The Hound of Baskerville

Is this man truly a genius? Very interesting take on socialism

2011-12-21T07:55:00.001-08:00

Is this man truly a genius?

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".. All grades will be averaged and everyone will receive the same grade so no one will fail and no one will receive an A.... (substituting grades for dollars - something closer to home and more readily understood by all).

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B. The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy. As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.
When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

As the tests proceeded, the scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

To their great surprise, ALL FAILED and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great, but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.
Could not be any simpler than that.

These are possibly the 5 best sentences you'll ever read and all applicable to this experiment:

1. You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it!

5. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

......................................Thanks Raghu

Crop Art: Rice fields of Japan

2009-09-23T07:58:00.001-07:00

This stunning crop art has sprung up across rice fields in Japan. But this is no alien creation - the designs have been cleverly planted.

Farmers creating the huge displays use no ink or dye. Instead, different colours of rice plants have been precisely and strategically arranged and grown in the paddy fields. As summer progresses and the plants shoot up, the detailed artwork begins to emerge.

A Sengoku warrior on horseback has been created from hundreds of thousands of rice plants, the colours created by using different varieties, in the village of Inakadate in Japan.

The largest and finest work is grown in the Aomori village of Inakadate,600 miles north of Toyko, where the tradition began in 1993. The village has now earned a reputation for its agricultural artistry and this year the enormous pictures of Napoleon and a Sengoku-period warrior, both on horseback, are visible in a pair of fields adjacent to the town hall. More than 150,000 visitors come to Inakadate, where just 8,700 people live, every summer to see the extraordinary murals. Each year hundreds of volunteers and villagers plant four different varieties of rice in late May across huge swathes of paddy fields.

Napolean on horseback can be seen from the skies, created by precision planting and months of planning between villagers and farmers in Inkadate.

Fictional warrior Naoe Kanetsugu and his wife Osen appear in fields in the town of Yonezawa, Japan. And over the past few years, other villages have joined in with the plant designs. Various artwork has popped up in other rice-farming areas of Japan this year, including designs of deer dancers. Smaller works of crop art can be seen in other rice-farming areas of Japan such as this image of Doraemon and deer dancers.

The farmers create the murals by planting little purple and yellow-leafed kodaimai rice along with their local green-leafed tsugaruroman variety to create the coloured patterns between planting and harvesting in September.

The murals in Inakadate cover 15,000 square metres of paddy fields. From ground level, the designs are invisible, and viewers have to climb the mock castle tower of the village office to get a glimpse of the work. Rice-paddy art was started there in 1993 as a local revitalization project, an idea that grew out of meetings of the village committee. Closer to the image, the careful placement of thousands of rice plants in the paddy fields can be seen.

The different varieties of rice plant grow alongside each other to create the masterpieces. In the first nine years, the village office workers and local farmers grew a simple design of Mount Iwaki every year. But their ideas grew more complicated and attracted more attention. In 2005 agreements between landowners allowed the creation of enormous rice paddy art. A year later, organisers used computers to precisely plot planting of the four differently coloured rice varieties that bring the images to life.

Thanks, Rajani

George Carlin's Views on Ageing

2009-06-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Do you realise that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about ageing that you think in fractions.

'How old are you?' 'I'm four and a half!' You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead.

'How old are you?' 'I'm gonna be 16!' You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life .... . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony. YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there Into the 90s, you start going backwards; 'I Was JUST 92.'

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. 'I'm 100 and a half!'
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!

HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud.. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6... The tears happen.. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Thanks Palvi

Indian Election Economy in a 'snapshot'

2009-03-25T23:22:00.000-07:00

Check out this hoarding. Proof of election economy at play. (Translation below)

For those who don't read Malayalam, the hoarding has a rate card for various election-related logistical tasks:

1. for sticking posters and writing on walls - Rs. 500 + a pint (of booze)
2. for tearing posters and blacking writing out with oil - Rs. 1000 + a full (bottle of booze)
3. to walk around saying that the candidate will win and to praise the candidate (in a group of 3) - Rs. 2500 + 1 litre (of booze)
4. to walk around saying that the rival candidate will lose and to do his/her character assassination (in a group of 5) - Rs. 500 + 2 litres of booze)

Kottayam Lok Sabha Elections Canvassing Workers (that's the name of the organisation/group)

Thanks Rohan

Siddhagiri Museum Kolhapur - India's Madame Tussauds

2009-03-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

A museum minus the GLAM Celebrities

Siddhagiri Museum Kolhapur…

on the outskirts of Kolhapur on the way to Belgaum

       ....all statues are made out of wax.

Thanks Bhatta

Willard Wigen - Microscopic Art

2009-03-17T21:31:00.000-07:00

Willard Wigen is a resident of Birmingham, England.

He has a learning disability (dyslexia), but has talented hands. He makes the sculptures out of dust particles, sugar crystals, etc.

Works only around midnight, and can only do some of the work between heartbeats. Some of his masterpieces....

The Statue of Liberty in the eye of a needle

Elvis on a pin head

Boxing ring next to a match head

Girl with balloon is standing on an eyelash glued to the top of a needle.

Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs in the eye of a needle (Note the wicked witch on top)

The Thinker on the head of a pin

Peter Pan & Tinkerbell etc. on a small fishhook

The royal court in the eye of a needle

Visitors view exhibits through a microscope

Thanks Digu

Timing is everything !

2009-03-16T04:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks Karthick

How company logos will look like when the crisis is finally over

2009-01-26T19:43:00.000-08:00

Thanks Liza

Ambush Marketing: Coke vs Pepsi

2009-01-12T19:58:00.000-08:00

Take a look at this hoarding by Pepsi.

This building is on TTK Road , Chennai.

Coca Cola has taken 2nd floor for their sales & marketing office and fixed a board.

Two days later Pepsi put up a board in the same building where they have no outlet...........

Thanks Karthick

Old Computer Ads

2009-01-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

Thanks Karthick

Warren Buffet advice for 2009

2009-01-01T01:54:00.000-08:00

We begin this New Year with dampened enthusiasm and dented optimism. Our happiness is diluted and our peace is threatened by the financial illness that has infected our families, organisations and nations. Everyone is desperate to find a remedy that will cure their financial illness and help them recover their financial health. They expect the financial experts to provide them with remedies, forgetting the fact that it is these experts who created this financial mess.

Every new year, I adopt a couple of old maxims as my beacons to guide my future. This self-prescribed therapy has ensured that with each passing year, I grow wiser and not older.

This year, I invite you to tap into the financial wisdom of our elders along with me, and become financially wiser.

*Hard work: All hard work bring a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.

*Laziness: A sleeping lobster is carried away by the water current.

*Earnings: Never depend on a single source of income.
( At least make your investments get you second earning)

*Spending: If you buy things you don't need, you'll soon sell things you need.

*Savings: Don't save what is left after spending; Spend what is left after saving.

