20 words to change your life
20 Aug 2011 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: 20 important words
.
1. Begin
Take charge of your life by beginning something you have always wanted to do. If your goal seems overwhelming, start small.
2. Imagine
Your imagination has no boundaries.. “Dreaming about something is the first step toward achieving it.”
3. Laugh
“Laughter is a direct route to the soul. It broadens your perspective, keeps you healthy, and makes an unbearable situation easier to deal with.”
4. Believe
Set your mind to predict success. Tell yourself you will succeed at whatever you are doing at the moment.
5. Seek
Allow yourself to grow by exposing your vulnerability and insecurity. Don’t live strictly inside your comfort zone- don’t always play it safe.
6. Play
We can always find something that “needs to be done” and we forget how to have fun. Make a conscious effort to take time off. You will feel refreshed and able to think more clearly afterwards
7. Trust
Being paralyzed by indecision is worse than making the wrong decision. You can’t grow if you don’t trust your inner voice.
8. Listen
Try listening carefully to the other person’s point of view first, without being preoccupied or distracted. You will really hear what is being said and the other person is more likely to pay attention to your views.
9. Create
Creativity maintains the balance in our lives. The more we use our creativity, the more it develops
10. Connect
Relationships are what pull us through the hard times, and make the good times meaningful. Take time to nurture the connections that uplift you.
11. Touch
Humans need touch to survive and thrive. Don’t forget to hug your loved ones. Pat your friends on the back, literally and figuratively.
12. Forgive
Forgiveness is life giving because it puts you in charge. You become empowered.
13. Pray
Prayer is asking God to transform the situation and become the heart of your life. Take time each day to nurture this connection.
14. Hope
Hope is the knowledge that even in the worst of times we can triumph over hardship and sorrow and grow in spirit. Hope is what sustains humanity.
15. Choose
We can’t always choose our circumstances. But we can choose our attitudes towards them.
16. Appreciate
Admire the good in yourself and in those around you
17. Give
Happiness involves giving freely to others and not necessarily wanting something in return.
18. Read
Reading removes boundaries
19. Write
Words are freedom. Words are power
20. Release
Avoid doing something just because everyone thinks you should. Give yourself permission to relax.
The Cycle of Poverty
18 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: Cycle of poverty
Cycle of Poverty
It used to be said that there was a four generation cycle when it came to making and losing money.
First Generation
The first generation was the one that began poor and worked hard to make a modest living and to ensure that the children (the second generation) of the family got a good start in life, generally, although not always, through education. This education would tend to be in a vocational area.
Second Generation
The second generation took its education and worked hard and applied its inheritance to social and personal improvement. This generation built up the family fortune and was sustained by the memory of the first generation and its sacrifice. Its children (the third generation) were sent to schools of high social standing rather than those with a vocational bent.
Third Generation
The third generation remained in touch with the grandparents, but was comfortable and consolidated rather than continued to expand the wealth base. This generation’s education was again directed at social status rather than enhanced wealth-creation.
Fourth Generation
The fourth generation had no direct knowledge of the sacrifices of either of the first two generation, believed that comfort was its right and spent the family’s wealth in pursuit of its increasingly expensive desires in an attempt to keep up with their social betters. Unless the fortune was very large, it was easily dissipated in this futile pursuit.
Hence, from rags to riches in three easy steps and finally the cycle of poverty continues.
Glorious insults
13 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: Andrew Lang, benjamin disreli, Glorious insults, mark twain, winston churchil
There was a time when words were used beautifully. These glorious insults are from an era when cleverness with words was still valued, before a great portion of the English language was boiled down to four-letter words!
Winston Churchill
The exchange between Churchill and Lady Astor: She said, “If you were my husband, I’d give you poison,” and he said, “If you were my wife, I’d take it.”
Benjamin Disraeli
Gladstone, a member of Parliament, to Benjamin Disraeli: “Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.”
“That depends, sir,” said Disraeli, “On whether I embrace your policies or your mistress.”"
Mark Twain
“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?”
Andrew Lang
“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts… for support, rather than illumination.”
Venkat’s Art Book – Ancient South Indian Art
05 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: Alilai Krishnar, Ancient Indian art, Art, Chola Dynasty, Hamsa Damayanti, India, krishna, Painting, Raja Ravi Varma, South India, Tanjore, Thanjavur, Travancore
India – a country, whose name is synonymous with tradition and culture, is also famous for its ancient art works which have drawn many artists and art lovers from all over the world. Be it the famous cave paintings of Ajanta and Ellora or the charming Rajasthani paintings depicting the palace life of the Rajput kings and queens, none of them are without any admirers. But, very few people know that, art in Southern parts of India too was flourishing during this time, most famous of which were the Tanjore paintings and the Ravi Varma paintings.
