I News India - Empowering Ideas!

Do you take your laptop when you go for a holiday with your family? If yes, avoid this habit in your future as it is warned by psychologists that these new age wireless tools are spoiling holidays and can be a reason to ruin family relationships.

“People simply should not take laptops on holiday with them. They are taking their office with them and they just shouldn’t do it,” said Cary Cooper, professor at Lancaster University management school’s department of psychology and health.

Wireless tools are the demand of today’s tech world but the same thing should be used intelligently. These tools are becoming inseparable part of life and a large mass of people take their laptops and wireless internet connections on holidays with them. The psychologist considers the laptops as a hindrance in the holiday. People find it difficult to switch off their laptops and spend most of their hard-found leisure time in working on laptops; news daily quoted a psychologist as saying.

“The rise in mobile phone and Internet technology has already affected our weekends and now it is invading annual holidays. Sensible bosses and workers should insist that holidays are computer free,” he suggested.

Cooper warned the problem as “mushroomed with the spread of wireless hot spots”.

People used to monitor their e-mails during vacations and instead of spending time with family they feel insecure about their jobs and keep stick to their systems for a long time during free hours. All this is possible because of existence of wireless tools. Hence the later can be considered as a hindrance in a relaxing vacation of a family.

“People worry about a backlog and that things will be missed while they are away. They feel a need to be constantly online and checking their emails. This insecurity is endemic to the service-based industries,” said Cooper.

Survey reports also agree with us. According to a survey by IT security company Credant Technologies, almost two-thirds of brokers in London said they were contacting their offices through phone or emails while on vacation. A whopping 83 % admitted to taking their office mobile phone or Blackberry with them while they are away. The survey said that more than a quarter said they check emails daily and 14 % admitted to doing so more than once a day.

“I can understand why people take mobile phones, but they should only be used sparingly, as a ’security blanket’. They should be kept switched off most of the time,” he stated.

According to him, taking work on holidays could deprive people of “much needed rest and recuperation” from demanding jobs and it could also lead to family break-ups.

He also said those who show that they can work for their organization even on holidays are actually cheating themselves. It may lead to exploitation as they are showing that they are available for the organization 24*7.

People should understand the needs of their family and should remember that a vacation is not just a resting time but to attach more closely with the family and your kids. Work should be done honestly but do not make it over to avoid your family.

Tags: backlog, E-mail, Family, Future, Health, Holiday, Internet, Internet Technology, IT, IT Security, Laptop, Mobile Phone, Office, People, Systems, Technology, Wireless Technology

Cleaning is the first thing that cannot be avoided to maintain a peaceful environment at home. Keep the house clean and free from dust and molds. Give a regular cleaning to doors, windows and other household articles. Here are some useful tips that can help you during cleaning:

Clean Windows: You can wash windows on a cloudy, but not rainy day. Working in direct sunlight causes streaks because the cleaning solution dries before you can wipe it off. This is the best time to vacuum the frames and sills. Add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar per gallon of water in case of excess dirt over the window. Use horizontal strokes on the inside and vertical on the outside so you know which side the streaks are on. Use rough newspaper or expensive paper towels to wipe the pane. Wear rubber gloves to keep your hands free of ink.

Clean Doors: Doors should be neat and clean. It gives a positive impression to the visitor. Scrub the door from top to bottom with a rag and soapy water, using a scrub brush for especially tough spots. Take care of the most missed spot, upper side of the door also.

Start from the top: Always start at the top of the room and work your way down. The reverse can make the lower part dusty again when you go for top cleaning. Also take all your cleaning tools with you into each room.  It will avoid unnecessary trips back and forth.

Use baking soda: There should be no foul smell in the house. A house that smells fresh will give the impression of cleanliness. Leave baking soda on carpeting for the night to absorb musty odors, vacuum in the morning.

Use astro-turf mat: On the porch you can put a big astro turf mat to cut down on tracked in dirt. This will help reducing dirt on the floor from outside.

Assign duties: Get the entire family involved. Make everyone in charge of making his or her own bed and picking up their stuff. In case you are alone and need help, hire a helper.

