Tirunelveli's Gift

Tirunelveli is a bustling town which stretches for just five or seven kms in all directions. Shops and houses crowd the sides of the roads. But if you have the time to go behind the houses you will be amidst lush green fields. The fields can be found right in the centre of the town.

 

There is a huge bus terminus which is awake around the clock. Here you can see men hurrying-scurrying around in dhothis, lungis and pants. Women in colourful saris walk at a more sedate pace. Majority of the young girls still wear a thavani or half-sari or perhaps the salwar-kameez. Jeans and skirts are a rarity.

 

There are bus routes to every place in Tamil Nadu -- inter-state buses to Trivandrum, Tirupathi, Ernakulam and Bangalore too -- out of this busy little town. The railway station is just a three minute walk. Trains are available to the temple town Tiruchendur, the touristy Kanyakumari, the state capital of Madras and one even to Bombay.

 

Around the bus station are innumerable shops selling cloth, das-paisa-type bags, stationery --tempting but useless knick knacks that you never need and of course innumerable STD booths. And even three computerised colour labs where you can develop a film roll in one hour flat while you drum your heels waiting for your Kulesekarappattinam ramba fast connection. There are few good hotels and innumerable smaller cheaper ones.

 

The Arasan ice cream parlour outside the bus depot, stands out in its décor, service and taste in these parts. College students can be found at this 'modern' hang out. Tirunelveli has a number of colleges, a law college and even a medical college attached to the huge government hospital. The famous Arvind Eye Hospital of Madurai has a very big branch hospital here.

 

The huge Thiru Nelliappar temple dwarfs everything around here. Legend says that a farmer put his paddy out to dry here, told his gods to keep an eye on it and went to bathe in the Tambiraparani. While he was bathing, it started raining heavily. He hurried back wondering what had happened to his paddy. While it continued to pour, he saw that the paddy remained unaffected because on that spot it was not raining. The lord had protected it 'like a hedge'. In Tamil paddy is 'Nel', hedge is 'Veli' and 'Tiri' is holy, therefore the name Tirunelveli.

 

There is a road right around the temple. The road houses the wholesale grains, provision and electrical market. One stretch is filled with cloth shops.

 

The River Tambiraparani meanders sluggishly right through the heart of the town.

 

Like any other bus terminus and any other town, there are plenty of sweet shops around. But now don't forget we are describing the town of Tirunelveli, whose sweet shops are famous all over the South for its halwa. And unlike other places where all sweets sell, in Tirunelveli this sweetmeat outstrips all in sales and popularity.

 

The Tirunelveli halwa is a continuous love affair between the halwa and saliva. Mention it to anybody and you will see them smacking their tongues in anticipation and appreciation.

 

The most popular shop, in my estimate, must be selling over Rs 100,000 worth of halwa everyday and another ten must be selling at least Rs 10,000 of the commodity every 24 hours day. But nobody mentions figures because the Tamil Nadu tax officials are so sincere, honest, diligent and sharp eared.

 

But though the halwa shops outside the bus terminus do brisk business, enquiries reveal that none of these halwais are the pioneers of the original Tirunelveli halwa. The pioneer I was told was a mile away in a place called 'Town'. Just as people going to South Bombay say "I am going to town" -- this area of Tirunelveli is simply known as 'Town'.

 

From the 'Junction' there is a bus to 'Town' every five minutes. The fare is only one rupee. This bus crosses the famous three tier bridge across the railway line and travels past an automobile spare parts market, a few theatres, a mela and then reaches 'Town'.

 

The market was as crowded as the Junction area. Buses proceed at a frantic pace inspite of the crowd. An elephant walked past leisurely. From the main entrance of the Nellaipper temple you must turn left to reach the town's famous halwa shop. The sixth shop on the left is known as Iruttukadai' -- literally translated it means 'dark shop'. It has no board identifying it. It has been known as the 'Iruttukadai' for the last five decades.

 

The shop was closed. The wooden shutters were down. At 5.45 pm a small crowd gathered outside the shop. The shop opened at 6 pm sharp. The halwa was already packed in ¼, ½ and one kg packs. Only smaller amounts needed to be weighed and parcelled out.

 

One customer wanted 3 kgs in 1/4 kg packs. He explained, "My friend is going to Bangalore tomorrow and from there to the US. Please pack it specially for me!" The shopkeeper tried to convince him that their packing was very good but the buyer was persistent. Finally twelve ¼ kg packs were repacked with additional cellophane paper at no extra cost. Some wanted to send it to Madras. Others to Bombay. Quite a few bought 50 or 100 gms and ate it on the spot, glued to the floor as they wolfed the halwa down with relish. The owner continuously pleaded, "Please throw the leaves into the garbage bin." But most people just threw the leaf on the road, wiped their oily hands on a paper and threw that too on the road.

 

When I chatted with the owner K Bijli Singh I was surprised to learn that the famous Tirunelveli halwa was a Rajasthani gift to Tamil Nadu -- introduced by the Rajput community in Tirunelveli -- 85 years back. "Earlier we used to make it ourselves, now we use local cooks but the recipe remains with us". Bijli Singh and even his late father Krishna Singh were born in Chokkanpatti village of Tirunelveli districts. They have been here for five generations.

 

So while the rest of the country knows the Rajputs for their fighting skills, in Tirunelveli they are known for their culinary skills.

 

The basic difference between this halwa and others is the ingredients used. But if only ingredients matter then you may wonder why Tirunelveli halwa made in Madras or Bombay tastes different. "Simple," says Bijli Singh with a twinkle in his eye "Here we use Tambiraparani water".

 

Krishna Singh was the man who started the shop. In those days he used to make the halwa himself and thus was busy during the day in his kitchen. In the evening he used to sell it. Bijli Singh has stuck to that routine. "I haven't changed the décor or the 40w bulb. You see if I modernise people will think the management has changed. I'll lose business. I love tradition and sentiments." Even his cash box remains a box made from dry palm leaves.

 

Some time ago he was interviewed by the Tamil magazine Kalki. "A man came from Malaysia with that Kalki in his hand" he said proudly. "And bought halwa." And when this gentleman left Tirunelveli a few days later by train he was surprised to discover that quite a few had the same idea as him. Passengers departing from Tirunelveli were each carrying a precious bag of 'Iruttukadai' halwa!

 

Recipe - Iruttukadai's Tirunelveli Halwa
Soak one kg of whole grains of wheat for eight hours.

Hand grind. Let the milk-like batter settle.

Pour the milk-like batter and 4½ kg sugar into a wide iron karhai or wok. Heat, stirring continuously till it begins to boil and bubble. Then add 2¼ kg ghee. Boil it down till it thickens and is nearly solid.

Pour onto a greased thali or plate. Let it cool and cut or serve into desired portions.

 

http://www.rediff.com/travel/1998/oct/24tirun.htm

Nice Conversation......... Really

A real story ...A conversation between a Solider and Software Enggr in
Shatabdi Train .........An interesting and a must readl!