*Borrowings: The borrower becomes the lender's slave.

*Accounting: It's no use carrying an umbrella, if your shoes are leaking.

*Auditing: Beware of little expenses; a small leak can sink a large ship.

*Risk-taking: Never test the depth of the river with both feet. Have an alternate plan ready

* Investment: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I'm certain that those who have already been practicing these principles remain financially healthy. I'm equally confident that those who resolve to start practicing these principles will quickly regain their financial health.

Let us become wiser and lead a happy, healthy, prosperous and peaceful life..

Thanks Karthick

Aurora Borealis - Northern Lights

2008-10-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

Nature's handiwork. Beautiful sight!

This is a fire rainbow - the rarest of all naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena.

The clouds have to be cirrus, at least 20k feet in the air, with just
the right amount of ice crystals and the sun has to hit the clouds at
precisely 58 degrees.

Notice the temperature

Thanks Praveen

Sand Fantasy

2008-10-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

(Keep your speakers on and enjoy the music and the ART)

Ilana Yahav is a sand animation artist

Using only her fingers, Ilana draws with sand on a glass table

Among her works there are public sand art shows, unique video clips and a new DVD for babies - the "Baby Sandy"

Visit http://sandfantasy.com/

Thanks Yogish

'JAPLISH'...Japanese English

2008-10-21T09:32:00.000-07:00

1. Very difficult to make up what it is about ?

2. Maybe in Japan, there are Males who are not 'Man'

3. Bring your own tissue....I think

4. Cheese Fair or 'Afraid of Cheese'

5. They can construct their own WATER.....

6. You jump on the Elevator = Jail ?

7. You will need a smoke after reading this...

8. They even advertise their price hike...

9. Their mags need refrigeration....

10. Appears to be 'SOLD OUT'....

11. Pray while listening to MP3... be pious !!!

Thanks Gaya3

10 Most Wonderful Temples of the World

2008-10-18T22:58:00.000-07:00

Tiger's Nest Monastery

Tiger's Nest Monastery, perched precariously on the edge of the 3000 feet high cliff in Paro Valley, is one of the holiest place in Bhutan.

Wat Rong Khun

Wat Rong Khun in Chiang Mai, Thailand is unlike any Buddhist temples in the World.

Prambanan

Prambanan is a Hindu temple in Central Java, Indonesia. The temple was build in 850 CE and is composed of 8 main shrines and 250 surrounding smaller ones.

Shwedagon Paya

No one knows exactly when the Shwedagon Paya (or Pagoda) in Myanmar was build - legend has it that it is 2,500 years old though archaeologists estimate that it was build between the 6th and 10th century.

Temple of Heaven

Temple of Heaven is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China. The temple was constructed in 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty.

Chion-in

Chion-in Temple was build in 1234 CE to honor the founder of Jodo (Pure Land) Buddhism, a priest named Honen, who fasted to death in the very spot.

Ancient Ruin deep in the jungles of Java

In the 19th century, Dutch occupiers of Indonesia found a massive ancient ruin deep in the jungles of Java. What they discovered was the complex of Borobudur, a gigantic structure build with the nearly 2 million cubic feet (55,000 m^3) of stones. The temple has nearly 2,700 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues.

Golden Temple in Punjab

The Harmandir Sahib (meaning The Abode of God) or simple The Golden Temple in Punjab, India is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism.

Temple of Srirangam

The Temple of Srirangam (Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple), in the Indian City of Tiruchirapalli (or Trichy), is the largest functioning Hindu temple in the World. (Ankor Wat is the largest of all temple, but it is currently non-functioning as a temple).

Ankor Wat

Last but definitely not least is the largest temple in history and the inspiration to countless novels and action movies of Hollywood: Ankor Wat.

Ad: Louis Vuitton, Mikhail Gorbachev

2008-10-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

Mikhail Gorbachev with a Vuitton bag at his side

Text Line:
A journey brings us face to face with ourselves. Berlin Wall. Returning from a conference.

Mikhail Gorbachev and Louis Vuitton are proud to support Green Cross International.

866-VUITTON and now on www.louisvuitton.com
Fifth Avenue at 57th Street. Soho. Americana Manhasset. The Westchester
Agency: Ogilvy & Mather

For an interesting angle on the reactions to this ad, click:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/business/media/05vuitton.html

Creative: Ads using hands for art...

2008-10-12T23:19:00.000-07:00

Wonderful creative usage of the hand as template for art

Advertisement for 'roaming' capabilities with AT&T mobile telephone service
Unique motifs identify countries in which AT&T offers 'roaming' capabilities

Credits:

Advertising Agency: BBDO Atlanta, BBDO New York, USA

Painter: Guido Daniele

Thanks Karthick

Tired of the usual back massage?!!

2008-10-11T10:34:00.000-07:00

A new technique of massage that is most effective and getting popular by the day...
Click on the 'play' button to view the video

Thanks Karthick

Magnificient Guoliang Tunnel Road in China - Road that does not tolerate any mistakes

2008-10-05T21:25:00.001-07:00

Guoliang Tunnel

This tunnel is located in the Taihang Mountains which are situated in the Hunan Province of China. There is an interesting story behind its development.

Before 1972, access to the nearby Guoliang village was limited to a very difficult path carved into the mountainside.

The village was nestled in a valley surrounded by towering mountains. It was basically cut off from civilization.

1972, a group of desperate villagers decided to take matters into their own hands - they would carve a road right into the side of the mountain by themselves!

Shen Mingxin was the head of the village. He insisted that the villagers needed to embrace this project.

So they sold goats and herbs to buy hammers and steel tools. Thirteen strong villagers began the project.

It took them five years to finish the 1,200-metre-long tunnel (a little less than a mile) that is about 5 meters high (15 ft) and 4 meters (12 ft) wide.

Not only was the project arduous, it was also dangerous. Some of the villagers died in accidents during construction.

Undaunted, the others continued. On May 1, 1977, the tunnel was opened to traffic.

(Thanks Rashmi for pics)

Playing with the moon

2008-09-29T02:48:00.000-07:00

Creative touch - Abraham Lincoln

2008-09-25T03:06:00.000-07:00

On the first day, as President Abraham Lincoln entered to give his inaugural address, just in the middle, one man stood up. He was a rich aristocrat.

He said, "Mr. Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family". And the whole Senate laughed; they though they had made a fool of Abraham Lincoln.

But Lincoln – and that type of people are made of a totally different mettle; Lincoln looked at the man and said, Sir I know that that my father used to make shoes in your house for your family, and there will be many others here…because the way he made shoes; nobody else can. He was a creator. His shoes ware not just shoes; he poured his whole soul in it. I want to ask you, have you any complaint? Because I know how to make shoes myself; if you have any complaint I can make another pair of shoes. But as far as I know, nobody has ever complained about my father's shoes. He was genius, a great creator and I am proud of my father".