TANJORE PAINTINGS
Tanjore paintings which had its roots in Thanjavur region, the capital of the Cholas, were unique in every aspect from the painting style which was being patronized in other parts of the country. For instance, it portrayed only Hindu gods and goddesses in various forms of which the most preferred subject was Lord Krishna in his childhood. It was a time when idol worshipping was gaining popularity and many temples were being built in this area. One of the most famous paintings during this time was the Alilai Krishnar, a portrait of Krishna lying on the leaf of a banyan tree. This painting will be found in houses not only in Thanjavur but in most parts of the modern day Tamil Nadu.
Another unique aspect of Tanjore art is the usage of striking colours including a special shade of golden colour that is used for the ornaments of the gods and goddesses. Besides this, it has semi precious stones, glass pieces and even gold engraved on some of the paintings. Hence it is a little challenging to make these paintings and even more challenging to make them appear like he originals as you will need a lot of materials to make them which are usually expensive
As it gained popularity, Tanjore paintings started expanding its roots to other parts of the country like the Maratha region, Vijaynagar region an even to Madurai which was ruled by the Pandyas who were the arch rivals of the Cholas. Even today, there are many budding artists trying to learn this style of art due to its striking and rich looks which will make any wall look good when it is hung on it.
RAVI VARMA PAINTINGS
During the mid nineteenth century, a boy was born to the royal family in the Travancore region. Since childhood, he was always fascinated by painting and his famous past time was to make drawings in the palace walls. Seeing his enthusiasm, his uncle who was a famous painter taught him painting and after a few years of training, he created his own style of painting and became adept at it. This boy was Raja Ravi Varma, the king of Travancore region during the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century who was more popular for his painting than his ruling abilities.
Ravi Varma specialized in making portraits of Indian women who were known for their beauty. His models who posed for his paintings were usually his muses who were extremely beautiful. He was the first person to give a face to the Hindu gods and goddesses who didn’t have a distinct face till then. His famous portrayal of goddesses Saraswati and Lakshmi won him many admirers. He had this uncanny ability to bring life into his paintings by making the subject’s face in a flawless way. Unlike Tanjore paintings, Ravi Varma didn’t limit his paintings to just Hindu gods and goddesses; instead he captured various moods of the Indian women in their daily life, in his canvas.
One of the examples that prove the above statement is his painting of a village belle who enthralled him with her raw beauty and made him take out his canvas and paint her on the spot. Another work of his, that made heads turnaround was the painting Hamsa Damayanti depicting the mythological character of Damayanti sending a message through a Hamsa (Swan) to her lover Nala. Ravi Varma had expertly captured the emotions of a longing lover and this emotion is clearly shown on Damayanti’s face.
Ravi Varma like every human being had a weakness. Even though he was an expert in creating real like faces, he was never good at human anatomy. This fact is evident in his paintings as he hides his subject’s body parts like toes, fingers etc behind the subject’s dress or even blur it to take the attention away from it. This is not a proven fact, but it is clearly visible in all his paintings.
But still, his paintings cannot be matched for its splendour and the beauty of its subject and even today there are many artists who are trying to replicate his paintings and trying to bring life to their subject’s faces without any success.
A Mother’s Love
15 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: A mother's love, Helen Steiner Rice
A MOTHER’S LOVE
A Mother’s love is something
that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.
~Helen Steiner Rice~
Jokes
12 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: jokes
An ambitious MLA phoned the Chief Minister’s home shortly after midnight. “I need to talk to the CM, it’s an emergency!” exclaimed the MLA.
After some cajoling, the CM’s assistant agreed to wake him up.
“So, what is it that’s so important that it can’t wait until morning?” grumbled the CM.
“One of your ministers just died, and I want to take his place,” begged the MLA.
“Well, it’s OK with me if it’s OK with the crematorium,” replied the CM and went back to sleep.
Swami Vivekananda
07 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: Swami Vivekananda
When I asked God for Strength
He gave me difficult situations to face
When I asked God for brain and brown
He gave me puzzles in life to solve
When I asked God for happiness
He showed me some unhappy people
When I asked God for wealth
He showed me how to work hard
When I asked God for favours
He showed me opportunities to work hard
When I asked God for peace
He showed me how to help others
God gave me nothing I wanted
He gave me everything I needed
Unexpected question and unique answer
20 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: Swamy vivekananda
|
Impressive questions and answers
20 Dec 2010 Leave a Comment
in Light Reading Tags: best answers in IAS examination, best questions and answers, think out of box
Q. How can you drop a raw egg onto a concrete floor without cracking it?
A. Concrete floors are very hard to crack!
Q. If it took eight men ten hours to build a wall, how long would it take four men to build it?
A. No time at all it is already built.
Q. If you had three apples and four oranges in one hand and four apples and three oranges in the other hand, what would you have?