Vivek Pradhan was not a happy man. Even the plush comfort of the
air-conditioned compartment of the Shatabdi express could not cool his
frayed nerves. He was the Project Manager and still not entitled to
air travel. It was not the prestige he sought, he had tried to reason
with the admin person, it was the savings in time. As PM, he had so
many things to do!!

He opened his case and took out the laptop, determined to put the time
to some good use.

"Are you from the software industry sir," the man beside him was
staring appreciatively at the laptop. Vivek glanced briefly and
mumbled in affirmation, handling the laptop now with exaggerated care
and importance as if it were an expensive car.

"You people have brought so much advancement to the country, Sir.
Today everything is getting computerized."

"Thanks," smiled Vivek, turning around to give the man a look. He
always found it difficult to resist appreciation. The man was young
and stockily built like a sportsman. He looked simple and strangely
out of place in that little lap of luxury like a small town boy in a
prep school. He probably was a railway sportsman making the most of
his free traveling pass.

"You people always amaze me," the man continued, "You sit in an office
and write something on a computer and it does so many big things
outside."

Vivek smiled deprecatingly. Naiveness demanded reasoning not anger.
"It is not as simple as that my friend. It is not just a question of
writing a few lines. There is a lot of process that goes behind it."

For a moment, he was tempted to explain the entire Software
Development Lifecycle but restrained himself to a single statement.
"It is complex, very complex."

"It has to be. No wonder you people are so highly paid," came the reply.

This was not turning out as Vivek had thought. A hint of belligerence
crept into his so far affable, persuasive tone. "



Everyone just sees the money. No one sees the amount of hard work we
have to put in. Indians have such a narrow concept of hard work. Just
because we sit in an air-conditioned office, does not mean our brows
do not sweat. You exercise the muscle; we exercise the mind and
believe me that is no less taxing."



He could see, he had the man where he wanted, and it was time to drive
home the point.

"Let me give you an example. Take this train. The entire railway
reservation system is computerized. You can book a train ticket
between any two stations from any of the hundreds of computerized
booking centres across the country.



Thousands of transactions accessing a single database, at a time
concurrently; data integrity, locking, data security. Do you
understand the complexity in designing and coding such a system?"



The man was awestuck; quite like a child at a planetarium. This was
something big and beyond his imagination.



"You design and code such things."

"I used to," Vivek paused for effect, "but now I am the Project Manager."

"Oh!" sighed the man, as if the storm had passed over,



"so your life is easy now."

This was like the last straw for Vivek. He retorted, "Oh come on, does
life ever get easy as you go up the ladder. Responsibility only brings
more work.



Design and coding! That is the easier part. Now I do not do it, but I
am responsible for it and believe me, that is far more stressful. My
job is to get the work done in time and with the highest quality.



To tell you about the pressures, there is the customer at one end,
always changing his requirements, the user at the other, wanting
something else, and your boss, always expecting you to have finished
it yesterday."

Vivek paused in his diatribe, his belligerence fading with
self-realisation. What he had said, was not merely the outburst of a
wronged man, it was the truth. And one need not get angry while
defending the truth.



"My friend," he concluded triumphantly, "you don't know what it is to
be in the Line of Fire".



The man sat back in his chair, his eyes closed as if in realization.
When he spoke after sometime, it was with a calm certainty that
surprised Vivek.

"I know sir,..... I know what it is to be in the Line of Fire......."

He was staring blankly, as if no passenger, no train existed, just a
vast expanse of time.



"There were 30 of us when we were ordered to capture Point 4875 in the
cover of the night.



The enemy was firing from the top.



There was no knowing where the next bullet was going to come from and for
whom.



In the morning when we finally hoisted the tricolour at the top only 4
of us were alive."



"You are a...?"



"I am Subedar Sushant from the 13 J&K Rifles on duty at Peak 4875 in
Kargil. They tell me I have completed my term and can opt for a soft
assignment.



But, tell me sir, can one give up duty just because it makes life easier.



On the dawn of that capture, one of my colleagues lay injured in the
snow, open to enemy fire while we were hiding behind a bunker.



It was my job to go and fetch that soldier to safety. But my captain
sahib refused me permission and went ahead himself.



He said that the first pledge he had taken as a Gentleman Cadet was to
put the safety and welfare of the nation foremost followed by the
safety and welfare of the men he commanded... ....his own personal
safety came last, always and every time."

"He was killed as he shielded and brought that injured soldier into
the bunker. Every morning thereafter, as we stood guard, I could see
him taking all those bullets, which were actually meant for me . I
know sir....I know, what it is to be in the Line of Fire."

Vivek looked at him in disbelief not sure of how to respond. Abruptly,
he switched off the laptop.



It seemed trivial, even insulting to edit a Word document in the
presence of a man for whom valour and duty was a daily part of life;
valour and sense of duty which he had so far attributed only to epical
heroes.



The train slowed down as it pulled into the station, and Subedar
Sushant picked up his bags to alight.

"It was nice meeting you sir."

Vivek fumbled with the handshake.



This hand... had climbed mountains, pressed the trigger, and hoisted
the tricolour. Suddenly, as if by impulse, he stood up at attention
and his right hand went up in an impromptu salute.

It was the least he felt he could do for the country.

PS: The incident he narrated during the capture of Peak 4875 is a
true-life incident during the Kargil war. Capt. Batra sacrificed his
life while trying to save one of the men he commanded, as victory was
within sight. For this and various other acts of bravery, he was
awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the nation's highest military award.

Live humbly, there are great people around us, let us learn!

BE POLITE… EVERYONE U MEET IS FIGHTING A HARD BATTLE

Its Local Call here in Kerala

 

An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to China. On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read "$10,000 per call". The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to God. The American thanked the priest and went along his way. Next stop was in Japan. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in China and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God. "O.K., thank you," said the American. He then traveled to Pakistan, Srilanka, Russia, Germany and France. In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same "$10,000 per call" sign under it. The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel to India to see if Indians had the same phone. He arrived in India, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read "One Rupee per call." The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. "Father, I've traveled all over World and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but everywhere the price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?" The priest smiled and answered, "You're in Kerala," the God's own country", now, son - it's a local call".

POLITICS EXPLAINED

FEUDALISM: You have two cows. Your lord takes some of the milk.

PURE SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and puts them in a barn with everyone else's cows. You have to take care of all of the cows. The government gives you as much milk as you need.

BUREAUCRATIC SOCIALISM: You have two cows. The government takes them and put them in a barn with everyone else's cows. They are cared for by ex-chicken farmers. You have to take care of the chickens the government took from the chicken farmers. The government gives you as much milk and eggs as the regulations say you need.

FASCISM: You have two cows. The government takes both, hires you to take care of them and sells you the milk.

PURE COMMUNISM: You have two cows. Your neighbors help you take care of them, and you all share the milk.

RUSSIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. You have to take care of them, but the government takes all the milk.

