Today there was a show on NDTV that talked of regulating Blogs. It was anchored by Barkha Dutt and had some vivid bloggers like Jhoomur Bose on it. It was quite an interesting discussion and it discussed what blogs are leading to.

well, i firmly believe that blogs can only be self regulated. I blog because i want to. I read other peoples blogs because I want to do so. I comment if i feel like. 90 % of the blogs that i read I ignore. Only those bloggers who think alike go into my friends list. So if anyone can regulate my blog then its me and only me.

Blogs give me an opportunity to write and read what i want.

I like Blogs more than TV as it gives me choice. TV is boring. Even if i dont care who abused whom in Sydney, these guys never stop from letting me know. We know that abuses are routine in India, And this guy must have done so. But hypocrites that we are, we are more happy in beating the aussies in abuses as we know that we can not do so in cricket. as for media, i have heard at least one top editor of a top hindi channel being given choicest of the abuses by a high profile politician in a CD expose that was not published, thanks to a top SC judge. We Indians are the worst hypocrites in the world.

We all think of sex all the time. But we do not want to admit. We are amongst one of the worst lechers, molesters and people who pass lewd comments on women. And our thoughts are worse. Yet we always love to talk of our great culture and conservatisim. All our top leaders have been womenisers of the worst kind. But we talk more about the Clintons and the Brunis then our very own casanovas.

when will we be what we re.

SMS Smileys

I must confess that I wake up everyday with a pleasant smile. And I owe my smile to my friends and to technology. Some of my friends have made it a habit to send me a SMS Good Morning Wish with something that is very thoughtful and pleasing. Then there are some friends who send me some SMS Jokes which shows how creative people can be. All in all, I do end up in a smile with good thoughts. Definitely better than switching on the TV or flipping through the morning newspaper to be told of some more miserable stories of killings, bandhs or looting. So thanks to a few friends, technology and those 160 characters that make up a SMS, I am what I am.

I am sure most people get these, and I am so influenced by some of them that I would share some of them with readers today. The best ones that I have got in the last few weeks are infact some terrific one liners with which you can steal the show in a conversation.

1. Work is fine if it doesn't take too much of your time.

2. When everything comes in your way you're in the wrong lane.

3. Someday is not a day of the week.

4. Born free, taxed to death.

5. The light at the end of the tunnel may be an incoming train.

6. I say no to alcohol, it just doesn't listen.

7. Marriage is one of the chief causes of divorce.

8. Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.

9. Life is unsure; always eat your dessert first.

10. Smile, it makes people wonder what you are thinking.

11. If you keep your feet firmly on the ground, you'll have trouble putting on your pants.

12. It's not hard to meet expenses, they are everywhere.

13. I love being a writer... what I can't stand is the paperwork.

14. A printer consists of 3 main parts: the case, the jammed paper tray and the blinking red light.

15. The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was the genius.

16. The trouble with being punctual is that no one is there to appreciate it.

17. In a country of free speech, why are there phone bills?

18. If you cannot change your mind, are you sure you have one?

19. Beat the 5 O'clock rush, leave work at noon!

20. If you can't convince them, confuse them.

21.  It's not the fall that kills you. It's the sudden stop at the end.

22.  I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

23.  Hot glass looks same as cold glass. - Cunino's Law of Burnt Fingers

24. The cigarette does the smoking you are just the sucker.

Then there is a friend of mine who sends me some quotes of Chanakya, the famous Indian politician, strategist and writer who lived from 350 BC to 275 BC. His quotes are real gems and are still relevant. I will share some of them with readers today.

1. "Even if a snake is not poisonous, it should pretend to be venomous."

2. "The biggest guru-mantra is: Never share your secrets with anybody.! It will destroy you."

3. "There is some self-interest behind every friendship. There is no Friendship without self-interests. This is a bitter truth."

4. "Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions - Why am I doing it, What the results might be and Will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead."

5. "As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."

6. "Once you start working on something, don't be afraid of failure and don't abandon it. People who work sincerely are the happiest."

7. "The fragrance of flowers spreads only in the direction of the wind. But the goodness of a person spreads in all direction."

8. "A man is great by deeds, not by birth."

9. "Treat your kid like a darling for the first five years. For the next five years, scold them. By the time they turn sixteen, treat them like a friend. Your grown up children are your best friends."

10. "Books are as useful to a stupid person as a mirror is useful to a blind person."

11. "Education is the best friend. An educated person is respected everywhere. Education beats the beauty and the youth."

Of course the mobile phone has brought in a revolution with the SMS being a novel way to connect and to know people. The things that you can say on a SMS can never be told on the face of a person. They are the best things to develop friendships and relationships. Of course, there are some other things that we need to know about our mobile phones. For the benefit of readers, I will share some cool tips today, which can make using a mobile phone a more enriching experience. There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival.