Assign Priority: In case you have not enough time to clean the whole house, assign priorities to your work. If your time is limited decided what is most important. Choose the most important first and go towards lower priorities later.

Make a checklist: Make a list of tasks you have to do. When a job is completed, check it off - you’ll feel as though you are really accomplishing something. This will also help to not forget anything important.

Indoor Plants: If you have some indoor plants, they should be cleaned. Remember, plants get dusty too. You can clean small plants in the kitchen sink, and larger ones with a shower in the bathroom or outside open space if any.

Clean Mirrors: Mirrors got marks of hair spray. Use a little a little rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth and wipe them.

Doorknobs: Always disinfect doorknobs, switch-plates and telephones. They collect germs from everyone who touches them.

Crayon marks on wall: Use toothpaste or ammonia soaked cloth to remove crayon marks from painted walls. Rub at the spots and then Rinse. Let them dry.

Wood floors: to shine your wood floors, put a piece of waxed paper under your dust mop. Dirt will stick to the mop and the wax will shine your floors.

For candle wax: If there is spilled wax on carpets and upholstery, put a brown paper bag over the dried wax and run a hot iron over it. The bag will absorb the hot wax.

For Combs and Brushes: Mix baking soda and hot water to clean hair brushes and combs.

For Glass Table Tops: Rub a little lemon juice on the glass top and dry with paper towels. Polish with newspaper for a clean look. To remove small scratches, toothpaste can be used.

For Polishing Furniture: Dip old toothbrush into furniture polish and brush lightly on carved furniture. To remove polish build-up mix one cup water and one cup vinegar. Dip soft cloth in the mixture and wring out excess of it and wipe on the furniture. Dry immediately with another soft, dry cloth.

Cleaning Tiles: Remove stains and dirt with mild soap and water.

For Wallpaper: Use an art-gum eraser or a slice of fresh rye bread to remove pencil marks and other non-greasy spots from non-washable papers. To remove greasy spots, crayon marks and food stains; apply a paste of cleaning fluid and fuller’s earth, cornstarch or whiting. Brush off after drying.

Cleaning Marble: To remove stains, sprinkle salt on a fresh cut lemon. Rub very lightly over stain. Do not rub hard or you will ruin the polished surface. Rinse with soap-water mixture and then by clean water again.

Tags: Astro-turf, Baking Soda, Brushes, Candle Wax, Checklist, Clean Windows, Combs, Crayon, Doorknobs, Doors, Duty, Furniture, Glass, House, House Cleaning, Indoor Plants, Marble, Mat, Mirrors, Priority, Table Tops, Tiles, Tips, Wallpaper, Windows, Wood floors

Today is a highly competitive world which demands hard work in right direction. Amid this pressure spending long hours at office become a usual norm. Late hour working is become a trend now-a-days. People are getting workaholic to survive in the competitive area of their field. They become so habitual of working that they soon get a tendency to work late. But these continuous long working hours are stressing our daily routine and giving a negative impact on our health also.

Working on computers and laptops till long hours can be seen in any office. Reasons for working late hours are different for different people. Most of the people stay at office to finish their work, meeting deadlines. Others are bound to late working hours because of different time zones and immediacy. Some of the guys work till late to impress their boss and make their image of a sincere and har worker employee.

However, there is a necessity to work in late hours in some organizations where effort and dedication from its employees is needed to devote extra working hours to reach the target. No matter what position the employee hold, they have to work in late hours.

Long working hours are giving a serious blow to our life and health. The impact cannot be ignored. Due to overwork, people got stuck to office and his/her work only and his personal life becomes squeezed out of the routine. No quality time for friends and family. Employee get cut off from the outer world and the brain is only occupied with work, work and work.

Major impact is on our health as late working hour’s gives stress and tension leaving people with so many problems like insomnia and loss of appetite. Rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disorders were also reported to be higher in over-night workers. Many of them also experience BOSS, burn–out stress syndrome. These problems gives rise to many other diseases like ulcers and anxiety disorders leading to heart attacks, kidney disease and dementia. Stress is the major problem of late working hour which attracts other problems. It not only disturbs the normal functioning of body but may lead to unhealthy habits such as smoking and drinking leading to a complete deterioration of physical as well as moral part of an individual.

