ANUBHAVAM PUDHUMAI- 22 / Downtown, Boston

CONTENTS
1)- Corrections.
2)- Topic of the Post.
3)- History of US.
4)- Our Media on US talent.
5)- Boston Tea Party.
6)- My Slate.
7)- Swami Vivekananda at US.
8)- Kavignar Kannadasan.
9)- Pudhu Kavidhai.
10)- My Favourite Movie.

1)- CORRECTIONS:-
Here is the latest as under, from the Reader reg.No.of Time Zones in US- Neither 6 nor 9 but 11!
Good point about timezones. Normally people do not think about US territories when discussing the timezones spanned by the USA. In fact your first link on timezones "http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/ " says that there are 6 timezones spanned by the USA. If you are particular about including territories, then it is neither 6 timezones nor 9 timezones either. If you include US territories, then there are 11 timezones spanned by the USA. The 11 timezones are: UTC-12 — Baker Island and Howland Island UTC-11 (SST) — American Samoa and Midway Atoll UTC-10 (HAST) — Hawaii and most of the Aleutian Islands UTC-09 (AKST) — most of the state of Alaska UTC-08 (PST) — the states on the Pacific coast plus Nevada UTC-07 (MST) — the states that include the Rocky Mountains UTC-06 (CST) — Gulf Coast, Tennessee Valley, and Great Plains UTC-05 (EST) — the states on the Atlantic coast, the eastern two thirds of the Ohio Valley and Palmer Station UTC-04 (AST) — Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands UTC+10 (ChST) — Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands UTC+12 — Wake Island, McMurdo Station, and Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station UTC = Coordinated Universal Time It is a time standard based on International Atomic Time (TAI) with leap seconds added at irregular intervals to compensate for the Earth's slowing rotation.Leap seconds are used to allow UTC to closely track UT1, which is mean solar time at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

Thanks to the Reader for the same.

2)- TOPIC OF THE POST:-

All along, we had travelled in & around Boston where we had seen only the uncongested & the cleaner side of Boston! As the coin has two sides, this Great City also has the other side which reminds us any Indian Town-----  Yes, the name is also tallying----- Downtown!

Just to understand the Areas covered under Downtown, Click the Link below!

You will find there itself the two sides!

http://www.google.com/search?q=downtown+boston&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7

Want to go around the Downtown? Just try this another Link where you will find 100s of Images, few of them superb enough to fetch Awards in Photo-contests!
Looking for Congested Areas?
Come down to Quinchi Market where  you will find the Images similar to our Market Areas in India!That's all, there ends the Similarity!
Markets in India are prone to the Art of Bargaining especially in the Zone of Vegetables & Domestic Goods. Here also, we can find Vendors displaying Placards of Rates bargainable but no Pick & Choose!Further Bargain always possible at the closing time of these Mobile Shops, however!
Click the link below for viewing Images of both sides!

http://www.google.com/images?q=downtown+boston&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=WUiVTN2xE8L6lweu_4WpCg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=5&ved=0CFUQsAQwBA&biw=1618&bih=712

Now is the time to go thro' the Slide show below where few snaps covering this Market are included.Forget not, to read the Captions!





When I said- The Art of Bargaining, three incidents, Real ofcourse, come to my mind.
To narrate the incidents, accompany me please now to Chittaranjan Railway Colony where
I  settled & worked at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works for 38 years, >60% of my actual life until retirement!
i)- Simplest but strange Bargain:- Tamil Girl, just newly-wed &  settled for தனி குடித்தனம், not yet fully conversant even with Hindi, leave alone Bengali, was enthusiastic with her Skill of Bargain to try with a Street Vegetable Vendor in front of her Rly. Qrs.
She- ' सब्जी किलो  कैसे  है?------- Not knowing the vegetables by name but by pointing out by hand )
Vendor- ' ढेड  रुपिया माजी! ' ----- Re 1.50!
She- ' नहीं,अढाई  रुपिया देगा! -----  Thinking smart that अढाई    means Re 1.50 & ढेड   means 2.50!
Vendor got puzzled to see that she bargains for paying Re 1 more for vegetable worth Re 1.50 only.
By that time, another Tamil Lady conversant with Hindi intervened & made her to understand that by bargaining, she indeed insists on paying Re 1 more only & not less!
Result-------- ? Obvious!
ii)- Problematic Bargain:-
There are certain words in Hindi like the above,  giving totally different meanings,  which caused one innocent & uneducated Tamil employee to lose his job 10 years prior to his actual date of retirement.
Chittaranjan Locomotive Works was the first & foremost Railway Plant built & inaugurated after Independence. It was the time to recruite people for the posts of various categories in the workshops for training & placement. Since the demand for labour was very high but time-bound, whoever was recruited from any part of the country was asked to fetch more persons for unskilled jobs or otherwise.Our Innocent, let us call him as I, happened to be one amongst, brought by his friends for recruitment.He was given adequate instructions reg. how to answer the Standard One-word questions asked in Hindi & to be answered in Hindi again by one word only since he was conversant with only one language, his Mother tongue, Tamil.
Here is the Scenario, my own imaginary but with Fact intact!
Recruiter:- नाम?
I :- Answered correctly.
Recruiter:- उमर?- Age?
I :- तीस!- Thirty!
Here was the blunder! Getting nervous, it seems that I repeated the memorised word as तीस in stead of बीस meant to be 20 with the result his age was recorded as 30 in Service records. It ultimately resulted in his getting retirement notice 10 years in advance. Belated efforts in correcting the wrong was not possible at all since it was not revocable without documentory evidence. I was told that Bargaining for correction was tried out but in vain.
iii)- Administrative Bargain:- 
One Head of the Dept directed his Senior Official to fetch a Technical Directory from Durgapur nearby, for use in Design Office. The latter obliged him & got a quotation saying certain Rate for collection per  Bearer! The Former, not happy with the Quote again directed the Latter to fetch the Rate for delivery by VPP. It was found to be Rs.5/- more than the rate per bearer.Then the Former directed the Latter to fetch the same per Bearer by saving Rs 5/- It was done that way only since The Boss was always right. But the point is that for collection per Bearer, one was deputed on duty with Pass & TA/DA was payable to him for a day!
இது எப்படி இருக்கு?
Then there was one Collective Bargaining which will be dealt with in Posts to follow!

