Sidco Sathya writes

2014-12-04T18:08:00.000+05:30

http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/why-do-we-kiss-under-the-mistletoe

25 year anniversary of Berlin Wall

2014-11-04T20:39:00.002+05:30

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/ng-interactive/2014/nov/03/the-berlin-wall-in-the-cold-war-and-now-interactive

New bikes

2014-10-30T22:53:00.002+05:30

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/biking-and-motoring-top-four-150cc-bikes-in-india/20141029.htm

Lourdes

2014-10-29T23:19:00.001+05:30

2014-10-21T22:01:00.001+05:30

Revised load-shedding schedule for Chennai from January 1, 2014 - The Hindu

2013-12-31T19:26:00.001+05:30

Revised load-shedding schedule for Chennai from January 1, 2014 - The Hindu

kadal music review and upcoming weekend of Good friday and Easter

2013-03-27T20:08:00.002+05:30

EXCELLENT SONGS by ar rahaman in Kadal

•Singers: Haricharan

•Composer: A.R.Rahman

•Lyrics: Madhan Karky

Nee Illaiyael, Naan En Seivaen?

Nee Illaiyael, Naan En Seivaen?

Anbin Vaasale.. Anbin Vaasale..

Emai Naalum Aalum Uruvai Meendum Kandoam

Vaazhum Kaalam Muzhuthum Unathey Enboam

Naalangal Oodae Unathanbin Peruvellam

Meendum Nee Uyirthu Ezhugiraai

Neeyae Emathannamaaga Neeyae Emathennamaaga

Unarnthoam Mey Maranthoam

Nee Nirainthaay Manam Virindhoam Aasai Aesuvae

Meendum Unai Tharisithoam

Un Paatham Sparisithoam

Unnil Emmai Karaikkiroam

Ho Vaan Man Neer Thee..

Ellaam Nee Thaanae..

Seetram Aatrum Kaatrum Nee Thaanae..

Neeyae Emathannamaaga Neeyae Emathennamaaga

Unarnthoam Mey Maranthoam

Nee Nirainthaay Manam Virindhoam Aasai Aesuvae

Meendum Unai Tharisithoam

Un Paatham Šparisithøam

Unnil Èmmai Karaikkirøam

Kanneerai Thaekkum..

Èn Ullathaakkil..

Un Paerai Chønnaal.. Pøø Pøøthidaathø?

Èmai Naalum Aalum Uruvai Meendum Kandøam

Vaazhum Kaalam Muzhuthum Unathey Ènbøam

Naalangal Oødae Unathanbin Peruvellam

Meendum Nee Uyirthu Èzhugiraai

Pøøvin Maelae..

Vannam Nee Thaanae..

Vaerin Keezhae, Jeevan Neethaanae..

Neeyae Èmathannamaaga Neeyae Èmathennamaaga

Unarnthøam Mey Maranthøam

Nee Nirainthaay Manam Virindhøam Aasai Aesuvae

Meendum Unai Tharisithøam

Un Paatham Šparisithøam

Unnil Èmmai Karaikkirøam

Anbin Vaasale.. Anbin Vaasale..

Anbin Vaasale.. Anbin Vaasale..

Èmai Naalum Aalum Uruvai Meendum Kandøam

Vaazhum Kaalam Muzhuthum Unathey Ènbøam

Naalangal Oødae Unathanbin Peruvellam

Meendum Nee Uyirthu Èzhugiraai

Neeyae Èmathannamaaga Neeyae Èmathennamaaga

Unarnthøam Mey Maranthøam

Nee Nirainthaay Manam Virindhøam Aasai Aesuvae

Meendum Unai Tharisithøam

Un Paatham Šparisithøam

Unnil Èmmai Karaikkirøam

Èmai Naalum Aalum Uruvai Meendum Kandøam

Vaazhum Kaalam Muzhuthum Unathey Ènbøam

Naalangal Oødae Unathanbin Peruvellam

Meendum Nee Uyirthu Èzhugiraai

Neeyae Èmathannamaaga Neeyae Èmathennamaaga

Unarnthøam Mey Maranthøam

Nee Nirainthaay Manam Virindhøam Aasai Aesuvae

Meendum Unai Tharisithøam

Un Paatham Šparisithøam

Unnil Èmmai Karaikkirøam

2012-12-21T20:11:00.000+05:30

excellent photo

Climber and photographer David Breashears has created an amazing mosaic of images of the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest, that makes you feel as if you were physically present at the Mount Everest Base Camp. The image measures an incredible 2 gigapixel in size, that is 2 billion pixels and has been created from 477 photographers stitched together. Explore the image using your mouse or the on-screen controls.