Employees are the backbone of any organization. If the employee is unhealthy, this will definitely affect the concerned company and the organization. Late working hours provide work to the company but a stressed and tired employee can’t to his/her best. He/She will reduce efficiency of working and the employees’ productivity level soon drops when they are tired and overworked. This may lead to staff resignation, retention and recruitment problems. Employee must be healthy to work and give a positive output for the company.

Working in late hours can lead to mis-happenings also. Specifically, workers on the night shift have a 20 percent greater chance of being involved in a severe accident and make five times the “serious” mistakes that their daytime counterparts make.

Work gives money to live a better life but if the same work is making our life worse than what is the need of hard work?

I am not saying that you stop working and start enjoying life all the time but don’t you think there should be a proper balance between work and for other activities? Just give a little time to yourself and your family also. Take care of your health by practicing morning exercise and Yoga to relax your mind and to get rid of stress. This will take hardly half hour but will give a full day energy and relaxation.

Increase your efficiency by timely lunch and dinner. Energetic mind will complete your work faster. Increase productivity by paperless technologies.

These small but super tips may help you and you will then enjoy your working and can avoid late working hours also. Happy working!

Tags: Employee, habit, Health, Job, late hour working, Lifestyle, Money, Office, work, working

If you want to get back your lost love or want to stop your break up or a divorce, here comes the magic steps which can immensely help you even if you think your situation is hopeless. You have to just do and say the RIGHT things at the right time.

1) Avoid strange things while in Pain and Fear: Situation of pain and fear while losing the love can make you doing some strange things which should be avoided to get back your ex love. When anyone is in pain, he/she feels very insecure and starts doing some strange things that we never believed we are capable of. For instance in such a week moment, we apologize profusely for mistakes that we don’t believe we committed. We try to convince them hard that it wasn’t our fault. These things only increase troubles in getting back our love. The unrealistic promises giving the pseudo feeling that we have tried everything we could, should be avoided.

2) Take responsibility: If you have a break up and want your love back, put the other things and reasons aside and take the responsibility of the break. Although you both are involved in the break up but you are also responsible for that somewhere and to some extent.

3) Put your ego aside: Ego is the biggest enemy of any relation. It is like a slow poison which ruins the relation. Put your ego aside and be first to ask him/ her to come back in your life. True love never fails. Your efforts will

4) Impatience is your enemy, avoid it:  Impatience compels you to take action out of fear and we know that causes more mistakes and bigger mistakes. Have patience although hard but control as far as possible. Impatience is just that little voice inside your head that tells you, you can’t be happy until you know your love is glad to be back. But this feeling can lead to disasters. Be patient and try to get back your love with the above magic steps.

Love is a feeling you can’t express in words. It is a fragrance you can’t catch but you can feel and hold the magic by avoiding that every thing which can harm your love. It is a commitment you have to follow. Avoid misunderstandings and try your level best to get back your love and make it last.

Also read the article on 5 Steps to survive Break ups?

Tags: Break Ups, Future, Life, Love, Relationship, Survival

Loss of a close relationship can make anyone to go in pain and depression. Sometimes a break up leading to a break down becomes very hard to cope with. Futures become scary and dark but STOP!  Life continues and we have to face it with courage. It’s only you who can help yourself to come out of the state of depression and control the situation.

Yes, the task is really hard but there are some steps that will help you in controlling the situation:

1) Interact with people- First thing you have to take care is to not spend your time alone in this situation. It is needed to be surrounded by people, either your family or friends. Call them, talk to them or you can also join a group for new hobbies to distract yourself from that painful happening.  Go for movies, group sports or your favorite music and dance and keep your mind relaxed and free from stress.

2) Avoid blame game- Don’t ever play a blame game. Take the responsibility as blaming each other will not help or mend the relationship. You was also an active part of that relationship and you are also responsible for both, its success and failure. However you are not the only one to blame.

3) Give yourself time to heal- It is tough to forget the lost love immediately but its okay to grieve for it.  Give yourself some time. Time is the best medicine to heal every pain of life. You might got angry and vent out your anger, let it go as your friends understands your situation. Just give some time to heal up.