3)- HISTORY OF US:- Continued.
The Smallest of the States, Alabama, alpkabetically the First also, was seen in the last Post- 21.
The Largest of them, Alaska, alphabetically the Second,is here now for which just click the Link below!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/alaska/index.html


It is as big as 1/5th. of the rest of US & 2.5 times the 2nd Largest State, Texas.Its State Flag was designed by 13 year-old School boy namely Benny Benson who won it in a contest held in 1926. His design was adopted in 1959 when it became the 49th State of US.
Oil brings most revenue to the state.
Its Motto- North to the Future.
State Sport- Dog Mushing, it is a sports by tradition where a team of dogs is pulling a Sled!
Capital- Juneau.
State bird- Willow Plarmigan
State Flower- Forget-me-not.

4)- OUR MEDIA ON US TALENT

Just click the Link below for details.

http://www.dinakaran.com/bannerdetail.aspx?id=15537&id1=12

5)- BOSTON TEA PARTY:-

 The Boston Tea Party is a landmark event in American history. It marked the turning point in the American struggle for freedom from British colonial rule.
Freedom fighters dressed as native Red Indians boarded an "Indiaman". A British merchant ship was carrying tea from India At Boston these freedom fighters threw out the entire cargo of tea chests into the sea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Tea_Party- IS THE lINK THAT CAN GIVE

 YOU THE HISTORY IN DETAIL BEHIND IT

6)- MY SLATE:- NOSTALGIC EXPERIENCE- by afriend of Thatha Patti Group!

1) I was using slate regularly even in 1992's while preparing for IETE Examination. At that time I was working as lecturer in Trivandrum Training centre. The slate I purchased and used is safe with me along with a few colour slate pencils in my tableside almirah bottom even today. The slate was very handy to make out drawings, write down equations while making self-preparations. I could get four increments on those days if passed IETE.
Today I received a mail from a lady member regarding her nostalgic experience regarding cork and mixture. I am happy many members like her, relish such postings from me.

 While I wanted to purchase slate and asked whether it will be in stationary shops or small shops, my colleague intimated better in small shops. A good slate with frame cost me Rs 15-00 about 20 years back. Let me go in to interesting information about slate.
When I was sent to Mulavana variam to study after Vidyarambahm, I with other two or three children were asked to sit in Varandha and to write on spreaded sand in front of us. When I was able to write somewhat better it was time for school admission and I was admitted to school. I had my first slate when I started 1st class itself. I could recollect my carrying slate, pencil, Mazhi thandu( A tender plant on pressing oozing water) for cleaning and a Malayalam book. These were put in a bag. I am not sure whether it was LG Peruunkaya sanchi. On those days Perunkaya sanchi was very common and especially with Brahmins. An iyer with his papers, food pack in Peunkaya sanchi with umbrella was a common scene. I could recollect every day my father taking one more perunkaya sanchi to bring provisional items on his return from work
 I had a teacher by name karthyayani amma who taught me Para, Pana.. easy letters to start with.

1.1 Slate sizes
 Slate used to be oblong in size about 14 inches in length and 7 inches in breadth. It is a type of rock like marble, granite and Cudappah. Slate rock was mostly available in Andhra. The rock is cut in to thin slabs and made to size. The plain surface is obtained by polishing either side. Slate used to be of about 3 mm-5mm thick. Slates more thick was sturdy and used to cost more. Invariably this sized slate slab had a wooden framing. It was very convenient to hold on the frames and write. Slightly smaller and bigger from the said sizes were too available.
 1.2 Mazhi thundu
 After writing for erasing either water or a cleaning bit cloath had to be used or the plant Mazhi thundu. Mazhi thundu was more convenient , but its availability was a problem.
 1.3 Examination
 While studying up to 4th class examination was Semi oral. Questions will be asked by teacher and repeated. The student has to answer in slate . After writing the answer, teacher will see each and every student, award marks with chalk piece on the other side of the slate. Student should not use chalk or erase the other side.
 After the exam the marks will be totalled and put by teacher with in a round. Total marks gained out of 50 will be indicated.
 Since our parents will be eager to see the marks , one furlong away we used to take the slate out of the bag and hold. It was interesting for us to show the marks to those asking the queries about exam walking in the roads.
 2. Slate during Bsc. Study
 Though bringing of slate to school was limited up to 4th class and all writing in notebooks from 5th class, slate was used in the house for study to write down things by most . Slates were freely available in shops till 1964's when I completed my college education in Kerala. I do recollect the working out of so many theorems and problems in my slate during my college days. Paper was scarce and costly and not affordable also for rough works. The slate helped me to gain 100% in subsidiary Mathematics.
 3. Slate pencil and slate blacking
 Normal slate pencil used to be grey in colour and slate used to be black or blackish grey in colour. On aging reading would become difficult in the slate. As a remedy it was a common method to rub the slate with black charcoal stick, and then wash. Slate will have a new appearance like a repainted house.
 Colour slate pencils started appearing. It gave more clarity but was not sturdy. It was more costly also. Normally for 5 Paise we could get one pencil on those days.
 4. Cleaning the frame
frame on aging use to get faded. So once a fortnight at least it was a practice to clean the frame, washing with Sun light soap. It used to give a better appearance. On those days one three soaps were common- Sunlight, Life Buoy and Lux and local washing soaps. Today sunlight soap has disappeared from the field.
 5. Breaking of slate
 Since it is thin stone polished, the breaking of slate was common. Since the frame is there it used to with stand small fallings. But 60% of students used to have broken slates at some parts. Affordability of purchasing new slate was a problem. Once the frame has damaged the survival of slate was limited.
 However it was a practice for parents to purchase new slate on reopening of school. Being small children most of the parents used to give new books, new slate, and a new shirt and nikker on school opening. If any student not having a new shirt and nikker, he was looked strange. I do recollect sitting late evening to get my shirt stitched from the tailor, since he used to keep my items in last priority.( He knew mostly he will get payment late from my father).
 6. Metal slates
 In about 1955- 60's there was the appearance of Metal slates. In this case a thin metal sheet is framed and the sheet was given a colour. The sheet had a rough surface. This slate had the advantage of no breaking. But the disadvantage was after a few months erasing was felt not much effective. The slates lost market.
 7. Polythene /Plastic framed slates
 Slates with plastic and polythene frames too appeared in the market. These too could not make any popularity in the market. But these slates are available today.
 8. Slate - use by others
 Slate was a common item among merchants for their use . They use to make all calculations in the slate. Till 1990's all jewellery shops sales men had a slate with them. It was very handy for them to make calculations.
 Along with astrologers always a good slate was there with them. It was the day of manual calculations. Though I studied astrology with manual calculations, today I find very difficult to do it, having soft ware and computer. Normally I take consultations while power is available.

