1967: America’s First Heart

Transplant Performed

On December 6, 1967, Dr. Adrian Kantrowitz performed the first human-to-human heart transplant in America, and the second in the world, at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. The patient, a two-week-old baby boy, lived for only six-and-a-half hours after surgery. Three days earlier, Dr. Christiaan Barnard had performed the world’s first heart transplant in Cape Town, South Africa. Maimonides Hospital was also the site of the implantation of the first commercial pacemaker and the first intra-aortic balloon pump, both in 1970. Kantrowitz invented a plastic heart valve, a heart-lung machine, an internal pacemaker, and a heart assist device that can be turned on and off – the result of 30 years of research. Cynthia Blair

Seth Thomas Clocks

Seth Thomas Clocks is America's Oldest Continous Clockmaker, having continuously manufactured clocks in the USA since 1813. Seth Thomas was founded in Thomaston, Connecticut, which at the time of its founding was known as Plymouth Hollow. Plymouth Hollow renamed the town Thomaston in honor of Seth Thomas the individual and the Seth Thomas Clock Company. In the Company's earlier years Seth Thomas Clocks was a fairly sizeable maker of grandfather clocks and grandmother clocks, which as this is written, are no longer part of their product line.

DDT Comeback Endorsed by World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reversed a 30-year policy by endorsing the use of DDT for malaria control. The chemical is sprayed inside houses to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes which kill more than one million people each year. WHO says there is no health risk.

Dr Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, WHO assistant director-general for HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria said "Indoor residual spraying is useful to quickly reduce the number of infections caused by malaria-carrying mosquitoes; it has proven to be just as cost effective as other malaria prevention measures, and DDT presents no health risk when used properly."

"Of the dozen insecticides WHO has approved as safe for house spraying, the most effective is DDT," said Arata Kochi, director of the WHO's Global Malaria Programme. "Help save African babies as you are helping to save the environment," pleaded Dr. KochiGlobal ban A potent insecticide, DDT fell into disrepute with the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring just over 40 years ago. Recent publications have questioned the credibility of some information in the book. The book claimed that widespread, indiscriminate use of DDT and related compounds was killing wildlife over vast tracts of North America and Western Europe

CLIMATE CHANGE:

POOR SUFFER AS WORLD GETS HOTTER

BRUSSELS (BELGIUM) APRIL 6, 2007 - Friends of the Earth
International has demanded steep emissions cuts by all rich
countries and more funding for climate change adaptation in
developing countries, after the world's leading scientific experts
today warned that the world's poor - who have done least to
pollute the atmosphere - will suffer most as the planet heats up.


Despite the negligible historical emissions of greenhouse gases by
the least developed countries, their people will bear the brunt of
climate change, as they are the most vulnerable to the impacts and
least able to adapt.


This is the message of the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC), which addresses climate impacts,
adaptation and vulnerability. [1]


The report - the second of a series based on the latest scientific
literature - has taken six years to compile and draws on research
by 2,500 scientists from over 130 countries. It should shock the
world into taking urgent action to reduce global emissions.


Friends of the Earth International's Climate Campaigner, Catherine
Pearce, said:


This report confirms that the scientific findings are stronger
than ever. World leaders have overwhelming evidence that urgent
action must be taken to cut emissions of greenhouse gases.


"It is now clear that we are to blame for the last 50 years of
warming, and this is already causing adverse changes to our
planet. Unless we take action to reduce emissions now, far worse
is yet to come, condemning millions in the poorest parts of the
world to loss of lives, livelihoods and homes. Climate change is
no longer just an environmental issue.


" It is a looming humanitarian catastrophe, threatening
ultimately our global security and survival. Industrialised
countries, including the USA, which have all done most to
contribute to climate change, must lead the way by making
significant cuts in their greenhouse gas emissions. Current
efforts on and resources for adaptation, including available funds
from the industrialized world, are clearly inadequate to meet the
scale of what is required. Urgent assistance is needed for
developing countries, which have done nothing to contribute to the
current threat of climate change and who are already facing the
devastating effects, Friends of the Earth International's Climate
Campaigner Catherine Pearce added.



Findings of the report include:


- Projected climate change is likely to affect millions of already
vulnerable people. Heat waves, floods, storm, fires and droughts
will cause increased deaths and harm.


- Many million more people are projected to be at risk from
coastal flooding due to sea level rise, especially in densely
populated and low-lying settlements which already face other
challenges, such as tropical storms.


- Roughly 20-30% of those species assessed so far are likely to be
at high risk of irreversible extinction if global average
temperature exceeds 1.5 - 2.5°C. Global average temperature has
already increased by about 0.7 °C since pre-industrial levels.


- Glacial retreat in the Himalayas will disrupt water supplies.
Friends of the Earth International warns that this will have
implications for billions of people across India, China, Nepal and
Bhutan.

- By 2020, 75-250 million people in Africa will be exposed to
water scarcity due to climate change.


- In some African countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture
could be reduced by 50% over the same period


- Over the next half century, climate change could impede the
achievement of the U.N. Millennium Development Goals

Courtesy: Friend of the Earth International

Milk chocolate was invented by Daniel Peter, who sold the concept to his neighbour ~ Henri Nestlé

Facts about Space

Did you know that...?

Our galaxy Milky Way spins at a speed of 100 billion km/sec!! Even
if you think you are standing still, you are spinning about 100000000
km/sec!!
.Our solar system is in the edge of our galaxy and Milky Way is in edge of
the Universe!!
.Sun is actually a medium sized star with a lifespan of 250 billion years!!

.There are totally 2 main kinds of planets - Terrestrial , Gas giants
.Mercury, Venus, Earth & Mars are grouped into Terrestrials as they have a
solid surface & a rocky core.
. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune are grouped into Gas giants as they are
mostly made up of gases and have a liquid or a semi - solid core.
.Pluto is neither of the 2 groups. No doubt it is made up of gases but due
to the very low temperature the gases solidify to form the surface. Due to
this it is a category of its own.
.Even though Mercury is closest to the Sun, Venus is considered the hottest
planet because Mercury has no atmosphere; the heat of the Sun is reflected
back to the space. But Venus has got a very thick atmosphere, it traps the
heat received from the Sun making it the hottest planet.
.The biggest mountain in the solar system is in Mars - the Olympus Mons
.There is a large red spot in the atmosphere of Jupiter called The Big Red
Spot. This is a very huge cyclonic storm system in which 3 Earths could fit
in!!!!
.Titan of Saturn & Io of Jupiter are the only moons to have atmosphere of
its own.
.Even though Saturn is the 2nd largest planet, its density is so less
compared to its size that it will float on water.
.Saturn’s rings are made up of layers of ice, rocks & dust. These layers are
so thick that you could go ice skating on it.
.Our closest neighbouring galaxy is the Large Magellanic cloud which is
170,000 light years (which is 510000000000000 km) from our galaxy. Pretty close eh!!
1300 Earths could fit into Jupiter & 13000 Jupiters would fit into the Sun

Source: Internet.