4) Don’t stay depressed and move on– Now you are giving time to heal yourself and interacting with people. You need not to stay in the environment of sadness and grief. Just come out of it and move on. Think positive and forget the past. It will make no sense to just keep thinking and shedding tears for which you have lost and which will not come back again. You can go for a date just to make your mood light. If you’re not very comfortable with dating as yet go for a double date. Just move on the positive track of life!

5) Don’t force a new relationship- If you don’t found comfortable with any new girl/boy, just leave it. This kind of relationship will not mend your heart nor will it replace your other relationship. Try to spend some time with those with whom you found comfortable and you like their company. Do not force yourself to just stick with any buddy to forget the past.

These ways, though needs a lot of effort from your side but definitely will help you to come out of the mourning phase of your life and will make you feel good again.

Tags: Break Ups, Future, Life, Love, Relationship, Survival

In today’s extra competitive age and the era of burning the midnight oil, students of all ages and belonging to all fields of study, be it the primary level classes or the higher ends of schools to get into colleges or even the graduate and post graduate studies, the competitive spirit and the desire to reach the best possible levels of achievement have become their prime focus. But with an increase in the percentage of students putting in every possible effort to achieve these goals, we have reached those times, when even excelling grades become a reason of tension because of the results being relatively inferior, be the margin only of a few decimal points.

Some due to which face a rejection from the reputed colleges or schools or the peer pressure just tends to break their spirits down. When the scenario is such, it is quite obvious that these high aimers are doing every bit possible to achieve that extra edge. A common practice among the students these days most observed is that the study times have been switched to late nights. Pertaining to this change, the parents of this next generation have been reported to be quite worried as odd hour study not only disturbs the bio clock of the body but also drains up the child’s mind by the morning time, and as most exams are scheduled during the day times, the body tends to have succumbed to excess tiredness, it is very difficult for one to focus on the exam and give his best shot.

It is very important and to be kept in mind, that when one is about to enter the examination hall, his mind and body should be at its most active levels so that the brain has all the potential to work to its full capabilities during that stipulated time.

It is being noticed, that the students these days have shifted their schedules to those wee hours of the night when there is no one to disturb or distract them and a continuous stretch of a few hours’ study goal is achieved with an ease.

Also at the graduation level, a survey signifies that 78.9% of the students tend to study all night, a night prior to the exam which exploits the capabilities of their brains. It is noticed that when the same students give their examination studying in the day and giving a night’s rest to their brains, they tend to perform much better.

The parents, to a large extent can help their wards by calming their tensions about the competitive age, but not putting off the fire to excel within them, by explaining them that the visible graded achievements can never equate or decide one’s career success which of higher importance. Further they may help the students in improving their systems by giving them a quiet environment, which is distraction free in the day time as well.

Tags: Competition, Late Night Stody, Students, Study

Hairs are one of the most important parts of women’s look which adds charm and beauty to her. New and latest hairstyles are always a craze among women. Hair care major Schwarzkopf recently unveiled some new styles at its Essential Looks Spring/Summer 2008 show. These styles for women can go easily this summer season. Have a look!

1) School’s Out: This haircut capitalizes on dashes of caramel coloring and layering with an overall smooth silhouette. It is the ideal style choice for straight and silky hairs. It frames your face well and makes you look dashing.

2) Punked Out: This style will provide a funky look. If you prefer your mane doing wilder, wackier things, this style is for you. Schwarzkopf has put a ‘School’s Out’ spin on the traditional bob — an edgy look with uneven layering and bangs that skim your eyebrows. A hint of copper or red will add to its quirky cuteness.

3) Ultra-feminine: The new style with the ‘New Romance’ look is enriched with sculpted, glossy curls fall softly onto your shoulders and the focus of the color is deep and dark. You can also opt for warm, subtle highlights making a perfect look.

4) Flavor of the East: This cute style is all about asymmetric bangs, funky layers and texture. Try brunette shades liberally and don’t be afraid to experiment. This gives a smarter and mod look to your personality.

So what to think about? Just have some guidelines from these styles and visit any local parlor to make your own style…….be cool in this summer!