 Today in Chennai markets - I find wide use of slate in plastic frames. I am not sure about the slate material. They display the rate in slate above the items. In Koyempedu market it is a common scene.

 9. Big slate to write Sanku chakram.

 My son was admitted to 1st standard when I was in Tutucorin in 1976. I purchased and brought a good slate to him. He was not happy at the size. He started crying-" I want a big slate to write sankhu chakram". As normal my wife suspected I would have purchased a smaller one to save money!!. I was having a hand to mouth existence on those days with meagre salary.

 Finally after searching all shops by her too we could get no bigger slate. Finally the teacher pacified him showing other smaller slates and he stopped crying. I felt a sigh of relief.

 10. Magic slate
10 years back my grand son through daughter brought with him a magic slate. It was an indispensable item with him. ( Today too. Always he will be keeping the magic slate, write some thing or draw something at times. It should be by his side always. While he go to bed he make sure it is safely kept)
 The fancy of the magic slate attracted my grand son through son. You can write with marker, simply move a slider, it will be erased. Occasional cleaning with a cloth bit to remove the ink. Having nowhere in Tambaram, my wife made a search at Spencer plaza, and got him a bigger one. The smile on the face of the kid could not match with anything.

 Later I went through my credit card statement. The cost of magic slate was Rs1200-00.

 11.Today scenario

 I am not sure why the slate has disappeared practically from schools. Now a day only Books and pen. Any type of slate is used mostly by vegetable or provision merchants and that too for displays. Today a child may find difficult to write and erase in the Traditional slate.

 No Jyotish too now a day use it. Local astrologers use pen and paper. You can see astrologers like Attukal Radha Krishnan with his latest laptop in Asianet TV during Anatham- Anjatham or Krishna kumar too with similar appearance in Soorya TV with sophisticated soft ware and just looking at the display answering your questions getting just date of birth and time from you.!!.

7)- SWAMI VIVEKANANDA AT US 
Just click the Link below-

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Swami_Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg

Swami Vivekananda's Speech in Chicago, Sept 11, 1893

Sisters and Brothers of America,

It fills my heart with joy unspeakable to rise in response to the warm and cordial welcome which you have given us. I thank you in the name of the most ancient order of monks in the world; I thank you in the name of the mother of religions, and I thank you in the name of millions and millions of Hindu people of all classes and sects.

Swami Vivekananda - My thanks, also, to some of the speakers on this platform who, referring to the delegates from the Orient, have told you that these men from far-off nations may well claim the honor of bearing to different lands the idea of toleration. I am proud to belong to a religion which has taught the world both tolerance and universal acceptance. We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. I am proud to belong to a nation which has sheltered the persecuted and the refugees of all religions and all nations of the earth. I am proud to tell you that we have gathered in our bosom the purest remnant of the Israelites, who came to Southern India and took refuge with us in the very year in which their holy temple was shattered to pieces by Roman tyranny. I am proud to belong to the religion which has sheltered and is still fostering the remnant of the grand Zoroastrian nation. I will quote to you, brethren, a few lines from a hymn which I remember to have repeated from my earliest boyhood, which is every day repeated by millions of human beings: "As the different streams having their sources in different paths which men take through different tendencies, various though they appear, crooked or straight, all lead to Thee."

The present convention, which is one of the most august assemblies ever held, is in itself a vindication, a declaration to the world of the wonderful doctrine preached in the Gita: "Whosoever comes to Me, through whatsoever form, I reach him; all men are struggling through paths which in the end lead to me." Sectarianism, bigotry, and its horrible descendant, fanaticism, have long possessed this beautiful earth. They have filled the earth with violence, drenched it often and often with human blood, destroyed civilization and sent whole nations to despair. Had it not been for these horrible demons, human society would be far more advanced than it is now. But their time is come; and I fervently hope that the bell that tolled this morning in honor of this convention may be the death-knell of all fanaticism, of all persecutions with the sword or with the pen, and of all uncharitable feelings between persons wending their way to the same goal.

