One More Please!!

It's another morning....  I have to go to office.

WHAT???? This is me!!! I shouted seeing my picture in the newspaper. But what the HELL is it doing in the obituary column??

Strange.

One sec... Let me think, last night when I went to bed I had severe pain in my chest, but I don't remember anything after that, I think I had sound sleep.

Its morning now, oh... It's already 10:00 AM, where is my coffee? I will be late for office and my boss will get a chance to shout at me.

Where is everyone? I screamed.

"I think there is a crowd outside my room, let me check." I said to myself.

So many people... Not all of them are crying. But why are some of them crying.

WHAT IS THIS??? I'm lying there on a bed in the drawing room!!!!

"I AM HERE”. I shouted!!! No one listened.
"LOOK I AM NOT DEAD”. I screamed once again!!! No one was interested in me.
They were all looking at me lying on the bed.

I went back to my bed room.

"Am I dead??"  I asked myself.

Where are my wife, my children, my mom-dad, my friends?

I found them in the next room, all of them were crying. Still trying to console each other.

My wife was crying. She was really looking sad.
My little kid was not sure what happened, but he was crying just coz his mom was sad.

How can I go without telling my kid that I really love him, I really do care for him....??
How can I go without telling my wife that she is really the most beautiful and the most caring wife in this world..??
How can I go without telling my parents that I am what I am just because of them...??
How can I go without telling my friends that without them, perhaps I would have
Done wrong things in life- thanks for being there always
When I needed them. And sorry for not being there when they really needed me..

I can see a person standing in the corner and trying to hide his tears. Oh, he was once my best friend, but a small misunderstanding made us part, and we both never let go off our egos....

I went there.. And offered him my hand, "Dear friend. I just want to say sorry for everything, we are still good friends, please forgive me."

No response from other side, what the hell?? He is still preserving his ego. I am saying sorry, even then!!! I really don't care for such people.

But one sec.. It seems he is not able to see me!!!! He did not see my extended hand.
My goodness.  AM I REALLY DEAD???

I just sat down next to MYSELF; I also felt like crying.



"OH GOD!!!! PLEASE GIVE ME FEW MORE DAYS."
I just want to tell my wife, my parents, my kid and my friends how much I love them.

My wife entered the room, she looks beautiful. 
"YOU'R BEAUTIFUL" I shouted.
She didn't hear my words, in fact she has never heard these words from me, coz I have never told her.

"GOD!!!!" I screamed. a little more time plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.. I cried.

One more chance please-to hug my child, to make my mom smile.. just once, to make my dad feel proud of me at least for a moment..., to say sorry to my friends for everything I have not told and done for them-inspite of that for still being there for me..

Then I looked up and cried!!!!

I shouted..

"GOD!!!! ONE MORE CHANCE PLEASE!!!!"

"You shouted in your sleep," said my wife as she gently woke me up. "Did you have a nightmare?"

I was sleeping..??!!!
Oh that was just a dream..??!!

My wife was there. She could hear me.
This was the happiest moment in my life!!
I hugged her and whispered.. "U R THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND CARING WIFE IN
THIS UNIVERSE.. I REALLY LOVE U DEAR"

I just couldn’t understand that in spite of a smile on her face she had tears in her eyes...

I was so HAPPY!!!!!

"THANK YOU GOD FOR GIVING ME ANOTHER CHANCE!!!"

 It's not late.. Forget your egos, forget all that has happened....., and just express your love to others.... Be friendly..... Keep smiling and be happy for ever. .

Ways to Release Stress

Rough and stressful days are quite a common phenomenon for most of us. We know we need to slow down, take a breath, but it is hard to know how and even harder to get started. For that purpose, here is a list of 30 simple daily tips that will help you relax, one step at a time.
Try to implement these suggestions for at least one month, integrate them into your daily routine, until you don't even have to think about them. Suddenly, you may realize you got a lot more relaxed in your day to day.

Day 1
Get into a rhythm. Energetic music increases the flow of blood and oxygen in the body, which does wonders for the heart. But if you are feeling stressed and worried, it might be better to listen to some slower music that will slow the blood flow and will allow you to feel relaxed.


Day 2
Ohm meditation can reduce the blood pressure as well as the risk of heart disease by 47%. Research from 2009 found that people who meditated for 3 months felt less anxious, angry and depressed than those who did not.

Day 3
Fetus position. Stop for five minutes in the hustle and bustle of the day and go into a fetal or mouse position. Close your eyes and allow yourselves to relax and let go.

Day 4
Laughter is the best medicine. Take some time every day to laugh at something. Share a funny memory or a funny joke. Watch a funny movie. The relaxing effect will be felt immediately.

Day 5
With more than 7000 nerve endings in your hands and feet, a visit to the beauty salon may provide you with some relief, not only a pretty look.

Day 6
Drink at least 8 cups of water a day!

Day 7
Borrowing in the sheets provides a whole row of health benefits, including better confidence and less stress. It releases endorphin and promotes good, sound sleep.

Day 8

Stop being obsessive about tasks and schedules. The world won't come to an end if you forgot to do the dishes today.

