NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 5

JULY 2009

NUMBER 7

SUPPORTED
BY
READERS LIKE YOU

BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DO.

MEMO FROM NARA

It is a kind of human tendency to prove oneself always right. Dominance is the order of the day. However much one says that we are all equal, the ego of dominance dominates every one of us. One fights tooth and nail to prove one’s point. But sometimes the fight gets defeated because of no valid evidence or proof. When two persons fight, it is quite normal that one will be certainly defeated. All of us know this fact. In a fight to prove that one is always right, one may succeed and achieve the dominance. The tendency of always right is a black spot on one’s character and it mars one’s image. It is an ego which makes one to say that others are wrong. In fact, this is one of the means of protecting one’s ego. Everyone wants to be strong in their general knowledge. If there is a slight weakness in it, then the ego enhances the tendency of inducing dominance over the other person. Such behaviors are very common with rich, wealthy, arrogant and highly confident persons. By raising the voice and confusing others one tries to prove his point through weakening others point of view.

Since such an ego of feeling that one is always right is not correct, one has to be more humble and look at things from other person’s point of view and appreciate his perspective. One has to ask oneself whether he or she is really right or wrong. So one should learn to absorb other’s views and see whether one is really right or wrong. A truth is always a truth. One can not prove otherwise. Hence we can not declare unilaterally we are right and others are wrong. Such an attitude is not accepted in the society of learned persons. But in today’s world, we find majority of the people think that they are always right in spite of sermons given by religious leaders and learned legends. Is it because of the selfish nature we fall prey to this unpleasant attitude? Such superiority complex is shown even to close relatives like wife, children and friend. Making others fool is the philosophy behind this behavior which does not bring happiness in one’s life. In fact such behaviors bring no peace of mind and harmony in personal relationships. It is not an easy job to avoid the attitude of ‘always right’; however it is challenge in everyone’s life to get rid of this ego and move forward towards a pleasant and happy life.

THE ART OF SPEAKING...

1. A speech should not be devoid of essential details.
2. It should not elaborate on insignificant points.
3. There should be no repetition.
4. There should not be contradictory statements.
5. Do not assert one thing and also its opposite.
6. Wrong pronunciation of words should be avoided.
7. The speaker must not confuse the listeners.
8. There should be clarity of thought in enunciations.
9. A speech should not be aimless chatter or gossip.
10. Irrelevant details and digressions should be shunned.

MPOWER

MPOWER is a WHO developed concept for tobacco control. Each letter of this word denotes one important tobacco control strategy:

Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies.

Protect people from tobacco smoke.

Offer help to quit tobacco use.

Warn about the dangers of tobacco.

Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.

Raise taxes on tobacco.

JUST TO LAUGH...

Three men having tea in a restaurant were talking about books.

“Books have a great influence on us,” said one of the men. “When my wife was expecting, she read Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, and do you know what happened? She delivered twins.

“When my wife was expecting she read The Three Musketeers,” said the second man, “and she delivered triplets.”

The third man fainted. When they revived him, he blurted, “My wife is expecting, and she’s reading Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves!

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went camping. After a good meal and a bottle of wine they lay down in their tent and went to sleep. Some hours later, Holmes awoke and nudged Watson awake “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.” Watson replied, “I see millions and millions of stars.” ” What does that tell you?” Holmes questioned. Watson pondered a while “Astronomically, it tells me that here are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically I observe Saturn is in Leo. Chronologically I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three. Theologically I can see God is all powerful and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you?” Holmes was silent for a minute, and then spoke. “Watson, you ass, someone has stolen our tent”

DISEASE AND ILLNESS

Disease and illness are commonly used as synonyms and clearly highlight the lack of conceptual clarity. Medical definitions of disease emphasize the pathological process and the deviation from the biological norm. Diseases are pathological entities conceptualized by physicians who offer scientific casual explanations and prescribe treatments with the aim to cure. Illness, on the other hand, is the patient’s experience of ill health, is influenced by culture and focuses on the relief of suffering. Where there is an overlap between disease and illness, the divide persists because of the absence of a one-to-one relationship between disease and illness. Similar degrees of pathology generate different amounts of pain and distress. The course of a disease can be different from the trajectory of an illness. In addition, illness can also occur in the absence of disease (for example, medically unexplained physical symptoms causing distress). These result in differences in perspectives about the condition between doctors and their patients.

HAVE A HOBBY...

· Many people say their hobby is watching TV or listening to music or reading the newspaper.

· These aren’t hobbies; they are just ways of passing the time.