8)- கவிஞர் கண்ணதாசன்:-
He is my favorite Poet. the bio-data of whom can be seen in the following Link!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kannadasan

His ever-greem Poem is-



9) புது கவிதை:-

பறவை ஒன்றை வரையத்துவங்கினேன்

வரைந்து முடிந்ததும்

அது பறந்து விட்டது

மீண்டும் ஒரு பறவையை

வரைந்தேன்

அதுவும் பறந்து விட்டது

நான் வரைந்து

கொண்டேயிருந்தேன்

அவைகள் பறந்து கொண்டேஇருந்தன

இறுதியாக மரம் ஒன்றை

வரைந்து முடித்தேன்

பறந்துபோன அத்தனை

பறவைகளும் வந்து

அமர்ந்து கொண்டன.

கவிஞர் தென்பன்டியன்

கோவை

10)- MY FAVORITE MOVIE-

" SHATTERED GLASS "

It was seen recently & found interesting from start to finish since it was a true story of a young journalist who fell from grace when it was found he had fabricated over half of his articles. The person is living even now in US!

You can see the contents of the Movie from the following Link.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323944/

CONCLUSION

All the above contents are by Courtesy- Thatha Patti Group of Yahoo, unless

 otherwise specified.

Meeting you all again with Post- 23 shortly,

Krishnan

ANUBHAVAM PUDHUMAI-21 / Newport Mansions & Beach

CONTENTS:-
1) Corrections on previous Blogs.
2) Topic of this Blog
3) US Media on our Economic progress vs Caste system.
4) US Media on Korean lady's wil-power.
5) The Ten Commandments in Life.
6) The Art of Giving.
7) Appeal from Yahoo Group of Thatha Patti.
8) The case of the Screaming Man.
9) Humour.


1.1)- Part- 14:-
Mentioned by me- The United States uses nine standard time zones. From east to west they are Atlantic Standard Time (AST), Eastern Standard Time (EST), Central Standard Time (CST), Mountain Standard Time (MST), Pacific Standard Time (PST), Alaskan Standard Time (AKST), Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HST), Samoa standard time (UTC-11) and Chamorro Standard Time (UTC+10). View the standard time zone boundaries.This was as per the Link provided in the relevent Para.

Correction by Reader -  It has only Six Time Zones, not Nine, Four of which are in Mainland of US i.e. 48 Contiguous States & the rest Two pertain to Hawaaii & Alaska.

Which version is correct?


1.2)- Part- 20
Mentioned by me- the National Logos of the state of Massachusetts which are as under:-


Bird- Chickadee.

Flower- Mayflower.

Beverage- Canberry Juice.

Nickname- The Bay state.



ALABAMA- is the 2nd State taken up now, alphabetically to start with, follwed by 48 more due in the ensuing Blogs. As you are aware now, each & every State have their own National Flag, Logo, Motto, Nickname, bird, flower, etc.

Capital of Alabama- Montgomeri.

Bird- yellowhammer.

Flower- Camellia.
States
Motto- ' We dare defend our rights!'

Nickname- ' The heart of Dixie ' or ' The Cotton State '

State Nut- Pecan.

Correction by Reader:- States have their own State Flag, Logo, etc., not National, which is found to be correct!


Thanks for their observations.


Having completed 20 Parts of my Blog, Can we call it ' PLATINUM ' Part?

  Focus is now on Topic of this 21st Part!

2)- NEWPORT MANSIONS & BEACH

Let us enter into the Smallest State of US, Rhode Island, the neighbouring State of Massachusetts, 50 Miles away from our Apt.Its State symbols are-
Nickname- The Ocean State.
Bird- Rhode Island Red. It is infact not a bird but Red Chicken, a Breed developed in 1850s.
Flower- Violet.
Rock- Cumberlendite.

It is not at all an Island, just 48 Miles long & 37 Miles wide that can be covered by drive in one hour. It was the First to declare independence 2 months before the other 12 Colonies of The British but the last to sign The Constitution.
Providence is its Capital.
Earlier, it was involved in triangular trade- Exporting State Rum to West Africa > Importing in return The Slaves > Exporting Slaves to West Indies > in return for Molasses imported!
 Just click the Link below for more details.

http://www.visitrhodeisland.com/make-plans/facts-and-history/
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/rhodeisland/index.html
http://www.ri.gov/
Let us now get into the American Heritage Homes situated in the Island, the details of which can be had from the Link given below.
The Preservation Society of Newport County, Rhode Island's largest cultural organization, preserves and protects the best of Newport County's architectural heritage. Its 11 historic properties and landscapes - seven of which are National Historic Landmarks - trace America's architectural and social development from the Colonial era through the Gilded Age. In keeping with its mission, the Society strives to offer its members and the public a comprehensive view of each property's architecture, interiors, landscapes and social history. Their collective name is - Newport Mansions.
http://www.newportmansions.org/

Also enjoy Slide show of Photos taken outside the Mansions & the Ocean produced below.





3)- US MEDIA ON OUR ECONOMIC PROGRESS vs CASTE SYSTEM
The spectacular progress of South India compared to North India has been highlighted as under!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/11/world/asia/11caste.html?ref=asia


4)- US MEDIA ON KOREAN LADY'S WIL-POWER.

Just click the Link below & get inspired by this Korean Lady on how to win Goals in life!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/04/world/asia/04driver.html?_r=1&ref=southkorea

5)- THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN LIFE.


Very inspirational, just like ten commandments to follow in the life all the time - GEMS of Wisdom!

i] Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble, but it is a "steering wheel" that directs the right path throughout

ii] Do you know why a cars' WINDSHIELD is so large & the Rear-view Mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. Look Ahead and Move on!

iii] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write one!

iv] All things in life are temporary. If going well, enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong, don't worry, they can't last long either.

v] Old Friends are Gold! New Friends are Diamond! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a Base of Gold!

vi] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!


vii] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn't solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.


viii] A blind person asked Swami Vivekanand: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"


ix] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

x] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow’s TROUBLES, it takes away today’s PEACE!

