The SINPO report

The SINPO report

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The SINPO report (Signal, Interference, Noise, Propagation, Overall) is manly used by SWLs (Short-Wave Listners) and describes the quality of a radio communication with a five digit number.

This report is more accurate than the RST that is very often just 59 and therefore doesn't really reflect the quality of the received signal. SINPO reports are very appreciated by broadcast station for the quality of the feedback information.

In this report all digits are from 1 (worse) to 5 (best) according to the following table:

Signal	Interference	Noise	Propagation	Overall
Strength of the signal received.	Interference from other stations.	Presence of atmospheric or other noise.	Fading characteristics of the signal.	How well the signal is received.
1 Barely audible 2 Poor 3 Fair 4 Good 5 Excellent	1 Extreme 2 Severe 3 Moderate 4 Slight 5 None	1 Extreme 2 Severe 3 Moderate 4 Slight 5 None	1 Extreme 2 Severe 3 Moderate 4 Slight 5 None	1 Barely audible 2 Poor 3 Fair 4 Good 5 Excellent

The SIO report (Signal strength, Interference, Overall quality) is a simplified version of the SINPO report that is sometimes used.

Now let me tell you what is this !.Did you listen to short wave radio,then this can be a new hobby for you..ie.D'Xing .It is a simple hobby of collecting QSL cards from around the world.What you need is a good short wave radio with all the broadcasting bands in it.

Whenever you stumble upon a new radio station, note down the quality of the reception (in numbers grade) per the above chart.. if your points are 4 5 4 3 4, it means your reception is graded good overall..Study the table above and try to grade a station in the relevent numbers to get the SINPO.Dont forget to note the name of the station, the time(GMT),the programme (title/name/host etc.),now with all these details , with your radio model and brand name,place of listening write a post card or a letter to the station.you may think it is a costly affair,but I have an idea to send these letters to foreign lands..Take out the Manorama Year Book or search the net for the Embassy address of that country from where you listened to the station..and send a post card(forgive me ,that is what I have done in the past.Now there is e.mail).After verification of your details with the stations logbook ,they will respond with a QSL card-which means "I acknowledge receipt." (colorful post card).Collecting these cards and listening to shortwave radio stations is called D'xing-a hobby.

Now this hobby lost its charm because most of the stations don't rely on listeners feedback to know their reach, due to the advancement in communication technology.

Anyways, you can give it a try.After all this means of communication is the only reliable mode even today.

now go to: Andamansikkim

OXYMORONS- opposites attract

An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Tight Slacks'.
'Peace Force' ,'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). It is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, terms, phrases or ideas are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means.

Here read what Sashi Tharoor(in his Sunday Times of India column) says about India:

It has become a cliché to speak of India as a land of paradoxes. The old joke about our country is that anything you say about India, the opposite is also true. We like to think of ourselves as an ancient civilisation but we are also a young republic; our IT experts stride confidently into the 21st century but much of our population seems to live in each of the other 20 centuries. Quite often the opposites co-exist quite cheerfully.

One of my favourite images of India is from the last Kumbha mela, of a naked sadhu, with matted hair, ash-smeared forehead and scraggly beard, for all the world a picture of timeless other-worldliness, chatting away on a cellphone. I even suggested it to the publishers of my newest book of essays on India as a perfect cover image, but they assured me it was so well-known that it had become a cliché in itself.

And yet, clichés are clichés because they are true, and the paradoxes of India say something painfully real about our society.

How does one come to terms with a country whose population is still nearly 40% illiterate but which has educated the world’s second-largest pool of trained scientists and engineers, many of whom are making a flourishing living in Silicon Valley? How does one explain a land where peasant organisations and suspicious officials once attempted to close down Kentucky Fried Chicken as a threat to the nation, where a former prime minister bitterly criticised the sale of Pepsi-Cola since 250 million of our countrymen and women don’t have access to clean drinking water, and which yet invents more sophisticated software for the world’s computer manufacturers than any other country on the planet? A place where bullock carts are still an indispensable mode of transportation for millions, but whose rocket and satellite programmes are amongst the most advanced on earth?

The paradoxes go well beyond the nature of our entry into the 21st century. Our teeming cities overflow while two out of three Indians still scratch a living from the soil. We have been recognised, for all practical purposes, as a leading nuclear power, but 600 million Indians still have no access to electricity and there are daily power cuts even in the nation’s capital.

Ours is a culture which elevated non-violence to an effective moral principle, but whose freedom was born in blood and whose independence still soaks in it. We are the world’s leading manufacturers of generic medication for illnesses such as AIDS, but we have three million of our own citizens without access to AIDS medication, another two million with TB, and tens of millions with no health centre or clinic within 10 kilometres of their places of residence.

Bollywood makes four times as many movies as Hollywood, but 150 million Indians cannot see them, because they are blind. India holds the world record for the number of cellphones sold (8.5 million last month), but also for the number of farmer suicides (4000 in the Vidarbha district of Maharashtra alone last year).

This month, in mid-November, the prestigious Forbes magazine list of the world’s top billionaires made room for 10 new Indian names. The four richest Indians in the world are collectively worth a staggering $180 billion, greater than the GDP of a majority of member states of the United Nations. Indian papers have reported with undisguised glee that these four (Lakshmi Mittal, the two Ambani brothers, and DLF chief K P Singh) are worth more than the 40 richest Chinese combined.

We seem to find less space in our papers to note that though we have more dollar billionaires than in any country in Asia - even more than Japan, which has been richer longer - we also have 260 million people living below the poverty line. And it’s not the World Bank’s poverty line of $1 a day, but the Indian poverty line of Rs 360 a month, or 30 cents a day - in other words, a line that’s been drawn just this side of the funeral pyre.

Last month, the Bombay Stock Exchange’s Sensex crossed 20,000, just 20 months after it had first hit 10,000; but on the same day, some 25,000 landless people marched to Parliament, clamouring for land reform and justice. We have trained world-class scientists and engineers, but 400 million of our compatriots are illiterate, and we also have more children who have not seen the inside of a school than any other country in the world does.

We have a great demographic advantage in 540 million young people under 25 (which means we should have a dynamic, youthful and productive workforce for the next 40 years when the rest of the world, including China, is ageing) but we also have 60 million child labourers, and 72% of the children in our government schools drop out by the eighth standard. We celebrate India’s IT triumphs, but information technology has employed a grand total of 1 million people in the last five years, while 10 million are entering the workforce each year and we don’t have jobs for them.

Many of our urban youth rightly say with confidence that their future will be better than their parents’ past, but there are Maoist insurgencies violently disturbing the peace in 165 of India’s 602 districts, and these are largely made up of unemployed young men.

