kishor

The Bloom Box -- Bloom Energy

2012-03-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

‘ப்ளூம் பாக்ஸ்’

The Bloom Box: a power plant for the home:

Those two blocks can power the average high-consumption American home -- one block can power the average European home. At least that's the claim being made by K.R. Sridhar, founder of Bloom Energy, on 60 Minutes last night. The original technology comes from an oxygen generator meant for a scrapped NASA Mars program that's been converted, with the help of an estimated $400 million in private funding, into a fuel cell. Bloom's design feeds oxygen into one side of a cell while fuel (natural gas, bio gas from landfill waste, solar, etc) is supplied to the other side to provide the chemical reaction required for power. The cells themselves are inexpensive ceramic disks painted with a secret green "ink" on one side and a black "ink" on the other. The disks are separated by a cheap metal alloy, instead of more precious metals like platinum, and stacked into a cube of varying capabilities -- a stack of 64 can power a small business like Starbucks.

Now get this, skeptics: there are already several corporate customers using refrigerator-sized Bloom Boxes. The corporate-sized cells cost $700,000 to $800,000 and are installed at 20 customers you've already heard of including FedEx and Wal-mart -- Google was first to this green energy party, using its Bloom Boxes to power a data center for the last 18 months. Ebay has installed its boxes on the front lawn of its San Jose location. It estimates to receive almost 15% of its energy needs from Bloom, saving about $100,000 since installing its five boxes 9 months ago -- an estimate we assume doesn't factor in the millions Ebay paid for the boxes themselves. Bloom makes about one box a day at the moment and believes that within 5 to 10 years it can drive down the cost to about $3,000 to make it suitable for home use

அப்படி என்னதான் சாதனை செய்துவிட்டார் இந்தத் தமிழர்?

கே.ஆர். ஸ்ரீதர் – இன்றைய தேதியில் அமெரிக்கா முழுமைக்கும் வியப்போடு கவனிக்கப்பட்டு வரும் பெயர். இதுவரை யாருமே செய்திராத ஓர் அதிசயத்தை செய்து காட்டியதன் மூலம் அமெரிக்க பிஸினஸ் உலகமே இவரை அண்ணாந்து பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது. இதில் பெருமைக்குரிய விஷயம், இவர் ஒரு தமிழர் என்பதே.

திருச்சியில் உள்ள ரீஜினல் என்ஜினீயரிங் காலேஜில் (தற்போது என்.ஐ.டி.) மெக்கானிக்கல் என்ஜினீயரிங் படித்து முடித்தவுடன் அமெரிக்காவில் உள்ள இல்லினாய்ஸ் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் நியூக்ளியர் என்ஜினீயரிங் படித்து விட்டு,
அதே பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் ஆராய்ச்சி செய்து டாக்டர் பட்டமும் பெற்றார் ஸ்ரீதர். மிகப் பெரிய புத்திசாலியாக இருந்த இவரை நாசா அமைப்பு உடனடியாக வேலைக்கு எடுத்துக் கொண்டது. அரிசோனா பல்கலைக் கழகத்தில் உள்ள ஸ்பேஸ் டெக்னாலஜீஸ் லேபரட்டரியின் இயக்குநராக அவரை நியமித்தது.
செவ்வாய்க் கிரகத்தில் மனிதன் வாழ முடியுமா? அதற்குத் தேவையான சாத்தியக்கூறுகளைக் கண்டுபிடிப்பது எப்படி? என்பது பற்றி ஆராய்ச்சி செய்வதே ஸ்ரீதரின் வேலை. முக்கியமாக செவ்வாய்க் கிரகத்தில் மனிதன் சுவாசிக்கத் தேவையான ஆக்ஸிஜனை தயார் செய்ய முடியுமா என்கிற ஆராய்ச்சியை மேற்கொண்டார். இந்த ஆராய்ச்சியில் மிகப் பெரிய வெற்றியும் பெற்றார். ஆனால் அமெரிக்க அரசாங்கமோ திடீரென அந்த ஆராய்ச்சியை ஓரங்கட்டிவிட்டது. என்றாலும் தான் கஷ்டப்பட்டு கண்டுபிடித்த விஷயத்தை ஸ்ரீதர் அப்படியே விட்டுவிடவில்லை.
அந்த ஆராய்ச்சியை அப்படியே ரிவர்ஸில் செய்து பார்த்தார் ஸ்ரீதர். அதாவது, ஏதோ ஒன்றிலிருந்து ஆக்ஸிஜனை உருவாக்கி வெளியே எடுப்பதற்குப் பதிலாக அதை ஒரு இயந்திரத்துக்குள் அனுப்பி, அதனோடு இயற்கையாகக் கிடைக்கும் எரிசக்தியை சேர்த்தால் என்ன நடக்கிறது என்று ஆராய்ந்து பார்த்தார்.
அட, என்ன ஆச்சரியம்! மின்சாரம் தயாராகி வெளியே வந்தது. இனி அவரவர்கள் அவரவருக்குத் தேவையான மின்சாரத்தை இந்த இயந்திரம் மூலம் தயார் செய்து கொள்ளலாம் என்கிற நிலையை ஸ்ரீதர் உருவாக்கி இருக்கிறார். தான் கண்டுபிடித்த இந்தத் தொழில் நுட்பத்தை அமெரிக்காவில் செய்து காட்டிய போது அத்தனை விஞ்ஞானிகளும் அதிசயித்துப் போனார்கள்.
ஆனால் இந்த புதிய தொழில்நுட்பத்தை பயன்படுத்தி, வர்த்தக ரீதியில் மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்க வேண்டுமெனில் அதற்கான இயந்திரங்களை உருவாக்க வேண்டும். இதற்கு பெரிய அளவில் பணம் வேண்டும். இப்படிப்பட்ட தொழில்நுட்பத்தைப் உருவாக்கும் பிஸினஸ் பிளான்களுக்கு வென்ச்சர் கேப்பிட்டல் நிறுவனங்கள்தான் பணத்தை முதலீடு செய்யும். ஸ்ரீதருக்கும் அப்படி ஒருவர் கிடைத்தார். அவர் பெயர், ஜான் டூயர். சிலிக்கன் பள்ளத்தாக்கில் பிரபலமாக இருக்கும் மிகப் பெரிய வென்ச்சர் கேப்பிட்டல் நிறுவனமான கிளீனர் பெர்க்கின்ஸை சேர்ந்தவர் இந்த ஜான் டூயர்.
அமெரிக்காவில் மிகப் பெரும் வெற்றி கண்ட நெட்ஸ்கேப், அமேசான், கூகுள் போன்ற நிறுவனங்கள் இன்று பிரம்மாண்டமாக வளர்ந்து நிற்கக் காரணம், ஜான் டூயர் ஆரம்பத்தில் போட்ட முதலீடுதான்.
கூகுள் நிறுவனத்தை ஆரம்பிக்க ஜான் டூயர் தொடக்கத்தில் போட்ட முதலீடு வெறும் 25 மில்லியன் டாலர்தான். ஆனால், ஸ்ரீதரின் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை வர்த்தக ரீதியில் செயல்படுத்த ஜான் டூயர் போட்ட முதலீடு 100 மில்லியன் டாலர். இது மிகப் பெரும் தொகை. என்றாலும் துணிந்து முதலீடு செய்தார் ஜான்.
காரணம், ஸ்ரீதர் கண்டுபிடித்த தொழில்நுட்பம் சுற்றுச்சூழலுக்கு உகந்தது. பொதுவாக மின் உற்பத்தி செய்யும்போது சுற்றுச்சூழல் பிரச்னைகள் நிறையவே எழும். அது நீர் மின் உற்பத்தியாக இருந்தாலும் சரி, அனல் மின் உற்பத்தியாக இருந்தாலும் சரி.
எனவே சுற்றுச்சூழலுக்கு எந்த வகையிலும் பங்கம் வராத மின் உற்பத்தித் தொழில்நுட்பத்துக்கு மிகப் பெரிய வரவேற்பு இருக்கும் என்று நினைத்தார்
அவர். தவிர, ஸ்ரீதரின் தொழில்நுட்பத்தைக் கொண்டு குறைவான செலவில் மின்சாரம் தயார் செய்ய முடியும். இந்த பாக்ஸிலிருந்து உருவாகும் மின்சாரம் குறைந்த தூரத்திலேயே பயன்படுவதால் மின் இழப்பு என்கிற பேச்சுக்கே இடமில்லை. இது மாதிரி பல நல்ல விஷயங்கள் ஸ்ரீதரின் கண்டுபிடிப்பில் இருப்பதை உணர்ந்ததால் அவர் அவ்வளவு
பெரிய தொகையை முதலீடு செய்தார்.

நல்லவேளையாக, ஜான் டூயரின் எதிர்பார்ப்பு பொய்க்கவில்லை. கிட்டத்தட்ட எட்டு ஆண்டுகள் கஷ்டப்பட்டு பலரும் உழைத்ததன் விளைவு இன்று ‘ப்ளூம் பாக்ஸ்’ என்கிற மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்கும் பாக்ஸ் தயார் செய்துள்ளார்.
சுமார் 10 முதல் 12 அடி உயரமுள்ள இரும்புப் பெட்டிதான் ஸ்ரீதர் உருவாக்கியுள்ள இயந்திரம். இதற்கு உள்ளே ஆக்ஸிஜனையும் இயற்கை எரிவாயுவையும் செலுத்தினால் அடுத்த நிமிடம் உங்களுக்குத் தேவையான மின்சாரம் தயார். இயற்கை எரிவாயுவுக்குப் பதிலாக மாட்டுச்சாண வாயுவையும் செலுத்தலாம்.
அல்லது சூரிய ஒளியைக் கூட பயன்படுத்தலாமாம். இந்த பாக்ஸ்களை கட்டடத்துக்குள்ளும் வைத்துக் கொள்ளலாம். வெட்ட வெளியிலும் வைத்துக் கொள்ளலாம் என்பது சிறப்பான விஷயம்.
உலகம் முழுக்க 2.5 பில்லியன் மக்கள் மின் இணைப்புப் பெறாமல் இருக்கிறார்கள்ஆப்பிரிக்காவில் ஏதோ ஒரு காட்டில் இருக்கும் கிராம மக்களுக்கு மின்சாரம் கொடுத்தால், அதனால் அரசாங்கத்துக்கு எந்த லாபமும் இல்லை என்பதால் அவர்கள் மின் இணைப்புக் கொடுப்பதில்லை. கிராமத்தை விட்டு வந்தால் மட்டுமே பொருளாதார ரீதியில் முன்னேற முடியும் என்கிற நிலை அந்த கிராம மக்களுக்கு. ஆனால் இந்த ‘ப்ளூம் பாக்ஸ்’ மட்டும் இருந்தால் உலகத்தின் எந்த மூலையிலும் மின்சாரம் தயார் செய்யலாம்” என்கிறார் ஸ்ரீதர்.
ஒரு ‘ப்ளூம் பாக்ஸ்’ உங்களிடம் இருந்தால் இரண்டு வீடுகளுக்குத் தேவையான மின்சாரம் கிடைத்துவிடும். இதே பாக்ஸ் இந்தியாவில் இருந்தால் நான்கு முதல் ஆறு வீடுகளுக்குத் தேவையான மின்சாரம் கிடைத்துவிடும். அமெரிக்க வீடுகளில் அதிக மின்சாரம் பயன்படுத்தப்படுவதே அங்கு வீடுகளின் எண்ணிக்கை குறையக் காரணம்.
இன்றைய தேதியில் அமெரிக்காவின் 20 பெரிய நிறுவனங்கள் ஸ்ரீதரின் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை பயன்படுத்தி மின்சாரம் தயார் செய்கின்றன. கூகுள் நிறுவனம்தான் முதன் முதலாக இந்தத் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை வாங்குவதற்கான கான்ட்ராக்ட்டில் கையெழுத்திட்டது. ‘ப்ளூ பாக்ஸ்’ மூலம் கூகுள் உற்பத்தி செய்யும் 400 கிலோ வாட் மின்சாரமும் அதன்
ஒரு பிரிவுக்கே சரியாகப் போகிறது. வால் மார்ட் நிறுவனமும் 400 கிலோ வாட் மின்சாரம் தயாரிக்கும் பாக்ஸை வாங்கி இருக்கிறது.

இப்போது Fedex, E bay, கோக்கா கோலா, அடோப் சிஸ்டம், சான் பிரான்சிஸ்கோ ஏர்போர்ட் போன்ற பல நிறுவனங்களும் இந்த புதிய தொழில்நுட்பத்தைப் பயன்படுத்தி மின்சாரம் தயார் செய்கின்றன.
100 கிலோ வாட் மின்சாரம் தயார் செய்யும் ஒரு பாக்ஸின் விலை 7 முதல் 8 லட்சம் டாலர்! அட, அவ்வளவு பணம் கொடுத்து வாங்க வேண்டுமா? என நீங்கள் நினைக்கலாம். ஆனால் இந்தத் தொழில்நுட்பத்தைப் பயன்படுத்தும் E bay நிறுவனம் கடந்த ஆண்டு ஸ்ரீதரிடமிருந்து ஐந்து பாக்ஸ்களை வாங்கியது. தனக்குத் தேவையான 500 கிலோ வாட் மின்சாரத்தை இந்த பாக்ஸின் மூலமே தயார் செய்துவிடுகிறது. இந்த பாக்ஸ்களை வாங்கிய ஒன்பதே மாதத்துக்குள் 1 லட்சம் டாலர் வரை மின் கட்டணத்தை சேமித்திருக்கிறதாம் E bay.
இன்னும் ஐந்து முதல் பத்து ஆண்டுகளில் அமெரிக்காவின் பல வீடுகளில் இந்த ‘ப்ளூம் பாக்ஸ்’ இருக்கும்.

சாதாரண மனிதர்களும் இந்த பாக்ஸை வாங்கி பயன்படுத்துகிற அளவுக்கு அதன் விலை 3,000 டாலருக்குள் இருக்கும்” என்கிறார் ஸ்ரீதர். அந்த அளவுக்கு விலை குறையுமா என்று கேட்டால், ஒரு காலத்தில் லட்சத்தில் விற்ற கம்ப்யூட்டர் இன்று ஆயிரங்களுக்குள் கிடைக்கிறதே என்கிறார்கள் ஸ்ரீதரின் ஆதரவாளர்கள்.
ஸ்ரீதரின் இந்த தொழில்நுட்பம் எதிர்காலத்தில் நிஜமாகும் பட்சத்தில் உலகம் முழுக்க மக்கள் அந்தத் தமிழரின் பெயரை உச்சரிப்பார்கள் என்பதில் சந்தேகமில்லை.

For More Information Refer: http://www.bloomenergy.com/

Spam Mail - ESPN STAR CRICKET AWARD

2012-03-09T01:22:00.001-08:00

This is just a small sampling of the many hundreds of advance fee fraud e-mails received each day here at 419BAITER headquarters. It is 100% pure B.S. Purity Guaranteed!

There are many different types of 419 scam but they all promise you something (fortune, job with salary / commision, low-interest loan, lottery prize, bargain gold dust / diamonds, work visa, etc.) in return for a small 'fee' or some kind of remittance. Of course, there is no fortune, no job, no loan, no prize to be had. It's just a ploy to get you to willingly send them money.

If you receive one of these scam mails, simply delete it as you would any other spam mails.

Mail Content:

.Office: 3 Queen Caroline Street, London, W6 9PE. Company No: 4620511.
Phone: +447010057344
Website: http://espnstarcrickets.com/index.html
Email: espnawardclaimsunit@london.com

Dear Email Owner,

This is to inform you that your E-mail have won a prize money of GBP 1,000,000.00 Pounds(One million Great British
pounds) for the Yearly ESPN STAR CRICKET AWARD United Kingdom which is organized to reduce poverty
Alleviation all over the world. Your Email Address" was selected through a computer ballot system draw from six final
recipients of a Cash Grant/Donation of (One Million Great British Pounds) to salvage your finances and to develop your
community. This cash grant is a gift you will never be required to pay back. This financial bailout plan is funded by,
Microsoft Corporation/Yahoo Incorporated, United Nations Agencies, Economic Development Organizations and Regional
Unions which include the African Union (AU), Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), European Union (EU), Union of South
American Nations (UNASUR), North American Union (NAU), etc. in an effort to reduce the impact of food and financial
crisis around the world.

For you to receive your won prize you must forward all your information to our official email:
espnawardclaimsunit@london.com

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM

1. Full Name's:
2. Sex:
3. Country:
4. State/City:
5. Contact Address:
6. Mobile/Tel Number:
7. Marital Status:
8. Occupation:
9. Date/Age:
10. Pin Code:
11. File Reference Number:
12. Winning E-Mail:
13. Have You Won Before: Yes Or No? .........

As a security measure, you are asked to keep your winning information confidential until you have made your
claim. This is mainly to avoid putting up double claims. On behalf of myself and all staff of ESPN STAR CRICKET
ORGANIZATION, I say congratulations once again.

Yours sincerely,
Mr. Graham Smith.
(Asia - Coordinator Claim Department)

Moss Graffiti Art

2012-03-09T01:12:00.000-08:00

Moss graffiti, also called eco-graffiti or green graffiti, replaces spray paint, paint-markers or other such toxic chemicals and paints with a paintbrush and a moss "paint" that can grow on its own. As people become more eco-friendly and environmentally aware, the idea of making living, breathing graffiti has become a more green and creative outlet for graffiti artists. It can also be considered another form of guerrilla gardening.

What Needed

One or two clumps (about a small handful) of moss
2 cups of buttermilk
You can also substitute with yogurt (vegan yogurt can be used)
2 cups of water (or beer)
1/2 tsp. sugar
Corn syrup (optional)

How To

1. Gather up as much moss as you can find or buy.
2. Wash the moss to get as much soil out of the roots as possible.
3. Break the moss apart into manageable pieces and place in blender.
4. Add the buttermilk/yogurt, water/beer and sugar. Blend the mixture until completely smooth. You'll want it to have a paint-like texture.
If the mixture is at a consistency where you feel it will drip, add corn syrup until the consistency you desire is reached.
5. Use a paintbrush to apply the moss-paint to the surface on which you wish your design to grow.
6. If possible, check back weekly to either spray the design with water (to encourage moss growth, especially if you live in a dry environment) or apply more moss-paint.

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos

2012-03-09T00:52:00.001-08:00

Samsung Galaxy Y Duos in now available in India from online retailer Flipkart. Samsung Galaxy Y Duos and Galaxy Y Pro DUOS, Dual SIM Android smartphones went on pre-order in India last month. The Samsung Galaxy Y Duos has 3.14-inch touch screen display and has polished metallic casing. It is powered by 832 MHz processor and runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread. It is 11.98mm thin and weighs 109 g.

Goes on sale in India for Rs. 9260

Other features include, 3MP camera, Music Player with SoundAlive, 3.5mm Ear Jack, Stereo FM Radio with RDS, Samsung TouchWiz UI, 384MB RAM, 512MB ROM and a expandable memory up to 32GB with MicroSD.

The connectivity features include, 3G (HSDPA 7.2Mbps) , Bluetooth v 3.0, USB 2.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, aGPS. It comes with 1,300 mAh battery.

Platform


Band	GSM&EDGE Band	850 / 900 / 1,800 / 1,900MHz
	3G Band	900 / 2,100MHz
Network&Data	GPRS	850 / 900 / 1,800 / 1,900 (Slave)
	EDGE	850 / 900 / 1,800 / 1900 (Master)
	3G	HSDPA7.2
Operation System	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Browser	Android Browser
SAR Value	0.655mW/g

Design


Form Factor	Full Touch BAR

Physical Specification


Dimension(HxWxD)	109.80 x 60.00 x 11.95mm
Weight	109g

Display


Internal	technology	262K Colour TFT
	Resolution	320 x 240
	Size	8 cms

Battery


Standard	Capacity	1,300mAh
	Talk Time	Up to 1,050 minutes (2 g), up to 370 minutes (3 g)
	Stand-by Time	Up to 630 hours (2 g), up to 440 hours (3 g)

Camera


Camera Resolution	3 MP
Digital/Optical Zoom	X2
Shot mode	Single / Smile / Panorama
Photo effects	Black&White / Negative / No Effect / Sepia
White Balance	Auto / Daylight / Incandescent / Fluorescent / Cloudy

Video


Video Player	3GPP / H.263 / H.264 / MPEG4
Video recording	CIF / QCIF / QVGA (Recording)
Video Messaging	Yes
Video Streaming	Yes
Input Device	Touch

Music&Sound


Music Player	MP3 / AAC / AAC+ / AMR / AMR-NB / eAAC+
Poly Ringtone	Yes
MP3 Ringtone	Yes
DRM	DRM v1.0 Full (FL, CD, SD)
3D sound technology	DNSe

Fun&Entertainment


Embedded Wallpaper	4ea
FM Radio	Yes
FM Radio RDS	Yes

Business&Office


Document Viewer	Yes
Offline Mode	Flight Mode
Voice Memo&Voice Mail	Voice Memo, Voice Mail

Messaging


SM/EMS/MMS	SMS / EMS / MMS
Predictive Text Input T9	MMS 1.2
Email	Email (POP3, IMAP4, SMTP, SSL, TLS)
Cell broadcast	Yes
vCard/vCalendar	Yes
Instant Messaging	Gtalk

Connectivity


Bluetooth	BT 3.0 HS
USB	2.0 High Speed
WAP	WAP 2.0 / HTTP
USB mass storage	Yes
Internet HTML Browser	Android
SyncML (DM) Support	DM 1.2
WiFi	Yes
AGPS	Yes
PC Sync Application	Yes

Memory


User Memory	160MB
SMS	Up to available memory
Phone Book Entries	Up to available memory
External Memory	32GB

Personal Information Management


Calendar	Month / Week / Day / Agenda
Clock	Real Time
Alarm	Yes
Calculator	Yes
Memo book	Yes

Call Function


Call Time	Last Call, Total Sent / Received, Reset Timers
Caller ID	Yes
Dialed/Missed/Received Calls	Total 500
Multiparty	Max 5
Speaker Phone	Yes

Further Information


Mobile Tracker	Yes
Touch Screen	C-Type

Features and specifications are subject to change without prior notification.

Car which Runs for 100kmpl - TATA Megapixel

2012-03-08T03:41:00.000-08:00

After Nano, Tata eyes 100 kmpl with Megapixel

At a time when fuel conservation is becoming imperative across the world, India's Tata Motors is aiming to make a car, Tata Megapixel that can deliver up to 100 kilometre from a litre of fuel by using a unique combination of technology.

