Prof.
S. Thamburaj Ph.D
Former Dean, Faculty
of Horticulture, TNAU, Coimbatore
11, Vaiyapuri Illam,
Sabapathy Road, Saibaba Colony
Coimbatore 641 038,
ph. 96007 39443
Thursday, October 1, 2020
SPONSOR
COVID 19 – AS I SEE IT...
As we all know
that COVID – 19 has changed the normal way of life in the whole world. The
coronavirus is a virulent one that spread throughout the globe killing
millions of human beings. So far no drug or vaccine is successful to control
the virus or cure the disease. It is sad for all of us to hear some of our dear
ones suffering badly with this virus infection. People who were pious to the
core, good-hearted, kind to the poor, scholars, doctors, health workers,
businessmen and women, politicians, and all kinds of humans are the prey to
this invisible virus. Every day we hear the sad and bad news of COVID -19’s
spread and the number of cases. Wearing face masks, using sanitizers for hands,
and keeping a social distance of 2m are the measures suggested to avoid the virus
infection. Lockdowns in urban areas, prevention of people’s movement from one
place to another, stalling transports (rail, bus, and flights) were adopted to
check the spread.
No one thought the virus came out of the city of Wuhan
in China. It was thought that the wet market of the city was the origin of the
virus. It was not proved, so it was thought that the Virology Laboratory of
Wuhan is responsible for letting out the deadly virus. The Chinese people
living all over the world went to their native places, including Wuhan for the
Chinese Lunar New Year got infected. While returning to various parts of the
world they carried the virus in their body and spread it all over the world.
That happened in January and February 2020. From the beginning of 2020 to date
COVID – 19 has changed the normal way of our life.
Schools, colleges, and universities were closed and
students were asked to go home. Most of the small and medium-scale industries
and businesses were closed and the migrant laborers went back to their home
states. Transportations stopped functioning. The poor migrants with their
families traveled by their two-wheelers and even some on foot reached their
native places. Hard time indeed for those helpless migrants! There was a loss of
life on the way too.
From June 2020 onwards the governments started to
relax some rules so that people started coming out of their home to buy their
day to day necessities. Also, it was allowed for restaurants and markets to open. The
government slowly operated city buses and permitted people to go from one
district to another. Because of such relaxations, the COVID – 19 started
spreading to villages too. The number of cases increased every day. Some people
ignored the government rules as usual. They never wore face marks, used
sanitizers, and followed social
distancing.
People who work in IT and related companies were asked
to work from home. Because of the broadband and WiFi facility, people can work
from anywhere in the world. Similarly, school going students to college students
are taught online in order to save the academic year. Even the examinations are
conducted online. So the virus has changed the normal way of our life. It is
not only for us Indians but for all the nationalities who suffer due to COVID
– 19. Changes are welcome. But the changes brought by the coronavirus may
continue and people will be used to these changes and even adopt after the pandemic
comes to an end. Will there be an end to COVID – 19? – a big question no one is
able to answer at present. - NARA
Behind
every popular author,
you can find 100
other writers whose books will never sell. Behind them are another 100 who
haven’t found publishers. Behind them are yet another 100 whose unfinished
manuscripts gather dust in drawers. And behind each one of these are 100 people
who dream of – one day – writing a book. You, however, hear of only the
successful authors (these days, many of them self-published) and fail to
recognize how unlikely literary success is. The same goes for photographers,
entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, architects, Nobel Prize winners, television
presenters, and beauty queens. The media is not interested in digging around in
the graveyards of the unsuccessful. Nor is this its job. To
elude the survivorship bias, you must do the digging yourself.
BECOME MORE OPPORTUNISTIC
1.
Disturb your way of
thinking. Optimum can be learned by
challenging negative self-talk. You can do that by identifying your negative
belief about the event and by challenging its validity and offering alternate
beliefs.
2.
Find something meaningful. Having a purpose and engaging in
something meaningful is the key to remaining hopeful and happy.