A. Very large hands.
Q. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?
A. It is not a problem, since you will never find an elephant with one hand.
Q. How can a man go eight days without sleep?
A. No Probs , He sleeps at night.
Q. If you throw a red stone into the blue sea what it will become?
A. It will Wet or Sink as simple as that.
Q. What looks like half apple ?
A: The other half.
Q. What can you never eat for breakfast ?
A: Dinner.
Q. What happened when wheel was invented ?
A: It caused a revolution.
Q. Bay of Bengal is in which state?
A: Liquid
Below are the Interview Questions, which were asked in HR Round…..
Question 1:
You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night, it’s raining heavily, when suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see
three people waiting for a bus:
An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.
An old friend who once saved your life.
The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.
Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that there could only be one passenger in your car?
This is a moral/ethical dilem ma that was once ac tually used as part of a job application.
* You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first;
* or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to! pay him back.
* However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.
The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. Guess what was his answer? He simply answered.
“I would give the car keys to my Old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams.”
Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to “Think Outside of the Box.”
Question 2:
Interviewer (to a student girl candidate) – What is one morning you woke up & found that you were pregnant.
Girl – I will be very excited and take an off, to celebrate with my husband.
Normally an unmarried girl will be shocked to hear this, but she managed it well. Why I should think it in the wrong way, she said later when asked
Question 3:
Interviewer: He ordered a cup of coffee for the candidate. Coffee arrived kept before the candidate, then he asked what is before you?
Candidate: Instantly replied “Tea”
He got selected.
You know how and why did he say “TEA” when he knows very well that coffee was kept before.
(Answer: The question was “What is before you (U – alphabet)
Reply was “TEA” ( T – alphabet) Alphabet “T” was before Alphabet “U”
Question 4:
The interviewer asked to the candidate “This is your last question of the interview. Please tell me the exact position of the center of this table where u have kept your files.”
Candidate confidently put one of his finger at some point at the table and told that this was the central point at the table.
Interviewer asked how did u get to know that this being the central point of this table, then he answers quickly that
“sir u r not likely to ask any more question, as it was the last question that u promised to ask…..”
And hence, he was selected as because of his quick-wittedness. …….
This is What Interviewer expects from the Interviewee. …
“THINK OUT OF BOX”
Why do we forward e-mails?
16 Dec 2010 1 Comment
in Light Reading Tags: junk mails, why forward mails
This explains why we forward jokes and other stuff……
The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years.
He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road.
It looked like fine marble..
At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.
When he was standing before it, he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.
He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, ‘Excuse me, where are we?’
‘This is Heaven, sir,’ the man answered.
‘Wow! Would you happen to have some water?’ the man asked.
‘Of course, sir. Come right in, and I’ll have some ice water brought right up.’
The man gestured, and the gate began to open. ‘Can my friend,’ gesturing toward his dog, ‘come in, too?’ the traveler asked.
‘I’m sorry, sir, but we don’t accept pets.’
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed.
There was no fence.
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book….
‘Excuse me!’ he called to the man. ‘Do you have any water?’
‘Yeah, sure, there’s a pump over there, come on in.’
‘How about my friend here?’ the traveler gestured to the dog.
‘There should be a bowl by the pump,’ said the man.
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
‘What do you call this place?’ the traveler asked.
‘This is Heaven,’ he answered.
‘Well, that’s confusing,’ the traveler said.
‘The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.’
‘Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That’s hell.’
‘Doesn’t it make you mad for them to use your name like that?’
‘No, we’re just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.’
Soooo. Now you see, sometimes, we wonder why friends keep forwarding stuff to us without writing a word. Maybe this will explain it.
When you are very busy, but still want to keep in touch, guess what you do? You forward emails.
When you have nothing to say, but still want to keep contact, you forward jokes.
When you have something to say, but don’t know what, and don’t know how…. you forward stuff.
A ‘forward’ lets you know that you are still remembered, you are still important, you are still loved, you are still cared for.
So, next time if you get a ‘forward’, don’t think that you’ve been sent just another forwarded joke, but that you’ve been thought of today and your friend on the other end of your computer wanted to send you a smile.
You are welcome at my water bowl anytime!!