The whole Senate was struck dumb. They could not understand what kind of man Abraham Lincoln was. He had made shoe making an art, a creativity. And he was proud because his father did the job so well that not even a single complaint had ever been heard.

It does not matter what you do. What matter is how you do it – of our own accord, with your own vision, with your own love. Then whatever you touch become gold.

(Thanks Bhatta)

Pics: Baby Bollywood faces

2008-09-16T06:33:00.000-07:00

Aamir Khan

Abhishek Bachchan

Akshay Kumar

Amisha Patel

Bobby Deol

Hrithik Roshan

Kajol

Kareena Kapoor

Karishma Kapoor

Rani Mukherjee

Raveena Tandon

Saif Ali Khan

Sanjay Dutt

Shahrukh Khan

Sonali Bendre

Sunny Deol

Twinkle Khanna

Thanks Rashmi

Are Reservations the answer? Karan Thapar interviews Minister

2008-09-15T06:10:00.000-07:00

The interview below is simply excellent... .

(Wait for video box to display and click "Play")

Karan Thapar: Do you personally also, as Minister of Human Resource Development, believe that a reservation is the right and proper way to help the OBCs?

Arjun Singh: Certainly, that is one of the most important ways to do it.

Karan Thapar: The right way?

Arjun Singh: Also the right way.

Karan Thapar: In which case, let's ask a few basic questions; we are talking about the reservations for the OBCs in particular. Do you know what percentage of the Indian population is OBC? Mandal puts it at 52 per cent, the National Sample Survey Organization at 32 per cent, the National Family and Health Survey at 29.8 per cent, which is the correct figure?

Arjun Singh: I think that should be decided by people who are more knowledgeable. But the point is that the OBCs form a fairly sizable percentage of our population.

Karan Thapar: No doubt, but the reason why it is important to know 'what percentage' they form is that if you are going to have reservations for them, then you must know what percentage of the population they are, otherwise you don't know whether they are already adequately catered in higher educational institutions or not.

Arjun Singh: That is obvious - they are not.

Karan Thapar: Why is it obvious?

Arjun Singh: Obvious because it is something which we all see.

Karan Thapar: Except for the fact that the NSSO, which is a government appointed body, has actually in its research in 1999 - which is the most latest research shown - that 23.5 per cent of all university seats are already with the OBCs. And that is just 8.5 per cent less than what the NSSO believes is the OBC share of the population. So, for a difference of 8 per cent, would reservations be the right way of making up the difference?

Arjun Singh: I wouldn't like to go behind all this because, as I said, Parliament has taken a view and it has taken a decision, I am a servant of Parliament and I will only implement.

Karan Thapar: Absolutely, Parliament has taken a view, I grant it. But what people question is the simple fact - Is there a need for reservations? If you don't know what percentage of the country is OBC, and if furthermore, the NSSO is correct in pointing out that already 23.5 per cent of the college seats are with the OBC, then you don't have a case in terms of need.

Arjun Singh: College seats, I don't know.

Karan Thapar: According to the NSSO - which is a government appointed body - 23.5 per cent of the college seats are already with the OBCs.

Arjun Singh: What do you mean by college seats?

Karan Thapar: University seats, seats of higher education.

Arjun Singh: Well, I don't know I have not come across that far.

Karan Thapar: So, when critics say to you that you don't have a case for reservation in terms of need, what do you say to them?

Arjun Singh: I have said what I had to say and the point is that it is not an issue for us to now debate.

Karan Thapar: You mean the chapter is now closed?

Arjun Singh: The decision has been taken.

Karan Thapar: Regardless of whether there is a need or not, the decision is taken and it is a closed chapter.

Arjun Singh: So far as I can see, it is a closed chapter and that is why I have to implement what all Parliaments have said.

Karan Thapar: Minister, it is not just in terms of 'need' that your critics question the decision to have reservation for OBCs in higher education. More importantly, they question whether reservations themselves are efficacious and can work.

For example, a study done by the IITs themselves shows that 50 per cent of the IIT seats for the SCs and STs remain vacant and for the remaining 50 per cent, 25 per cent are the candidates, who even after six years fail to get their degrees. So, clearly, in their case, reservations are not working.

Arjun Singh: I would only say that on this issue, it would not be correct to go by all these figures that have been paraded.

Karan Thapar: You mean the IIT figures themselves could be dubious?

Arjun Singh: Not dubious, but I think that is not the last word.

Karan Thapar: All right, maybe the IIT may not be the last word, let me then quote to you the report of the Parliamentary Committee on the welfare for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes - that is a Parliamentary body.

It says that looking at the Delhi University, between 1995 and 2000; just half the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Castes level and just one-third of the seats for under-graduates at the Scheduled Tribes level were filled. All the others went empty, unfilled. So, again, even in Delhi University, reservations are not working.

Arjun Singh: If they are not working, it does not mean that for that reason we don't need them. There must be some other reason why they are not working and that can be certainly probed and examined. But to say that for this reason, 'no reservations need to be done' is not correct.

Karan Thapar: Fifty years after the reservations were made, statistics show, according to The Hindustan Times, that overall in India, only 16 per cent of the places in higher education is occupied by SCs and STs. The quota is 22.5 per cent, which means that only two-thirds of the quota is occupied. One third is going waste, it is being denied to other people.

Arjun Singh: As I said, the kinds of figures that have been brought out, in my perception, do not reflect the realities. Realities are something much more and of course, there is an element of prejudice also.

Karan Thapar: But these are figures that come from a Parliamentary Committee. It can't be prejudiced; they are your own colleagues.

Arjun Singh: Parliamentary Committee has given the figures, but as to why this has not happened, that is a different matter.

Karan Thapar: I put it to you that you don't have a case for reservations in terms of need; you don't have a case for reservations in terms of their efficacy, why then, are you insisting on extending them to the OBCs?

Arjun Singh: I don't want to use that word, but I think that your argument is basically fallacious.

Karan Thapar: But it is based on all the facts available in the public domain.

Arjun Singh: Those are facts that need to be gone into with more care. What lies behind those facts, why this has not happened, that is also a fact.

Karan Thapar: Let's approach the issue of reservations differently in that case. Reservations mean that a lesser-qualified candidate gets preference over a more qualified candidate, solely because in this case, he or she happens to be an OBC. In other words, the upper castes are being penalized for being upper caste.

Arjun Singh: Nobody is being penalized and that is a factor that we are trying to address. I think that the prime Minister will be talking to all the political parties and will be putting forward a formula, which will see that nobody is being penalized.

Karan Thapar: I want very much to talk about that formula, but before we come to talk about how you are going to address concerns, let me point one other corollary - Reservations also gives preference and favor to caste over merit. Is that acceptable in a modern society?

Arjun Singh: I don't think the perceptions of modern society fit India entirely.

Karan Thapar: You mean India is not a modern society and therefore can't claim to be treated as one?

