NARA'S NOTEPAD

2012-01-30T21:37:00.000-08:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 8

FEBRUARY 2012

NUMBER 2

2012-01-30T21:16:00.000-08:00

LISTEN

AS MUCH AS

YOU TALK

2012-01-30T21:13:00.000-08:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD

SUPPORTED

READERS LIKE

YOU

MEMO FROM NARA

2012-01-30T21:10:00.000-08:00

‘Healthy people are happy people.’ – Is it true? I think it is true to certain extent. Of course good health is a must for our good living. In order to achieve good health we need to follow some principles in life. In fact one comes to know this only when he or she becomes a victim of illness. Even if one is healthy, one may not be happy in some cases although health is the primary requirement for happiness.

If someone is not feeling happy, then it is due to some other problem probably due to unhealthy behavior and habits. These are taught in the primary school onwards by our teachers. Good food, clean water, personal hygiene, disciplined behavior, exercise are some of the important aspects that make our life healthy. One has to understand the physiology of one’s body. It’s also taught in classes. We have forgotten those golden lessons and follow some unwanted habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, over eating, inactivity etc. All these habits hamper our health in the long run. Then how can one be happy? Wealth may also give happiness to certain extent; but the primary and essential factor needed for happiness in life is good health.

Most of the youngsters do not pay attention to their health because of their robust body strength. Once they enter their late age, they feel weak and their health starts deteriorating. This is the way life goes on. Weakness affects health. One has to hear the body and observe carefully the symptoms of uncomfortableness. Immediate attention is needed to overcome such situations. If we postpone or careless we have to suffer and lose happiness. Healthy life always brings peace of mind and happiness. Everyone loves to be friendly with healthy people. Poor health is one of the painful aspects of old age. One has to use one’s experience to take appropriate steps to improve health and thus happiness.

There are ways and means to keep one’s health at the safer side. We need to understand the needs of our body and feed it properly. Physical health leads to mental health. One gets self-confidence because of good health. Spoiling one’s health is easy but to build good health we need self-discipline and self-control. Temptations and bad company may break the self-control. So, one has to avoid those unwanted habits. Good habits in fact, bring good health and thus happiness. Let us try to get good health through good habits.

SPONSORSHIP

2012-01-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

I thank the following friend for sponsoring

NARA’S NOTEPAD.

Dr. G. James Martin – Dec. 2011, Jan. and Feb. 2012 issues.

TO QUOTE...

2012-01-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

Health is the greatest gift; contentment is the greatest wealth and faith and trust make for the best relationship.

– Gautama Buddha.

JUST TO LAUGH

2012-01-30T20:57:00.000-08:00

Robert: Should women have children after 35?

Bill: No. 35 children are more than enough.

A woman gets on a bus with her baby. The bus driver says: “Ugh, that’s the ugliest baby I’ve ever seen!”

The woman walks to the rear of the bus and sits down, fuming.

She says to a man next to her: “The driver just insulted me!”

The man says, “You go up there and tell him off. Go on, I’ll hold your monkey for you.”

TIPS TO STAY MOTIVATED

2012-01-30T20:52:00.000-08:00

1. Never keep doing the same task for too long.

2. Try to take breaks every half an hour. Get up and walk or do some stretching exercises.

3. Try to alternate between two boring tasks. This will reduce the boredom in both tasks by 50%.

4. If you have someone else with you who is doing the same job, try exchanging jobs with the person.

5. Talk about your job to a sympathetic listener who can give you encouragement.

6. Reward yourself once you have done a job well.

7. If you have an uninteresting job left to do, write it down and pin it somewhere in your work station so that you can see it and get constantly reminded about it till you do it.

8. Try to make your work environment more attractive by pinning up some motivating words or some pleasant wall posters, preferably something that can make you smile.

9. If you are allowed to, try playing some soft music while you work.

10. Keep a small potted plant near your work table.

11. Take time to relax, just sit back and close your eyes and hum a favorite tune for a minute or two. But do not fall asleep!

In addition, if you have finished doing a job you have reason to reward yourself. It can be something like treating yourself to a good dinner in a favorite restaurant or it could be a chocolate bar!

ADVANTAGES OF PLANNING

2012-01-30T20:45:00.000-08:00

1. Planning helps us to have a better idea about the course of action that we propose to take.

2. Planning better defines the course of action that we propose to undertake.

3. Planning gives a rough estimate of the time required for a project.

4. Planning helps us to get prepared for emergencies that may arise during the course of the project.

5. Planning gives us a fairly good idea about the expenses involved in the project. In fact a budget is only a financial plan.

