Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
WEEKEND
The worth of a weekend is known better for those who work seriously for five days from Monday to Friday.
Saturday and Sunday are the two days we call as weekend.
Weekend means differently for different age groups.
In countries like the USA UK France Germany Italy Spain
For workaholics, there is no weekend, but they do go on long vacations to shed off their tiredness.
How preciously followed the sacred weekends in countries where the work is worshipped.
I too felt the importance of the weekend when I was in Europe in my thirties working as a scientific researcher.
Those who have family, they do attend to the pending house-hold work and relax on Sunday with the members of the family.
Sometimes people plan for a picnic if the weather is good or for boating or watching a game of tennis.
In every weekend, newspapers also come out with more reading materials for people to relax and update their knowledge.
Aged persons, who love to read, make use of such an opportunity every weekend.
The importance of weekend is realized very much by men and women born in rich countries.
In India
It was not very successful sometimes for obvious reasons.
It revealed clearly that many people do not work hard and seriously.
People are much relaxed in their office itself so the need for a special weekend for relaxation does not arise.
There was another problem people felt in small towns, was to spend the two days.
Most of the people used to play cards, gambles, drinks liquor and many other unwanted activities.
So introduced weekends were withdrawn in some states of India
When Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India, he introduced the five day week.
Initially, there was not much improvement in the work culture; but later on people tried to understand slowly the importance of the two valuable days called the weekend.
Once people are used to it, and organized their life, then things move alright as in Western countries.
In India
Young couples go to movies and other entertainment in the town.
Many young people invariably plan their program for every weekend.
No one wants to stay at home unless one is sick because when people are working from morning till evening everyday they have to have some sort of relaxation during the weekend outdoor.
Weekends are welcome to anyone so that there is no need to attend schools, colleges or offices.
But some people work during weekends to get overtime pay or for compensation to get a holiday during the week days.
Generally Sunday night the end of weekend is painful for some because they have to start work on Monday.
Essentially weekends energize everyone to get ready for the next week-work.
The word ‘weekend’ is used as such in French language also.
Not all weekends end in a happy note for every one.
For some people, weekends are to visit old age parents or their children who study in boarding school or patients ailing at hospitals.
In fact, what happens in weekends vary with people and their will and pleasure.
Deciding the weekend program itself is a hobby as we plan for annual vacation to visit some other place in the country or abroad.
Weekends are also used for shopping.
Most of the food items like vegetables are bought and stored in refrigerator for the week-use.
Exhibitions, sales of articles and concerts are some of the activities organized during weekends for helping people to attend.
In fact, weekends are very usefully spent by wise people whereas they are wasted also by some.
It depends on the person or persons concerned.
If it rains during weekend, I take a cup of hot coffee and read the weekend edition of a newspaper or a good book.
Wish you a happy weekend.
To tell you the truth, this article was written during one of the weekends.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
ARIHANT - THE NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE
It was on 26 July 2009 Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India with his wife Madam Gursharan Kaur landed in Visakhapetnam, one of the important ship building ports of India.
The purpose was to plant a historical milestone for India
It was Sunday and the time was .
Madam Kaur broke a coconut on the hull of INS Arihant – the nuclear-powered submarine to mark its launch.
Why a lady should break the coconut to launch a submarine? – we may ask.
According to naval convention warships are launched by ladies.
Indian Navy was correctly following the convention to make the launch of the submarine a grand success.
It was observed in person by Defense Minister A. K. Antony, the Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sureesh Mehta and many others – ministers and officials – along with millions of television viewers of India
Arihant – meaning, destroyer of enemies – was the name kept for the submarine.
The whole function was preceded by an invocation from the Atharva Veda with three women offering prayers to the earth, space and heaven.
This significant milestone was reached after 11 years of hard work put forth by various organizations such as Defense and Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), the navy and public.
It was built under the code name ‘Advanced Technology Vessel’ (ATV) with the strategic cooperation of the Russian Federation
The actual weight of INS Arihant is 9,400 tonnes, 124 m long and 11 m wide.
The diving depth is 300 m and the machinery used was nuclear-pressurized water reactor using 20 per cent enriched uranium fuel.
The cost involved for the whole project was $2.9 billion.
The home made submarine was designed to launch nuclear-armed ballistic missiles and India U.S. Russia Britain China France
Arihant will undergo trials for two years before its induction into the Navy.
The difference between a nuclear powered submarine such as Arihant and a diesel-fired submarine is that the former can remain under water for a long during where as the latter has to rise to the surface everyday for ejecting the carbon dioxide produced by the diesel generator.