6)- THE ART OF GIVING.
Courtesy- My Friend, C.G.S.Manion 
"Rivers do not drink their own water, nor do tree eat their own fruit, nor do rain clouds eat the grains reared by them. The wealth of the noble is used solely for the benefit of others?

Even after accepting that giving is good and that one must learn to give, several questions need to be answered.

The first question is 'when should one give?'

Yudhisthir asks a beggar seeking alms to come the next day. On this, Bhim rejoices, that Yudhisthir his brother, has conquered death! For he is sure that he will be around tomorrow to give. Yudhisthir gets the message.

One does not know really whether one will be there tomorrow to give! The time to give therefore is NOW.

The next question is 'how much to give?'

One recalls the famous incident from history.

Rana Pratap was reeling after defeat from the Moghals. He had lost his army , he had lost his wealth , and most important he had lost hope, his will to fight.

At that time in his darkest hour , his erstwhile minister Bhamasha came seeking him and placed his entire fortune at the disposal of Rana Pratap. With this, Rana Pratap raised an army and lived to fight another day.

The answer to this question how much to give is " Give as much as you can!


The next question is 'what to give?'

It is not only money that can be given. It could be a flower or even a smile. It is not how much one gives but how one gives that really matters.

When you give a smile to a stranger that may be the only good thing received by him in days and weeks!

"You can give anything but you must give with your heart !

One also needs answer to this question 'whom to give?'


Many times we avoid giving by finding fault with the person who is seeking.


However, being judgmental and rejecting a person on the presumption that he may not be the most deserving is not justified.


"Give without being judgmental!"

Next we have to answer 'How to give?


Coming to the manner of giving, one has to ensure that the receiver does not feel humiliated, nor the giver feels proud by giving.

'Let not your left hand know what your right hand gives?

Charity without publicity and fanfare, is the highest form of charity.


'Give quietly !

While giving let not the recipient feel small or humiliated.

After all what we give never really belonged to us.



We come to this world with nothing and will go with nothing.

The thing gifted was only with us for a temporary period.


Why then take pride in giving away something which really did not belong to us?


Give with grace and with a feeling of gratitude.

What should one feel after giving ?

We all know the story of Eklavya. When Dronacharya asked him for his right thumb as "Guru = Dakshina".
He unhesitatingly cut off the thumb and gave it to Dronacharya.
There is a little known sequel to this story.. Eklavya was asked whether he ever regretted the act of giving away his thumb when he was dying.
His reply was "Yes ! I regretted this only once in my life. It was when Pandavas were coming in to kill Dronacharya who was broken hearted on the false news of death of his son Ashwathama and had stopped fighting.
It was then that I regretted the loss of my thumb.
If the thumb was there, no one could have dared hurt my Guru?
The message to us is clear.
Give and never regret giving !

And the last question is ' How much should we provide for our heirs ?

Ask yourself , 'Are we taking away from them the "gift of work? - a source of happiness!'

The answer is given by Warren Buffett: "Leave your kids enough to do anything, but not enough to do nothing!"

I would conclude by saying: let us learn the Art of Giving, and quoting


Sant Kabir:




When the wealth in the house increases ,


When water fills a boat ,


Throw them out with both hands !

This is the wise thing to do!


7)- APPEAL FROM YAHOO GROUP OF THATHA PATTI.

Here is an Appeal placed below which is self-explanatory please!

Hi all,

I am doing this in memory of my beloved music teacher Mrs. Vijaya Raman who

passed away last year due to heart disease. She was a wonderful lady (mother

like) and she was suffering for heart related complications for quite a few

years and finally passed away March 2009. She was born in September which is all

the more reason for me to do it tomorrow. I have a very ambitious goal and hope

you can help.

This year, I am participating in the American Heart Association's Bay Area

Start! Heart Walk. It’s like a big party – we celebrate those who are survivors,

those who have pledged to live healthier lives, and those whose research has led

to amazing medical advances. We celebrate the people whose generosity makes all

the research and medical advances possible. I’d like you to join the

celebration.

My personal goal is to raise as much money as possible for the American Heart

Association, and I need your help to succeed! We are raising critical dollars

for heart disease and stroke research and education.


You can help me reach my goal by making a tax deductible donation online. Click

on the link below and you will be taken to my personal donation page where you

can make a secure online credit card donation. (The American Heart Association's

online fundraising website has a minimum donation amount of $25.00. If you

prefer to donate less, please mail a check directly to me, made payable to the

American Heart Association.)


Your donation will help fight our nation’s No. 1 and No. 3 killers – heart

disease and stroke. Thank you for your support.


Follow This Linkto visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to

support American Heart Association - Bay Area, CA

******************************************************************************

Some email systems do not support the use of links and therefore this link may

not appear to work. If so, copy and paste the following into your browser:

http://heartwalkbayarea.kintera.org/bhagi?faf=1&e=3671891129


******************************************************************************
Bhagirathi Lakshmivarahan



Note: Please forward this to any friends/relatives whom you think will be able

to help. Thanks to all for the support.


8)- The Case of the Screaming Man
- Paula Lyons

As everyone knows, the human body has orifices. Occasionally, these become occluded, or occupied, by things that aren't supposed to be there. Every doctor knows this, as does almost everyone else. Who hasn't heard, as a child, the cautionary phrase "Don't stick beans up your nose"?

Human nature being what it is, almost every clinician must deal with foreign objects--flora, fauna--that have been put into places where they don't belong. Sometimes, though, "beans" can materialize without a patient's permission.

Here is one such case--a personal favorite of mine--that I've mentally entitled "The Screaming Man."