6. A well thought out plan gives us a clear idea about what is to be every day, every week and every month.

7. Planning helps avoid duplication of labor.

8. If a plan is followed everyone will have a clear idea about his or her role.

We should have short-term and long-term strategy plans. At the same time we should also try to draft out contingency plans to deal with crisis if it arises.

VIEWPOINTS

2012-01-30T20:41:00.000-08:00

Postmortem examination can make or mar a case. Many of them are done with utter disregard for law and the dignity of the dead. While the way a body is dissected is often appalling, reports that come out of such examinations – sometimes inherently flawed, sometimes manipulated – misguide the investigation and cripple the prosecution in medico-legal cases. Government mortuaries with no adequate preservation methods or surgical equipment are unbearable even for seasoned forensic experts, but that does not mean doctors can make sanitary workers do the examination. Such doctors should be brought to book, not just for shirking responsibility, but for subverting justice.

Little has been done so far to rescue child domestic workers and to punish their employers; there is a poor track record of enforcement of laws. There is an urgent need to make child labor a cognizable offence and to strictly enforce, the law to bring offenders to book. Unless we, the middle class demur at employing children in our homes, the law can only serve a limited purpose. We should also speak out in our own circles against those employing children as domestic help and report any such cases to childline or the local child welfare committee.

THE BRAIN

2012-01-30T20:39:00.000-08:00

The brain is divided into the left hemisphere and the right hemisphere. The left side controls the right side of the body and the right side controls the left. The left side is driven by logic, responsible for all analytical thinking; the right side thinks in terms of feelings, relationships and the big picture in any given situation.

DIRTY HABITS

2012-01-30T20:36:00.000-08:00

· Looking down at the floor when speaking to someone.

· Slouching when you’re standing or sitting down.

· Frowning and not smiling enough.

· Avoiding strangers.

· Making a poor first impression.

· Not making an effort to speak well.

· Not being a good listener.

· Not staying in touch with your acquaintances.

· Not being proactive.

· Not enjoying social life.

· Not facing your fears.

· Refusing to be open minded.

LINES I LIKED

2012-01-30T20:29:00.000-08:00

Ø Every man creates a world of virtue or vice, pleasure or pain out of his own mind.

Ø The human beings are constantly searching elsewhere for the very things they have at hand.

Ø Principles must stand on their own merits, and if they are good they certainly will.

Ø Giving of course doesn’t just imply financial aid – time, energy, and skills are just as relevant.

Ø The mind of man can conceive and believe it can achieve.

2012-01-30T20:27:00.000-08:00

Strive for progress, not perfection!

Meet you next month – March, 2012

Prof. A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP

E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com

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)

2011-12-23T05:57:00.000-08:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 8

JANUARY 2012

NUMBER 1

SUPPORTED BY

READERS LIKE YOU

SPONSORSHIP

2011-12-23T05:51:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-23T05:47:00.000-08:00

2011 has passed away and 2012 has stepped in. Many good things happened and also many bad things happened during the past year. Yet NARA’S NOTEPAD kept its schedule and brought 12 uninterrupted issues most successfully for its readers. Good things are bound to happen when people dedicate themselves for the progress of the country. In every field we had achievements as well as failures. We are proud of our achievements whereas we are ashamed of our failures. A country with so much of diversity in human population, we are bound to meet some failures. As our need and aspirations augment, we have to meet the failures which are indeed the challenges we face in order to achieve better health and happiness for our people.

Some events worth remembering are: India won the Cricket World Cup 2011. West Bengal got a woman-Chief Minister overthrowing the CPI(M). Osama Bin Laden was assassinated by the Americans. The natural disaster of earthquake / tsunami swallowed so many lives in Japan. Mubarik of Egypt was overthrown by the Egyptian people and the Libyan President was mercilessly killed by his own people after bloody rebellions. Hospital fire and illicit liquor death in West Bengal are ever green in our memory. Royal wedding in UK and Bhutan took place with great joy. At the same time we cannot forget that India lost a number of artists, politicians and other veterans. In fact, we had sad news to feel bad and at the same time some good evens to feel proud.

Since we adopt a policy of democracy, everyone is free to talk and do whatever he or she wishes. Sometimes such wishes become detrimental to the governance. In the name of democracy, we form innumerable political parties, NGOs and civil societies. Today such organizations are not disciplined and fail to follow certain regulations to facilitate the State to function freely.