So yes, we are a land of paradoxes, and amongst those paradoxes is that so many of us speak about India as a great power of the 21st century when we are not yet able to feed, educate and employ our people. And yet, India is more than the sum of its contradictions. It may be a country rife with despair and disrepair, but it nonetheless moved a Mughal Emperor to declaim, ‘‘if on earth there be paradise of bliss, it is this, it is this, it is this...’’ We just have a lot more to do before it can be anything like paradise for the vast majority of our fellow citizens. (source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2568182.cms)

Learn some words of the vanishing tribe:The Jarawas of Andaman

Jarawa-----English
A Ham -Morning
Daag-Coconut
Aale Mama-I will come tomorrow
Eig-Water
Aotal-Bamboo
Ent-Bathe
Antapo-It is good
Ena Jababa-Come
Aot Kohalo-Kill
Enat Thae-Sit
Anodae-Hair
Ekdda-Here
Anae Hpo-Eyes
Euli-Stone
Anna Ho-Teeth
Fara Va Ae-Swim
Anno Tahe-Cheeks
Hakada Enat-Sit here
Anna Aal-Shoulder
Kalag-Roof
Anol-Finger
Katu Paalae-Deer
Ano Paeta-Nail
Kaaya-Mother
Aan-Yes
Kakma D Ekda Aale Mama-You must not come tomorrow?
Boa-Pig
Kkma Me Ekda Aale Ma Nrima-I will not come tomorrow
Chav -It is good
Lee-Third man
Chavaya-Take a walk
Me Ulida-I am ill
D Tangi-Are you getting married to a girl or not?
Motha-Head
D Tangav-Are you getting married to a man or not?
Meta Jil-Friend
D Tomo-You are good
Me Ulaeda-I am ill
D Aat-Sit down
Maaye-My child
D Aalae-Lie down
Maap-Elder brother
D Aomo=Go to sleep
Ma Da m-My wife
D Aata Enat=You sit
Magi=My husband
D Aote=Man who is sitting
Mi Aallema=I will be back
D T Kune=Stand up
Naagi=Your husband
D Chavaya=Let's go
Napu=Fish
D Baro=You are good
Piti piti=Bad
D Chapte=Climb up
Paincha=Me Dead
D Chagi=You Alight
Pil=Bear
D Tale=Night
Tag Utu=Ship
D Vage Aativa=What's your husband's name?
Tuh=Fire
D Vagam Aativa=What's your wife's name?
Tapo=Want
D Ativa=What's your name
Thooye=Girl
D Achaela Aatiba=How many children have you?
Unnu=Come here
D Aeti Oon=All go
Ummu=Father
D Aati Fet=Run away
Vaannaam =His wife
Daa=Son
Vaagi =Her husband
Ya Kota=Elder brother

Centella asiatica

This herb is found abundantly in India . Which is commonly called Godataap in Sikkim because of its appearance resembling the horse foot.When I talked about it with an elderly lady here ,she said it is vidhya dhar-means wisdom bearing .. In West Bengal(Golpatta) and in Tamil Nadu(vallarai) ,Sanskrit Mandooka parani(frog sittingplace),by the Tribals of chota nagpur -mendak baazi -it is eaten as cooked leafy vegetable.It is often mistaken for the original Brahmi.
The medicinal value of this plant is of immense value as it can be used as a general tonic by any one.For Memory boosting,nuerological disorders,stomach ailments,for ageing people it acts like kayakalp(elixir).

Eating a few leaves daily was thought to "strengthen and revitalize worn out bodies and brains." Centella asiatica has also been recommended as a treatment for mental troubles, high blood pressure, abscesses, rheumatism, fever, ulcers, leprosy, skin eruptions, nervous disorders, and jaundice.

This post is from my own experience and observation..Two leaves daily can be taken raw.Be sure to use the right variety of it..there are many varieties of it found here in Sikkim,the smooth and clean one should be used.

see the picture of this plant at www.centralpendamschool.blogspot.com

MIND SET

Did you ever noticed ! when you learned a new word or something new then you always see the same word often or the related matter which you learned the other day.Avid readers must have experienced it.If you are interested in visual/graphic kind of things then you will not disagree with me seeing images of people or portraits in clouds, walls/in places .Our mind can be set to a certain extend for what you want to learn or what you want to achieve.Our brains are programmable and it is similar to our modern day computers,because the computers are made to behave like our brains.

Some times the name of a person is in the tip of your tongue ,and not coming out! Then leave it for some time and engage yourself in some other work.The name will pop- up suddenly when you are not thinking about it.

I use Alphabetical Technique to bring out the names I forget.I start from A then B,C ,D....Insight shows me the name.If I can't then I leave it to my mind to bring it out!

MIND -MASTER AND SLAVE

I started learning about the mind ,when I was 24 years old.Here I want to post some secrets of our mind which is never discussed in easy and simple language .I am not an expert,but I learned,experienced these things and want to share.Our mind works in two different levels.Conscious and unconscious levels,as I am typing this my conscious level is working,but the other side is working independently without showing any existence of it.Conscious mind is active when we are not sleeping.( or till we hit by something and go unconscious!)

THE SLAVE

The other side is everything in our life,but it is a slave to commands and never judge,to put it simply ,it is a robot like thing which obeys!Whatever we put/feed in our day today life slowly seeps into the otherside and becomes part of our nature which is reflected in our actions.As we sow ,we reap.. kind of thing.

This simple principle can be applied to tame this hidden otherside(unconscious) for our benefit.
It is called auto-suggestion,we can... through positive suggestions change the way we act,behave,and think.I will post about it later.Now let us try to understand our this side and otherside.

When we wake up in the morning..the gloomy,dullness is the secret.This mind level is called the
alpha level ,neither awaken nor in sleep..the sleepy/trance stage.When we are about to slip into sleep..that stage is also similar to this.At this moment our brain waves are in such a level which is akin to meditation -the trance.This level has to be created in the middle of the day or in our office...in a fully aware state of mind, for results, to get most out of the otherside.


THE MASTER

Yogis,siddhas,sanths all train themselves physically and mentally to be in that state always.The otherside is so powerful..so the people who reached that level are called threekaal darshis(who can see the present,past and future)

Imagine that the conscious is on the top and below is the otherside..two layers,the otherside is Mahasakhti(great power and energy)which knows everything,our instinct ,master ,name anything-but it is the Master of everything.This side can be lifted to the level of consciousness.That is called Enlightenment,awakening.It tries to come up ,but we wake up .During our deep sleep the otherside awakens and try to come up..during this..some people dream about the future happenings..it is premonition.

See you in the next post ,if you are interested in this subject then let me know..put a comment.

Cartoons in Textbooks of Rajasthan

Jaipur: Mickey Mouse and other cartoon characters will enliven the text books of Class I children in Rajasthan from the next academic session to help get the children more interested in studies.

The Rajya Pustak Mandal has decided to print cartoons on the cover pages and make the books more colourful.

"Mickey Mouse would be on the cover page and if our plan is successful then we would incorporate similar changes in books for Classes 2 and 3," Vasudev Devnani, state minister for education, told IANS.