Day 9
Yoga postures that focus on bending the back and opening the chest, allow oxygen to flow more freely to the lungs, thus reducing heart beat and blood pressure.

Day 10
Dark chocolate is good not only for the heart, but can also be a relaxing treatment of stress. A Swiss research found that a small amount of dark chocolate a day reduces high levels of stress hormones among an anxious group of participants.

Day 11
Today, remind yourselves to breath!

Day 12
Get a good massage. Not only does is promote deep relaxation but also strenghthens the immunity system and helps release the muscles.

Day 13
It's ok to cry. Today, let the tears flow. Most people admit they feel better after crying.

Day 14
Have a long bath with some scents and oils. It will definitely make you feel better.

Day 15
Go outside and sit on the grass for awhile.

Day 16
Surround yourselves with blue. Paint a room, buy some blue clothes. Blue has been found to be the most relaxing of all the colors.

Day 17
Settle a dispute. It feels good to help others let go of their anger.

Day 18
Schedule a break. Take a break during work and don't do anything with it but closing your eyes and relaxing.

Day 19
Make one step at a time. If the list of tasks looks long, focus on one thing only on the list and ask yourselves:"What is the one thing I can do right now?"

Day 20
The fleshy part between the index finger and the thumb is called by Chinese medicine: "hoku". Press it strongly for about 30 seconds to reduce stress and tension in the upper body. .

Day 21
Research shows that a lack of omega-3 in the body, fatty acids and essential vitamins can cause mood swings. Today, try to eat a Mediterranean meal and see the difference.

Day 22
Today do something fun and different. Join a course, take a new route home or just treat yourself to something you usually don't.

Day 23
Today, allow yourself at least a few hours of no phones, no internet, no communication of any kind. Learn to be disconnected sometimes.

Day 24
Today, invest in at least one strong embrace!

Day 25
Plan a fun and special weekend for you to go on soon.

Day 26
A good nap. Pressure can be caused by sleepless nights. Today, allow yourself a 30 minute nap in the middle of the day.

Day 27
Find another place besides work and home to visit today!


Day 28
Research shows that the simple act of smiling makes us feel happier. Yes, even fake smiling.

Day 29
Start a 'worry journal'. Open a notebook and write all the bad thoughts going around your head. A worry journal will allow you to focus on the stress causers and wipe them out.

Day 30
Take today to appreciate what you have and encourage yourselves. This will make it easier to start all the tips again next month!

Which type are you?

Employee "A" in a company walked up to his manager and asked what my job is for the day? The manager took "A" to the bank of a river and asked him to cross the river and reach the other side of the bank. "A" completed this task successfully and reported back to the manager about the completion of the task assigned. The manager smiled and said "GOOD JOB"

Next day Employee "B" reported to the same manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task as above to this person also. The Employee "B' before starting the task saw Employee "C" struggling in the river to reach the other side of the bank. He realized "C" has the same task. Now "B" not only crossed the river but also helped "C" to cross the river. "B" reported back to the manager and the manager smiled and said "VERY GOOD JOB"

The following day Employee "Q" reported to the same manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task again. Employee "Q" before starting the work did some home work and realized "A", "B" & "C" all has done this task before. He met them and understood how they performed. He realized that there is a need for a guide and training for doing this task. He sat first and wrote down the procedure for crossing the river, he documented the common mistakes people made, and tricks to do the task efficiently and effortlessly. Using the methodology he had written down he crossed the river and reported back to the manager along with documented procedure and training material. The manger said "Q" you have done an "EXCELLENT JOB".

The following day Employee "O' reported to the manager and asked him the job for the day. The manager assigned the same task again. "O" studied the procedure written down by "Q" and sat and thought about the whole task. He realized company is spending lot of money in getting this task completed. He decided not to cross the river, but sat and designed and implemented a bridge across the river and went back to his manager and said, "You no longer need to assign this task to any one". The manager smiled and said "Outstanding job 'O'. I am very proud of you."

What is the difference between A, B, Q & O? Many a times in life we get tasks to be done at home, at office, at play.,
Most of us end up doing what is expected out of us. Do we feel happy? Most probably yes. We would be often disappointed when the recognition is not meeting our expectation. Let us compare ourselves with "B". Helping someone else the problem often improves our own skills. There is an old proverb (I do not know the author) "learn to teach and teach to learn". From a company point of view "B" has demonstrated much better skills than "A" since one more task for the company is completed.

"Q" created knowledge base for the team. More often than not, we do the task assigned to us without checking history. Learning from other's mistake is the best way to improve efficiency. This knowledge creation for the team is of immense help. Re-usability reduces cost there by increases productivity of the team. "Q" demonstrated good "team-player" skills,

Now to the outstanding person, "O" made the task irrelevant; he created a Permanent Asset to the team.
If you notice B, Q and O all have demonstrated "team performance" over and above individual performance; they have also demonstrated a very invaluable characteristic known as "INITIATIVE".