CAMBODIAN COMMUNISM: You have two cows. The government takes both of them and shoots you.

DICTATORSHIP: You have two cows. The government takes both and drafts you.

PURE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors decide who gets the milk.

REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY: You have two cows. Your neighbors pick someone to tell you who gets the milk.

BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.

PURE ANARCHY: You have two cows. Either you sell the milk at a fair price or your neighbors try to take the cows and kill you.

Retired Dictator Program

 The problem with being a tyrannical dictator is that there is no career path and no practical way to retire. If another dictator takes over, the first item on his agenda is turning your head into a bird feeder for his guest house. If democracy breaks out, sooner or later the mob will want to execute you for crimes against humanity. As a tyrant, your only rational strategy is continued brutal suppression of your peeps. That's a lot of work for the tyrant, and no fun for the peeps.

What the world needs is a program that allows graceful retirement for tyrants, so they have some incentive to step aside. Justice would never be served, but it would be best for the country.

I imagine the tyrant retirement program would provide some sort of international security guarantees and permanent amnesty for the tyrant. That might require some U.N. forces to guard his mansion or island fortress or wherever he decides to retire. And he would have unrestricted travel rights, in case he wanted to get out of the country for his own safety.

Second, the tyrant would be written into the history books as some sort of founding father type. He would be, ironically, the father of democracy, having stepped aside to allow it to happen. The history books would be modified to show the tyrant did many good things in terms of national stability, and then stepped aside to allow democracy to flourish. His multiple genocides would be downplayed. No tyrant wants to get bad press after retiring.

The tyrant would also be allowed to keep much of the money he stole, say up to a limit of $5 billion per tyrant. That's enough to keep him in helicopters and hookers.

You could add some extras, such as putting the tyrant on stamps and currency, or agreeing to keep him on the ones already in circulation. The point is that retirement has to look like a safe and honorable thing.

The story line for the country would be that while a dictatorship made sense while the tyrant was in power, it only worked because of the force of his amazing personality. And since his country couldn't be expected to find another dictator of such compassion and skill, democracy is the best succession strategy. That spin might sound preposterous, but when you consider the things your own government tells you, it's not that different.

I know it will never work. But waiting for tyrants to die takes too long, and killing them is too expensive. There has to be a better way.

 

http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/retired_dictator_program/

Is God a Taoist

Check the link !!!

 

Very Good One !!!

 

http://mit.edu/people/dpolicar/writing/prose/text/godTaoist.html

 

Wikipedia link on Taoism:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism

How to confuse an idiot

Check the link

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8Ka3N_3B8o

 

Really good !!!!

 

Samsung M150 Cell Phone

Samsung might have an impressive range of high end cell phones, but that doesn't mean they
neglect the entry-level market either as that is where the big money is - massive profit through bulk purchases. The M150 is the latest of such entry-level handsets, and it will come in Light Gray, Charcoal Gray, Pure White, Lavender Pink and Ice Blue colors. Among the specifications
include :-

• 1.77’’ LCD display at 128 x 160 resolution
• 20MB memory
• VGA camera
• Bluetooth 2.0 connectivity
• Integrated FM radio
• Supports MP3, AAC, AAC+, e-AAC+, WMA, RA audio files
• Supports MPEG4 video recording

The Samsung M150 will arrive in Germany at the middle of next
month, followed by a worldwide release after that. Expect to pay a
minimal amount for this phone.

Cellphone etiquettes!!

Tips to make you a courteous phone user:

A cellphone is a double-edged sword. While it has revolutionised our lives and made us a truly "global village", you have to admit that it can be an irritant. Hark back to that grating ringtone in the middle of a film or play. Like everything in life, there is a correct way to use that ubiquitous device.

BUSINESS MEETINGS

Before starting a meeting, put the phone in a silent mode or let your voice mail take the call. Generally, the person you are with takes priority over the one who is calling. If you are expecting an important call, inform your business associates ahead of time, step outside when you receive the call and keep it brief.

RING TONES

Although customised ring tones offer you a chance to express your personal style, they are inappropriate for business meetings.

VOICE MAIL

During movies and music concerts, activate your voice mail.

USE DISCRETION

Very often, one overhears intimate and confidential matters being discussed loudly on the cellphone, which is a strict no-no. Also, holding up the cashier queue while you are multi-tasking and taking your friend's suggestion on the colour to buy is rude.

VOLUME CONTROL

On the street, in the elevator, one hears people yelling into their phones. If you are unable to hear the caller, either move to a quieter area or one that offers better connectivity. In buses and trains, if people two rows away are staring at you take the hint — you are too loud.

ROAD SAFETY

Hands-free reduces the risk but for longer conversations, pull into a parking area.

ON AIRPLANES

When the crew instructs to switch off the phone, resist the urge to make that one last call. Wait till the plane comes to complete halt before calling your chauffer.

BLACKBERRY

Suppress the urge to doodle or answer a quick email in a business meeting. Respond only if the matter is extremely urgent. Put the device in your bag, leaving it on the table is distracting when it receives a message.

If microsoft made ipod

Check the link

http://churumuri.wordpress.com/2008/07/17/what-if-microsoft-not-apple-had-made-the-ipod/

Fear factor

 

1. Ablutophobia              -            Fear of bathing
2. Callophobia                 -           Fear of beauty
3. Neophobia                   -          Fear of change
4. Pantiphobia                 -           Fear of everything
5. Xenophobia                 -          Fear of foreigners
6. Polyphobia                  -           Fear of many things
7. Musophobia                -           Fear of mice
8. Demophobia                -          Fear of people
9. Acoustophobia            -           Fear of sound
10. Lalophobia                  -           Fear of speaking
11. Logophobia                 -          Fear of study
12. Phronemophobia         -           Fear of thinking
13. Basophobia                 -           Fear of walking
14. Plutophobia                 -           Fear of wealth
15. Ergophobia                  -           Fear of work
16. Cibophobia                  -           Fear of food
17. Geliophobia                 -           Fear of laughter
18. Venustrophobia           -           Fear of beautiful women
19. Eisoptrophobia            -           Fear of seeing oneself in mirror
20. Somniphobia               -           Fear of sleep
21. Phalacrophobia            -           Fear of becoming bald

We have proved Churchill's words

"Power will go to the hands of rascals, rogues and freebooters. All Indian leaders will be of low calibre and men of straw."

-- Winston Churchill on the eve of Indian Independence

Top 10 Richest Towns in India

The list below contains top 10 richest towns in India based on Per-Capita Income. There are some surprise entries too.

Chandigarh: The per capita annual income of people in this city is about Rs 26710. Chandigarh, a Union Territory, is known as "City Beautiful" and is acquired international fame for being the best urban planned city with architectural dominance that has seen projects like Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Mathew Nowicki and Albert Mayer come and go.

Panaji: Panaji, the capital city of Goa has a per capita annual income of Rs 26075 and is the third largest city in Goa after Margao and Vasco. Located on the banks of the Mandovi estuary, Panaji is home to about 65000 people. The city incorporates educational institutions, government offices and major research centers like the National Institute of Oceanography in Dona Paula.