The company, which surprised the world with 'Rs 1 lakh car' Nano, today unveiled the concept vehicle which is a four-seater global range extended electric vehicle (REEV) meant for city driving.

The new innovation from the house of Tatas is likely to be commercially launched in around three years from now.

"Realistically such products take at least 3 years to develop. There are lots of electric technology to be developed, besides many other things," Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata said after unveiling the vehicle here at the Geneva Motor Show.

The vehicle combines a lithium ion phosphate battery and an on-board petrol engine generator for recharging on the move. According to the company, Tata Megapixel offers a range of up to 900 km (with a single tank of fuel) and fuel economy of 100 km/litre (under battery only power).

It also said the car will have CO2 emission of "just 22 gm/km".

Last year at the 81st Geneva Motor Show, Tata Motors had unveiled Tata Pixel, a city car concept for Europe. Pixel is yet to be commercially launched.

Speaking during the unveiling of Megapixel, Tata Motors Managing Director - India Operations Prakash M Telang said: "The Tata Megapixel, developed by our design centres in India, the UK and Italy, is our idea of a city car for discerning motorists in any megacity of the world.

Tata Motors’ big splash at Geneva was the 2012 MegaPixel hybrid concept hatchback, a car that comes packed with technological innovations. Tata Motors’ European design studio has put together this hatchback car concept and the biggest buzz surrounding the MegaPixel concept is the 100 Kmpl claimed fuel economy figure that is bringing all the oohs and aahs in a country obsessed with stretching every liter of dinosaur remains to the farthest possible distance.

So, India will want to know how exactly the MegaPixel manages to achieve that coveted 100 Kmpl mark which even motorcycles have failed to do so(remember the Bajaj Byk?), and well deconstruct this one for you. The Tata MegaPixel concept car is a hybrid, which means that it has both an internal combustion engine as well as electric motors. Unlike conventional hybrid cars, which use the internal combustion engine and the electric motors independently, the MegaPixel does things, well, unconventionally.

Instead of charging its battery stack that powers the 4 wheel hub mounted brushless electric motors through a traditional wall socket, like the way conventional plug-in hybrid cars do, the Tata MegaPixel uses a 305cc, single cylinder petrol engine as a generator to charge the battery stack. So, the Tata MegaPixel operates on electric power for propulsion, with the petrol engine used as a generator to charge batteries whenever the need arises.

Due to this, the Tata MegaPixel Hybrid concept car uses only one liter of petrol to travel 100 kilometers, giving it a fuel economy of a whopping 100 Kmpl. Now, this technology is not new as it has already been used on the Chevrolet Volt Hybrid. However, thsi technology is the most suited to countries like India, where access to an electric charging point remains a big concern, with electric charging infrastructure for pure electric vehicles still in a nascent stage.

Thus, the Tata MegaPixel Hybrid concept’s technology means that electric cars can now even be used in remote villages of India, as petrol is the only fuel required for the MegaPixel concept car to run. Also, expect this technology to be widely used in the coming years as many Indian car makers like Tata Motors and Mahindra are developing hybrid cars for sale in the Indian car market.

Women's Day

2012-03-07T23:36:00.000-08:00

First Women's Day celebration took place in 1911

What is special about International Women's Day this year?

This year, March 8, today, celebrated as International Women's Day (IWD) marks 101 years of the declaration and observation of the first International Women's day. The first official celebration of Women's Day happened on March 19 in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The decision to observe an International Women's Day happened in 1910 at the second international conference of working women held in Copenhagen. At the meeting, Clara Zetkin, leader of the Women's Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day of Women's Day to press for various demands made by women. Zetkins suggestion was unanimously approved and the decision was implemented for the first time the following year, in 1911.

How did the idea of women's day develop?

Towards the end of the 19th century, there was a lot of turbulence in industrialized societies with women increasingly demonstrating against oppressive working conditions, poor pay and inequality. This also coincided with the rising demand by women for voting rights in various countries. In 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights. In 1909, the Socialist Party of America declared that February 28 would be celebrated as the first National Women's Day across the country. Until 1913, the last Sunday of February was celebrated as National Women's Day in the US. Fair wages and dignified conditions of work became the focus of many demonstrations by women. Russian women campaigning for peace on the eve of World War I observed their first IWD on the last Sunday of February in 1913. However, in 1913, a common agreement was reached and the IWD was transferred to March 8.

How did the IWD become globally accepted?

The United Nations designated 1975 as International Women's Year and the same year it gave official sanction to the IWD and began sponsoring International Women's Day events. All its member countries too started observing the IWD and women's group working for change in the status of women in these countries use the IWD to focus attention on issues about women's rights and to help push their agenda.

How is the IWD celebrated?

The IWD is observed in over a hundred countries. In many countries including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Vietnam it is an official holiday.

In China, Nepal and Madagascar, it is a holiday only for women. In several countries, it is customary for men to give the women in their lives, mothers, wives, girlfriends or sisters, flowers and small gifts on the occasion. In some countries such as Romania it is also observed as an equivalent of Mothers' Day, where children also give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers. In Italy, men give yellow mimosas to women. In Russia and Albania too, yellow mimosas and chocolate are the most common gifts on March 8.

Simple PHP Progress Bar

2012-03-06T04:52:00.002-08:00

Simple PHP Progress Bar

1. Create a function
print "

\n"; print "

"; if ($percentage > 5) {print "$percentage%";} else {print "

";} print "

";
}?>
2. In the style sheet include the following code

.all-rounded {
-webkit-border-radius: 5px;
-moz-border-radius: 5px;
border-radius: 5px;
}

.spacer {
display: block;
}

#progress-bar {
width: 300px;
margin: 0 auto;
background: #cccccc;
border: 3px solid #f2f2f2;
}

#progress-bar-percentage {
background: #3063A5;
padding: 5px 0px;
color: #FFF;
font-weight: bold;
text-align: center;
}

3. Use below code in any part of you page where you want the progress bar to appear

http://riotriot.net/2010/02/simple-php-progress-bar/

Nice Lyrics From the Film Dhoni

2012-03-05T22:31:00.002-08:00

Vaangum Panathukkum Dhoni Lyrics

Vaangum Panathukkum Vaazhkkaikum Oru Sammantham Illa
Patta Padippukkum Paakura Vaelaikkum Sammantham Illa
Ennaiya Thaechu Mannil Poranthaalum Ottuvathilla
Kannuku Munnala Nadapathu Ellam Kanavum Illa
Vadaga Veetula Veesura Kaathuku Kattanam Undaa Da
Irupathuthaan Pothum Enbavam Oruthan Unda Da..
Inga Aezhaiyin Siripil Iraivanathaan Paathavan Undaa..

Vaangum Panathukkum Vaazhkkaikum Oru Sammantham Illa
Patta Padippukkum Paakura Vaelaikkum Sammantham Illa

Annaikum Innaikum Ennaikum
Intha Annanangachi Vaazhka
Kanavilthaanae Nammakku Pala Aranmanaigal Irukku
Thanikkum Thaaraikkum Alaiyum
Oru Vaaththa Pola Vaazhkka
Manasil Siraiya Virichaa Naama Parakka Mudiyumaa?
Chandiranum Irukku Natchattiram Irukku
Ènni Ènni Paaru Athu Velli Panam Namakku..
Olagam Yaavum Šønthamunnalum Aezhaingathaan..

Vaangum Panathukkum Vaazhkkaikum Oru Sammantham Illa
Patta Padippukkum Paakura Vaelaikkum Sammantham Illa

Kømmudu Pøttae Pottae Naama Gujinju Valanju Ponoam
Koonum Vizhugala Manam Koori Pochudaa
Oravu Naraiya Irukku, Athu Selavuthaanae Nammakku
Saeththu Vechcha Soththu Athu Natputhaanadaa
Thandavaalam Naduvae Pooththa Poova Pola
Sogathilum Sirippoam Sothanaiyil Molaippoam
Aduththa Naalai Aduththa Naalai Paarkalaam

Vaangum Panathukkum Vaazhkkaikum Oru Sammantham Illa
Patta Padippukkum Paakura Vaelaikkum Sammantham Illa
Vadaga Veetula Veesura Kaathuku Kattanam Undaa Da
Irupathuthaan Pothum Enbavam Oruthan Unda Da..
Inga Aezhaiyin Siripil Iraivanathaan Paathavan Undaa..

Vaangum Panathukkum Vaazhkkaikum Oru Sammantham Illa
Patta Padippukkum Paakura Vaelaikkum Sammantham Illa.

Inspiring story of success

2012-03-05T21:55:00.001-08:00

Walt Disney Biography

Who is Walt Disney?
** International icon, and world famous American film producer, director, animator and entertainer. The brain behind Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resort Theme parks in U.S., France, Japan and China.

** Founder of Walt Disney Productions, which is the best known motion picture producers in the world, with annual revenues of $35 billion USD.
Creator of Micky Mouse, Donald Duck and several other popular cartoon characters.

** Recipient of 59 Academy Award Nominations (and won 26 Oscars, including a record 4 in a year) - more nominations and awards than any other film personality.
Also, recipient of Congressional Gold Medal in 1968, Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, France's highest decoration Légion d'Honneur, and Special Medal from League of Nations.

What is Inspiring about Walt Disney Biography?
While not necessarily a typical rags to riches story - did you know that Walt Disney started two companies and failed twice, and almost lost his entire business and staff a third time, before finally succeeding with the now famous Walt Disney Productions?

Walt Disney developed a love for drawing since a kid, and became a cartoonist for school newspaper in high school. When he later couldn't get work as an artist, he started out an artist company with a friend of his in 1920, when he was 19 years old.
He subsequently had to close it out and started work in an ad company in Kansas, where he developed an interest in animation. Then he started his own animationbusiness. His cartoons, called "Laugh O'Grams", were aired in a local theater, and became quite popular.
Disney was soon able to build his own studio, and hired a lot of animators, but quickly went bankrupt as he was unable to manage money with all the employee salaries.

Continue down to Walt Disney Biography

Original Footage of Walt Disney as the Mystery Guest on What's My Line in 1956

Take Three in Walt Disney Biography - He started another studio, in Hollywood this time, called Disney Brothers, and was able to find a distributor from New York for the live-action animated shorts of his cartoons based on characters from Alice in the Wonderland.
These became reasonable success, when the distributor decided to start his own studio, and took most of Disney's staff, along with all the cartoon characters - as the trademark was owned by the distributor - leaving Disney out in the cold.
Walt Disney was not the one to be left hanging for a long time, though, and he decided it was time to develop a new cartoon character - and he did it based on a pet mouse he used to have - and the Mickey Mouse was born in 1928.
Mickey became the world's most popular cartoon character by 1930, and when he soon started having rivals, Disney put him on the top each time, by introducing color into animation, and partially redesigning him each time. Disney himself personally provided vocal effects and performed the voice of Mickey for more than 15 years!

Continue down to Walt Disney Biography

A Tribute to Walt Disney, Mickey Mouse and his Pals

Disney received his first Academy Award (a special award) for the creation of Mickeyin 1932, when he was 31 years old. Soon a plethora of cartoon characters were launched by him, Donald Duck being the second most popular character after Mickey.

Disney developed his first full length animated feature film - the classic Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs - against the advice of his wife and brother, who thought this venture would destroy the Disney Studios.
When released in 1934, Snow White received a standing ovation from the audience, and became a huge success - and this ushered in the "Golden Age of Animation". Disney went on to secure 8 Oscars (1 regular and 7 miniature ones representing each dwarf) for his effort.
By late 1940s, the Disney empire was already booming when Disney envisioned the theme park idea, and the first Disneyland was opened in Anaheim, California, in 1955. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Unofficial Guide Walt Disney World 2010 can be quite handy, whenever you plan your next Disney vacation.

Ayurveda and Skin Care

2012-03-04T23:13:00.000-08:00

Skin is the seat of a sense organ. The senses of touch, pain, temperature, pressure are felt by it. It is a Matruj Avyava i.e. derived from mother or having maternal origin.It gives external covering to the whole body.

The seven layers of skin get their nutrition from Mansa Dhatu {muscle tissue}. It is known as an UpDhatu (secondary tissue product) of the Raktadhatu (blood) because it only mimics the Dhatu's in beholding the body. It does not do Poshan Karma i.e. do not give nutrition to the other Dhatus.

As skin is an Upadhatu of the Raktadhatu , it is a mirror that reflects the qualities of the Raktadhatu (blood) and the Rasadhatu (body's plasma tissue).Hence it is a common saying that 'glowing skin is the result of good quality Rasa and Rakta'.

No amount of bleaching and facial massage or application of make-up through dexterity of a skilled beautician can hide the shallow look if the skin is unhealthy. Conversely, a healthy skin will always look attractive even when devoid of make-up.

Characteristics of a person with ideal skin(Twak Sar / Ras Sar)

People with ideal skin have soft, oily, thin, smooth and lustrous skin.
They have soft, thin, scanty, oily, black and deep-rooted hair.
Eye - brows and eyelashes are black and smooth.
They have good eye - sight.
In their eyes, pupils, cornea and sclera are very well differentiated.
Mouth, Lips, Palate and Tongue are unctuous and oily.
These persons do not suffer from skin diseases and their wounds heal quickly.
They are intelligent and learned and have the necessary means and wealth to beget worldly pleasures.
They like music.
They love their family, nation, estate, and property.
They enjoy a long, healthy and happy life.

Know Your Ayurvedic Skin Type

The first step in the holistic Ayurvedic approach to skin care is finding out your ayurvedic skin type.

Vata skin is in generaly dry, thin,delicate and cool to the touch, easily gets dehydrated, and is very vulnerable to the influence of dry windy weather. Vata skin may age faster, and tends to be dry, rough and flaky when out of balance.

Pitta skin type tends to be fair, sensitive, soft, warm, and of medium thickness. less tolerance to hot food, less tolerance to fieriness in temperament. Pitta skin types tend to be more prone to freckles and moles than the other skin types. When out of balance, Pitta skin can flare up in rashes, rosacea, acne, or sunspots.

Kapha skin tends to have all the qualities of water and earth -- it can be oily, thick, pale, soft, cool and more tolerant of the sun. Kapha skin tends to age slower and form less wrinkles than the other two types. Kapha skin types may struggle with dull complexion, enlarged pores, excessive oil, blackheads, pimples, moist types of eczema and water retention.

"Combination" skin can be Vata-Pitta, skin that is both dry and sensitive, Kapha-Pitta-skin is oily and sensitive , and Vata-Kapha- skin that is generally dry with some oily zones.

The ayurvedic approach to caring for combination skin takes into account environmental and seasonal factors. For example, a person with Vata-Pitta skin would follow the recommendations for Pitta skin in summer and Vata skin in winter. The Kapha-Pitta type would follow Pitta recommendations in summer and Kapha recommendations in winter. The Vata-Kapha type would be best served by generally following Vata guidelines, with extra cleansing of the oily zones.

Vata Skin Care

For Vata skin to stay youthful, skin care products used should be very nurturing. They must include some essential oils or herbs in combination, which can nourish the skin and rehydrate it, otherwise it may be susceptible to wrinkles and premature aging.

Going to bed on time, eating regular meals, and following a regular daily routine are essential components of a holistic approach to Vata skin care, as are eating foods that help balance Vata and nourish the Vata skin.

Suggestions for caring for Vata skin:

Vata skin types, for instance, will want to eat more warm, unctuous foods and favor the sweet, sour and salty tastes to balance the dry, rough, moving Vata dosha. Provide added nourishment to your skin by including organic milk, whole grains and green leafy vegetables in your diet. Drink lots of lukewarm water everyday for internal hydration. Eat plenty of sweet juicy fruits, they help cleanse the body from within and provide hydration as well. Include a little healthy fat such as Ghee (clarified butter) or olive oil in your diet for added lubrication. A warm oil self-massage is excellent for keeping skin lubricated. Use a gentle, all-natural moisturizer to keep facial skin hydrated. Provide added deep lipid support with facial oil. Get plenty of rest so your mind as well as your body have the opportunity to recharge. Use a gentle, moisture-balancing cleanser and splash your face with water several times when you cleanse.

Pitta Skin Care

The Pitta skin type needs both cooling and nurturing. Use skin care products that help enhance resistance to the sun. Avoid tanning treatments and therapies that expose your delicate, sensitive skin to steam for extended periods of time.

The ayurvedic herb Flame of Forest can help protect Pitta skin from photosensitivity. But like other ayurvedic herbs, it needs to be used in combination with other herbs for a balanced effect on the skin.

Suggestions for caring for Pitta skin:

If you have a Pitta skin type you will thrive on sweet, bitter and astringent tastes, as found in sweet, juicy fruits, rose petal preserve, and cooked greens. Avoid hot, spicy foods. Stay away from harsh, synthetic cosmetics; they can damage your sensitive skin and cause breakouts. Avoid hot spicy foods and an excess of deep-fried foods, they add heat to an already fiery constitution. Eat lots of sweet juicy fruits and have some rose petal jam in cool milk every day. The rose is considered cooling for mind, body and emotions. Use cooling oil, such as coconut oil, for the daily massage. Cook with cooling spices such as fennel and licorice. Take extra care to protect your skin when you go out in the sun. Use gentle, natural skin care products for cleansing and moisturizing. Provide added lipid support, such as facial skin oil, every other day.

Kapha Skin Care

"Kapha skin, because of its thickness and oiliness, is more prone to accumulate ama -- toxins under the skin. People with Kapha skin need to do detoxification on a regular basis, both internal detoxification and external detoxification to flush toxins from the skin," says Mishra.

Scrubbing the skin with a gentle exfoliating clay can help external cleansing. Kapha skin types may also need to take herbal formulations to cleanse the skin from within.

Suggestions for caring for Kapha skin:

The oiliness of Kapha type skin calls for a diet that is warmer, lighter, less oily, and free of heavy, hard to digest foods. Eating more bitter, astringent and pungent tastes help stimulate digestion and balance Kapha skin.Avoid too many sweet foods or deep-fried foods, they add to the oiliness in the skin. Exercise everyday to improve circulation. A daily warm oil massage can also help circulation. Eat plenty of organic vegetables and fruits to help cleanse the body from within. Cleanse your skin twice everyday; exfoliate with a mud-mask at least once a week. Cook with warming spices such as ginger and black pepper to stoke the digestive fire and inhibit the accumulation of ama inside the body.

Besides following the diet for your skin type, following foods are terrific skin-enhancers: leafy green vegetables; easily digested proteins such as paneer, milk, tofu, sunflower seeds; foods high in zinc such as quinoa; and beta-carotene-rich foods such as carrots and sweet cherries. Almonds and walnuts support the skin with their protein and lubricating fat content. Some skin-friendly spices include turmeric to nourish the first four layers of the skin; cumin to rid the body of ama; black pepper to cleanse the channels, and fennel to balance the transformational ability of the skin. All antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, such as pomegranate, apple, pear, and bitter, green leafy vegetables are also excellent for the skin. Eat only fresh, whole and organic foods. Stay away from packaged, canned, frozen, processed, and packaged foods.

Effect of stress on skin:

There are three types of stress, and all three impact the skin in different ways.

Mental stress starts a chain reaction that ends in a drying out the moisture in the skin. Thinning, dryness and the shrinking of the 'shrotasa' (microchannels) that carry nutritive fluid to the skin result in wrinkles and stress lines.
Emotional stress also affects the skin-just notice how anger or embarrassment can turn your face red. This shows the connection between emotions and the skin. If emotional stress becomes chronic, the result is acne, sun sensitivity, and other Pitta-based problems.
Physical stress: Exercising too much, working too much, or straining the body over a period of time causes physical stress. This causes the drying out of skin moisture and rough, aged skin.

To counteract mental stress, maintain a Vata-pacifying diet and daily routine. To bring emotional stress into balance, follow a Pitta-pacifying diet and routine. For physical stress, try to limit exercise or work to fifty percent of your physical stamina.

Treatment for skin disease:

The holistic management of health problems in ayurved comprises the three fold scientific approach towards diseases through diet, lifestyle and medicine

Ayurveda has stated that skin diseases occur primarily due to sluggish liver function, which leads Pitta and Kapha Dosha dysfunction when toxins build up and the liver is overwhelmed, then the impurities show up in break-outs and other skin problems.

Another vital factor that contributes to healthy appearance is the clean bowel: hence the need for regular and complete bowel evacuation. In order to achieve this, a mild laxative like Trifala and a light diet are advisable if one suffers from constipation.

Also, be sure to drink lots of water throughout the day to help flush out the impurities. In spring you can sip hot water to help melt the ama (digestive impurities) that have accumulated.

Scientifically treatments have been classified as shodhana & shamana.

Sodhan Chikitsa:

When doshas are vitated in large guantity & disease is chronic then shodhan chikitsa should apply first.
Acharyas have classified shodhana as Basti, Vaman, Virechana, Raktamokshana (Blood letting) & nasya.

Shaman Chikitsa:

When doshas are minimally imbalanced & the body is weak. Shaman Treatment is more important.
Shaman treatment can be classified as external & internal.
Administration of proper food, medicines by mouth is internal treatment & the application of medicated oil, lepo (ointment), etc is external treatment.

Ayurveda has said that for all skin diseases 'Khadira' is best as oral medicine and 'Aragwad' is best for local application.
Shirish, Lamajjak, Nagkesara and Lodhra are used for Hyperhydrosis and as an anti sweating agent.
Tejpatra, Ambu, Lodhra, Abhay {Khas} and Chandan are used as Daurghandya- har {to prevent body odour}

Charaka has mentioned a group of 10 drugs, which are promoters of complexion. They are known as the 'Varnya Dravya': Chandan (Sandalwood),Lal Nagkesar (Fragrant Poon), Padmaka(Himalayan Cherry),Ushir (Cuscus Grass) ,Madhuka(Liquorice) ,Manjishtha(Madder) ,Payasa(White Yam) ,Shita (White Scutch Grass), Lata (Black Scutch Grass) .

சுஜாதாவின் பத்துக் கட்டளைகள்

2012-03-03T21:57:00.002-08:00

சுஜாதாவின் பத்துக் கட்டளைகள்… (கண்டிப்பாக படிக்கவும் !!!)

1. ஒன்றின் மேல் நம்பிக்கை வேண்டும், ஏதாவது ஒன்று. உதாரணம் கடவுள், இயற்கை, உழைப்பு, வெற்றி இப்படி எதாவது… நம்பிக்கை நங்கூரம் போல. கேள்வி கேட்காத நம்பிக்கை. கேள்வி கேட்பது சிலவேளை இம்சை. நவீன விஞ்ஞானம் அதிகப்படியாகக் கேள்வி கேட்டு இப்போது தவித்துக் கொண்டிருக்கிறது.