Initiative pays of everywhere whether at work or at personal life. If you have initiative you will succeed. Initiative is a continual process and it never ends. This is because this year's achievement is next year's task. You cannot use the same success story every year. The story provides an instance of performance, where as measurement needs to be spread across at least 6-12 months. Consequently performance should be consistent and evenly spread. Out-of-Box thinkers are always premium and that is what everyone constantly looks out for. Initiative, Out-of-Box thinking and commitment are the stepping stone to success.

Initiative should be lifelong. Think of out of the box…..Happy Working

English Question Paper Template

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bz_BHwCpGBUzNVJKWDlqeXFfVnM/edit?usp=sharing

The Wow! Effect!

Last spring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter. The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon.

All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.

But, no! As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, "Wow!"

I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something.

Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with "Oh no, what should we do?" But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, "Wow, that's interesting! How can I help you?"

One thing's for sure - life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. What's not preordained is our response. We can choose to be frustrated or fascinated.

No matter what the situation, a fascinated "Wow!" will always beat a frustrated "Oh, no."

So the next time you experience one of life's unexpected gusts, remember that little girl and make it a "Wow!" experience. The "Wow!" response always works . .

Fear of being alone

I always hated it. The dark feeling that I always hate kept on coming when I am alone.  It all started when I heard a story…..

           Rain pattered on the window sill as I looked wearily at my brother, Pranav, as he listened to his I-pod. I went to him and asked him to tell me a story. He sneered at me in an evil kind of way. He started this very scary story. Once upon a time, there was a man eating Cannibal. He looks for small boys and chops them to pieces and eats them with deserts made by blood. He said he might appear anywhere and cut even me into small pieces. I shuddered at the thought of being chopped. I kept thinking about this story the whole day.

            I could not sleep well that night. The Cannibal man kept on coming in my dreams, chopping my head, my hands, my legs and happily laughing while doing so. He even laughed out loud that the whole world can hear.

             I woke up hearing a strange noise in the kitchen. It was very sick. I went down to have a look. Lo and behold! It was the Cannibal again! He came towards me, swinging his machete. Suddenly his hand stretched and gripped me hard, not wanting to leave me. I shivered until my heart moved to my brain. The evil man plunged his machete into my heart!!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!!!! I shouted as loud as a thunder. Blackness fell over me.

          Darren! Darren! Wake up!! Time to get up! I woke up. I wanted to scream. I could not believe that I was alive there lying on my bed. Was that just a dream? I couldn’t believe it. I brushed my teeth and had breakfast. Mom and Dad went to work. My brother Pranav was already off to his friend’s house. I….was….alone!

             I ran up to do my homework. As I was doing my work, I heard a muffled sound, but I did not care. It came again, I slowly started shivering. I stood up, feeling very scared. I heard it again; I screamed and ran to the corner. It kept on coming until I called my mom. After she picked up I stammered, “Mom!!! I am scared! Please come home now! I cannot stay alone!” My mom paused for a while and then said, “Darren, you are grown up. You cannot be scared like this. Mmmm… ok! Do this. There is a small God statue in the right side shelf. Take it and keep it next to you. Pray God and you will be safe for sure. Trust me! I will try to come home faster.”

             After the call, I tiptoed to the right side shelf that my mom mentioned, and I took the God statue carefully and tiptoed back to my room. I still heard the sound but this time it was getting feeble and feeble. I started getting more confident and felt braver. Pranav came back home first before lunch. We both had lunch together and did our homework together. I wasn’t thinking of the Cannibal again that day.

             But whenever I am forced to be alone, I feel terrorized little bit and whenever I feel so, I run to the right side shelf to take the God statue and tell to myself “All is well! All is well!” 

 - written by my son Pranav

My father's letter

My Dear Friends,

Every beginning will have an end. Every journey will have a destination. Every individual will have a cup which can hold certain amount of experience.

I know now that my cup can hold just this much of experience (46 years). I do not want to stretch myself to infinity. Instead I want to live within my limitations.

Metaphorically speaking, each one of us has a cup-like receptor that takes in experiences. It is not for us to determine the size. That cup can hold all the experiences of a lifetime and overflow. If we are not stingy and small minded, we will welcome many good experiences and goodness always overflows naturally.

There have been many seasons in my life. When the going was good, my cup of joy was full. When the way ahead was hard, my cup of sorrow was full. Sometimes there was so much of excitement and enthusiasm, that there was an overflow. Other times the road was dry and barren. I did manage to fall into pot holes of stagnancy. When the way was uphill, I was held by supporting hands. When I tasted the calm and tranquility of peaceful hours, I was as it was lulled into a quiescent state of being.

It was by divine design that I was a human being with limitations. My cup of life was meant to hold just this much, not more. I was made to be comfortable in the environment around me. Like fish struggling on land and completely ease in water, I too was made to flourish in certain circumstances and not in others.

The cup that overflows is the cup of joy and peace. These cannot be contained. They are infectious, as is in the laughter of little children. With such joy there can be no comparisons. It overcomes boundaries and barriers and enfolds others.

I was not made to overcome great heights, but to rise above small hills and mountains. I have been content and happy with small achievements. That was as much as my cup of life could hold. Whenever I have gone beyond myself, my cup was overflowed.