People in the helm of affairs, like ministers are involved in corruption cases, jailed and attending court cases. Opposition parties are not cooperating with the ruling party. They want to put stumbling blocks every time and everywhere. Majority rules. But minority takes the upper hand and thrusts their views by not allowing the majority to function. Such an altitude is not desirable in a democracy. Is it not true that India is undergoing a testing time – politically, economically and socially?

The Lok Pal bill, nuclear power plant shut down, Mullaperiyar dam issue, 2G scam, price rise, Foreign Direct Investment, elections in five states and many more are problems for the Central Government. Of course, every problem has its own solution! Only 2012 has to tell us. Let us hope the new year bring peace and happiness in the minds of all Indians belonging to various States.

TO QUOTE

2011-12-23T05:43:00.000-08:00

The manner in which it is given is worth more than the gift. – Pierre Corneille

Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. – H. G. Wells

JUST TO LAUGH

2011-12-23T05:40:00.000-08:00

My grandfather is eighty and still doesn’t need glasses.

He drinks straight out of the bottle.

Advertisement in Shop: ‘Guitar, for sale…Cheap…no strings attached.’

Fascinated by the military, my son went on line to research everything there was to know about the armed forces, from training to equipment. Looking up bullet-proof vests, he found one with an interesting warranty.

It said:”Guaranteed or your money back.”

CAPUNISM

2011-12-23T05:35:00.000-08:00

Grey Beckett, a Collegiate Assistant Professor of Social Sciences at the University of Chicago coined the term ‘Capunism.’ It is defined as ‘a political system which employs the best attributes of both Capitalism and Communism. This kind of government employs Capitalism’s ability to distribute wealth fairly but not evenly so that all citizens have a standard of living well above the poverty line and are gainfully employed at a job that provides value to the community and fulfillment of the worker.

ARE YOU A HABITUAL "WAITER?"

2011-12-23T05:32:00.000-08:00

How much of your life do you spend waiting? There are two kinds of waiting. ‘Small-scale waiting’ is waiting in line at the post office, in a traffic jam, at a ticket counter, waiting for someone to arrive, to finish work, and so on. ‘Large-scale waiting’ is waiting for the next vacation, for a better job, for the children to grow up, for a truly meaningful relationship, for success, to make money, to be important, to become enlightened. It is not uncommon for people to spend their whole life waiting to start living.

Waiting is a state of mind. Basically, it means that you want the future; you don’t want the present. You don’t want what you have got, and you want what you haven’t got. With every kind of waiting you unconsciously create inner conflict between you’re here and now, where you don’t want to be, and the projected future, where you want to be. This greatly reduces the quality of your life by making you lose the present.

For example, many people are waiting for prosperity. It cannot come in the future. When you honor, acknowledge, and fully accept your present reality – where you are, who you are, what you are doing right now – when you fully accept what you have got, you are grateful for what is, grateful for Being. Gratitude for the present moment and the fullness of life now is true prosperity. It cannot come in the future. Then in time, that prosperity manifests for you in various way.

If you are dissatisfied with what you have got, or even frustrated or angry about your present look, that may motivate you to become rich, but even if you do make millions, you will continue to experience the inner condition of lack, and deep down you will continue to feel unfulfilled. You may have many exciting experiences that money can buy, but they will come and go and always leave you with an empty feeling and the need for further physical or psychological gratifications. You won’t abide in Being and so feel the fullness of life now that alone is true prosperity. – Eckhart Tolle

STAGES OF LIFE

2011-12-23T05:28:00.000-08:00

Throughout our lives, we face different chapters and turning points; marriage, job, promotion, unemployment, separation, growth, departure of children, death of parents, ageing and loss of one’s own powers and responsibilities. At each stage we are forced to revise our conception of who we are, since so much of what we may have thought was central to our personality in fact changes and moves away. This can, for some, feel like a tragedy that they never come to terms with. They refuse to face up to change and loss, and refuse to go through the mourning process that such reconciliation requires. In other words, they imagine that their finest self is the self of their supposed hey-day when they were at their most fit and strong and successful. They cling on, fruitlessly to this lost self and thus can never find themselves as they are here and now. – Alex Howard

LINES I LIKED...

2011-12-23T05:25:00.000-08:00

Ø There are no mistakes in life…just lessons.

Ø Perfect equality affords no temptation.

Ø Mind without agitation is meditation.

Ø It’s not in numbers but in unity that our great strength lies.