Arihant, according to Dr Anil Kadodkar, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commision and Srikumar Banerjee, Director of BARC, has involved a number of modern scientific technologies.
There were novelties not only in the reactor’s design but in its manufacturing.
The contributions of our skilled scientists engineers, and technicians are to be congratulated for constructing a giant nuclear-powered submarine to safeguard our nation.
We should be proud of each one who was responsible for this important task.
The Prime Minister said: It was incumbent upon the country to take all necessary steps to keep pace with global advances.
He also said that we do not have any aggressive designs nor do we seek to threaten anyone. We seek an external environment in our region and beyond that, conducive to our peaceful development and the protection of our value systems.
Nevertheless, it is incumbent upon us to take all measures necessary to safeguard our country and keep pace with technological advancements worldwide.
It has rightly been said for India
Saturday, December 25, 2010
LIINES I LIKED
- When we talk about mass literacy we should talk about mass perfection.
- Masses get accustomed to what they get by minimum effort.
- Each one teaches one.
- Great music elevates the spirit.
- Our world is prosperous but not orderly.
- Awareness is the first step to better health.
- A mistake is the stepping stone to better ways of doing things.
Friday, December 24, 2010
LINES I LIKED
- When we talk about mass literacy we should talk about mass perfection.
- Masses get accustomed to what they get by minimum effort.
- Each one teaches one.
- Great music elevates the spirit.
- Our world is prosperous but not orderly.
- Awareness is the first step to better health.
- A mistake is the stepping stone to better ways of doing things.
- You can’t always control what happens to you, but you can always control how you react to what happens to you.
- Something funny often has a story behind it.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
COMPUTING IN 2011
Computers and computing are going to see sea change in the coming year of 2011.
Google has announced computers without operating system and they may cost even 25% less in India
Most of the hardware is going to be cheaper day by day.
The printers – dot matrices, inkjets and lasers – have come down in prices.
They are cheap nowadays compared to the prices of yesteryears.
When I bought a hp inkjet printer eight years ago, it was Rs. 12,000/- but now I can buy one for Rs. 3000/-
This is only an example.
The CDs, DVDs, pen drives and portable hard discs are sold at throw away prices today.
It appears that they are going to be still cheaper in due course of time probably by 2011.
Cloud computing and virtualization are the attractive terms used in the Information Technology arena today.
I was curious to know the meaning of these fancy terms.
Someone said that people can store their data in a common hard disc and download them whenever needed as we do the websites.
Also it is said that every thing will be in on line so there is no need to download and store them in our hard disc and CDs.
It makes much simpler for companies, government departments and even for individuals to compute cheaply provided we have an efficient broadband system.
The broad band is very fast and efficient in advanced countries like the US
The downloading, uploading and browsing the net are fast to very fast.
Therefore on e of the pre-requisites for cloud computing is going to be a fast broadband network which is unfortunately not available in India
So cloud computing in India
Since data are going to a common pool, in cloud computing, people suspect the safety of their data.
It is also easy for a hacker to reach the central data store easily.
WikiLeaks has already sent out a clear message.
So it is going to be the biggest threat for the progress of cloud computing in future.
However, one of the advantages everyone feels is that organizations need not invest in hard wares and associated establishments and thus can save huge amount of money.
Amazon, the biggest book seller giant on-line already provides the so-called ‘cloud computing service’ by renting out some of the thousands of computers used to run its online store.
Let us see as we march through 2011, what cloud computing is going to offer and also the innumerable electronic accessories of computers are going to change our way of thinking and life-style.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
VIEWPOINT...
"India is a curious mixture of scientific advance and traditional superstitions.
Superstitions are deeply ingrained and cannot be eliminated overnight.
They can be countered by rational arguments."
-Jayant V. Narlikar
FUNNY PICTURES...
FORGOTTON? ... WHAT..?
TRAVELER...
SEDUCING WITH ICECREAM?
REAL ESTATE SCAM?
'Q' FOR CANDIDATE TICKET?
ASTROLOGY MAY HELP!
SLEEPING OFFICE BOY
FUNNY WOMAN
INDIA TODAY...
Whether the critiques like it or not, the ruling party is continuing with its governance in India
There are security lapses, want of JPC, no parliament session, WikiLeaks digging up something nasty everyday, natural calamities like flood in some states, escalating food prices, increase in petrol price and what not?
Innumerable problems are tapping the doors of the Prime Minister and the UPA Chairperson almost everyday.
The opposition parties are very happy to see the pressure under which UPA government is operating.
All opposition parties big or small are putting pressure on the UPA from all angles.
What is the real idea behind all these pressures?
I try to understand the intricacies of all these incidents like many other people in our country.
No one has a correct answer to offer.