2. அப்பா, அம்மா இரண்டு பேரும் வேலை சொல்வது பல சமயங்களில் கடுப்பாக இருக்கும். ஒருமாறுதலுக்கு அவர்கள் சொல்வதைச் செய்து பாருங்கள். அவர்கள் கேட்பது உங்களால் செய்யக் கூடியதாகவே இருக்கும். பொடிநடையாகப் போய் நூறு கிராம் காப்பி பவுடர் (அ) ரேஷன் கார்டு புதுப்பித்தல் இப்படிதான் இருக்கும்.

3. மூன்று மணிக்குத் துவங்கும் மாட்டனி போகாதீர்கள். க்ளாஸ் கட்பண்ண வேண்டி வரும். தலைவலி வரும். காசு விரயம். வீட்டுக்குப் போனதும் பொய் சொல்வதற்கு ரொம்ப ஞாபக சக்தி வேண்டும். இந்த உபத்திரத்துக்கு உண்மையைச் சொல்லிவிடுவது சுலபம். இளமைக்காலம், ஒளிக் கீற்றைப் போல் மிகவும் குறைந்த காலம், அதை க்யூ வரிசைகளிலும் குறைபட்ட தலைவர்களுக்காகவும் விரயம் செய்யாதீர்கள்.

4. நான்கு பக்கமாவது ஒரு நாளைக்குப் பொது விஷயங்களைப் படியுங்கள். பொது விஷயங்கள் என்றால் கதை, சினிமா, காதல் இல்லாதவை. உதாரணம் – யோக்கியமான செய்தித்தாள், மற்ற பேரைப் பற்றிக் கவலைப்படும் பத்திரிகைகள் அல்லது லைப்ரரியிருந்து ஒரு புத்தகம்.

5. ஐந்து ரூபாய் சம்பாதித்துப் பாருங்கள். சொந்தமாக உங்கள் உழைப்பில், முயற்சியில், யோக்கியமாக, மனச்சாட்சி உறுத்தாமல். அடுத்த முறை அப்பாவிடம் ஆயிரம் ரூபாய்க்கு ஷர்ட், சுடிதார் கேட்கும் முன்.

6. இந்தச் தகவல்களை படிக்கும் நிலைமை பெற்ற நீங்கள் இந்திய சனத்தொகையின் மேல்தட்டு ஆறு சதவிகித மக்களில் ஒருவர். அன்றாடம் சோற்றுக்காக அலையும், வசதியில்லாத கோடிக்கணக்கான மக்களைத் தினம் ஒரு முறை எண்ணிப் பாருங்கள்.

7. வாரத்தின் ஏழாவது தினமான ஞாயிறன்று என்ன செய்தாலும் காதல் பிஸினஸ் வேண்டாம். காதலுக்கு ரொம்பச் செலவாகும். மனம், வாக்கு, காயம்(உடல்), எல்லாவற்றையும் ஆக்கிரமிக்கும் தீ அது. பொய் நிறையச் சொல்ல வேண்டும். வினோதமான இடங்களில் காத்திருக்க வேண்டும். இந்த வயதில் நாசமாய்ப்போன படிப்புத்தான் உங்களுக்கு முக்கியம்.குறிப்பு: பெண்களை சைட் அடிப்பதும், கலாட்டா பண்ணுவதும், அவர்களுக்கு கர்சீப் முதலியன ரோடிலிருந்து பொறுக்கிக் கொடுப்பதும், உபத்திரமில்லாத கவிதைகள் எழுதுவதும், காதலோடு சேர்த்தியில்லை.

8.எட்டு முறை மைதானத்தை சுற்றி ஓடினால் எந்தச் சீதோஷ்ணமாக இருந்தாலும் நெற்றி வியர்வை அரும்பும். எதாவது தேகப் பயிற்சி செய்யவும். கடிகாரத்துக்குச் சாவி கொடுப்பதோ சீட்டாடுவதோ தேகப் பயிற்சி ஆகாது. எதையாவது தூக்குங்கள், எதையாவது வீசி எறியுங்கள். உங்கள் உடலில் ஊறும் உற்சாகத்துக்கு ஓர் ஆரோக்கியமான வடிகால் தேவை. ராத்திரி சரியாக தூக்கம் வரும். கன்னா பின்னா எண்ணங்கள் தவிர்க்கப்படும். ஒழுங்காக சாப்பிடத்தோன்றும். பொதுவாகவே சந்தோஷமாக இருக்கும்.

9. ஒன்பது மணிக்குள் வீட்டுக்கு வரவும். மிஞ்சிப் போனால் ஒன்பது மணி இரண்டு நிமிடம். ஒரு மணி நேரம் பாடம் அல்லது புத்தகம் படிக்கலாம்.

10. படுக்கப் போகும் முன் பத்து நிமிஷமாவது அம்மா, அப்பா, அண்ணன், தங்கை யாருடனாவது பேசவும் (பேசுவது என்று சொன்னவுடன் காதலியுடன் என்று நினைக்க வேண்டாம், நான் சொன்னது குடும்பத்தினருடன் மட்டும்). எதாவது ஒரு அறுவை ஜோக் அல்லது காலேஜில் நடந்த நிகழ்வுகள். சப்ஜெக்ட் முக்கியமில்லை. பேசுவது தான்.

இந்த பத்தில் தினம் ஒன்று என்று முயற்சி செய்து தான் பாருங்களேன்...

20 Creative Living Ideas

2012-03-02T04:57:00.002-08:00

1. Take a photo of yourself, or of something you love, every day. We recommend using apps like Path, DailyBooth, or even good old Photo Booth.

2. Buy a journal (or start a Google Doc) and catalog your daily ideas as well as your best and worst moment of each day.

3. Take a photo of everything you eat each day. We recommend using apps like The Eatery or MealSnap to document and also get feedback on how healthy your meals are.

4. Do one thing a day that scares you. Cliché, yes, but only because it’s such a great piece of advice. This is the best way to challenge yourself to grow and explore new things in life.

5. Write an inspirational quote or message on your bathroom mirror or desktop wallpaper that you read to yourself at the beginning or end of each day.

6. Wear the same thing every day. The same necklace, belt, or even...little black dress. (Just not the same underwear, please.)

7. Document what you wear every day. This is far less interesting if you are wearing the exact same thing every day.

8. Clean your desktop (either physical, digital, or both) of clutter before you get started working each day. Your brain will thank you.

9. Make something every day. A meal, a craft, a written thought, or even a short video you shot on your iPhone... it doesn’t matter, so long as you have at least 30 seconds of full on right-brain use.

10. Read one chapter of a fiction book before bed each night. Taking your brain to a far-off world before sleeping will cause for much more interesting dreams and perhaps even a few novel ideas before you start to snooze.

11. Drink a cup of coffee each morning. The caffeine will jump start your body and brain.

12. Have at least one conversation with a friend or family member about new ideas you have. Their feedback will be important and will enable you to more fully explore your thoughts.

13. Play with one new gadget or app each day. Learning to use new products will keep you up-to-date on current technology and will enable you to think more creatively about future product ideas and opportunities.

14. Drive a different route. It’s been scientifically proven that time feels like it is going by slower when your brain is taking in many new sensory experiences. You may see all kinds of new things that slow down life long enough to truly inspire you.

15. Read a blog you would never choose to read out of free will. If you’re a Democrat, read a Republican blog. If you have no idea how to cook, read a cooking blog. The opinions and positions will inspire you to keep an open mind and learn new things.

16. Sweat once a day. It doesn’t matter how you make it happen, so long as you make it happen.

17. Introduce yourself to a random person at a coffee shop and ask them about their story. Here are a few conversation starters you can use.

18. Keep a smart phone or notepad (we prefer Field Notes) by your bed to collect those creative thoughts you come up with in between dreams.

19. Give someone a hug each day. The endorphins released from physical touch are enough to inspire a smile or creative thought.

20. Sit or lay silently for 10 minutes with all electronics off and simply let your mind wander. (Be sure to stay awake.)

Introducing the ABCDE Diet

2012-03-02T04:46:00.001-08:00

A - Almonds

B - Broccoli

C - Chicken

D - Vitamin D

E - Eggs

Those are the only five foods that I will be consuming in the next two weeks. No sugar, no refined carbs, no dairy, no processed foods and no alcohol... for an entire 14 days. The only reason why I think I can do it is because I already try to limit those things on a regular basis. I have been trying to drop them completely for the past year, though took a couple steps backwards over the holidays. If you are going to try this with me, you might want to wait a week and slowly start cutting down on all of those items before going cold turkey. While you do that, try reading three of my favorite books that detail why carbs, sugars, processed foods and dairy are less than ideal for your body: Why We Get Fat, In Defense of Food, and the ever-popular 4-Hour Body.

Why am I doing it? There are several reasons. I don’t necessarily need to lose a lot of weight (I am 5'6" and currently weigh 127lbs, and that includes a decent amount of muscle), but I’ve seen extreme athletes and body builders diet like this and have been amazed by the loss of total body fat and inches they seem to achieve. Plus, I’m curious to see if I have the mental stamina to do something so tough - I’ve never tried a diet so restrictive, though I'm excited by how short my grocery list will be. Finally, I’m interested to see how cutting out addictive foods like sugars and carbs affect my mood. I’m assuming the first few days will be really brutal, but once my body gets over its addiction to these high glycemic items, it will feel much better and full of energy.

The Rules:

1. Herbs, spices, olive oil, and very small amounts of butter (for cooking) are allowed.

2. Water is allowed (obviously).

3. Coffee is allowed. (I can never give up my coffee.)

4. Eating out is allowed so long as you stick to the rules.

5. No calorie counting or quantity restrictions - you can eat as much as you like.

Why ABCDE? Great question. It turns out, these are some of the most basic, but most nutritious foods out there. You could live off of them alone. Plus, I needed a mnemonic device to remember them all, hence the alphabetical title ;)

Almonds have been known to be one of the healthiest fats you can eat. They are full of vitamins and proteins and even help you maintain a low blood sugar count. When eaten in moderation, they can keep you feeling full and satisfied.

Broccoli is considered the healthiest vegetable. It has more vitamin C than an orange, more calcium than milk, and more fiber than a slice of wheat bread.

Chicken is a very lean form of protein. A single breast can pack up to 20g of protein and can be cooked in a variety of ways - sliced over veggies, roasted, grilled, etc.

Vitamin D is a nutrient that three-quarters of U.S. teens and adults are deficient in. I plan to get my fill from a daily supplement in addition to spending at least 15 minutes in the sun each day.

Eggs are the ultimate protein powerhouse. One egg has over 6g of protein and only costs 70 calories. Plus, I would die if I had to eat chicken for breakfast every day. Eggs, on the other hand, can be cooked so many ways that I could enjoy them for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Ref: http://www.hellobrit.com/health/introducing-the-abcde-diet/

Quirky Desk Accessories to Liven up Your Space

2012-03-02T04:36:00.002-08:00

The work week sometimes seems to go on forever, and for good reason! You probably sit at your desk 40+ hours each week — so why not make it fun? Try one of these cute, quirky desk accessories that are sure to keep your space lively, even during the longest of weeks.

1. Drinklip Cup Holder ($6): This handy accessory clips onto your desk, table, or any other work surface creating a place for you to rest your glass of water or cup of latte without fear that you'll knock it over and spill all over your computer's keyboard.

2. Desktop Zen Garden ($50): Add some meditiation to your day with this desktop zen garden, filled with black sand. Take a calming break and draw your own patterns with the included rake, or use it as smart supply storage: included rocks function as a pen holder, business card holder, and paper clip magnet.

3. Staple-free Stapler ($9): No more pinchy, annoying staples! This bright orange accessory punches a tiny tab in up to five sheets of paper to keep them together, eliminating the need to refill a traditional, clunky stapler.

4. Decision Paperweight ($15): Can't make that decision? Not to worry, this useful paperweight will do it for you — just spin it for an answer. Options include, "sit on it," "tomorrow," and "maybe," with a few more decisive answers thrown in for good measure.

5. Jumbo Sticky Notes ($11): Just as effective as their smaller cousins, this pad of 12-inch square sticky notes allows for a lot more content on one piece of paper. They're as useful as they are unexpected.

6. Inanimate Character Stickers ($5): These silly stickers (two sheets per pack) allow you to give personality to any object on your desk (or in your fridge, or on a shelf...).

7. Left and Right Bookends ($40/each): 2012 is an election year, so celebrate it with these useful critters. No matter which way you lean, they're sure to put a smile on your face. Just remember: donkey on the left, elephant on the right!

8. PowerCurl Cord Manager ($13): Part quirky, part colorful, and 100 percent useful, this cord manager is specifically designed for a Mac power cord. Use it to transport your cord or even when it's plugged into the wall to manage a long wire.

9. Deskshell: Sadly not for sale (yet!), the Deskshell provides a private and isolated working area no matter where you are. They're made to stack for easy storage, and look super-funky on top of any table or desk.

10. Ostrich Pocket Pillow: What would a quirky workspace roundup be without the Ostrich nap pillow? It's hilarious, portable, and completely useful. It, too, is just in concept form, but we could really see these catching on, especially in bright offices with long hours.

Ref: http://www.hellobrit.com/living/quirky-desk-accessories-to-liven-up-your-space/

What Can Be Done????

2012-03-02T01:47:00.001-08:00

Do what others do, but do it differently.

I have heard this most of the time. But don't understand what has to done. If every one starts doing the same thing which others do differently, then how there would be new different innovations??????????????????????????? comment on this

Be Polite

2012-03-02T01:26:00.003-08:00

There was once a villager who was so dedicated in his job. His job was to take care of a cow. He did what are needed to be done up to the satisfaction of his master. There came a day when the cow became sick, the villager thinking that his master will scold him of not taking care of his carefully. So he didn't reveal it to his master and did medication for the cow what he knows. Seeing this his wife came to him and told him to inform this to his master, but the villager was very much afraid and she decided to inform the master. She explained the master what has happened and what has to be done clearly and politely to him.

Hearing this the master felt pity about the villager gave cow the right medication and then called the villager and told there is nothing to get afraid, what your wife did was correct, never try to hide anything be polite it won't do any harm instead it will really solve any problem.

Politeness will not do any harm, it will really solve the problem

How To Find A Technical Cofounder For Your Online Business Idea

2012-03-02T00:58:00.005-08:00

I have a feeling I might step on a few toes with this article, but finding a technical cofounder for an online business idea is a topic that I’ve seen come up often across a number of business community websites. It’s a common problem and, unfortunately, it isn’t handled well in many cases. As a result of personal experiences as a programmer/business owner being pitched ideas, as well as seeing others struggle with the issue, I’d like to address the issue to let business owners know how best to prepare themselves and how to find a good programmer for their startup idea. This article should also serve as a starting guide for programmers who are approached about becoming technical co-founders.

Here’s a typical situation that goes awry:

An entrepreneur has an idea for something online and after talking to a few friends who like it, decides to try to turn the idea into a business. Because the entrepreneur doesn’t have the technical skills to bring their project to fruition, they look for and find someone willing to implement it, promising them a share of the company in return for their technical expertise and work on the project.

Great so far, right? This is where it starts to fall apart. Because the entrepreneur doesn’t have money to pay the programmer right away, the programmer is working solely on the hope of future compensation via a share in the company. The project starts to go past the time the entrepreneur expected it would take and tensions start to rise in the relationship, with the entrepreneur wondering what is taking so long and the programmer wondering if he’ll ever get paid. Many partnerships don’t make it past this stage, devolving into a tangled mess about who owns the idea and the code and what the compensation should be.

If, by chance, the relationship does survive and the product gets launched, that doesn’t mean that there’s smooth sailing from that point forward. Startup internet projects often arrive slightly buggy at first and if the entrepreneur didn’t take the time to research the market in advance, the product can be dead on arrival. The situation becomes even worse if there is no marketing plan or budget. If the idea was reliant on ad revenue for profit, it quickly becomes apparent that there will be no incoming money at all.

At this point, everyone loses. The entrepreneur walks away dejected, whatever money they may have invested in the project gone, and they may blame the programmer for how the project failed. The programmer is angry that they worked for months on a promise with no results. Neither will probably ever talk to the other again.

Sadly, I have seen this scenario play itself out over and over again. It doesn’t have to happen, though, and I’m going to share with you how you can avoid it and give your idea a better chance of succeeding.

I own a business. I know what it’s like to have dozens of ideas that you’re absolutely sure would turn a profit if you just had the technical skills. Because I’m also a self-taught programmer, I can tell you that you probably don’t want to invest the time teaching yourself how to program. For most people, it simply won’t be worth it.

In most cases, the need to find a technical person to build your project is unavoidable. However, that’s never, ever the first place you should start.

Before You Pitch To A Technical Cofounder

The enthusiasm we have for an idea can often overshadow our business sense. Even if you have that gut feeling that your idea will succeed, you still need to invest the time and energy to see if it’s viable.

From a business perspective, viable means a few different things. Your product must solve an actual need, have a profitable market size, differentiate itself from the competition, generate sufficient interest from your target market, be cost-effective to produce in a timely manner, and have a clear marketing path. Absent any of those factors, your idea will not succeed. Simply put, do your homework and you’ll stand a much better chance of success.

Your product pre-production workflow should be something like the following process:

Research your idea. Look at the market size and the number of competing products. Find the weaknesses of other products and address them with your product. If it doesn't or can't address an actual need in a unique and compelling way, abandon it.
Decide on the absolute minimum feature set of your product. Gather quotes from multiple (at least 3) development companies for building a minimum feature prototype. In addition to cost quotes, also ask for time quotes so you can get a feel for how long the project should take to implement.
Research the cost of advertising your product. Look at online advertising rates for your potential product keywords, industry publications ad rates, search engine optimization fees, and any other advertising avenues you’d like to pursue.
Do an initial financial projection based on competitors’ prices, your development costs, and the advertising costs to see if your product is financially viable. Don’t forget to factor in operating overhead including accounting, legal, insurance, etc. If it's not financially viable, abandon it.
Hire someone to do a working prototype/proof-of-concept. Sign that person to an NDA if necessary.
Test your prototype in your target market. Rework it as necessary. If it doesn't test well, abandon it.
Gather your market research, your business plan, and your prototype and make your presentation to potential CTOs. If your presentation is compelling and detailed enough, you might be able to get them to become a full partner. Otherwise, you will have to offer actual compensation (read salary) in addition to corporate shares.
Red Flags Galore

Having been pitched several ideas by aspiring entrepreneurs, I’m constantly amazed at how little groundwork has been performed before coming to me to implement it. Here are some red flags that will cause me to politely, but firmly, turn down the offer.

An incomplete or poor idea – If the project scope isn’t fully detailed, everything is going to take longer and frustration and stress will rise on all sides. If the idea is just plain bad, you can’t overcome a poor foundation. If there isn’t enough differentiation from competitors, the venture will fail.
Unrealistic expectations – No, I can’t build a Facebook clone in a week. Yes, there might be people out there who say they can, but you won’t end up with a good product. Software development is like an iceberg – 90% of it is under the surface. Just because the user interface is done doesn’t mean that the product is ready to go. The UI is the 10% above the water.
No immediate compensation – Unless you have a sterling track record of successful business ventures, I simply can’t even consider working full-time for free on the promise of future profits or shares in the company. This is an instant deal-breaker. However, I would consider working at a discounted rate for equity in an idea that I believed showed merit and profitability potential. If you don’t have the money to provide even a reduced salary up-front, find investors. If you are unable or unwilling to do that, it’s not a project I want to be a part of.
No shared risk – This goes hand-in-hand with the above. If you’re not willing to put money into the project, it tells me you’re not committed and aren’t willing to share the risk. It’s simply an untenable situation to expect the technical co-founder to assume the full burden of risk through sweat equity.
No shared responsibilities – If I’m going to be handling the technical side of the business, I need to know that you’re going to handle the business side of it including administration and marketing. If you haven’t even thought about that side of the business, it’s a good sign that you need to do some more planning.
Inflexibility – If you are bringing me on as a partner, I become equally interested in seeing it succeed. However, if you don’t demonstrate the ability to take input and ideas from the very beginning, it diminishes the project’s chances of success. If you gloss over or ignore concerns I have or points I make regarding the project, it’s not a good sign and I’ll probably pass on the opportunity.
Punctuality problems and poor communication – If you’re a half hour, hour, or two hours late to our initial meeting, it’s not a good sign, even if it’s the worst traffic jam in the history of the world. If it takes days, weeks, or even months for you to respond to an email, I’m not going to work with you.
Micromanagement – I’m certainly open to discussion and ideas and if you want understand and be involved in the technical portion of the project, that’s great…to a point. However, if I get the sense that you’re going to tell me how to do my job or that the project is going to be a time-sink because of constant meetings, I’m going to decline the project.
Incomplete or inaccurate financial projections – As a potential business partner, I’m going to ask to see your financial projections for your idea. Your projections should provide a range of best-case/worst-case revenue scenarios over a number of years. If you don’t have any, I’m either going to walk away from the deal or request that you come back when they have been completed. If there are glaring holes or problems with your projections, we’re going to have to talk about it.
No marketing plan – Just as important as financial projections, a marketing plan is essential. You should know every demographic aspect of your target market. You should know the methods and costs associated with reaching that market. You should have projection ranges of sales and adoption rates. If you wildly but confidently project millions of users within a few months, I’m going to have a hard time taking your proposal seriously.
An NDA – This isn’t a deal-breaker for everyone, but it can be for me, depending on how it’s structured. If you require a non-disclosure agreement for me to simply even hear your idea, I’m going to walk away unless you’re a Steve Jobs or Bill Gates type of figure. I won’t want to put my other projects at risk by signing a binding legal agreement for something that I don’t have an idea what it’s about. However, I may be open to a NDA once I hear your initial idea and if the NDA is reasonably structured.
No legal contract – If you’re not willing to enter a legal agreement that clearly defines ownership, compensation, responsibilities, buyout clauses, and exit strategies; it’s a firm and instant no. A strong and detailed legal framework will define responsibilities and take the stress off the relationship between the parties involved so that they can concentrate on the business itself instead of worrying about who owes whom what. Working without a legal contract is simply not optional or negotiable.
There are definitely other red flags and even some yellow flags, but what I’ve listed above will unfortunately eliminate 95% of business proposals. As an entrepreneur, you need to approach a potential technical cofounder as an investor in your company. At the end of the day, your deal with a technical cofounder is still a business partnership. A good cofounder will be interested in everything an investor would want to know and more, so you should be prepared accordingly.

