Wednesday, November 30, 2011


NARA'S NOTEPAD
VOLUME 7
DECEMBER 2011
NUMBER 12


NARA'S NOTEPAD IS SUPPORTED BY 
READERS LIKE YOU
MOVE 
FROM VISION 
TO ACTION

SPONSORSHIP




I thank the following two friends for sponsoring
NARA’S NOTEPAD.
T. Upendran – Sept. Oct. and Nov. 2011 issues and
Dr. G. James Martin – Dec. 2011, Jan. and Feb. 2012 issues.

NARA

MEMO FROM NARA




Are we competent enough to comment on others and their actions? It was a question bothered me since a long time. When asked some of my friends answered affirmatively. Decisions are being taken at government level, judicial level, business level, political level and many other levels. Every one of us is not master of all. Still we think we are. So we start commenting on others’ affairs. We may not have the full knowledge of a particular problem such as nuclear energy, climate change, genetically modified organisms, foreign direct investment (FDI), and corruption in high places etc. Still with little knowledge on these problems we express our viewpoints, vehemently at times. Such viewpoints invariably will have a selfish motif too.

Every viewpoint expressed by everyone has some value. One cannot disregard it outright, because viewpoints are valuable for consideration. Although all viewpoints are not acceptable to the authorities concerned, some of them will certainly provide a chance to think deep before taking a decision. Generally, decisions are taken after due consideration to social life and progress of the country. In a democratic setup, viewpoints are welcomed before taking a decision of national interest. But in a non-democratic country the decisions are taken without caring for peoples’ point of view.

One of the important aspects we have to keep in mind is that every decision taken by the authorities in an organization including the government is opposed or commented by some people. Such actions delay the implementation of the decisions. Who cares? Opposing for opposing sake or commenting for commenting sake has become habitual with many of us. Due to such attitude, ruling a country becomes very difficult for any political party or running an organization by an individual or group of individuals.

We support a decision if it benefits us. If not, we decide to express our comments and opposition through protest march, bandhs, fasting until death etc. All these actions are to compel the authorities to accept our point of view. These pressure tactics, at times, lead to violence too. Inconvenience to the public is caused by stopping the train and buses, damaging public properties and at times clashing with people who hold different viewpoints. We may be competent or incompetent to comment on others and others’ actions. But still we have the right to do so as the citizens of a nation.

TO QUOTE...




Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. – Anais Nin.

JUST TO LAUGH...


Boy: I was feeling so sleepy this morning that I tossed a coin to decide whether I should attend class or go back to bed.
Boy’s friend: So what did you finally do?
Boy: I had to toss the coin ten times before I could finally go back to bed.

Advertisement in Hospital Waiting Room:
Smoking helps you lose weight. Only one lung at a time.

When I read about the evils of drinking…I gave up reading.

ENTHUSIASM




Enthusiasm is the nature of life. We often have a tendency to put cold water on other’s enthusiasm. Reverse this tendency. Take every opportunity to praise others and support their enthusiasm. If you put down other’s enthusiasm, the same may happen to you. As you sow, so shall you reap. Recollect how much enthusiasm and joy you had when you went to the primary school. Someone without enthusiasm is like a corpse. But as you mature the enthusiasm curve declines. As enthusiasm declines, we stop communicating. – Sri Sri Ravishankar

FIND THE TIME...


   

 ·         To read
·         To smell the flowers
·         To have coffee with a friend
·         To learn a new craft
·         To write a letter
·         To bake a surprise cake
·         To go somewhere special
·         To really be with the person you love
·         Or even to do nothing for a while.

SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION




Sustainable Innovation is a new mode of innovation that should be appropriate and responsive to the local needs, culture, resources, environment, skills and knowledge of the people engaging in the process and the customers they serve. Innovation is sustainable only if there is no dependency on a foreign source of technology or know-how on an indefinite basis. While it is fine to adapt foreign products or services to our needs, it should not be slavish imitation or application without taking local factors into account. Sustainable innovation is earth-friendly and green. The environment is considered as a silent but critical stakeholder. Sustainable innovation shall not harm the earth for the sake of profit or market share or other such business metrics.

