing to a Windows-connected printer, and replacement drivers may or may not exist.
Notes:
There are some security holes in Mac OS X just like in other operating systems, and, like in other operating systems, they are fixed with occasional updates upon their discovery. However, Mac OS X includes a built-in firewall, and hacks aimed at Mac are less common than hacks aimed at Windows, so this is not generally a major concern.
Macs are usually more expensive than PCs made by companies such as Dell and HP. However, the following factors can cause the total price of owning a Mac to be less than that of a PC: Mac OS X and Apple iWork are relatively inexpensive compared to copies of Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office. PCs experience hardware or software failures more frequently than Macs, increasing service and replacement costs.
With a relatively low market share compared to Windows, there are still individual programs which are only Windows compatible. However, virtual machine software with a Windows installation or compatibility layer software can allow those programs to run even on a Mac.
The Mac has seen significant market share increases in recent years and months, something which has also increased the amount of Mac-compatible software.
Best uses:
Students who are not required to use Windows-specific software (though Windows can easily be installed to use Windows software). A recent study indicated that the number of students intending to purchase Macs has neared that of Windows-based PCs.
Home users looking for an easy and reliable computing experience who are willing to pay more than typical PC prices.
Graphic designers and photographers.
Scientists.
Linux and other UNIX-based
Pros:
Low number of viruses and spyware, similar to Mac OS X
Usually free
Large selection of Linux distributions to choose from.
Has a large amount of free and open source software equivalents to commercial Windows and Mac software
More easily customizable
Can run many Windows programs with the use of a compatibility layer such as Wine. (Programs such as Cedega can be used to run many Windows games)
Reliable with good performance and low requirements.
Cons:
Advanced use and installation of some software may require more advanced knowledge than is required for use of Windows and Mac.
Many commercial programs do not support Linux
Small commercial game library
Notes:
There are a few main types of Linux: Debian, Fedora (formerly Red Hat), and SUSE. Ubuntu, a type of Debian, is highly popular among home users, as is SUSE, to a lesser extent. Fedora is more popular among businesses.
There are many other (non-Linux) UNIX-based operating systems (with the same UNIX base as Linux), including Mac OS X and SunOS (which are based on Free-BSD). There are also some UNIX-like operating systems.
Through customization and software like Beryl, Linux can be made to have advanced desktop effects similar to Aero on Windows Vista or Aqua on Mac OS X.
"Dependency hell" can make installation of certain programs on Linux difficult even for advanced users.
Best uses:
Experienced computer users looking for a good, free operating system.
Businesses looking for reliable and affordable computing, so long as they do not need Windows-only software and have a competent IT manager.
Bottom line
Though there is no one clear best operating system, each does have its advantages and disadvantages, and different people will be best using different ones. Microsoft Windows is the most common operating system and is a reasonable choice for most people. Mac OS X is second-most popular (and gaining market share) and is an excellent operating system for those who can purchase a Mac. Linux is a very good advanced operating system available for free and is recommended for experienced users.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Big Brains - Intelligence ?
Jeanna Bryner
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
If this were true, then perhaps big-headed people wouldn't be so pea-brained.
This question is mired in many unknowns. For one, scientists still debate over the definition of intelligence. For any IQ definition, how do you measure it? Further, do differences in IQ show up in daily life? And finally, does more brain tissue or a heftier brain equate with higher IQ?
One thing scientists do agree on: A big brain alone doesn't equate with smarts. If it did, elephants and sperm whales would win all the spelling bees. Rather, scientists look at brain mass relative to body mass in order to make any speculation about a creature's cognitive abilities.
So while an elephant noggin, at 10.5 pounds (4,780 grams), could squash a human think box in a purely physical battle of brains, you and I take the cake in a war of wits. Our brains, which weigh an average of 2.7 pounds (1,200 grams), account for about 2 percent of body weight, compared with an elephant's under one-tenth of a percent.
Studies have shown that across species relatively large brains "do seem to provide some complex cognitive skills, such as innovative solutions to ecological problems, more efficient resource mapping and food acquisition, and more complex social strategies (such as deception)," said Nancy Barrickman, a graduate student in Duke University's Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy.