The lawyer-spokespersons of each party talk good about their party and bad about the ruling party in loud voices.
Is it democracy?
They say it is.
The public money is swindled by everyone who is in the top positions like Central Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers of States, bank CEOs, politicians, and journalists and even the civil servants and defense personals.
In order to catch these thieves, again the government is spending huge amount of public money in searches, advocate fees, commissions, stalling parliamentary proceedings for whole winter session.
I feel it’s sheer non-sense!
Remember, both are heavily populated countries.
Is it not a shame on the part of the responsible leaders our country to waste the public money and tell the people that they are taking care of the corrupt.
How long such things can happen in India
I hope, sooner some bright economist or judge will come forward to give a solution for this tricky problem.
What the President of India doing?
No word from her so far!
Who will solve these ugly problems?
I do not know.
Do you?
21December 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Products are things we use.
Most of them are bought for a price.
Some of these products are indispensable and more important for life.
Products like food items, costumes, medicines are indispensable and without which it is impossible to survive.
At the same time there are products which are less important and also there are products which are least important.
People look for less important products too when they have money to buy them.
They even look for least important ones also when they have too much money.
The desire for all these product-acquisition comes from one’s mind.
New products come in the market almost everyday and publicized through attractive advertisements.
People come to know and a desire is created in the minds of almost all and they plan to buy such new products either with cash or a bank loan.
These products are every where – vehicles, TV, mobile phones, computers, camcorders, cameras, washing machines, refrigerators, micro-ovens, air conditioners – there is no end to this list.
Such products are needed by people and produced by the manufacturers investing millions of dollars and sold through out the world.
Money helps us to buy all these items which are readily available in the market.
Innumerable products in the show cases of super-markets attract us and tempt us to buy.
However, we forget one important thing which is basic to the production, transportation and marketing.
All these processes to produce the products are the service we get from the manufactures and marketing people.
Variety of products advertised on line for the benefit of people who can order by their telephone dialing toll free numbers.
The products reach on the door-steps in a day or two.
In fact, we forget the service attached to each and every product we buy from various sources.
I consider that the cost of each item we buy in fact includes the cost for the service too, although it is hidden in every product.
Another important thing we avail in our life is the service itself.
Education, health care, road, rail, airways, electricity, sports, telephone, administration, defense, security – and similar services are generally provided by both private and public organizations to the citizens of a country.
Some such services are free and some others are paid.
Infra-structure facilities created for the citizens are great services.
The tax we pay to the Nation is used for all these services.
A country’s progress depends on the infrastructure services built by the private and public organizations.
Education for example is needed for everyone in a country.
Schools, colleges and universities are needed in large numbers to cater the requirements of ever growing population.
These institutions provide education for all.
It is a great service we have to appreciate.
It also creates employments for teachers and associated staff.
Likewise health care services are needed for those who are unwell.
It is again essential service for the patients.
Free and paid services are available in every country.
Private services are costly and not affordable for the poor.
Public services are free but the service provided is not up-to-the mark as in private health services.
There are hospitals run and maintained by religious organizations in every country.
The intention is to treat all human beings at par.
Similarly we can expand the various services available for us.
Products and services are essential for every one of us.
Free or paid, these two are the foundations for our life.
Hence, let us understand the significance of the use of products and services in our life.
_________________________________________________________________________
Friday, December 17, 2010
MARINE LIFE
I had a good fortune to visit some of the most important oceans of the world.
They were fascinating for me and I felt sad for those who had no chance of visiting these oceans that comprise about 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface.
These brackish water bodies are being crossed by humans in boats, ships, submarines and many other modes of transport.
The deep sea kept me wondering about the under-water world in which microscopic living organisms including zooplankton and phytoplankton to huge mammals like whales which grow up to a length of 48 meters.
Although, I have not gone deep into the ocean, I could get a chance to see the various organisms living under water in Discovery Channel.
The TV channel has videotaped the under water pictures so elegantly and broadcast to the world.
Specialists in seafaring are trained for diving from ships and observe and capture the video images of the living organisms under water.
It is unimaginable that the salty sea water to the depth of the oceanic trenches of 10,000 meters deep is the home for coral reefs, kelp forests, and tide pools, muddy, sandy and rocky bottom.
No one knows how much species of life forms live and die in such a deep sea.
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean whereas marine ecology focuses on how these organisms interact with each other and the environment.
These scientific studies have in fact revealed lot of information hidden in the deep sea over years.
Marine life is a vast resource, providing food, medicine and raw materials in addition to helping to support recreation and tourism all over the world.
Life in the sea is less known to us like the life in the forest.