ACTUARIAL SCIENCE




Every person and organization faces risks and it comes in many forms. Actuaries are experts in measuring and managing risk. Actuaries play a key role in insurance companies; they design insurance plans, determine the premium, monitor the profitability of insurance companies and recommend corrective action when appropriate. They also ensure that insurance companies have set aside enough funds to pay claims and provide advice on how to invest the insurance companies’ assets. We reduce our risk of financial loss by transferring it to an insurance company that accepts the risk for a price (which is the insurance premium). An actuarial career can be one of the most diverse, exciting and rewarding in the world. In fact, the difficult examinations and the expertise required are the reasons that being an actuary is highly regarded

ABOUT CANCER





Cell division allows us as organisms to grow, to adapt, to recover, to repair and live. And distorted and unleashed, it allows cancer cells to grow, to flourish, to adapt, to recover and to repair – to live at the cost of our living cancer cells grow faster, adapt better. They are more perfect versions of ourselves. The difficulty in distinguishing between normal and malignant cells has limited the efficacy of every therapy advanced for cancer. The adaptability of cancer cells lies at the heart of the problem of drug resistance.

Cancer is built into our genomes: the genes that unmoor normal cell division are not foreign to our bodies, but rather mutated distorted versions of the very genes that perform vital cellular functions. And cancer is imprinted in our society: as we extend our life span as a species, we inevitably unleash malignant cell growth. If we seek immortality, then so, too, in a rather perverse sense, does the cancer cell. Will science enable future generation to win the war on cancer?

HOW TO ASK FOR WHAT YOU WANT?




There's a specific science to asking for and getting what you want or need in life.
1. Ask as if you expect to get it. Ask with a positive expectation. Ask as if you expect to get a "yes."
2. Assume you can. Don't start with the assumption that you can't get it. If you are going to assume, assume you can get an upgrade. Assume that you can get a scholarship, that you can get a raise, that you can get tickets at this late date. Don't ever assume against yourself.
3. Ask someone who can give it to you. Qualify the person. Who would I have to speak to get…
 4. Be clear and specific. You need to ask for a specific number. Too many people are walking around wanting more of something, but not being specific enough to obtain it.
5. Ask repeatedly. One of the most important Success Principles is the commitment to not give up.

Whenever we're asking others to participate in the fulfilment of our goals, some people are going to say "no." They may have other priorities, commitments and reasons not to participate. It's no reflection on you.
Just get used to the idea that there's going to be a lot of rejection along the way to the brass ring. The key is to not give up. When someone says "No"– you say "NEXT!" Why?
Because when you keep on asking, even the same person again and again…they might say "yes"…
on a different day
when they are in a better mood
when you have new data to present
after you've proven your commitment to them
when circumstances have changed
when you've learned how to close better
when you've established better rapport
when they trust you more
when you have paid your dues
when the economy is better
and so on.

Kids know this Success Principle better than anyone. They will ask the same person over and over again without any hesitation.

LINES I LIKED



  •   Cultivate sensitivity towards others.
  •   Try and understand other’s reasoning even when they say something you disagree with.
  •   Every one respects a person with a strong sense of loyalty and commitment to work and in personal life.




Work with what you have!

Meet you next month – January, 2012

 Prof. A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP

 Ph : 0422 2423017 Mobile : 98422 42301
www.nara.tumblr.com  (NARA’S DIGEST)
www.narapcard.blogspot.com  (NARA’S  POSTCARD)
www.nara2007.blogspot.com  (NARA’S NOTEPAD)

Tuesday, November 1, 2011



NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 7

NOVEMBER 2011

NUMBER 11


SUPPORTED
BY
READERS LIKE YOU...


LOGIC BRINGS
ALL THINGS TO ORDER

SPONSORSHIP



I thank the following two friends for sponsoring

NARA’S NOTEPAD.

T. Upendran – Sept. Oct. and Nov. 2011 issues and

Dr. G. James Martin – Dec. 2011, Jan. and

Feb. 2012 issues.