"Kids love cartoons the most. We want them to learn and enjoy at the same time," he said.

"It is a good step and would certainly help in generating the interest of students," Vivek Sharma, a father of a five-year-old daughter, said.

Despite its efforts, Rajasthan still has a high drop out rate, which as per estimates stands at over 34 percent. The state government has taken various initiatives to improve educational standards in the state, including appointing around 41,000 teachers, while the appointment of another 31,000 teachers is being finalised.

The government has improved the student-teacher ratio in primary classes and secondary classes.

Under the Shiskha Sambal Mahaabhiyaan, 1.65 million children in the age group 6-14 years were enrolled while 9.6 million children were given free text books. IANS

GANDHI AS SCHOOL MASTER

THE STORY OF MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH
By Mahatma Gandhi

PART 4
CHAPTER XXXII

AS SCHOOLMASTER

The reader will, I hope, bear in mind the fact that I am, in these chapters, describing things not mentioned, or only cursorily mentioned in the history of satyagraha in South Africa. If he does so, he will easily see the connection between the recent chapters.

As the Farm grew, it was found necessary to make some provision for the education of its boys and girls. There were, among these, Hindu, Mussalman, Parsi and Christian boys and some Hindu girls. I was not possible, and I did not think it necessary, to engage special teachers for them. It was not possible, for qualified Indian teachers were scarce, and even when available, none would be ready to go to a place 21 miles distant from Johannesburg on a small salary.

Also we were certainly not overflowing with money. And I did not think it necessary to import teachers from outside the Farm. I did not believe in the existing system of education, and I had a mind to find out by experience and experiment the true system. Only this much I knew-that, under ideal conditions, true education could be imparted only by the parents, and that then there should be the minimum of outside help, that Tolstoy Farm was a family, in which I occupied the place of the father, and that I should so far as possible shoulder the responsibility for the training of the young.

The conception no doubt was not without its flaws. All the young people had not been with me since their childhood, they had been brought up in different conditions and environments, and they did not not belong to the same religion. How could I do full justice to the young people, thus circumstanced, even if I assumed the place of paterfamilias ? But I had always given the first place to the culture of the heart or the building of character, and as I felt confident that moral training could be given to all alike, no matter how different their ages and their upbringing, I decided to live amongst them all the twenty-four hours of the day as their father. I regarded character buildings as the proper foundation for their education and, if the foundation was firmly laid, I was sure that the children could learn all the other things themselves or with the assistance of friends.

But as I fully appreciated the necessity of a literary training in addition, I started some classes with the help of Mr. Kallenbach and Sjt. Pragji Desai. Nor did I under-rate the building up of the body.

This they got in the course of their daily routine. For there were no servants on the Farm, and all the work, from cooking down to scavenging, was done by the inmates. There were many fruit trees to be looked after, and enough gardening to be done as well. Mr.

Kallencbach was fond of gardening and had gained some experience of this work in one of the governmental model gardens.

It was obligatory on all, young and old, who were not engaged in the kitchen, to give some time to gardening. The children had the lion"s share of this work, which included digging pits, felling timber and lifting loads. This gave them ample exercise. They took delight in the work, and so they did not generally need any other exercise or games. Of course some of them, and sometimes all of them, malingered and shirked. Sometimes I connived at their pranks, but often I was strict with them. I dare say they did not like the strictness, but I do not recollect their having resisted it. Whenever I was strict, I would, by argument, convince them that it was not right to play with one"s work. The conviction would, however, be short-lived, the next moment they would again leave their work and go to play. All the same we got along, and at any rate they built up fine physiques. There was scarcely any illness on the Farm, though it must be said that good air and water and regular hours of food were not a little responsible for this.

A word about vocational training. It was my intention to teach every one of the youngsters some useful manual vocation. For this purpose Mr. Kallenbach went to a Trappist monastery and returned having learnt shoe-making. I learnt it from him and taught the art to such as were ready to take it up. Mr. Kallenbach had some experience of carpentry, and there was another inmate who knew it; so we had a small class in carpentry. Cooking almost all the youngsters knew.

All this was new to them. They had never even dreamt that they would have to learn these things some day. For generally the only training that Indian children received in South Africa was in the three R"s. On Tolstoy Farm we made it a rule that the youngsters should not be asked to do what the teachers did not do, and therefore, when they were asked to do any work, there was always a teacher co operating and actually working with them. Hence whatever the youngsters learnt, they learnt cheerfully. Literary training and character building must be dealt with in the following chapters.

CBSE to overhaul Class X, XII exams next year

Kolkata, Sept. 23

The question paper pattern of Central Board of Secondary Education has been overhauled focussing on objective-type questions for its Class-X and XII examinations with effect from next academic year. The Board also plans to launch grading system for Class-X examinations as soon as it gets the green light from the ministry of human resource development.

For the first time, in 2008, examinees will have to appear for their Board examinations under a new curriculum. At the same time, to maintain a balance between speed and accuracy ~ for students to complete their papers comfortably, the typology and design of the question papers have undergone major alterations. Objective-type questions find more importance in the papers. Shifting from the idea of multi-choice question, where students have to choose the correct answer from the multiple options, under the new system, they have to write their own answers.

Twenty per cent of the questions will be based on higher order thinking skills (Hots) which will test their abilities in thinking and analysis rather than pure bookish knowledge. Chairman of the CBSE, Mr Ashok Ganguly, said that objective-type questions were aimed at getting the correct picture of a student's performance. That part will delve into their minds through fundamental questions instead of those from text books. "Since our aim is not to make students only academically strong, the paper has been designed in a manner that will need a synchronisation of head, heart and hand,” he said.

He also stressed that under the new pattern, examinees would have to attempt all questions. There may be internal options, for example, question No-1 might have two options ~ that is 1a and 1b ~ and the examinees could answer anyone. A specimen of the new version of question papers is already available on the Board's website.

The Board chairman also observed that a holistic idea about a student was possible only through a continuous and comprehensive evaluation process, which included internal assessment, abolishment of marks and introduction of grading system. Mr Ganguly added that the Board already designed a model for introduction of grading system in Class-X exams but was awaiting a final nod from the MHRD.

He added that internal assessment had already started in subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Social Science in Class-IX and Class-X. While five-point grading system is already in Class-III and Class-V, it is seven-point grading system in Class-VI and Class-VIII.

WATER:Consumers Beware

PAANI PAANI RE...

“The ISI has very high standards. In fact, ‘mineral water’ means that it should have undergone no processing at all. Presently, what is sold in the market as ‘mineral water’ is actually ‘packaged’ water. Real mineral water must have no additions, must have not undergone any ozonisation and should not have had any processing in the first place.”

"Packaged drinking water", the official notification defines as water derived from any source of potable water, which is subjected to treatment such as filtration, activated carbon filtration, demineralisation and reverse osmosis. The standard for packaged drinking water, which is being introduced for the first time, is more flexible in terms of source and processing.