Differences in brain size within a species, such as humans, are relatively small, making it difficult to tease out the effects of brain size and the effects of other factors. For instance, the difference in intelligence between an organism with, say, a brain that's 1,100 grams and one that's 1,400 grams (which could be found in humans) is confounded by other variables, including differences in density of neurons, other structural brain differences and socio-cultural factors.
And the debate continues ...
Brain size has nothing to do with scores on standardized intelligence tests, according to a brain-scan study of young children.
Michael McDaniel, an industrial and organizational psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University, has claimed that bigger brains do make for smarter people. Many researchers, however, disagree with McDaniel's conclusion. His research, published in 2005 in the journal Intelligence, suggested that across all age and sex groups, brain volume is linked to intelligence.
Men are smarter than women, according to research published in 2006, which the study researchers say could be due to men having relatively larger brains, a difference of about 0.2 pounds (100 grams). Another scientist put forth several socio-cultural factors that would make the men-smarter results null.
Average brain weights for primates (not relative to body size):
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) - 0.77 pounds (350 grams)
Mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) - 0.95 pounds (430 grams)
Mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) - 0.004 pounds (2 grams)
Sizing up brains for the rest of the animal kingdom, would include:
Sperm whale - 17 pounds (7,800 grams)
Walrus - 2.4 pounds (1,100 grams)
Domestic cat - 0.06 pounds (30 grams)
If brain size had anything to do with innovation and creativity, some scientists expected to see a link between the so-called Mind's Big Bang (the emergence of bone tools and cave paintings that occurred between 50,000 and 70,000 years ago) and the emergence of modern-size human brains.
LiveScience Staff Writer
LiveScience.com
If this were true, then perhaps big-headed people wouldn't be so pea-brained.
This question is mired in many unknowns. For one, scientists still debate over the definition of intelligence. For any IQ definition, how do you measure it? Further, do differences in IQ show up in daily life? And finally, does more brain tissue or a heftier brain equate with higher IQ?
One thing scientists do agree on: A big brain alone doesn't equate with smarts. If it did, elephants and sperm whales would win all the spelling bees. Rather, scientists look at brain mass relative to body mass in order to make any speculation about a creature's cognitive abilities.
So while an elephant noggin, at 10.5 pounds (4,780 grams), could squash a human think box in a purely physical battle of brains, you and I take the cake in a war of wits. Our brains, which weigh an average of 2.7 pounds (1,200 grams), account for about 2 percent of body weight, compared with an elephant's under one-tenth of a percent.
Studies have shown that across species relatively large brains "do seem to provide some complex cognitive skills, such as innovative solutions to ecological problems, more efficient resource mapping and food acquisition, and more complex social strategies (such as deception)," said Nancy Barrickman, a graduate student in Duke University's Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy.
Differences in brain size within a species, such as humans, are relatively small, making it difficult to tease out the effects of brain size and the effects of other factors. For instance, the difference in intelligence between an organism with, say, a brain that's 1,100 grams and one that's 1,400 grams (which could be found in humans) is confounded by other variables, including differences in density of neurons, other structural brain differences and socio-cultural factors.
And the debate continues ...
Brain size has nothing to do with scores on standardized intelligence tests, according to a brain-scan study of young children.
Michael McDaniel, an industrial and organizational psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University, has claimed that bigger brains do make for smarter people. Many researchers, however, disagree with McDaniel's conclusion. His research, published in 2005 in the journal Intelligence, suggested that across all age and sex groups, brain volume is linked to intelligence.
Men are smarter than women, according to research published in 2006, which the study researchers say could be due to men having relatively larger brains, a difference of about 0.2 pounds (100 grams). Another scientist put forth several socio-cultural factors that would make the men-smarter results null.