Ø Don’t promise anything you cannot fulfill.

Ø What is now proved was once only imagined.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

2011-12-23T05:23:00.000-08:00

Get help: There are people who want to help you. Enlist their aid. The more help you get, the sooner you’ll succeed.

Tackle the obstacles one at a time: When you tackle all the obstacles, or just look at all the obstacles at the same time, it can overwhelm you. The feeling of being completely outgunned can take the wind out of your sails before you even get started. Pick one obstacle – an easy one – and tackle that first. Don’t even think about the rest of them. It’s likely that after you’ve tackled one obstacle, you’ll be in a better, stronger position to handle the next one, and so on.

Get some training or knowledge that will make you more able to deal with the obstacles. Read, study and practice! As you gain in ability the obstacles shrink in comparison.

VIEWPOINT

2011-12-23T05:18:00.000-08:00

Due to the erosion of purchasing power households belonging to poor and middle income strata are forced to spend more portion of their income on food and a little will be spent on health and education; thus resulting in perpetual poverty.

2011-12-23T05:15:00.000-08:00

Be proud in everything you do!

Meet you next month – February, 2012

Prof. A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP

E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com

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)

2011-11-30T00:25:00.000-08:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 7

DECEMBER 2011

NUMBER 12

2011-11-30T00:18:00.000-08:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD IS SUPPORTED BY

READERS LIKE YOU

2011-11-30T00:12:00.000-08:00

MOVE

FROM VISION

TO ACTION

SPONSORSHIP

2011-11-30T00:07:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T23:59:00.000-08:00

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...

2011-11-29T23:42:00.000-08:00

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...

2011-11-29T23:39:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T23:32:00.000-08:00

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...

2011-11-29T23:24:00.000-08:00

· 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

2011-11-29T23:13:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T22:55:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T22:48:00.000-08:00

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?

2011-11-29T22:42:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-29T22:40:00.000-08:00

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.

2011-11-29T22:33:00.000-08:00

Work with what you have!

Meet you next month – January, 2012

Prof. A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP

E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com

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)

2011-10-31T18:39:00.000-07:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 7

NOVEMBER 2011

NUMBER 11

2011-10-31T18:34:00.000-07:00

SUPPORTED

READERS LIKE YOU...

2011-10-31T18:30:00.000-07:00

LOGIC BRINGS

ALL THINGS TO ORDER

SPONSORSHIP

2011-10-31T18:27:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-31T18:24:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-10-31T18:19:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-31T18:16:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-31T18:12:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-31T18:09:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-31T18:02:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-31T17:59:00.000-07:00

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

2011-10-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

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.

LINES I LIKED...

2011-10-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

Ø A concentrated mind pays attention to thoughts, words, acts and plans.

Ø A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

Ø A curious mind with a keen eye for detail is important for professionals.

2011-10-31T17:49:00.000-07:00

Go for someone who makes you smile!

Meet you next month – December, 2011

Prof. A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP

E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com

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)

2011-09-29T01:38:00.000-07:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 7

OCTOBER 2011

NUMBER 10

SUPPORTED

READERS LIKE YOU

2011-09-29T01:33:00.000-07:00

REASONABLE

SPONSORSHIP

2011-09-29T01:30:00.000-07:00

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...

2011-09-29T01:27:00.000-07:00

Always outstanders are awarded. Among us, there are many outstanders in every walk of activity. There are outstanders in the field of sports, cinema, education, media, medicine, business, architecture etc. etc. You name the fields, there are outstanders who are considered to be the so-called celebrities. In fact, outstanders are extraordinary people who are determined to show their potential talents to the maximum level possible. They show their determination and willpower. Persistence of their effort indeed pays the prize. A student may stand first in the class or college or in the state or in the country. Similarly an actor or a director of a cinema may excel in his or her action which becomes far superior to that of many other actors and cinema directors.

All of us are trying to be outstanding in our won area of specialization. But only a few come out as outstanders because of opportunity and other factors. Unimaginable activities are being carried out by some people to establish records as in sports. These people are being appreciated and honored by all of us. Every year we see such honoring celebrations. The celebrities are followed by a mass of fans who are mad after them. It gives more encouragement to the celebrities and they wish to do more accomplishments which bring greater achievements. Such outstanding achievements may or may not be useful for the people. But still, people are however happy if someone who is close to them. He or she may be a relative, friend, classmate, belong to the same State or country. Men and women are outstanding for which they are awarded. In order to celebrate the awards, rewards are being announced liberally.