3.
Count your blessings. Being positive is a powerful tool to
stay positive. A simple diary of all the events in your day will help your mind
remember all the good things that happened to you if it tends to dwell on the
negative.
4.
Take charge of your life. A pessimistic outlook may lead to feelings
of helplessness and despair in the face of a setback. Take a relook at the
situation and come up with things you can do to change the situation or at
least your reaction to it.
5.
Be thankful and relax. 10 to 15 minutes of mindfulness or
relaxation exercise to calm the mind and help positive thoughts come more
freely.
6.
Develop a support system. Having a good network of
friends and well-wishers, who offer support and perspective when things go
wrong ensures that you remain in good spirits most of the time.
ARGUMENTS WINNING TOOLS
1. Know your facts.
How
many times have you made a claim about some piece of trivia only to realize, as
soon as you’ve made that claim, that you’re completely wrong? Inevitably,
someone challenges you, but because you don’t want to lose, you continue to
stick to your guns. This is not an ideal way to win (or enter) an argument.
2. Be ready to see the other person’s perspective. You don’t have to agree with a foe in order to see his
or her perspective. However, if you want to win an argument, you do need to be
able to see the world the way your opponent does. Stepping into the mindset
of those you argue which allows you to figure out what’s influencing them.
Perhaps they’re feeling threatened, anxious, or annoyed. Perhaps they know
something that you don’t. In any case, showing empathy will lower the
temperature of the debate and allow both of you to come to a resolution.
3. If you can’t be open-minded, at least seem that
way. Becoming defensive is one of the
worst ways to win an argument. Don’t let your opponent sense that you’re
doffing into your position without being willing to consider alternatives. If
you appear to be giving the other side’s position a thoughtful review, then the
solution you propose will seem to be far more sensible. Furthermore, your
opponent may come to your side without your having to do anything other than
listening. By letting your opponent speak, you may allow the situation to
naturally resolve itself.
4. Keep your emotions under control. Emotions play an
important role in the conflict by altering how you appraise the situation. In
addition, being able to regulate your emotions is equally important. If you
lose your temper, you’ll only antagonize your opponent, that will further
heighten his or her wrath, and the process can only escalate upwards. Don’t
worry you’ll seem weak by becoming calm in the midst of the argument – you’ll
gain points by showing that you can exercise self-control. Who knows, the
argument may even end right then and there, once both of you take a more
reasoned perspective.
5.
Remain hopeful that the argument can be resolved.
Arguments, by definition, involve negative emotions. In the midst of a screaming
fest, it might be hard to see yourself coming out on the other side with your
dignity intact. However invoking the feeling of hope allows you to think more
clearly, leading to the possibility that you’ll win by sheer force of logic.
Hope allows you to come up with creative solutions to the disputes at the core
of the conflict
JUST TO LAUGH
Once Ram, Laxman & Sita Were
Traveling In A Mercedes.
Suddenly The Petrol Got Over.
Ram & Laxman Went To Bring Petrol
From The Nearest Petrol Pump.
Ravan Came & Kidnaped Sita In
A Helicopter.
Ram Took Out His iPhone And
Gave A Missed Call To Hanuman.
Hanuman Came On His Pulsar
220cc, Jumped & Punched The Helicopter.
It Broke Into 3 Halves.
Ravan: “How Did You Get Such
Energy Dude?”
Hanuman: “Boost Is The Secret Of My Energy“
LINES I LIKED...
Ø If others suffer you
will suffer too whether you like it or not.
Ø If our love is only a
will possess, it is not loving.
Ø If religion is to be taken
seriously, it must be practiced.
Ø If there is a
problem, discuss it.
Discover the value of the habit of forgetting!
Meet you next month –2020
Professor A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP
PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO:
E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com
Ph :
0422 4393017 Mobile: 75399 15614
(NARA’S
NOTEPAD)
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
SPONSOR
Prof.