NARA

MEMO FROM NARA


All can’t be rich in a country. Only few people can become rich because of their talents and hard work. If we read the story of these peoples’ life, we can understand the way they started their life and ultimately where they reached. Most of them might have tasted the bad side of life. But their determination and will power made them to think of new directions to succeed and see the other side of life – a life full of opportunity and prosperity. Earning money and becoming rich are the sole aim of these people. In fact they are good thinkers, producers, job creators and wealth distributors. Therefore, the society needs them. There are competitions among the rich people to become richer and super richer. The rich requires more people around them to protect them. So, rich people cannot live alone. They are protected by devoted and faithful assistants who lead a life of their own with the help of the rich people. Some rich people are kind and generous whereas, some others are arrogant and cruel too. The poor people who depend on these kind or arrogant riches like to become or make their children to become the one like their masters one day or other. It is the aspiration of the human mind.



All those who are educated may not be rich. So education may not be a criterion to become rich. How to become rich then? There are millions of books written on this subject by many eminent authors. They indicate the ways and means by which one can become rich. In general, they suggest that one has to do some intelligent work which has not been attempted by others. High thinking and simple living are considered to be the secret of becoming rich. Making money is the basis of becoming rich. Investing the earned money in new projects to make more money is the intelligent way to become super rich. There are many rich people in the world. Some of them earn money illegally and get into trouble when they are caught. Therefore, one has to be careful in earning money and enjoy the title of richness. People with good character and conduct can perform well in all fields of work and come up in life more successfully as an honorable rich person. They will be recognized all over the world. The joy of giving to the needy is a concept already present in the minds of riches. Money, in fact, has to be shared, invested and used. Storing money and calling oneself rich is a stupid idea. Money has to be in circulation so that human needs can be met. Investing for infra-structure projects helps to develop a country and make more and more people moving towards the circle of richness.



A country can be called as rich if its people are rich. The government of each country is trying to do its best to make the poor rich by providing them opportunities such as education, jobs, infrastructure facilities, health-care etc. Comfortable life is essential for all - rich and poor – in any country. The difference between the rich and poor should be minimized over time. But it is not an easy task; however, it should be tried at all costs by every government. Accumulated assets in temples, churches, mosques and gurudwaras have to be invested to improve the living conditions of the poor people. Rich cannot live comfortably in a poor country. Hence, it’s the duty of the riches to take care of the poor by providing all facilities what they need to improve their lives. Richness is the goal everyone aims at. Some hit at it and some miss it.

TO QUOTE...


We have two kinds of morality side by side: one which we preach but do not practice and another which we practice but seldom preach. – Bertrand Russell

JUST TO LAUGH


On an American safari, a lion suddenly pounced on Robert’s wife.

Wife: Shoot him!

Robert: Yes, Yes, I’m changing the battery of my camera.

 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Beggar A: Had a grand dinner at Taj.

Beggar B: How?

Beggar A: I got a 100 rupee note, went to the Taj and ate worth Rs. 2000/- I couldn’t pay the bill. So the manager handed me to the police. I gave the police Rs. 100/-. He set me free.

ATTITUDE TIPS


Smile. It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown.

Make a grateful list. Focus on all the great things in your life to enhance feelings of joy and attract more good things.

Break outside your comfort zone. Being comfortable doesn't make you happy—challenging yourself does.

Follow your gut. Most of the time your first instinct is not only correct, but the best choice.

Don't regret your decisions. If it turns out you were wrong, don't waste time worrying about it, instead make the next best decision and move forward.

Accept that you can't be happy all the time. Focus on being content and the truly happiness will be all that much sweeter.

Try to see from others' perspectives. Much of our unhappiness comes from our frustration with other people not understanding us. Try to imagine how they see the world and the frustration will ease.

Let the little things go. There's no sense in wasting your energy and inhibiting your happiness by worrying about things you can't change.

Make the decision to be happy. Happiness is an attitude, not a physical state.

HEALTH TIPS


Get enough sleep. Sleeping for 8 hours per night can elevate your mood and better prepare you to greet the day.