Finding The Right Technical Cofounder

If you’ve made it this far without jumping ship, it’s a good sign that you’re on the right track. Now I’m going to share with you the other side, how to find the right technical person to be your cofounder.

Finding a pool of good candidates to approach can be tricky and there really isn’t any magic formula for where to look. Personal referrals are probably the ideal way to discover someone, but don’t feel as if you’re wed to a programmer because someone referred you to them.

If you’re not able to find a personal referral, I’d recommend looking for small local companies that provide programming services. Other possibilities include programming conferences, business networking events , programming forums, Q & A sites like StackOverflow, and open source project contributors.

Before you begin interviewing candidates, you should have an idea about the size, scope, and technical details about your project, even if you don’t understand the minutia. Take the time to do the groundwork beforehand or you’ll pay for it later. Talk to multiple people or companies to see how they would approach the project from a technical standpoint and what type of timeline they would expect. If possible, have a trusted technical advisor to help you vet your interviewees.

Here are some key characteristics you should be looking for in a potential technical cofounder for your startup:

Appropriate skill set – When you’ve properly researched your project, you should have an idea of what type of specific skills will be necessary to implement it. However, if you haven’t done your homework, your chances of choosing the right individual are greatly diminished, as are your projects chances of success.
Previous work examples – Ask for previous work examples from your potential partner and have someone with a technical background review them. If you can do it yourself, you should also test the application or website to see if it functions properly or if there are any glaring errors or issues.
Referrals and testimonials – Ask for contact information for former clients, bosses, coworkers, and partners. You should be particularly interested in your potential partner’s knowledge, ability to get things done, ability to deliver on time, communication skills, and attitude.
Prior project management experience – Depending on the size of your project, you may want to find someone with prior project management or leadership experience because bigger projects may require more than just one person, even if that’s how they start. You want to make sure that they can handle growth down the road.
Startup lifestyle compatible – Running and working in a startup is a lot of work. It can be an incredibly fun and educational experience, but it can also be extremely stressful and exhausting. Both you and your cofounder need to be ready and willing to engage in the startup lifestyle.
Stable home life – I mean a few different things with this point and if you’re looking for a business partner, I don’t think it’s out of bounds to ask these questions as the home life can most definitely affect your startup. If personal relationships aren’t solid, working in a startup can strain them even more. If relationships start to go bad, work can move so far down the priority list that it’s not even visible.
Good financial situation - Personal finances also affect relationships and they can do a lot of damage absent a relationship as well. If a potential cofounder is deep in debt or doesn’t have a decent reserve already built up, they may jump ship the moment a higher-paying opportunity comes along. Tread very carefully, especially if you’re not also giving close to a market wage to your technical cofounder.
Good communication – This should go without saying, but make sure that your candidate has good communication skills. Having a blog, being a public speaker, be prompt in communication, and being able to explain complex ideas in a simple manner are all valuable assets. Choose wisely or you may end up going months without an update or returned call.
Business skills – It will be an incredible asset if your technical cofounder also has at least rudimentary business skills. At the very least, they should be able to understand what you’re doing from a business perspective and how it directly relates to their technical work. Absent this, you may find that they are entirely disconnected from the business process and that their work doesn’t reflect the same sense of urgency that it should.
I should mention briefly here that even when you find your technical cofounder, you may also need to hire a graphic designer or user interface expert at some point, even if it’s just for contract work. Programmers are notorious for not having graphic design skills (there are a select few who can do it all, but they are few and far between) and, depending on your cofounder’s ability, your product may have a much better chance of success if you get more help in that area. However, that’s an entirely different article…

What To Do After You’ve Found Your Technical Cofounder

After you’ve found your technical cofounder, you should divide up responsibilities clearly so that there can be no misunderstanding about it later on. Make it clear who should be doing what and by when. Write it all down. Make sure that you’re both in agreement.

Establish a communication schedule so that every few days or every week you give each other updates on both the technical and business progress. I can’t emphasize enough how important clear communication is to a successful business. Note, however, that this doesn’t mean that you need to have three hour meetings three times a week instead of actually getting things done. Do what makes sense for your business.

You should both also document your work, even if it’s just light documentation. Write down brief one-page descriptions of each of your processes so that someone else could come in and pick it up quickly. Future employees will be grateful and if either of you ever needs to step down from the business, it will be easier for someone else to step in their place.

Finally, but most importantly, you must have a contract. This should be non-negotiable for any business venture. A contract will establish boundaries and ownership, set responsibilities, and generally reduce stress in your startup. It’s not necessarily an issue of trust; it’s about establishing a corporate framework that allows everyone to concentrate on the business itself rather than worrying about when or how they’re going to get paid.

Briefly, here are some contract points you may want to consider for incorporation:

The division of share equity and dividend payout
Titles and responsibilities
Salaries/Bonuses
Shareholder buyout clauses
Exit strategies
Decision-making model
The above isn’t a comprehensive list by any means. You should always seek out professional legal counsel for all contract issues. In most cases, you can do so without breaking the bank as many startups start rather simply and won’t need complicated articles of incorporation or partnership agreements.

Here’s To Your Future Success

I hope that what I’ve written here will help send at least a few down the right path. At the end of the day, make sure that you partner with quality, skilled people who can deliver on the promises they make. Very few startups can overcome poor personnel, especially at the beginning.

While I’m not currently looking for partnerships, I’d be more than happy to offer consulting or web design services for your startup when you’re ready for them. You’ll find our other business articles as helpful resources for startups, especially if you have an online component, and you can also take a look at our web design portfolio. As always, you can follow us on Twitter or become our fan on Facebook.

Best of luck to you in your startup venture. May you have great success!!!!!!!

Ref: http://www.virtuosimedia.com/business/startups/how-to-find-a-technical-cofounder-for-your-online-business-idea

CMS Comparision Tool

2012-02-29T23:30:00.001-08:00

While I was looking for some statistics and data that could help me with comparing different CMS(Content Management System) and I found out this tool:

http://www.ohloh.net/p/compare

Here you can compare projects and in particular Codebase Activity Contributors
but...wow... there not only I cannot find data supporting my thesis..

What do you think about it? Did you know that tool? Do you know alternative comparison tool that can give me an idea of the real situation?

5 Ways to Finance a Startup

2012-02-27T23:35:00.003-08:00

There are a lot of steps that go into taking a business venture from an inkling of an idea to a full-fledged operation, but they’ll all be a waste of time if you can’t secure the funds required to get your enterprise off the ground. And while most people have it in mind to approach a bank in order to get a loan (and indeed this is a good place to start), you may not realize that there are actually many ways to get the cash infusion your company needs, and some of them could offer more than just a decent interest rate and a schedule for repayment. So here are a few methods you should consider when it comes to financing your startup.

1. Personal Loans

If you can’t get impersonal banks to help you out then perhaps you should turn to those who care about you. Your family and friends want you to succeed and if your business proposal is sound, perhaps they’ll be willing to show their regard in the form of personal loans to help you get started. Of course, treading these waters can be treacherous; failure to repay could result in a breakdown of your personal relationships. But if you’re confident in your ability to turn your idea into a successful business, then you may find all the help you need on the home front.

2. Grants

There’s nothing like free money to help you start your business! Unfortunately, you’re going to be competing with a lot of people for those funds, which means you should hedge your bets by applying for a whole slew of grants. You can check out Grants.gov or the SBA (small business association) website to get started, but your best bet may be to look for large companies funding grants for related business ventures.

3. Business Partners

While having a silent partner certainly sounds appealing, the idea that someone will give you the money and then leave you alone to run your operation is a little naïve. No one is really going to just drop cash in your lap and then wait to see what you do with it; they’ll want a say in how their money is managed, and that could mean giving up some control of your operations. If you’re okay with this scenario, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t look for a partner (or partners). In fact, you could end up with a partner that compliments you and adds more than just money to your business. But you have to be prepared to take the input if you’re going to cash the check.

4. Angel Investors

If you can find yourself an angel with deep pockets you’ll be in a pretty good place. Angel investors not only offer money to people in their industry (and often their hometown) as a way to support entrepreneurship within their community; they also provide mentorship borne from years of experience.

5. Venture Capital

This can be tough to secure and it’s often available only for those that are already in business and need the money to expand. However, there are some venture capital firms that may work with you if your business plan is just that good (and you have already amassed a portion of the funds needed). However, don’t expect them to sit back idly while you blow their dough; they’ll want to be involved in every step of the process to make sure their investment is secure

Ref: http://www.virtuosimedia.com/business/startups/5-ways-to-finance-a-startup

Places to visit in Dindigul

2012-02-27T23:00:00.006-08:00

Dindigul Rock Fort- This 280-foot-tall fort was constructed in 1605 by Madurai King Muthi Krishna Naicker and Thirumalai Naicker. It was a witness to many wars between rulers like Tipu Sultan and the English men.
Sirumalai - Hill Resort - This is a Hill resort for weary travelers and is on the way to Natham from Dindigul. This place is accessible from Madurai also.
Thadikombu - Perumal Temple - This is 5 km. from Dindigul on the way to Karur. The main deity is Lord Alagar and the main festival is during the Tamil month of Chitrai.(April–May)
Begambur Big Mosque - This is a famous mosque in Begambur Pallivasal and is around 200–300 years old.
Sri Kottai Mariamman Kovil - This is an ancient temple believed to be 200 years old and the idol is believed to have been installed by the King Tipu Sultan. There are many deities in this temple like Mariamman which is the main deity, Vinayaka, Muruga, Madurai Veeran, Kali and Durga. The temple structure is in the form of a square. The temple is run by a board of Trustees.
Kasi Visalakshi-Vishwanathar Temple in Kunnuvarankottai or Kunnapatti (Pronounced as "Kannapatti") is eight kilometers from Batlagundu on the Batlagundu-Usilampatti road. (It is to be noted that locals pronounce the village name as Kunnuvarankottai or "Kannapatti" (Tamil:கண்ணாப்பட்டி. This area is also referred in the biography of Sri Sacchidananda Bharathi-I). This is the birth place of the 25th Pontiff of the Sringeri Sarada Peetam Sri Sacchidananda Bharathi I. There are regular buses every 30 minutes from Batlagundu bus stand to Usilampatti (the bus stop is better known as Kannapatti(Tamil:கண்ணாப்பட்டி)). It is advisable to visit the temple in the mornings from 7:30 am – 11:30 am. Shri V.Viswanathan is the priest of this temple. One main advantage of this temple is that it is just very close (walkable distance) to the main Batlagundu - Usilamapatti road and is easily accessible to devotees. There are budget restaurants in Batlagundu that serve South-Indian dishes. An added attraction is the point of confluence of the three rivers Vaigai, Manjalaru and Maruda. It is pertinent to note that the river Vaigai flows northward near this village. This is an important pilgrimage point where devotees take holy bath in the rivers during auspicious days.
Kamakshiamman Temple in Devadanapatti is eight kilometers away on the Batlagundu-Peryakulam road. The deity here is called as Moongilanai Kamakshi. There are regular buses from Batlagundu bus stand (every 10 minutes) to Periyakulam. (the bus stop is Devadanapatti).
Anjaneyar Temple in Anapatti is 5 kilometers from Nilakottai Taluk is quite popular among residents of this area. Nilakottai is 11 kilomteres from Batlagundu bus stand. This is said to be 300 year old temple built by Queen of Madurai Rani Mangamma. The idol will be half buried when the water is in full flow here. This temple is near the Peranai bridge (see site below) and regulator constructed by the British.
Sendraya Perumal Temple There is an ancient temple of Sri Sendraya Perumal situated on a hill near old Batlagundu. Mr Kannan is a priest in this temple. He is involved in developmental activities like Anna Thaanam (a programme provide free meals) and building new Mandabams (halls). People of all faiths and religions visit this temple. The temple festival is held in Kottaipatti village every other year. The temple is located on the way to the Kodaikanal hills..
Peranai It is a reservoir and a fine picnic spot from October to late February, provided the north-east monsoon sets properly and water is released from the Vaigai Dam. Peranai is a unique confluence of waters from several dams - the Vaigai Dam, the Marudanadi Dam in Dindigul, the Manjalar, and Varahanadi Dams in Theni. It is not a separate catchment area but collects and diverts water released from the Vaigai every year. This is in Nilakottai taluk of Dindigul. It is approximately 15 kilometres from Nilakottai town on the Madurai-Kodaikanal road.
Manjalar Dam This is a reservoir that stores water from Manjalar river on the foothills of Kodiakanal hillstation. This is roughly 8–10 km away from Batlagundu bus stand. This is a place to visit during monsoons from October to March if the monsoon sets properly.
Siddharmalai - A hillock 2 kilometres from Peranai and near the Vikkiramangalam village on the Usilampatti main road. There is a large natural cavern on the southern side of the hillock called the Pancha Pandava Padukkai (Bed of the Five Pandavas'). There are two rows of beds with raised pillows chiselled out of the rock inside. There is an inscription on the rock face that traces the origin of the name of Madurai city — `Mathirai' (City of Walls).
St.Joseph Church - This 100-year-old church was constructed between 1866 to 1872. This is the head church of all other Roman Catholic churches in Dindigul District.
Nagal Nagar perumal Temple - This is a Vishnu temple which is in Nagal nagar near the Railway bridge which is directed by Nagal Nagar Sourashtra Shaba.
karuppanna saamy temple- This temple located in a village called Kuttiya patty.It's 5 Km from dindigul town to theni road.This temple was shown in a tamil film named KOODAL NAGAR.

2012-02-12T22:11:00.000-08:00

Temples in and around Kanchipuram

Last Updated: 27th June 2011
Kanchipuram was the capital of Pallava regime and is well known for temples and silk sarees. It is the seat of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham established by Aadhi Sankaracharya. It is believed that Sankaracharya attained samadhi at Kanchipuram, although another school of thought holds that Kedarnath in the Himalayas is the site of his samadhi. The town has 5 out of 275 Shiva temples glorified by the Thevara hymns and 14 out of 108 Vishnu divya desams. Kamakshi amman forms the central amman shrine for all the Shiva temples here and so none of the Shiva temples within Kanchipuram will have amman shrines. Ulagalandha Perumal and Pandava thoodhar are temples with stunningly huge moolavars. Kailasanathar Temple and Vaikunda Perumal Temple are the places must be visited by everyone just for the sheer beauty of the of art and architecture.
This is a temple town with more than 150 ancient temples and only some of them are listed here. For a very detailed version with complete list of temples, click here
Vishnu Temples part of 108 Divya desams:
Vishnu Kanchi:

Thirukachi (Hastigiri) Varadhraaja Perumal
Ashtabhujakaram
Thiruthanka
Thiruvelukkai
Thiruvegha

Shiva Kanchi:

Thiru ooragam, Thiru neeragam, Thirukkaragam and Thirukkaarvaanam in the same temple complex
Thiruppaatakam
Nilanthunagal tundam
Thirukkalvanur
Thiruppavalavannam
Parameswara Vinnagaram

Shiva Temples part of 275 Thevara Padal Petra Sthalams

Ekambareswarar Temple
Sri Thirumetralinathar temple
Thiru Onan Kandhan Thali
Anekathangavadham
Kachi Nerikkaaraikkaadu

Temples being maintained by Archeological Survey of India (ASI):

Iravatanesvara Temple
Jvaraharesvara Temple
Matangesvara Temple
Muktesvara Temple
Pirvatanesvara Temple
Vaikunta Perumal Temple
Kailasanatha Temple

Note: Normally the Kamakshi amman temple and the Varadharaja Perumal temple are the most crowded ones. Kamakshi amman temple opens at 5:30 am and people visiting Shiva temples are expected to visit Kamakshi amman first. It is also advised to visit Varadharaja Perumal at the earliest before getting crowded.