The popular brands are only Packaged Drinking water and not Mineral Water,only four or five brands in India can claim to be Mineral Water. Customer should learn to make a difference between these two.

Schools cannot compel students to disclose caste: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday said that schools in the country cannot compel students to disclose their caste status at the time of admission.

Any such disclosure shall be optional, or in other words, it should be left to the discretion of the student to divulge his/her caste identity, a bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said.

The bench, however, dismissed a PIL filed by an 81-year-old freedom fighter, Salemvelu Gandhi alias Velu, from Tamil Nadu who sought a complete ban on "caste disclosure" forms circulated by schools to students during admissions.

The apex court, while appreciating the "laudable objective" of the petitioner, said it cannot pass any direction on the issue as it would create problems for those who want to avail free scholarships and other benefits.

The bench said the school leaving certificate forms the basis for SCs, STs and BCs pursuing higher education or seeking jobs, as otherwise such beneficiaries would not be able to get the benefits.

How to Perform Self Hypnosis

Self-Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state of mind which can be defined as a heightened state of focused concentration, (trance), with the willingness to follow instructions (suggestibility).

Steps:

1. Go to a comfortable, private place and sit in any comfortable chair or couch. Although some people prefer to lie down, you are more susceptible to sleep than when sitting up.
2. Close your eyes and try to rid your mind of any feelings of fear, stress, or anxiety. When you begin, you will find it difficult not to think. You may find that thoughts keep intruding. When this happens, don't try to force the thoughts out. Observe them impartially, and then let them slip away.
3. Recognize the tension in your body. Beginning with your toes, imagine the tension slowly falling away from your body and vanishing. Imagine it freeing each body part one at a time starting with your toes and working its way up your body. Visualize each part of your body becoming lighter and lighter as the tension is removed. relax your toes, then your feet. Continue with your calves, thighs, hips, stomach and so on, until you've relaxed each portion, including your face and head. Using imagery techniques of something you find comforting or soothing, such as water(I feel the water rushing over my feet and ankles, cleansing them of tension)can be effective as well.
4. Take slow, deep breaths. When you exhale, see the tension and negativity leaving in a dark cloud. As you inhale, see the air returning as a bright force filled with life and energy.
5. Appreciate the fact that you are now extremely relaxed. Imagine you are at the top of a flight of 10 stairs. Picture every detail of this scene from the top to the bottom. Tell yourself that you are going to descend the stairs, counting each step down, starting at 10. Picture each number in your mind. Imagine that each number you count is further down and one step closer to the bottom. After each number, you will feel yourself drifting further and further into deep relaxation. As you take each step, imagine the feel of the step under your feet. Keep counting and stepping down until you reach the bottom. Once you reach the bottom imagine that you are happy and relaxed. I find that rolling my eyes gently back into my head induces a trance rather well.
6. At this point, you should begin to address the issue you're concerned about. Speak in the present tense. Your subconscious mind does not understand negatives in speech - avoid using statements with negative connotation such as "I don't want to be tired and irritable." Instead, say, "I am calm and relaxed." Examples of positive statements "I am strong and slender," "I am successful and positive," and, if you have pain, "My back feels wonderful." (see warning on PAIN)
7. Repeat your statement(s) to yourself as many times as you wish.
8. When you are satisfied, say to yourself that you will now count upwards to 0 to 10, and when you reach the number 10, you will slowly rise back to normal consciousness and remain calm and relaxed. Proceed to count upwards, again picturing the numbers in detail.
9. Once you have ascended, give yourself a few moments before opening your eyes, and take your time getting up.

Mutual Funds-Why should I opt for this?

Nowadays, Mutual Funds are one of the hottest topics among small investors. Since the last few years, the mutual fund industry is performing well and offering an average return of 20% per annum. Compared to other traditional investments, it has given a far better return…. Fixed deposits are offering a maximum return of 9.5%, Postal schemes are offering a return of merely 7 to 8%, and companies’ fixed deposit scheme too are offering returns in the same range.On one hand, we are not getting sufficient returns from our traditional investments and on the other there is apprehension about rising inflation. If you are keeping money idle, then apart from an opportunity lost there is a devaluation of your amount equivalent to the inflation rate. Currently, inflation rate is around 4.5%, thus if you are investing your money then you should keep one thing in mind that the returns from such investments should be at least equal to the inflation rate. This helps us calculate the real returns from any investment. For eg. if Fixed Deposit is giving a return of 9.5 percent then in real terms the return will be 5% i.e. 9.5% less 4.5%. Then you should also consider the taxation rates to get your effective returns.Now it is essential to find an investment, which will offer higher returns and at the same time be easy to operate and Mutual fund is one that satisfies both objectives.The main features of a mutual fund can be studied in the following way-1. Designed to suit the individual small investorsMutual funds are designed in such a way that small investors can invest their money in the scheme. The investor thus can invest in instruments, which require bigger initial outlays.2. Adjusting the period of maturityMutual funds have the capability to covert a primary security of a certain maturity in to the another security of different maturity.For example, suppose an investment has a maturity period of one year, thus it is necessary to engage your fund for at least one year. However, when you are opting for mutual funds, you need not bother about maturity terms of investments made by the mutual fund. The investor can withdraw the investment as per the terms between the mutual fund and him.3. Risk DiversificationInvestments mean managing risk rather than managing returns and one of the good ways of managing risk is diversification of one’s investments. The small investor faces a hurdle while trying to diversify his investment due to lack of funds and thus is bound to face higher amount of risk. However mutual funds can easily diversify its risk as compared to an individual investor as it has access to larger funds. Thus when a mutual fund investor is investing an amount as small as Rs 5000 then too he is reaping the benefits of diversification.4. Professional touch to your investmentOne way to enjoy sound sleep is to handover your investments into expert hands. Yet, it is not possible for small investors due to the cost associated with it. It is not feasible too, to employ a fund manager for small investment like Rs 5000.Mutual funds find possible and feasible to employ experts to control assets under management (AUM). Hence by investing in mutual funds you are hiring the services of fund managers.Thus, from the above facts it can be concluded that it is always better to opt for mutual funds to manage your risk and maximize returns.