Delhi: Delhi, the capital city of India is a hub of cultures, faith and tradition. Thriving on the philosophy of "live and let live", the city's malls, markets, offices, international set ups and educational institutes are all as renowned as none other. Delhi has a per capita annual income of Rs 24141.

Valparai: This evergreen town lies in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu. Having a per capita annual income of Rs 23772, Valparai is growing to be an ultimate tourist's destination. With its ever fresh green lush meadows that spread across the hills and valleys, Valparai is a peaceful retreat from the busy world of cars, noise and pollution.
Greater Mumbai: Greater Mumbai has a per capita annual income of Rs 23109 and is located in Maharashtra. Needless to say Mumbai or Greater Mumbai is home to budding film stars and industries because of which Greater Mumbai is considered to be one of the richest cities.

Pune: Pune has a per capita annual income of Rs 22817. Being the second largest city in Maharashtra and one of the 8 megacities in India, Pune is considered to be a major financial hub. A grooming ground for the manufacturing industry which excels in the automotive sector while information technology following close behind, Pune is a major investment destination.

Ludhiana: Ludhiana has an annual per capita income of Rs 22178. Located in Punjab, this city is a major educational and industrial hub in Northern India. Ludhiana is popular for politics and real estate and has been termed as the "Manchester of Punjab".

Chennai: Chennai has an annual per capita income of Rs 21885. The capital city of Tamil Nadu, Chennai has a population of about 7.5 million and is the 4th largest metropolitan city in India. Chennai is a major industrial hub and has an influential base for the automobile, hardware manufacturing, technology and health care industries.

Shimla: Shimla has annual per capita income of Rs 21348. Shimla, is also known as the "Queen of Hills". Draped with abundant greens and lush green forests, the city is popular for its cool summers and snowy winters. Shimla thrives on the tourism industry and it is the administrative capital of Himachal Pradesh. Shimla has grown to be a pompous city with million of tourists flocking the region at peak times and with its exquisite display of malls, colleges, health care centers and the St Michael's Catholic Church.

Jalandhar: Jalandhar in Punjab has an annual per capita income of Rs 21254. Jalandhar has a total population of about 2 million, both rural and urban. Jalandhar is also known as the "land between the three rivers" – Ravi, Sutlej and Beas. Jalandhar city is famous for its sports equipment, automobile parts, leather and rubber goods.

DON'T QUIT

 

DON'T QUIT

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest! if you must; but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up, though the pace seems slow;
You might succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit;
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

 

 

Chanakya Quotes

 

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

"Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."

"Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth."

Traffic guidelines

 

I don't remember ever seeing a Traffic Rules book in India. That might partly explain the traffic in India. People seem to be making up their own rules as they go. Here is my humble attempt to reverse engineer the traffic rules from what I observed:

1. You can drive anywhere on the road. Some people prefer to drive on the left side. Don't pay any attention to the decorative white line in the middle of the road.
2. When you are completely stuck in a traffic jam and there is no chance to move even an inch, it is mandatory to blare your horn.
3. When you use the head-lights, it is absolutely forbidden to use the low beam.
4. Stopping or slowing down at red lights is appreciated.
5. It is a felony to be caught driving a motorbike without a mobile phone glued to your hand and ear.
6. When you collide with a motorist or pedestrian, it is customary to exchange profanities.
7. Pedestrians and cows have the right of way.
8. When the gate is closed at a railroad crossing, all vehicles that cannot pass under the gate must stop. If you can bend, crawl or roll yourself and your vehicle under the gate, you can continue without stopping.
9. Turning on the hazard lights (both indicators blinking) means you are going straight and not about to turn (I swear this is true).
10. When driving on deserted village roads, look straight ahead not sideways. Please respect the privacy of street side defecators.

from http://www.twisted-dna.com/

 

Operation Sleep

 

I summon the whole family for the daily emergency drill. "Operation Sleep" is about to be launched.

 

With that tone of authority that I am respected for, I issue clear orders. "Switch on both the Good-knight and the All-out devices. If one fails, the other will work. And apply a generous amount of Odomos on your entire body, head to toe. The strong aroma will intoxicate the fellows. Keep the air-conditioners on. Mosquitoes are known to lose their powers, when the room temperature drops below 22 deg C. Windows will remain closed through the night. Night bulb to be kept on as the creatures are known to attack only under cover of total darkness. Hold the battery-operated swatter in your hands, ready to strike at short notice. Everybody ready? Good, let's go to bed now."

 

Meanwhile, at a hideout not too far away, the head mosquito summons the whole gang,

 

"Enemy will try to freeze us with air-conditioning. Remember to wear your sweaters. We can withstand the cold temperature. And, wait for an hour or so, before you attack. The effect of Odomos will wear off by then. Don't get frightened by the Good Knight and All-Out. They are just placebos peddled as potent stuff to gullible customers by greedy marketers. Put on your sun glasses. That will protect your eyes from the glare of the night bulb. Ignore the swatter. The chances of it striking you are just one in million. Keep cool and take your fill of blood. Be positive, as well as O positive.

 

Operation Sleep ends in failure yet again. I can hear the mosquitoes celebrating their victory. My blood is boiling, but inside their bodies.

 

from http://chennaikaran.blogspot.com/

Poem

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3 people !!! 10 truths !!!!

10 Truths Black And Hispanic People Know, But White People Won't Admit:

1. Elvis is dead.
2. Jesus was not white.
3. Rap music is here to stay.
4. Kissing your pet is not cute or clean.
5. Skinny does not equal sexy.
6. Thomas Jefferson had black children.
7. A 5-year-child is too big for a stroller.
8. N'Sync will never hold a candle to the Jackson 5.
9. An occasional butt-whooping helps a child stay in line.
10. Having your children curse you out in public is not normal.

-o-

10 Truths White And Black People Know, But Hispanic People Won't Admit:

1. Hickeys are not attractive.
2. Chicken is food, not a roommate.
3. Jesus is not a name for your son.
4. Men don't wear hair nets.
5. Maria is a name but not for every other daughter.
6. "Jump out and run" is not a substitute for car insurance.
7. 10 people to a car is considered too many.
8. Buttoning just the top button of your shirt is a bad fashion statement.
9. Mami and Papi can't possibly be the nickname of every person in your family.
10. Letting your children run wildly through the store is not normal.

-o-

10 Truths White And Hispanic People Know, But Black People Won't Admit:

1. O.J. did it.
2. Tupac is dead.
3. Teeth should not be decorated.
4. Weddings should start on time.
5. Your pastor doesn't know everything.
6. Jesse Jackson will never be president.
7. Red is not a Kool-aid flavor, it's a color.
8. Church does not require expensive clothes.
9. Crown Royal bags are meant to be thrown away.
10. Your rims and sound system should not be worth more than your car.