Temples in Shiva Kanchi

Sri Kamakshi Amman temple
Significance: This is known as Aadhi Sakthi peetam. This temple forms the amman shrine for all the Shiva temples within Kanchipuram since She is wholly present in Kanchipuram. Due to this, none of the Shiva temples in Kanchipuram will have a separate shrine for Goddess.
Legend: The temple is known as Kamakottam. Brahma Vishnu and Rudra were creations of her eyes, hence the name Kamakshi. She is Tapas Kamakshi at Mangadu and Kalyana Kamakshi at Kanchipuram. She was under stringent penance standing on tip of left leg on fire at Mangadu and upon satisfying Shiva, came here to marry him. Here She worshipped a Shivalingam made out of sand under a mango tree.
Temple: The temple covers an area of about 5 acres and the sanctum is crowned with a gold plated vimanam. Kamakshi is enshrined in a seated penancing posture with four hands in the sanctum and is referred to as the Parabhrama Swarupini, seated with Bhrama Vishnu Rudra Eswara and Sadasiva. It is believed that Kamakshi was originally an Ugra Swaroopini, and that Aadhi Sankaracharya, installed the Sri Chakra in front of Her and personified her as the Shanta Swaroopini. It is believed that during the days of Aadhi Sankara, the presence of the Ugra Swaroopini was felt outside the temple precincts, and that Sankaracharya had requested her not to leave the temple complex. Symbolic of this, the festival image of Kamakshi, takes leave from Sankaracharya, at his shrine in the inner prakaram, each time she is taken out in procession.
In the inner praharam, Bangaru Kamakshi, Maha Saraswathi and Aadi Sankaracharya are present along with Ardhanareeswarar, Soundaryalakshmi and Varaahi. When we come out after worshipping Kamakshi we can see Annapoorani in front. There is also Arupa lakshmi and the kumkum prasadam should be first put in front of Arupa lakshmi and then taken out from there. The outer praharam houses the temple tank and several mandapams such as the 100 pillared hall, the dwajaarohana mandapam etc.
Festivals: The annual festival is celebrated in the month of Maasi. The silver chariot festival falls on the 7th day. Other festivals include Navaratri, Aadi and Aippasi Pooram, Sankara Jayanthi and Vasanta Utsavam in Vaikasi.
Sthala vruksham: Sanbagam.
Thirukkalvanoor
Significance: One of the 108 Divya desams within the Kamakshi Amman temple on the Kostham of Kamakshi amman shrine itself.
Main deity: Kalla Perumal with Thayar Anjilaivalli Nachiyar
Legend: Parvathi when penanced upon Shiva sought the help of her brother Lord Vishnu. It is also said that Parvathi sighted Lord Vishnu overhearing the conversation between her and Lakshmi, upon which she addressed Him as Kalvan.
Temple: Images of Vishnu (Nindraan, Irunthaan, Kidanthaan) are seen near the temple tank.
Theertham: Nithya Pushkarani
Vimanam: Vamana Vimanam
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Sri Aadhi Kamakshi amman temple
This is the older Kamakshi amman temple and is just behind the main Kamakshi amman temple. The Kamakshi amman and other deities here are very beautiful.
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Sri Maakaaleeswarar Temple
This is near Aadhi Kamakshi amman temple just behind the main Kamakshi amman temple. Lord Shiva is holding Raghu and Kethu in His hand which is very rare. An important Raghu-Kethu parihara sthalam. Around the main Shiva shrine all the nine navagrahaas are in separate shrines along with their consorts. Kalyana Durga is famous here.
Links: Location  Photos
Ulagalandha Perumal Temple
The temple is abut 200 meters from the Kamakshi amman temple. This is a temple of 4 divya desams within a single temple complex. Apart from the main deity of Ulagalanda Perumal, there are three other deities in the same complex which were in different places nearby. Details of the original temple, Sthala Vruksham and Pushkarani are not known excepting the informations from the Azhwar’s pasurams.
Thiru Neeragam: This is a small shrine in the northern praharam. Sri Jagadeesa Perumal and Neelamangala Valli Thayar are the main deities. Only the Utsava Vigraham is present and the whereabout of the moolavar vigraham and the original temple are not known. The Theertham here is known as Akrura theertham and the Vimanam Jagadeeswara vimanam.
Thirukkaragam: This shrine is also located in the praharam of Ulagalandha Perumal Temple. The Utsava moorthy is Sri Karunakara Perumal and the thayar is Padamamani Nachiyar. Details of the original temple, Sthala Vruksham and Pushkarani are not known excepting the fact from the Thirumangai Azhwar’s pasurams that the main deity is in standing posture. The Theertham is Akraya theertham and Vimanam is Vamana vimanam.
Thiru Karavanam: This is another divya desam shrine in the praharam of Ulagalandha Perumal temple. Details of the original temple, Sthala Vruksham and Pushkarani are not known excepting the fact from the Thirumangai Azhwar’s pasurams that the main deity is Thiru Kalvar in a standing posture and the Thayar is Kamalavalli Nachiyar. Only the Utsava moorthy is present. The Theertham is Gowrithadakam and the Vimanam is Pushkala Vimanam.
Thiru Ooragam:
Significance: The main deity is imposing 35 feet height and 24 feet width
Location: Near Kamakshi Amman temple
Main deity: Trivikrama called Ulagalandha Perumal and Aranaravalli Nachiyar in different shrines.
Legend: During Thrivikrama avathara, Vishnu asked for 3 steps of land from King Mahaballi. Mahabali agreed to give and for one step of Vishnu, Mahabali was already under the feet of Vamana and was unable to get the full dharshan of Trivikrama. He penanced here to have a full dharshan and Trivikrama reappeared in front of him and even then he was not able to see the complete form. Per his request Thrivikrama in the form of Aadhiseshan is present in the same temple.
Temple: The main deity Ulagalandha Perumal is magnificent in size with His left leg lifted up to sky. Everyone will be stunned with the the size of the deity. Also, within the sanctum sanctorum, to the right of Perumal there is a small enclosure where Thrivikrama in the form of Aadhiseshan which is famous for ragu, kethu dosham.
Theertham: Naga theertham
Vimanam: Sarasreekara Vimanam
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Kumarakkottam Subramanyaswamy Temple
Location: The temple is situated in the West Raja Street and there is a back side entrance from Kamakshi amman temple also.
Legend: Once Lord Brahma, the God of creation was imprisoned since he did not know the meaning of the Pranava mantra ‘Ohm’. Lord Muruga executed the great task of creation all by himself and the sanctum sanctorum of the temple presents Lord Muruga as a creator, Brahma Subramanyar. Subramanya made a Shiva linga known as Deva sena padeesar and worshipped him. Arunagirinadhar sang Thiruppugazh on Subramanya here.
Temple: This is an ancient temple held in high esteem since the holy text – Kantha Puranam was published here. The holy scenes from the sacred text were staged at the Rock Hall here which has now been functioning as Kachiappar Library. Scenes from the Kantha Puranam adorn the walls. There are separate shrines for Lord Vinayaka, Palaniandavar, Shanmuga, Urugum Ulla Perumal, Navagrahas, Arunagrinathar and Goddesses Valli, Theivani. There is a sacred hall set aside for meditation. The holy figures of Kachiappa Sivacharyar and Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal are found in the court of the temple.
Links: Location  Photos  Weblink
Sri Kachabeswarar Temple
Location: The temple is situated in the southern corner of the West Raja Street at Big Kanchipuram, about 300 meters from Kamakshi amman temple.
Main deity: Swayambu linga known as Kachabeswarar and Soundrambikai ammai.
Legend: Mount Madura which was used as the churning stick for the churning of the Milky Ocean to get Amruth, started to sink into the ocean bed. Thereupon, Vishnu assumed the form of tortoise (koorma avatar), dived to the bottom and let them use his back as a pivot upon which the churning stick could turn. At the end, Lord Vishnu was overcome with pride and thought that it was only through his efforts that the celestials succeeded in getting Amruth from the sea. Overwhelmed with pride, Lord Vishnu caused the waters to more. All the creatures trembled with fear. At this juncture, Lord Shiva destroyed the tortoise and strung its shell on the sacred garland worn about his neck. Lord Vishnu, who regretted for his act, came to Kanchi and worshipped Lord Shiva and got His blessings. Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu then redeemed the office of leadership for Vaikuntam. Also, Brahma and Saraswathi worshipped here to get the blessings of Shiva for his work of creation. Asura guru Sukracharya worshipped here to get Mruthsanjeevini and Vajrayakkai.
Temple: It is a temple which has a wide court around it. Other deities in the temple are Chaturmukeswarar, Saraswathi, Vinayakar, Sastha and Bairavar. Around the pond there are temples of Dharma Siddheswarar, Kama Siddheswarar, Artha Siddheeswarar and Moksha Siddheswarar. To the west of the idol of Lord Kachabeswar is the shrine of Lord Vinayaka (Satyamoli Vinayakar) worshipped by Lord Vishnu. People who worship this Lord would be able to overcome all troubles and sufferings in life and fulfill their wishes.
Theertham: Ishta Siddhi Theertham.
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Vaikunthanatha Perumal Temple at Parameswara Vinnagaram
Significance: One of the 108 Divya desams; held in high esteem as ‘Parameswara Vinnagaram’; apart from the divinity, a must-visit temple for the history and art lovers for its sheer beauty of art and architecture; maintained by Archeological Society of India as a ‘protected monument’
Location: Situated in the street that separates from the East Raja Street at Big Kanchipuram, very close to the Bus Terminus. The temple lies further up the street.
Main deity: Vaikuntanathan and the Thayar Vaikuntavalli
Legend: Dwarapalakas of Vaikuntam were reborn as Pallava and Villava and they performed an Ashwametha Yagna here and the Lord gave them dharshan as Paramapatha Nathan
Temple: The temple, built by Nandhivarma Pallavan, is a fine example of art and architectural skill and this has already become a famous tourist centre. The holy figures carved out of stone in the inner walls of the temple are really marvelous. The Vimanam has 3 tiers. In the first tier, the Lord gives dharshan in the sitting posture; in the middle tier as Ranganathar in the reclining posture with Sridevi and Bhoodevi; and in the top tier in the standing posture.
Theertham: Iyramada Theertham
Vimanam: Mukunda Vimanam
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Thiru Pavala Vanna and Pachai Vanna perumal
Location: This is about 400 meters from the Kamakshi amman temple on the main road from Chennai while coming through Bangalore highways and before Kamakshi amman temple.
Significance: These are two separate temples situated in opposite directions in the same street. It is said that if one visits one temple, visiting the other is mandatory. Another uniqueness is that these two temples collectively form a single Divya Desam.
Thiru Pachai Vanna Perumal Temple
Main deity: Pachai Vannan in a seated posture on Aadhisessha, also called Paramapadha Nathan
Legend: Sage Brugu performed an Yagna here to have Laksmi devi as his daughter and he married her to Vishnu here.
Theertham: Chakratheertham
Vimanam: Pravaala Vimanam
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Thiru Pavala Vanna Perumal Temple
Main deity: Pavala Vanna Perumal in standing posture with Pavalavalli Thayar
Theertham: Chakkra theertham
Legend: The main deity is of red shade which is unique. When Saraswathi sent demons to spoil the yagna done by Brahma, Vishnu came to the rescue of Brahma and fought the demons. So He is seen here in red colour with blood stains.
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Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam Sankara Mutt
Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam is one of the 6 mutts that were installed by Shri. Adhi Shankarar. The Brindhavanam and the wax idol of Sri Chandrasekarendhra Swamigal (as affectionately called as Periyava) are the main attractions apart from the current two Sankaracharyas. Daily Chandramouleeswara pooja will be done by the Sankaracharyar around noon time. There is no fixed time for the Sankaracharyas to give dharshan and they visit the devotees every now and then and blesses them.
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Sri Ekambareswarar and Sri Nilathunda Perumal Temple
This is located near the Kamakshi amman temple and Sankara mutt.
Significance: Sri Ekambareswarar temple is one of 275 sacred Shiva temples of Tamilnadu (one of the 5 of Kanchi) glorified by the Thevara hymns and also one of the Pancha Bootha temples representing land. Sri Nilathunda Perumal shrine within the same temple premises is one of the 108 Vishnu divya desams.
Sri Ekambareswarar Temple
Main deity: Ekambaranadhar and Elavarkuzhali ammai in separate shrines
Legend: Once Parvathi closed the eyes of Shiva for fun and the whole universe went dark. Shiva got angry and punished her to be born on earth. She chose the place near Kamba river and made a linga of mud, placed it under Ekamba tree and started to worship. One day, due to flood, the whole town was full of water and she embraced Shiva linga to protect him from dissolving in flood water and started doing her worship. Shiva was pleased with her devotion and he agreed to marry her.
Temple:The linga is made of sand. We can see both Shiva and Parvathi together at the back of linga in the main sanctum. Other main deities are Vellakambar worshipped by Brahma, Kallakambar by Vishnu and Nallakambar by Rudra. Other deities are Vikata chakra Vinayakar, Arumugar, 1008 lingas, 108 lingas, 63 nayanmars, Markendeyar, Bikshadanar, Nataraja, Pralayam katha ammai and Navagrahas. The main Rajagopuram was constructed by Krishna Deva rayar. Sambandhar, Navakku arasar & Sundrar sang hymns on Shiva here. Arunagirindhar sang Thirupugazh on Subramanya. On Ratha Sapthami day sunrays falls on Siva here. Ganapathy near Gopura vasal is on peacock which is different here.
Sthala Vruksham: 3600 years old mango tree with 4 branches related to 4 Vedas. Unfortunately the tree is no more alive but a large piece of the tree has been kept in the mandapam.
Theertham: Siva ganga teertham and Kamba river
Sri Nilathunda Perumal Temple
Significance: One of 108 Divya desams
Location: The shrine is to the north east of Ekambareswarar shrine within the inner praharam of the Ekambareswarar temple
Main deity: Nilaattingal Tunda Perumal in standing posture with Sapthagnaga
Legend: Shiva tested Paravthi’s commitment in performing Tapas by setting fire to the mango tree under which she was seated. Parvathi prayed to her brother Lord Vishnu, who caused waves of nectar to cool down the scorching rays. Lord Vishnu as Vamana continues to stay here at the behest of Parvathi. It is also said that, at the time of churning of Milky ocean to get nectar, the God of ocean Vishnu became warm and to cool himself, he requested Shiva to alleviate the discomfort through the cool rays of the moon adorning Shiva’s head. Hence the name Nilaa-tingal tundattan.
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Sri Pandava Thoodha Perumal Temple at Thiru Paadagam
Significances:

One of the 108 Divyadesams
Imposing 28 feet Krishnar in sitting posture
Parihara temple for people born in ‘Rohini’ star

Location: Near Ekambareswarar temple
Main deity: Pandava Thoodha Perumal in sitting posture with Thayars Rukmani and Sathyabama
Legend: King Janameyajeyan listened to the story of Mahabaratha from Sage Vaisambhavana and got enlightened by the event of Sri Krishna revealing himself through the Viswaroopa dharshan when he went to Hasthinapuri as an ambassador of Pandavas. The king wanted to have the same kind of dharshan of Vishnu and so performed an Aswamedha yaga here and got the Viswaroopa dharshan as he wished.
Temple: The temple is 1000years old and was built by King Rajakesari Varman. If the Lord was standing in Ulagalandha Perumal temple, He is sitting here as Lord Krishna. It is sure that everyone will be amazed by both of the imposing, beautiful and stunning deities. The designs on the Lord’s garments are also fantastic.
Theertham: Mathsya theertham
Vimanam: Bathra Vimanam
Note: The bhattar here sometimes behave rudely and so be a little careful not to get mood spoiled in a divinely place.
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Jurahareswarar Temple at Juragaresam
Location: This is an ASI maintained temple and is next to the Pandava Thootha Perumal temple to the south of Sannidhi street of Sri Ekambareswarar temple.
Main deity: Shiva in linga form known as Jurahareswarar.
Legend: Demon Juragan was destroyed here. Devas worshipped in this place to cure themselves from disease due to heat and they were cured. Shiva here, is known to cure the devotees of their ailments such as fever, relieves them of the heat present in their body and helps to maintain the normal body temperature.
Temple: There are five windows in the sanctum sanctorum itself which is circular. It is a shining example of the architectural skill. The whole temple is built of stones and many holy figures are engraved on them. It is a magnificent temple that attracts countless number of devotees. The idol of Juvarahereswarar here is one of the 64 holy idols (formless form of Lord Shiva). There are two kinds of divine treasures in the temple. There is a statue of Lord Gubera (God of treasure) in this temple.
Theertham: The temple tank is called ‘Vepperi Kulam’ and now is popularly known as ‘Upperi Kulam’.
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Sri Kailasanadhar temple
Location: 1.5 km from Ekamberaswarar temple and to the west of Putheri street (S.V.N Pillai Street) street at Big Kanchipuram. It is found next to Kachiyanegathangavatham.
Significance: Being taken care by the Archeological Society of India this is a treasure house of sculptures. Along with Vaikunthanatha Perumal temple, this must be visited by everyone just for the sheer beauty of the art and architecture
Main deity: Shiva in the form of linga with 16 stripes, called Kailasanathar
Legend: There were thiripuraris-Tharakatchan, Kamalatchan and Vidhyamali who were ardent devotees of Lord Shiva and were graciously granted three worlds .the three worlds are iron world, silver world and bronze world. The demons other than the thiripuraris were by nature very unruly, harassed the celestials to the greatest extent possible. Lord Vishnu, who wanted to destroy the demons, came to understand that Lord Shiva was the only divine power who could destroy the demons. So Lord Vishnu set about his task of destroying their (demons) faith and devotion to Lord Shiva. Firstly Lord Vishnu created Aadhibuddhan as a form of his own self and sent him along with Sage Naradha to the demons. Both of them (Sage Naradha and Adhiputhan) succeeded in their endeavor to destroy the faith of all the demons (including the thiripuraris). After destroying the demons, Sage Naradha and Aadhibuddhan reached Kanchi and here they felt as if the sins wanted to get away from them and did not want to burden them any more. So the place (within the city of kanchi) came to be known as Paruthimalai Kundram. A little distance away from Kanchi both Sage Naradha and Aadhibuddhan established an idol of Lord Shiva and worshipped Him for many years. God then, appeared before them and said that they can atone for their sins only by undergoing suffering in their different births. In the temple, there is small passage around the sanctum-sanctorum with two entrances – Janana (birth) entrance and Marana (death) entrance. Shiva suggested to them to enter and exit through this passage many times to get rid of their sins.
Temple: This is the first temple made of stones by Rajasimha Pallava. After the completion of the temple they fixed a date for Kumbabhisheham. Shiva came in the King’s dream and asked him to postpone the date since he wanted to honour the invitation of Saint Poosalar for the Kumbabhisheham of his temple at Thirunindravoor which he (Poosalar) built brick by brick by mentally (not physically) just by sheer devotion. This is inscribed in the temple and Sekkizhar also has mentioned this in his work.
Note: It is said that there are two idols of dancing Shiva and Parvati. When the aarti is raised, you see an angry Shiva and smiling Parvati and when it is lowered, you see a smiling Shiva and shy Parvati (Check with the priest). A real marvel indeed!!!
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Kachi Anekathangavadham temple
Significance: One of the 275 sacred temples glorified by the Thevara hymns; one of the five of them in Kanchipuram.
Location: This small temple is situated to the left of the path that leads to the Kailasanathar temple in a serene environment adjoining the S.S.K.V School, to the West of Putheri street in the North Western part of Kanchipuram.
Place: The fields in the vicinity are known as ‘Aanaiyurittaan Vayal’. This is known as Kachi Anekathangavatham since there is another sacred place known as anekathangavatham on the slopes of the Himalayas.
Main deity: Swayambu linga known as Anekathagavadeswarar
Legend: Lord Vinayaka established Lord Shiva idol in the name of ‘Anekabeswarar’ and set out to Eranyapuram to destroy the demons. Beginning from Kasi, a demon, He separated their powers from their embryos and united all the powers into one supreme power called ‘Vallabai’ and got wedded to it. Lord Gubera also worshipped here.
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Sri Thirumetralinathar temple
Significance: One of 275 sacred Shiva temples glorified by the Thevara hymns and one of the five of them in Kanchipuram
Location: The temple is in Pillaiyar Palayam (Kanchi), in Thirumetralli Street, 2 km from Ekambareswarar temple. On one side of the street, there is a temple in honor of Thirugnana Sambhandar (also called Aaludaiyapillai and hence the name Pillayar Palayam) and on the other side is the Thirumetralli temple. The Uttruketta Mutheesar temple stands between the two temples.
Legend: Vishnu meditated upon Shiva here to attain Shivaroopam. As per holy command of Lord Shiva, Thirugnanasambhandar set his holy foot here, sang hymns in praise of Lord Shiva standing at the end of the road. Lord Vishnu listened to the songs with great piety and melted into linga form. Sambandhar also attained Shiva saroobyam here. Budha, one of the Navagrahas worshipped Shiva here
Temple: Metralinadhar linga is facing east and Vishnu linga is facing west. There are 2 other Shivalingams in this shrine – Odha Urigeeswarar and Mutheeswarar.
Theertham: Vishnu theertham.
Links: Location Weblink(Tamil)
Onakandeeswarar temple at Thiru Onan Kandhan Thali or Jalantharesam
Significance:One of the 275 sacred Shiva temples glorified by the Thevara hymns and one of the five of them in Kanchipuram
Location: Located at about a km to the West of the Ekambareswarar temple near the Sarvatheertham in a corner of the road that leads to Arakkonam, just opposite to the Panjupettai Electricity Board sub-station.
Legend: Once, Onan and Kanthan, the commanders of the demon Vanasuran, worshipped Shiva here and the 2 Shivalingams Oneswara and Kantheswara are present in different shrines. To the south of the temple outside, there is an idol of Lord Shiva, Jalandareeswarar, worshipped by Jalandaran known by the holy name Jalandaresam. Sundaramoorthy Nayanar is closely associated with this shrine. There is a story that when Sundarar sang hymns, Shiva hid himself in a tamarind tree nearby and when he sang another song Shiva was pleased and dropped tamarinds from the tree which turned into gold coins.
Temple: This is a small temple. There is a Vinayagar deity at the Thiruvonakandan mandapam at the entrance and if you put your ear, you will get a kind of omkara sound.
Theertham: Onakandhan teertham
Links: Location Weblink(Tamil)
Kachi Nerikkaaraikkaadu or Thirukkalimedu
Significance: One of the 275 sacred temples glorified by the Thevara hymns; one of the five of them in Kanchipuram.
Location: The place is known as Satyavratam and Indiresam. The path opposite the Head Post Office leads to this temple and the place is called Thirukkalimedu. In ancient times, people used this path to gain access to Kanchipuram. Since the path is full of spiny plants, the sacred place came to be called by the name Kachinerikkaraikkadu.
Main deity: The presiding deity is a Swayambumurthi known as Kaaraittirunatheswarar or Satyanatheswarar and the consort, Brahmmaraambigai.
Legend: Lord Indra, the King of the Devas and Lord mercury worshipped Shiva here.
Temple: The temple tank is known as Indra Theertham and Budha Theertham and it is believed that one who has a holy dip in temple tank and worships the God here would be endowed with the best benefits. Lord Mercury rose to the position of a planet only after worshipping the God here. It is believed that sesame oil offered during ablutions are absorbed by the Shivalingam. There are two prakarams and a three tiered Rajagopuram.
Theertham: Indra Theertham and Budha Theertham
Links: Location Weblink(Tamil)
Kachi Aayaarohaneswarar Guru Temple
Location: Near Pillarpalayam pond on the banks of the River Vegawathi.
Main deity: Kayaroganeswarar and Kamalaambigai
Legend: Once, Lords Brahma and Vishnu were very disappointed as their life time was drawing to a close. Shiva, who is beyond time limit took both of them to his shoulder and started dancing. Since Lord Shiva allowed them to take refuge on his back and blessed them, He is called Kayarohaneshwarar. Goddess Mahalakshmi showered the leaves of the holy Bael tree worshipped Kayarohaneshwarar to be blessed with a holy husband – Lord Vishnu. This temple is popularly known as Guru Sthalam since Lord Jupiter (Lord Guru) came here to worship Shiva and was blessed with unfailing devotion towards Him. Every Thursday, people throng the temple. The place of Sri Bhaaskhara maharishi is situated very close to this temple.
Theertham: Kayarohana Theertham. The Kanchi Puranam lays emphasis on the greatness of this place by saying that those who bathe in the Kayarohana Theertham and worship Shiva and Goddess Lakshmi here would be bestowed with all wealth and wisdom.
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Chitraguptan Temple
This is located very near main bus stand near the rettai mandapam. It is a unique and exclusive nineth century Chola period temple dedicated to Chitragupta, the chief accountant and the minister of Lord Yama, the God of Death. Chitragupta keeps record of all the good and evil deeds of humans and accordingly decides to send them to heaven or hell. Lord Brahma created Chitragupta through the Sun God and he is considered the younger brother of Lord Yama. People believe that Chitragupta is the Athi Devathai for Kethu which is one of the Navagrahas. So, anyone who worships Chitragupta at the temple would be bestowed with prosperity and wealth. The vices of the Kethu would also be mitigated. Some say (Note ‘some’) that for naga dosham one travels to kalahasti, but it is incomplete since at kalahasti, only the rahu pariharam is done and without ketu, the pariharam is incomplete. Hence a visit to chitragupta temple on the same day will complete the dosha. There are a large number of worshippers and devotees who come to the temple to perform pujas, especially during the Pournami or full moon every month.
Temple:
The presiding deity, Chitragupta, is in a sitting posture holding a pen in the right hand. The left hand holds a palm leaf, both symbols of his work. There is also the Utsava Panchaloka idol of Chitragupta which is seen along with his consort Karnikambal.
Links: Location