source: http://netpaisa.blogspot.com

The Ground rules of Mutual Fund Investing

Moses gave to his followers 10 commandments that were to be followed till eternity. The world of investments too has several ground rules meant for investors who are novices in their own right and wish to enter the myriad world of investments. These come in handy for there is every possibility of losing what one has if due care is not taken. Assess yourself: Self-assessment of one’s needs; expectations and risk profile is of prime importance failing which, one will make more mistakes in putting money in right places than otherwise. One should identify the degree of risk bearing capacity one has and also clearly state the expectations from the investments. Irrational expectations will only bring pain. Try to understand where the money is going: It is important to identify the nature of investment and to know if one is compatible with the investment. One can lose substantially if one picks the wrong kind of mutual fund. In order to avoid any confusion it is better to go through the literature such as offer document and fact sheets that mutual fund companies provide on their funds. Don't rush in picking funds, think first: one first has to decide what he wants the money for and it is this investment goal that should be the guiding light for all investments done. It is thus important to know the risks associated with the fund and align it with the quantum of risk one is willing to take. One should take a look at the portfolio of the funds for the purpose. Excessive exposure to any specific sector should be avoided, as it will only add to the risk of the entire portfolio. Mutual funds invest with a certain ideology such as the "Value Principle" or "Growth Philosophy". Both have their share of critics but both philosophies work for investors of different kinds. Identifying the proposed investment philosophy of the fund will give an insight into the kind of risks that it shall be taking in future. Invest. Don’t speculate: A common investor is limited in the degree of risk that he is willing to take. It is thus of key importance that there is thought given to the process of investment and to the time horizon of the intended investment. One should abstain from speculating which in other words would mean getting out of one fund and investing in another with the intention of making quick money. One would do well to remember that nobody can perfectly time the market so staying invested is the best option unless there are compelling reasons to exit. Don’t put all the eggs in one basket: This old age adage is of utmost importance. No matter what the risk profile of a person is, it is always advisable to diversify the risks associated. So putting one’s money in different asset classes is generally the best option as it averages the risks in each category. Thus, even investors of equity should be judicious and invest some portion of the investment in debt. Diversification even in any particular asset class (such as equity, debt) is good. Not all fund managers have the same acumen of fund management and with identification of the best man being a tough task, it is good to place money in the hands of several fund managers. This might reduce the maximum return possible, but will also reduce the risks. Be regular: Investing should be a habit and not an exercise undertaken at one’s wishes, if one has to really benefit from them. As we said earlier, since it is extremely difficult to know when to enter or exit the market, it is important to beat the market by being systematic. The basic philosophy of Rupee cost averaging would suggest that if one invests regularly through the ups and downs of the market, he would stand a better chance of generating more returns than the market for the entire duration. The SIPs (Systematic Investment Plans) offered by all funds helps in being systematic. All that one needs to do is to give post-dated cheques to the fund and thereafter one will not be harried later. The Automatic investment Plans offered by some funds goes a step further, as the amount can be directly/electronically transferred from the account of the investor. Do your homework: It is important for all investors to research the avenues available to them irrespective of the investor category they belong to. This is important because an informed investor is in a better decision to make right decisions. Having identified the risks associated with the investment is important and so one should try to know all aspects associated with it. Asking the intermediaries is one of the ways to take care of the problem. Find the right funds Finding funds that do not charge much fees is of importance, as the fee charged ultimately goes from the pocket of the investor. This is even more important for debt funds as the returns from these funds are not much. Funds that charge more will reduce the yield to the investor. Finding the right funds is important and one should also use these funds for tax efficiency. Investors of equity should keep in mind that all dividends are currently tax-free in India and so their tax liabilities can be reduced if the dividend payout option is used. Investors of debt will be charged a tax on dividend distribution and so can easily avoid the payout options. Keep track of your investments Finding the right fund is important but even more important is to keep track of the way they are performing in the market. If the market is beginning to enter a bearish phase, then investors of equity too will benefit by switching to debt funds as the losses can be minimized. One can always switch back to equity if the equity market starts to show some buoyancy. Know when to sell your mutual funds: Knowing when to exit a fund too is of utmost importance. One should book profits immediately when enough has been earned i.e. the initial expectation from the fund has been met with. Other factors like non-performance, hike in fee charged and change in any basic attribute of the fund etc. are some of the reasons for to exit. For more on it, read "When to say goodbye to your mutual fund." Investments in mutual funds too are not risk-free and so investments warrant some caution and careful attention of the investor. Investing in mutual funds can be a dicey business for people who do not remember to follow these rules diligently, as people are likely to commit mistakes by being ignorant or adventurous enough to take risks more than what they can absorb. This is the reason why people would do well to remember these rules before they set out to invest their hard-earned money.

Source: Mutualfundsindia Research Team

WORLD TEACHERS DAY

World Teachers' Day, held annually on 5 October since 1994, commemorates teachers’ organisations worldwide. Its aim is to mobilise support for teachers and to ensure that the needs of future generations will continue to be met by teachers.

According to UNESCO, World Teachers' Day represents a significant token of the awareness, understanding and appreciation displayed for the vital contribution that teachers make to education and development.

Education International (EI) (the global union federation that represents education professionals worldwide) strongly believes that World Teachers' Day should be internationally recognized and celebrated around the world. EI also believes that the principles of the 1966 and 1997 Recommendations should be considered for implementation in all nations.

Over 100 countries observe World Teachers' Day. The efforts of Education International and its 390 member organisations have contributed to this widely spread recognition. Every year, EI launches a public awareness campaign to highlight the contributions of the teaching profession.

Hired by the blog

-By Ramiya Bhas

“7 0 mm celluloid full of sound, colour and emotion - overkill, if anything. I was waiting for the magic of Shrek 1 and 2 to be re-created in part 3, but it was nowhere to be seen. The green hulk was adorable as ever, but I felt the movie was less about him and more about an overflowing bandwagon of villains and fairies. Too many elements were pitched in, trying really hard to weave a story that was borderline Shrek-ish and somewhere, an attempt to churn out another Cinderella or Snow White-kind of tale, with an ‘Happily Ever After’ touch…”

Imagine these six lines being a part of your resume! Crazy, huh, especially since it says nothing about the individual’s work experience at all? To top it all, it actually reads like a movie review! That’s exactly what this is. If you read the blog attentively, what else does it convey about the blogger besides the fact that he/she is an avid Shrek fan? Think hard! An HR manager who read the above excerpt of the blog says that the blogger is highly opinionated, focussed and goal-oriented. There are certain aspects that reflect the personality traits of the blogger and impressed by the blogger’s style of expressing his/her opinion on the film director’s lack of spark in his current offering in comparison to his prequels, he feels that the blogger’s qualities aptly complement a marketing executive’s profile. Sounds weird? But that’s exactly what several HR managers are doing! ‘Hiring by the blog’ is a practice that looks set to be the newest hiring trend.

Blogs: a helper’s hand?

“We actually recruited an individual after reading her blog. When we met the candidate, we found that she was shy, and were not sure whether she would thrive in an advertising agency. However, reading her blog made us realise that she could express herself as long as the communication was written rather than oral. She turned out to be an excellent search executive,” says C Vasudevan, Manager–HR and Administration, Communicate 2.

“Though this practice is still in its nascent stage, corporate recruiters are surfing blogs to unearth candidates, expanding their talent pool and gaining insights that they can’t get from resumes and interviews,” claims Sapna Agarwal, Director HR (Recruitment) GlobalLogic. Some feel that traditional recruitment techniques are still going to be popular for now. “The implementation of this trend in India would take a few more years. This is because the overall awareness on the usage of such a tool has not caught the attention of the prospective candidate, wherein he/she maintains an individual blog that highlights his/her career aspirations and thereby allowing the recruiter to gain clear visibility on the candidate’s job interest,” explains Deepak Deshpande, Head - HR, Lionbridge India.