All the empowerment I have experienced in my life has come because these were the memories my cup could hold. Deep self-doubt was thus converted to deep self-confidence. The empowerment came not from unlimited exposure but from limited experiences that are part of every human being’s life.

Today I count myself lucky that my cup has been able to hold this much. I do not aspire for the impossible. I have my faults, failings, foibles and my share of mistakes. I am imperfect and in many ways flawed. So I do not need to prove myself over and over again. I do not need to impress others. I can be just natural, without formality or pretense. I can be bold in what I do and say – knowing that my world view is mine, not necessarily the same as another’s.

As I continue on the pathway, I am not distracted by things that do not figure in my life priorities anyhow. There are many things that I can still do for others, despite my limitations. By doing these, I take in what my cup of life can hold and then my cup overflows with joy, contentment and happiness.

You can always contact me for any good cause. If I can fill your cup with joy I am honoured. If you fill mine with joy I am blessed.

You will certainly come to know my exact date of relieving soon and I am sure you will there to say Good Bye to me that day.

May God Bless you all and fill your cups with joy and happiness till it overflows.

This is the letter he sent to his friends after he submitted his resignation... 65 year old man!

The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk

Received from a friend; found it worth sharing. Extraordinary Stories About Ordinary People Sudha Murty, chairperson, Infosys Foundation and author, is known for her ability to glean interesting stories from the lives of ordinary people and weave these narratives into a unique blend of anecdote and fable. Her latest collection of stories, 'The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk', features a fascinating cast of characters, each of whom made an indelible impression on the author.
Extracted here is a nugget from 'Bombay to Bangalore', one of the most heartwarming stories in this collection:

 It was the beginning of summer. I was boarding Udyan Express at Gulbarga railway station. My destination was Bangalore. As I boarded the train, I saw that the second-class reserved compartment was jam-packed with people. I sat down and was pushed to the corner of the berth. Though it was meant for three people, there were already six of us sitting on it... The ticket collector came in and started checking people's tickets and reservations.. Suddenly, he looked in my direction and asked, 'What about your ticket?' 'I have already shown my ticket to you,' I said. 'Not you, madam, the girl hiding below your berth. Hey, come out, where is your ticket?' I realized that someone was sitting below my berth. When the collector yelled at her, the girl came out of hiding. She was thin, dark, scared and looked like she had been crying profusely. She must have been about thirteen or fourteen years old.She had uncombed hair and was dressed in a torn skirt and blouse. She was trembling and folded both her hands..
The collector started forcibly pulling her out from the compartment. Suddenly, I had a strange feeling. I stood up and called out to the collector. 'Sir, I will pay for her ticket,' I said. Then he looked at me and said, 'Madam, if you give her ten rupees, she will be much happier with that than with the ticket.' I did not listen to him. I told the collector to give me a ticket to the last destination, Bangalore, so that the girl could get down wherever she wanted. Slowly, she started talking. She told me that her name was Chitra. She lived in a village near Bidar. Her father was a coolie and she had lost her mother at birth.
Her father had remarried and had two sons with her stepmother. But a few months ago, her father had died. Her stepmother started beating her often and did not give her food. She was tired of that life. She did not have anybody to support her so she left home in search of something better. By this time, the train had reached Bangalore. I said goodbye to Chitra and got down from the train. My driver came and picked up my bags. I felt someone watching me.
When I turned back, Chitra was standing there and looking at me with sad eyes. But there was nothing more that I could do. I had paid her ticket out of compassion but I had never thought that she was going to be my responsibility!... I told her to get into my car. My driver looked at the girl curiously. I told him to take us to my friend Ram's place. Ram ran separate shelter homes for boys and girls. We at the Infosys Foundation supported him financially. I thought Chitra could stay there for some time and we could talk about her future after I came back from my tours. I was not sure if Chitra would even be there. But to my surprise, I saw Chitra looking much happier than before. Ram suggested that Chitra could go to a high school nearby. I immediately agreed and said that I would sponsor her expenses as long as she continued to study. I left the shelter knowing that Chitra had found a home and a new direction in her life.
 I got busier and my visits to the shelter reduced to once a year. But I always enquired about Chitra's well-being over the phone. I knew that she was studying well and that her progress was good.. I offered to sponsor her college studies if she wanted to continue studying.
But she said, 'No, Akka. I have talked to my friends and made up my mind. I would like to do my diploma in computer science so that I can immediately get a job after three years.' She wanted to become economically independent as soon as possible.. Chitra obtained her diploma with flying colours. She also got a job in a software company as an assistant testing engineer. When she got her first salary, she came to my office with a sari and a box of sweets. One day, when I was in Delhi, I got a call from Chitra. She was very happy. 'Akka, my company is sending me to USA!
I wanted to meet you and take your blessings but you are not here in Bangalore.'. Years passed. Occasionally, I received an e-mail from Chitra. She was doing very well in her career. She was posted across several cities in USA and was enjoying life. I silently prayed that she should always be happy wherever she was.
 Years later, I was invited to deliver a lecture in San Francisco for Kannada Koota, an organization where families who speak Kannada meet and organize events. The lecture was in a convention hall of a hotel and I decided to stay at the same hotel. After the lecture, I was planning to leave for the airport. When I checked out of the hotel room and went to the reception counter to pay the bill, the receptionist said, 'Ma'am, you don't need to pay us anything.
 The lady over there has already settled your bill. She must know you pretty well.' I turned around and found Chitra there. She was standing with a young white man and wore a beautiful sari. She was looking very pretty with short hair. Her dark eyes were beaming with happiness and pride. As soon as she saw me, she gave me a brilliant smile, hugged me and touched my feet. I was overwhelmed with joy and did not know what to say. I was very happy to see the way things had turned out for Chitra.
But I came back to my original question. 'Chitra, why did you pay my hotel bill? That is not right.' suddenly sobbing, she hugged me and said, 'Because you paid for my ticket from Bombay to Bangalore!'