My Avengers Team from Villivakkam

2012-07-20T15:14:00.003+05:30

Official Google India Blog: g|days Are Coming to India

2012-05-31T18:23:00.001+05:30

Official Google India Blog: g|days Are Coming to India: After its roaring success in South America, Middle East and Africa, we’re delighted to bring Google g|days to India. The g|day events ar...

2012-05-05T10:41:00.004+05:30

4 Reasons Why You Need To Take Cold Showers!

1- Better Circulation

Warm water makes the blood rush to your skin, and cool water makes the blood rush to your organs. This switching between hot and cold triggers better circulation in your blood by forcing the blood to move. The ideal practice would be to switch numerous times between hot and cold water, but merely ending the shower with cold water does help with circulation. Why should you worry about having good circulation? Well, it prevents such problems as hypertension, hardening of the arteries, and the appearance of varicose veins. Good circulation improves the performance of your system and thus help looking and feeling better.

2- Better looking skin

When you shower with warm water, it opens up your pores. Then you wash and this cleans up your pores. That’s all good. When you end, it would be best to close your pores and cold water does just that. It’s good to close your pores after you are all cleaned up because it will prevent the pores from being easily clogged by dirt and oil, which causes skin imperfections such as acne for example. Another benefit is that cold water makes your blood vessels constrict which reduces swelling and the appearance of dark circles under your eyes (where skin is at its thinnest). This provides you with a young, healthy glow.

3- Healthier hair

Cold water makes your hair look healthier and shinier. As a matter of fact, cool air makes your hair shinier too (that’s why there is a cool air button on your hair dryer). What the cold water does is that it closes the cuticle which makes the hair stronger and prevents dirt from easily accumulating within your scalp. Basically, the same principle with how it closes the pores of your skin as mentioned above. Stronger hair, of course, prevents hair from being easily pulled out when you are combing, and it helps in slowing down overall hair loss.

4- Mental benefits

There are plenty of mental benefits to ending your shower with cold water. The ancient samurai warriors used to pour buckets of cold river water on their heads every morning in a Shinto practice called Misogi. This was a purification ritual on a spiritual level. They believe that it cleansed their spirit and helped start a new day & new adventure fresh. Cold water obviously helps waking you up, which is what you want in the morning. Also, it energizes you and invigorates your entire being with the essence of life. Give it a try, you will definitely feel more alive! It can also lift you up if you are feeling a little down or unmotivated.

Climate Change

2011-10-27T19:40:00.000+05:30

Global climate change has already had observable effects on the environment. Glaciers have shrunk, ice on rivers and lakes is breaking up earlier, plant and animal ranges have shifted and trees are flowering sooner.

Effects that scientists had predicted in the past would result from global climate change are now occuring: loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves.

Scientists have high confidence that global temperatures will continue to rise for decades to come, largely due to greenhouse gasses produced by human activities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which includes more than 1,300 scientists from the United States and other countries, forecasts a temperature rise of 2.5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century.

According to the IPCC, the extent of climate change effects on individual regions will vary over time and with the ability of different societal and environmental systems to mitigate or adapt to change.

The IPCC predicts that increases in global mean temperature of less than 1.8 to 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to 3 degrees Celsius) above 1990 levels will produce beneficial impacts in some regions and harmful ones in others. Net annual costs will increase over time as global temperatures increase.