Psychoanalysis - Test

One day, you get lost in the wilderness while traveling. It gets dark and you have no choice but to seek refuge in a small hut nearby. The
owner tells you all his rooms are haunted. Which room will you choose?
The room where:
Room (A)
- a human head stares at you maliciously from outside your window
Room (B)
- the bathroom door creaks open and close, and there are sounds of a
woman sighing
Room (C)
- the bed starts rocking violently whenever you try to sleep on it
Room (D)
- a headless ghost sits at the foot of your bed when you awake in the
middle of the night

 

MAKE ONE COMFORTABLE (?!) CHOICE BEFORE YOU SCROLL DOWN FOR THE
EXPLANATION.
IT'S QUITE AN INTERESTING ANSWER..........
---
---
---

Explanations.

 

A) A human head stares at you maliciously from outside your window.
Explanation: You need a lot of private space and are more suitable to
work alone. You look for stability i.e. a job that is not easily
affected by external factors and provides steady income.
Eg. Doctor, lawyer, SOHO, teacher, administrator.

 

B) The bathroom door creaks open and close, and there are sounds of a
woman sighing.
Explanation: You prefer a stable job that does not require you to run
around or meet people. You are willing to be subjected to pressure
from your bosses if that lets you sit in an air-conditioned office all
day.Eg. Civil servant, engineer, computer engineer, accountant.

 

C) The bed starts rocking violently whenever you try to sleep on it.
Explanation: You are an active person who cannot sit still and does
not like to be restrained. You are easily adaptable to a job which is
full of changes and not routine.
Eg. Marketing, insurance, sales,delivery man, chauffer.

 

D) A headless ghost sits at the foot of your bed when you awake in the
middle of the night.
Explanation: You suit jobs that need you to meet people, especially
large crowds. Your job will depend on these people, but you will not
know who they are
Eg. superstar, politician, PR, counter/front line sales.

Leave Your Office

An elderly man in Mumbai calls his son in New York and says,
"I hate to ruin your day son, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are getting a divorce; 35 years of marriage...
and that much misery is enough!"
"Dad, what are you talking about?" the son screams.
"We can't stand the sight of each other any longer," the old man says.
"We're sick of each other, and I'm sick of talking about this, so you call your sister in Hong Kong and tell her!"
Frantic, the son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone.

"Like heck they're getting divorced," she shouts, "I'll take care of this."
She calls Mumbai immediately, and screams at the old man, "You are not getting divorced. Don't do a single thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother back, and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don't do a thing, DO YOU HEAR??" and she hangs up.

The old man hangs up his phone and turns to his wife.  "Okay", he says,
"It's all set. They're both coming for Diwali and paying their own airfare!!"

MORAL:
No man / woman are busy in this world all 365 days.
The sky is not going to fall down if you take few days LEAVE and meet your dear ones.
Office work is not everything in life and Money making is not everything in life.
After all we work for someone else's dream…

 

Some Basic definitions..Old BUT Good One

Some Basic definitions.

Engineering College : Place where you're punished for getting good HSC
marks.

Babe : After two years in Engineering, anything remotely female
qualifies for that title...

Senior : Guy who got ragged as junior and wanna get some payback...

Fresher : Guy who has to ask ! where the canteen is...

Really Dumb Fresher : Guy who asks a senior where the canteen is.

Really Really Dumb fresher : Guy who follows the senior to the canteen.

Ragging : The unfortunate fate of the previous idiot.

Evasive action : Watch the juniors when any seniors come nearby. (No
one runs faster than a fresher. NO ONE.)

Lectures : Waste of time. Physical presence is a must...only meant for
sleeping, completing assignemtns & general TP

Tuitions : What you take when you don't waste enough time....

Professor : Person paid to put students to sleep.

Vernacular Prof : Unusual variant of previous individual who comes
packaged with his own brand of English ("Now you check me our
journal." "You Out get from class." "Are you Understand, Beta?" )

Practicals : 60 to 90 minutes in which you watch the girls do your
experiment, and usually destroy a considerable arra! y of lab equipment.

Hopeless Practical : The practical in which there are no girls in your
group simply look blankly at each other, fiddle with the equipment,
and finally copy the readings.(from the girls of course...).

2. The Truth about exams....

Timing...when ur non engineering GF/BF is free to enjoy while u slog
with submissions & exams

Irony : The guy who copied your entire paper passes and you flunk.

Critical Calculation : Summing up the marks you attempted worth in the
exam...

KT : Makes you suicidal. The WAY of life...

Year Drop : Makes dad homicidal.

Re-verification : A cruel joke. (results of which come after you give
the KT exam).

An engineer's 10 engineering commandments of Life
1. Thou shalt study only during the preparatory leave.
2. Thou shalt never write thy assignments thyself.
3. Thou shalt begin writing thy journals only on the morning of
submission.
4. Thou shalt treat all marks above 40 as bonus.
5. Thou shalt have at least 70 per cent attendance in the canteen.
6. Thou shalt pass GRACEfully.
7. Thou shalt always be an OUTstanding student.
8. Thou shalt give thy attendance without being present...PROXY is a MUST
9. If thou can't convince them , confuse them.
10. Thou shalt start every sentence with a four-lettered word.

The Years of Engineering
F.E. Fond of Engineering
S.E. Sick Of Engineering
T.E. Tired of Engineering
B.E. Balls to Engineering

is it worth it???

Engineers Anthem:
Hum Honge All Clear,Honge AllC lear, Honge All Clear Ek Din, OH-HO,
Mann me hai vishwas, pura hai vishwas, hum ho! ge all clear ek din


Top two Engineering Rumors:

'Did you hear the results are being put up today at 5:30pm'
'Did you hear the exams are postponed by two weeks, its been put up at
Notice Board

The most dreaded acronym for Engineers:
ATKT ( After Trying Keep Trying)

The most important criteria while selecting an engineering college:
Girl to Boy ratio ( if more than0 .025% then that college is engineers
dream come true)

Engineers at work:
Assignments solved by one and then carrying out mass transfer
operations throughout the class

The most important machine for Engineers:
Xerox Machine (Without which assignment completion wouldn't be possible)

The most important table in an Engineer's House:
The glass table ( to carry out GT operations, during Night Duty.)

The only queue an Engineer is familiar with:
Submission Queue

An Engineer's favourite watch:
Bird Watch !

Common Engineering Dialogues after a paper:
'What is this yaar, more than 70% of the paper was out of the syllabus'
'This was the worst paper set in the entire engineering history'
'I am failing....I got screwed royally'

Feeling after Completing Engineering:
Survived Engineering !!!!!!!!!!!

After Engineering

College ki kuch yaadein...

World's Happiest Country ! ! !

Denmark, with its democracy, social equality and peaceful atmosphere, is the happiest country in the world, researchers said on Monday.

 

Zimbabwe, torn by political and social strife, is the least happy, while the world's richest nation, the United States, ranks 16th.

