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Diwali - the festival of light, is round the corner and people are be busy shopping for clothes, sweets, candles and other puja materials at a feverish pace. But majority of these shopping lists also include crackers. Though more and more people are becoming aware about the hazards of fire crackers, there are a lot of people who are still ignorant about the dangerous effects of these crackers. Let’s try and analyze the ill-effects of fire crackers on our health and environment today.

Fire crackers are a major source of noise and air pollution. Sudden as well as continuous loud noise can have adverse effect on expectant mothers as well as the unborn child. Loud noise can disrupt sleep and lead to sleeplessness. Young children generally get scared by the high decibel noise. This can trigger of permanent feeling of fear and insecurity in them. The blasting sounds caused by fire crackers which send the decibel levels soaring instantaneously could cause permanent or temporary impairment to the ear drums. Moreover, the noise and dazzling light could cause optical as well as ENT - related problems.   These crackers are loaded with chemicals and heavy metallic compounds, which if inhaled can lead to asthmatic conditions, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and other respiratory health problems. Fireworks should be handled with utmost care.

Children should never be allowed to play with them without the assistance of adults. These crackers burn approximately at the same temperature as the match stick so if proper care is not taken, they can cause burns and other skin injuries.

Use crackers with precaution

Some precautions which should be taken while playing with firecrackers are:

• Light crackers in open spaces only.
• Wear cotton clothing while lighting fire crackers.
• Never wear synthetic or silk clothes as they catch fire instantly.
• Always wear close-fitting clothes of thick material instead of loose or flowing garments.
• Do not light any fire crackers in your own hand.
• Maintain a safe distance from the fire crackers.
• Avoid bending over them.
• Make sure you keep a tub of water handy while lighting fire crackers.
• In case of burns, hold the part affected under cold running water and take the patient to the hospital immediately.
• Flying fireworks - rockets, missiles, etc. should always be lighted in open grounds pointing straight up.

Enjoy cracking but buy only legally manufactured firecrackers.

Let’s pledge that we will all try and contribute towards a healthier and cleaner Diwali this time. Diwali is a festival of lights. Let’s all celebrate it by lighting more and more lamps and candles and lesser crackers to prevent converting it into tragedy for someone even by mistake.

Tags: allergic rhinitis, asthmatic conditions, bronchitis, Candles, Clothes, Crackers, Diwali, Festival, Festival of Lights, Fireworks, Health Problems, Lights, Noise, People, Shopping, Sweets

People say: “The India of the 21st Century is really different from the India of the 20th Century”.  Fair enough. If you see the lifestyle in any metro city then you must say that India has changed, but after seeing a few facts I always ask one question to myself: “Where are we leading?”

Being an Indian I always feel pride with the growth of the country. Whenever I hear the news of new developments I always feel proud of my country. I stay in New Delhi, the capital of India and I usually see the huge shopping malls and buildings in Delhi. When I see the multi storied building I really feel that India is truly becoming the global leader of the world.

If I go to watch any movie in a multiplex I really amaze that these types of multiplexes are no where a few days back, that means we are leading towards an entertaining era too. If I go to some IT office then too I feel proud of the growth of my country.

Now let me explain an incident which I myself faced a few days back. I was going to my native place in Bihar by the train Brahmputra Mail (4056). My tour was not planned, I make the plan immediately and any how I managed the ticket, while it was a hectic schedule. The train was supposed to leave from Delhi Station at 11:30 Pm and I reached the station at 11 PM.

There was no security arrangement outside the station though a few days back there was a few incident of bomb blast in the capital. There are around thousands of people standing on the platform and waiting for the bogies to arrive, so that they can arrange their luggage’s and be relax.

While, it was 11:20 PM, there are a few bogies placed on the platform, but no one was clear with the status of those bogies. The announcer at the station was announcing that the train will depart at the right time, and I was surprised to see that no one is sure where is the train?

Finally the bogies arrived at 11:50 PM and when it arrived people started going here and there. Especially the guys with small-small children’s and with lots of luggages were going here and there. I was shocked with the scene and I asked a few TT’s standing there about my coach and the response was in fact a shame. They are on duty, but they are not at all aware from the status of the bogies. They said that wait for the chart and you will get the information. The time was 11:59 PM and I was not sure when the chart will be placed and when the train will move.

The problem is not with my position, as I was alone and the luggage’s which I was carrying are too small, but I was worried with my co-passenger’s problem. Once again the thought came in my mind: “Where are we leading?”