"Taken as a whole," the IPCC states, "the range of published evidence indicates that the net damage costs of climate change are likely to be significant and to increase over time." 1

Below are some of the regional impacts of global change forecast by the IPCC:

North America: Decreasing snowpack in the western mountains; 5-20 percent increase in yields of rain-fed agriculture in some regions; increased frequency, intensity and duration of heat waves in cities that currently experience them.2

Latin America: Gradual replacement of tropical forest by savannah in eastern Amazonia; risk of significant biodiversity loss through species extinction in many tropical areas; significant changes in water availability for human consumption, agriculture and energy generation.3

Europe: Increased risk of inland flash floods; more frequent coastal flooding and increased erosion from storms and sea level rise; glacial retreat in mountainous areas; reduced snow cover and winter tourism; extensive species losses; reductions of crop productivity in southern Europe.4

Africa: By 2020, between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to increased water stress; yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50 percent in some regions by 2020; agricultural production, including access to food, may be severely compromised.5

Asia: Freshwater availability projected to decrease in Central, South, East and Southeast Asia by the 2050s; coastal areas will be at risk due to increased flooding; death rate from disease associated with floods and droughts expected to rise in some regions.

"Taken as a whole, the range of published evidence indicates that the net damage costs of climate change are likely to be significant and to increase over time."

- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Life Philosphy

2011-01-23T01:38:00.001+05:30

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer- contractor of
his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life
with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he
needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build
just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it
was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy
workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a
dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house.
He handed the front-door key to the carpenter.

This is your house, he said, my gift to you.

The carpenter was shocked! What a shame!

If he had only known he was building his own,
he would have done it all so differently.

We do the most of the things having such thoughts in our mind. But we only
realize when it comes back to us.
So it is with us. We build our lives, a day at a time, often putting less than
our best into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the
house that we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently.
But we cannot go back.

You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board,
or erect a wall. Life is a do-it-yourself project, someone has said.
Your attitudes and the choices you make today, build the house you
live in tomorrow. Build wisely!

What we do is what we get and what we have is what we did

Five Lessons About How To Treat People

2010-12-18T23:29:00.001+05:30

Five Lessons About How To Treat People
-- Author Unknown

1. First Important Lesson - "Know The Cleaning Lady"

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. Second Important Lesson - "Pickup In The Rain"
One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car.

A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home.

A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."

Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3. Third Important Lesson - "Remember Those Who Serve"

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "50¢," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "35¢!" she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4. Fourth Important Lesson - "The Obstacles In Our Path"

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand - "Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition."

5. Fifth Important Lesson - "Giving When It Counts"

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

The top 10 health benefits of lemon water

2010-11-15T13:48:00.000+05:30

Many people love the tarty flavour of lemon juice in their dishes. But have you ever wondered that you can put this lemon juice to many more good uses than this?

There are enormous benefits to be drawn from the consumption of lemon juice and water in your everyday life. You simply need to arm yourself with the relevant knowledge and you will soon start valuing this amalgamation more than ever.

Lemon is an inexpensive, easily-available citrus fruit, popular for its culinary and medicinal uses. It is used to prepare a variety of food recipes such as lemon cakes, lemon chicken and beverages like lemonade and lemon-flavoured drinks. It is also used for garnishing.

Lemon juice consists of about 5 percent citric acid that gives a tarty taste to lemon. It is a rich source of Vitamin C. It also contains vitamins like Vitamin B, riboflavin and minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium as well as proteins and carbohydrates.

Lemon is generally consumed in the form of lemon juice or lemon water. Lemon water is a healthy drink, especially when taken in the morning. Daily consumption of lemon water provides a number of health benefits:

1. It's good for the stomach

Lemon can help relieve many digestive problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently. Lemon acts as a blood purifier and as a cleansing agent. The intake of lemon juice can cure constipation. It is even known to help relieve hiccups when consumed as a juice. Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. It is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.

2. Excellent for skin-care

Lemon, being a natural antiseptic medicine, can participate to cure problems related to the skin. Lemon is a Vitamin C-rich citrus fruit that enhances your beauty by rejuvenating skin from within and thus bringing a glow to your face. Daily consumption of lemon water can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Lemon water, if applied to areas of burns can fade the scars. As lemon is a cooling agent, it reduces the burning sensation on the skin.