Tags: Cool Hair Style, Hair Style, Season, Summer Hair Style, Women, Women Hair Style

After every activity of our life is getting an electronic touch and life style getting tech savvy then why not smoking? Yes! The concept of e-smoking is helping people to avoid health hazards of smoking and to quit the bad habit.

An Indian company in Chennai has introduced e-smoking based on Nicotine replacement therapy. These electronic cigarettes were start marketing first time by the company on May 31, the ‘World No Tobacco Day’.

Sunil Praveen Kumar of SPK Company that has brought the product to India said: “These cigarettes are called electronic cigarettes or super cig. And, for the first time these have been introduced in Chennai. We are getting this from Hong Kong and this particular product is used to quit smoking using nicotine replacement therapy.”

These cigarettes have been recently introduced in China, Israel and European countries and now have now made a mark in Chennai.

Looking like a normal cigarette, the whiter part is actually the battery and the filter part is the cartridge which can be replaced. Diluted nicotine is kept in the gadget which the atomizing chamber converts into vapor to satisfy the smoker.

The best part is that puffing these cigarettes does not compromise on the stimulation aspect of smoking, as it lends the same stimulation sans carcinogenic elements. The vapor evaporates soon, causing no irritation to people near the smoker.

“Normally, a traditional cigarette has got around 4,000 chemicals among which 24 are cancer-causing chemicals. But in the e-ciggies, using nicotine replacement therapy we just give a diluted nicotine, water, glycol and tobacco perfume to give the smokers a real feel of smoking and this can be smoked anywhere indoor outdoor anywhere,“ told Praveen Kumar.

Legally, you can smoke this everywhere because smoking refers to possession of lit tobacco and in this device there is no tobacco and you need not light it. You can just put it in your mouth and inhale like a regular cigarette without the dangers of cancer causing chemicals,” he added.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) labs have certified the cigarettes after testing for toxic content and by The European body called Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS).

The product has already appealed the smokers, who even after being aware of the ill-effects of smoking find it difficult to kick the habit.

Specialists from the medical fraternity too have showed their faith on this product. Dr Benedict Aruldas, member, Indian Medical Association, Tamil Nadu chapter said, “Mainly people get addicted to smoking because of stress for office-goers, from school, from friends they learn how to smoke. So, using that patient can reduce himself from smoking level to non-smoking level by using this device.”

There are two varieties of e-cigarettes. The first meant for those keen to quit smoking is priced rupees 3,600 for a packet of 900 cigarettes, costing rupees Rs 4 per cigarette. The other one is priced rupees 2,000 for beginners for the same quantity, costing just over Rs 2 a piece.

It can be a good option for smokers and ultimately help to quit this bad habit.

Tags: E-Smoking, India, Internet, Nicotine, No Smoking, Smoking

K Jayaganesh who passed with a rank of 156 and has been selected for the Indian Administrative Service after failing six times, inspires the Indian youth to don’t loose heart even on successive failures. K Jayaganesh had lost civil services exams again and again over six times but finally with his self determination and hard work, he succeeded in his seventh and last chance.

The story guides us to try and try again till the success is obtained. Born and brought up in a small village called Vinavamangalam in Vellore district, K Jayaganesh has a poor background financially. He studied to be an engineer but he did odd jobs, even as a waiter temporarily to cherish his bigger dream of becoming an IAS officer and finally he realized his dream.

His father Krishnan, who had studied up to the tenth standard, worked as a supervisor in a leather factory getting Rs 4,500 as salary. His mother was a simple housewife. He is the eldest in the family and has two sisters and a brother. So his only aim is to get a good job as earliest as possible to help the father in running the family.

He studied up to the 8th standard in the village school and completed the remaining school classes in a nearby town. After 10th standard, he joined a polytechnic college as job prospects would be better there. Being good at studies, he got 91 per cent which were enough to get admission to a government engineering college on merit.

Hence he joined the Thanthai Periyar Government Engineering College to study mechanical engineering. He was the only one in the batch who went to college. Other friends of him became auto drivers or coolies or masons only. His father is very supportive to him knowing the value of education. After completing engineering, getting job is the next effort. Soon he got a job with salary Rs 2,500 at a Bangalore company that reconditioned tools.