Take vitamin C. Keeping your immune system happy will keep you happy.

Laugh out loud. Laughing releases endorphins and lowers levels of stress hormones.

Cook with more garlic. Garlic not only adds delicious flavor to meals, it also keeps blood pressure down to keep you relaxed and healthy.

Get more fresh air. Fresh air is invigorating and alters the levels of serotonin in your brain—the stuff that makes you happy!

Eat more foods with tryptophan. It has an amino acid needed to make serotonin, the chemicals that make you happy. Try more bananas, dairy products and poultry.

Work out. Exercising can not only make you feel better about yourself, it also releases endorphins in your body to give you a natural high.

Eat chocolate. Besides releasing endorphins and stimulating serotonin production in your brain, chocolate releases phenylethylamine, the chemical that causes feelings of love.

NOBEL PRIZE 2011


Ø  PHYSICS: Saul Perimutter (52) – US; Brian Schmidt (44) – US; Australian; Adam G. Riess (42) – US for discovering the accelerating expansion of the universe.

Ø  CHEMISTRY: Dan Shechtman (70) – Israel for the discovery of quasicrystals – having pentagons that doesn’t repeat itself exactly.

Ø  PHYSIOLOGY OR MEDICINE: Bruce Bentler (US); Jules Hoffman (France); Ralph Steinman (Canada) for immune system.

Ø  LITERATURE: Thomas Transtromer (80) (Sweden) for his condensed, translucent images in his poetry collections characterized by economy, correctness and poignant metaphors.

Ø  PEACE: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf – Liberia; Leymah Gbowee – Liberia; Tawakul Karman – Yemen (All women)

Ø  ECONOMICS: Thomas J. Sargent and Christopher A. Sims – US – for developing statistical tools to unravel effect of monetary policy on economy.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE


Academic knowledge gets you ahead in a competitive world and on the surface, academic performance relates to: the ability to study and remember facts; being able to see how facts fit together and form larger patterns of knowledge; being able to think for yourself in relation to facts; being able to communicate your knowledge verbally or down on paper.

Scratch the surface and you'll find that good academic performance is also linked to having good organizational skills such as a tidy place to work and good time management. Scratch more deeply and you'll find that excellent academic performance depends on having the right mind-set for learning.


BIOMIMETICS


Biomimetics is a field of science that studies biological processes for effectively using them in the development of innovative engineering materials and systems. At present, most industrial interest in biomimetics is found in the aerospace, textiles, computing, artificial intelligence and sensor sectors, with a limited track record in construction (mainly in materials and design). Self-cleaning paints are based on the lotus effect, the unique ability of a lotus leaf surface to avoid wetting. This is mainly due to the presence of micro scale protuberances covered with waxy nano crystals on the surface. Both the protrubances and the wax crystals make the surface of lotus super-hydrophobic in nature, which means water droplets easily roll over the leaf surface taking contaminants and dust particles with them. The phenomenon is popularly known as the ‘self-cleaning effect.’ The self-cleaning property is highly important for water plants. This natural phenomenon occurring in lotus leaf led to the finding of self-cleaning paint.

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY


Synthetic Biology is the name given to an emerging field of research that combines elements of biology, engineering, genetics, chemistry, and computer science. The diverse but related endeavours that fall under its umbrella rely on chemically synthesized DNA, along with standardized and automatable processes, to create new biochemical systems or organisms with novel or enhanced characteristics. Whereas standard biology treats the structure and chemistry of living things as natural phenomena to be understood and explained, synthetic biology treats biochemical processes, molecules, and structures as raw materials and tools to be used in novel and potentially useful ways, often quite independent of their natural roles. It joins the knowledge and techniques of biology with the practical principles and techniques of engineering. “Bottom-up” synthetic biologists, those in the very earliest stages of research, seek to create novel biochemical systems and organisms from scratch, using nothing but chemical reagents. “Top-down” synthetic biologists, who have been working for several decades, treat existing organisms, genes, enzymes, and other biological materials as parts or tools to be reconfigured for purposes chosen by the investigator.