3. Aids in dental care

Lemon water is used in dental care also. If fresh lemon juice is applied on areas of toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. Massaging lemon juice into the gums can stop gum bleeding. It gives relief from bad smell and other problems related to the gums.

4. Cures throat infections

Lemon is an excellent fruit that aids in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property. For sore throat, dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water and gargle frequently.

5. Good for weight-loss

One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves the way towards losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight-loss remedy. If a person takes lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey, it can reduce the body weight as well.

6. Controls high blood pressure

Lemon water works wonders for people having heart problems, owing to its high potassium content. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea as well as provides relaxation to the mind and body. It also reduces mental stress and depression.

7. Assists in curing respiratory disorders

Lemon water assists in curing respiratory problems, along with breathing problems and revives a person suffering from asthma.

8. Good for treating rheumatism

Lemon is also a diuretic and hence lemon water can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps to flush bacteria and toxins out of the body.

9. Reduces fever

Lemon water can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration.

10. Acts as a blood purifier

Diseases like cholera or malaria can be treated with lemon water as it is a blood purifier.

How much lemon water should I drink?

In case you are in good health and weigh 70 kgs or less, it is advisable for you to have the juice of half a lemon squeezed into one glass of water, twice daily. However, if you weigh more than 70 kgs, the juice of one whole lemon in a glass of water is preferable. For maximum benefit, this mixture should be taken twice a day, although you may dilute more lemon juice according to your taste if you wish.

Do not remain oblivious to gifts of nature such as this -- always try to make the most of them. Make it a part of your daily routine to drink a glass of warm lemon water in the morning, so that the gateway to its many benefits opens up to you.

what is love

2010-11-05T01:10:00.000+05:30

funny pics

2010-08-21T02:08:00.000+05:30

How to Avoid Procrastination in Academic Matters

2010-04-02T20:34:00.002+05:30

#

Look at the deadline of any new assignment you get and write it on your calendar. For assignments with no deadline - a frequent phenomenon in graduate school - impose a deadline yourself.
#
Step 2

Imagine how the world will look on that date, to make it real to you: What will the weather be like? What else will have changed? Don't allow those changes to pass without finishing the assignment.
#
Step 3

Calculate roughly how many hours the assignment will take.
#
Step 4

Decide, before bedding down each night, how much time you're going to spend the next day on the assignment.
#
Step 5

Remind yourself, upon waking up, of this amount of time.
#
Step 6

Tell yourself that you won't allow yourself any leisure activities that day until you've put in the promised amount of time.
#
Step 7

Reward yourself, when done for the day, in whatever way you see fit. This reward is key - having a positive incentive can make all the difference.
#
Step 8

Don't be afraid to call your student services office. There are well-trained people out there who can help you.

Tips & Warnings

    *
      For particularly long assignments, don't think too much about how much work it will actually take to finish. Instead, take small steps and have faith that they'll add up to something big. After all, as they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
    *
      Every person has his or her own style. Tweak this method in whatever way fits you best. For instance, if this process doesn't feel quite arm-twisting enough, try marking off each day on the calendar when you get up that day.
    *
      Remember that you're not alone; lots of people are guilty of procrastinating.
    *
      Don't panic if you slip up the first day or two; it's still early. Take some deep breaths and re-commit yourself to doing the next day's work.

FAQs: Buying mutual funds online: Rediff Getahead

2009-12-28T16:26:00.000+05:30

FAQs: Buying mutual funds online: Rediff Getahead

Mutual fund investors seem to be having a good time in recent days. First, the market regulator securities and exchange board of India, Sebi, abolished entry loads while buying mutual funds. And now investors will be able to buy and sell mutual funds online.

It is early days yet and a lot of investors are confused as to how they can go about buying and selling MFs online. Here are some answers to the frequently asked questions on the matter:

Is it possible to buy mutual funds online?

It was always possible. Earlier you had to go to each fund house to buy that particular fund, now you can go to a share broker and buy it.

Is it the only way to buy mutual funds online?

No. There are various ways. There are some exclusive online services, or you can buy from a fund house directly. Cams, Amfi, Karvy, and some banks are all trying to set up their own payment gateways for you to buy mutual funds online. Nothing launched as yet.