INTERESTING FACTS

Do you know which is the tallest mountain in the world? I bet most of you would be surprised to know that it is in the United States. Almost everyone talks of Mount Everest, in the Himalayas, as being the tallest mountain, but it isn't. It has the world's highest peak, but it isn't the tallest. Why?

Mountains are measured from their base to their tip. Mount Everest stands on the Asia continental shelf. It is measured from the ground to the tip, and stands at 29,035 feet, to its summit (tip).

Mauna Kea on the U.S. island of Hawaii is 32,000 feet tall. Because it is measured from the ocean floor, it doesn't reach as high as Mount Everest, but is actually taller from base to tip.

Here are some more geographical facts that may make you wonder.

Highest Peak:
The tip (peak) of Mount Everest is the world's highest point. It is 29,035 feet (8,850 meters) above sea level.


Tallest Mountain:
Mauna Kea on the U.S. island of Hawaii is 32,000 feet (9,750 meters) tall. Because it is measured from the ocean floor, it doesn't reach as high as Mount Everest.


Largest Lake:
The Caspian Sea, at 143,244 square miles (371,000 square kilometers), is the largest lake in the World. It is a salt-water lake.


Largest Freshwater Lake:
Lake Superior on the U.S.-Canada border is 31,700 square miles (82,100 square kilometers) and the world's largest fresh water lake.


Longest River:
The Nile River in Africa is the longest at 4,241 miles (6,825 kilometers) long. It only just beats the Amazon in length.


Largest River (system):
Although it's not quite the longest, the Amazon River is by far the biggest river system in the world. Its drainage basin is almost 2.4 million square miles. It lets almost seven million cubic feet of water into the ocean every second.


Highest Waterfall:
Angel Falls, in Venezuela, drops 3,212 feet (979 meters) from Devil's Mountain.


Widest Waterfall:Khone Falls stretch 6.7 miles (10.8 kilometers) across the Mekong River, between Laos and Cambodia.

SOME INTERESTING NAIL FACTS

There are many interesting facts that are related to nails. Some of these facts are pure superstition but most of them are scientific. Even some of the superstition beliefs draw attention with the presence of logic in them. So, here are some interesting facts about nails:

Nails are actually the same as hair. Both hair and nails are made of the same protein, called keratin.

The nail plates are dead cells and contrary to the popular belief, they don't breathe. So they don't require oxygen. However, the nail beds and the cuticles are live cells and they do need oxygen, vitamins and minerals.

Nails don't sweat. The nail bed does not have sweat glands, so it can't perspire. It is the skin around the nails that gets sweaty.

Nails grow at the rate of 0.1 mm daily (or 1 cm in every 100 days). So, for a finger nail to regrow completely, it takes between 4 and 6 months. For toe nails, the period of complete regrow is 12 to 18 months.

Men's nails grow faster than women's nails.

Finger nails for both genders grow faster than toe nails.

Toe nails are about twice thicker than finger nails.

The fastest growing nail is on the middle finger. The slowest – on the thumbnail.

When nails are freshly cut, they grow faster than nails that are not cut often. That is why it takes so much time to grow nails longer than an inch (breaking nails is excluded).

Seasons and weather also affect nail growth. Nails grow faster in warm climates and during daytime, than in cold climates and at night.

Nails grow faster on young people than on old people. Also nails grow much faster during pregnancy.

Nails grow at different speeds on both hands. If you are right-handed, the nails on your right hand will grow faster than the nails on your left hand and vice versa.

Light trauma, like typing on a computer stimulates nail growth. Well, this kind of trauma looks more like a massage actually.

Cutting your nails after dark is bad luck. Although this is pure superstition, there is enough logic in it – if you cut your nails when there is not enough light, you can injure yourself.

Nails reflect your health status.

Some mammals, for example elephants, have 5 nails on each of the their front legs and most often only 4 nails per hind leg.

It is a myth that hair and nails will continue to grow for several days after death. This is an optical illusion and is due to the fact that the skin shrinks, thus making it look as if the hair and nails are growing.

Nails are very tough (compared to skin of course) but even they will be dissolved in about 4 days, if you put them in Coke because Coke is highly corrosive.

Nail manicure is a very ancient activity. There is evidence that even 4,000 years ago it was known to our predecessors.

The longest finger nail ever recorded was that of an Indian guy and it was 48 inches long.

If you don't drink enough water, this is bad for your health anyway but you might have never expected that it leads to dry nails as well.

A hang nail is painful because you have ripped open the edge of the living nail root.

Male guitar players often leave the nails on their playing hand uncut and use them for playing as well. - Courtesy: Internet

INTERESTING SCIENTIFIC FACTS.

If you were able to lay the entire human skin flat on a surface, it may be able to cover an area of about 18 square feet.

You may not notice it, but there are ocean waves that can travel just as fast as a jet plane.

If you wish to lose weight and burn a pound of fat in your body, you may need to walk about 35 miles in order to do it.

A normal eye blinks about 25 times in just a minute.

In a lifetime, a human being can drink about 16,000 tons of water. That is more than enough to fill in a large swimming pool and then some.

The largest organ inside the human body is the small intestine. Do not be fooled by its name. The small intestine can go to about as long as eight meters. Another interesting follow up fact to this is that the large intestine is only about a meter and a half long. Their names might have been switched, their sizes being in contrast with their length.

DID YOU KNOW?...

Coca-Cola was originally green.

Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.

Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history: Spades - King David, Hearts - Charlemagne, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Diamonds - Julius Caesar.

In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled "Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden".... and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

The winter of 1932 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze completely solid.

Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks; otherwise it will digest itself.

The Bible does not say there were three wise men; it only says there were three gifts.
The cruise liner, QE2, moves only six inches for each gallon of diesel that it burns.

Crocodiles never outgrow the pool in which they live. That means that if you put a baby croc in an aquarium, it would be little for the rest of its life.

A "jiffy" is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.

When NASA first started sending up astronauts, they quickly discovered that ball-point pens would not work in zero gravity. To combat this problem, NASA scientists spent a decade and $12 million developing a pen that writes in zero gravity, upside down, underwater, on almost any surface including glass and at temperatures ranging from below freezing to over 300*C. The Russians used a pencil.

There are over 650 muscles in your body. A smile uses 17 muscles, a frown uses 43!

The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this...) The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%.

Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.

The youngest pope was 11 years old.

The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out. Studies have indicated that rocking a baby stimulates its cerebellum and causes the baby anatomy to mature faster.

Babies are born without kneecaps. They don't appear until the child reaches 2 to 6 years of age.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

Cats have over one hundred vocal sounds. Dogs only have about 10.

February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes, the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep tight".

In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"

If the population of China walked past you in single file, the line would never end because of the rate of reproduction.

In the last 4,000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors.

Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

Shakespeare invented the word 'assassination' and 'bump'.

The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.

Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month or what we know today as the honeymoon

Some interesting facts

A zebra is white with black stripes.
All the planets in our solar system rotate anticlockwise, except Venus. It is the only planet that rotates clockwise.
Hummingbirds are the only animal that can also fly backwards.
Insects do not make noises with their voices. The noise of bees, mosquitoes and other buzzing insects is caused by rapidly moving their wings.
The cockroach is the fastest animal on 6 legs covering a meter a second.
The word "listen " contains the same letters as the word "silent".
The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning it's head are the rabbit and the parrot.
A 'jiffy’ is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
India invented the Number System . Zero was invented by Aryabhatta.
The whip makes a cracking sound because its tip moves faster than the speed of sound.
A hippopotamus can run faster than a man.
India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
'Hippopotomonstroses quippedaliophobi a' is the fear of long words.
Didaskaleinophobia is the fear of going to school.
Phobatrivaphobia is a fear of trivia about phobias !!
It is impossible to lick your elbow. ( We know you gonna try this !!! )
A snail can sleep for 3 years. ( wow, lucky chap he ? )
The names of the continents all end with the same letter with which they start
In 1883 the explosion of the volcano Krakatoa put so much dust into the earth's atmosphere that sunsets appeared green and the moon appeared blue around the world for almost two years.
"Almost" is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.
Twenty-Four- Karat Gold is not pure gold since there is a small amount of copper in it. Absolutely pure gold is so soft that it can be molded with the hands.
Electricity doesn't move through a wire but through a field around the wire.
Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys? They are: Mizaru (See no evil), Mikazaru (Hear no evil), and Mazaru (Say no evil ).
55 per cent of people yawn within 5 minutes of seeing someone else yawn. Reading about yawning makes most people yawn. Hello, zzzzz zzzz ?
The greatest art in spiritual life is finding balance. The entire teachings of the Buddha are summed up in his encouragement to find and travel the middle path. To seek neither the extremes of mortification and aversion for life, nor the extreme of indulgence, losing ourselves in pleasure-seeking. The balance between these two is the path of awakening and freedom. The path of balance is to be with what is true in life and to love that, to be committed to the truth on every level of our being. ~
Courgtesy: Christina Feldman and Jack Kornfield

Vonnegut's rules for short stories

Here's some lovely advice on writing short stories, from Kurt Vonnegut's collection, Bagombo Snuff Box:

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.

2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.

3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.

4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.*

5. Start as close to the end as possible.

6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.

7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.

8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages

WEB OF SPIDERS

Bharat Hiteshi

Lakshmi Hayagreeva Cultural & Educaional Trust

It is a well-known fact that a spider from its own saliva weaves a web to trap and catch flies for its sustenance and livelihood. Likewise human beings, especially adults weave a web around themselves, so strong and get entangled that they find it difficult to get out of it and free themselves from attachment to human relations. The first desire is to have a child; then possession of objects for external comforts and then to achieve these finds legal and illegal means to do so and the passion becomes so great that he or she cannot get out of it. The entire life is woven of this relationship or that be it a wife or son or friend that ultimately all this breeds only sorrow when lost and is the cause of frustration. Frustration leads to anger and anger to loss of control over the tongue that is ready to wag and leads loose talk and breaking up of relationship with others. Physical and mental action can result when we are entangled in our web of ignorance and wrong feelings for those who do not wish for our happiness or joy.

The deities or Idols of Hinduism find a place then in our lives. The statue picture of Hanuman should invoke in us a spirit of doing service to the Lord and in His name like Ram and should not expect anything in return be it even our son.

“Jai Javan Jai Kissan” was the slogan given by Lal Bhadur Shastry. Both the solder and the farmer give all they have for their motherland not expecting anything in return. “Give me your blood and I will give you freedom” is what Subhash Chandra Bose said, so man must have a goal and ambition and keep it always in mind especially when dejected.

The shackles of desire should be broken as the spiders’ web is removed and recall to mind what Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said “ Aram Haram Hai”.

Taste is the cause of joy and can end in sorrow. The weakness of human beings is to give into items of taste. One may like sweet meat very much; eating it in excess can lead to health problems. Smoking can be relaxing and nice to begin with but ends in cancer and other ailments.

“ A wise man does not become a slave to any taste” – Bhart Hiteshi.

Breaking the bondage of external attachments causes a revolution in our way and mode of thinking. It is like pulling out of bottle something and once it comes out it cannot be checked. So too let us pour out from our lives that which is unnecessary and keep control on the liquid we need most. This requires a cool head and cool mind.

One must be patient like the spider and take out the web when not needed.

Commercial Evangelists - 20 Signs to identify them!

They misinterpret and twist Bible verses to sharpen their personal agenda
They can be of local or foreign brands – very expensive
They crate their own fables on Biblical figures
They are good at acrobatics and ‘jump dances’ on the stage
They feign epileptic seizures that in turn stimulates hysterical reactions in others
They live by body languages – their faces rotate and eyebrows dance
They are good in voice modulation, they scream, screech and shriek
They wail while their tears hide in their eyelids
They are good at uttering lies and in practicing deception, they are master brains
They live a life of shame as parasites on the innocent knaves and gullible
They decorate themselves with expensive attire and jewelry paid for by believers, disgracing Him.
They are self-anointed earthly blessings-brokers with no covenant, binding on them
They travel all over the world and build up assets everywhere under the Sun.
They are insulated against action, as no power would ever dare to challenge them
They spent on philanthropy as fishing baits for more returns
They put innocent children into faith marketing and none would dare touch them invoking Child Labour Act.
They live either on TV hallows or borrowed hallows from ecclesiastical Judas Iscariots
They beg without shame and corner the returns in solid personal assets under shady Trusts
They are blind on faith; but smartly live on cornered faiths.

My Prayer to conclude: ‘God. They do not know what damage they do to the community that trusts them and what slight and sham they cause on You and the image of Christianity in collaboration with your accredited herds in identifiable robes. Forgive them because they neither know nor evaluate the damage their atrocious actions cause on Christianity as a whole’

This is pasted in other blogspots too. Mathew Thomas

Interesting facts

·
Let knowledge enrich our intelligence

· Next time you drink a glass of water think about this: the hydrogen molecules in water are 14 billion years old, they were created at the same time as the universe.

· 10 percent of television ‘Snow’ is caused by microwave radiation from the big bang.An 8oz glass of water weighs ½ a pound, an 8oz glass of gas from the center of the sun would weigh about 75 pounds.

· June 1, 1999 General Motors Corp. has a device in many of its new cars that functions like the black box recorder in airplanes: It collects data as a car crashes. (Source: CNN)

· May 26, 1999 The scientists who created Dolly, the world’s first cloned mammal, said the 3-year-old sheep has DNA in her cells typical of a much older animal. (Source: CNN)

· An elephant’s trunk contains more than 50,000 muscles. (Source: U.S. Humane Society)

· The Panda bear is expected to become extinct by about 2040, barring a drastic change of events. Artificial insemination could delay the extinction of the giant panda by about 60 years or more, according to scientists who want to use the technique to produce more pandas. (Source: CNN/Associated Press)

· A monkey was once tried and convicted for smoking a cigarette in South Bend, Indiana.