S. Thamburaj Ph.D
Former Dean, Faculty
of Horticulture, TNAU, Coimbatore
11, Vaiyapuri Illam,
Sabapathy Road, Saibaba Colony
Coimbatore 641 038,
ph. 96007 39443
BRIBING - A GIVE AND TAKE?
Giving bribe and taking bribe are the two sides of a coin of corruption. Some Economic Advisor to the Government of India once said making bribe-takers more culpable than bribe givers is a wise thing to do. In order to abolish corruption from the lower level to the upper level of our society, one has to necessarily think of the two sides of the coin.
Who to blame? – The bribe giver or the bribe-taker?
In a way, both are committing a mistake of promoting corruption. Committing a
mistake or something to be done in one’s favor or work to be done at once to
give a bribe and get a title ‘bribe giver.’
The bribe may be either in the form of cash or kind
which induces the ‘bribe-taker’ to forget his / her duties for which one is
appointed. So if someone accepts the bribe certainly he or she is going to
commit another mistake of not doing his or her stipulated duty. Therefore both
people, the bribe giver and taker promote corruption in secrecy. It is the way
the whole system of a government – either in democracy or autocracy – runs all
over the world. Thus at the end of the day, no system is free from corruption.
Everyone is someway involved either directly or
indirectly in promoting corruption. Someone who leads a simple life like that
of Anna Hazare only can think of a corruption-free world. But I think in this
materialistic world no one will come forward to lead the life of Anna Hazare. How
many people on earth will lead a life so simple and depend on oneself? All of us
want to abolish corruption. Everyone finds fault with others. The Government
brings rules after rules and laws after laws to prevent corruption. Police
departments are engaged in looking for corrupt people. Some say the police
department is one of the worst corrupt units in every government. Politicians
are corrupt although they are the lawmakers against corruption. Then how to
abolish corruption? Is there a way out? Punishing the corrupt is one way. But,
how to do it? It is a tricky question. No one can give a suitable answer.
Since corruption is a universal practice; all human
beings are in a way corrupt. In fact, corruption happens at all levels of the
society. There is small-scale and big-scale corruption. Plenty of corruption
cases are in the courts. Many are disposed of due to a lack of proper evidence.
Even in some cases the advocates and even the judges are biased due to corruption.
There are many examples. If that is the case, then how will you abolish
corruption in our society? The simple conclusion would be that we have to live
with this global pandemic namely corruption or bribing. - NARA
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Biotechnology deals with the use of living organisms and bio-processes in the
field of engineering, technology, and medicine. It covers an array of subjects
like genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, and
virology. It is also called a technology of the future or technology of
tomorrow because of its unprecedented impact on mankind. Over the past 3
decades, it has been progressing steadily. This suggests the long-term potential
for students due to its knowledge base and human resources, is likely to become
an international focal point for the growth of biotechnology. Biotechnology
finds application in a number of fields, including healthcare, agriculture,
horticulture, animal husbandry, research and development, food processing, drug
designing and manufacture, and environmental conservation.
Though biotechnology has
developed as a discipline in several academic institutions, need-based
specialization is yet to blossom in the country. The developed world has
initiated focused centers of activity and manpower is specially trained for the
niche industry. Yet another domain which would recruit in the long run is the
bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticides industry. While attempts are on to develop
better formulations and cost-effective commercially viable bio-pesticides
including microbial pesticides, parasitoids, and bacteria, this sector is yet to see active
recruitment. At present, there is a great emphasis on developing biofuels as
an alternative fuel.
BRAIN POWER
1.
Wear Your Watch Upside Down. Give your brain a
little stretch each time you check your watch by wearing your watch upside
down. This subtle change doesn’t take much effort but will force your brain to
think out of its comfort zone in making sense of time gone a bit topsy-turvy.
These kinds of “neurobic” activities may seem simple and fun, yet are a terrific way to challenge your brain’s flexibility and routine.
2.