How can I buy from a share broker?

You need to have a brokerage account, a demat account, and of course a bank account. Hopefully you will not have to do a KYC (know your client) because it is assumed that it has already been done by the demat service provider. If you do not have a brokerage account and a demat account, you will have to open one.

Which schemes can I buy under the new scheme?

You are allowed to buy schemes that are listed. All funds may not list all schemes for this platform. However all equity schemes, a few balanced schemes and surely all liquid schemes will be listed.

No. You may find it easier to deal with a bank (with zero charges) or a friendly financial advisor who can do it more efficiently.

For whom is this option worth taking?

For those who are living in remote places without banking facilities, IFA reach, AMC offices and who get the NAV (net asset value) with a lag. Typically if you are in an upcountry location and run the risk of an agent whom you do not like (or trust) too much, this is a good option.

Is the process simple?

It depends on you. If you are comfortable going to the Internet, computers, online banking then this is a good option. If you are a 'hard copy' kind of a person you still have the choice of going to your IFA.

Will my NAV vary during the day?
No. This is not a trading platform, just a data aggregator platform. All the orders are consolidated and sent to the fund house. The cut off of 3 pm. remains. So if your order gets executed after 3 pm, you will get only the next day's NAV. Any order placed before the cut-off time of 3 pm will have same NAV that is declared later in the day. There will be no fluctuation during the day.

As the trades are guaranteed you should be able to get the units the next working day. However to be on the safe side you should expect T+2 (the day on which you buy plus two working days) as the settlement time and seeing the credit in your account.

Whom do I pay?

Normally when you buy units of a mutual fund you make the cheque in the name of the fund scheme. However here you will give the cheque favouring the broker who will aggregate the money collected from various investors and settle with the fund house. You will be allotted units only after the broker's cheque is realised. The settlement is likely to happen through the clearing system. You have no risk of units not being allotted -- the trades are guaranteed.

If I have demat account with CDSL (Central Depository Services Ltd.) can I buy and sell on the NSE?

No. To be able to deal with the NSE you need to have a demat account with NSDL (National Securities Depository Ltd.), a brokerage account with a NSE member, as a pre-requisite for dealing with the NSE. However the BSE has also launched its platform so you can deal with a BSE member for your transactions.

Is it cheaper to deal with a broker or an agent?

It depends on your agent!

Let us look at what it will cost you to trade through a broker. It will cost you brokerage (at least 50 basis points + NSE charges (currently nil) + dematting charges (for old units) and some transaction charge by the DP (depository participant) depending on the scheme that you operate. Surely you will pay demat charges on a continuous basis while holding the units.

When you sell you will pay a fee to the demat service provider. So it should be cheaper to deal through an agent. However the risk of the agent running away with the cheque or using the cheque with somebody else's application are all eliminated

Mungaru Male - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

2009-12-24T18:19:00.000+05:30

Mungaru Male - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Live commentary of the Indian stock markets, stock quotes and business news

2009-12-22T12:12:00.000+05:30

Live commentary of the Indian stock markets, stock quotes and business news

A Medical A to Z

2009-10-31T19:59:00.001+05:30

A's for arthritis;
B's the bad back,
C's the chest pains,
perhaps car-d-iac?

D is for dental decay and decline,
E is for eyesight, can't read that top line!
F is for fissures and fluid retention,
G is for gas which I'd rather not mention.

H is high blood pressure--I'd rather it low;
I is for incisions with scars you can show.
J is for joints, out of socket, won't mend,
K is for knees that crack when they bend.

L is for libido, what happened to sex?
M is for memory, I forget what comes next.
N is neuralgia, in nerves way down low;
O is for osteo, the bones that don't grow!

P is for prescriptions, I have quite a few,
just give me a pill and I'll be good as new!
Q is for queasy, is it fatal or flu?
R is for reflux, one meal turns to two.

S is for sleepless nights, counting my fears,
T is for Tinnitus; there's bells in my ears!
U is for urinary; big troubles with flow;
V is for vertigo, that's "dizzy," you know.

W is for worry, NOW what's going 'round?
X is for X ray, and what might be found.
Y is another year I'm left here behind,
Z is for zest that I still have-- in my mind.