Does all the facilities are available for Airports or to the metro stations only? No one is responsible for a train which is going towards the North East region of India from the capital? Who is responsible for the panic which normal people face daily? Where is our honorable Railway Minister, who acclaimed that he made the railways as the profit earning unit? Does announcing the new trains is the only solution, or we would require maintaining the services too? Who will reply to these queries of mine?

Tags: Airports, India, Indian Railways, Metro Stations, People, Railway Minister, Railways, Trains

When I graduated from my engineering college, I had a strong desire to pursue further studies like a management degree. But immediately after my college got over, I got a job offer from a leading IT company. I was in a dilemma since both the paths were alluring. I discussed my situation with some friends and they suggested that I should do a distance learning course from a renowned institution.

According to them, this would not hinder my job prospects and at the same time allow me to fulfill my aspiration of MBA. The idea was very appealing and I applied to Symbiosis school of management. Unfortunately, I could not complete my course and had to drop out of it mid-way. The mounting pressure of a new job (that too of a software engineer) and the heaps of weekly assignments was taking toll both on my performance at work and my health. So personally distance learning didn’t prove fruitful for me. But this does not mean that it is not a good option for working people. As every coin has two sides, even distance learning has its pros and cons.

Advantages:

It does not require commuting: You can save on a lot of time, money and energy by cutting down on travel.  The time saved can be judiciously used for personal and professional life.

You can work at your own convenience: Since all the classes are asynchronous, you have the liberty to review your assignments or do your homework during off-hours or at home.

You have the freedom of living anywhere you like: All you might require is an internet connection or a computer, and you can do your correspondence course from anywhere in the world.  This provides a lot of flexibility to professionals, especially if they have a travelling job.

It’s a self paced learning: Not everyone is born a genius. Some of us might take longer to grasp some concepts as compared to others. In case of distance learning you have the advantage of learning and understanding at your own pace. This reduces unnecessary stress and increases satisfaction.

It’s easily accessible to all: Online classes address physical accessibility issues that some people with limited mobility encounter when taking traditional classes. You don’t have to worry about gaining access to a classroom or sitting on uncomfortable desks. Instead, you can use your comfortable furniture in your home while enjoying free movement and a chance to further your education.

Disadvantages:

You have to juggle between job and studies: Distance learning is only fruitful if you can manage both your job and studies with equal sincerity. You have to put in a lot of efforts at both fronts. If you falter at ant one front, it is bound to have negative repercussions.

It does not offer immediate feedback: In a traditional classroom setting, your performance can be immediately assessed through questions and informal testing. With distance learning, you have to wait for feedback until the instructor has reviewed their work and responded to it.

It may not be acknowledged by all employers: Till now, all leading companies show preference for candidates who have done a regular course. The job prospects might not be as bright with a correspondence course as otherwise. You might even have to compromise on the pay-package in some situations.

It doesn’t help in building oral communication skills: You do not get the opportunity to interact with teachers and other students on a personal basis. This inhibits the building of verbal skills which is an essential trait when you go for interviews.

It leads to social isolation: Most often you’ll be studying alone. Distance learners may feel isolated or miss that social physical interaction that comes with attending a traditional classroom. However this impersonality has been lessening with advances and use of communication technologies such as bulletin boards, threaded discussions, chats, email and conferencing.

Tags: Advantages of Distance Learning, Correspondance Course, Disadvantages of Distance Learning, Distance Education, Distance Learning, Education, Literature, People, Society

Are you afraid of ghosts? Does the thought of witches haunt you at night? If the answer is yes, have you ever questioned yourself about why such thoughts disturb you? The answer is simple. It’s the fear of the unknown which bothers us so much that we start panicking even at the thought of it. Nobody has ever seen ghosts (at least no one has given an unequivocal first hand report till now), they have just originated out of the numerous stories we all have heard since childhood. And since it is something we haven’t seen, it’s easier to get scared by them.

And it’s not only ghosts people are afraid of. It can be anything which is unknown. Human psyche is such that we need to be sure of the thing, the person, the place, the situation we are going to face. When we are educated about the object in front of us we feel confident in tackling it. There are very few people in this world who would dare to jump into the world of unknown and not get jitters.

