NARA'S NOTEPAD
VOLUME 10
AUGUST 2014
NUMBER 8
Thursday, July 31, 2014
SPONSOR
NARA’S NOTEPAD
thank
Late Dr. A. Appa Rao*, Former Vice-Chancellor
Acharya N. G.
Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad for
sponsoring March 2014 to Dec. 2014 issues.
*Dr A. Appa
Rao passed away on 30 April 2014.
MEMO FROM NARA...
One of the things
I could understand is that they like to tell others that how important they are
and also how much he/she knows about others – good or bad. Revealing the life
history of other people in an interesting fashion is of course a peculiar talent.
Not all can do it, but some are experts. If they talk about people of equal
standard we can understand but if they are indifferent category – for example,
a businessman, a medical doctor, a politician, a lawyer – the points of view
expressed may not be agreeable at all, because those people have a different
kind of life-style than the one who discuss about them.
In fact, we don’t
see people as they are, but we see them as we are. Therefore the opinions
expressed are not at all correct. If a businessman talks about another
businessman it is ok. But if a teacher talks about a businessman, it is absurd.
We all talk about the lavish life style of politicians without knowing the
characters of politicians. There are simple politicians as well as complex
politicians whose life style is beyond our imagination. Criticizing such
politicians in our angle is in fact absurd according to me.
Our thinking is
limited to our life style alone. Politicians have big cars and dozens of people
around them always. A simple citizen wonders why the politicians need such big
cars and bodyguards and he tries to judge the politicians in his level of
living. Therefore I feel that we have no business to talk bad about others but
we have the right to talk about ourselves – good or bad.
While talking about oneself, one reveals all about his personal life,
family matters and even the life secrets in order to get a prestige.
Intelligent people hear calmly without revealing their own life secrets.
Sharing one’s limited information to others always keeps one’s self-respect.
Without understanding this simple principle of life many of us reveal more and
get into trouble. People vary in their character, so they have to learn from
their experience. No one can advise them except indicating the implications of
talking too much to gain the attention of others.
How far is it good? I do not know!
FASTING
An important aspect of fasting is that it
inculcates the quality of introspection. Introspection is the ability to
undertake self-assessment and self-correction. It is very important for every
man and woman and fasting seeks to instil this ability of introspection in
every individual. Fasting apparently is a peaceful deed but in terms of effect
it is a part of social behaviour. It helps an individual become a good member
of society. Another aspect of fasting is to develop the ability to share for
common good. When you fast you are able to experience the problems of those who
live in poverty. This experience of fasting inculcates the spirit of
philanthropy in the one who is fasting. – Rajat
Malhotra.
SYMPTOMS OF SELF-ESTEEM
v
Feelings of inadequacy, inferiority,
or incompetence.
v
Fear, anxiety, lack of confidence, and
an unwillingness to try new things.
v
Reluctance to share opinions, ideas,
perceptions, or feelings.
v
Fear of failure, rejection, criticism,
or abandonment.
v
Self-doubt about our abilities,
worthiness or lovability.
v
Feelings of not fitting in, of being
innately flawed.
v
Inability to know who and when to
trust.
v
Frequent episodes of “self-esteem
attacks” and depression.
v
Under achieving or over achieving.
v
Poor boundaries, controlling
behaviour, people-pleasing
TO QUOTE...
Everyone
wants happiness. No one wants pain. But you can’t
have a rainbow, without
little rain. – Anonymous
Every
morning we wake up, we have twenty four brand-new
hours to live. What a
precious gift! – Thich Nhat Hanh
FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE
v Choose your life
pattern yourself. Don’t be governed by others.
v Harness habits and
skills that allow you to make your own rules in this rat race.
v Avoid talking work
over lunch and dinner.
v Switch off your mobile
on Saturdays and Sundays, keep weekends for yourself. Don’t worry about being
left behind.
v Gradually reduce work
hours. This does not mean compromising on the quality of work.
v Refuse to feel guilty
when you are not working.
v Develop skill sets and
an attitude that allows you to finish work within office hours. Don’t stay back
just because your colleagues are doing so.
JUST TO LAUGH...
Husband calls up his wife. Honey, I was driving to Susan’s place and had
a sudden puncture. The car skidded and rolled over several feet. I am now in
hospital with a broken arm, several broken ribs, a shattered knee cap and severe
concussion.
Wife: Who is Susan?
***************************************************************
“No woman can keep a secret,” said one man at a party.
A woman guest answered huffily, “Well, I have kept my age a secret since
I was 21.”
“You’ll let it out some day,” the man insisted.
“Ha,” said the lady. “When a woman has kept a secret for 27 years, she
can keep it for ever.”
***************************************************************
A jealous husband hired a private detective to spy on his wife, and get
a video of her activities. A week later, they sat down together to watch the
video. He sees his wife meeting a man in a park, relaxing at a café, dancing in
a dimly-lit night club, laughing and enjoying.
“I can’t believe this,” the distraught husband said.
