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
Sunday, June 22, 2008
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.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Microsoft Office Boy
Microsoft Office Boy
A jobless man applied for the position of "office boy" at Microsoft.
The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.
"You are employed." He said." Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the application to fill in, as well as date when you may start."
The man replied "But I don't have a computer, neither an email."
I'm sorry", said the HR manager, "If you don't have an email, that means you do not exist. And who doesn't exist, cannot have the job."
The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the Operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he can survive by this Way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day.
Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. 5 years later , the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US .
He started to plan his family's future, and decided to have a life insurance.
He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied, "I don't have an email". The broker answered curiously, "You don't have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?!!"
The man thought for a while and replied, "Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!"
Moral of the story:
M1 - Internet is not the solution to your life.
M2 - If you don't have internet, and work hard, you can be a millionaire.
M3 - If you received this message by email, you are closer to being an office boy, than a millionaire. .........
Have a great day!!!
A jobless man applied for the position of "office boy" at Microsoft.
The HR manager interviewed him then watched him cleaning the floor as a test.
"You are employed." He said." Give me your e-mail address and I'll send you the application to fill in, as well as date when you may start."
The man replied "But I don't have a computer, neither an email."
I'm sorry", said the HR manager, "If you don't have an email, that means you do not exist. And who doesn't exist, cannot have the job."
The man left with no hope at all. He didn't know what to do, with only $10 in his pocket. He then decided to go to the supermarket and buy a 10Kg tomato crate. He then sold the tomatoes in a door to door round. In less than two hours, he succeeded to double his capital. He repeated the Operation three times, and returned home with $60. The man realized that he can survive by this Way, and started to go everyday earlier, and return late Thus, his money doubled or tripled every day.
Shortly, he bought a cart, then a truck, then he had his own fleet of delivery vehicles. 5 years later , the man is one of the biggest food retailers in the US .
He started to plan his family's future, and decided to have a life insurance.
He called an insurance broker, and chose a protection plan. When the conversation was concluded, the broker asked him his email. The man replied, "I don't have an email". The broker answered curiously, "You don't have an email, and yet have succeeded to build an empire. Can you imagine what you could have been if you had an email?!!"
The man thought for a while and replied, "Yes, I'd be an office boy at Microsoft!"
Moral of the story:
M1 - Internet is not the solution to your life.
M2 - If you don't have internet, and work hard, you can be a millionaire.
M3 - If you received this message by email, you are closer to being an office boy, than a millionaire. .........
Have a great day!!!
Humility
Humility
Visiting that Ragavendra temple in Bangalore is almost more than a routine for her. She has not seen him ever before in the temple.
He was sitting on the floor with his closed eyes, folded legs and locked fingers in ' Gnana Mudra '. He looked strange and different with a turban on his head and the very long flowing beard. Some thing was there in his face that attracted her. She could not understand what that was.
She finished her ' darshan ' and came out; she saw the man was walking in the corridor. Again something was happening in her, she could not understand what was that. She was telling herself, "a poor old man. I have to help him". She ran to him, gave rupees ten in his hand and forced him to accept. He smiled, expressed a reverence like a ' prasadam ' by keeping it in the forehead and thanked her by keeping the hand in prayer position (' Namasthey' ).
As she came out, she saw the man was getting into his Mercedes Benz, she was perplexed, shivered and ran to him and said, "Sir (Ayya!), Please forgive me, I did not do this to insult you. By seeing your dress and appearance, I thought you are struggling in life and offered you the money. It is a blunder. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Please give me back that money. I am sorry".
The man with the fake beard and turban laughed and replied her politely, "Ammaa.. There is no mistake of yours. It is the other way. The creator is again and again reminding me through some body, "You are nothing. You are not special. Everybody is equal in front of me". He keeps on sending this message again and again and today you happened to be a medium. That's it. Thanks a ton". His hand again went to prayer position, expressed gratitude to the lady and he went into his car.
When the lady realized the man was none other than Super star Rajini Kanth - Asia's number one paid actor, he has left the place.
She did not know what to do. With tears in her eyes, she was starring at the direction that the car went.
- From Dr. Gayathri Sreekanth's "The Name Is Rajini Kanth – A biography"
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
7 Keys to P.E.R.F.E.C.T. communication
7 Keys to P.E.R.F.E.C.T. communication
Personal Impact
Non-verbal communication such as unease, uncertainty or nervousness can convey negative signals to your audience. These subconsciously perceived weaknesses can capture the audience's attention so that what you are saying is lost.
Know exactly how you are going to start your presentation or conversation. Ensure that it's powerful and engaging and be aware of you body language.
Emotional Connection
If you aren't passionate about what your topic how can you expect any body else to be?
Engage people at an emotional level during a presentation or conversation. Tell personal stories, use metaphors and let people into your life's experiences. You will find that your audience will more easily join you in your pictures.
Right to Talk
What right do you have to talk about the subject you are talking to us about? Tell us your History and in doing so create authority?
As a child we were told not brag about our achievements. You then enter the world of work and what happens you are judged on your accomplishments.
When you identify your expertise and call on the 'hands on' elements of the matter being discussed you develop personal credibility and elicit an emotional response from those listening.
Facts
Once you have developed an emotional rapport, and a reason for them to trust and believe in you, then your presentation has to have defined facts and detail.
Don't talk in terms of hypothetical situations. Make it relevant to your 'audience', their businesses, their hopes and concerns. Understand what they want to know, not what you want to tell them.
Encapsulate
We live in a sound bite society.
"Just do it", "it's the real thing", "Am I bovvered?" We are programmed to expect information to be packaged in instantly memorable phrases. Encapsulate your message, the key elements of your presentation / conversation and translate them into succinct, influential language.
Credibility
Don't make claims that you can't substantiate. At a seminar recently a speaker used the following information.
"A first impression is based on 7% spoken words, 38% tone of voice and 55% body language."
The speaker was questioned about the provenance of the quote but did not know the originator. His credibility was immediately blown.
If you are going to use quotes make sure you know who said it and in what context.
The Company
Apart from your individual right to talk on a specific subject it is also important to establish the credentials of the company or companies that you are associated with.
Use testimonials from delighted customers and the value you bring to the company. Is is a universal truth that those we associate with can give us even greater standing and authority.
The key to your personal and financial success is in your ability to positively impact others
Monday, March 17, 2008
Coffee with Rajesh !
Pharmacist point of view:
Answer the phone by LEFT ear.
Do not drink coffee TWICE a day.
Do not take pills with COOL water.
Do not have HUGE meals after 5pm.
Reduce the amount of OILY food you consume.
Drink more WATER in the morning, less at night.
Keep your distance from hand phone CHARGERS.
Do not use headphones/earphone for LONG period of time.
Best sleeping time is from 10pm at night to 6am in the morning.
Do not lie down immediately after taking medicine before sleeping.
When battery is down to the LAST grid/bar, do not answer the phone as the radiation is 1000 times.
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