Average brain weights for primates (not relative to body size):
Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) - 0.77 pounds (350 grams)
Mountain gorilla (Gorilla gorilla beringei) - 0.95 pounds (430 grams)
Mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) - 0.004 pounds (2 grams)
Sizing up brains for the rest of the animal kingdom, would include:
Sperm whale - 17 pounds (7,800 grams)
Walrus - 2.4 pounds (1,100 grams)
Domestic cat - 0.06 pounds (30 grams)
If brain size had anything to do with innovation and creativity, some scientists expected to see a link between the so-called Mind's Big Bang (the emergence of bone tools and cave paintings that occurred between 50,000 and 70,000 years ago) and the emergence of modern-size human brains.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sourav Ganguly [Dada] - Rare pictures
"I used to write essay's of her homework, when I was in school"..after all she is my wife....
"This is me at 5"
"I can play it as well as cricket".... Believe me
"alone together in pair.........in my home...at behala"
The two big families of Indian cricket together..now that's a rare one.....
"One my first tours of England (under 18) at age of 16.....ajay,sachin,vinod were there with me....
Now that's the most rare one.........me on the right and my gr8888 partner "chhotobabu" on the left".......
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Mild Recession warning - 2008 and 2009 ?
IMF urges Japan to loosen its credit grip
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The International Monetary Fund urged Japan Wednesday to maintain its growth-oriented monetary stance and consider easing its credit grip further because the global economy is at risk of a recession.
In its twice-yearly World Economic Outlook report, the IMF said the U.S. economy is likely to enter into a "mild recession" in 2008 due to the fallout from its subprime mortgage meltdown, which may globally cause a $945 billion hit. It also pointed to a "25 percent chance" of a global recession in 2008 and 2009.
The IMF projected the U.S. economy to grow 0.5 percent in 2008, down 1.0 point, and 0.6 percent in 2009, down 1.2 points from its previous forecasts released in January.
As for Japan, the IMF trimmed its growth estimate to 1.4 percent for 2008, down 0.1 point, and to 1.5 percent for 2009, down 0.2 percentage point from the January forecasts.
Despite robust growth in the final quarter of 2007, Japan's growth momentum entering 2008 "appears to have slowed with deteriorating business and consumer confidence, and export growth shows signs of moderating," it said.
"In light of the prevailing head winds to growth, monetary policy should maintain its accommodative stance and could be eased further in the face of a serious downturn," it said.
Earlier in the day, the Bank of Japan decided to hold the key short-term interest rate steady at 0.5 percent in a widely expected move. The rate has remained at that level since February 2007.
Noting the overall balance of global risks "remains tilted to the downside," the IMF cut its global outlook to 3.7 percent for 2008, down 0.5 point, and to 3.8 percent for 2009, down 0.6 point.
The fresh projections would mark the lowest global growth since 2002, when the world economy grew only 3.1 percent. But the report warned that the worst may still lie ahead.
"The IMF staff now sees a 25 percent chance of growth slowing to 3 percent or less in 2008 and 2009, equivalent to a global recession," it said.
"The greatest uncertainty comes from the still-unfolding events in financial markets, particularly the potential for the deep losses related to the U.S. subprime mortgage sector and other structured credits to further impair financial system capital and cause the current credit squeeze to mutate into a credit crunch," it said.
WASHINGTON (Kyodo) The International Monetary Fund urged Japan Wednesday to maintain its growth-oriented monetary stance and consider easing its credit grip further because the global economy is at risk of a recession.
In its twice-yearly World Economic Outlook report, the IMF said the U.S. economy is likely to enter into a "mild recession" in 2008 due to the fallout from its subprime mortgage meltdown, which may globally cause a $945 billion hit. It also pointed to a "25 percent chance" of a global recession in 2008 and 2009.
The IMF projected the U.S. economy to grow 0.5 percent in 2008, down 1.0 point, and 0.6 percent in 2009, down 1.2 points from its previous forecasts released in January.
As for Japan, the IMF trimmed its growth estimate to 1.4 percent for 2008, down 0.1 point, and to 1.5 percent for 2009, down 0.2 percentage point from the January forecasts.
Despite robust growth in the final quarter of 2007, Japan's growth momentum entering 2008 "appears to have slowed with deteriorating business and consumer confidence, and export growth shows signs of moderating," it said.
"In light of the prevailing head winds to growth, monetary policy should maintain its accommodative stance and could be eased further in the face of a serious downturn," it said.
Earlier in the day, the Bank of Japan decided to hold the key short-term interest rate steady at 0.5 percent in a widely expected move. The rate has remained at that level since February 2007.