 (Excerpted with permission from Penguin Books India from Sudha Murty's 'The Day I Stopped Drinking Milk: Life Stories From Here and There')

All about bread

Source: Today I found out

Two sides of a coin

A Mother was reading a magazine and her cute little daughter every now and then distracted her.
To keep her busy, she tore one page on which was printed the map of the world.
She tore it into pieces and asked her to go to her room and put them together to make the map again.

She was sure her daughter would take a lot more time and probably whole of day to get it done.
But the little one came back within minutes with perfect map.

When she asked how she could do it so quickly, she said,
"Oh Mom, there is a man's face on the other side of the paper. I made the face perfect to get the map right." she ran outside to play leaving the mother surprised.

Moral :

Perhaps there is always the other side to whatever you experience in this world.

This story indirectly teaches a lesson.
That is:
Whenever we come across a challenge or a puzzling situation,
Look at the other side...
&
Will be surprised to see an easy way to tackle the problem or an acute difficulty.

Solve all your problems this way and have a great day ahead!

Coin in the Shoes

A young man, a student in one of our universities, was one day taking a walk with a professor, who was commonly called the students' friend, from his kindness to those who waited on his instructions.As they went along, they saw lying in the path a pair of old shoes, which they supposed to belong to a poor man who was employed in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work.The student turned to the professor, saying: "Let us play the man a trick: we will hide his shoes, and conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find them."
"My young friend," answered the professor, "we should never amuse ourselves at the expense someone. But you are rich, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure by means of the poor man. Put a coin into each shoe, and then we will hide ourselves and watch how the discovery affects him."
The student did so, and they both placed themselves behind the bushes close by. The poor man soon finished his work, and came across the field to the path where he had left his coat and shoes.
While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found the coin. Astonishment and wonder were seen upon his countenance. He gazed upon the coin, turned it round, and looked at it again and again. He then looked around him on all sides, but no person was to be seen. 
He now put the money into his pocket, and proceeded to put on the other shoe; but his surprise was doubled on finding the other coin.
His feelings overcame him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and uttered aloud a fervent thanksgiving, in which he spoke of his wife, sick and helpless, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing.
The student stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. "Now," said the professor, "are you not much better pleased than if you had played your intended trick?" 
The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

Why does our Body do that?

Learn the common causes behind your body's little quirks. Whether uncomfortable, embarrassing or just plain weird, there are some pretty funky things that our bodies do. Curious about the causes of such reactions as hiccups, goose bumps and eye twitches, Eric Plasker, DC, Author of The 100 Year Lifestyle, gives the real scoop. Read on to discover the common reasons for 14 peculiar bodily functions.

Yawns

If your body is low on oxygen, your mouth opens wide and tries to suck more in. Yawning is a way to regulate the amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your blood. Unfortunately, yawns are nearly impossible to stifle.

Eye Twitches

Serious eye twitches can be a symptom of neurological disorders, but often there is a more mundane explanation. Common causes for eye twitches include stress, lack of sleep extended staring or eye strain. Before you get frantic, try reducing your stress level, cutting back on caffeine and catching up on sleep.

Itches

According to Dr. Plasker, our skin most often gets itchy because of dryness associated with the environment or over-washing. Water and soap can strip skin of its natural oils, thus sapping moisture. Face or body lotion should be able to keep these types of itches under control; also look for body washes and soaps labeled 'moisturizing'. If you still have itchy patches, you may be experiencing an allergic reaction to a chemical, plant, food, animal or drug. See an allergist if the itching is persistent.

Hiccups

If you've frequently got a case of the hiccups, try slowing down when you eat and drink, suggests Dr. Plasker. Doing either too quickly causes your stomach to swell; this irritates your diaphragm, which contracts and causes hiccups. You may also get hiccups in emotional situations or if your body experiences a sudden temperature change. In both of these cases, the hiccups are a result of a glitch in your nerve pathways, which is why a sudden scare - which might shake up and reset your nerves - can sometimes end an episode.