Recently, veteran Tamil filmmaker K. Balachander (81) was honored with the Dada Saheb Phalke award. The award consisted of a Swarn Kamal, cash prize of Rs. 10,00,000 and a shawl. I felt the cash award is not needed for a rich person like Balachader! Similarly, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu announced Rs. 2 crores for a gold medalist in Olympics, one crore for a silver medalist and Rs. 50,00,000 for a bronze medalist. Such rewards may be an inducement for our sportsmen and women to work hard for receiving these cash rewards. In a way it is good on the part of governments to announce such rewards. In fact, the reward money comes from the public as taxes! Huge sums of money given as rewards may be used to improve the conditions needed for improving the infrastructure which will automatically bring more and more people to become outstanding. Excelling in a particular field is certainly outstanding. But the outstanders should not be made lazy by cash rewards. Money kills the initiative to do something outstanding. Money kills the willingness to do hard work. Money is the basic impediment for all our attempts to achieve our real-life-goals. ‘Doping’ is one of the curses sprang in the world of sports. Similarly ‘match fixing’ is another menace in cricket game. These are the curses because of money-inducement. So let there be credible outstanders for whom we offer our appreciation always.

DO IT...

2011-09-29T01:19:00.000-07:00

v Do one thing at a time.

v Know the problem.

v Learn to ask questions.

v Distinguish sense from non-sense.

v Accept change as inevitable.

v Admit mistakes.

v Be calm.

v Say it simple.

JUST TO LAUGH...

2011-09-29T01:16:00.000-07:00

A cat died. God met her at the gates and said, “You’ve been a good cat all these years. Anything you want is yours for the asking.” The cat said, “All my life I slept on hard wooden floors. I’d like a nice fluffy pillow.” God said, “So be it,” and there was a huge fluffy pillow. A week later, six mice died. At the gates, God made them the same offer. The mice said, “All of our lives we’ve had to run from cats, from dogs, and even from people! We’d love some roller skates.” God said, “So be it.” A week later, God noticed the cat asleep on her fluffy pillow. God gently awakened her and asked, ”Is everything okay? Are you happy?” The cat replayed, “Oh, heaven is fluffy and I just loved the meals on wheels you sent over!”

THE MIND CONTROL

2011-09-29T01:12:00.000-07:00

The mind is an infinite wonder. It has the fantastic ability to transmute your desires into their physical counterparts. You can do anything that your mind can conceive. So how can you use your mind to achieve your dreams? One of the most effective ways is to use the "as if" principle. Act as if you are the person you want to be. Act as if you are already in possession of whatever you long to have. So what do you want to be? You want to be a lawyer, doctor, athlete, or newscaster? Think, act, and feel like one.

The problem with the people of the modern world is that they are too preoccupied with worries, anxieties, and negative emotions. As a result, they are adversely affecting their state of health. White lies have become prevalent nowadays in order to ease the burdens or to persuade others to do things that they thought are unattainable. There is absolutely no limit with what the mind can achieve. But you have to combine belief, will power, and action with positive thinking in order to arrive at your intended destination. You see? The mind is a powerhouse. Be absolutely confident. – Michael Lee

HEALTH TIPS...

2011-09-29T01:09:00.000-07:00

v Drink coffee. Studies in Brazil showed that people who drink coffee every day are less likely to suffer from depression. Coffee is the world’s most popular mood-enhancing drug, but remember, to drink in moderation

v Eat more spinach. Popeye's favorite green is packed with folic acid, an important vitamin that boosts serotonin production.

v Eat foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Certain kinds of fish like salmon or sardines have Omega-3, which is known to elevate mood levels—high doses are even used to treat depression.

v Eat more colorful fruits and vegetables. They contain antioxidants which help remove toxins from our bodies that cause stress and aging.

INTRINSIC SATISFACTIONS

2011-09-29T00:54:00.000-07:00

While undertaking any activity, focus your attention periodically on the possible intrinsic satisfactions. Marvel at and appreciate the beauty involved. Take pride in your activity. When finished with each work period, take a minute or two to appreciate your work.

v Learning new information is interesting, it satisfies our curiosity; it feels good to understand.

v Much of what we learn about nature or our bodies and minds is beautiful and awesome. The mystery and complexity of the origin and development and purpose of everything in the universe is mind-boggling – a challenge to the greatest minds.

v Pulling old and new information together so that it “makes more sense” is satisfying. Like solving a puzzle.

v When we acquire enough information that we feel competent and knowledgeable relative to others, we feel a sense of mastery.

v Using the knowledge by doing something, such as writing or talking to others…and thinking about doing so...is gratifying. It can be creative.

v Planning our own learning experiences and exercising the self-discipline and responsibility involved can produce pride.

v Learning to solve problems and help others is deeply satisfying.