Noting the overall balance of global risks "remains tilted to the downside," the IMF cut its global outlook to 3.7 percent for 2008, down 0.5 point, and to 3.8 percent for 2009, down 0.6 point.
The fresh projections would mark the lowest global growth since 2002, when the world economy grew only 3.1 percent. But the report warned that the worst may still lie ahead.
"The IMF staff now sees a 25 percent chance of growth slowing to 3 percent or less in 2008 and 2009, equivalent to a global recession," it said.
"The greatest uncertainty comes from the still-unfolding events in financial markets, particularly the potential for the deep losses related to the U.S. subprime mortgage sector and other structured credits to further impair financial system capital and cause the current credit squeeze to mutate into a credit crunch," it said.
Saturday, April 05, 2008
6 Blunders That Ruin Retirement Plans
6 Blunders That Ruin Retirement Plans
By Katy Marquardt
Regular contributions to an IRA or 401(k) are a good start, but accumulating money is only part of the retirement-planning equation. Securing a comfortable retirement is a tricky process that requires careful planning; a few bad moves can cost you dearly in the long run. Here are six common missteps:
1. Not having a plan: A third of adults have no financial plan for retirement, according to a recent survey conducted for TD Ameritrade. Of the remainder of those surveyed, 46 percent said they have a written retirement plan, and 20 percent said they have a plan in their head. "So many people who have undersaved choose to ignore the issue rather than sit down and create a plan," says Joe Heider, president of Dawson Wealth Management in Cleveland. "It's almost like a fear of going to the doctor."
Retirement calculators are a start. Free counsel might be available through your employer's investment-advice program; otherwise, an investment adviser can help you plot your financial moves. Services range from a one-time financial checkup to a comprehensive plan that includes asset allocation and estate planning.
2. Underestimating life expectancy: Retirees are living longer these days, thanks to more healthful lifestyles, medical breakthroughs, and healthcare reforms. In 1955, Americans lived to be an average of 69.6 years old. The average life expectancy rose to 75.8 years by 1995 and to 77.9 years by 2005, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Keep in mind that life expectancies are averages; many of today's retirees will live well into their 80s and beyond. Rosanne Grande of R. W. Rogé & Co. on New York's Long Island says her firm's plans run to age 100. "We invest for the long term, not the short term, now that people are living 30 and 40 years into retirement," Grande says.
One side note: As retirees' expectations about longevity increase, so does the role of the financial adviser. Grande is one of a growing number of registered financial gerontologists, who specialize in serving older clients.
3. Low-balling your spending: Would-be retirees tend to be too conservative when projecting their annual expenses in retirement, Heider says. "Chances are, a couple retiring in their early to mid-60s is going to spend almost as much in retirement as they did during their working career," he says. Spending in some categories, like travel, may increase. "For most people, spending on discretionary items and travel actually goes up in the early years of retirement," Heider adds.
4. Failing to plan for unexpected extras: Many people have a basic retirement plan in their head, with a general idea of their assets, monthly expenses, pension income, or Social Security income, Grande says. "But what they fail to factor in is extraordinary cash-flow needs, such as boomerang children living at home or extended care for aging parents," she says. A leaky roof or termite infestation could also put a dent in your budget. For such surprise expenses, Grande recommends building a little extra padding into your plan. Think of it as an extended emergency fund.
5. Overlooking rising healthcare costs: A 65-year-old couple retiring this year will need about $225,000 just to cover medical costs in retirement, according to Fidelity Investments. This figure, which assumes retirees don't have employer-sponsored healthcare coverage, represents a 5 percent increase over 2007 and a whopping 41 percent jump from 2002. Meanwhile, the number of large employers offering retiree health benefits is falling.