I was going to get married to a stranger who was working in USA. I had to make up my mind to agree to this commitment knowing that I would have to live there with just my husband, sans family or friends. I was scared. I had a lot of apprehensions. USA was not my land. There was no family there. There weren’t any friends either. I was born and brought up in India and was so comfortable here because I could relate to it in numerous ways. The thought of living in an alien land sent shivers down my spine. Then, very calmly and understandingly my would-be-husband talked me out of my fears. He made me realize that it just the unknown I was being scared of. Once I got acquainted with the place and the people, I would get as comfortable there as I was in my motherland. He had also gone to USA for studies and didn’t know anyone there. The decision then was entirely up to him. Did he want to subjugate his desire of studying in one of the best universities of the world and stay back in India or did he want to fight against his fear of the unknown, plunge into the new world and wade his way through whatever life had to offer. He assured me that he made a decision he was proud of and that I should also think wisely before regretting the choice I made. Though my mind was still juggling between yes or no, my heart told me to accept the offer. And today, I am thankful to my husband to have helped me look beyond the clouds of doubt. Today, I feel very fortunate to have had the best of both worlds.

Each one of us faces such situations in life where we have to take decisions without knowing what to expect in return.  We can either choose to be the frog of the well or leap outside the well into the ocean of opportunities that might be lost due to this fear of the indefinite, the unidentified. The ultimate decision is yours. Before rebuffing something just ask yourself if the plunge for the unknown would be worth your effort and then just go for it at the slightest affirmative inclination of your mind and heart.

Tags: childhood, Fear, Ghosts, Health, Night, People, Witches

Many times in our life we should have to refuse some situations but because of various reasons and weakness in our personality we are unable to say a NO which gives rise to future difficulties. You might be feeling shy, afraid or ashamed of saying NO or you might not want to hurt the feelings on the other person but a NO secures our future and is a need of the moment, then How to tackle this NO?

Think before giving an answer to the person. Ask yourself if there might be any circumstances that could make you take that proposition. Make the things clear while saying a NO. Behave as friendly as possible. You can use sentences like –“If only you didn’t live that far…” or “The thing is I’m not feeling well now”.

Words used by you while explaining your NO can make a grate change on the reaction of the concerned person. Be positive in your conversation. Use “I feel” instead of “You make me feel”. There is no need for the other party to feel guilty. Show and tell what you like about him or her.

Refuse straightly but be elegant while speaking. Make it clear that the other isn’t for you, don’t give desert hope. But in case a Yes is possible but you have doubts then you can give some hope after a clear explanation of your doubts and the situation but the next step will have to be yours.

In case the person wants to push you in any threatening situation then forget your elegance. Be firm in saying a strict NO. If anyone makes you feel uncomfortable, forget your manners and set boundaries strictly otherwise you will have to pay in future.

It is always better to think before acting instead of regretting in future. Learn from your past experience. NO is a better option than to regret.

Tags: Guilty, No, People, Reasons, Society, Weakness

Many times we have to deal with difficult people in our workplace or even in family. Conflictions in mind always occur between people. Views on same situation differ from person to person. We are humans and we have emotions and ego. When something like this occurs, it bothers everyone. How you handle those people who oppose your ideas? How you deal with them to maintain peace and harmony?

Here are some 10 ideas to Deal with Difficult People and situations:

1. Wait before responding: The opposing situations or incidents can make you emotionally charged and during this condition your response will only add oil to the fire. Although the opposing person triggers a response from your side but just wait to cool yourself and think before going. When we react instantly without thinking, we are actually giving them what they want. Avoid it.
2. Ask yourself: Before responding to any situation, ask yourself two questions, “what is the worst thing that can result If I do not respond?“ and “what is the worst thing that can result If I do respond?” You will view the whole scenario in the answers of these two questions and find that nothing good will come out of reacting. It will create nuisance and a total waste of energy.
3. Forgive: Forgiveness is the biggest solution. When you forgive the concerned person, you will find that the situation is over and the chapter of hatred is finished in your mind. Life becomes again on an easy going way.
4. Avoid talking about it: People used to keep talking about your conflicting situations of life and you have to repeat the story again and again in front of all expressing your hatred towards that. Do not waste your energy on repeating the story. It will only disturb you and add more hate in your mind towards it. Avoid talking about it again and again.
5. Eliminate Negative People: Try to avoid negative people in your life. Unhappy people will want to bring you down emotionally, so that they are not down there alone. Squeeze any interaction with them. Try to be surrounded by people who have the qualities you admire: optimistic, peaceful and encouraging people.
6. Learn from them: Negative situations give some lessons to our life. Learn from them. Do not let them waste if they occur. Learn how to deal if this kind of situation occurs again in life.
7. Observe yourself: Observe your thoughts, your views and the situation. It will keep you away from emotions. Instead of identifying with the emotions and letting them consume us, we observe them with clarity and detachment. When you find yourself identifying with emotions and thoughts, bring your focus on your breathe.
8. Relax your body: Try any workout or go for a swimming or a run to relax your body to release the negative and excess energy in us. Physical exercise is a good mean to clear your mind.
9. Write instead of speaking: If you feel negative of some people or feeling disturbed of any opposing situation, express your feeling on paper. Write down all your views and feelings on it till the last bit of the situation remains in your heart and mind. Pour all your anger and hate over the paper. Now roll the paper and throw it away. You will feel better and relaxed. Try!
10. Go for light music: Music is a good remedy to wash out negative thoughts in your mind and give a soothing effect. Go for a light and some good music which you like. It will help you.