I was back in the furthermost part of the clinic, arguing with an insurance company representative about the need for a patient's CT scan, when one of our receptionists ran up.

"Dr. Lyons! There's a man screaming in the waiting room!"

"Is he bleeding?"

"No, he's banging his head with his hands and screaming! I think he might be crazy!"

I ran to the front. There in our packed waiting room was in fact a seemingly crazy man, screaming, dancing around and batting at his left ear with both hands. The other patients were cringing away from him, their eyes wide. He was burly, dressed in a City laborer's jumpsuit soiled with leaves and debris. With every leap, his heavy work boots left red mud clods on the floor.

"Jesus Christ, help me! Get it out! Get it OUT! It's MOVING!"

Okay, now I had a clue. I grabbed the man by his suit front, assured him that we would help and pulled him into an exam room, calling for the ear, nose and throat tray and some mineral oil.

When I looked through the otoscope into his left ear, I nearly screamed myself: Staring back at me were the multiple, horrifyingly enlarged eyes of a common spider. Probably equally terrified, it was clinging with all eight legs to the inside of this man's ear canal.

Now the cause of my patient's frenzy was clear. Once an arthropod (as the medical literature likes to call spiders and insects) makes its way into the human ear, every one of its tiny movements sounds as loud as a jet airplane to its unfortunate host. Add to this the creepy knowledge that your ear has been "invaded" by a creature that would make you recoil if you encountered it in the bathroom sink, and you have the perfect recipe for temporary insanity.

My patient, calming down a bit, explained that he had been clearing brush with one of his coworkers close behind and had felt a tickling sensation on top of his left ear. Suspecting a joke perpetrated by his coworker, he had swiped at the ear, only to feel the sensation of many wriggling feet running for cover, right into the nearest dark hole.

Now that I'd had a chance to assess the situation, I realized that only one of my two patients could survive. I chose to save the larger. A syringe of mineral oil, gently instilled, quickly euthanized the spider, and I washed the tiny carcass out of the man's ear with saline.

One part of me rejoiced at the relief in my human patient's face, now that he'd been freed from the tormenting interior flamenco dance. Another part of me wondered wryly if we should be playing "Taps" for the intrepid arachnid explorer.

The man insisted that I spread its draggled corpse with forceps so that he could make sure that none of the legs remained within his ear. Together, we counted all eight. Then he paused and reflected.

"Doc, you don't think it had time to lay eggs in there, do you?"

I hid my smile. "No, certainly not."

My patient began to recover his composure--and his swagger. He asked me to place the tiny body in a sterile urine container so he could show his friends the proof of his ordeal. By the time he left our clinic, amid the smiles and congratulations of the staff, I felt certain that, had the spider been just a bit larger, he would have had it stuffed and mounted.

The clinic staff and I went on to enjoy a long and congenial relationship with this patient--whose nickname forever after, of course, was "Spider Man."

About the author:

Paula Lyons is a native of New Jersey who graduated from Emory University School of Medicine. She now practices family medicine just outside of Baltimore, MD.Some of her other writings have appeared in Pulse, The Pharos and The Journal of Family Practice.

Story editor:

Diane Guernsey

9)- Humour:-

Customer: "I've been ringing 0700 2300 for two days and can't get through to enquiries, can you help?".


Operator: "Where did you get that number from, sir?".

Customer: "It was on the door to the Travel Centre".

Operator: "Sir, they are our opening hours".

With that Kadi joke, I am not sure how many of you could atleast smile! Here is a serious attempt with a serious joke again forcing you to smile, if not laughing!





With that, bidding  good-bye to you all until our next meeting at Blog- 22!

Krishnan

ANUBHAVAM PUDHUMAI- 20 /- USS Constitution

From this Blog onwards, let us go directly to the Subject to start with each & every Blog, only after which other topics will follow.
As such, here is the Subject of the Day!
1)- The subject, USS Constitution, is nothing to do with The Constitution of US but for the Name-sake only.It is the name of the Largest Warship ever built at Edmund Hartt's Shipyard of Boston on orders from the then President, George Washington & launched on 21st October, 1797. It was launched as one of the first six ships of the new US Navy & took part in a short & fierce battle during the war with the British fricate HMS Guerriere in the year- 1812 & defeated the latter thereby earning the nickname of Old ironsides. After spending nearly 40 years as a training ship, it is now permanently returned & anchored at Charlestown Navyyard of Boston as an Exhibit for the Public. It is the Oldest commissioned Warship afloat in the world!
Just click the Link below to know more about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Constitution

Also click the Link- http://www.navysite.de/ships/const.htm to know its full history!

No Entry Fee is charged to go inside the Ship & also the Museum nearby! We were there in the yard for a full day when we were taken in Groups accompanied by a Navy Guide sporting in sparkling white uniform! Just go thro' the Album below as Slide show with Captions.






2)- HISTORY OF US- Continued.

In the last Blog, just forgot to mention the National Logos of the state of Massachusetts which are as under:-

Bird- Chickadee.
Flower- Mayflower.
Beverage- Canberry Juice.
Nickname- The Bay state.

ALABAMA- is the 2nd State taken up now, alphabetically to start with, follwed by 48 more due in the ensuing Blogs. As you are aware now, each & every State have their own National Flag, Logo, Motto, Nickname, bird, flower, etc.
Capital of Alabama- Montgomeri.
Bird- yellowhammer.
Flower-  Camellia.
Motto- ' We dare defend our rights!'
Nickname- ' The heart of Dixie ' or ' The Cotton State '
State Nut- Pecan.
It became state of US in 1819.
Just click the Link below for more details.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama
http://www.alabama.gov/portal/index.jsp
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/alabama/index.html


3)- US MEDIA ON INDIAN POPULATION CONTROL:
Just click the Link below how the leading newspaper, NEW YORK TIMES view our mode of Population control!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/world/asia/22india.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=satara+india&st=nyt


4)- US MEDIA ON மூட்டை பூச்சி பிரச்னை:
Here is how the Media highlights the Bedbugs Menace affects the Business Community dealing Hotels, etc.
 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/business/08bedbug.html?src=me&ref=business

5)- PUZZLES FOR A CHANGE:
Courtesy- Thatha Patti Group of Yahoo.