Arjun Singh: It is emerging as a modern society, but the parameters of a modern society do not apply to large sections of the people in this country.

Take a moment to congratulate Karan Thapar for skillfully exposing Arjun Singh for the clueless dolt he is.

Thanks Bhatta

Kerala Airways

2008-09-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

Relax….. enjoy your journey

It's the time for meal…!

Air hostess….Ammini Rajappan always at your service…

Thanks Yogish

Neck Pain: 24 Ways to Get the Kinks Out

2008-09-09T22:44:00.000-07:00

Maybe you have a boss, or a brother-in-law, whom you describe as a pain in the neck. But when it comes to neck pain, the blame—as well as the pain—is probably resting on your shoulders.

"It's keeping your head in an awkward position—that is, pushed forward with your ears in front of your shoulders—for a long time that makes your neck hurt," says Joanne Griffin, senior physical therapist and inpatient headache treatment therapist at the New England Center for Headache at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. "That's what many people who have neck problems are doing."

Naturally, some people—because of their occupations—are more at risk than others. "Beauticians, for example, work in a bent-over position all day long," says Robert Kunkel, M.D., head of the Section of Headache in the Department of Internal Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.

Regardless of your job or lifestyle, you can rid yourself of blame—and more importantly, pain—by applying a few time-tested methods, replacing bad habits with good ones, and giving your neck regular exercise. So keep your head up and your eyes open. Help is on the way.

Ice down. An ice pack or ice wrapped in a towel is a good choice when stiffness is just settling in, Griffin says. If your neck has been slightly injured, ice can help hold down swelling.

Heat up. After ice has reduced any inflammation, heat is a wonderful soother—be it from a heating pad or a hot shower.

Use a heat rub. These over-the-counter ointments are soothing but have no real healing effect because they don't really penetrate the skin's surface, says Steve Antonopulos, head athletic trainer for the Denver Broncos football team. Never use them with heating pads, he adds. At best they provide "psychological benefit."

Take the old standby. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories such as aspirin or ibuprofen will help reduce pain and inflammation. Take two pills three or four times a day.

Sit in a firm chair. Like the song says, the backbone is connected to the neck bone. And if you sit in a chair that doesn't give you good back support, you increase your chances of worsening existing neck problems and causing new ones, says Mitchell A. Price, D.C., a chiropractor in Temple, Pennsylvania.

Throw in the towel. Actually, roll a towel up and place it against the small of your back when sitting—it will better align your spine and give you additional support, says Griffin.

Take a break. Just as the feet need rest from constant standing, the neck needs a rest from constant sitting. Your head weighs approximately 8 pounds, Griffin says, and that's a lot of weight for the neck to support without much help from the rest of your body. So periodically stand up and walk around.

Keep your chin up. Keep your head level but pull your chin in as if you were making a double chin, says Griffin. Also avoid having your head lowered all the time when working at a desk or reading, she advises. This will prevent stressing the muscles in the back of the neck.

See eye to screen. If you work with a video display terminal all day, it's important to have it positioned at eye level. If you force yourself to look up or down hour after hour, you may cause your neck to spasm, says Price.

Reach out. And consider putting down the telephone. If you talk on the phone a lot, especially while trying to write, you've got your neck in an awkward position—an invitation to stiffness and pain.

Lift carefully. It's all too easy to forget there's a right way and a wrong way to lift heavy objects. The right way, says Price, is to bend your knees and hold your spine erect while positioning the object between your feet, which should be shoulder-width apart. When you lift the object, keep it as close to your body as possible.

Sleep on a firm mattress. A lot of neck problems begin, and worsen, with poor sleeping habits. Having a firm mattress is important, Price says.

Don't fight with your pillow. Just toss it aside. "A lot of people with neck pain feel better sleeping flat—without a pillow," Dr. Kunkel says.

Or get a cervical pillow. These pillows, which can be bought for as little as $20 in discount stores, give the neck proper support, Price says.

Don't sleep on your stomach. This is not only bad for your back, but your neck, too, says Price.

Sleep like a baby. In other words, sleep in the fetal position—on your side with your knees up toward your chest, Price advises.

Wrap up. When it's cold and damp outside, you probably wear a hat. But you should cover your neck as well. The weather can aggravate neck stiffness and pain, Dr. Kunkel says.

Relax. Just being tense can tighten the muscles in your neck and put you in pain. If you're under a lot of pressure or feel tense a lot, learning relaxation techniques, such as meditation or progressive relaxation, can help. Also, audiotapes are available to teach you how to relax.

Thanks Karthick

The ground crews and engineers too have a sense of humour!!

2008-09-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form called a problem sheet, which conveys to the mechanics, problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction. The engineers read and correct the problem, and then respond in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action was taken, and the pilot reviews the sheets before the next flight.

Of course, the ground crews and engineers have a sense of humor.

So, here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solutions recorded by maintenance engineers.

read on ....

P = The problem logged by the pilot
S = The solution and action taken by the engineers

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level .

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

(Qantas is an airline company based in Australia)

(Thanks Karthick for this forward)

How Google hyped The Beijing Olympics - Google Logo Collection

2008-08-31T02:17:00.000-07:00

Google had come up with some adorable logos to help hype the Olympics in China. Many of you would have noticed Google's new set of logos for the Beijing Olympics 2008. These logos are created by Dennis Hwang, a young talented graphic artist.

Google is famous for its logo on various festivals , occasions and events. So Google continues its tradition.

The Olympics doodle links to a search for the words Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Shown in the logo are the Beijing mascots Beibei, Jingjing, Huanhuan, Yingying and Nini, who together spell "Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni" – "welcome to Beijing". They carry the Olympic flag, which contains
rings representing the world's continents.

8th August 08 - Opening Ceremony Logo

9th August 08 - Cycling

10th August 08 - Weight Lifting

11th August 08 - Diving

12th August 08 - Rhythm

13th August 08 - Rings

14th August 08 - Basket Ball

15th August 08 - Badminton

16th August 08 - Soccer

17th August 08 - Rowing

18th August 08 - Ping Pong

19th August 08 - Swimming

20th August 08 - Track field

Bonus - Google's Orkut Olympics Logo

(Thanks Karthick)

Olympics: Ouch

2008-08-29T19:19:00.000-07:00

Watch the video first and then see the pics...

(Click the "play" button to view the video..)

(Thanks Karthick)

Ad: Perseverance pays!

2008-08-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Perseverance pays! I shall overcome...

Video ad for Coke

Click on the “Play” icon to view the video..

(Thanks Smitha)

Ad: Grandma-proof laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad

2008-07-30T23:54:00.000-07:00

Funny advertisement to show how durable the Thinkpad is...

Click on the "Play" button to view video...

Six ways you are wasting gas...

2008-07-14T22:41:00.000-07:00

It's not easy to break bad driving habits, but if you don't, the money you lose on gas could wind up breaking your bank.