Temples in Vishnu Kanchi

Sri Deepa Prakasar / Vilakkoli temple at Thiruthanga
Significance: 0ne of 108 Divya desams; avathara sthalam of Vedantha Desikar
Location: The temple is to the west of Ashtabujakaram temple and it is easy to locate the temple in the name of Deepa prakasar or Vilakoli perumal or Desikar temple.
Main deity: Deepa Prakasar in standing posture with Maragdha Valli thayar.
Legend: Brahma started an yagna in a nandavanam (which was cool and hence the name Thanga), without informing his consort Saraswathi. She was not happy about this and requested demon Mayanalam to disturb the yagna, who in turn made the whole world dark by his power. Brahma in turn sought the help of Vishnu, who manifested Himself as bright light and hence the name Deepaprakasar.
Temple: There is a shrine for Vedantha Desikar with Lakshmi Hayagreevar
Theertham: Saraswathi Theertham
Vimanam: Sreekara Vimanam
Links: Location Photos
Sri Azhagiya Singa Perumal at Thiruvellukai
Significance: One of the 108 Divya desams
Location: The temple is opposite to Vilakoli Perumal temple. It is easy to locate the temple in the name, Yoga Narasimhar.
Main deity: Sri Azhagiya Singa (Narasimha) Perumal in sitting posture and Sri Vellukai Valli Thayar in different shrines.
Importance: Once Lord Narashimar at the Hastishaila caves in Attigiri sanctum hill, came to this place while chasing the demons. He found this place very cool and nice and also the Demons were not to be seen. So he stayed here as Yoga Narasimhar deciding to take care, if the demons return again. Since the Lord stayed here at His pleasure (Vel means desire), this place is called Velukkai.
Theertham: Kanakasaras theertham
Vimanam: Kanaka Vimanam
Links: Location Photos
Sri Ashtabujakaram
Significance: One of the 108 Divya desams
Location: South of Rangaswamy tank, small Kanchi.
Main deity: Aadhi Kesava Perumal, also called Gajendhra Varadan, in standing posture with consort Alamelmangai thayar in different sanctums.
Legend: At the request of Brahma, Lord Vishnu with eight weapons in eight hands warded off the demon intruders of the yagna conducted by Brahma. Hence the name, Ashtabujakaram. Even today, Shiva is seen guarding the yagna sala in the form of Sarabesan.
Sage Mahasudha was in penance here. Indhra was worried of his seat and he deva kanyas to disturb muni and kanyas took the form of elephant and diverted munis attention. He changed himself into an elephant and started living with them. After many years he came to know that he was fooled by them. Once when he realised his mistake he approached Sage Markendaya to help him out. Markandeyar asked him to worship Vishnu in this place Ashtabujakaram. He worshipped Vishnu with lotus flower, in the same form of elephant. One day the elephant’s leg was caught by a crocodile and to free himself the elephant took the name of Vishnu as Narayana and he was rescued by Vishnu and attained his previous form of human being. Peyaazhwar got the dharshan of Gajendhra Moksham at this shrine.
Temple: The main deity Ashta buja Perumal is seen with ashta bujam (eight hands) having weapons – chakram, knife, flower, arrow, sanku, bow, kedayam and gadha – in each hand. The tradition here is to first worship Goddess Pushpakavalli (Alarmelmangai) and then the Perumal.
Festival: Gajendhra moksham festival in the tamil month of Aadi
Theertham: Gajendra Pushkarani
Vimanam: Gaganakriti Vimanam
Links: Location Photos
Sri Yadhothakaari Temple, also called Thiruvegka
Significance: One of the 108 Divyadesams; Poigaiaazhwar avatarastalam
Location: Near Rangaswamy tank at Small Kanchipurm; closer to Varadharaja Perumal Temple
Main deity: ’Sonnavannam seidha’ perumal in sleeping posture and Kamalavalli thayar in different shrines.
Legend: Vegavathi (Saraswathi) river started flooding by the act of demons to disturb the yagna performed by Brahma. At the request of Devars, Vishnu came to the rescue and laid down on Aadhisesha in the way of the river in 3 places forming dams. The places are Pallikondan (called Vadavarangam), Thiruparkadal and this place. So the place was called Vegavathi anai and later Vegka.
It is said that Poighai Azhwar took birth in a lotus flower representing ‘Panchajanyam’ in the Poigai pushkarani, adjacent to the temple.
It is also said that Kanikannan, a disciple of Thirumazhisai Azhwar was banished from the kingdom by the then ruler when he refused to sing on the King. When Thirumazhisai Azhwar left the place in search of him, Lord Vishnu at the request of Azhwar, rolled Adisesha in His hand and followed Azhwar. Once Lord Vishnu left the place, the whole town faced several problems. The king realised his mistake and begged Azhwar to forgive and return back to the kingdom. Azhwar then returned to the place requesting Vishnu once again to follow him and He did. Since Vishnu did as asked by His disciple, He got the name ‘Sonnavannam Seitha Perumal’, signifying the respect the disciples commanded from their master and also the humility of the master towards His disciples.
Temple: In this place, Ranganatha Perumal is in a unique resting posture with His head to the right side of the devotees and legs to the left side unlike the other temples. He is huge and very beautiful.
Andal is most beautiful here (Raju – I have never seen an Andal more beautiful than this including Srivilliputhur.When we went She was matched equally by a beautiful alankaram. This Andal shrine is a parihara sthalam for child birth and marriage. A ‘not to be missed’ temple for the beauty of Perumal and Andal)
Theertham: Poighai pushkarani
Vimanam: Veda Saara Vimanam
Links: Location Photos Weblink
Sri Varadharaja Perumal temple at Thirukkachi
Significance: One of 108 Divya desams in a sprawling 20 acre area
Location: Vishnu Kanchi, Chinna Kancheepuram
Main deity: Varadharaja Perumal in standing posture and Perundevi Thayar in separate shrines
Legend: Brahma worshipped Lord Vishnu in this kshetram in Krita yuga; Gajendra in Treta yuga; Brahaspathi in Dwapara yuga and Aadhisesha in Kali yuga. It is believed that Iravatham, Indhran’s elephant, in the form of a hill bears the image of Lord Vishnu. The Lord is also called in several other names like Devaraja Perumal, Giri Varadhar, Karivaradhar and Athigiri Arulala Perumal. Sages Brugu and Naradha, Goddess Saraswathhi and Indhra were blessed by Varadharajar. Hayman and Sukran were transformed into lizards for their sins and they penanced here and got blessed by Vishnu. There are two lizards at roof of the temple and everyone is allowed to touch them to get relieved of all ailments.
Temple: This is a massive temple in a sprawling 20 acres site, patronized by Chola and Vijayanagara kings. The first praharam of the temple is on the holy mound called ‘Hasthigiri’. The main sanctum is 40 feet height with 43 steps to go. In the basement, we see Azhagiya Singa Perumal in sitting posture and Arithra devi Thayar. The 100 pillar mandapam with stone chains by the side of the temple tank is a shining example of art and architecture of that period. On the banks of the holy tank is the Chakrathazhwar shrine with Chakrathazhwar in front and Aadhiseshan holding Narashima moorthy at the back. Valampuri Vinayakar Temple is found in the inner court of the temple. The original figure of Lord Varadharajar made out of fig-wood (Atthi) is kept at the bed of the temple tank and is taken out once in 40 years for worship for 10 days. Sages such as Peyalwar, Budhathalwar and Thirumangai Alwar have sung on this deity. The temple festivals Garudasevai and the chariot festival are special, celebrated with great religious fervor and have won fame all over the world.
Theertham: Vegavathi, Ananthasaras Brahma theertham and well.
Vimanam: Punyakoti
Links: Location Photos Weblink1 Weblink2

Jaina / Buddha / Samana Kanhi at Thiruparuthikundram

Jeenaswamy Trilokyanathar Temple. 1387 C.E. sangeetha mandapam & 17 th century paintings are present. This temple is under Archeologial society of india. Earlier this place was the centre of Jainism and Jaina mutt was also present. Now the mutt was moved to Melsitthamur near Gingee.
Links: Location
Other important temples / places:
Sri Maha Periyava Satabdhi Mani Mandapam at Orirukkai
How this divine project in honour of the Centenarian Sage of Kanchi came up is a fascinating story, demonstrating once more that ‘fact is stranger than fiction’! The idea was originally floated by one of the humblest devotees of the Sage,by name Thethagudi V.Venkatarama Iyer. He saw Parameshwara,the Lord of Mount Kailash Himself in the sacred person of the Sage and never missed the Darshan of the Sage of Kanchi on the evening of the Pradosham days during the years of his service with the Railways, wherever the Sage was camping. He came to be called,on that account,as Pradosham Mama by his fellow devotees everywhere. In 1989-’90,he launched the SriSriSriMahalakshmiMathrubhuteswarar (SSSMM)Trust to collect funds for building the edifice to mark the Centenary Jayanthi of the Sage. Devotees across the globe were captivated by this idea and contributed their mite for the fruition of this Project,but it took quite some years even for the first phase of this Project to materialize. Pradosham Mama reached the Lotus Feet of the Sage long before the Consecration took place .
According to PadmaSri S.M.Ganapati Stapatiyar who was devoted wholeheartedly to the making of this all-granite marvel of architecture, this Satabdhi Mantapam has come up in a happy blend of the Chola, Chera, Pandya and Pallava traditions of architecture-something that has not been attempted for a thousand years since RajaRajaChola’s famous Brihadeeswara temple in Thanjavur was built. His Holiness SriSri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal performed the Kumbhabhishekam on the morning of Jan28,2011.
The Nandi Mantapam, Deepastambam, Rajagopuram and Pakasala are yet to come up-funds are to be raised. So far, nearly Rs 20 crores kindly donated by devotees, have been spent.
Links: Location Weblink
Sri Madhangeeswarar Temple
This is located near Vaikunthavasa Perumal temple and to the south of it. This temple was built by Pallvas in the year of 800-900 AD. The architecture of this temple is same as Kailasanathar temple. It has 8 lion pillars each carved out of single stone (monoliths). A big shiva lingam is at the centre of temple. There are elephant statues in each corner around the temple. This temple is maintained by Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and it is one of the most visited place by history enthiusts and foreigners.
Links: Location
Sri Mutheeswarar Temple
This is near Vaikuntha vasa Perumal temple at the back side of Ulagalandha Perumal temple.
Links: Location
Sri Macheswar Temple
This is just at the back side of the Ulagalandha Perumal Temple
Links: Location
Sri Muktheeswarar Temple
This is about 100 meters from the Thirumetralinathar temple.
Links: Location
Sri Amara Eshwarar Temple
Links: Location
Sidheeswarar Temple
Links: Location
Sri Punya Koteeswarar Temple
Near Varadharaja Perumal temple
Links: Location
Sri Narasimhar Temple at Sevilimedu
One of the biggest Rudhra Narasimhar having Lakshmi on his lap
Links: Location
Sri Sanjeevaraya temple at Ayyangarkulam
Located on the way to Vandavasi. This is an exclusive Sri Hanuman temple without any other sannadhis (even Ramar is not there).
Links: Location
Kailasanathar Temple at Ayyangarkulam
Links: Location
Around Kanchipuram
Sri Vedhanadhar temple at Thiruvothoor (Cheyyar)
Significance: One of 275 sacred Shiva temples glorified by the Thevara hymns.
Location: 28 kms from Kancheepuram in Cheyyar
Main deity: Swayambu linga known as Vedanadhar and Elamula Nayakai.
Legend: Shiva preached meaning of Veda to Devas and Sages in this place, hence the name Thiruvothoor. Vishnu worshipped Shiva here and got his Chakrayudam. Sambandhar sang and transformed male palm trees to female palm trees here.
Temple: We can see Vishnu’s sculpture in the name of Aadhi Kesava Perumal. Nandhi before Kodimaram is facing the entrance. There is a stone sculpture of the Palm tree in the temple premises with Shiva linga under the tree and Sambandhar worshipping it. Arunagirinadhar sang Thirupugazh.
Theertham: Cheyyar and Kalyana teertham.
Sthala Vrukaham: Palm
Links: Location Photos
Sri Panangateeswarar temple at Thirupankottore
Significance: One of 275 sacred Shiva temples glorified by the Thevara hymns
Location: 10 km from Kanchipuram
Main deity: Swayambu linga known as Panangateeswarar and Amirtha valli ammai.
Name: The place was full of panai (palm) trees and hence the name Panangattore.
Legend: When Sundarar visited this place Shiva appeared before him in the form of an old man and offered food. Sundarar laughed at him and said when there is no water what is the use of food. The old man scratched the land under his leg and water started flowing. The old man disappeared and Sundarar was surprised and sighted out the temple and visited it. He sang hymns on Siva of this place.
Temple: There are two deities one worshipped by Sage Agasthiar and the other by Saint Pulasthiar known as Thalapureeswarar and Krupadeeswarar with ambal Krupagambikai. The temple is constructed in Gajaprushta form (elephant back).
Theertham: Jada gangai and Sundara theertham. People say that the level at Sundara theertham is just 3 feet even today.
Sthala vruksham: Panai tree
Links: Location

Ref: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/rajushanthi/sets/72157616537628039/

2012-02-09T01:00:00.001-08:00

NGO Registration Methods - 1
1. Trust 2. Society, and 3. Non profit Company

In India non profit / public charitable organisations can be registered as trusts, societies, or a private limited non profit company, under section-25 companies. Non-profit organisations in India (a) exist independently of the state; (b) are self-governed by a board of trustees or ‘managing committee’/ governing council, comprising individuals who generally serve in a fiduciary capacity; (c) produce benefits for others, generally outside the membership of the organisation; and (d), are ‘non-profit-making’, in as much as they are prohibited from distributing a monetary residual to their own members.

Section 2(15) of the Income Tax Act – which is applicable uniformly throughout the Republic of India – defines ‘charitable purpose’ to include ‘relief of the poor, education, medical relief and the advancement of any other object of general public utility’. A purpose that relates exclusively to religious teaching or worship is not considered as charitable. Thus, in ascertaining whether a purpose is public or private, one has to see if the class to be benefited, or from which the beneficiaries are to be selected, constitute a substantial body of the public. A public charitable purpose has to benefit a sufficiently large section of the public as distinguished from specified individuals. Organisations which lack the public element – such as trusts for the benefit of workmen or employees of a company, however numerous – have not been held to be charitable. As long as the beneficiaries of the organisation comprise an uncertain and fluctuating body of the public answering a particular description, the fact that the beneficiaries may belong to a certain religious faith, or a sect of persons of a certain religious persuasion, would not affect the organisation’s ‘public’ character.

Whether a trust, society or section-25 company, the Income Tax Act gives all categories equal treatment, in terms of exempting their income and granting 80G certificates, whereby donors to non-profit organisations may claim a rebate against donations made. Foreign contributions to non-profits are governed by FC(R)A regulations and the Home Ministry.
CAF would like to clarify that this material provides only broad guidelines and it is recommended that legal and or financial experts be consulted before taking any important legal or financial decision or arriving at any conclusion.

Formation and Registration of a Non -Profit organisations in India
1) Trust
2) Society
3) Section-25 Company
Additional Licensing/ Registration

I. Trusts
A public charitable trust is usually floated when there is property involved, especially in terms of land and building.

Legislation : Different states in India have different Trusts Acts in force, which govern the trusts in the state; in the absence of a Trusts Act in any particular state or territory the general principles of the Indian Trusts Act 1882 are applied.

Main Instrument : The main instrument of any public charitable trust is the trust deed, wherein the aims and objects and mode of management (of the trust) should be enshrined. In every trust deed, the minimum and maximum number of trustees has to be specified. The trust deed should clearly spell out the aims and objects of the trust, how the trust should be managed, how other trustees may be appointed or removed, etc. The trust deed should be signed by both the settlor/s and trustee/s in the presence of two witnesses. The trust deed should be executed on non-judicial stamp paper, the value of which would depend on the valuation of the trust property.
Trustees : A trust needs a minimum of two trustees; there is no upper limit to the number of trustees. The Board of Management comprises the trustees.

Application for Registration :
The application for registration should be made to the official having jurisdiction over the region in which the trust is sought to be registered.

After providing details (in the form) regarding designation by which the public trust shall be known, names of trustees, mode of succession, etc., the applicant has to affix a court fee stamp of Rs.2/- to the form and pay a very nominal registration fee which may range from Rs.3/- to Rs.25/-, depending on the value of the trust property.

The application form should be signed by the applicant before the regional officer or superintendent of the regional office of the charity commissioner or a notary. The application form should be submitted, together with a copy of the trust deed.

Two other documents which should be submitted at the time of making an application for registration are affidavit and consent letter.

II. Society
According to section 20 of the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the following societies can be registered under the Act: ‘charitable societies, military orphan funds or societies established at the several presidencies of India, societies established for the promotion of science, literature, or the fine arts, for instruction, the diffusion of useful knowledge, the diffusion of political education, the foundation or maintenance of libraries or reading rooms for general use among the members or open to the public, or public museums and galleries of paintings and other works of art, collection of natural history, mechanical and philosophical inventions, instruments or designs.’

Legislation : Societies are registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, which is a federal act. In certain states, which have a charity commissioner, the society must not only be registered under the Societies Registration Act, but also, additionally, under the Bombay Public Trusts Act.
Main Instrument : The main instrument of any society is the memorandum of association and rules and regulations (no stamp paper required), wherein the aims and objects and mode of management (of the society) should be enshrined.

Trustees : A Society needs a minimum of seven managing committee members; there is no upper limit to the number managing committee members. The Board of Management is in the form of a governing body or council or a managing or executive committee

Application for Registration :
Registration can be done either at the state level (i.e., in the office of the Registrar of Societies) or at the district level (in the office of the District Magistrate or the local office of the Registrar of Societies).(2)

The procedure varies from state to state. However generally the application should be submitted together with: (a) memorandum of association and rules and regulations; (b) consent letters of all the members of the managing committee; (c) authority letter duly signed by all the members of the managing committee; (d) an affidavit sworn by the president or secretary of the society on non-judicial stamp paper of Rs.20-/, together with a court fee stamp; and (e) a declaration by the members of the managing committee that the funds of the society will be used only for the purpose of furthering the aims and objects of the society.

All the aforesaid documents which are required for the application for registration should be submitted in duplicate, together with the required registration fee. Unlike the trust deed, the memorandum of association and rules and regulations need not be executed on stamp paper.

III. Section-25 Company
According to section 25(1)(a) and (b) of the Indian Companies Act, 1956, a section-25 company can be established ‘for promoting commerce, art, science, religion, charity or any other useful object’, provided the profits, if any, or other income is applied for promoting only the objects of the company and no dividend is paid to its members.

Legislation : Section-25 companies are registered under section-25 of the Indian Companies Act. 1956.

Main Instrument : For a section-25 company, the main instrument is a Memorandum and articles of association (no stamp paper required)

Trustees : A section-25 Company needs a minimum of three trustees; there is no upper limit to the number of trustees. The Board of Management is in the form of a Board of directors or managing committee.

Application for Registration :
1.An application has to be made for availability of name to the registrar of companies, which must be made in the prescribed form no. 1A, together with a fee of Rs.500/-. It is advisable to suggest a choice of three other names by which the company will be called, in case the first name which is proposed is not found acceptable by the registrar.

2.Once the availability of name is confirmed, an application should be made in writing to the regional director of the company law board. The application should be accompanied by the following documents:
Three printed or typewritten copies of the memorandum and articles of association of the proposed company, duly signed by all the promoters with full name, address and occupation.

A declaration by an advocate or a chartered accountant that the memorandum and articles of association have been drawn up in conformity with the provisions of the Act and that all the requirements of the Act and the rules made thereunder have been duly complied with, in respect of registration or matters incidental or supplementary thereto.

Three copies of a list of the names, addresses and occupations of the promoters (and where a firm is a promoter, of each partner in the firm), as well as of the members of the proposed board of directors, together with the names of companies, associations and other institutions in which such promoters, partners and members of the proposed board of directors are directors or hold responsible positions, if any, with description of the positions so held.

A statement showing in detail the assets (with the estimated values thereof) and the liabilities of the association, as on the date of the application or within seven days of that date.
An estimate of the future annual income and expenditure of the proposed company, specifying the sources of the income and the objects of the expenditure.

A statement giving a brief description of the work, if any, already done by the association and of the work proposed to be done by it after registration, in pursuance of section-25.

A statement specifying briefly the grounds on which the application is made.

A declaration by each of the persons making the application that he/she is of sound mind, not an undischarged insolvent, not convicted by a court for any offence and does not stand disqualified under section 203 of the Companies Act 1956, for appointment as a director.

3.The applicants must also furnish to the registrar of companies (of the state in which the registered office of the proposed company is to be, or is situate) a copy of the application and each of the other documents that had been filed before the regional director of the company law board.

4.The applicants should also, within a week from the date of making the application to the regional director of the company law board, publish a notice in the prescribed manner at least once in a newspaper in a principal language of the district in which the registered office of the proposed company is to be situated or is situated and circulating in that district, and at least once in an English newspaper circulating in that district.

5.The regional director may, after considering the objections, if any, received within 30 days from the date of publication of the notice in the newspapers, and after consulting any authority, department or ministry, as he may, in his discretion, decide, determine whether the licence should or should not be granted.

6.The regional director may also direct the company to insert in its memorandum, or in its articles, or in both, such conditions of the licence as may be specified by him in this behalf.

IV. Special Licensing
In addition to registration, a non-profit engaged in certain activities might also require special license/permission. Some of these include (but are not limited to):

A place of work in a restricted area (like a tribal area or a border area requires a special permit – the Inner Line Permit – usually issues either by the Ministry of Home Affairs or by the relevant local authority (i.e., district magistrate).

To open an office and employ people, the NGO should be registered under the Shop and Establishment Act.

To employ foreign staff, an Indian non-profit needs to be registered as a trust/society/company, have FCRA registration and also obtain a No Objection Certificate. The intended employee also needs a work visa.

A foreign non-profit setting up an office in India and wanting staff from abroad needs to be registered as a trust/society/company, needs permission from the Reserve Bank of India and also a No Objection Certificate from the Ministry of External Affairs.

Comparision among Trust, Society and Non profit Company

	Trust	Society	Section-25 Comapny
Statute/Legislation	Relevant State Trust Act or Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950	Societies Registration Act, 1860	Indian Companies Act, 1956
Jurisdiction	Deputy Registrar/Charity commissioner	Registrar of societies (charity commissioner in Maharashtra).	Registrar of companies
Registration	As trust	As Society In Maharashtra, both as a society and as a trust	As a company u/s 25 of the Indian Companies Act.
Registration Document	Trust deed	Memorandum of association and rules and regulations	Memorandum and articles of association. and regulations
Stamp Duty	Trust deed to be executed on non-judicial stamp paper, vary from state to state	No stamp paper required for memorandum of association and rules and regulations.	No stamp paper required for memorandum and articles of association.
Members Required	Minimum – two trustees. No upper limit.	Minimum – seven managing committee members. No upper limit.	Minimum three trustees. No upper limit.
Board of Management	Trustees / Board of Trustees	Governing body or council/managing or executive committee	Board of directors/ Managing committee
Mode of Succession on Board of Management	Appointment or Election	Appointment or Election by members of the general body	Election by members of the general body

(Source: Caf India)

30 Things to Stop Doing to Yourself

2012-02-03T18:48:00.001-08:00

As Maria Robinson once said, "Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.

Some ideas to get you started:

1.) Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.

2.) Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.

3.) Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled .

4.) Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

5.) Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.

6.) Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.

7.) Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.

8.) Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.

9.) Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.

10.) Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.

11.) Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.

12.) Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.

13.) Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.

14.) Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.

15.) Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others are doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.

16.) Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”

17.) Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.

18.) Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.

19.) Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.

20.) Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.

21.) Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.

22.) Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you. Little Wonders - Rob Thomas

23.) Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.

24.) Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.

25.) Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.

26.) Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.

27.) Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.

28.) Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.

29.) Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.

30.) Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing.

Udupi - Paryayotsava

2012-01-28T01:46:00.001-08:00

Udupi, 18 January 2012: On the occasion of the Paryayotsava the various religious programs were conducted in Krishna Mutt and Rathabeedi from Tuesday evening itself. In the night at 8.00 pm for the first time in Udupi’s history eight chariot grand utsav was conducted for Lord Krishna. Later on at Rathabeedi tens of cultural entertaining programs were conducted and lakhs of people participated in this.

In the early morning at 3.00am, the people who were absorbed by the musical concert programs being conducted in Rathabeedi and all the streets of Udupi, began to move in groups towards the Jodukatte which is in the southern part of Udupi city and from there the Paryaya procession began at 4.00 am.

On a high platform Shree Vishvavallabha Theertha of Sode Mutt who will be ascending the Paryaya Peeta, Shri Vishvesha Theertha of Pejavara Mutt, Shree Vishvaprasanna Theertha, Shree Vidyasagara Theertha of Krishnapura Mutt, Shree Vidyadeesha Theertha of Falimaru Mutt, Shree Vidyavallabha Theertha of Kaniyoor Mutt, all sat together and presented themselves to be seen to the public. Raja Peta’s were shining on their heads. Later they sat on the decorated palanquin of the Mutt and arrived to Rathabeedi in a procession which included many musical orchestras, tablos and dancers.

The qualities and varieties of the still pictures taken part in the procession was good, may be as a result of the announcement by the Paryaya Welcoming committee that prizes will be given for them. Rati Manmatha, Samudra Manthana, Chanoor Mardhana, Kalinga Mardhana, Krishna Leele, Purusha Mragha, Bhoovaraha, Tiger Costume, Dashavathara, Nagavalli, Panchavrandavana, Hanumadwilasa, Bhramarambika Vilasa, Shrivadiraja, Bhootaraja replicas were religious and very attractive.

2 Women chande teams, 4 Men chande teams, 2 Nassik Band teams, 2 Saxophone teams, 12 Horns, 8 Nagaswara teams, Gymnastics, Dummy horses, Doll dance, Peacock, Karaga, Pookavadi, Marakalu, Tiger costume, Kangeelu, Panchavadya, all gave a cultural – folklore touch to the grand procession. The scene of people standing infront of their houses on either sides of the procession and raising the aarathi and performing Pooja to the Swameejis created a unique Godly supernatural environment.