TRAITS OF A GOOD LEADER

2011-09-29T00:49:00.000-07:00

1. TALK STRAIGHT: Be clear and concise in your communication.

2. DEMONSTRATE RESPECT: Genuinely care for and respect everyone and make sure you express it correctly.

3. CREATE TRANSPARENCY: Be open and authentic.

4. RIGHT WRONGS: If there has been an error from your end, apologize quickly.

5. SHOW LOYALTY: Address problems and issues face-to-face and provide favorable solutions.

6. DELIVER RESULTS: Accomplish the task you are appointed for. Avoid making excuses for not delivering.

7. GET BETTER: Always make an effort to learn and improve.

8. CONFRONT REALITY: Do not have unrealistic goals and expectations. Always meet issues as they are.

9. CLARIFY EXPECTATIONS: Be clear while disclosing and revealing expectations.

10. PRACTICE ACCOUNTABILITY: Always hold yourself and others accountable and responsible for their respective tasks.

11. LISTEN FIRST: Don’t make any assumptions. Listen before speaking.

12. KEEP YOUR COMMITMENTS: Make sure you commit carefully. Always state your intent while committing.

13. EXTEND TRUST: Extend trust abundantly to those who have made an effort to earn your trust.

ACUPUNCTURE

2011-09-29T00:44:00.000-07:00

ACUPUNCTURE is the Chinese art of healing. Its objective is to restore a person’s health, balance and harmony by stimulating the body’s internal healing powers. A widely acclaimed effect of acupuncture is relief from pain or an analgesic effect, irrespective of its cause. Acupuncture provides analgesia for minor and major surgeries and women all over the world have been spared from labor pains by using acupuncture. The sensation of pain from any part of the body is carried to the thalamus, the area of the brain which perceives pain. The pain impulse travels somewhat slowly till it reaches a mechanism in the nervous system called ‘the Gate.” When the Gate is bombarded with too many impulses, it closes and prevents pain impulses from reaching the brain. Another theory is that when acupuncture is performed, morphine-like substances called endorphins and eukephallins present in the body increase and block the ability of the brain to perceive pain.

LINES I LIKED...

2011-09-29T00:41:00.000-07:00

v You can’t lose something you never had.

v When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.

v The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.

v He who rejects change is the architect of decay.

v The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.

2011-09-29T00:38:00.000-07:00

Let your past make you better not bitter!

Meet you next month – October, 2011

Prof. A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP

E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com

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)

2011-08-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 7

SEPTEMBER 2011

NUMBER 9

2011-08-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

SUPPORTED BY READERS

LIKE YOU

2011-08-30T09:04:00.000-07:00

ACCEPT REALITY

SPONSORSHIP

2011-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

The September to November 2011 issues of NARA’S NOTEPAD

are sponsored by Mr. T. Upendran, one of my class fellows

in B.Sc (Ag) degree course at Madras Agricultural College, Coimbatore.

I thank him for his good gesture.

MEMO FROM NARA...

2011-08-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

In a way, all of us have some sort of habits. If we repeat something several times in the same way, we will have formed the habit of doing it that way. That is habit! There are good habits and bad habits too. People are, in general, addicted to a particular habit which they develop when they are young. All our life is but a mass of habit. Each one of us has a particular habit or habits which others may or may not like. Sometimes, in order to please others we need to hide or leave our habits. Good habits are always liked by everyone.

I brush my teeth two times a day, one in the morning as soon as I get up from my bed and another before going to sleep in the night. I felt it is a good habit for keeping the mouth free of harmful bacteria. Similarly, I used to go for a walk in the evening everyday with my friends. It is also a good habit, because I feel active and healthy. At the same time there are number of bad habits such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, sitting hours together to watch TV etc. etc. Such habits are very hard to leave but there are ways and means to abandon these habits.

One can break any habit by strong concentration on its opposite. If we concentrate on the ill effects of bad habits we will be able to get away from such habits. All our habits are consciously or unconsciously or sub-consciously by the will. Our will power can certainly help in controlling habits. Realizing the habits is the first step before thinking of controlling them. If we control a bad habit, we are really successful in life. Cultivating good habits in our life and also teaching children to follow good habits will go a long way in making our life happy. There are unpleasant habits too like nail-biting, talking loud, etc. Others do not like such habits, so we need to learn from others’ point of view also. In fact, we are creatures of habits, “imitators and copiers of our past selves.”