· After English, the most widely used languages on the Internet are German, Japanese, French, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Norwegian, Finnish, Czech, Danish, Russian, and Malay. (Source: The Babel team)

· The sky is shrinking and has been doing so for the past 40 years, scientists have discovered. About five miles of sky have been lost since 1958, and that figure may double over the next century. Researchers studying the Earth’s upper atmosphere, 56 miles up, said the contraction is probably a result of the greenhouse effect.

· The world’s three richest people have assets that exceed the combined wealth of the 48 least developed countries, according to a recent United Nations report on global inequality.

· A car is stolen every 30 seconds in the United States.

· The Russian Blue is a breed of cat prone to having an extra toe. Six toed cats are so common in Boston and surrounding parts of Massachusetts that some experts consider it an established mutation.

· Cats have a third eyelid, called a haw, which is rarely visible. If it is visible it could be an indication of ill health.

· Blood is composed of a yellowish fluid, called plasma, in which are suspended the millions of cells that constitute about 45 percent by volume of whole blood. In an average healthy adult, the volume of blood is one-eleventh of the body weight, or between 4.5 and 6 liters (5 and 6 qt).

· The very first tools were sticks and stones picked up off the ground. Between one and two million years ago, human beings learned to improve their crude implements. Using one stone, they would hammer away at another, sharpening the sides and end. These stones could be used to cut meat, carve wood, and dig roots. The earliest tools were sharpened on just one side and were handheld. Later, stones were sharpened on both sides and attached to axe handles, spear shafts, and arrows.

On May 30, 1431, Joan of Arc-“the maid of orléans”-was burned at the stake in Rouen. One of the great heroines of France, she lived at a time when the English controlled much of her country. Joan fought several winning battles, but she was finally captured by a rival French faction and sold to the English. Tried before a pliable French court, she was proclaimed a witch and executed before reaching her 20th birthday. Almost 400 years later, in 1920, the papacy canonized her as a saint

Courtesy: Internet

From Shvetashvatara Upanishad

All is change in the world of the sense, But changeless is the supreme Lord of Love.Meditate on him, be absorbed in him, wake up from this dream of separateness.

Fire is not seen until one firestick rubsAgainst another, though fire is still there, Hidden in the firestick. So does the LordRemain hidden in the body until He is revealed through the mystic mantram

Shvetashvatara Upanishad

Noble qualities of a woman - selfless love, humility, gentleness, kindness, shyness, simplicity, calmness, compassion, generosity and coyness

Some people drink deeply from the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle. Grant M. Bright

We must learn our limits. We are all something, but none of us are everything. Blaise Pascal

Be curious always! For knowledge will not acquire you: you must acquire it. Sudie

A GREAT HUMANE STORY

There were two old men who dwelt together for many years and who never quarreled.Then one said to the other: "Let us pick a quarrel with each other like other men do.""I do not know how quarrels arise," answered his companion. So the other said to him:"Look, I will put a brick down here between us and I will say 'This is mine.' Then you can say 'No it is not, it is mine.' Then we will be able to have a quarrel. "So they placed the brick between them and the first one said: "This is mine." His companion answered him: "This is not so, for it is mine." To this, the first one said: "If it is so and the brick is yours, then take it and go your way." And so they were not able to have a quarrel.

POSITIVE TIPS ON EMPLOYER-

EMPLOYEE RELATIONSHIP

There's no foolproof method for gaining someone's loyalty, but many of the same things that hold true in a personal relationship apply in an employment relationship, as well. The keys to a positive relationship are trust and respect. When employees feel respected, they will generally respect you and the business in return.

Following are some hints for

gaining an employee's respect and trust:

Be ready to listen to the employee's questions and concerns about the job.
Treat your employees with respect, not as inferior people. Be polite to your employees.

Recognize and reward your employees for a job well done. Ask for your employees' input in making decisions that affect their work.
Gradually build trust in your employees by giving them additional responsibility or extra latitude in making decisions.

Treat all your employees fairly and impartially.
Be firm, but not tyrannical, when making decisions and disciplining employees.
Apologize or admit to employees when you were wrong.
Give employees credit where due.
Express genuine concern for employees' problems.
Keep your employees informed about work-related matters.

Here are some tips on what not to do:

Don't belittle employees (alone or in front of other employees or customers).
Don't lie to employees.
Don't build false hopes for raises or advancement.
Don't pass off your employees' work or ideas as your own.
Don't swear at employees.
Don't fail to lead your employees.
Don't treat your employees like children.
Don't allow yourself to be intimidated by aggressive employees.
Don't show disregard for employees' personal needs.
Don't talk about employees behind their backs to other employees. Once employees feel that you will treat them fairly and sense that you care about them as people, you will be more likely to inspire in them a concern for the well-being of the business and the quality of their work.

But keep it professional. Make sure that you don't cross any lines or make the employer-employee relationship too personal

(More educative articles on relationship, interaction and reward to follow in future issues)

THE THREE C’s in our life

Commitment, Control and Challenge.

Commitment: -

Make a positive commitment to yourself, to learning, work, family, friends, nature, and other worthwhile causes. Praise yourself and others. Dream of success. Be enthusiastic.

Control

Keep your mind focused on important things. Set goals and priorities for what you think and do. Visualize to practice your actions. Develop a strategy for dealing with problems. Learn to relax. Enjoy successes. Be honest with yourself.

Challenge

Be courageous. Change and improve each day. Do your best and don't look back. See learning and change as opportunities. Try new things. Consider several options. Meet new people. Ask lots of questions. Keep track of your mental and physical health. Be optimistic

CUSTOMER SERVICE QUOTES

"Being on par in terms of price and quality only gets you

into the game. Service wins the game." Tony Alessandra

"There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else." Sam Walton

"The single most important thing to remember about any

enterprise is that there are no results inside its walls. The result of a business is a satisfied customer." Peter Drucker

"Biggest question: Isn't it really 'customer helping' rather than customer service? And wouldn't you deliver better service if you thought of it that way?" Jeffrey Gitomer

"Customer complaints are the schoolbooks from

which we learn." Author Unknown

"Here is a simple but powerful rule - always give people

more than what they expect to get." Nelson Boswell

"There's a place in the world for any business that takes care of its customers--after the sale." Harvey MacKay

"One customer, well taken care of, could be more valuable than several thousands worth of advertising." Jim Rohn

"Treat every customer as if they sign your paycheck…because they do." Author Unknown "If we don’t take care of our customers, someone else will." Author Unknown

Why and how
to have a PAN?

B. Vijaya Kumar

Permanent Account Number (PAN) has become a very important tool to the Income Tax Department in tracking high value transactions and ensuring compliance with the tax laws. Mentioning of PAN has become mandatory in many financial transactions, particularly in the following areas:

Operating Demat accounts

Deposit of Rs. 50,000 and above in the banks, Investments in shares, mutual funds and post office savings in excess.of Rs 50,000 each, Sale or purchase of motor vehicles, excluding two wheelers, Sale or purchase of immovable properties valued at Rs 5 lakhs and above, Applying for a new telephone connection (landline or mobile), Payment of Rs 25,000 or more against hotel bills - even if you may not fall under these categories, you need to file Income Tax Return for which PAN is required.