· Some hobbies are evergreen and will keep you evergreen as well: dancing, painting, drawing, writing short stories, poems, blogs and sharing your experiences.

HOTEL AND MOTEL

The word ‘motel’ is a combination of two words ‘motor’ and ‘hotel.’ In the old days, motels are invariably located on highways; they were mostly used by people who were traveling by car. Unlike a hotel, the rooms of a motel are not located inside a building. In the past a motel usually consisted of a single row of connected rooms built on a parking lot. Nowadays, we have motels, in the heart of cities, and they sometimes contain more than one floor. A motel is usually much cheaper than a hotel; the services it offers are rather limited; it usually doesn’t have a restaurant, and as a result doesn’t provide room service. – S. Upendran

LINES I LIKED...

Government’s focus is on governance.

Self-reliance is impossible for any country.

You can’t fiddle with truth.

Winners have many friends.

Violence has no place in a civilized society.

Democracy is the best insurance against abuse of power.

There’s a lot of cruelty in the world.

There can be no healing without caring.

Think tanks help bridge the gap between the world of ideas and action.

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I would spend six hours sharpening my axe.

The world may never be the same again.

In science everyone is equal.

FACTS...

The one who remains the same towards friends or foe, in honor or disgrace, in heat or cold, in pleasure or pain; who is free from attachment; who is indifferent to censure or praise; who is quite, and content with whatever he or she has; unattached to a place, a country or a house; equanimous, and full of devotion, that person is dear to Me. – Bhagavad Gita 12:18-19

WORDS WE USE OFTEN...

1. The most selfish one-letter word is ‘I’ – Avoid it.
2. The most satisfying two-letter word is ‘We’ – Use it.
3. The most poisonous three-letter is ‘Ego’- Kill it.
4. The most used four-letter word is ‘Love’ – Value it.
5. The most pleasing five-letter word is ‘Smile’ – Keep it.
6. The fastest spreading six-letter word is ‘Rumour’ – Ignore it.
7. The hardest working seven-letter word is ‘Success’ – Achieve.
8. The most enviable eight-letter word is ‘Jealousy’ – Distance it.
9. The most powerful nine-letter word is ‘Knowledge’ – Acquire it.
10. The most essential ten-letter word is ‘Confidence’ – Trust it.

We need to think the impossible is possible!

Meet you next month – AUGUST, 2009

Prof. A. Narayanan, Ph. D., FISPP

E-mail: arumugakannu@gmail.com Ph : 0422 2423017 Mobile : 98422 42301

www.nara2007.blogspot.com (NARA’S NOTEPAD)

www.nara.tumblr.com (NARA’S DIGEST)

www.nara1.vox.com (NARA’S POSTCARD)

www.nsdigest.blogspot.com (NARA’S SCIENCE DIGEST)

THE SUN

NARA'S NOTEPAD

VOLUME 5

JUNE 2009

NUMBER 6

SUPPORTED

BY

READERS LIKE YOU.

YOU ARE SMARTER

THAN

YOU THINK.

Anger is one of the unpleasant emotions of all living organisms on earth. I do not know whether the organisms like virus, bacteria, amoeba, algae, fungi and plants also get angry? However, we know that insects like honeybee, wasps, and ants get angry if we disturb them. So anger is a universal phenomenon we find with every living being. When we get angry, we lose our temper, and try to shout and deliver unpleasant utterances which sometimes lead to physical attacks too. How do we get angry? When we are displeased with others or ourselves, this wretched emotion springs up, and change the normality of our life. We start disliking the people with whom we develop anger. Hence wise people always advise us not to get angry. However it is an emotion every one of us encounters sometimes in our life. Animals, when angry try to bark or bite. Is there any way to put off anger from our mind? The best way would be not to get angry. I am silly to say this.
Self-centered people who do not like others and others’ attitude and behavior get angry easily. When one’s right to live is challenged, one get s angry. If someone snatches the food one eats one gets angry. Children get angry when we do not allow them whatever they want to do. Similarly people get angry when the Government takes some drastic steps against their interests. In fact, getting angry is normal, but if we develop a habit of getting angry for every unreasonable matter, then it is wrong. Such people have to take care because excess anger is one of the symptoms of depression. Anger, very often has short life. Emotions do not stay for long. They come and go. In the same way anger also will come and go. We have to manage ourselves to adjust with anger. Animals become ferocious when they are angry. Since they cannot express in words, they show in action against their own kind, also towards human beings. Thus one can not escape anger. Therefore, anger live with us and we live with it. Let us try to be free from anger in order to achieve a peaceful life.