With all the worry over fuel prices, you'd think drivers would do whatever they can not to waste gas. But look around and you'll see lots of them tooling around as if they owned their own tanker fleet. One of them might be you.

Here are six ways drivers typically waste gas every on every trip:

1. Racing away from green lights

When the light turns green, you don't have to take off as quickly as possible. That pedal under your right foot is called the "gas pedal" for a good reason. The more you press down on it, the more gas you're pumping into the engine.
Press lightly on the gas pedal, and you'll still accelerate, and you'll still get where you're going. You might be surprised at how little pressure it takes to get your car up to speed in a reasonable time.

2. Racing up to red lights

When you're driving down the street, and you see a light red light or stop sign up ahead, you should lay off the gas sooner rather than later. There's no point in keeping your foot on the gas until just before you reach the intersection. Let off the pedal sooner and give your engine a rest as you coast to the stop while braking gently. As an added benefit, your brake pads will last longer, too.
By themselves, these first two tips can improve your fuel economy around town by as much as 35 percent, according to tests conducted by automotive information Web site Edmunds.com.

3. Confusing the highway with a speedway

Even if it doesn't involve hard acceleration, speeding wastes gas. The faster you go, the more air your vehicle has to push out of the way. It's like moving your hand through water. The faster you try to move your hand, the harder the water pushes back. In tests by Consumer Reports, driving at 75 miles per hour instead of 65 miles per hour reduced fuel economy by between 3 and 5 miles per gallon, depending on the vehicle.

4. Bumper-buzzing

Tailgating is a bad move for many reasons. First of all, it's unsafe. You reduce your ability to react if the car in front of you slows or stops. It also means you have to pay ultra-close attention to that car which reduces your ability to scan for other hazards ahead of you and to
the sides. And tailgating wastes gas. Every time the driver ahead taps his brakes, you have to slow down even more than he did. (That's because you can't react immediately so you have to slow even more because you're slowing down later.) Then you accelerate again to get back up to speed and resume your bumper-buzzing routine. Hang back and you'll be safer - plus you'll be able to drive more smoothly and use less fuel. A good rule of thumb is to allow two seconds
of space between your car and the one ahead. You can figure that out bycounting off two seconds after the car in front of you passes an obvious landmark like an overpass.

5. Driving standing still

You've probably heard that it takes more gas to restart a car than to let it run. Maybe that used to be true, but it isn't anymore. Withmodern fuel-injection engines, it takes very little extra gas to restart a car once it's warmed up. Idling, meanwhile, burns about a half-mile worth of gas every minute, according to the California Energy Commission. That's why hybrid cars shut down their gasoline engines whenever they stop, even for a moment. Now you don't want to shut your engine down for every little stop in your regular, non-hybrid car - it's not designed for that - but if you're waiting for someone to run in and out of a convenience store, turn off the engine. And don't go through the drive-through at fast food restaurants. You're already paying enough for the oil in those chicken nuggets.

Bonus tip: Don't idle your engine to let it warm up before driving. It does your engine no good and it wastes gas. Instead, start driving right away, but drive gently until the engine is warm.

6. Short hops

For really short trips, take advantage of the opportunity to get some exercise. Try walking to the store instead of driving. You can save gas and burn a few calories instead. If you can't hoof it, save up your errands. A lot of short hops that let the engine cool down at home between trips can use twice as much gas as starting the car once and making a big sweep to all your stops, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Go to your farthest destination first so your engine has a chance to reach its optimal operating temperature. Then make your other stops on the way back. With the engine warmed up, the car will restart easily and run efficiently all the way home.

LIFE IN THE 1500'S

2008-07-12T23:21:00.000-07:00

The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be.

Here are some facts about the1500s:

Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odour.
Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.

Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it.
Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water..

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof.
Hence the saying . It's raining cats and dogs.

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house.. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection.
That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt.
Hence the saying, Dirt poor.

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a threshhold. (Getting quite an education, aren't you?)

In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Everyday they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old..

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon. They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.. (eeeeeks)!

Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.

Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust (which has come to mean the elite).

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up.
Hence the custom of holding a wake.

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people.. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, saved by the bell or was considered a ..dead ringer..

And that's the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring ! !

Thanks Karthi

Trivia Facts

2008-07-12T06:39:00.000-07:00

1. Chewing on gum while cutting onions can help a person from stop producing tears. Try it next time you chop onions.

2. Until babies are six months old, they can breathe and swallow at the same time. Indeed convenient!

3. Offered a new pen to write with, 97% of all people will write their own name to test it.

4. Male mosquitoes are vegetarians. Only females bite.

5. The average person's field of vision encompasses a 200-degree wide angle.

6. To find out if a watermelon is ripe, knock it, and if it sounds hollow then it is ripe.

7. Canadians can send letters with personalized postage stamps showing their own photos on each stamp.

8. Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.

9. It snowed in the Sahara Desert in February of 1979.

10. Plants watered with warm water grow larger and more quickly than plants watered with cold water.

11. Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.

12. Grapes explode when you put them in the microwave.

13. Those stars and colours you see when you rub your eyes are called phosphenes.

14. Our eyes (Pupils) are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.

15. Everyone's tongue print is different, like fingerprints.

16. Contrary to popular belief, a swallowed chewing gum doesn't stay in the gut. It will pass through the system and be excreted.

17. At 40 Centigrade a person loses about 14.4 calories per hour by breathing.

18. There is a hotel in Sweden built entirely out of ice; it is rebuilt every year.

19. Cats, camels and giraffes are the only animals in the world that walk right foot, right foot, left foot, left foot, rather than right foot, left foot .

20. Onions help reduce cholesterol if eaten after a fatty meal.

21. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.

(Thanks Karthick)

Pics: See and Smile

2008-07-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

THIS IS WHAT SORRY LOOKS LIKE

LOUD ENOUGH FOR YOU?

POLICE HARD AT WORK

I'D RATHER HOLD IT

BAD SPELLING

BAD JUDGMENT

SHOCKING ACCIDENT

McBURNT

PILE UP

FORGOT SOMETHING?

HANDLING A PROBLEM NEIGHBOUR

Boy Genius!

Tattoo Of The Year

(Thanks Karthick)

Golden Ray photos of amazing mass migration

2008-06-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

Looking like giant leaves floating in the sea thousands of Golden Rays are seen here gathering off the coast of Mexico.

The spectacular scene was captured as the magnificent creatures made one of their biannual mass migrations to more agreeable waters.

Gliding silently beneath the waves they turned vast areas of blue water to gold off the northern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Sandra Critelli, an amateur photographer, stumbled across the phenomenon while looking for whale sharks.

She said: "It was an unreal image, very difficult to describe. The surface of the water was covered by warm and different shades of gold and looked like a bed of autumn leaves gently moved by the wind.

"It's hard to say exactly how many there were but in the range of a few thousand.

"We were surrounded by them without seeing the edge of the school and we could see many under the water surface too.