Large areas beneath the ocean surface still remain unexplored.
Adaptation to the salty environment is still a wonderful aspect of marine life.
The sea water is so rich in chemicals like sodium and calcium chloride.
Iodine is also a component of sea salt.
Sea water when evaporated in salt-pans with the help of sun’s energy, we get sea salt which is used in our daily food.
How such salt water is supporting the lives of innumerable organisms? – is still a mystery for most of us.
Microscopic life includes viruses; phytoplankton (also called as blue-green algae/bacteria) consists of cyanobacteria, various types of algae (brown and yellow green), diatoms, dinoflagellates, euglenoids, chlorophytes etc.
Zooplankton like protozoa and some dinoflagellates are also phytoplankton.
The macroscopic algae like the sea weeds create kelp forests.
Sea weeds are being harvested and used as growth promoters for land plants.
Invertebrate sea life includes jelly fish and sea anemones.
Shell fish, squid and octopus are some of the inhabitant of sea water.
Fish is much evolved large organism live in the ocean.
Fish breathe by extracting oxygen from water through their gills and the fins of fish propel and stabilize them in water.
One of the more popular sea fish is sardine which is the cheapest sold in the local market.
Sharks are the big ones with serrated teeth predate on small fishes.
In addition to fish, the marine life includes reptiles like sea snakes, sea turtles and salt water crocodile.
Penguins and sea gulls are sea birds adapted to living in marine environment.
There are marine mammals too in the sea.
They are whales, dolphins, seals, sea lions and sea otter.
Ocean habitats are very beautiful landscape within ocean.
Coral reef especially tropical coral reefs are built up by corals and other calcium – depositing animals, usually on top of a rocky out crop on the ocean floor.
The ocean reefs support large community of life including corals.
At the deep sea trenches (Mariana Trench near about 10,924 meter deep in Philippines
Most of the organisms live at these depths have the ability to create their own light known as bio-luminescence.
What a wonderful world that is hidden in the deep sea about which we know very little.
More can be learned by exploring the deep sea and I wish to appreciate Nature’s hidden mystery.
Only brave ones come forward to explore the hidden part of deep sea and tell us about the marine life it supports.
Marine life in saline water is still a wonder for people like us.
Adventurers and marine scientists are the human beings with good knowledge of the deep sea involve themselves to travel in ocean and also deep into trenches sometimes to explore the hidden part of the ocean.
Such activities cannot be performed by everyone, but only people with commitment and interest can enter these adventurous activities.
They require great deal of training in marine science and operation in deep sea.
I consider those people are the real eye opener for us to tell about the deep sea secrets.
In fact, we need to salute such people who give us knowledge of the marine life.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
ON THE MOVE...
Taking off for an unknown destination all alone is a fun because you’re all alone to see the new place and to meet the new people and other creatures and natures over there.
Having a digital camera or a camcorder would be ideal.
In addition a MP3 Walkman of Sony will boost the journey enjoyable. Since the destination has diverse people to talk to, and share ideas, information and interests, the mind gets peace and happiness.
Forgetting the past and targeting the present would be great in an unknown place.
The people may not speak what we speak.
They may speak a different language which may be attractive and sweet to hear sometimes. If we learn more languages, it would be an asset to correspond with as many linguistic communities as possible.
Even each state in India
Different language, food, cinema, culture, costumes, behavior, physique, and many more are the diversity we may enjoy.
In general, we may look at all these diversities with curiosity.
Once we are curious, we learn many new things which enlarge our sphere of knowledge witch can be shared with our friends and family members.
The plants, crops and flowers of the new destinations would be different.
Trying to learn the names of those plants, crops and flowers would be a great fun and hobby.
Photographing the plant world, sceneries, water bodies, tall trees, cloudy skies and what not – gives us great joy and satisfaction to our mind.
These photographs or videos are the best souvenirs we share and preserve in our minds for ever.
In today’s world, so many gadgets including laptops are available for any one to use anywhere.
Travel by own vehicle, or by bus, train or airplane to any destination is very affordable nowadays.
The mode of travel and the accommodation in nice hotels or at friend’s place are possible provided we plan well ahead. The action plan determines our journey and the stay happy in any destination.
People are on the move.
It is evident from the non-availability of tickets for various modes of transport.
One has to necessarily book the tickets well in advance.
Last minute rushing does not make our travel pleasant.
It is always a pleasure to plan and then carry out the action step by step.
I have done it many times and enjoyed the whole process of planning and execution.
I am quite sure that anyone who likes to visit different destinations will certainly enjoy if they make an action plan.
In fact action plan always helps us to lead an active life and more so to enjoy a holiday!
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