Goose Bumps

Those tiny bumps that cover your skin when you're cold or scared are actually a defense mechanism. Goose bumps occur when the arrector pili, a tiny muscle that connects the hair follicle with skin, contracts and makes the hair stand on end. If you had more hair - like cavemen did - the upright hair would trap air to keep you warm or make you look bushier and therefore more threatening to predators.

Sneezes

Sneezes happen when your body is trying to expel an irritant from the nasal cavity. If you have allergies, pollen or pet dander is usually to blame. If you have a cold, your body makes mucus to trap the virus, and sneezing helps force it (and the sickness) out of your body. An over-the-counter allergy or cold medicine helps suppress your reaction to allergens or reduce mucus production, which should prevent sneezing fits.

Coughs

A cough is another mechanism your body uses to get rid of irritants. There are special cells along your air passage, says Dr. Plasker, that recognize irritants and force them out. Common colds, sinus infections and pneumonia all increase your body's mucus production, which triggers coughing. Smoking and asthma also tend to irritate the cells. To help cut down on chronic coughing, exercise regularly and practice good posture to keep your air passage open.

Charley Horses

These sudden, super-painful muscle spasms can be blamed on several things, including dehydration or electrolyte imbalances - often from strenuous exercise. After a demanding workout or an extra-long run, sip a sports drink to keep your system running smoothly. If you experience this type of cramping, walk around to help relieve the pain.

Shivers

Shivering, says Dr. Plasker, is full-body muscle twitching. When your temperature drops too low, your body shakes all over in an attempt to generate heat. The only way to cure these kind of shivers is to get your temperature back to 98.6 Degree F.

Ear Ringing

Ear ringing, or tinnitus, can happen for two reasons. If you have fluid or an infection in your middle ear, you may hear a constant buzz. However, the more common cause is damage to the microscopic ends of your hearing nerves, which often happens when you're exposed to loud noises. To prevent permanent damage (and preserve your hearing), wear earplugs at concerts and sporting events - or even when you mow the lawn.

Stomach Rumbles

As food, liquid and gas move through your digestive tract, your stomach muscles and intestines contract and cause rumbling noises - Borborygmi is the scientific name. Everyone's stomach makes noise during digestion, but if you have extra-loud rumbles, a teaspoon of olive oil or a cup of herbal tea with lemon may help ease them, says Dr. Plasker.

Limbs Falling Asleep

When there's consistent pressure on part of a limb - like when you sit on your feet or rest your head on an arm - the pressure squeezes your nerve pathways and scrambles messages sent to your brain. The mixed messages make you lose feeling in the squished body part because your brain has trouble telling it what to do. To prevent a case of pins and needles, avoid sitting or lying in positions that compress your nerves.

Seeing Stars

If you stand too quickly, suffer a blow to the head or are stricken by a migraine, there's a good chance you'll see stars as blood surges to different parts of your body. Generally these tiny flashes of light will fade in a few seconds. If you see stars for more than a few moments, you could have a tear or tiny clot in your retina, and you should consult a physician immediately.

Ear Popping

The Eustachian tube in your inner ear is responsible for maintaining equal pressure on both sides of your eardrum. When you experience a rapid change in altitude - during takeoff in an airplane or when riding an elevator in an extra-tall building - the Eustachian tube opens to release pressure, and you hear a pop. To force the tube open (and 'pop' your ears), squeeze your nostrils closed while exhaling forcefully through your nose.

TIPS ON PUMPING PETROL

How to get more per liter. Very informative and MONEY-SAVER!!!


I  don't know what you guys are paying for  petrol.... I am paying  up to Rs.1.35 to Rs.1.50 per liter. My line of work  is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here  are some tricks to get more of your money's  worth for every Liter:  


Here  at the Shell Pipeline where I work ,  we deliver about 4 million liters in a 24-hour  period .. One day is diesel the  next day is jet fuel, and petrol, regular and  premium grades. We have 34-storage tanks here  with a total capacity of 16,800,000  Liters. 


Only  buy or fill up your car or truck in the early  morning when the ground temperature is still  cold. Remember  that all service stations have their storage  tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground  the more dense the petrol, when it gets warmer  petrol expands, so buying in the afternoon or in  the evening....your liter is not exactly a  liter. In the petroleum business, the specific  gravity and the temperature of the petrol,  diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum  products plays an important  role.  


A  1-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for  this business. But the service stations do not  have temperature compensation at the  pumps.


When  you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of  the nozzle to a fast modeIf you look you will see that the trigger has  three (3) stages: low, middle, and high.You  should be pumping on low mode, thereby  minimizing the vapours that are created while  you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast  rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank  becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked  up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.


One of the most important tips is to fill up when  your Petrol tank is HALF FULL. The reason  for this is the more Petrol you have in your  tank the less air occupying its empty space.  petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine.  petrol storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between  the Petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes  the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here  where I work, every truck that we load is  temperature compensated so that every liter is actually the exact amount. 


Another reminder, if there is a petrol truck pumping  into the storage tanks when you stop to buy Petrol, DO NOT fill up; most likely  the petrol is being stirred up as the Petrol is being delivered, and you might pick up some of  the dirt that normally settles on the  bottom. 