“Why not? It’s on the screen,” said the detective.
The husband replied, “I can’t believe my wife could be so much fun.”
GENOME EDITING
A genetic disease has been cured in
living, adult animals for the first time using a revolutionary genome editing
technique that can make the smallest changes to the vast data base of the DNA
molecule with pinpoint accuracy. Scientists have used the genome editing
technology to cure adult lab. Mice of an inherited liver disease by correcting
a single “letter” of the genetic alphabet which has been mutated in a vital
gene involved in liver metabolism. A similar mutation in the same gene causes
the equivalent inherited liver disease in humans – and the successful repair of
the genetic defect in lab. Mice raise hopes that the first clinical trials on
patients could begin within a few years. The success is the latest achievement
in the field of genome editing. This has been transformed by the discovery of crispr, a technology that allows
scientists to make almost any DNA changes at precisely defined points on the
chromosomes of animals or plants crispr –
pronounced “crisper” – was initially
discovered in 1987 as an immune defence used by bacteria against invading
viruses. It is powerful genome editing potential in higher animals, including
humans, was only fully realized in 2012 and 2013 when scientists showed that it
can be combined with a DNA – sniping enzyme called Cas9 and used to edit the
human genome. Since then there has been an explosion of interest in the technology
because it is such a simple method of changing the individual letters of the
human genome – the 3 billion “base pairs” of the DNA molecule – with an
accuracy equivalent to correcting a single misspelt word in a 23-volume
encyclopaedia.
STOICISM
STOICISM is a series of mental techniques and ways of life
that allow you to decrease and then virtually eliminate all negative emotions
such as anger, fear, anxiety and dissatisfaction, while simultaneously building
up a tide of pure joy inside you jump around and boogie at unexpected moments,
and occasionally shout out “ahh, Yeah!!” as discreetly as possible to yourself
when the joy overflows.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
SPONSOR
NARA’S NOTEPAD
thank
Late Dr. A. Appa Rao*, Former Vice-Chancellor
Acharya N. G.
Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad for
sponsoring March 2014 to Dec. 2014 issues.
*Dr A. Appa Rao passed away on 30 April
2014.
MEMO FROM NARA...
I have hundreds of questions in my head. Most of them do not have
answers. Some of them have some unsatisfactory answers. Every time I try to
answer some easy questions that are stored in my head. Still I fully know that
the answer is not satisfactory. I also share those questions with my close
friends who laugh at me and say that I am a crazy mad man. Why do they say
that? They say that because according to them my questions are silly or stupid.
You may wonder what those silly questions are.
In fact, every question has an answer. In an examination one can score
centum if one answers all questions correctly. The subjects may be science,
maths, history, language etc. But the questions in my head are not that belong
to such subjects. It is said that answering a question is an art. Of course it
is true, but if one does not know the answer, how can be it be an art? I spend
lot of time in answering those unanswerable questions. Still I find it
difficult to find a correct answer to a question. I am quite sure by now that
you are curious to know those questions. I do not want to delay to disclose
some of the questions. I list out ten of them here. 1. Why human beings live
only for hundred plus years, not two or three hundred years? 2. Why people are
killed or injured in accidents? 3. Why people are mad after luxury? 4. Why
people do not follow the religious teachings? 5. Why people like to change? 6.
Why do people eat non-vegetarian food? 7. Why do we kill animals and fellow
humans? 8. Why do we hate people? 9. Why some people are rich and some are
poor. 10. Why people are superstitious? Questions like these and many more are
in my head. It is possible for anyone to write elaborate answers with examples
and evidences. But I look for perfect answers to score centum. In fact it is
foolish to think of those questions hidden in my head.
Still those questions help me to start a conversation with a friend or
anyone who is close to me. Arguments and counter-arguments are made to answer
those questions. Finally the questions remain unanswered for ever. I read
somewhere that you cannot possibly invent a new idea or a new way of doing
things without asking ‘Why’ or ‘Why not?’ So these questions stimulate
me to think and give exercise to brain. Also I get ideas and find new ways of
doing things. Everybody will have questions in his or her head. Those who find
the correct answers are great people we have to respect.
WISHLIST...
A slum dweller wants running water. A graduate wants a good placement. A village lady wants a toilet in her home. A stock broker wants the stock market to rise. Parents want a good school for their children. A commuter wants good public transport. A businessman wants lower taxes and regulations – the list is endless…Less traffic jams, clean streets, low inflation, rising salaries, ample jobs, affordable education, cheaper healthcare, safer cities… - Chetan Bhagat
HOW TO BREAK FREE OF THE PAST...
1.
Don’t think about what could or should have been.
2.
Ground yourself in the present; think of ONE thing you
enjoy.
3.
Read inspiring stories, books, quotes and blogs.
4.
Listen to music that helps to lift your mood.
5.
Decide to be a winner – no matter what it takes.
6.
Accept that blocks and failures are a normal part of
life.
7.
Decide to take a step towards the life you want to
have.
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