Plan Some Brain Healthy Meals. Invest five
minutes in laying out a meal plan for the upcoming few days. Giving some
thought in advance to what you are going to eat will increase the chances that
you will make brain-healthy food choices. Deciding ahead can also get you
organized and save you time shopping and cooking your meals.
3.
Learn How to Remember a Name. Here’s a smart
tip we can all really use: Spend time learning some simple memory strategies to
boost your memory for names. For example, try repeating information as you hear
it. This easy technique will force you to focus on what you are learning and
give you the chance to rehearse it, increasing the odds that you’ll remember
it. Or make a connection between what
you are
learning
and something that you already know. Meeting Florence? Connect her name to a
famous Florence, such as Florence Nightingale, or to the city of Florence in
Italy.
DISADVANTAGES OF INTERNET
Allowing for
freedom of speech and expression on the Internet has many pitfalls. Not
everybody is safe on the Internet, especially not children. There are untold
numbers of websites that show nothing but pornography and are available with a
click of the mouse. Children do not necessarily have to look at those sites,
but they are vulnerable to seeing pornography on the Internet in the form of
explicit advertisements that pop up on innocent sites, and everything is only a
click away.
The dangers
of the Internet are not limited to pornography. There are many sites where, due
to the anonymity of the Internet, people try to solicit sex from innocent
children through chatrooms. There are many children who do not know and assume
that the person they are chatting with is a "friend" who is their age
and harmless.
Another
frightening phenomenon on the Internet is the proliferation of sites hosted by
hate groups. These groups put all sorts of anti-government material on the
Internet and even try to recruit members. Another aspect of these groups is the
fact that one can find thousands of sites that offer dangerous materials such
as guns or bomb-making material for sale to the public. The Internet contains
sites that inform the public how to make home-made bombs, how to rob banks, how
to kidnap, etc.
The solution
to the problem seems to be rather simple: ban people from hosting any sexually
explicit content on the Internet. This, however, cannot be done. The First
Amendment of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech does not allow the government to shut down those sites. Since the
Internet is an open platform, shutting down Internet sites would be a violation
of the First Amendment. Watchdog organizations have been formed to make sure that there is no violation of people's
rights and that there is no censorship of the Internet of the internet.
TO QUOTE...
The world
crisis is composed of two characters – one represents danger and one represents
opportunity. – John F. Kennedy
Words are
the most powerful drug used by mankind. –
Rudyard Kipling
JUST TO LAUGH...
A Man Who Is Driving A Car Is Stopped By A Police Officer.
The Officer: “You
Were Going At Least 75 In A 55 Zone”
Man: “No
Sir, I Was Going 60”
Wife: “Oh Johnny,
You Were Going 80”
Officer: “I’m
Also Going To Give You A Ticket For Your Broken Tail Light”
Man: “Broken Tail
Light? I Didn’t Know About A Broken Tail Light!” Wife: “Oh Johnny, You’ve Known About That Tail Light
For Weeks” Officer: “I’m Also
Going To Give You A Citation For Not Wearing Your Seat Belt”
Man: “Oh,
I Just Took It Off When You Were Walking Up To The Car”Wife:
“Oh, Johnny, You Never Wear Your Seat Belt”
Man Turns To His Wife And Yells: “Shut Your
Damn Mouth Bitch”
Officer Turns To The Woman And Asks: “Mam, Does Your Husband Talk To You This Way All
The Time?”
Wife: “No, Only
When He’s Drunk“
LINES I LIKED
Ø No matter what law
you frame, it won’t work until there is a change in mindset.
Ø No matter what you do, when you start giving excuses that are when you stop moving forward.
Ø
No matter where we
are, everyone comes from somewhere else.
Ø
No matter whether you
like your work or not, do it with enthusiasm, just as if you did like it.
Think of a person that you live deeply!
Meet you next month –2020
Professor A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP
SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO:
E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com
Ph :
0422 4393017 Mobile : 75399 15614
(NARA’S
NOTEPAD)
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