To have an impact, we need to reach literally  millions of Petrol buyers. It's really simple to  do.

Haridas Guruji

Tansen was a great musician in the court of Emperor Akbar. One day, charmed by his music, Akbar said, "There is none who can equal you in music."

Tansen replied, "No, my lord, there is one person."

Akbar got curious. Tansen explained, "He is no ordinary person. His name is Haridas and he is a saint. He lives in Vrindavan and he is my guru."
...
Akbar wanted to invite Saint Haridas to the court to listen to his singing. Tansen replied, "He will not stir out of Vrindavan. Many have tried to persuade him but failed."

Akbar asked, "Can I hear his music? Can you take me there?"

Tansen replied, "If you are willing to come disguised as my disciple, I can take you there and I will try to make him sing."
Akbar immediately agreed.

So, a disguised Akbar and Tansen left for Vrindavan. On reaching the place of the saint, both of them paid their respects to the saint. The saint did not sing at all.

In the evening, Tansen started singing. While singing, he deliberately made a mistake. Immediately the saint corrected him and to explain the correction started singing. Akbar and Tansen sat spellbound listening to him. It was the most divine music that Akbar had ever heard.

After some time, the saint was absorbed in meditation and fell unconscious.

Akbar said, "You should be blessed to have such a teacher. How does he sing so well?"

Tansen replied, "He does not sing for mere mortals like us. He sings for God. That is why his music is so good."

Another Set of Stupid Questions

1. At the theater: When you meet your friend.
Stupid Question: Hey, what are you doing here?
Answer: Don’t you know, I sell tickets in black over here..


2. In the local train: A fat woman wearing pointed high-heeled shoes steps on your feet..
Stupid Question: Sorry, did that hurt?
Answer: No, not at all, I’m on local anesthesia…..why don’t you try again.


3. At a funeral: One of the teary-eyed people ask…
Stupid Question: Why, why him, of all people.
Answer: Why? Would it rather have been you?


4. At a restaurant: When you ask the waiter
Stupid Question: Is the “Chinese Manchurian” dish good??
Answer: No, its terrible and made of adulterated powders. We occasionally also spit in it.


5. At a family get-together: When some distant aunt meets you after years…
Stupid Question: Oh, Johnny you’ve become so big.
Answer: Well you haven’t particularly shrunk yourself.


6. When a friend announces her wedding, and you ask…
Stupid Question: Is the guy you’re marrying good?
Answer: No, he’s a miserable wife-beating, insensitive lout…it’s just the money.


7. When you get woken up at midnight by a phone call…
Stupid Question: Sorry. Were you sleeping?
Answer: No. I was doing research on cats. You thought I was sleeping….you idiot!


8. When you see a friend with evidently shorter hair..
Stupid Question: Hey have you had a haircut?
Answer: No, its autumn and I’m shedding….


9. At the dentist when he’s sticking pointed objects in your mouth…
Stupid Question: Tell me if it hurts?
Answer: No it won`t. It will just bleed.


10. You are smoking a cigarette and a woman asks…
Stupid Question: Oh, so you smoke.
Answer: Gosh, it’s a miracle ……. it was a piece of chalk and now it’s in flames!!!

A girl and her 4 boyfriends

Once upon a time there was a girl who had four boyfriends. 
She loved the fourth boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best. 
She also loved the third boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another. 
She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times. 
The girl's first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend, although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him! 
One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, 'I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, will I be alone.' 
Thus, she asked the fourth boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company? 'No way!', replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart. 
The sad girl then asked the third boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'No!', replied the third boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!' Her heart sank and turned cold. 
She then asked the second boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the second boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.' His answer struck her Like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated. 
Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.' The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!' 


In truth, you have four boyfriends in your lives: 
        Your fourth boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die. 
        Your third boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others. 
        Your second boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave. 
        And your first boyfriend is your spirit. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, your spirit is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity. 


Thought for the day: Remember, when the world pushes you to your knees, you're in the perfect position to pray. 


Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.

PriceLess World

A husband wakes up at home with a huge hangover. He forces himself to open his eyes, and the first thing he sees is a couple of aspirins and a glass of water on the side table. He sits down and sees his clothing in front of him, all clean and pressed. He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotless, clean. So is the rest of the house. He takes the aspirins and notices a note on the table. "Honey, breakfast is on the table, I left early to go grocery shopping. Love You!" Totally shocked with the note , he goes to the kitchen and sure enough there is a hot breakfast and the morning newspaper. His son is also at the table, eating. He asks, "Son, what happened last night?" His son says, "Well, you came home around 3 AM, drunk and delirious. Broke some crockery, puked in the hall, and gave yourself a black eye when you stumbled into the door". Confused, the man asks, "So, why is everything in order and so clean, and breakfast is on the table waiting for me? I should expect a big quarrel with her!" His son replies, "Oh, that! Mom dragged you to the bedroom, and when she tried to take your clothes n shoes off, you said, "LADY LEAVE ME ALONE! I'M MARRIED!"

Are you good in Logic?