Agarwal adds, “Blogs also help employers probe further into the qualifications of potential hires. I spend one to two hours a week searching through blogs for new talent or additional information about the candidates I have interviewed. If I am impressed by the points the blogger is making and the way he/she is making them, the potential hire will jump up a few notches in my opinion.”

Blogs: a good idea?

Recruiters no longer believe in just getting personal references for their new candidates. They prefer to get up, close and personal, to get a sneak peek at the recruits’ personality. “If the candidate has written a blog, it helps to know the mental make-up of the person. A blog can be an effective tool to let me gauge into someone’s attitude quite easily,” explains Agarwal. She adds, “An HR manager can use a blog to understand the likes and dislikes of the candidate, as it allows them to structure the right environment for the candidate, like if the candidate is an introvert, they would never be happy with a job profile where they are required to meet strangers everyday!”

Blogs: do we, don’t we?

Now that HR managers feel that blogging for new recruits helps, does this mean organisations in India should start reading blogs? Deshpande thinks so. “Agencies and firms would continue using the traditional methods of recruitment and simultaneously adopt the recruitment through blogging model as it holds immense potential. There are some issues that are rarely addressed during an interview, like, ‘How passionate the candidate is about his/her present job profile, how innovative the candidate is, how the candidate deals with criticism, how the candidate convinces others, etc’. The recruiter will rarely get an insight in his/her short interview with the candidate, but blogging on the other hand could provide useful insights on this,” he says.

Agarwal on the other hand feels differently. She says, “There are various aspects about blogs which can lead to dire consequences. As a company and as an HR professional, one should be very specific of the blog and the content that the blogger has used and also the consistency of blogging. Many people try to live a life through their blogs that is not normally possible in their work or in professional life. A blogger may sound too strong online, but you might find him/her extra humble and down-to-earth in real life. The blog persona may be just that: a persona, not the real person,” she adds.

It’s just too early to decide if blogs will be the next recruitment tool. While companies agree that they are helpful, not all agree that candidates can be hired based just on their blogs. But most contend that a blog does give a unique perspective of a candidates’ personality that otherwise would have been difficult to assess. So if you’re in the market for a job, well, blog away!

(this article appeared in Times Ascent-By Ramiya Bhas )

HONESTY IS STILL THE BEST POLICY FOR SOME

Do you think honesty is still the best policy?If your answer is Yes,then you are in the Minority list!
If you say NO,then you are in .........! Honesty takes a backseat when money is in the front seat.
Everything is possible for some..nothing is possible for the honest and modest .You should be manipulative,diplomatic& mean minded for success-this is the new mantra of the screen age generation.Talent is- hunted and killed..."Send a SMS to decide whether viewers should be empowered to select(elect) a contestant"shouts a News Channel-again SMS -fooling who?Don't get desperate . Negativity attracts because it comes in attractive colours & variety and fascinates the majority.Without this Negative ,Positive will not have any value.Be in the Minotity List and be UNIQUE! a rare gem,precious stone! HAPPY TEACHERS DAY.

India's fearless 'untouchable' paper

By Amarnath Tewary
Dumka, Jharkhand (for BBC)

But the sixty-something Dalit from Dumka in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand has published a newspaper every week without fail for the past 21 years, highlighting discrimination against the poor and local corruption.

Mr Rajak's four-page, handwritten Hindi-news Din Dalit is photocopied 100 times and sold to subscribers or pasted onto Dumka's main traffic lights, bus stands and roads.

Din Dalit is not just another small town news sheet - the newspaper is registered with India's Registrar of Newspapers, thanks to the efforts of India's first Dalit President, KR Narayanan, after Mr Rajak wrote to him.

Since its first edition in October 1986, Din Dalit has made a difference to the lives of local people, even helping a resident to secure social security from the authorities after his plight was reported in the paper.

'I was hurt'

Mr Rajak says he decided to bring out the newspaper after he was humiliated by local authorities when he took some people to meet them to help enlist them in a government social security scheme.

"I was very hurt. I approached the local media to highlight the incident but they did not show any interest. So I decided to go ahead and bring out my own newspaper," he says.

Over the years, Din Dalit has run stories on diverse subjects like a local scam in the distribution of specially-made cycles for disabled people, and bungling in a government housing scheme and kerosene oil distribution for the poor.

After washing clothes through the week for a living, Mr Rajak concentrates on bringing out the paper by selecting the news, deciding on the editorial page content and headlining the articles on Sundays.

The paper now even boasts a reporter - 45-year-old Ravi Shanker Gupta, who works in a grocery and goes out to collect news when he gets a work break.

On Monday morning, the editor and his intrepid reporter publish 100 copies of Din Dalit - 50 are bought by regular readers, and some are pasted on the walls. Some 25 copies go to government departments.

Mr Rajak says he spends 300 to 350 rupees (about $8) producing the paper.

His wife is less than impressed with his efforts. "He just wastes his time and money every week. I have no idea what he gets by bringing out the paper," says Lakshmi Devi.

But others in Dumka think highly of Mr Rajak's paper.

Ashok Khatri, a disabled man, says he received a 2,000 rupee social security grant from the government, only after Din Dalit wrote about him.

'War against corruption'

Rickshaw puller Dhrub Rai says Din Dalit serves a critical social purpose.
"Rajak has simply waged a war against corruption and social evils here," he says.
Mr Rajak's four sons also support their father's unstinting efforts.
"We feel proud when we see people reading and discussing the issues raised in the paper," says eldest son, Raj Shanker Rajak.
And local English-language journalist Brajesh Verma concedes that Din Dalit serves an important purpose.
"It has its own dedicated readership who wait for it every week," he says.
Din Dalit has also begun commenting on larger national issues. A recent piece by Mr Rajak stressed the need to turn the Line of Control - the de facto border separating the disputed region of Kashmir - into a "line of peace".
He has also written a drama on the Kashmir problem and sent it to a state-run television channel to make a serial out of it. He is still waiting for a response.

Mr Rajak's achievement is considerable when you consider the fact that India's 180 million Dalits still remain largely neglected by the authorities.
Officially, caste discrimination was outlawed when India gained independence in 1947.

But Dalits are still often expected to do the most menial jobs. In many villages, they are also prevented from drinking water from wells used by high-caste Hindus.

FLAG CODE OF INDIA for Schools

SECTION II (of flag code of India)

2.3 The National Flag may be hoisted in educational institutions (schools, colleges, sports camps, scout camps, etc.) to inspire respect for the Flag. A model set of instructions for guidance is given below -
(i) The School will assemble in open square formation with pupils forming the three sides and the Flag-staff at the centre of the fourth side. The Headmaster, the pupil leader and the person unfurling the Flag (if other than the Headmaster) will stand three paces behind the Flag-staff.