THEY SAID...

2011-08-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

- Swami Vivekananda

“Health is the greatest possession.

Contentment is the greatest treasure.

Confidence is the greatest friend.

Non-living is the greatest joy.” – Lao Tzu

JUST TO LAUGH...

2011-08-30T08:50:00.000-07:00

A guy walks into work both his ears bandaged up.

The boss says, “What happened to your ears?”

He says, “Yesterday I was ironing a shirt when the phone rang and I accidentally answered the iron.”

The boss says, “Well, that explains one ear, but what happened to the other ear?”

He says, “Well, I had to call the doctor.”

A man drove past a traffic camera and saw it flash. He couldn’t believe he had been caught speeding when he was driving below the prescribed limit. He turned around and drove past again, this time even slower. But as he passed the camera, it flashed again. Furious, he turned around and time drove past at a snail’s pace. But the camera flashed once more. “Well, it must be broken,” he thought and drove home. A week later, he received three challans in his mail box for not wearing his seatbelt.

Raju: How was the English Exam.?

Ramu: Exam. Was ok, but for the past tense of THINK, I really thought, thought, thought hard and at last wrote – THINK.

WORK

2011-08-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

1) Make enough money to meet your basic needs. Studies have shown that anything beyond that amount will not necessarily make you happier.

2) Avoid financial hierarchies. For a new job, choose a place where everyone makes a similar amount. People feel better when they feel equal to their co-workers.

3) Find satisfaction in the job you have. Don't expect to find one job that will make you happy—instead focus on the positive aspects of your work instead of blaming a job for your unhappiness.

4) Take initiative at work. You'll gain professional respect, self-fulfillment and feel more in control in the workplace.

5) Keep plants in your workspace. The LA Times found that employees who decorate their office space are more satisfied with their jobs.

6) Bake cookies and bring them to work. You'll enjoy the baking and making your co-workers happy.

TRAVEL

2011-08-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

1) Travel when you can. Travel can open your eyes to the world and offer a fresh new perspective.

2) Take a weekend trip. If you haven't got the funds for a jaunt to Paris, no matter. Even a weekend or day long break from home can make you happier.

3) Spend time by the ocean. There's nothing like sand between your toes and fresh sea air.

4) Go camping. Commune with nature closer to home—the food will taste better and you'll sleep deeper in the great outdoors.

5) Go skydiving. Face your fears and reap the benefits of this exhilarating extreme sport—you'll be euphoric for weeks.

6) Go stargazing. Find a spot relatively free of unnatural light and marvel at the beauty of the night sky.

7) Sit in front of a beautiful view. Find a spot close by with a nice view that you can visit when you need a break.

VIEWPOINTS

2011-08-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

The economic disparity in our country is so high. On the one side, we have people stashing away their riches in Swiss banks and, on the other, we have poverty-stricken people surviving without even basic necessities. More people should look out of their windows and help wipe away some tears.

Nothing in life comes without efforts. Sometimes a little effort is all that is required to accomplish a task, but sometimes, a marathon effort is required .The key is not to give up.

We developed a cynical attitude towards politics. But it is time we paid our dues too. If today we are a global power, 60 years after independence it has to be due to some honest politicians, some people who had the right policies, the right ideas, and the right vision.

THE MIND

2011-08-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

The mind is an infinite wonder. It has the fantastic ability to transmute your desires into their physical counterparts. You can do anything that your mind can conceive, as long as you have the belief and will power to back it up. So how can you use your mind to achieve your dreams? One of the most effective ways is to use the "as if" principle. Act as if you are the person you want to be. Act as if you are already in possession of whatever you long to have. So what do you want to be? You want to be a lawyer, doctor, athlete, or newscaster? Think, act, and feel like one. You'll be much closer to your goal if you're constantly intact with your objective. Be obsessed with your dream. It doesn't mean that if you want to be Superman you'll fly out the window. Not a good idea! It's not enough that you act like one, but you have to actually ACT. Do what needs to be done. You might get so lost in your fantasy dream world that you've forgotten to take some action. Let your visions encourage and motivate you to actualize your purpose. - Michael Lee

LINES I LIKED

2011-08-30T08:05:00.000-07:00

Ø Maturity is the capacity to endure uncertainly.