// Copyright © wacky wits.com //

How Those Big Companies Got Their Names

2009-07-21T12:52:00.002+05:30

Adobe - Came from name of the river Adobe Creek that ran behind the house of founder John Warnock.

Apache - It got its name because its founders got started by applying patches to code written for NCSA’s httpd daemon. The result was ‘A PAtCHy’ server -“ thus, the name Apache.

Apple Computers - Steve Jobs was three months late in filing a name for the business because he didn’t get any better name for his new company. So one day he told to the staff: œIf I’ll not get better name by 5 o’clock today, our company’s name will be anything he likes¦ So at 5 o’clcok nobody come up with better name, and he was eating Apple that time¦ so he keep the name of the company ‘Apple Computers’.

CISCO - Its not an acronym but the short for San Francisco.

Google - The name started as a jokey boast about the amount of information the search-engine would be able to search. It was originally named ‘Googol’, a word for the number represented by 1 followed by 100 zeros. After founders “ Stanford grad students Sergey Brin and Larry Page resented their project to an angel investor, they received a cheque made out to ‘Google’

Hotmail - Founder Jack Smith got the idea of accessing e-mail via the web from a computer anywhere in the world. When Sabeer Bhatia came up with the business plan for the mail service, he tried all kinds of names ending in ‘mail’ and finally settled for hotmail as it included the letters œhtml - the programming language used to write web pages. It was initially referred to as HoTMaiL with selective upper casing.

Hewlett-Packard (HP) - Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett, and the winner was NOT Bill¦the winner was Dave.

Intel- Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore wanted to name their new company ‘Moore Noyce’ but that was already trademarked by a hotel chain, so they had to settle for an acronym of INTegrated ELectronics = INTEL

Lotus (Notes) - Mitch Kapor got the name for his company from ‘The Lotus Position’ or ‘Padmasana’. Kapor used to be a teacher of Transcendental Meditation of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Microsoft - Coined by Bill Gates to represent the company that was devoted to MICROcomputer SOFTware. Originally christened Micro-Soft, the ‘-’ was removed later on.

Motorola - Founder Paul Galvin came up with this name when his company started manufacturing radios for cars. The popular radio company at the time was called Victrola.

ORACLE - Larry Ellison and Bob Oats were working on a consulting project for the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency). The code name for the project was called Oracle (the CIA saw this as the system to give answers to all questions or something such). Acronym for: One Real A****** Called Larry Ellison??

Red Hat - Company founder Marc Ewing was given the Cornell lacrosse team cap (with red and white stripes) while at college by his grandfather. He lost it and had to search for it desperately. The manual of the beta version of Red Hat Linux had an appeal to readers to return his Red Hat if found by anyone!

SAP - œSystems, Applications, Products in Data Processing, formed by 4 ex-IBM employees who used to work in the ‘Systems/Applications/Projects’ group of IBM.

Sony - From the Latin word ‘sonus’ meaning sound, and ‘sonny’ a slang used by Americans to refer to a bright youngster.

SUN - Founded by 4 Stanford University buddies, SUN is the acronym for Stanford University Network.

Xerox - The inventor, Chestor Carlson, named his product trying to say dry’ (as it was dry copying, markedly different from the then prevailing wet copying). The Greek root `xer’ means dry.

Yahoo!- The word was invented by Jonathan Swift and used in his book ‘Gulliver’s Travels’. It represents a person who is repulsive in appearance and action and is barely human. Yahoo! founders Jerry Yang and David Filo selected the name because they considered themselves yahoos.

How to Prepare for a Layoff

2009-04-11T13:30:00.000+05:30

Lately, it seems like every day brings yet another headline about impending corporate job cuts. Maybe you’ve even heard rumors that your own company is planning to downsize. Could your job be at risk?

Unfortunately, in today’s world, no job is ever 100% secure. Layoffs have become standard operating procedure for many companies. They hire when business looks good and cut jobs when results fall short of estimates. And it often doesn’t matter how good you are at your job or how hard you work.

Nobody relishes the idea of becoming suddenly unemployed, but a layoff doesn’t have to be the end of the world. The key to minimizing the stress and negative fallout is to prepare now for the possibility of a pink slip.