(ii) The pupils will fall according to classes and in squads of ten (or other number according to strength). These squads will be arranged one behind the other. The pupil leader of the class will stand to the right of the first row of his class and the form master will stand three paces behind the last row of his class, towards the middle. The classes will be arranged along the square in the order of seniority with the seniormost class at the right end.

(iii) The distance between each row should be at least one pace (30 inches); and the space between Form and Form should be the same.

(iv) When each Form or Class is ready, the Class leader will step forward and salute the selected school pupil leader. As soon as all the Forms are ready, the school pupil leader will step up to the Headmaster and salute him. The Headmaster will return the salute. Then, the Flag will be unfurled. The School pupil leader may assist.

(v) The School pupil leader in charge of the parade (or assembly) will call the parade to attention, just before the unfurling, and he will call them to the salute when the Flag flies out. The parade will keep at the salute for a brief interval, and then on the command “order”, the parade will come to the attention position.

(vi) The Flag Salutation will be followed by the National Anthem. The parade will be kept at the attention during this part of the function.

(vii) On all occasions when the pledge is taken, the pledge will follow the National Anthem. When taking the pledge the Assembly will stand to attention and the Headmaster will administer the pledge ceremoniously and the Assembly will repeat it after him.

(viii) In pledging allegiance to the National Flag, the practice to be adopted in Schools is as follows:-

Standing with folded hands, all repeat together the following pledge:

“I pledge allegiance to the National Flag and to the Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic for which it stands.”

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has expanded the definition of corporal punishment which will now cover any form of adverse treatment. NCPCR has recommended parents to fearlessly file FIR against the schools if children complaints about any kind of abuse.

The directive issued by NCPCR chief Shanta Sinha about corporal punishment involves, "rapping on the knuckles, running on the school ground, kneeling down for hours, standing up for long hours, sitting like a chair, beaten with a scale (ruler), pinched and slapped, child sexual abuse, torture, locking up children alone in classrooms, electric shock and all other acts leading to insult, humiliation, physical and mental injury, and even death".

A teacher can be jailed for calling a child "idiot" or "stupid" or "mindless", "asking the students to write that they will not repeat their mistakes in class" or "slapping a child."

It is seen that many students tend to commit suicide when their teachers say them something or scold them in front of their classmates as they feel humiliated and insulted.

The NCPCR has recommended that all the schools should have a complaint box for submitting in their grievances and problems which will be discussed on the Parents and Teachers (PTA) Meeting.

The new directive has also stated that all the schools including hostels, shelter homes should have a forum where children can express their views. It is felt that sometimes students are silent and they do not respond to the violence against them due to fear.

MINISTER RESIGNS

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa's School and Mass Education Minister Bishnu Charan Das resigned on Friday after allegations that he directed the officials of his department to increase the marks of his son in the high school certificate exams held this year.

Das denied the charge and attributed his son's increased marks to a possible computer error. However, he was facing protests from opposition parties and various student organisations across the state for the last few days.

He submitted his resignation in the afternoon to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the state secretariat here. "I have resigned on moral grounds," he said.

The resignation has been accepted, an official of the chief minister's office said.

Trouble started for Das after Debendra Chandra Mishra, a top official of the Board of Secondary Education Orissa, got a phone call from an unknown person in the first week of this month. The caller alleged that marks of several students whose parents and relatives were in top government jobs were manipulated. As an example, he gave the roll number of a student.

After investigation, officials found that the number belonged to Bijoy Shankar Das, the minister's son.

In the mark sheet, Bijoy was awarded 89 in Oriya in place of 39, 80 in English against 50, 60 in Mathematics paper-II in place of 40, 50 in Science instead of 40 and in Social Science paper II, it was 54 instead of 45.

Patnaik had earlier deputed the state's chief secretary to probe into the allegation. But he has not submitted his report yet.

NOKIA FAULTY BATTERIES-ALERT AVERT DANGER

NOKIA FAULTY BATTERIES
Dear Nokia Customer,

This is a product advisory for the Nokia-branded BL-5C battery manufactured by Matsushita Battery Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan between December 2005 and November 2006. This product advisory does not apply to any other Nokia battery.

Nokia has identified that in very rare cases the affected batteries could potentially experience over heating initiated by a short circuit while charging, causing the battery to dislodge. Nokia is working closely with relevant local authorities to investigate this situation.

Nokia has several suppliers for BL-5C batteries that have collectively produced more than 300 million BL-5C batteries. This advisory applies only to the 46 million batteries manufactured by Matsushita between December 2005 and November 2006. There have been approximately 100 incidents of over heating reported globally. No serious injuries or property damage have been reported.

Consumers with a BL-5C battery subject to this advisory should note that all of the approximately 100 incidents have occurred while charging the battery. According to Nokia's knowledge this issue does not affect any other use of the mobile device. Concerned consumers may want to monitor a mobile device while charging that contains a BL-5C battery subject to this product advisory.

While the occurrence in the BL-5C batteries produced by Matsushita in the time-period specified is very rare, for consumers wishing to do so, Nokia and Matsushita offer to replace any BL-5C battery subject to this product advisory.

The BL-5C batteries which are subject to the product advisory were used with the following Nokia models or separately as accessories:

Nokia 1100, Nokia 1100c, Nokia 1101, Nokia 1108, Nokia 1110, Nokia 1112, Nokia 1255, Nokia 1315, Nokia 1600, Nokia 2112, Nokia 2118, Nokia 2255, Nokia 2272, Nokia 2275, Nokia 2300, Nokia 2300c, Nokia 2310, Nokia 2355, Nokia 2600, Nokia 2610, Nokia 2610b, Nokia 2626, Nokia 3100, Nokia 3105, Nokia 3120, Nokia 3125, Nokia 6030, Nokia 6085, Nokia 6086, Nokia 6108, Nokia 6175i, Nokia 6178i, Nokia 6230, Nokia 6230i, Nokia 6270, Nokia 6600, Nokia 6620, Nokia 6630, Nokia 6631, Nokia 6670, Nokia 6680, Nokia 6681, Nokia 6682, Nokia 6820, Nokia 6822, Nokia 7610, Nokia N70, Nokia N71, Nokia N72, Nokia N91, Nokia E50, Nokia E60

“Nokia” and “BL-5C” are printed on the front of the battery. On the back of the battery, the Nokia mark appears at the top, and the battery identification number (consisting of 26 characters) is found at the bottom.

IT IS URGENT
CLICK HERE TO CHECK.AT NOKIA SITE.

FIRST TEACHER IN TO SPACE

CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA's space shuttle Endeavour blasted off on Wednesday sending the first teacher into space 21 years after the Challenger explosion tragically ended the dream of another pioneering teacher. Teacher-turned-astronaut Barbara Morgan, 55, has become the star of the second shuttle mission to the International Space Station this year, which has otherwise been marked by embarrassing stories of drunken and love-crazed astronauts. Her chance to fly into space finally came with Endeavour's launch at 6:36 pm (2236 GMT) on Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral.