Benefits of having a PAN card.

If you have a PAN card, it can be used as a proof of your identity, particularly when you have to check-in on the basis of your airtickets purchased online. You can check whether the taxes paid by you are updated in the database of the Income Tax Department. Further you can now also verify whether your employer or the institution has indeed remitted to the Income Tax Department the tax deducted from the payments made to you.

Is it necessary to file Income Tax return if you have PAN?

Just because you have PAN, it is not necessary to file Income Tax Return. Income Tax Return needs to be filed only when you have taxable income or you need to claim refund of tax deducted by your employer or the institution making payments to you towards interest or professional services or commission or rent or winnings from lottery / game shows or horse races or contracts etc. However, the converse is true: you need PAN to file an Income Tax Return.

How to get PAN?

It is very simple. You need to submit your details in Form No. 49A to any of the PAN Facilitation centers, located in all cities and major towns, wherever Income Tax offices are located. Have a PAN number but no card? The UTI Investors Services Ltd (UTIISL) and National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) are the authorised agencies to accept and process PAN application forms. You may also apply for PAN online through UTIISL's web sitehttp://www.utiisl.co.in/pan/ or NSDL's web site http://tin.nsdl.com/.It will normally take about 2 to 3 weeks to get your PAN card delivered at your door-step. If you need a PAN card urgently, you may also get Tatkal PAN by applying online using your credit card. You will get your PAN on priority basis and the same will be communicated to you through email. The fees payable is only Rs 60 plus service tax presently @ 12.24 percent, totaling Rs 67/-

What are the details to be submitted for applying PAN?

Only very few details like the following need to be given in the case of individuals:Ø Name including your other names, if anyØ Father's name to be given even in the case of married womenØ Date of birthØ Address ? both official and residentialØ Main source of your income - salary or professional/business or anyother incomeØ Designation and code of your assessing officer. Ø You may obtain thisinformation from the facilitation centers of UTIISL or NSDL or fromthe web site of the income Tax Department athttp://incometaxindia.gov.in/ao/Firstlevel.asp

You need to submit the following documents along with your application:Proof of identity Proof of address A recent colour photograph (3.5 cm X 2.5 cm) You may submit copies of your passport/credit card/bankstatement/voter's identity card/depository account/driving license/ration card/property tax assessment order to establish proof of identity and address. In addition, there are number of other documents like school leaving certificate/matriculation certificate/degree of a recognised educational institution/water bill for proof of identity.

Getting a credit card?

Likewise, you may use electricity bill/telephone bill/employer certificate/rent receipt for proof of address. Even if you don't have any of these documents, you may obtain a certificate of identity and/or address signed by a MP or MLA or a Municipal Councilor or a Gazetted Officer.

How can I obtain PAN if I don't stay in India?

Non-Resident Indians may obtain PAN by applying through their representative assessee, who has to be an individual residing in India. Recently, non-residents are permitted to apply for PAN by giving their present address, even though it is not in India. In such a case, the non-resident individual has to submit copy of passport for proof of identity and address and bank statement for proof of address (if the address mentioned in the passport is different from the present address). In the case of non-residents, who are foreign citizens, these documents will have to be attested by the Indian embassy in their country. Detailed guidelines are available at the websitehttp://tin.nsdl.com/downloads/AdditionalguidelinesNRPAN_newPAN.pdf.

Other issues related to PAN!

A person can have only one PAN and duplicate PANs, if any, must be surrendered. It is illegal to have duplicate PANs. Even if a PAN is obtained from one place, return of income can be submitted at a different place, in case of change of address or jurisdiction. If you wish to correct the particulars given in the PAN, you may submit an application for making modifications in the PAN. This will ensure that the information in the database of the Income Tax Department is updated.

For additional information and FAQs, you may visit the following web site: -
http://incometaxindia.gov.in/PAN/Overview.asp

(the above useful information was e-mailed to us by Mr. Ramesh Panicker through Mr. Kasturi Rangan) We have inserted this article in The Sunday Digest too

CHANAKYA QUOTES

(Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275BC)

"A person should not be too honest.
Straight trees are cut first
and Honest people are victimized first."

"Even if a snake is not poisonous,
it should pretend to be venomous."

"The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your

secrets with anybody. ! It will destroy you."

"There is some self-interest behind every friendship.
There is no Friendship without self-interests.
This is a bitter truth."

"Before you start some work, always ask

yourself three questions – Why am I doing it,

What the results might be and Will I be successful.

Only when you think deep and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."

"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."

"Once you start a working on something,

don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it.
People who work sincerely are the happiest."

"The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind.
But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."

"A man is great by deeds, not by birth."

"Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years.
For the next five years, scold them.
By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend.
Your grown up children are your best friends."

"Education is the best friend.
An educated person is respected everywhere.

Education beats the beauty and the youth."

STUDENTS AND PARENTS! BEWARE

GUARD YOURSELVES FROM FAITH MERCHANTS

Evil Commercial Evangelists who slights Jesus Christ presenting Him as their orderly; who tarnish the image of Christianity misinterpreting the Holy Bible; who through men in holy (?) robes fleece the innocent students and their families with false assurances are on a wealth amassing spree. They parade beneficiaries and Bishops to add to their credibility. Did you ever notice the rider, 'faith' in their sermon? It is a safe route to escape alleging that the prayer was not answered because you were lacking in faith? The most deplorable of the evils are the participation of innocent children, brain washed enough to utter lies. Bad parenting indeed! If you observe some of our local Evangelists you will be convinced that they do not have any cure for baldness and gray hair. While they raise their hands imitating Jesus Christ and dance their eyebrows to make their lies and falsehood accepted, please understand that you are being targeted to join many of their money spinning plans. February and March are the months when they target the student community in collaboration with men who are out to share a pittance out of their earnings gained by fleecing the nervous and fearful parents and students. The ecclesiastical community is hand in glove with these cheating Satans. They are supposed to be intelligent and highly educated but the shine of money and publicity blinds them.Did not Judas Iscariot love money and betrayed Jesus Christ.

Before you open your purse to them please ask them to perform some miracles like restoring an amputated organ or just one lost tooth. If you are not intelligent and do not discern facts you yourself are to be blamed if these Commercial Evangelists who conduct carnivals, operas and Soaps in Televisions with beautiful editing and soft music cheat you and fleece you out. Never patronise blessings brokers and invite the wrath of God. Pray and talk to Him direct on your needs. It will be heard. I am one who has strong faith in God. That firm faith exposes before me these veritable ugly earthly DEVILS in different faiths, faces and attires around us contaminating our social and religious environment. If you have experienced miracle through Evangelical brokering, kindly contact me. If you were cheated that too please inform me. Let religion be free of Evil Commercial Evangelists, patronized by ecclesiastical and political community.

K. Mathew Thomas

How To Be Unhappy

Make little things bother you.

Don't just let them, MAKE them.