"I feel very fortunate I was there in the right place at the right time to experienced nature at his best."

Measuring up to 7ft (2.1 metres) from wing-tip to wing-tip, Golden rays are also more prosaically known as cow nose rays.

They have long, pointed pectoral fins that separate into two lobes in front of their high-domed heads and give them a cow-like appearance.

Despite having poisonous stingers they are known to be shy and non-threatening when in large schools.

The population in the Gulf of Mexico migrates, in schools of as many as 10,000, clockwise from western Florida to the Yucatan.

News source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3345275/Golden-Ray-photos-of-amazing-mass-migration.html

Pics: Cool Business Cards

2008-06-28T23:15:00.000-07:00

COUPLES THERAPIST

DIVORCE LAWYER

DENTIST

SECOND-HAND STORE

PHYSICAL TRAINER

LAWNCARE COMPANY

HEAD HUNTER (edible card)

FURNITURE MAKER

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ACUPUNCTURIST

(Thanks Smitha)

Pics: Diamond-covered Mercedes

2008-06-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

Diamond Covered Mercedes of Prince Waleed

THE CAR COST $4.8 MIL.

AND IF YOU WANT TO TOUCH IT, YOU HAVE TO PAY $1000.

IT BELONGS TO PRINCE AL WALEED FROM SAUDI ARABIA.

This should convince you not to buy foreign oil products.

Remember this when gasoline cost $5.00 a gallon.

You paid for this one!

(Thanks Gayathri)

Correct postures - for PC users

2008-05-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

Here are some correct postures which should be used while using a computer to reduce stress and other ill effects.

(Thanks Praveen)

Please take good care of your wrist while using the keyboard and mouse of your computer.

Long term repetitive action stress can lead to Carpal Tunnel.

You could end up going under a surgery that looks like this:

Exercises 1 and 2 flex and extend the hand and stretch the wrist. Bend the hand as shown in the photos and apply moderate pressure to it with the other hand.

Exercise 1 - Wrist Flexion Bend the hand being exercised backward (palm away from you ), as shown in the photos. With the fingers of the other hand, apply pressure.

Exercise 2 - Wrist Extension Bend the hand being exercised forward ( palm toward you ), as shown in the photos. With the fingers of the other hand, apply pressure.

Exercises 3 and 4 are similar to 1 and 2 except that an object, such as a pad provides the resistance to the hand, instead of your other hand.

Exercise 3 - Wrist Flexion against surface With your arm held vertically, press your hand, palm down, on a firm surface, as shown in the photo.

Exercise 4 - Wrist Extension against surface With your arm held vertically, press your hand, palm up, on a firm surface, as shown in the photo.

Exercises 5 and 6 involve the side to side range of motion of the hand.

Exercise 5 - (Radial Deviation) Place your hand palm downward. Grasp the fingers of the hand to be exercised with your other hand (as shown in the photo) and twist the hand toward you. Keep the hand horizontal.

Exercise 6 - (Ulnar Deviation) Place your hand palm downward. Grasp the fingers of the hand to be exercised with your other hand (as shown in the photo) and twist the hand away from you. Keep the hand horizontal.

Pics: Anti-advertisements

2008-04-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

You will love this 6 yr. old child prodigy

2008-03-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

Child prodigy - Ethan Bortnick appearing on The Tonight Show by Jay Leno on March 10, 2008, chatting with Jay Leno and then performing some of his pieces from the DVD.

Ethan shows none of the pretentiousness so typical of child geniuses. He’s actually very funny and incredibly honest, particularly when describing his distaste for Aerosmith.

While he’s a very charming guest, Ethan’s there because of his piano prowess. This kid has memorized more than 200 songs, including pieces by Scott Joplin, Mozart, and Bach. Ethan then shows he’s more than just a jukebox by playing one of his original compositions.

Ethan Bortnick has performed solo concerts and has also performed for live audiences of over 20,000 people on many occasions. Ethan has wowed audiences with his skills and personality and has played to the astonishment of Patti LaBelle, Jay Leno, Cameron Diaz, Diane Sawyer, Nelly Furtado, Jason Alexander, Rush Limbaugh, Pamela Anderson, Martha Stewart, John Voight, and many more musicians and celebrities.

Visit http://www.ethanbortnick.com/

Inspirational - Next Time You Think Life is Hard..Think Again

2008-03-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

My name is Nick Vujicic and I was born without limbs and doctors have no medical explanation for this birth 'defect'. As you can imagine, I was faced with many challenges and obstacles.

Their firstborn son had been born without limbs! There were no warnings or time to prepare themselves for it... The doctors were shocked and had no answers at all! There is still no medical reason why this had happened and Nick now has a Brother and Sister who were born just like any other baby.

I know that there is no such thing as luck, chance or coincidence that these 'bad' things happen in our life.
I had complete peace knowing that God won't let anything happen to us in our life unless God has a good purpose for it all.

I am now twenty-three years old and have completed a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Financial Planning and Accounting. I am also a motivational speaker and love to go out and share my story and testimony wherever opportunities become available. I have developed talks to relate to and encourage students through topics that challenge today's teenagers. I am also a speaker in the corporate sector.

I have a passion for reaching out to youth and keep myself available for whatever God wants me to do, and wherever He leads, I follow.

Writing several best-selling books has been one of my dreams and I hope to finish writing my first by the end of the year.
It will be called 'No Arms, No Legs, and No Worries!'

I believe that if you have the desire and passion to do something, and if it's God's will, you will achieve it in good time. As humans, we continually put limits on ourselves for no reason at all! What's worse is putting limits on God who can do all things. We put God in a 'box'. The awesome thing about the Power of God, is that if we want to do something for God, instead of focusing on our capability, concentrate on our availability for we know that it is God through us and we can't do anything without God. Once we make ourselves available for God's work, guess whose capabilities we rely on? God's!
Now, sit back and think of your goals and dreams which you have always targeted in your life. If at any point of time, you find them difficult or impossible to achieve then read this once more!
Next Time You Think Life is Hard...Think Again!....

(Thanks Raghu)

Would you go to dine in this place ?!

2008-03-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

The 'Modern Toilet' eatery

Modern Toilet is a Taipei restaurant

It accommodates 100 seats with each made from toilet bowls.

The specialties at the restaurant accompany sink faucets and gender-coded 'WC' signs that appear on the three-story structure

The food is served in mini plastic toilet bowls.

The toilet rolls that serve for wiping hand and mouth are hung above the tables, which may resemble glass-topped jumbo bathtubs

and so on....

Bon Appétit !

Thanks Yogish

Album: Beautiful chickens of the World

2008-02-29T20:36:00.000-08:00

Don't always think of Biryani when you see Chicken ?!

Thanks Yogish

The Day God spilled the paint.......