 

Overall, the world is getting happier, according to the U.S. government-funded World Values Survey, done regularly by a global network of social scientists.

 

It found increased happiness from 1981 to 2007 in 45 of 52 countries analyzed.

 

"I strongly suspect that there is a strong correlation between peace and happiness," said Ronald Inglehart, a political scientist at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, who directed the study.

 

And, said Ingelhart, there is a strong correlation between happiness and democracy.

 

"Denmark is the happiest country in the world in our ratings," Inglehart said in an audio statement released by the National Science Foundation, which paid for the analysis.

 

"Denmark is prosperous -- not the richest country in the world but it is prosperous."

 

Puerto Rico and Colombia also rank highly, along with Northern Ireland, Iceland, Switzerland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Canada and Sweden.

 

"Though by no means the happiest country in the world, from a global perspective the United States looks pretty good," Inglehart said. "The country is not only prosperous; it ranks relatively high in gender equality, tolerance of ethnic and social diversity and has high levels of political freedom."

 

The survey, first done in 1981, has kept to two simple questions:

 

"Taking all things together, would you say you are very happy, rather happy, not very happy, not at all happy?" And, "All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?"

 

Writing in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, Ingelhart's team said they have surveyed 350,000 people.

 

"Ultimately, the most important determinant of happiness is the extent to which people have free choice in how to live their lives," Inglehart said.

 

- www.reuters.com

 

Product Review - Dell Inspiron 9300 Notebook

The Dell Inspiron 9300 is the latest offering from the venerable manufacturer of personal computers. Widely touted as an "entertainment powerhouse," the 9300 promises to deliver exceptional performance for the multimedia fan. Let's take a look at what makes this notebook computer the standout that it is.

You have to admire Dell. Not a month goes by where a new model is offered, prices are reduced, and the whole package is sweetened with the inclusion of some sort of free upgrade. True to form, the Dell Inspiron 9300 notebook computer is a prime example of all that as it is a new model, fully loaded, and is available to you at an attractive price.

Some of the top features of this particular model include:

A 17" screen – perfect for gamers and movie watchers.

Intel Pentium M Processor 730 (1.60 GHz/2MB Cache/533MHz FSB).

A whopping 1 GB of memory.

80GB hard drive.

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

8x CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-RW) with double-layer write capability.

McAfee Security Center.

3 Year Service Plan.

Depending on how you order the 9300 some of the included features may be slightly different. All models do come equipped with PCI Express graphics options for entertainment applications, including: digital video editing, digital photography, and movies. However, to watch television or view your DVDS, you must purchase the optional TV tuner for an extra $150. Another drawback is that you cannot play audio or video on the 9300 without booting up; some will find this step to be a big inconvenience. Expect future models from Dell to rectify this oversight.

The 9300 is no lightweight, weighing in at just over 9 lbs.; of course if you are moving from a desktop unit the weight will seem inconsequential.

Perhaps the best feature of the 9300 is its price. Dell is forever running specials on just about everything they sell. This particular model retails for $2209 on their site, but with an instant rebate of $750 your price begins at $1459. Even with taxes, shipping and handling charges, the tuner, and a couple of software packages thrown in you can still get the 9300 for under $2000. Comparable models from HP, Gateway, and Toshiba are likely to run several hundreds dollars more than the 9300 and Dell's special price includes their popular three year extended warranty.

Overall, the 9300 is a nice entrant in the "full blown entertainment" category of notebook computers. With the low price and extended warranty you will find that it is a value leader as well.

Kullu Manali

 

"India, a country of diversities in its rich cultures and travelling vistas. India imbue's in it a bemusing geography,with
snow clad views of himalayas in north, swhirling sands of Rajasthan in west, sandy dunnes along the crystal clear waters
of snarling beaches in south, pristine backwaters of Kerala.All these contributes to a lot of surprises along with pure enthral
and adventure. Kullu Manali in North India isHimalayas, Kullu Manali unparalleled in its zest for exotic. It moves on a
pulsating vibes of its adventure sports, heart numbing natural beauty and unspoilt valleys scattered in the back drop of snow
clad Himalayas."

Manali situated at an altitude of 6000ft , is a renowned hill station in India. According to a fabled story, when whole world
was drowned in a catastrophic floods, arose a place of unpeiriled natural beauty? It was Manali here the life prospered
again.

The unspoilt grandeur of Manali's natural beauty has to be relished for a soothing and stimulating delight to your drowsy
eyes. Beholding views of snow clad mountains, lonely walks through the narrow alleys in dense forests, emerald valleys,
exotic flowers, gurgling streams snarling their way through meadows, whole things weaves a sheer magic. Its wanderlust
naturals attracts creative movie directors and aesthetics that horde here in millions each year.

Manali can be hailed for a perfect family tour. It has a unique travelling palate that suits every tastebud, with its intrepid
of hikes and climbs finely intwined with sun bathing , fishing and plain lonely walkways through its natural beauty. You can
feel the chilling winds whistling across the vergant expanse of many apple orchards and fruit gardens nearby. Manali is also a
vital transcending point for interesting trek routes to places like Rohtang Pass, Lahaul and Spiti.

Hassle free Yaks are the lucrative travelling machines in Manali.

Manali seems to be a natural beauty embellished with sophistication of modern world in contrast to Kullu's laid back
naturals. You can avail a rarecomfort of venturing without a wallet, just use your plastic money at nearest ATM's, all the
leading stores, hotels and luxury resorts accepts VISA cards. Everything seems to be so spontaneous and hassle free here,
there's no hiccups or hurdles getting anywhere around the town. Manali is well networked to rest of region through its perennial
flow of taxis, buses, and flights.Manali is in the cusp of tourism industry here, offering an exquisite claque of hotels
and stays which provides a blend of luxury and affordability.At high end, you can embrace the luxuries of five star hotels, for
shallow pockets there's economical rooms available at a price just Rs 700 a night. If you're looking for an unique and
adventurous night obsessed with nature,a night talking to stars with piercing scents of deodar trees. There's forest cottages at
your service with prices staggering low just Rs1500 a night.

Adventures
After exploring the local naturals you must be craving for something extraordinary, surprising or may be adventurous. Yes,
Manali has in it plenty of adventurous sports for you to rejoice. The toughest trekking trails along the rocky terrains
of Rohtang valley will surely let you relive the dormant athlete in you. Imagine flying like bird sprawling your wings over the
world's eyes, this is not a dream, no more, enliven this virtual reality with Paragliding excursions on the breathtaking valley
of Solang. Don't miss the rare chance of gyrating the turbulent waters of river beas on a spunky kyak. For fishing enthusiasts,
Katrain, Raison, Kasol, Larji, and Nagar are some of the ideal places for trout.

Manali's quaint vicinity

You can search for solitude in its tranquil forest resorts that offers complete seclusion from outer World . Writer's find a
mystic solace in its mesmerizing deodar forests that ignites oodles of literary wonders.The towns nearby embraces an unspoilt
elegance in their laid back cultures, these regions looms on a mystery that's still been unfoiled to modern world's. Set
yourself on a lonely exploration path through an alley that follow up to a quaint village, just feel the people's warmth and
gesture here. They really treat their guests alike gods.