Lose your perspective on things and keep it lost:
don't put first things first.

Get yourself a good worry,
one about which you cannot do anything.

Be a perfectionist, which means not that you work

hard to do your best, but that you condemn yourself and others

for not achieving perfection.

Be right. Be always right. Be the only one who is
always right, and be rigid in your rightness.

Don't trust or believe people, or accept them at anything
but their worst and weakest.

Be suspicious. Insist that others always
have hidden motives.

Always compare yourself unfavorably to others.
This guarantees instant misery.

Take personally everything that happens to you.

Don't give yourself whole-heartily to anyone or anything.

FAILURE! WHAT IS IT?

Failure doesn't mean YOU are a failure;
it does mean you haven't succeeded yet.

Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing;
it does mean you have learned something.

Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool;
it does mean you had a lot of faith.

Failure doesn't mean you have been disgraced;
it does mean you were willing to try.

Failure doesn't mean you don't have it;
it does mean you have to do something in a different way.

Failure doesn't mean you are inferior;
it does mean you are not perfect.

Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life;
it does mean you've a reason to start afresh.

Failure doesn't mean you should give up;
it does mean you should try harder.

Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it;
it does mean it will take a little longer.

INTERESTING THOUGHTS AND STORIES

It all depends on the way we look at things.

One day a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “Very good Dad!” “Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked. “Yeah!” “And what did you learn?” The son answered, “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon.” When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless. His son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!” Isn’t it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life - you’ve got everything! You can’t buy any of these things, but still you can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!

ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Let me be a little kinder.
Let me be a little blinder to the faults of those above me.
Let me praise a little more.
Let me be, when I am weary, just a little bit more cheery
Let me serve a little better on those whom I am working for.
Let me be a little braver when temptation makes me waver.
Let me strive a little harder to be all that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker with the person who is weaker;
Let me think more of my neighbor, and a little less of me.

A CREED TO LIVE BY

“Don’t underestimate your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special. Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless. Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you will live all the days of your life. Don’t give up when you still have something to give.Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying. Don’t be afraid to encounter risks.It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave. Don’t shut love out of your life by saying it’s impossible to find. The quickest way to receive love is to give love; the fastest way to lose love is to hold it too tightly; and the best way to keep love is to give it wings. Don’t dismiss your dreams,to be without dreams is to be without hope;to be without hope is to be without purpose. Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been but also where you’re going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.” ~Nancy Sims

A HEART-TOUCHING STORY

Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977, I saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn’t covered by water and mud. As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked! I did nothing, for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled, as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me. Had I been hurt I wouldn’t have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly! Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail. For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack. Yet again, I tried moving forward. My attacker charged me again. I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn’t sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time. After all, it’s just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground. That’s when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier.He had a mate and she was dying. She was beside the puddle where he landed. Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate’s sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. Now I knew why and what he was fighting for. There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy. His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself, just for his mate’s safety, justified it. I couldn’t do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed. I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car. Since then, I’ve always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me. I use that butterfly’s courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.

Two Things Not to Worry About

In my life, I have found there are two things about which I should never worry. First, I shouldn’t worry about the things I can’t change. If I can’t change them, worry is certainly most foolish and useless. Second, I shouldn’t worry about the things I can change. If I can change them, then taking action will accomplish far more than wasting my energies in worry. Besides, it is my belief that, 9 times out of 10, worrying about something does more danger than the thing itself. Give worry its rightful place - out of your life.

THE OPTIMIST CREED

The official creed of Optimist International

Promise Yourself —

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

DESIDERATA
by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be; and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

A TRUE
STORY WITH A MORAL

The year was 1968, and Kenneth Swan was a young army surgeon, just arrived in Vietnam. One of his first cases was a 19-year-old soldier who had been blown up by a grenade, losing his eyesight and both legs. It took seven long grueling hours at the operating table to put him back together. Dr. Swan was surprised the next day to find his fellow surgeons sharply critical of him. For not doing a good job? No-for doing the job at all.” That kid was so badly mangled,” they told him, “you shouldn’t have even bothered to treat him. He would have been better off dead.” For the next 20 years, Swan was haunted by those words. Had he had done the right thing in trying to save that soldier’s life? Swan determined to find the soldier he had patched up so many years ago in Vietnam. It took more than two years, but in the end he managed to locate him. And what he found was nothing short of astonishing. Yes, the man is blind and in a wheelchair. But he is not languishing in any hospital. He is married and has two daughters. He attended college, learned to scuba dive, and trained to help others with debilitating injuries. Now in his forties, the former soldier has a zest for life-and a faith in God. When a reporter asked him about his success in life, he responded simply,
“I GIVE THE CREDIT TO GOD.”



FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart. Anger is only one letter short of danger. If someone betrays you once, it’s his fault; if he betrays you twice, it’s your fault. Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. God gives every bird it’s food, But He does not throw it into it’s nest. He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses more; He who loses faith, loses all. Beautiful young people are acts of nature, But beautiful old people are works of art. Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself. The tongue weighs practically nothing, But so few people can hold it. Friends, you and me.... you brought another friend... and then there were 3... we started our group... Our circle of friends... and like that circle... there is no beginning or end..

CLIMB ‘TILL YOUR DREAM
COMES TRUE”
by Helen Steiner Rice

Often your task will be many,
And more than you think you can do ...
Often the road will be rugged
And the hills insurmountable, too ...
But always remember, the hills ahead
Are never as steep as they seem,
And with faith in your heart, start upward
And climb ‘til you reach your dream.
For nothing in life that is worthwhile
Is ever too hard to achieve
If you have the faith to believe ...
For faith is a force that is greater
Than knowledge or power or skill
And many defeats turn to triumph
If you trust in God’s wisdom and will ...
There’s nothing that God cannot do,
So start out today with Faith in your heart
And climb ‘til your dream comes true.

THINK!

If each grain of sand were to say:”
One grain does not make a mountain.
”There would be no land.
If each drop of water were to say:
”One drop does not make an ocean.”
There would be no sea.
If each note of music were to say:
”A note does not make a symphony.
”There would be no melody.
If each word were to say:
”One word does not make a library.
”There would be no books.
If each brick were to say:
”One brick does not make a wall.
”There would be no house.
If each seed were to say:
”One seed does not make a field.
”There would be no harvest. * Unknown

ALONG THE WAY OF LIFE
I’VE LEARNED ..

I’ve learned- that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I’ve learned- that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other and just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
I’ve learned- that we don’t have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I’ve learned- that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
I’ve learned- that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
I’ve learned- that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.
I’ve learned- that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don’t even know you.
I’ve learned- that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I’ve learned- that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
I’ve learned- that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon

A to Z Tips for Success

A. Arrive a little early for every date or appointment.
B. Be enthusiastic in everything you do.
C. Complete every assigned task.
D. Do a little more than is required.
E. Express yourself after you know the facts.
F. Feel comfortable in every situation by acting yourself.
G. Go all out to please your friends.
H. Help others, as you would have them help you.
I. Identify yourself by accomplishments rather than words.
J. Join in and help when you are needed.
K. Keep a level head.
L. Listen more; speak less.
M. Make the most of what you have.
N. Never say never.
O. Open your heart to those less fortunate than you.
P. Please yourself by pleasing others.
Q. Quickly respond to an emergency.
R. Remember business plus quality equals profit.
S. Study, Study, Study to excel.
T. Take advantage of any opportunity.
U. Use your spare time intelligently.
V. Value your health.
W. Work at your work.
X. Xit any quality leading to failure.
Y. You are your most important asset.