Swameejis who arrived in a grand procession had Krishna darshana through Kanakana Kindi and from there they went to Anantheshwara and Chandramoulishwara temples and performed Pooja to the Lord. Later Paryaya Peetadeesha Shree Laxmivara Theertha of Shiroor Mutt welcomed Sode Shree who arrived in front of Krishna Mutt and took him inside the Mutt and had Krishna darshana for him through Navagraha Kindi.

After this Shiroor Shree held the hand of Sode Shree and made him seat on Sarwajna Peeta and as per the treditions of the Krishna Mutt, handed over the Akshaya Patra and thus handed over the responsibilities of performance of Krishna Pooje and the administration power of Krishna Mutt. From there all the Swameejis arrived at the Rajangana, where grand Darbar began. Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and MP Oscar Fernandes congratulated Sode Mutt Seer.

In this program State Medical Education Minister A. Ramdas, Higher Education Minister Dr. V.S. Acharya, MLAs Raghupathi Bhat, Lalaji Mendon, Kota Shrinivasa Poojary, Capt. Ganesh Karnik, Coastal Development Authority President Nagaraja Shetty, Municipality President Kiran Kumar, NEI Entrepreneur B.R. Shetty, Raja Marthandavarma of Tiruvankoor Royal Family, Congress Leader Pramod Madhvaraj, IGP Pratap Reddy, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Reju, SP Dr. Ravikumar, BJP District President Udayakumar Shetty were present.

Udupi: Sode Paryaya 2012 - Photo Album

Pics by Hemanath Padubidri

The Great 2012 Doomsday Scare

2012-01-24T01:35:00.000-08:00

This guest article on 2012 was written by E. C. Krupp, Director of Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and is reprinted with permission from Sky & Telescope Magazine. The publisher and the author reserve all rights. All opinions are the author's own.

The year 2012 is acting like a badly behaved celebrity. Frightful rumors and gossip are spreading. Already more than a half dozen books are marketing, to eager fans, astronomical fears about 2012 End Times. Opening in theaters on Friday, Nov. 13, will be 2012, a $200-million disaster movie that seems designed to break all records for disaster spectacles -- with cracking continents, plunging asteroids, burning cities, and a tsunami throwing an aircraft carrier through the White House. The movie's ominous slogan: "Find out the truth." Two other major movies about the 2012 doomsday are also reported to be in the works.

Anyone who cruises the internet or all-night talk radio knows why. The ancient Maya of Mexico and Guatemala kept a calendar that is about to roll up the red carpet of time, swing the solar system into transcendental alignment with the heart of the Milky Way, and turn Earth into a bowling pin for a rogue planet heading down our alley for a strike.

None of it is true. People you know, however, are likely becoming a bit afraid that modern astronomy and Maya secrets are indeed conspiring to bring our doom. If people know you’re an astronomer, they will soon be asking you all about it.

Here is what you need to know.

Birth of a Notion
We"ve had similar scares in the recent past, but none quite like this. The last time the world got all worked up over the mystical turning of a calendar was the false Millennium of Jan. 1, 2000. Never mind the actual Y2K computer-date bug. True-believer authors (and their imitators) published scary and/or hopeful books about the moment's prophetic potential to catch an immense cosmic wave and change everything for either good or ill. Borrowing a forecast from Nostradamus, the 16th-century French riddler, author Charles Berlitz predicted catastrophe in his 1981 book Doomsday 1999. Berlitz (fresh off books on Atlantis and the Bermuda Triangle), warned that 1999 could inflict flood, famine, pollution and a shift of Earth's magnetic poles. He also spotlighted the planetary alignment of May 5, 2000, and warned that it could bring solar flares, severe earthquakes, "land changes" and "seismic explosions."

In the 1990s an entire "Earth Changes" movement swelled into being as the end of the century neared, with all sorts of Millennial expectations -- earthquakes, plagues, polar axis shifts, continents sliding into the sea, Atlantis rising and more. In England, the Sun tabloid predicted a "marvelous millennium of joy, peace, prosperity."

When Jan. 1, 2000, came and went with nothing worse than ski-lift passes printing the date as 1900, the focus shifted to "5/5/2000" several months later. Most believers in the power of planetary alignments forgot the failure of earlier lineups to induce disaster. The "Jupiter Effect" cataclysm predicted for March 10, 1982 (named for the 1974 book about it by John Gribbin and Stephen Plagemann) commanded headlines but never materialized.

Throughout history, end-of-the-world movements missing their mark number in the "hundreds of thousands at the very least, says Richard Landes, historian at Boston University and director of its Center for Millennial Studies. But people eager for the world to end are not to be denied, and this time, of course, all will be different.

The Rollover
What exactly is the Maya calendar about to do? On Dec. 21, 2012, it will display the equivalent of a string of zeros, like the odometer turning over on your car, with the close of something like a millennium. In Maya calendrics, however, it's not the end of a thousand years. It's the end of Baktun 13. The Maya calendar was based on multiple cycles of time, and the baktun was one of them. A baktun is 144,000 days: a little more than 394 years.

Scholars have deciphered how the Maya calendar worked from historical texts and ancient inscriptions, and they have accurately correlated so-called Maya Long Count dates with the equivalent dates in our calendar. Just as we number our years counting from a historically and culturally significant event (the presumed birth year of Christ), Maya times were numbered from a date endowed with religious and cosmic significance: the creation date of the present world order. A Long Count date is the tally of days from that mythic startup. Most experts think the start point corresponds to Aug. 11, 3114 B.C.

Most of the Maya calendar intervals accumulate as multiples of 20. An interval of 7,200 days (360 × 20) was known as a katun. It takes 20 katuns to complete a baktun (20 × 7,200 = 144,000 days). Although some ancient inscriptions turn 13 baktuns into an important reset milestone, others imply that the calendar simply keeps running. For instance, it takes 20 baktuns to make a pictun.

No one paid much attention to the end of Baktun 13 until fairly recently. In 1975 Frank Waters, a romantic and speculative author, devoted a brief section to the subject in his book Mexico Mystique. He identified the 13-baktun interval as a "Mayan Great Cycle," overestimated its duration as 5,200 years, and equated five such cycles with five legendary eras, each of which ends in the world’s destruction and rebirth. There is no genuine Maya tradition behind any of this.

Waters also miscalculated the date when the calendar would supposedly pull down the shades. "The end of the Great Cycle . . . will occur Dec. 24, 2011 A.D.," he announced, when the world "will be destroyed by catastrophic earthquakes." Exact date aside, the doomsday ball was now rolling.

Another book in 1975 also spotlighted the Maya calendric roundup. Dennis and Terence McKenna discussed it in The Invisible Landscape: Mind, Hallucinogens, and the I Ching. That book at least got the Baktun-13 end date right: Dec. 21, 2012. It also noted that the date is the winter solstice, when the Sun will be "in the constellation Sagittarius, only about 3 degrees from the Galactic Center, which, also coincidentally, is within 2 degrees of the ecliptic." The McKennas continued, "Because the winter solstice node is precessing, it is moving closer and closer to the point on the ecliptic where it will eclipse the galactic center." In reality this event will never happen, but it hardly matters. The McKennas linked the whole arrangement with the concept of renewal and called 2012 a moment of "potential transformative opportunity."

Broader interest in 2012 caught on beginning in 1987. In The Mayan Factor: Path Beyond Technology, José Argüelles (an "artist, poet, and visionary historian" according to the dust jacket) linked the 13-baktun period with an impalpable "beam" from the center of the Milky Way Galaxy. According to Argüelles, the Maya knew when we entered this beam and when we would leave it, and set their 13-baktun cycle to mark our passage through it accordingly. The beam, he asserted, operates as "invisible galactic life threads" that link people, the planet, the Sun, and the center of the Galaxy. Neither Maya tradition nor modern astronomy supports a belief in any such beam. It stemmed instead from Argüelles’s personal philosophy, which emphasizes "the principle of harmonic resonance." Argüelles also concluded that the planets are "orbiting harmonic gyroscopes" that “play a role in the coordination of the beam," which advances the development of anything with DNA. The year 2012, therefore, will bring a rosy version of the apocalypse.

If this sounds a bit familiar, you're right. In 1987 Argüelles and his followers predicted, with worldwide fanfare, that Aug. 16–17 of that year would bring a Maya-Galactic "Harmonic Convergence." That event turned into a global phenomenon, with thousands gathering at Earth’s “acupuncture points” to create a "synchronized and unified bio-electromagnetic collective battery." Unfortunately, the date passed with nothing more than colorful newspaper stories and a Doonesbury satire. (A character explains earnestly that that the alignment could bring either "mass unification of divine and earth-plane selves," or perhaps nuclear annihilation. "Either way there will probably be a crafts fair.")

Galactic Guessing Games
Fast-forward to 1995. That year John Major Jenkins packaged several of these themes into Maya Cosmogenesis 2012. According to Jenkins, the winter-solstice point and the centerline of the Galaxy will line up exactly on Dec. 21. Arguing that this motivated the Maya to contrive the calendar to end on that date, Jenkins concludes that it will be "a tremendous transformation and opportunity for spiritual growth, a transition from one world age to another."

In fact, astronomy cannot pinpoint such a "galactic alignment" to within a year, much less a day. The alignment depends on the rather arbitrary modern definition of the galactic equator, and/or the visual appearance of the Milky Way. There is no precise definition of the Milky Way's edges -- they are very vague and depend on the clarity of your view. (Jenkins says that he personally established the Milky Way’s edges by viewing it from 11,000 feet, far above anywhere the Maya lived.) So to give a precise visual position for its centerline is not meaningful.

Jenkins did acknowledge that the winter-solstice Sun actually crosses the center of the Milky Way anytime between 1980 and 2016. Elsewhere he expands this approach zone to a 900-year period, and settles for an imprecise alignment to which Dec. 21, 2012, is arbitrarily and circularly assigned. Real astronomy does not support any match between the Baktun-13 end date and a galactic alignment. The advocates both admit and ignore this discrepancy.

It's almost a sidelight that the winter-solstice sun will never actually "eclipse" the galaxy's true center, the pointlike radio source marking the Milky Way's central black hole. Moreover, the winter-solstice sun won’t even pass closest to it on the sky for another 200 years. What did the Maya themselves think about End Times? There is no evidence that they saw the calendar and a world age ending in either transcendence or catastrophe on December 21, 2012. Some Maya Long Count texts refer to dates many baktuns past 13 and even into the next pictun and beyond. For instance, an inscription commissioned in the 7th century A.D. by King Pacal of Palenque predicts that an anniversary of his accession would be commemorated on Oct. 15, 4772.

In all of the Long Count texts discovered, transcribed, and translated, only one mentions the key date in 2012: Monument 6 at Tortuguero, a Maya site in the Mexican state of Tabasco. The text is damaged, but what remains does not imply the end of time.

The Secret NASA Conspiracy
Some advocates for the 2012 catastrophe say that what will actually cause the devastation is an alignment of planets. There is no planet alignment on the winter solstice in 2012. Nonetheless, advocates of doom connect the fictional alignment to astrological predictions or groundless claims about a reversal of Earth's magnetic field and unprecedented solar storms. Many internet postings and guests on all-night apocalyptic radio have elaborated on these themes.

In particular, several threads of irrational thought have created an internet phantom, the secret planet Nibiru. It's the bowling ball, and Earth is the pin. There is no such planet, though it is often equated with Eris, a plutoid orbiting safely and permanently beyond Pluto. Some insist, however, that a NASA conspiracy is in play and that Nibiru, looming in on the approach, can already be seen in broad daylight from the Southern Hemisphere. It was supposed to become visible from the Northern Hemisphere, too, by last May, but like a fickle blind date, it stood up those awaiting it.

Others on the Web, confused about the supposed alignment of the winter-solstice sun with the Milky Way's center, have declared that the Sun is now plummeting to the Milky Way’s center and dragging Earth with it. The predicted result? Earth’s polar axis will shift. Most of what's claimed for 2012 relies on wishful thinking, wild pseudoscientific folly, ignorance of astronomy, and a level of paranoia worthy of Night of the Living Dead.

So maybe the Maya were on to us after all. The clock is ticking. And it’s the end of the world as we know it.

Ref: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012-guest.html

Food as Medicine

2012-01-24T00:56:00.000-08:00

1-Siddha maruthuvam , siddha medicine ,Paatti Vaaiththiyam or Tamil Medicine is one of the oldest system of medicine.Siddha medicine is the oldest and the foremost of all other medical systems of the world. Siddha maruthuvam practiced by the Dravidian society and was believed that they were founded by Siddhars(men with high knowledge - supermen) several centuries ago.Siddhars knew that the only way of stopping the cycle of rebirths was by making the body as strong as a stone, unaffected by diseases, old age or even death. Thus the Kayakalpa System was formed.
One of the best-known Siddhars was Agasthyar or Agasthya, who is believed to be the founding father of Siddha culture.
Siddha System of Medicine also known as Siddha Vaidya in India, is the oldest among the Indian Medical Systems namely Ayurveda, Siddha & Unani & its also the oldest medical system in the world.
siddhars' manuscripts written in their mother tong - Tamil. The manuscripts contain spiritual, philosophical, social or scientific essays both in prose and poetry. These essays are usually written on the palm leafs and just small part of them have been published up to now.
Since number of people, preferring natural health remedies and herbal health remedies are increasing day by day and Indian medical systems like Ayurveda is gaining popularity all over the world .
This was the Siddha system. The term 'Siddhi' means 'achievement' and the Siddhars were men who achieved certain results in medicine, as well as in yoga or tapas. The results in medicine were achieved by the Siddhars through their mental powers, they bequeathed to their 'Chilas' or pupils, who preserved and propagated the science. Eighteen siddhas seem to have existed. They should have lived at different periods and bequeathed their experiences in medicine and yoga to posterity. The basic concept of Siddha system of medicine is " Food is Medicine - Medicine is Food
SIDDHA TREATMENT :
Using medicines like Choornam, Kudineer, Vadagam etc. made of herbs.
Surgical methods like incision, excision, heat application, blood letting and leech application etc.
Physiotherapy - Thokkanam and Varma, the Siddha way of Touch therapy, Medicated Oil application , Fomentation, herbal steam bath etc.
Using medicines like Parpam, Chenduram, Chuxnam etc . made of minerals especially of metals.
The Siddha System is capable of treating all types of chronic diseases especially arthritis, skin problems urinary tract disorders, infertility , degenerative disorders like osteo arthritis , Senile Dementia,disease of the liver, medicinally treatable Spinal disorders ,general debility ,diarrhoea and intractable allergic disorders.
Siddha maruthuvam or Siddha vaithiyam is the process of using herbs and minerals as prescribed in the Siddha manuscripts to treat various diseases.
Siddhar Thirumoolar have defined the siddha medicine by these words:
Medicine is that which treats the disorders of the physical body;
Medicine is that which treats the disorders of the mind;
Medicine is that which prevents illness;
Medicine is that which enables immortality.

The following is the list of eighteen Siddhas according to one recension:
1. Nandi 2. Agasthiyar 3. Thirumular 4. Punnakkeesar 5. Pulasthiyar 6. Poonaikannar 7. Idaikadar 8. Bogar 9. Pulikai Isar 10. Karuvurar 11. Konkanavar 12. Kalangi 13. Sattainathar 14. Azhuganni 15. Agappai 16. Pambatti 17. Theraiyar and 18. Kudhambai.

Paatti Vaaiththiyam :
Grandmother's natural remedies - Paati / Kai Vaidhyam is one of the simple home medicine.
India-Ayurvedic treatment home remedy,” patti vaithiyam” ie., grandma’s handi,homely cure .
Those day grandmother make her home medicine .Herbal curry powder,suran,laheyam.
Every home has his own family medicine.This Grandmother natural remedies are very need to helpful and it very comfort and simple medicine and no side effects.
The simple home herps are ginger,pepper,lemon,aloe vera,cuminseeds,basil,curry leaves,saffron,aniseeds,omom,garlic.Turmeric ,Grass,ammla,Tulsi,Fenugreek,poppyseeds and more.
The oil are mostly coconut oil ,til oil,caster oil .
I know my Grandma ,my mother ,and my mother in law mostly use there home madicine .My mother and My mother in law are still living very healthy .
Mostly they are use herbs like kizhanelli, jathigai, kaddukai,Adathoda,Ginger,Garlic,Lemon, ,peper, coriander leaves,,curry leaves,Oridhazh Thamarai, Akkirakaaram,Aloe Vera,(kathalai)Karisalankanni,Cumin seeds,keerai,green vegetables,Kumkum ,Kizhanelli,Kuppaimeni,Jaadhikkai,Siriyanangai, Amman pacharisi, Amukkuragelangu,karunai ,Thoothuvalai,Sirukurinjan,Seenthil,Nanjaruppaan,Nilaavaarai,Vallarai,Vettiver,nanari var and more herbs,green leaves vegetable and spice.

NATURAL REMEDIES: FOOD AS MEDICINE

While there is Fruit there is hope
While there is life and fruit there is hope. When this truth is realised by the laity nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousand professors of the healing art will be obliged to abandon their profession and take to fruit-growing for a living.
Many people have heard vaguely of the “grape cure” for diseases arising from over-feeding, and the lemon cure for rheumatism, but for the most part these “cures” remain mere names. Nevertheless it is almost incredible to the uninitiated what may be accomplished by the abandonment for a time of every kind of food in favour of fruit. Of course, such a proceeding should not be entered upon in a careless or random fashion. Too sudden changes of habit are apt to be attended with disturbances that discourage the patient, and cause him to lose patience and abandon the treatment without giving it a fair trial. In countries where the “grape cure” is practised the patient starts by taking one pound of grapes each day, which quantity is gradually increased until he can consume six pounds. As the quantity of grapes is increased that of the ordinary food is decreased, until at last the patient lives on nothing but grapes.[1] I have not visited a “grape cure” centre in person, but I have read that it is not only persons suffering from the effects of over-feeding who find salvation in the “grape cure,” but that consumptive patients thrive and even put on weight under it.
The Herald of Health stated, some few years back, that in the South of France where the “grape cure” is practised consumptive patients are fed on grapes alone, and become quite strong and well in a year or two. And I have myself known wonderful cures to follow on the adoption of a fruitarian dietary in cases of cancer, tumour, gout, eczema, all kinds of inflammatory complaints, and wounds that refused to heal.
H. Benjafield, M.B., writing in the Herald of Health, says: “Garrod, the great London authority on gout, advises his patients to take oranges, lemons, strawberries, grapes, apples, pears, etc. Tardieu, the great French authority, maintains that the salts of potash found so plentifully in fruits are the chief agents in purifying the blood from these rheumatic and gouty poisons.... Dr. Buzzard advises the scorbutic to take fruit morning, noon, and night. Fresh lemon juice in the form of lemonade is to be his ordinary drink; the existence of diarrhoea should be no reason for withholding it.” The writer goes on to show that headache, indigestion, constipation, and all other complaints that result from the sluggish action of bowels and liver can never be cured by the use of artificial fruit salts and drugs.
Salts and acids as found in organised forms are quite different in their effects to the products of the laboratory, not withstanding that the chemical composition may be shown to be the same. The chemist may be able to manufacture a “fruit juice,” but he cannot, as yet, manufacture the actual fruit. The mysterious life force always evades him. Fruit is a vital food, it supplies the body with something over and above the mere elements that the chemist succeeds in isolating by analysis and so is essential when using food as medicine. The vegetable kingdom possesses the power of directly utilising minerals, and it is only in this “live” form that they are fit for the consumption of man. In the consumption of sodium chloride (common table salt), baking powders, and the whole army of mineral drugs and essences, we violate that decree of Nature which ordains that the animal kingdom shall feed upon the vegetable and the vegetable upon the mineral.
FOOTNOTE:
[1] This was the original treatment; now other food is added, although excellent results were obtained under the old régime.

Fruit and the Teeth

I mention the above because one of the objections that I have heard cited against the free use of fruit is that “the acids act injuriously upon the teeth.” Until I became a vegetarian I used to visit a dentist regularly every six months. I had done this for ten years, and nearly every tooth in my gums had its gold filling. The last time I visited the dentist I told him that I had become a vegetarian, and he replied that he rather thought my teeth would decay quicker in future on account of an increased consumption of vegetable acids. But from that day, now nearly six years ago, to the present time, I have never been near a dentist. My teeth seem to have taken a new lease of life. It is a fact that the acids in fruit and vegetables so far from injuring the teeth benefit them. Many of these acids are strongly antiseptic and actually destroy the germs that cause the teeth to decay. On the other hand, they do not attack the enamel of the teeth, while inorganic acids do. Nothing cleanses the teeth so effectually as to thoroughly chew a large and juicy apple.
Fruit is a Food

Until quite recently the majority of English-speaking people have been accustomed to look upon fruit not as a food, but rather as a sweetmeat, to be eaten merely for pleasure, and therefore very sparingly. It has consequently been banished from its rightful place at the beginning of meals. But fruit is not a “goody,” it is a food, and, moreover, a complete food. All vegetable foods (in their natural state) contain all the elements necessary to form a complete food. At a pinch human life might be supported on any one of them. I say “at a pinch” because if the nuts cereals and pulses were ruled out of the dietary it would, for most people, be deficient in fat and proteid (the flesh and muscle-forming element). Nevertheless, fruit alone will sustain life if taken in large quantities with small output of energy on the part of the person living upon it, as witness the “grape cure.”[2] The percentage of proteid in grapes is particularly high for fruit.
Those people who desire to make a fruitarian dietary their daily régime cannot do better than take the advice of O. Hashnu Hara, an American writer. He says: “Every adult requires from twelve to sixteen ounces of dry food, free from water, daily. To supply this a quarter of a pound of shelled nuts and three-quarters of a pound of any dried fruit must be used. In addition to this, from two to three pounds of any fresh fruit in season goes to complete the day’s allowance. These quantities should be weighed out ... and will sustain a full-grown man in perfect health and vitality. The quantity of ripe fresh fruit may be slightly increased in summer, with a corresponding decrease in the dried fruit.”
FOOTNOTE:
[2] Recent years have witnessed a modification of the original cure. Other food is now included, but I have not heard that the results are better.