Kullu Kullu seems to be a nature's gift exclusively unpacked for you, with it's lush green expanse of valleys overlooking mighty
snowy-clad peaks, natural flora and fauna, all seems to be caught in a mystic unspoiled elegance.

Kullu is well known for its temples, rich crafts, finely embossed shawls and cultural festivals that enliven in Cannabis
in Wild, them the intense fervour of localites for their respected deities and age old customs and traditions. Its also
called " Fruit Basket of North India" for its abundant apple and plum production along with bountiful of vegetable gardens. But
one thing that adds an Illicit profanity to this pristine starlet is "Cannabis" , Kullu charas. It's easy and it's accessible here, thus eluding a lot of foreigners that come here in search for narcotic-highs. They love lurking the narrow alleys through wild cannabis. A confluence of regions enthralling beauty with celestial highs of "Kullu Charas". It's a bumper bonanza of for tourists and they don't seem to miss the
brigade.

Places to visit

Sultanpur Palace

This palace is a hot throb for aesthetics looking to plunge into the vibrant colours of kullu style miniature paintings. This
style showcases the simple laid back cultures and untouched natural beauty of the region.

Parvati Valley Manikaran Hot spring baths

After your gruelling battles with the naturals of Kullu Manali, it's time to satiate your mind body and soul with rejuvenating
hot springs in Manikaran. Manikaran is believed to be the hottest in the world. It's amazing how local people cook their
food by the spring and there are separate baths for men and women.

Other places of sheer scenic beauty

The road to Kullu Manali runs along the turbulent waters of river beas. Its flanked by lofty mountains and spreading
forests. On this road is Katrain, famous for its fruit orchards and its trout hatchery. Near Katrain, across the river, is a
small town Naggar, which came into being by the famous Russianpainter, Nicholas Roerich, whose artworks can be seen there.
Jagatsukh, the biggest village of the district on the Naggar-Manali road, is popular for its annual Chacholi Yatra.

Best time to visit here

The best to time be here is from April-October when summer are at their crest and winters to follow. The whole business
activities, hotels, rest houses, shops come to a stand still with winter seasons. The vibrant town go into a state of
hibernation after a dense snowfall each year. But with the onset of April month the whole town seems to be reingnited in same old
legendery charms, and natural wonders.

How to Get There

 

 Kullu Manali is well connected with perennial network of buses, trains and flights that run here throughout year, thus making these sleepy towns alive in summers, when the roads are busy and markets at smiles with flourishing tourism industry. There are daily flights with Jagson Airways from Delhi to the Kulu Valley's Bhuntar airport which is 10 km. from Kullu town where Taxis/Buses are available. The closest narrow ghauge railhead is at Jogindernagar, 95 Km from Kullu. By road, the distance via Mandi is 530 Km and from Shimla this is 240 Km. From Delhi and Shimla, luxury buses ply to Kullu.

Conducted tours

Rafting trips on the Beas river, treks mountain biking tours, kayaking tours, etc are conducted by Gy Robins & Gerry Meffat,who operate Equator expeditions.

During the High Season, bus tours to Rohtang Pass, Manikaram and Naggar castle are conducted.

Image Makeovers - What's All the Fuss?

 

It seems lately that there is a lot of interest in image makeovers. We see it on television from extreme makeovers to home makeovers. What is an Image Makeover? Why do people want makeovers? What will they do for you?

Image Makeovers can be extreme and include plastic surgery, hair implants, liposuction and dental work. For the lucky few who are chosen, it will make a great difference in their lives. Image makeovers help raise self-esteem and give those who have them an edge in the corporate and business world that they would have not previously had. It may seem unjust but there is a widely held belief that how you look reflects who you are - your social status, intelligence etc. Whether we like it or not we are judged within the first fifteen seconds of meeting someone. This alone would be enough reason to want a makeover.

The good news is you have control over the image you project. For those who don't need or want extreme work done but would like a more polished image and want to highlight their assets, there are simple steps that can be take that will create a more satisfying look.

The elements to consider when creating a professional look are: hair, makeup, style, body type and wardrobe building, communication skills and attitude.

Hair: Keep your hairstyle up-to-date. Hair has a huge impact on your overall look and an out-dated style will make you appear out-dated as well. If you are working in the corporate world this could destroy any chance of advancement. If your style is from the last decade it may communicate that your ideas and practices are too. If you need an updated look find a hairstylist who knows the latest hair fashions.

Makeup: If you don't wear makeup now and you are otherwise well –groomed you will not look completed finished. If you are not sure how to use makeup seek out a professional- it will be well worth the time and effort.

Style: When we dress to suit our personal style or fashion personality we feel more comfortable. Sometimes women don't want to "dress up" because they feel like they are being someone else. When you dress to fit your personal style you can be "dressed up and feel like the clothing belongs on you.

Body Type: We are not all born with the same shape, so, the style we wear will impact the way we look. Have you ever seen an outfit on one of your friends that looked spectacular but when someone else wore that same outfit it lost its pizzazz? That has to do with the body shape of the two people. Both women could be the same height and weight but have a totally different shape. This has a huge impact on how the outfit looks.

Building a Wardrobe: Have you brought home clothes that you really liked and when you looked in your closet you realized that that you didn't have a thing to go with it? What do you do? Go back to the store and buy something to match. That's not always a bad thing if you have lots of money to spend. If however, you don't, you will want to make wise purchases. Making wise purchases means knowing how to build a wardrobe.

Communication Skills: Good communication skills involve more than what you say. We communicate using body language, tone of voice and listening skills. Good communication skills will increase your income, improve your company's profits, make you more promotable and increase your job satisfaction. If you feel your communication skills are lacking enroll in a communication skills.

Attitude: A person can look as good as possible but will fail miserably if he/she has a poor attitude. Research has shown that the number one reason people lose their jobs is because of their inability to get along with others, in short - a poor attitude. A great attitude is the key element that brings all the others together – it is like the icing on the cake.

Received a job counter-offer? Don't take it - Article from Rediff.com

A few years ago, I recruited an executive to run a mid-level company. The night before he was supposed to start his new job, the executive called to say he was staying put. The board of directors at his current company--a major multinational retailer--had offered to name him CEO in one year's time.

 

I was aghast, but my former candidate could hardly envision a better scenario. He had leveraged an offer to run a mid-sized company and used it to land the coveted top spot at a retailing giant. No greater career coup exists, right?

 

Wrong.

 

After three tumultuous years as CEO, my former candidate was fired. This executive was not yet ready to run such a large organisation. Had he accepted the job at the smaller company, he could have gained the necessary experience to successfully run a major multinational in due time.

 

Instead, he lured his company into a bidding war and forced the board to make a rash decision about retention in the name of corporate competition. As a result, his career ultimately suffered a mortal blow, not to mention the damage he caused shareholders, who watched their stock drop as a result of his inexperience.