Below are four (4) questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time, answer all of them immediately. OK?
Let's find out just how clever you really are.
Ready? GO!!! (scroll down very slowly only to the end of each question)

First Question:
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?

Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are

absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!

Try not to screw up in the next question.

To answer the second question, don't take as much time as you took for the first question.

Second Question:

If you overtake the last person, then you are...?

Answer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST Person?

You're not very good at this! Are you?

Third Question:

Very tricky math! Note: This must be done in your head only.

Do NOT use paper! and pencil or a calculator. Try it.


Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add 20. Now add another 1000

Now add 10. What is the total?

Scroll down for answer.

Did you get 5000? The correct answer is actually 4100.

Don't believe it? Check with your calculator! Today is definitely not your day. Maybe you will get the last question right?

Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini,

4. Nono.
What is the name of the fifth daughter?

Answer: Nunu?

NO! Of course not. Her name is Mary. Read the question again
Okay, now the bonus round.

There is a mute person who wants to buy a toothbrush. By

imitating the action of brushing one's teeth he successfully

expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is

done.

Now if there is a blind man who wishes to buy a pair of

sunglasses, how should he express himself?

He just has to open his mouth and ask, so simple.


KEEP THIS GOING TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE!



6)- BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

As Seen on National TV - The Giveaway Loophole!Sunday, 11 March, 2007  Thatha_Patty@yahoogroups.com

I can relate very easily to what the woman posted below since I have


been a cashier at a major supermarket for over 20 years. Please

forgive for not mentioning the chain but I am afraid of getting fired

since we were given strict orders not to tell anybody about this

program - http://savemoreusa. com
For the past twenty years I have

seen customers use this very program and save a minimum of 75% on

their orders. I have never seen a better program than this one. I

myself signed up for their sampler in 1982 and the savings have been

out of this world. My customers use many different programs but I can

attest that not one of them comes close to this one.

Joan


[original message]

In life, timing is indeed everything. Last week I was waiting in line

behind a woman who had an overflowing cart of items at our local

grocery store. It was one of those days where every other line was a

half mile long. When this woman was finaly rung up she owed $627.79,

my eyes nearly fell out. I had noticed that she was getting two,

three and four of similar items. She had everything medicines,

cosmetics, toiletries, cleaners, hardware, pet items, food, etc. She

then handed the cashier a twenty dollar bill and received a ten and

change back. My curiosity was killing me but I didn't have the nerve

to ask the woman what happened. Once she was out of hearing distance,

I asked the cashier. She told me that the woman was part of the

program at - http://savemoreusa. com
The cashier told me that she

has several customers who are also part of it also receiving the same

type of savings. In fact she told me that she joined as well. Well

after witnessing that I rushed home and signed up immediately. I

can't wait to start loading up full carts and paying practically

nothing for it!

7)- FOOD FOR THOUGHT /
A wonderful story


A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.

"No", she replied. "He's out."

"Then we cannot come in", they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.

"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"

The woman went out and invited the men in"


" We do not go into a House together," they replied.


"Why is that?" she asked.


One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."


The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How n ice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"


Their daughter was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter's advice," said the husband to his wife.


"Go out and invite Love to be our guest ."


The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."


Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, t he lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"


The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success !!!!!!"

********

இந்த இனிய சிந்தனையுடன் விடைபெறுகிறேன்,
மீண்டும் சந்திப்போம்,
வணக்கம்!

Krishnan

ANUBHAVAM PUDHUMAI- 19 / Parlee Farms, Tyngsboro, MA

1)- US History ( continued )

We have so far dealt in general about USA in the last few Blogs.
Henceforth, all Fifty States of US will be taken up one by one in detail only by which we will be able to know how they differ from the States of our own Country on History, Culture, Governance, etc.
To start with, let us know about The State of Massachusetts for which Boston is the Capital where we are camping on vacation as Visitors. Just click the Link below for the Facts on this Great Historical City & the State as well!

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/cis/cismaf/mafidx.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts
http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=mg2homepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=massgov2

2)- US MEDIA ON OUR CULTURE
i)- Certain examples of Media exposure to our culture were highlighted in the previous Blogs.
Here is another classic example where Newyork Times, the leading newspaper of USA, has brought out an Article on Golden Temple of Amritsar focusing on its History, Architecture, Prayers & Charity Feeding on Mass scale daily for visitors irrespective of caste & creed! Just click the Link below for details.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/world/asia/30india.html?_r=1&ref=india

ii)- For the sake of Humour, we use to share ' Sardarji Jokes ' among ourselves time & again, 'On-line' as well as 'Off-line' ! It is however amazing to observe how serious & devoted they are towards their religion & culture wherever they live across the Globe.
Here are two more snaps on them, captured in my camera at Boston Down-town where a group of Sikhs with their families celebrated one of their religious functions sporting T-shirts displaying words- 'I am proud to be Sikh; proud to serve!'Words can be seen in the Photos. We both were on sight-seeing by chance around that area when they invited us also to take part & fed us with Drinks, Snacks & Lunch! It was very impressive to watch that even Natives could be seen enjoying such hospitality in & around us.

iii)- Here is also an unique Sardarji chanting Devotional songs on Lord Muruga at our own capital, New Delhi. Just click the Link below & enjoy.
http://www.kaumaram.com/utube/ishwinderjit.html


iv)- An evidence of Sardarji's HONESTY, LOYALTY, TOLERANCE & LOVE is given below!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Courtesy- Our Family Friend, Sri Radhamohan.


Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 23:05:01 +0530

From: nbalu23@gmail. com

To: vradhamohan@ hotmail.com

Subject: Sardar


We all love Sardar jokes. But do you know that Sikhs are one of the

most hard working prosperous and diversified communities in the world.

My friend told me about the following incident which I wish to share

with you. It has had a deep impact on my thinking.



During last vacation, my few friends went to Delhi. They rented a taxi

for local sight-seeing. The driver was an old Sardar and boys being

boys, these pals began cracking Sardarji jokes, just to tease the old

man. But to their surprise, the fellow remained unperturbed.



At the end of the sight-seeing, they paid the cab hire-charges. The

Sardar returned the change, but he gave each one of them one rupee

extra and said, ''Son, since morning you have been telling Sardarji

jokes. I listened to them all and let me tell you, some of them were

in bad taste. Still, I don't mind coz I know that you are young blood

and are yet to see the world. But I have one request. I am giving you

one rupee each. Give it to the first Sardar beggar that you come

across in this or any other city.'



My friend continued,* ' That one rupee coin is still with me. I


couldn't find a single Sardar begging anywhere.'



MORAL: The secret behind their universal success, is their willingness


to do any job with utmost dedication and pride. A Sardar will drive a


truck or set up a roadside garage or a dhaba, put a fruit juice stall,


take up small time carpentry,.. ........ but he will never beg.
More such events, few of them humorous, occured in my own down Memory Lane, will be shared in Blogs to follow!

3)- PARLEE FARMS.
Coming now to the Subject of this Blog, all of us aware of Tamil Folk Song- குல குலையா முந்திரிக்கா in our child-hood days!
We could see it in reality during our recent visit to this Farm. Just click the Link below for details. Now being the Season for picking Apples & buying, we had been there, tasted Sweety Apples & consumed to the extent of our Belly volume, free of cost & then brought home a bag-full of Apples  @$12 only.Then started our searching recipes on NET that can be made out of it like Jam, Salad, Patchadi, Rasam, Keer, Sabji, etc.All were turned out to be tasty! One small container full of Rashberries was also picked & bought @$3 only.Just join us to the Farm thro' this Link.
ttp://parleefarms.com/
Photos numbering 90 can be seen as Slide-show below-

 


















4)- ADVENTURE IN THE ANIMAL WORLD
We had waited patiently for hours in street gatherings during our child-hood days. to watch the fight between பாம்பு & கீறி! Why can't watch such fight now ON LINE thro' the Link below & guess who emerges as Winner at last!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/01/cobra-mongoose-fight-to-t_n_702383.html

5)- FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Life, a laughing matter

Laugh relieves boredom, eases tension and enlivens the atmosphere. Laughing at oneself is a good way to keep one’s ego in check. Yet `serious’ spiritual seekers tend to think that humour and spirituality are poles apart. This is far from the truth.

Evolved masters have a sense of humour, and they often use humour to drive home a point. Gurus like Kanchi Paramacharya, Ramana Maharshi, Swami Chinmaynanda and Swami Dayananda Saraswati sprinkled their talks liberally with humour.

Swami Chinmayananda was once scouting for a suitable venue in Chennai to hold his Geeta Gyana Yagna. Most temples, under the dominant influence of Brahmins, were reluctant to help out. Finally, one of his disciples rushed to him with the news that a Muslim was ready to make available his empty bungalow for the purpose. “But there is a problem,” said the disciple, “the house is believed to be haunted.” On hearing this, the Swami quipped: “What a wonderful opportunity! I’ve never seen a ghost in my life!”

Every morning, Ramana Maharshi would walk up the Arunachala hill. Once a stranger spotted him all alone, and wishing to have darshan, he walked faster and managed to overtake the Maharshi and stood in front of him, blocking his way. With folded palms he said “Swamiji, this is a great day for me. You have blessed me with your darshan.” The Maharshi responded: “This is really funny. What darshan you’re talking about? It is you who have come before me and given me your darshan.”

On another occasion a group of American devotees who were seated at a distance from Maharshi because of the crowd, asked him whether they could move forward so that Maharshi’s grace will be upon them. Maharshi replied that he has no objection to their moving forward but his grace was always there for everyone irrespective of proximity. The group, nonetheless, pushed forward and almost came near him. After some time the devotees requested Maharshi to place his palms on their head so that they can receive the grace in full measure. An amused Maharshi said: “next you might ask me to sign a bond and take me to court if you imagine that the grace has not worked!” The entire gathering burst into laughter.

While delivering a discourse on the Gita Swami Dayananda Saraswati narrated the following story: There were three terminally ill patients and the doctor asked them to express their last wish so that he could arrange to fulfill them. The first patient said that he would like to meet the priest and confess. The second said that he would like to meet his entire family. The doctor took care of the requests. He turned to the third patient who muttered: “I’d like to see another doctor.”

A scholar approached Kanchi Paramacharya and boasted that he was an expert on the Gita. The seer asked him if he could spare some time to hold a 10-day discourse at the local temple. The scholar assented. On the first day 50 people were came to hear him and the attendance dwindled on subsequent days. The scholar said to Paramacharya: “What sort of a town is this? No one seems to be interested in the Gita. On first day there was a crowd of 50, second day 25 and on the third day there were only two persons to listen to me!”

With a twinkle in his eye the seer remarked: “Why fret? When Krishna spoke the Gita there was only one person to listen to him!”
மீண்டும் சந்திப்போம்,
வணக்கம்!
Krishnan