Ø Don’t criticize what you can’t understand.

Ø Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command.

Ø Real conversation is ready for its obituary.

Ø We express anger very easily, but not our other feelings.

Ø People who boast that they are taking care of 500 people through their business, but aren’t able to care for the four people in their family.

Ø Success is a shallow way to define happiness.

Ø There are two kinds of people: those who are valued because of the things they possess, and those who add value to things.

Ø Words and actions become valuable because of the one who speaks them or perform them.

Ø Home is where heart is.

ASTEROIDS

2011-08-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

Lumps of rock that orbit the Sun are called asteroids. They are also known as minor planets. Most asteroids are in the asteroid belt, which lies between Mars and Jupiter. Some distant asteroids are made of ice and orbit the Sun beyond Neptune. There are more than one million asteroids bigger than one km across. More than 200 asteroids are more than 100 km across. A few asteroids come near Earth. They are called Near Earth Objects. The first asteroid to be discovered was Ceres in 1801. It was detected by Giuseppi Piazzi, one of the Celestial Police, whose mission was to find a ‘missing’ planet. Ceres is the biggest asteroid with 940 km across and 0.0002 percent of the Earth’s mass. Small asteroids are burnt up by the Earth’s atmosphere every day. The chances of a big one colliding with us and destroying the Earth are remote. Every 50 million years, the Earth is hit by an asteroid measuring more than 10 km across.

2011-08-30T07:51:00.000-07:00

Seek reasons behind every action!

Meet you next month – OCTOBER, 2011

Prof. A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP

E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com

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)

2011-07-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 7

AUGUST 2011

NUMBAER 8

SUPPORTED
BY
READERS LIKE YOU

2011-07-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

THINK

SOMETHING PLEASANT

MEMO FROM NARA

2011-07-30T07:59:00.000-07:00

Dumb people cannot talk; but others can talk. Talking is one of the fortunate virtues most of us got for expressing our thoughts and feelings. Talking needs proper words and tones. Soft talking is soothing for all of us. Rude talk is not liked by all. The topic one chooses to talk should be interesting to others. We usually talk liberally to our relatives and friends i.e. to the known persons. Since we know their attitudes and their likening we try to talk accordingly. Talking to new friends and strangers is an up-hill task for many of us. Shyness makes us to limit our talk. Without knowing the taste of the other person it is very difficult to express our views. Little by little it is possible to know the likes and dislikes of others and then talking to them becomes much easier.

Some of us are vociferous talkers in some familiar subjects like politics, business, education and sports. In fact, one can easily judge the depth of knowledge one possesses in these subjects from their talk. Forceful talking is considered to be the best because it mesmerize others and make them believe what is said. Talking becomes interesting when some jokes are inserted into it. ‘Take it easy’ talks are preferred among friends. Serious talks are taken seriously. Arguments on a particular topic lead to counter arguments. Talking for and against a controversial topic becomes a debate. Logic, reasons and evidences add more strength to our talk. Empty talk is not appreciated. Talking to an audience is invariably a monologue whereas talking to one or two individuals is a dialogue.

People question a statement if it not understood or untrue. Therefore, one has to be careful while talking. In fact, talking creates a wave in others mind. Some of the catchy words or sentences can stimulate them to think. Sometimes talking relieves our stress and tension. Laughing, talking, singing, shouting, crying, smiling and commenting elevates our mood and confidence.

Everyone expresses his/her viewpoints while talking. Those viewpoints may be liked by us or may not be liked by us. However, we support their viewpoints if we like or contradict with some examples softly or vehemently. I feel talking is one of the activities everyone should practice to convince others to hear us with mindfulness and acceptance. Diplomacy is very much essential to achieve this talent. Most of us are good at it and let us keep it up.

TO QUOTE...

2011-07-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

‘To like me, to trust me, to be committed to our relationship,

to facilitate my personal growth and self-understanding,

and to be my friend,

you must know me.’

- David Johnson

SUPPORT FROM SPONSORS

2011-07-30T07:53:00.000-07:00

SUPPORT FROM SPONSORS SOLICITED

To meet the printing charges of NARA’S NOTEPAD sponsors are requested to contribute:

For 3 issues Rs. 1000/- or for 6 issues Rs. 2000/-

For 9 issues Rs. 3000/- or for 12 issues Rs. 4000/-

Cash or Local Cheque or Demand Draft may be sent favouring:

A.Narayanan, Coimbatore.