 

Unable to land another CEO position, he took an early retirement.

 

In my 25 years of experience, I have learned that accepting a counter-offer is usually career suicide. Watching your boss scramble to keep you may be a heady experience, but in exchange for that sweet moment, you'll have squandered your honour, a sacrifice that will haunt you for many years. Even more troubling, you may never know exactly when or to what extent your reputation has been sullied.

 

There's a good chance hiring executives might blacklist you from other employment opportunities. Aside from refusing to ever hire you again, executives have long memories and will bad mouth you any chance they get.

 

I remember sitting on a plane with a group of retail executives when someone mentioned, by name, a seasoned retailer. The group listened intently as one of the executives launched into an unflattering tale of how the employee had used the executive's perfectly good job offer as a bargaining chip for a fat buyback. By being dishonest with one company, the employee harmed his reputation with all of the executives on that flight.

 

Whenever I deliver a short list for a top job to one of my clients, I feel obligated to mention which potential candidates have accepted buyback offers in the past. Often my client will choose not to proceed with one of these people. Remember: Recruiters never forget a buyback, and computer files help us immensely.

 

Bosses don't forget either. Initially, the company that retained you delights in winning you back from the competition. But after perhaps six months, management will begin resenting you for essentially extorting money or power from the firm.

 

A bitter taste of disloyalty lingers. Now you're tacitly expected to perform like a new hire, proving yourself all over again to justify your new salary or position. You had better be up to the task.

 

Anytime you use a new job offer as a bargaining chip with your boss, there's always a risk you'll lose the bet. Next thing you know, you're sitting in a strange office, having left a trail of ill will in your wake.

 

To be fair, counter-offers can provide an opportunity for employees to voice issues or concerns about their jobs. When you are recruited for another job, ask yourself: What are the pros and cons of my current position? If the negatives outweigh the positives, you simply must leave. However, you may decide you genuinely like your position, aside from one or two problems, in which case it's time to have an open, honest conversation with your boss--before you accept the offer.

 

Down the road, such a conversation will be far more valuable if you choose not to force your boss into a buyback offer. You will retain your reputation for honesty, and, in my experience, this will serves you far better than a single raise or promotion ever could.

 

Hal Reiter is chairman and CEO of Herbert Mines Associates, a senior-level executive search firm specializing in the retail, fashion, beauty and consumer products industries.

Positive approach...

Father: I want you to marry a girl of my choice.

Son: "I will choose my own bride!"

Father: "But the girl is Bill Gates' daughter."

Son: "Well, in that case...OK"

Next Day

Father approaches Bill Gates.

Father: "I have a husband for your daughter."

Bill Gates: "But my daughter is too young to marry!"

Father: "But this young man is a vice-president of the World Bank."

Bill Gates: "Ah, in that case... OK"

Finally

Father goes to see the president of the World Bank.

Father: "I have a young man to be recommended as a vice-president. "

President: "But I already have more vice- presidents than I need!"

Father: "But this young man is Bill Gates's son-in-law."

President: "Ah, in that case... OK"

Moral: Even if you have nothing, you can get anything. But your attitude & approach should be positive.

Interview puzzle

 
Check this cool puzzle.....
 
 
 
A man wanted to enter an exclusive club but did not know the password that was required. He waited by the door and listened.
 
 
 
A club member knocked on the door and the doorman said, "twelve." The member replied, "six" and was let in.
 
 
 
A second member came to the door and the doorman said, "six." The member replied, "three" and was let in.
 
 
 
The man thought he had heard enough and walked up to the door. The doorman said,"ten" and the man replied, "five."
 
But he was not let in.  What should have he said?
 
 
 
Comon guys put on your thinking caps & get the solution......
 
 
 
 
 
.....
 
 
 
 
 
.....
 
 
 
 
 
......... Dont keep scrolling....... think about the answer :)
 
 
 
 
.......
 
 
 
........
 
........
 
 
........
 
 
........
 
 
 
Ans: - 3
 
........
 
 
........
 
 
 
 
 
The man had to reply the number of characters in the word the Doorman was asking.
 
He should have replied "Three" instead of "Five".
 
 
 
 read the question again....

Coffee or a Cup.......what's ur choice ?? Ultimate one...............

A View About Life

 

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.

 

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.

 

Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

 

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other's cups.

 

Now if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change. Some times, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."

 

Don't let the cups drive you... Enjoy the coffee instead !!!
 

3 golden rules for effective communication

Have you been wondering how to put together an impressively-phrased Powerpoint presentation?

Have you been wondering how to compose an e-mail that captures your strategies and goals effectively?

It is time you did something about it.

As a young professional in today's global business world, it is imperative that you are competent in both oral as well as written communication.

Important forms of oral communication at the workplace include:

• Building interpersonal relationships.
• Giving presentations and debating viewpoints effectively.

You need to master oral skills for both in-person and over-the-phone interactions.

Similarly, important written communication includes:

• Writing professional e-mails (sans SMS slang).
• Putting together concise reports.
• Creating visually powerful Powerpoint presentations.

And the key to acing oral and written communication is to spruce up your communication skills. And it is a lot easier than you think.

Here are some easy tips to do it on your own:

1. Improve pronunciation and diction

There are a few tricks to making a vernacular accent more globally understandable.

~ Try making sure that 'air' comes out of your mouth when saying the letters, 'T, P, K' and the sound 'Ch'.

~ Focus on elongating your vowel sounds. This will also automatically slow down your rate of speech.

~ Sing English songs out loud!

~ Watch news shows on channels like CNN and BBC.

~ The web site www.m-w.com is great for pronunciation help.

~ I would also suggest buying books on pronunciation and language that come with audio cassettes.

A good book that I found really useful was Better English Pronunciation by J D O'Connor. It is part of the Cambridge series, and some of those books come with cassettes.

2. Spruce up your writing skills

~ Believe it or not, you have to Read More!

~ Well-written magazines, like The Economist and India Today, are great to read not only to improve language skills but also to learn more about the world.

~ In terms of books, read what interests you. The basic goal is to read as much as you can.

There are a plethora of good authors who are popular today. Some good writers whose language is easy to follow include Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, Paulo Coelho, J D Salinger, Albert Camus and Roald Dahl.

~ People tend to forget basic grammar when writing e-mails. An e-mail is nothing more than a letter which is sent electronically.

Make sure salutations and content are professional. Use special phrases when attaching documents. For example, "Please find attached with this e-mail a report on..." This helps you sound professional.

3. Five exercises to practise every day!

i. Pretend you are a newscaster and read out the newspaper to your mirror.

ii. Do not read local newspapers. Focus on national newspapers.

iii. While reading a book, underline all the words you do not know. Look them up in the dictionary.

iv. Make a list of these words, and make sure you use at least five of them in a conversation during the day.

v. Most important, make an effort to speak in EnglisWebsite