Z. Zestfully meet any challenge

The following question, I have raised
in an international forum: -

How would you react to Church Heads participating

in Commercial Evangelists' money-spinning carnivals?

More on the above question! I am a regular viewer of Commercial Evangelists' soap operas telecast through different channels all over the world where they claim of Holy Spirit’s intervention, divine healing and go on misinterpreting Bible to suit their interests. What I find most disgusting is the presence of ecclesiastical community, mostly Bishops, sharing the podium, nodding, singing and gesturing in appreciation of misplaced Evangelism. Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ for 30 silvers by kissing him. Here the Evangelists are warmly kissed betraying and tarnishing the image of Jesus Christ and Christianity either for a TV-Screen presence or for some tangible returns. The pathetic fact is that the presence of church-heads gives respectability and credibility to the Commercial Evangelists that help them in their collection drive and their building personal assets all over the world. Is this not a deplorable conduct that is hostile to Christianity and the faith of true Christians?

Out of the several answers I have
received, voters chose the one below
as the Best Answer:
If God has intended that man should learn His religion from a book, the Bible, surely God would have given that book to man. Christ would have given that book to man. Did He do it? He did not. Christ sent His Apostles throughout the whole universe and said, "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." Christ did not say, "Sit down and write Bibles and scatter them over the earth, and let every man read his Bible and judge for himself." If Christ had said that, there would never have been a Christianity on the earth at all, but a Babylon and confusion instead, and never one Church, the union of one body. Hence, Christ never said to His Apostles, "Go and write Bibles and distribute them, and let everyone judge for himself." That injunction was reserved for the Sixteenth Century, and we have seen the result of it. Ever since the Sixteenth Century there have been springing up religion upon religion, and churches upon churches, all fighting and quarreling with one another, and all because of the private interpretation of the Bible. Christ sent His Apostles with authority to teach all nations, and never gave them any command of writing the Bible. And the Apostles went forth and preached everywhere, and planted the Church of God throughout the earth, but never thought of writing Up to that time the whole world for three hundred years did not know what the Bible was. Hence, they could not take the Bible for their guide, for they did not know what constituted the Bible. Would our Divine Saviour, if He intended man to learn his religion from a book, have left the Christian world for three hundred years without that book? Most assuredly not. It is Divine Faith alone by which we give honor and glory to God, by which we adore His infinite wisdom and veracity. That adoration and worship is necessary for salvation. We must have Faith in order to be saved, and we must have Divine Faith, not human faith. Human faith will not save a man, but only Divine Faith. What is Divine Faith? It is to believe, upon the authority of God, the truths that God has revealed, that is Divine Faith. To believe all that God has taught upon the authority of God, and to believe without doubting, without hesitation. For the moment you begin to doubt or hesitate, that moment you begin to mistrust the authority of God, and, therefore, insult God by doubting His word. Divine Faith, therefore, is to believe without doubting and without hesitating. Human faith is belief upon the authority of men, on human authority. But Divine Faith is to believe without doubting, without hesitating, whatsoever God has revealed upon the authority of God, upon the Word of God.

Source(s):Fr. Arnold Damen, S.J. (1815 - 1890)

This answer is also pasted in my other web sites namely: -

http://theworldchildrendigest.blogspot.com
http://theknowledgedigest.blogspot.com
http://thedefendersoffaithmovement.blogspot.com
http://thesundaydigest.blogspot.com
http://thehomedigestinternational.blogspot.com
http://thestudentsdigestinternational.blogspot.com
http://thedebatersforum.blogspot.com
http://thesalesdigest.blogspot.com
http://theworldwomensdigest.blogspot.com

http://thewebfriendsinternational.blogspot.com

Add more to your 'Knowledge Bank'

TIPS FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS

(to get over the Examination Stress)

Tips for students on how best to handle the exam season:-

Put together a revision timetable with sensible work slots and lots of breaks. Show it to your parents and get their buy-in - that way, when they find you ‘not working’, provided you’re following your agreed timetable, you shouldn’t get any hassle.

Know where all your exams are, when they start and how long they last. Find out what equipment and material you can or you can’t take in

Make sure you have one day at the weekend when you don’t do any revision at all - you’ll be all the more refreshed when you get back to it.

Tell your parents about your revision plans and ask for help if you need it - it may make them feel useful.

Refresh your memory from time to time, reciting and revising.

Some people revise well by listening, so try recording your revision onto tapes or CD, then listen to it while lying out and about. This also takes the guilt away from not being stuck in front of your books.

Eat and sleep properly. Now is not the time to diet or stay up all night.

Prepare everything you need for each exam the evening before. Make sure you have all the equipment you need, e.g. calculators, rulers etc. Your invigilator should remind you of what you can and can’t take into an exam before the exam starts - don’t forget that taking unauthorised equipment into the exam room can get you disqualified. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Cut down all your extra work

On the morning of the exam, have a good breakfast, stay calm and allow plenty of time to get there. Remember that you can only do your best.


Tips for parents on how best to handle the exam season

1. A dedicated space with minimal distractions and good natural light is best for studying. If you have other children, make sure they’re aware of the importance of revision time.
2. Ensure your child has one evening a week away from studies and takes regular breaks from studying.
3. Be around as a ‘feeding station’ - they need to keep up their energy.
4. Offer to help - you could test them, or ask if there’s anything else you can do.
5. Find out about your child’s revision timetable and encourage them to tell you about it. If you know that they’re not at their best first thing in the morning, get them to rest then and work when they are more lively. They should choose their weakest/sleepiest time of day to go out, or watch TV.
6. Know the exact date, time and location for each exam and incorporate this into the revision plan. Make sure that your child has the correct equipment needed for each exam (calculators, rulers, etc). Know what cannot be taken into the exam (mobile phones, pagers, etc).
7. If your child has a medical condition, such as diabetes or hayfever, make sure that the school knows. There are special considerations for some conditions.
8. If there is a family crisis, for example a divorce or bereavement, again ensure that your child’s teacher knows as this additional stress can affect exam performance, and again, special considerations may be made.
9. Make sure that they are actually using the internet to study and not just to pretending.
Tell them that they can only try their best.

DIETING TIPS

Part 1.

Check with your doctor before starting any diet.
Pick a reasonable ideal weight for yourself.
Examine your thinking about food.
Change your eating behavior.
Formulate a good exercise routine to be followed at the same time as you are dieting.
Record your weight once a week.
Keep a chart of your weight and measurements.
Put a photograph of yourself at your fattest on the fridge door and look at it as you reach in for a tempting smack.