Employers are also increasingly shifting more costs to retirees through higher premium contributions and cost-sharing requirements. "It's scary, and it's very hard for most people to realize that the cost of the medical plan is going to go up 8 to 12 percent each year," says Ellen Jordan, senior vice president with Bryn Mawr Trust Wealth Management in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
6. Ignoring inflation: Don't underestimate the impact inflation will have on your retirement plan. If you're 65 today, an expense that currently costs $100 will cost $180 by the time you're 80, assuming an inflation rate of 4 percent. Plan your retirement with the assumption that the cost of living in your later years will considerably outpace that of your earlier years. Grande uses a 4 percent inflation estimate in her clients' plans.
http://www.bankrate.com/usn/cgi-bin/retire.asp?nav=grn&page=calc_home
By Katy Marquardt
Regular contributions to an IRA or 401(k) are a good start, but accumulating money is only part of the retirement-planning equation. Securing a comfortable retirement is a tricky process that requires careful planning; a few bad moves can cost you dearly in the long run. Here are six common missteps:
1. Not having a plan: A third of adults have no financial plan for retirement, according to a recent survey conducted for TD Ameritrade. Of the remainder of those surveyed, 46 percent said they have a written retirement plan, and 20 percent said they have a plan in their head. "So many people who have undersaved choose to ignore the issue rather than sit down and create a plan," says Joe Heider, president of Dawson Wealth Management in Cleveland. "It's almost like a fear of going to the doctor."
Retirement calculators are a start. Free counsel might be available through your employer's investment-advice program; otherwise, an investment adviser can help you plot your financial moves. Services range from a one-time financial checkup to a comprehensive plan that includes asset allocation and estate planning.
2. Underestimating life expectancy: Retirees are living longer these days, thanks to more healthful lifestyles, medical breakthroughs, and healthcare reforms. In 1955, Americans lived to be an average of 69.6 years old. The average life expectancy rose to 75.8 years by 1995 and to 77.9 years by 2005, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Keep in mind that life expectancies are averages; many of today's retirees will live well into their 80s and beyond. Rosanne Grande of R. W. Rogé & Co. on New York's Long Island says her firm's plans run to age 100. "We invest for the long term, not the short term, now that people are living 30 and 40 years into retirement," Grande says.
One side note: As retirees' expectations about longevity increase, so does the role of the financial adviser. Grande is one of a growing number of registered financial gerontologists, who specialize in serving older clients.
3. Low-balling your spending: Would-be retirees tend to be too conservative when projecting their annual expenses in retirement, Heider says. "Chances are, a couple retiring in their early to mid-60s is going to spend almost as much in retirement as they did during their working career," he says. Spending in some categories, like travel, may increase. "For most people, spending on discretionary items and travel actually goes up in the early years of retirement," Heider adds.
4. Failing to plan for unexpected extras: Many people have a basic retirement plan in their head, with a general idea of their assets, monthly expenses, pension income, or Social Security income, Grande says. "But what they fail to factor in is extraordinary cash-flow needs, such as boomerang children living at home or extended care for aging parents," she says. A leaky roof or termite infestation could also put a dent in your budget. For such surprise expenses, Grande recommends building a little extra padding into your plan. Think of it as an extended emergency fund.
5. Overlooking rising healthcare costs: A 65-year-old couple retiring this year will need about $225,000 just to cover medical costs in retirement, according to Fidelity Investments. This figure, which assumes retirees don't have employer-sponsored healthcare coverage, represents a 5 percent increase over 2007 and a whopping 41 percent jump from 2002. Meanwhile, the number of large employers offering retiree health benefits is falling.
Employers are also increasingly shifting more costs to retirees through higher premium contributions and cost-sharing requirements. "It's scary, and it's very hard for most people to realize that the cost of the medical plan is going to go up 8 to 12 percent each year," says Ellen Jordan, senior vice president with Bryn Mawr Trust Wealth Management in Bryn Mawr, Pa.