The booster rockets separated about two minutes after the shuttle lifted off, and Endeavour was hurtling toward space at a speed of 15,000 miles per hour (24,000 kilometers per hour), a NASA official said.

"Class is in session," a NASA spokesman said after the external fuel tank separated from the shuttle and the Endeavour entered its preliminary orbit less than nine minutes into the flight.

First Lady Laura Bush, a former teacher herself, called Morgan on Tuesday to offer congratulations from "one school teacher to another."

Morgan had trained alongside fellow teacher Christa McAuliffe in the 1980s as a backup for the Challenger shuttle mission. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration had hoped that sending a teacher into space would fire the imaginations of millions and keep up support for its shuttle program. But on January 28, 1986, Challenger exploded and broke up 73 seconds after blastoff, killing all seven aboard, and delaying for two decades Morgan's own aspirations to join the elite astronaut corps. "Christa was, is, and always will be our 'Teacher in Space,' our first teacher to fly" in a shuttle, Morgan said in an interview released by NASA.

"She truly knew what this was all about -- not just bringing the world to her classroom, but also helping ... to show the world what teachers do," she said.

After the Challenger disaster Morgan went back to teaching, and then rejoined the astronaut corps in 1998.

Once in space she will operate robotic arms on the ISS and the shuttle to unload and install new equipment and supplies on the space station.

Endeavour is taking seven astronauts, including a Canadian, on an 11-day mission to continue the expansion of the ISS, an orbiting laboratory that NASA considers a key part of its space exploration ambitions.

The mission will carry a truss section about the size of a small car to extend the space station to a length of 108 meters (354 feet), about the size of a football pitch.

The astronauts will also replace a defective gyroscope, one of four keeping the space station on an even keel, and install an exterior stowage platform. Astronauts will venture out of the ISS on three spacewalks to complete assembly and repair tasks. NASA could prolong the mission by three days to include a fourth space walk, to prepare for installation of a boom that will allow crews to inspect for potential damage to the shuttle's heat shield. NASA has been leery of damage to shuttle heat shields since February 2003, when a broken thermal tile led to the disintegration of shuttle Columbia on re-entry, killing all seven aboard and putting the shuttle program on hold for two-and-a-half years.

NASA finally resumed ISS construction missions last year after conducting two missions aimed at improving safety, but the space agency has been hit by earthly scandals ever since.

Earlier this year, astronaut Lisa Nowak was arrested and charged with attempting to kidnap a woman dating another married astronaut. She has since been fired from NASA.

The incident prompted NASA to set up an internal panel to review astronauts' health. The panel recently issued a report saying astronauts had been allowed to fly into space while drunk, sparking worry in Congress about NASA management.

The space agency avoided yet another black eye with this mission, by repairing in time for lift-off a computer that had been sabotaged while in the care of a NASA contractor.

THE MIDDLE PATH

The FEAR is the basis of all our Religions,it can be our blind faith in the rituals or the faith which we believe in.God should be love..then Satan/Evil is hate..this is the logic.If you fear God then naturally Evil is your Love.So why should we be God fearing ,we should be God loving people,but our words..yes words (God fearing) show that we are into loving the evil not the God.You may argue that this fear is out of respect.

The world is based on the theory of contradiction,that is, everything of the opposite exists..If Everest than Marina trench/Deep exists, as Day and Night,Women and Men..But at the same time Plains,Dawn/Dusk,Eunuch also exists i.e. the middle one.. Neither this nor that!Buddha preached Middle path,it is the truth ,the ultimate "neither this nor that".Everything in moderation is good for us..Otherwise it is Mania or Phobia.If you believe in Paranormal be moderate.Neither accept it nor condemn it,it is the sign of educated person.

An old widow from my place told me that she visited heaven when she was four years old and was seriously ill ..unbelievable..I didn't believed this rubbish then,But now I know that it was her O.B.E(Out of Body Experience ) or the Near Death Experience(N.D.E).

SANJAY DUTT-THE LEARNER

This is an excerpt from the Book Maximum City written by Sukentu Mehta,based on sanjay Dutts recollection of his stay in jail in the mid-1990s

"Sanjay made friends with the natural world. Through the tiny air vent, four sparrows would come into his cell every evening and Sanjay would put his massive hand out with crumbs in it. He was starved for touch and they would let him touch them so he would caress the little birds. He made friends with the ants, too, that came out of the sewage pipe. Amazing things, these ants. There is some kind of language between them. If one is going the wrong way, another ant will tell him. He would lie flat on the floor and watch them for hours on end as they struggled with their crumbs"of food, carrying it over the sew­er line".

Now read the Reuters Report on Ants.

Melbourne: The movement of ants could help solve traffic jams and crowd congestion, Australian scientists say,and the findings could be used in future town planning systems.Australian AssociatedPress reported on Thursday that professor Graham Currie and associate professor Martin Burd,from Melbourne'sMonash University,had concluded that the teamwork of ants was far superior to the individual approach of humans.'Ants do tend to work in a communal way with the wider good associated with what they're trying to do and that tends to add some order about how they approach problems,"Currie said.Humans could learn from ants about how to deal with traffic congestion and exiting large venues after concerts or sporting events, he said. Currie said ants moved in an orderly fashion, and never seemed to panic, even when there was danger or congestion.'Ants will organise their freeways' so that ants bearing loads are in the middle of the freeway all going one direction,and the ants that are unladen are on both sides of the middle row. "In human crowds there is a tendency to follow the individual in front of you and that creates lots of snakes within crowds...and that breaks down the crowd flow,making it move slower." REUTER

A little bit of scientistgiri will remove the boredom from us.

LEARNING TO THINK

"God ,why don't you help me !"- this is a common frown of many,but God symbolize compassion,love,patience etc., then why he don't look in to our troubles? Did we ever realized ,what God has given us.

Now read this story...Once a teacher asked a student to name all the seven wonders of the world.The child was not able to answer this question.Then the teacher asked to think and answer the question.The girl started telling"The Seven wonders of the world are...our eyes which can see,the ears which can hear,nose which can smell things,tongue having taste buds,hands which can work hard, legs having the ability to run,mind which enjoys everything in life, all these are the seven wonders of the world."The teacher was unable to accept this answer as wrong.The pyramid or the Great Wall of china is not above these wonders-thought the teacher.

When we are going to understand this? We never allow the child to create a new answer for an unknown question.Our system of education kills creativity.Walt Disney got the remark of not having Creative thinking when he was in school.We keep safely and appreciate the gifts,greeting cards given by our beloved ones and cherish the memories,but forget to appreciate the gift of God ,who gave a lot to us.Let us learn to love our life and our gifts.Thank daily God(Nature ,if you are not a believer) for the uncountable bliss showered on us.Common be serious!