PART – 2

Educate yourself about food.
Make a list of low calorie foods and carry this list when you are shopping.
Keep plenty of low calorie foods on hand.

PART – 3

Pinpoint the specific emotional state, which usually brings on an eating binge. Feelings of discouragement, anxiety and boredom are some of the many causes of compulsive eating patterns. Break your habit pattern by finding something else to do instead of eating whenever you feel that familiar emotion overcoming you. Any activity, such as writing a letter or calling a friend, will do the trick.

Practice overcoming your urge to eat: Open the refrigerator saying out loud, "I just can't stop myself from eating this food", and then close the door and walk away. Thus you will prove to yourself that you can break your snacking habit, and the more you practice this little exercise, the more automatic will become the action of closing the fridge door.
Be more sensitive to your stomach. If your stomach tells you that your appetite has been satisfied, then stop eating at once.

When confronted with your favorite food, compare it with a mental image of yourself as slim as you want to be. You will have no trouble deciding which is most important to you.

Change the emphasis of a meal from the food to a social occasion. Make a point of eating with another person, eating slowly and stopping when you feel comfortably satisfied. The other person can remove the food if you overeat. Then start practicing this alone until you are completely in control of yourself.

Rate your food on a 5 point scale, according to how important it is to you, making 5 the most important. Then allow yourself only the food highest up on your scale. This will save you many calories.

Break your habit of eating as soon as you get home by changing your usual routine. Park differently, use a different door, and immediately involve yourself in another activity rather than entering the kitchen.

Part – 4

Don't eat more than four meals per day.
Don't snack between meals.
Don't eat after 7 p.m.
Don't eat while watching T.V.
Don't eat when you are upset.
Don't keep "wrong" foods in the house.
Don't be inactive; keep busy all the time.
Don't eat large amounts.
Don't eat fast.
Don't stay up late at night when dieting.
Decrease consumption of fat, sugar and starches.
Increase consumption of vegetables, fish and cheese.
Drink plenty of water.
Eat plenty of grapefruit.
Avoid salt and season your food the low-calorie way by using herbs, spices, garlic, onions, chives, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, vinegar and lemon juice.
Drink a cup of skim milk before bedtime – courtesy: - Internet

PREGNANCY PROBLEMS

Listed below are several common complaints and treatment suggestions to be used after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Colds

Rest and increase fluid intake (preferably water). If your symptoms are very se consult a Doctor.

Constipation

This is very common in pregnancy. It is best to anticipate this and avoid letting it get severe. Increase your water intake to at least 8 glasses a day. Increase the amount of bulk — raw vegetables, fruit, bran cereal, raisins, prunes, etc. — you eat. If there is no improvement, consult a Doctor.

Indigestion

Avoid fried or spicy foods.

Cramping

As your uterus grows, you may experience menstrual-type cramping. This may start very early in pregnancy (six weeks). Cramping without bleeding is usually not a concern. Of course, any bleeding should be reported to your Doctor.

Hair Treatments

Coloring your hair during pregnancy is not recommended. Some of the chemicals may be absorbed through your scalp, and it is difficult to predict the effect on your hair during pregnancy.

Headaches

Headaches are a common complaint during pregnancy. You may take rest in a darkened room and put an ice pack on your head. Chronic or severe headaches may need further evaluation. Do not take any aspirin product.

Nausea

Nausea is usually worse during the first 12 weeks. It may help to eat small, more frequent meals (snacks), and eat a few saltine crackers before getting out of bed in the morning. Vomiting that persists or leads to dehydration (decreased urination) should be reported.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a common complaint in the last two months. Try using extra pillows or sleeping in a recliner.

Leg cramps

These usually occur at night. While they are not indicative of a calcium deficiency, taking a Tums before bedtime may help.

Backache

For lower back pain, rest with a heating pad on low heat. Try 30 minutes on and 30 minutes off. You may also want to buy a pregnancy sling to help support your abdomen and back.

Other Instructions

Report any vaginal bleeding, discharge or leaking of any type of fluid from the vagina.
You should not smoke, use alcohol or other drugs.
Take prenatal vitamins, one tablet daily.
Do not use saunas or hot tubs.
Travel: Generally, travel is restricted as of the seventh month (28 weeks) of pregnancy, or sooner if you have any complications. Discuss this with your doctor or nurse at your next appointment. Exercise: If you have not had any complications during your pregnancy, low-impact aerobics or walking is acceptable. Please discuss this with your doctor at one of your appointments.

PROVERBS TO EMULATE

A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. --Proverbs 17:27
A merry heart does good, like medicine. --Proverbs 17:22
Fish or cut bait --American Proverb
A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash. --Proverbs 15:14
Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment chop wood and carry water. --Ancient Chinese Proverb
Have a vision not clouded by fear. --Cherokee Proverb
To know the road ahead, ask those coming back. --Chinese Proverb
Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it --Swedish Proverb
Love can turn the cottage into a golden palace. --German Proverb
He who begins many things finishes but a few. --Italian proverb
He who is ashamed of asking is ashamed of learning. --Danish Proverb
Teach your children to choose the right path, and when they are older, they will remain upon it. --Proverbs 22:6
Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all. --Proverbs 31:29
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. --Proverbs 3:18
All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. --Proverbs 15:15
Yesterday is a dream, tomorrow but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore to this day. --Sanskrit Proverb
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. --Proverbs 23:18
Love me when I least deserve it, because that's when I really need it. --Swedish Proverb
Love teaches even asses to dance. --French Proverb
A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. --Chinese Proverb
Begin to weave and God will give you the thread. --German Proverb
Man is harder than iron, stronger than stone and more fragile than a rose --Turkish proverb
Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow. --Swedish Proverb
It is not enough to aim, you must hit. --Italian proverb
He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever. --Chinese proverb
First secure an independent income, then practice virtue. --Greek Proverb
Talk doesn't cook rice. --Chinese proverb
You've got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your grandfather was. --Irish Proverb
If a man does only what is required of him, he is a slave If a man does more than is required of him, he is a free man. --Chinese Proverb
Do not use a hatchet to remove a fly from a friend's forehead. --Chinese Proverb
Whoever pursues godliness and unfailing love will find life, godliness, and honor. --Proverbs 21:21
He that plants thorns must never expect to gather roses --English Proverb
There is no need to fasten a bell to a fool --Danish Proverb
Rast ich, so rost ich (When I rest, I rust.) --German Proverb
The torch of love is lit in the kitchen. --French Proverb
An evil man sows strife; gossip separates the best of friends. --Proverbs 16:28
There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. --Proverbs 23:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish. --Proverb
The sluggard does not plow after the season, so he begs during the harvest and has nothing. --Proverbs 20:4 The Bible
Friendship is a strong and habitual inclination in two persons to promote the good and happiness of one another. --Proverbs 17:17

You are a child of the Universe, no less than the moon and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the Universe is unfolding as it should. - Max Ehrmann
Our life is what our thoughts make it. - Marcus Aurelius
Think highly of yourself because the world takes you at your own estimate. - Anonymous