These are my points and my experience only. How you people cool down yourself in opposing situations of life? Any other good idea??

Tags: Ask, Difficult Situations, Forgive, Life, Light Music, Negative People, People, Wait

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

UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) reports from all over the globe are giving rise to a big debate across the world. Time to time there comes lots of news claiming a view of UFO or aliens by people. Do UFOs and Aliens really come on or around Earth?

From past a few months, there came lots of news of reporting UFOs and it seems that aliens have no work other than coming for a stroll on Earth!

Most of the reports were proved false as it was found that people declare any shining and flying objects in sky as UFO.

Lots of UFO reports were flooded from British countries this summer. If plotted on a map of Britain, the sightings can be seen to stretch from Liverpool to Dover and from Llanelli to Derby.

Experts don’t have any exact explanation behind this news but it was seen that the number of suspected flying saucers has hit unusual highs this summer.

Usually a ‘glowing’ disc spotted above the M5 motorway was seen by people as mysterious flying objects.

Different experts have different views over the subject. An expert, Malcolm Robinson said “Something very bizarre is happening in the skies over the UK.”

The founder member of Strange Phenomena Investigations, added, “There has been an unusual number of sightings recently.”

Some other experts suggested that it could be linked to global warming and craft from outer space are appearing because they are concerned about what man is doing to this planet.

People claim that they have seen UFO. However, there is no proof of their faith. Royal Navy aircraft engineer Michael Madden believes that he watched the UFO for three minutes before it ‘zoomed off’ near Weston-super-Mare in Somerset.

Earlier, in Basingstoke, witnesses claimed to have seen a fleet of 12 orange objects in the night sky for half an hour and in St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan a police helicopter crew gave chase to another UFO after it appeared to veer at speed towards their aircraft.

As soon as people reports about the UFOs or aliens, experts reach the spot to find the truth but many times it was found illusion. Even people sometimes saw moon and thinks it as a UFO. One such incident happened when a UFO spotter was left red-faced after his report of a mysterious flying saucer in South Wales turned out to be nothing more other-worldly than the moon.

Not only in British countries but UFOs were reported from other countries also. Still the debate is going on. Till now there is no solid evidence of any UFO on or around Earth but experts do believe that UFO comes to Earth and there is another world of Aliens.

Tags: Aliens, People, UFO, UFO and Aliens, World

A new study by Lynn of Ulster University revealed that intelligence and atheism are linked together and people with higher intelligence quotients are less likely to believe in God as they have logical mind.

A team of Researchers, led by Professor Richard conducted a survey of Royal Society fellows which found that only 3.3 per cent believed in God — at a time when 68.5 per cent of the general British population described themselves as “believers”.

Researchers say that university academics are less likely to believe in God than almost anyone else.

“Why should fewer academics believe in God than the general population? I believe it is simply a matter of the IQ. Academics have higher IQs than the general population. Several Gallup poll studies of the general population have shown that those with higher IQs tend not to believe in God,” leading British newspaper The Daily Telegraph quoted Prof Lynn as saying.

According to Prof Lynn, most primary school children believed in God, but as they entered adolescence — and their intelligence increased — a large number of them started to have doubts.

Moreover, he said that religious belief had declined across 137 developed nations in the 20th century at the same time as people became more intelligent.

The study results published in the latest edition of the Intelligence journal also got criticized by some of the people. Prof Gordon Lynch of Birkbeck College, London, said it failed to take account of a complex range of social, economic and historical factors.

“Linking religious belief and intelligence in this way could reflect a dangerous trend, developing a simplistic characterization of religion as primitive,” he said.

Hence it is doubtful to say whether intelligent people are less likely to believe in god or not but the study says that most of intelligent are like that. However, exceptions are always there.

Tags: God, Intelligence, People, Society