6. Ignoring inflation: Don't underestimate the impact inflation will have on your retirement plan. If you're 65 today, an expense that currently costs $100 will cost $180 by the time you're 80, assuming an inflation rate of 4 percent. Plan your retirement with the assumption that the cost of living in your later years will considerably outpace that of your earlier years. Grande uses a 4 percent inflation estimate in her clients' plans.
http://www.bankrate.com/usn/cgi-bin/retire.asp?nav=grn&page=calc_home
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sakura blossoms @ Shinjuku Gyoen - largest park in Tokyo
As promised you have photos of Sakura blossoms @ Shinjuku Gyoen - largest park in Tokyo.
http://picasaweb.google.com/rajeshkvp/JapanSCherryBlossomSakuraShinjukuGyoenLargestParkInTokyo
Tree count = 10,000 trees
Turn out = About 1 lakh people between 2pm to 3pm on 29th March 2008 - estimated
Park Size = 58.3 hectares in size, biggest in japan
history = it was built for Imperial Household earlier and later for commoners.
it was completely destroyed during worldwar-2
http://picasaweb.google.com/rajeshkvp/JapanSCherryBlossomSakuraShinjukuGyoenLargestParkInTokyo
Tree count = 10,000 trees
Turn out = About 1 lakh people between 2pm to 3pm on 29th March 2008 - estimated
Park Size = 58.3 hectares in size, biggest in japan
history = it was built for Imperial Household earlier and later for commoners.
it was completely destroyed during worldwar-2
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Japan's cherry blossom (sakura)
For those of you who are crazy about flowers..
As many of you know, Japan is world popular for its flowery
collections and craze for flowers. Sakura flower blooms during the
spring season(which started about 10-15 days back..) it usually
lasts for a short-time.. and I will try posting photos.. as soon as
I can capture them on my camera.
This year sakura blossoms started on March 22nd, Best time to view
in tokyo is March 27 to April 5th 2008.
there are some beautiful photos in this site.. enjoy viewing.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_where.html
Exact Description=
"The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower.
It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent
position in Japanese culture.
There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan,
most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The
Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom
viewing) parties under the blooming trees
As many of you know, Japan is world popular for its flowery
collections and craze for flowers. Sakura flower blooms during the
spring season(which started about 10-15 days back..) it usually
lasts for a short-time.. and I will try posting photos.. as soon as
I can capture them on my camera.
This year sakura blossoms started on March 22nd, Best time to view
in tokyo is March 27 to April 5th 2008.
there are some beautiful photos in this site.. enjoy viewing.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2011_where.html
Exact Description=
"The cherry blossom (sakura) is Japan's unofficial national flower.
It has been celebrated for many centuries and takes a very prominent
position in Japanese culture.
There are many dozens of different cherry tree varieties in Japan,
most of which bloom for just a couple of days in spring. The
Japanese celebrate that time of the year with hanami (cherry blossom
viewing) parties under the blooming trees
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Sleeplessness
HELP WITH INSOMNIAInsomnia is a more and more common condition in modern times. Sadly, a huge percentage of us are sleep-deprived or sleep-impaired, and this leads to irritability, sub-par functioning, muddy thinking, poor judgment, inefficient use of time, dangerous driving, tanking relationships and decreased enjoyment of life.
There are two kinds of sleeplessness or insomnia – the kind where you have trouble falling asleep, and the kind where you wake up in the wee hours and can’t fall back to sleep – or both. Here are a few simple but effective behavioral suggestions to help with insomnia.
Try to make a habit of writing down, before bedtime, all the things you need to take care of for the next day, so that you are, in essence, getting it out of your head and onto a sheet of paper. Journaling thoughts and feelings also serves the same purpose in a more wide-ranging way.
If you work out or exercise at night, it would be better to switch to the morning or afternoon – not just before bedtime. Evening exercise too close to bedtime feeds insomnia.
If you drink alcohol at dinner or after, this might help you fall asleep in the short term, but it’s also likely to be what’s waking you up at 2 or 3 a.m.. Booze is a terrible intervention for insomnia.
If you wake up in the middle of the night and your mind revs up with worries, plans, problems, solutions, whatever, you will either need to distract your mind – with reading, or music or one of the resources I’ll suggest later on in this list; or else get out of bed and try to address some of these things in a more proactive way. The worst thing you can do is just lie there thinking “I have to get some sleep!!! I’m going to be exhausted tomorrow!!! I MUST sleep!! This insomnia is going to wreck my ability to function!!” because, of course, once you’re having that conversation with yourself, you’ll never fall asleep!