Ashok, a fresh computer graduate from a world-class University, goes for an interview in a software company.

The interviewer is Sunder, a grubby old man. And the first question he asks Ashok is, `Are you good at logic?'

`Of course,' replies Ashok.

`Let me test you,' replies Sunder. `Two men come down a chimney. One comes with a clean face and the other comes out with a dirty face. Which one would wash his face?'

Ashok stares at Sunder. `Is that a test in Logic?' Sunder nods.

`The one with the dirty face washes his face', Ashok answers wearily.

`Wrong. The one with the clean face washes his face. Examine the simple logic. The one with the dirty face looks at the one with the clean face and thinks his face is clean. The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty face and thinks his face is dirty. So, the one with the clean face washes his face.'

`Hmm. I never thought of that," says Ashok. `Give me another test.'

Sunder holds up two fingers, `Two men come down a chimney. One comes out with a clean face and the other comes out with a dirty face. Which one washes his face?'

`We have already established that. The one with the clean face washes his face.'

`Wrong. Each one washes one's face. Examine the simple logic. The one with the dirty face looks at the one with the clean face and thinks his face is clean. The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty face and thinks his face is dirty. So, the one with the clean face washes his face. When the one with the dirty face sees the one with the clean face washing his face, he also washes his face. So each one washes one's face.'


`I didn't think of that!' says Ashok. `It's shocking to me that I could make an error in logic. Test me again!'


Sunder holds up two fingers, `Two men come down a chimney. One comes out with a clean face and the other comes out with a dirty face. Which one washes his face?'

`Each one washes his face.'

`Wrong. Neither one washes his face. Examine the simple logic. The one with the dirty face looks at the one with the clean face and thinks his face is clean. The one with the clean face looks at the one with the dirty face and thinks his face is dirty. But when the one with clean face sees that the one with the dirty face doesn't wash his face, he also doesn't wash his face. So neither one washes his face.'

Ashok is desperate. `I am qualified for this job. Please give me one more test!'

He groans when Sunder lifts his two fingers, `Two men come down a chimney. One comes out with a clean face and the other comes out with a dirty face. Which one washes his face?'

`Neither one washes his face', Ashok replies, `I have learnt this logic.'

`Wrong, again. Do you now see, Ashok, why programming knowledge is insufficient for this job? Tell me, how is it possible for two men to come down the same chimney, and for one to come out with a clean face and the other with a dirty face? Don't you see the flaw in the premise?'"

When Your Hut's On Fire

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him.
Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood
to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little
hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had
happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief,
grief, and anger. He cried out, 'God! How could you do this to me?'
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him!

'How did you know I was here?' asked the weary man of his rescuers.
'We saw your smoke signal,' they replied.

The Moral of This Story:
It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't
lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our
pain and suffering.

Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the
ground... it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.

P.S. You may want to consider passing this on, because you never know who feels as if their hut is on fire today.

Things You Must Know About Your Body Temperature

Body temperature is an important indicator of our health. What is normal body temperature? What part of the body gives the most accurate readings? Find out the answers to these and other questions regarding body temperature.

1.Your body is great thermoregulator

Our body has an amazing ability to keep its temperature within safe range to keep you healthy, no matter what conditions you are exposed to outside the body. When you feel hot, you start sweating, which cools you body down. When you feel cold, you start shivering, which is involuntary muscle contractions that generate heat. Goosebumps that appear on skin when you are feeling cold are actually tiny muscles that raise body hairs, which increase their thickness.

2. Normal body temperature

It is commonly accepted that normal human body temperature is 98.6 degrees F or 37 degrees C. However, there is also a number of variations to normal body temperature that depend on many factors, such as the time of the day, outside temperature, age of the person and others. Temperature may vary by 1 degrees F (0.6 degrees C), from 97 degrees F (36.1 degrees C) to 99 degrees F (37.2 degrees C), which is considered within normal range.

3. The body temperature varies throughout the day

Body temperature undergoes minor changes throughout the day. It is the lowest in the morning, between 4 and 6 a.m. And highest in the evening, around 6 to 8 p.m. Temperature also changes during sleep. Usually it starts to drop when we fall asleep, ensuring sound sleep and needed rest.

4. Rectal temperature - most accurate

Body temperature is measured with the help of different types of thermometers in various parts of the body. Temperature taken in your mouth may be influenced by many factors and is usually lower, while rectal and ear measurements are slightly higher than oral temperature readings. Temperature taken in your armpit may me the least accurate since it may not directly indicate core temperature. The most accurate way to measure body temperature is to take temperature rectally.

5. Fever is good for you

Many of us are scared of fever and try to reduce fever with medications. However, fever is not an illness, but the body's defense mechanism that fights infections and is basically harmless. Fever slows the growth of pathogenic bacteria and activates white blood cells to fight infection. Fever may range between 100 degrees to 104 degrees F and higher (37.8 degrees - 40 degrees C), but not all of them need to be treated with medications. The general rule of thumb is that fever medicines are necessary when it causes you or your child discomfort or there are other dangerous signs such as trouble breathing or pain.