Objections to Fruit

Some vegetarians object that it is possible to eat too much fruit, and recommend caution in the use of it to people of nervous temperament, or those who seem predisposed to skin ailments. It is true that the consumption of large quantities of fruit may appear to render the nervous person more irritable, and to increase the external manifestations of a skin disease. But in the latter event the fruit is merely assisting Nature to throw the disease out and off more quickly, while in the former case the real cause lies not in the fruit but in some nerve irritant, tea, for example, the effects of which are more acutely felt under the new régime. The nervous system tends to become much more sensitive upon a vegetarian, especially fruitarian, diet, and people often attribute their increased nervousness and irritability to the diet when it is simply that they now react more quickly to poisons. This is not a bad thing, on the contrary, it shows that the system has become more alert. Under the old régime we tend to store up poisons and impurities in the body, but the effect of a vegetable diet, especially when united with the use of distilled water, is to cause all our diseases and impurities to be expelled outwards and downwards. Tea is a slow poison, and so is coffee except under exceptional conditions when it is used as a medicine, and then it should always be pale-roasted.
Fruit should always be eaten at the beginning of a meal. Again, when the diet consists of a mixture of cooked and uncooked foods, the uncooked should always be eaten first. Also when the meal consists of two courses, a sweet and a savoury dish, sufferers from indigestion should try taking the sweet course first. I have known several cases where this simple expedient has resulted in a complete cessation of the discomfort of which the patient complained.

A Pioneer of Food Remedies

When it comes to food as medicine the pioneer, in England, of the treatment of all sorts and conditions of disease by means of a vegetable (chiefly fruit) dietary was Dr. Lambe, a contemporary of the poet Shelley. His last book appeared in 1815, and in it and the one preceding are recorded some wonderful cures, especially in cases of cancer. It is only fair to add here that in Dr. Lambe’s opinion no system of cure is completely efficacious so long as the patient is allowed to drink the ordinary tap or well water. Distilled water was the only drink he advised. But he held it better still not to drink at all if the necessary liquid could be supplied to the body by means of fresh, juicy fruits. He contended that man is not naturally a drinking animal; that his thirst is a morbid symptom, the outcome of a carnivorous diet and other unwholesome habits. And I think that anyone may prove the truth of this for him or herself if he or she will adopt a fruitarian dietary and abstain from the use of salt and other condiments.
I have cited so out-of-date a personage as Dr. Lambe for two reasons. The first is that I know many of the so-called new and unorthodox ideas are more likely to appeal to some readers, if it can be shown that they originated with a duly qualified medical practitioner who recorded the results of his observations and experiments in black and white. The second is that the principles and practices of Dr. Lambe are incorporated with those of the Physical Regeneration Society, a large and ever-increasing body of enthusiasts having its head-quarters in London, to whose annals I must refer those readers who desire up-to-date instances of the efficacy of the use of fruit in disease. Lack of space will not allow me to quote them here.

The Simple Life

We hear a great deal about the “Simple Life” and “Returning to Nature” nowadays, but most of us are so situated that the proposed simplicity simply spells increased complexity. The “vegetarian chop” costs the housewife more than double the time and labour involved in preparing its fleshly namesake. And when it comes to illness some of the systems of bathing and exercising prescribed by the “naturopath” are infinitely more troublesome to the patient and his friends than the simple expedient of sending for the doctor and taking the prescribed doses. I do not want to be misunderstood here. I am not condemning treatment with water and exercises. On the contrary, I hope to pass on what I have learnt about these methods of treatment. But so many people lack the time, help, and conveniences necessary to carry them out successfully. It is to these that I would say that the patient’s cure may be effected just as surely, if more slowly, by means of fruit alone.

Fruit or Fasting

With regards to using food as medicine; Treatment of disease by fasting has come into fashion of late, and there is really no lack of proof as to the benefits to be obtained from abstaining entirely from food for a short period. I know of an elderly man who fasts for a fortnight every spring, and gains, not loses, weight during the process! He accounts for this by explaining that certain stored up, undigested food particles come out and are digested while he fasts. Whether this is the correct explanation I do not know, but the fact remains, and it is not by any means a solitary case. Of course, the majority of people lose weight when fasting, but this is very quickly recovered. Now I do not think fasting should be undertaken recklessly, but only under competent direction. But an excellent and safe substitute for a fast is an exclusive fruit diet.

Acute Illness

The simplest and quickest method of recovering from attacks of acute illness, fevers, inflammatory diseases, etc., is to rest quietly in bed in a warm but well-ventilated room, and to take three meals a day of fresh ripe fruit, grapes by preference. If the grapes are grown out of doors and ripened in the sun so much the better. I have found from two to three pounds of grapes per day sufficient. If there is thirst, barley water flavoured with lemon juice should be taken between the meals.

Two Friends and the Bear

2012-01-24T00:14:00.000-08:00

Once two friends were walking through the forest. They knew that anything dangerous can happen to them at any time in the forest. So they promised each other that they would remain united in any case of danger.

Suddenly, they saw a large bear approaching them. One of the friends at once climbed a nearby tree. But the other one did not know how to climb. So being led by his common sense, he lay down on the groundbreathless, pretending to be a dead man.

The bear came near the man lying on the ground. It smelt in his ears, and slowly left the place. Because the bears do not touch the dead creatures.Now the friend on the tree came down and asked his friend on the ground, "Friend, what did the bear tell you into your ears?"The other friend replied, "The bear advised me not to believe a false friend."

Moral: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

10 Best Places to Live for Escaping World Conflict

2012-01-23T05:38:00.001-08:00

Where would you be the safest if World War 3 broke out tomorrow? Perhaps it’s a grim subject, but safety and distance from world conflict can be a motivating factor in your choice to expatriate. At the very least, conflict around the world can weigh heavy on the soul, and it’s nice to know there are some places still left in the world where you might be left in peace. Thus, we’ve assembled a list of the 10 best places to live if you want to escape world conflict.

10. Switzerland

Switzerland’s long history of neutrality and its tucked away location among the valleys of the Alps still make it a safe bet, even despite having a high number of bordering nations. It helps that neighboring Austria is also considered a neutral nation.

9. Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a stable democracy, a disbanded military and a national policy of neutrality. It also ranks highly on the Global Peace Index, Happy Planet Index, and Life Satisfaction Index. Although it sits in the middle of a tumultuous region, there are far worse places to sit in peace as the world goes down in flames all around.

8. Papua New Guinea

There are regions of Papua New Guinea that are still being discovered for the first time. The canopy covered, mountainous nation contains some of the most isolated places in the world. Tuck yourself away in a nook here and it may be one of the few places left where you can completely insulate yourself from the outside world.

7. Canada

Canada is the second largest nation in the world, yet it only shares a land border with one other country– the U.S.A.– and it is a peaceful border. That means there is a great expanse to escape to, if need be. Furthermore, Canada has few world enemies, ranks consistently high on the Global Peace Index, and is relatively homogeneous.

6. Seychelles

Aside from being safely isolated from the rest of the world in the middle of the Indian Ocean, this beautiful island nation is a great place to forget about your worries. Isolation is the key here. And conflict is as transparent as the water.

5. Finland

Finland has a long history of desiring to stay out of international conflicts, is recognized as neutral and always ranks in the top 10 of the Global Peace Index. It’s northerly location also typically means the remote areas of this country are a perfect place to disappear.

4. Tuvalu

Isolated in the middle of Micronesia, Tuvalu is among the safest and most remote places in the world. It is the third least populated country on Earth, and the forth smallest. There are only a few places more distant from the world’s strife than Tuvalu.

3. Iceland

Iceland, of course, has no borders, has remote locations, is stable as a country and has virtually no world enemies. Its people are happy and the nation always ranks highly on the Global Peace Index. If world conflict erupts, Iceland is one of the few stable nations in the world unlikely to get caught up in the middle.

2. Bhutan

Landlocked among the Himalaya mountains, Bhutan is one of the most isolated nations in the world. It also showcases one of the most stable balances in the world between moderization and retention of ancient culture. Its religious population believes in peaceful resolution to all conflict, and although it sits in a troubled region, it remains protected by its geography.

1. New Zealand

New Zealand might be the most isolated and expansive fully developed nation in the world. It shares no borders, sits relatively distant from any other nation, has no real national enemies, has a safe democracy and a diverse landscape with many remote places to hide away within. Furthermore, it ranked #1 on the Global Peace Index in 2009

Ref: http://www.expatify.com/advice/10-best-places-to-live-for-escaping-world-conflict.html

Tips to lose weight naturally

2012-01-20T20:44:00.001-08:00

Weight loss remains a major health issue for many of us despite the onslaught of weight loss tips and medical aids that surround us.
Most of the contemporary solutions border on providing unrealistic weight loss solutions or are too time-consuming. Drastic dieting is never recommended since it can leave you malnourished and damage your body in an unredeemable manner. In order to lose weight naturally, i.e. without using any magic pill or gymming like a maniac, use the following tips:

Consider Whole Grains As Your Friends

Try to eat a larger concentration of foods made from whole grains (rotis, whole wheat breads, cookies and oatmeal) rather than refined or processed foods. Whole grains are more complex for the body to metabolize, taking a longer digestion route. This keeps the body busy for a longer period, ensuring that energy is released throughout the day. This helps to decrease the frequency and intensity of hunger pangs, particularly the sugar cravings.
Also read:

Psychological Preparedness

Don’t be shy about your weight loss goals. In fact, use the people around you to your advantage. Announce it amongst your friends and family that they should thwart you every time you are headed for a bit piece of creamy cake or a cheese-loaded pizza.

Know Your Food

You need to be more alert when picking up packaged food items. Remember that non-saturated fats and essential fatty acids are the good kind of fats that your body needs for its basic functions. Food items bearing labels of low-fat or low-sugar might not necessarily contain lesser calories. Instead, try to make smarter substitutions. For instance, you can choose eggless baked items and juices without sugar.

Use Water As A Weight Loss Tool

Try to drink water every time you get hungry or you are about to have a meal, i.e. just before a major meal like a lunch or dinner. This is a simple and effective way of instantly quenching your hunger to a certain extent. More water also raises the metabolic rate or the rate at which the body uses calories, meaning you are losing more calories per hour.

Manipulate Yourself To Reduce Food Intake

Try to eat slowly, breaking your food into more bites. This will ensure that you derive more pleasure out of each bite, allowing each morsel to provide more satiety, ensuring your calorie intake at the dining table remain limited. Rather than taking single, big servings, try to take numerous small servings. This helps to establish the perception that you have been serving yourself repeatedly and also makes you more conscious about the amount of food you are about to consume.

Use Fiber To Your Advantage

Try to include more fiber in your diet. This should include soluble and insoluble fiber for ensuring that the digested food in your intestines absorbs more water. This in turn ensures that the feeling of being full is achieved quicker. Insoluble fiber is found in leafy salads that also help you limit your food intake naturally. This is because the raw state of most salad ingredients means that you need to chew a lot more. The extra chewing and salivating that accompanies it helps to control the hunger pangs for a few hours.

Overcome Your Snacking Habits

Snacking is perhaps the biggest sin a dieter can commit. To ensure that you stay away from the urge to bite into a chocolate or cookie, keep your mouth busy with sugar-free chewing gum. Try to sip iced or hot herbal teas prepared with minimal amount of sugar throughout the day. These are low cal aids that help to establish the feeling of feeding yourself without consuming too many calories, preventing the urge to snack.

Keep Away From Salt

Salt is responsible for retention of water within the large intestine. Further, salt tends to keep our blood pressure high, making us more prone to sweating. These factors raise our thirst and the tendency to consume beverages, including teas and colas, which contain sugar.

Burn Your Sugars

If you cannot do without your daily intake of sweet or sugar-concentrated items, try to snack upon them during the morning hours. This ensures that the body will be using the calories extracted from your favorite milkshake throughout the day, reducing the number of calories stored as fat.

Exercise Easily

You don’t need to take upon heavy gym routines to exercise your problem areas. For instance, climbing up and down the stairs is one of the easiest, most accessible types of cardiovascular exercise that works-out your hips, legs and thighs beautifully. Combine this with undemanding calorie-burners like brisk walks, walking to the nearby market, walking when talking on your mobile and taking upon more household chores.

Weight Loss Precautions You Shouldn’t Ignore

Maintaining your body frame is vital at the time of losing weight. Weight loss often causes loss of vital protein, weakening the muscles that are necessary to maintain the elasticity of our tissues. To ensure that you don’t lose too much of your lean muscle mass, ensure you consume egg whites on a daily basis. Avoid the yolk since it contains a high amount of cholesterol. (Health, MensXP.com)

Ref: http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/tips-lose-weight-naturally-043402088.html

A Short Neurological Test

2012-01-19T20:31:00.001-08:00

1- Find the C below..
Please do not use any cursor help.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOCOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

2- If you already found the C, now find the 6 below.

99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
69999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999
99999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

3 - Now find the N below. It's a little more difficult.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMNMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

This is NOT a joke. If you were able to pass these 3 tests, you can cancel your annual visit to your neurologist.
Your brain is great and you're far from having a close relationship with Alzheimer.

Ref: http://rbkamal.blogspot.com/2011/08/short-neurological-test.html

How technology changed our life?

2012-01-18T22:56:00.001-08:00

The development of technology opens up many avenues and it has a profound influence on the living standards of people. The Arabian peninsula was not well-developed until about 100 years back. But the discovery of oil deposits in that region brought about a revolution. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates have become some of the richest nations of the world by selling oil. The demands of oil technology are enormous. Oil refineries need long pipelines, electric power , good roads, airports, and harbors. The communication system must be efficient.

People from different countries have gone of the Gulf countries to earn their living. The life-style and the social pattern have also changed dramatically. For example, people in these regions now live in high-rise apartments and flats instead of leading a nomadic existence. They use automobiles for their transportation. They cook their food with cooking gas. They wear different kinds of clothes made of synthetic fibers. They do not have to do shopping every day. Once a weak they purchase their household materials including meat, vegetables and dairy products and store them in refrigerators. Their house is fitted with coolers, air conditioners and heaters so that they can live comfortably inside. For their comfort and entertainment they use a variety of equipment such as TV, VCR, etc.

From the Arabian Peninsula we now return to an Indian village to observe changes in the life-style of a villager and find out how new technologies have created new needs for him. Previously, most of the village houses were made of clay with a thatched roof. Now either the arrival of new construction materials, villagers are constructing their houses with brick, mortar, cement and steel. Earlier, villagers used cow-dung cakes, dry leaves, dry twigs of trees, wood and coal as fuel for cooking their food. Now they are using kerosene oil and cooking has for the same purpose.

As electricity has reached a large number of Indian villages, they have started using refrigerators, television, etc. They are buying them and using them for their comforts as well as for their are needs. From radio and TV, they get weather reports which help them monitor their food-production schemes. There is no doubt that they are getting used to comforts and convince offered by new technologies. But at the same time they are reaping the benefits of modern technology. With the help of pumps and electricity they can now irrigate vast areas of land, and now they use tractors for ploughing.

In order to appreciate how adoption of one technology creates need for another, we take more look at a villager. He uses new methods of farming. The use of high-yielding variety of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, all made possible by advances in technology, gives him a high yield. This requires of him to store the grains in soils and cold storage. He has to sell the grains in the grain market. For this, he needs transportation facilities (trucks, railwatys0 and good roads. He needs ore electricity for irrigation, processing and refining of the food grains, oil-seeds, sugar-cane, etc. Greater income resulting from high yield prompts him to adapt newer technology both for agricultural activities as well as for his comfort.

Impact of Technology

(a) Technology has made the world a smaller place

Radio, TV, computers, fax, satellites, etc., have brought different countries and people closer to each other. We can see on our TV screens any event (e.g., games, ceremonies) taking place thousands of miles away. We can communicate with people of distant lands. New information can spread out very rapidly. With latest information and knowledge we can enrich ourselves.

(b) Technology has influenced the work place

Let us take an example. Previously a ‘Munshiji’ used to take a month or so to do the accounts. The same amount of work can be done by a computer in a few hours. Under the present circumstances we don’t have to snatch away Munshijis job. All that is needed is a change in this working style. Now he has to learn how to operate the computer. A computer producing company has to employ and train persons who can write software to run on the compute. Advancement of technology increases the working efficiency but it does not mean that technological growth will generate unemployment. It may, however, require redeployment and further training.

(c) Technology has led to miniaturization

Extremely small valves, gears, springs and lenses are being made. Millions of electrical circuits are being packed into slivers of silicon. Now we can have machines of the size of a pin-head to do the size of a housefly. With the help of tiny scissors doctors can perform on the child who is still in the womb of his mother.

(d) Technology and Quality of Life

Technology has influenced the quality of life. The indices to measure the quality of life may be per capita income, health care, educational level. Energy availability, etc. With each new scientific and technological advancement, man is improving his quality of life.

The Pigeon and the Crow?

2012-01-18T22:52:00.001-08:00

Once there lived a rich man. He was very kind and generous man. He gave away a part of his income in charity. He showed special kindness to the animals and birds. One day, a pigeon entered his kitchen and built her nest in an empty vegetable basket. Being kind hearted, the merchant told the cook to let the pigeon stay in his kitchen. The cook gave her grains and other things to eat. The pigeon thus had a home.

A crow was once passing by the merchant’s house. He saw the pigeon comfortably sitting in her nest in the kitchen. He could also smell the delicious food that the cook was cooking. He smelt the cheese and the fish curry. He was very greedy. He wanted to eat the tasty food. He made up his mind to find an entrance to the kitchen.

Next day, when the pigeon came out of the kitchen, the crow approached her and befriended her. At first, the pigeon did not want to make friendship with the crow.

However, when the crow told her that he was very jointly, as his friends had gone away to another city, she felt sorry for him and made him her friend. The crow made it a practice to accompany the pigeon whatever she went.

One day, he requests her to show him her nest. The pigeon took him to the kitchen of the wealthy merchant. “The cook here is very kind. He often gives me tasty food to eat”. She told him. Just then, the cook came to the kitchen and saw the crow. He was about to drive him away when he thought of his master’s kindness towards the birds.

Therefore, he let the crow stay in the kitchen. He hung another basket for him. The crow had wished this to happen. Thus, he also started living in the kitchen.

However, unlike pigeon, he stole food in the absence of the cook. One day, the merchant had invited some guests. He came to the kitchen and instructed his cook to make tasty fish curry for the guests. The crow was happy to hear this. That day, he did not go out of the kitchen. He watched the activities of the cook. The cook took out a large fish out of the refrigerator. He cut in into pieces. Then he fried the pieces and mixed spices to make a tasty curry. The crow could hardly wait to taste the curry. The cook poured the curry into a bowl and went out to fetch some vegetables from the garden. Here was the crow’s chance to taste the curry. He stealthily went near the bowl of fish and removed the plate that covered it. The plate fell with a big bang. The cook rushed into the kitchen and caught the crow red handed. He had a large piece of fish in his beak.

The cook was very angry with the crow. He said, “I let you stay in my kitchen. I gave you tasty food to eat. And now you are stealing food. You are an ungrateful creature. I must punish you”. So saying, he plucked out all his feathers and threw the featherless crow into crow met a dreadful end.

In the evening, the pigeon returned to her nest. She saw the dead featherless crow lying in the dustbin. She understood what might have happened to the crow. She also understood why he had not gone out the kitchen with her that day. She said aloud, “one should never be greedy. Greed leads to nothing, but downfall. This crow was not satisfied with what the kind cook gave him. He tried to steal fish and met with a dreadful end”.

The Hidden Treasure

2012-01-18T00:51:00.001-08:00

There lived an old farmer with his three sons in a village.

The father asked his sons to work in the field along with him. But the young fellows were lazy. They did not want to work in the sun and the rains in the field like their father.

One day the farmer fell sick. He was about to die. So he called his sons, and told them, "Sons, before I die, I want to tell you some secret. Under the ground in our field, there are some hidden treasures. If you dig the land properly, you will surely find them."

So saying, the old farmer died.

The boys performed the funeral rites of their father. Then, one day all the three brothers went to the field and began to dig the land thoroughly from one end to the other in order to find the hidden treasures. But they did not find anything. They were disheartened.

Now the eldest brother told the other two to sow seeds in the land, as the land had already been ploughed thoroughly. And they did so.

After a few months, they found good crops in their field. They reaped the harvest, and made large profit by selling them.

Now the eldest brother told his two brothers, "Brothers, I've understood what our father had meant by the 'hidden treasures'. The hidden treasures are the good crops that we found, only by digging the land properly and sowing the seeds there."

Know your PF account balance online

2012-01-05T23:09:00.001-08:00

Finally the wait is over to know your Employee Provident Fund (EPF) account balance. After 2 years of initial announcement to make the account information online, EPFO India has finally delivered something. As per the official note released by the PF department on July 1st of 2011, a valid active account holder will know the balance up to the date. Their claim is that all the accounts are updated for certain circles across country, which also includes the latest approved transactions of settlement/advances/transfer-in/transfer-out, if any.

This data is currently available for Delhi (North), Delhi (South), Laxmi Nagar (Delhi), Gurgaon, Faridabad, Karnal and Bangalore. Remaining offices records will be made available online soon as per the info on their site.

In order to know your PF account details, follow these simple steps:
Visit the site http://www.epfindia.com/MembBal.html
Select the EPFO office where your account is maintained
Furnish your PF Account number in the online form.
Leave the extension field blank, in case your account does not have one.
You will be asked to enter your name and mobile number.
The given mobile number will be recorded along with the PF Account Number.
On successful submission of above information, the details will be sent through SMS to the given mobile number.

If you get confused while entering your information, this pic should help you out!

I tried these steps to get my balance yesterday. First couple of successful submissions went nowhere! I didn’t get any response. Today I was lucky upon trying for the third time! I got the SMS in about 1 hour after filling the details online. Sadly, as on today the account balance reflects the data only till 31st March 2008. We may have to wait for some more time (few more years?) to know the latest balance.

Oh yeah, one more thing. Don’t spam the comment stream below with your PF account details. I will not be able to get your details. Your comment will just be deleted if it has only such request. This is just for your information and feel free to use the appropriate links provided to know your account data.

Ref: http://www.mohanbn.com

In 2012 - Life is an Experience, So...

2012-01-05T22:57:00.000-08:00

Think a new thought; accept a new responsibility; memorize a new poem.
Try a new recipe; plan a new adventure; entertain a new idea.
Learn a new language; blaze a new trail; enjoy a new experience.
Make a new friend; read a new book; see a new movie.
Climb a new hill; scale a new mountain; launch a new career.
Find a new purpose; fill a new need; light a new lamp.
Exercise a new strength; grasp a new truth; practice a new awareness.
Add a new dimension; encourage a new growth; affirm a new beginning.
Discover a new answer; envision a new image; conceive a new system.
Dream a new dream; chart a new course; build a new life.
Open a new door; explore a new possibility; capture a new vision.
Start a new chapter; seek a new challenge; express a new confidence.
Write a new plan; turn a new page; follow a new direction.
Watch a new program; be a new person; radiate a new enthusiasm.

Ref: William Arthur Ward