But he always keep thinking about the youngsters of his village which have no one to guide the importance of education and they always remain poor ending with jobs in tannery or become auto drivers or coolies. Meanwhile he came to know that a collector in a small place could do a lot. This is the turning point now, when he resigned his job and decided to be an IAS officer.

Tough way starts now to become an IAS officer when he could not clear preliminary exams in first two attempts because he got no guidance about preparation.

He had taken mechanical engineering as main subject. Later he met Uma Surya in Vellore who was also preparing for the examination. He guides him to take sociology as an option. But third attempt is again a failure.

Later he passed fourth attempt after he joined the government coaching centre (external link) in Chennai. As Chennai was very expensive for him, he started a part time job of a billing clerk for computer billing in the canteen at Sathyam Cinemas to run his life and studies too. He worked as a waiter also during the interval.

Here comes the interview cal now. Not very fluent in English but he conveyed whatever he wanted to. Perhaps he did not articulate well. He failed in the interview.

Again he tried for fifth time afresh and alas! He failed. He later quit the job and joined a private firm to teach sociology to those preparing for the UPSC examinations. His friends in Chennai gave him a helping hand. And his hard work rewarded. Sixth time he cleared preliminary and main but bad luck continues as he failed interview. Meanwhile he had written an examination to be an officer with the Intelligence Bureau and was selected there.  Now he has two choices- join the job at IB or prepare again for IAS.

But he was ready for his last attempt. With a fear and confusions he gave his preliminary exam. He passed. He attempted his mains. He passed. Now the last stage- interview, April 2008, Delhi.

He was scared. In interview, the one mistake he did was that he did not wish the interviewers at the start.

And at last, when interviewers did not respond when he said thanks at the end, he got confused about his success. He just prayed to God to cherish his seven year long dream. Finally the day of result came and god listen his prayers. He got 156th rank out of more than 700 selected candidates. This was the happiest day of this hard worker, self determined person who encourages others to achieve their goals.

He got a warm welcome at his village and was extremely fascinated by the response of villagers who garlanded him, burst crackers and played music on his arrival. Everyone wished him.

He said,” My real work starts now. I want to try hard to eradicate poverty and spread the message of education to all people. Education is the best tool to eradicate poverty.”

The story is really encouraging and shows an ideal way for the Indian youth to achieve the targets of their life without getting depressed by failures.

Tags: IAS, IAS Officer, IB, Inspiration, UPSC, Vellore, Waiter

Chatting and dating, the two most recent obsessions among the youth have so well gelled with each other that the present youngsters have totally been swallowed up by their mobile phones and the computers.

Messengers, social networking sites, dating sites, all have been ruling the worlds of the present generation.

It’s not that I am anti technology or anti dating, but what is the most important for me is the purity of soul and heart.

’Dating’, the gen-next name for a relationship has modified the meanings of love to the masses. People getting committed and then single and then committed is a very general notion but somewhere it is killing the serenity and beauty of the true and heartfelt feelings in a relationship

Where in today’s time, an objection to the mingling of the opposite sex people with each other would be considered narrow mindedness, the ethics of a relationship say your partner is your soul, your inner strength and the passion to live. If we go by this, then why we do see committed or married people flirting around on networking, dating sites or on secret chat rooms.

A guy usually having tons of female friends succeeds to propose and get into a relationship easily. But that one girl who is a spec in the whole sand dune of girls around that guy is unaware of his flirtatious attitude. I do not blame it all on the male sex, it is quite common with the females as well and neither do I quote that it is every person who is of this nature. A true and a genuine lover would have all the love, affection n time for his/her partner, prioritize him/her over any one and would never hide any kind of friends or things from him. Loyalty is the word for it.

I’d like to end it by saying that technology is a boon and should be used for our benefits and not to fulfill our desires that destroy the belief in emotions, and relationships.

I ask you people if I have been forced to write on this topic and authenticity of the relationships today, isn’t this a common scenario….???

Tags: Chatting, Dating, Lifestyle, Love, Relationship, Young Generation