Trust me, I speak from experience. In more than twelve years of working for large corporations, I’ve lived through countless downsizings, reorganizations, and mergers. In most cases, I survived to work another day. However, I twice found myself among those packing up their desks and turning in their employee IDs. The first time, I was caught unprepared. The second time, I was ready, willing and able to embrace my layoff for what it was — an opportunity to finally make a career change that I had been dreaming about for years.

Follow my advice and you too can make sure layoffs won’t knock you for a loop:

1. Stay in the Game – First and foremost, never stop looking for new career opportunities – even if your current job feels comfortable and secure. You never know when your dream job might open up. Keep your resume updated and make sure that the right recruiters have your phone number. You should always have a passive job search in progress. That way, you’ll always enjoy a steady stream of job leads and you’ll have a head start on landing your next position if you get laid off. This may sound like obvious advice, but few people truly take it seriously until it’s too late. Don’t allow yourself to be lulled into a false sense of security. When the layoff rumors start buzzing, goose your passive job search and get a little more active about exploring your options.
2. Demonstrate Your Value – To increase your odds of hanging onto your current position, do whatever you can to show your manager the value that you provide. This is no time to be modest. Make sure you document your contributions and ensure that your boss understands how much harder her job would be without you.
3. Don’t Take Any of It Personally – While it doesn’t hurt to demonstrate your value (see above), keep in mind that even the most valuable employees can be laid off. Layoff decisions are based on many factors. Sometimes, it’s about who was hired last. Sometimes, it’s about who makes the most money. Sometimes, there is no clear reason for who winds up on the chopping block. Don’t let rumors and speculation mess with your head. There’s only so much you can do to influence whether or not your name will show up on the layoff list. Don’t waste energy obsessing about what might happen. Channel your energy into figuring out your Plan B.
4. Build Your Emergency Fund Cut back on discretionary purchases and put as much of your paycheck into your emergency savings fund as you can. Financial planners recommend that you should have enough in your emergency fund to cover your expenses for between three and six months. Hopefully, if you do get laid off, youll also have a severance package that will help you pay the bills. However, the more you can sock away, the more peace of mind youll have if the axe falls.
5. Do Your Research Find out what kind of severance packages your company has offered in the past. Chances are that some of your colleagues have survived previous rounds of job cuts and can give you some general guidelines regarding what to expect. With a little luck, you might be pleasantly surprised at your companys generosity and realize theres no reason to panic.
6. Do Your Housekeeping Often, when layoffs are announced, employees are rushed out the door and given little time to pack up and say goodbye. This is generally to prevent unpleasant scenes. However, if you think you might be facing a quick heave ho in the near future, you’d be smart to pack up your important possessions in advance. Make copies of work samples, performance reviews, and other key documents. Make sure you transfer all of your contacts to your personal computer. Start lugging home your extra pairs of shoes and family photos.
7. Remember to Look on the Bright Side At worst, getting laid off is a temporary trial (and you will get through it, I promise). At best, your layoff may be the kick in the pants you need to find a more fulfilling job. I interviewed dozens of successful career changers for my forthcoming book and many of them spoke of being thankful for their layoffs (some of them volunteered or even begged to be let go). Their severance packages gave them the time and opportunity to pursue the careers of their dreams. If youve been unhappy in your current career path, this layoff may be your chance to explore your options.

LTTE strikes again

2009-02-21T09:54:00.001+05:30

Colombo, Feb 20 (PTI) In a daring attack, two LTTE aircrafts tonight carried out strikes in the heart of Colombo dropping bombs near the Army Headquarters ground and on a government building in the high security zone.

"Two aircrafts have entered Colombo and dropped at least two bombs near the Army Headquarters ground," eyewitnesses said.

Following the explosions on the ground, the anti-aircraft guns fired in the direction of the planes as a result the sky was lit up, they said.

There was no immediate report of any casualty or damage.

One bomb was also reportedly dropped on Revenue Department building in the high security fort area.

Rumours were also agog of some explosions in and around Colombo which could not be confirmed immediately. PTI