2008-02-29T09:27:00.000-08:00

May 14. 2005

The east side of the Carrizo plain, in the Temblor Range, about 50 miles due west of Bakersfield, California

Photo taken by Barbara Mathews

(Thanks Raghu)

IF WOMEN CONTROLLED THE WORLD.....

2008-02-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

(Thanks Raghu)

Gujarati English

2008-01-06T09:39:00.000-08:00

In a hotel in Ahmedabad:
It is forbidden to steal hotel towels please. If you are not a person to do such thing is please not to read this notice.
**

In a hotel lobby in Surat (the city of language obscenity):
The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret that you will be unbearable.
**

In the elevator in Hotel Tex Pallazo, Surat:
To move the cabin, push button for wishing floor. If the cabin should enter more persons, each one should press a number of wishing floor. Driving is then going alphabetically by national order.
**

In a hotel elevator in Baroda:
Please leave your values at the front desk.
**

In a hotel in Jamnagar:
Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 A.M. daily.
**

In a hotel near Gujarat College, Ahmedabad:
You are invited to take advantage of the chambermaid.
**

Edwards Laundry on Relief Road, Ahmedabad:
Drop your trousers here for best results.
**

In a hotel in Bhavanagar:
Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is rekvested that the lobby be used for this purpose.
**

In a laundry in Anand:
Ladies, leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.
**

In a heritage hotel in Junagadh:
Take one of our horse-driven city tours - we guarantee no miscarriages.
**

Advertisement for donkey rides (on the famous white asses) in Rann of Kutch:
Would you like to ride on your own ass?
**

In a 5-Star Hotel cocktail lounge in Ahmedabad:
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.
**

In the office of a Gynecologist in Ahmedabad:
Specialist in women and other diseases.
**

In a hotel in Bharuch:
The manager has personally passed all the water served here.

(Thanks Yogish)

Rarely seen photos

2008-01-04T07:37:00.000-08:00

1) Tim Berners Lee -- Founder of the World Wide Web

2) Picture taken when Microsoft was started

3) Steve Woznaik(sitting) and Steve Jobs of APPLE Computers. He was three months late in filing a name for the business because he didn't get any better name for his new company. So one day he told to the staff: "If I'll not get better name by 5 o'clock today, our company's
name will be anything I like..." So at 5 o'clock nobody came up with better name, and he was eating an APPLE that time...Which is why he named the company 'Apple Computers'

4) Bill Hewlett(L) and Dave Packard(R) of HP. Behind them in the picture is the famous HP Garage. Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett. And the winner was NOT Bill... the winner was Dave.

5) Ken Thompson (L)and Dennis Ritchie(R), creators of UNIX. Dennis Ritchie improved on the B programming language and called it 'New B'. B was created by Ken Thompson as a revision of the Bon programming language (named after his wife Bonnie). He later called it C.

6) Larry Page(L) and Sergey Brin(R), founders of Google. Google was originally named 'Googol'. After founders (Stanford graduates) Sergey Brin and Larry Page presented their project to an angel investor, they received a cheque made out to 'Google'. So they kept the name GOOGLE

7) Gordon Moore(L) and Bob Noyce(R) ,founders of Intel. Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore wanted to name their new company 'Moore Noyce'. But that was already trademarked by a hotel chain... So they had to settle for an acronym of INTegrated ELectronics... INTEL

8) Andreas Bechtolsheim , Bill Joy, Scott McNealy and Vinod Khosla of SUN MicroSystems. Founded by four Stanford University buddies. Andreas Bechtolsheim built a microcomputer; Vinod Khosla recruited him; Scott McNealy manufactured computers based on it; and Bill Joy developed a UNIX-based OS for the computer... SUN is the acronym for Stanford University Network.

9) Linus Torvalds of Linux Operating System Linus Torvalds originally used the Minix OS on his system which he replaced by his OS. Hence the working name was Linux (Linus' Minix). He thought the name to be too egotistical and planned to name it Freax (free + freak + x). His friend Ari Lemmk encouraged Linus to upload it to a network so it could be easily downloaded. Ari gave Linus a directory called linux on his FTP server, as he did not like the name Freax. Linus liked that directory name and he changed the name of his new OS to LINUX...

10) Picture taken when INFY was started. This picture was found in the album of the clerk who took this picture...
The picture was with that clerk only because it was his birthday and he just told everyone to stand together at one place to take a pic. He borrowed a camera from his friend and as he could not ask any of his boss to take the pic, he took pic himself... even when it was his own birthday.

(Thanks Srimanto)

Pics: Sultan of Brunei's Private Air plane

2008-01-03T12:24:00.000-08:00

Sultan of Brunei 's Private Airplane

This aircraft was being 'remodeled' in Waco

Yes, the sinks are solid gold and one of them is Lalique crystal.

The Sultan bought the aircraft for roughly $100M; had it flown to Waco, brand-new, had the interior completely removed; and had the folks at E-Systems (now Raytheon) install $120M worth of improvements inside and outside.

Maybe the rich really are different than the rest of us!

(Thanks Raghu)

How to identify an Indian

2007-12-25T22:15:00.000-08:00

1. Everything you eat is savoured in garlic, onion and tomatoes

2. You try and reuse gift wrappers, gift boxes, and of course aluminium foil.

3. You are Always standing next to the two largest size suitcases at the Airport.

4. You arrive one or two hours late to a party - and think it's normal.

5. You peel the stamps off letters that the Postal Service missed to stamp.

6. You recycle Wedding Gifts, Birthday Gifts and Anniversary Gifts.

7. You name your children in rhythms (example, Sita & Gita, Ram & Shyam, Kamini & Shamini.)

8. All your children have pet names, which sound nowhere close to their real names.

9. You take Indian snacks anywhere it says "No Food Allowed"

10. You talk for an hour at the front door when leaving someone's house.

11. You load up the family car with as many people as possible.

12. You use plastic to cover anything new in your house whether it's the remote control, VCR, carpet or new couch.

13. Your parents tell you not to care what your friends think, but they won't let you do certain things because of what the other "Uncles and Aunties" will think.

14. You buy and display crockery, which is never used, as it is for special occasions, which never happen.

15. You have a vinyl tablecloth on your kitchen table.

16. You use grocery bags to hold garbage.

17. You keep leftover food in your fridge in as many numbers of bowls as possible.

18. Your kitchen shelf is full of jars, varieties of bowls and plastic utensils (got free with purchase of other stuff)

19. You carry a stash of your own food whenever you travel (and travel means any car ride longer than 15 minutes).

20. You own a rice cooker or a pressure cooker.

21. You fight over who pays the dinner bill.

22. You live with your parents and you are 40 years old. (And they prefer it that way).

23. You don't use measuring cups when cooking.

24. You never learnt how to stand in a queue.

25. You can only travel if there are 5 persons at least to see you off or receive you whether you are travelling by bus, train or plane.

26. If she is NOT your daughter, you always take interest in knowing whose daughter has run with whose son and feel proud to spread it at the velocity of more than the speed of light.