If you’re in the middle of one of these dreadful insomnia cycles, you would do well to consider getting a prescription for a mild sleeping pill – not as a permanent solution, but to break the cycle of sleeplessness. Work with your doc to find a good medication that works well for you, without producing a “hangover” the next day. It’s best to experiment over the weekend or on a week night when you don’t have to be terribly sharp the next morning.
Some more tips:-
Try to maintain fixed timings for your sleep. Try to go to sleep at the same time everyday. Also wake up at the same time. This will help your body and mind to regularize your sleep.
Have some simple and light snack before going to bed. Avoid spicy food or too much of sweets. Help your digestive system by taking light snacks like a few slices of bread or some cereal. This is just to reduce the pressure on your digestive system which will allow you to sleep peacefully and will not disturb you struggling to digest food.
Do not take nicotine... or atleast avoid consuming any kind of nicotine atleast 5-6 hours before you go to bed.
The general assumption is taking alcohol gives better sleep. This is not true and also this could lead to complications. Usually, you will have disturbed sleep after consuming Alcohol. Avoid Alcohol atleast for 5-6 hours befor you go to sleep.
Take milk before going to bed. You can take some malt beverages too, which normally helps in having good sleep. Always ensure that you dont go to bed hungry.
Try to keep your bedroom well ventilated and clean. If you are getting disturbed by any noise around, try to use earplugs to have a peaceful sleep.
Be active during the day. Dont doze off during the day, as this may be an obstacle to your night sleep.
There are two kinds of sleeplessness or insomnia – the kind where you have trouble falling asleep, and the kind where you wake up in the wee hours and can’t fall back to sleep – or both. Here are a few simple but effective behavioral suggestions to help with insomnia.
Try to make a habit of writing down, before bedtime, all the things you need to take care of for the next day, so that you are, in essence, getting it out of your head and onto a sheet of paper. Journaling thoughts and feelings also serves the same purpose in a more wide-ranging way.
If you work out or exercise at night, it would be better to switch to the morning or afternoon – not just before bedtime. Evening exercise too close to bedtime feeds insomnia.
If you drink alcohol at dinner or after, this might help you fall asleep in the short term, but it’s also likely to be what’s waking you up at 2 or 3 a.m.. Booze is a terrible intervention for insomnia.
If you wake up in the middle of the night and your mind revs up with worries, plans, problems, solutions, whatever, you will either need to distract your mind – with reading, or music or one of the resources I’ll suggest later on in this list; or else get out of bed and try to address some of these things in a more proactive way. The worst thing you can do is just lie there thinking “I have to get some sleep!!! I’m going to be exhausted tomorrow!!! I MUST sleep!! This insomnia is going to wreck my ability to function!!” because, of course, once you’re having that conversation with yourself, you’ll never fall asleep!
If you’re in the middle of one of these dreadful insomnia cycles, you would do well to consider getting a prescription for a mild sleeping pill – not as a permanent solution, but to break the cycle of sleeplessness. Work with your doc to find a good medication that works well for you, without producing a “hangover” the next day. It’s best to experiment over the weekend or on a week night when you don’t have to be terribly sharp the next morning.
Some more tips:-
Try to maintain fixed timings for your sleep. Try to go to sleep at the same time everyday. Also wake up at the same time. This will help your body and mind to regularize your sleep.
Have some simple and light snack before going to bed. Avoid spicy food or too much of sweets. Help your digestive system by taking light snacks like a few slices of bread or some cereal. This is just to reduce the pressure on your digestive system which will allow you to sleep peacefully and will not disturb you struggling to digest food.
Do not take nicotine... or atleast avoid consuming any kind of nicotine atleast 5-6 hours before you go to bed.
The general assumption is taking alcohol gives better sleep. This is not true and also this could lead to complications. Usually, you will have disturbed sleep after consuming Alcohol. Avoid Alcohol atleast for 5-6 hours befor you go to sleep.
Take milk before going to bed. You can take some malt beverages too, which normally helps in having good sleep. Always ensure that you dont go to bed hungry.
Try to keep your bedroom well ventilated and clean. If you are getting disturbed by any noise around, try to use earplugs to have a peaceful sleep.
Be active during the day. Dont doze off during the day, as this may be an obstacle to your night sleep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