27. You only make long distance calls after 11 p.m.

28. If you don't live at home, when your parents call, they ask if you've eaten, even if it's midnight.

29. You call an older person you never met before Uncle or Aunty."

30. When your parents meet strangers and talk for a few minutes, you discover you're talking to a distant cousin.

31. Your parents don't realize phone connections to foreign countries have improved in the last two decades, and still scream at the top of their lungs when making foreign calls.

32. You have bed sheets on your sofas so as to keep them from getting dirty.

33. Its embarrassing if your wedding has less than 600 people.

34. All your Tupperware is stained with food colour.

35. You have drinking glasses made of steel.

36. You have mastered the art of bargaining in shopping.

Death cannot be closer than this

2007-12-21T18:51:00.000-08:00

(Pictures: Thanks to Karthick)

__,_._,___

Calvin and the Snowmen

2007-12-04T20:25:00.000-08:00

(Pics: Thanks Srimanto)

Madras nalla Madras !

2007-12-04T02:35:00.001-08:00

Some old b/w pictures of Madras.....

Some topical cartoons

2007-12-04T02:02:00.000-08:00

The Environment

Population Explosion

Humanity (modern times)

Border issues

Terrorism

Poverty

Suicide Scenario

Leadership

Veggie Sculptures

2007-11-10T22:06:00.000-08:00

Somebody has an exceptional imagination...

Creativity in Commerce

2007-10-09T23:01:00.000-07:00

Creativity in Commerce

Buses

Shopping bags

Paper cups

(Thanks Karthick for pics)

Warren Buffet

2007-10-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity...

Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!

He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a boundary wall or a fence.

He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.

His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year.

He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEO's only two rules.
a) Rule number 1: do not lose any of your shareholder's money.
b) Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch Television.

Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

His advice to young people: "Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself and

Remember:
1. Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money.
2. Live your life as simple as you are.
3. Don't do what others say, just listen them, but do what you feel good.
4. Don't go on brand name; just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.
5. Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on them who really in need rather.

After all it's your life then why give chance to others to rule our life

Click: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffett

The woman in your life..

2007-09-30T21:30:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow you may get a working woman, but you should marry with these facts as well.
Click the link below to play video:

Here is a girl, who is as much educated as you are;

Who is earning almost as much as you do;

One, who has dreams and aspirations just as you have because she is as human as you are;

One, who has never entered the kitchen in her life just like you or your sister haven't, as she was busy in studies and competing in a system that
gives no special concession to girls for their culinary achievements

One, who has lived and loved her parents & brothers & sisters, almost as much as you do for 20-25 years of her life;

One, who has bravely agreed to leave behind all that, her home, people who love her, to adopt your home, your family, your ways and even your family name

One, who is somehow expected to be a master-chef from day #1, while you sleep oblivious to her predicament in her new circumstances, environment and that kitchen

One, who is expected to make the tea, first thing in the morning and cook food at the end of the day, even if she is as tired as you are, maybe more, and yet never ever expected to complain; to be a servant, a cook, a mother, a wife, even if she doesn't want to; and is learning just like you are as to what you want from her; and is clumsy and sloppy at times and knows that you won't like it if she is too demanding, or if she learns faster than you;

One, who has her own set of friends, and that includes boys and even men at her workplace too, those, who she knows from school days and yet is willing to put all that on the back-burners to avoid your irrational jealousy, unnecessary competition and your inherent insecurities;

Yes, she can drink and dance just as well as you can, but won't, simply because you won't like it, even though you say otherwise

One, who can be late from work once in a while when deadlines, just like yours, are to be met;

One, who is doing her level best and wants to make this most important relationship in her entire life a grand success, if you just help her some and trust her;

One, who just wants one thing from you, as you are the only one she knows
in your entire house - your unstinted support, your sensitivities and most
importantly - your understanding, or love, if you may call it.

(Author unknown, but highly appreciated)

Palanquin Bearers - My fav poem

2007-09-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

Lightly, O lightly we bear her along,
She sways like a flower in the wind of our song;
She skims like a bird on the foam of a stream,
She floats like a laugh from the lips of a dream.
Gaily, O gaily we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

Softly, O softly we bear her along,
She hangs like a star in the dew of our song;
She springs like a beam on the brow of the tide,
She falls like a tear from the eyes of a bride.
Lightly, O lightly we glide and we sing,
We bear her along like a pearl on a string.

-- Sarojini Naidu

Amazing paper artwork

2007-08-19T04:09:00.000-07:00

Entries for an art contest at the Hirshhorn Modern Art Gallery in DC
The rule was that the artist could use only one sheet of paper.

(Thanks Suma for the pics)

Windows error messages...

2007-08-02T02:58:00.000-07:00

Thanks Karthick

Warren Buffet

2007-07-10T00:07:00.000-07:00

There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity

Here are some very interesting aspects of his life:

1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late!

2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha, that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company.

6. His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year.

7. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis. He has given his CEO's only two rules.
1. Rule number 1: do not lose any of your shareholder's money.
2. Rule number 2: Do not forget rule number 1.

8. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch Television.

9. Bill Gates, the world's richest man met him for the first time only 5 years ago. Bill Gates did not think he had anything in common with Warren Buffet. So he had scheduled his meeting only for half hour. But when Gates met him, the meeting lasted for ten hours and Bill Gates became a devotee of Warren Buffet.

10. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.

11. His advice to young people: "Stay away from credit cards and invest in yourself and Remember:
1. Money doesn't create man but it is the man who created money.
2. Live your life as simple as you are.
3. Don't do what others say, just listen them, but do what you feel good.
4. Don't go on brand name; just wear those things in which u feel comfortable.
5. Don't waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on them who really in need rather.

After all it's your life then why give chance to others to rule our life

(Thanks Yogish)

My favourite camera phone ad

2007-07-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Click on the 'play' icon to view the ad...

WITTY ANAGRAMS: When you rearrange the letters…

2007-06-30T07:52:00.000-07:00

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE : FLIT ON CHEERING ANGEL

DILIP VENGSARKAR : SPARKLING DRIVE

PRINCESS DIANA : END IS A CAR SPIN

MONICA LEWINSKY : NICE SILKY WOMAN

ASTRONOMER : MOON STARER

DESPERATION : A ROPE ENDS IT

THE EYES : THEY SEE

GEORGE BUSH : HE BUGS GORE

THE MORSE CODE : HERE COME DOTS

SLOT MACHINES: CASH LOST IN ME

ELECTION RESULTS : LIES - LET'S RECOUNT

SNOOZE ALARMS : ALAS! NO MORE Z'S

A DECIMAL POINT: I'M A DOT IN PLACE

THE EARTHQUAKES : THAT QUEER SHAKE

ELEVEN PLUS TWO : TWELVE PLUS ONE

and for the grand finale…

MOTHER-IN-LAW: WOMAN HITLER

(Thanks Raghu)