The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobiles is 112. If you find yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.

Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote keys? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone. If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a   foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. It saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors.

The next tip is about the hidden battery power of your cell phone. Imagine your cell battery is very low, you are expecting an important call and you don't have a charger. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve battery. To activate, press the keys *3370#. Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.

The last tip is to disable a STOLEN mobile phone? To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone:
* # 0 6 #. A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number, known as IMEI number, is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either.
If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

I am sure these simple tips and the SMS gems given above will come handy to all. Or at least bring a SMILE. Keep SMSing and Smiling.

THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOUR CELLPHONE COULD DO

There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies.

Your mobile phone can actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do with it: -

1

EMERGENCY

* The Emergency Number worldwide for  **Mobile** is 112 .....* If you find yourself out of coverage area of your mobile network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to
establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112 can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. **Try it out.**

2

Have you locked your keys in the car? Does you car have remote keys?

This may come in handy someday. Good reason to own a cell phone:

If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their cell phone from your cell phone.

Hold your cell phone about a   foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other "remote" for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).

Editor's Note: *It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!"*  

3

Hidden Battery power

Imagine your cell battery is very low, you are expecting an important call and you don't have a charger. Nokia instrument comes with a reserve battery. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.

AND

4

How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?


To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone:

* # 0 6 #

A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless.

You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it
either.

If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.

As I muse this week, and do some reading, I came across an interesting fact about Eagles, the other day. I mean Eagles, the birds and not the music group. Eagles enjoy the longest life expectancy amongst all birds. They can normally live up to 70 years. However, they don’t have a very easy life as they have to make a very critical decision at the age of 40. When Eagles turn 40, their claws weaken and it becomes very hard for them to catch preys. Their beaks become very long and get curved and almost touches their chest. Their wings also become very heavy due to thick and long feathers. This results in a difficult situation for the Eagles as it becomes difficult to fly, catch preys and survive. The beaks hurt the chest also and survival becomes a challenge.

            At this stage, the Eagles have only two choices. One is to die and the other is to undergo a painful transformation which requires 150 days of perseverance and steadfastness. They have to fly to the top of the mountain, build their home there and rest. In order to relieve themselves of the pain being caused by their beaks, the Eagles hit their beaks against the rocks till they fall off. Then they wait patiently for the new beaks to grow. Once the new beaks grow, they use them to pull out their nails. With their newly grown nails, they will clean off their old feathers. 5 months later, the Eagles will be ready to fly again with their new feathers. Thus they renew their strength to live for another 30 years!

"If People
talk
behind
your
back
what
does
that
mean
????



Simple


it
means
YOU
ARE
TWO
STEPS
AHEAD
of
them"

Good Night

The inevitable truth of life.....

"Everyone is going to hurt you sooner or later...

You Just have to realise who is worth the pain..."

Good Morning to all

These days, at times when I get SMS from my friends, i feel like throwing the cell phone out of the window. SMS Mania has made people come up with crazy stuff. Witness some of it..

1. Hlo hw r u?
I wouldnt even care to reply if my mood is bad

2. R u thr? Or worse still, R u t?
Whatever!

3. Hw is ur sis doin? Wat abt ur plns for d evng?
(Its not wat, its what. And 'd' for 'the'??!?!?!)

4. Dis is wat I mnt 2.
(Oh sure)

5. I wnt 2 go 2 d mall 2moro.
(You are truly a moron 2 times over)

6. Hy m8, hwz it goin? R u cumming to play l8r?
(M8??? Cumming?? Seriously??)

7. A lot f r membrs lyk 2 typ lyk dis.
(taken from a website. And yes, the sentence is horrendous!)

8. R u cuming nw?
(Oh yea, your texts really give me big big O's)

9. Wen Cn I C U Agn?
(I'd say, never.)

10. LtsGt2gthr 2mrw mrng 4 futbal.
(Futbal??!??!?!! Its FOOTBALL YOU FREAK!)

Oh my dear God can you believe that?! I personally think typing like that really messes your grammar (yeah its grammar and not grammer, bet 100s of you didnt know that!) and of course your spelling skills. Over time, you may even think there are the actual spellings! I read in newspaper once that kids these days, when short on time during paper, write answers in such language!!!

I understand that with 160 characters as limit for text messages, one is forced to write in abbreviated words if the message is too long. But still, I wouldnt do that. I'd rather write easily understandable words than wrte lyk dis. And when such words are used in e-mails, that really puts me off. I mean, e-mails dont have a word limit!! Write all you want! But in full words, that are easy and speak of you as a patient person, as someone who took time out to write a nice mail to you. I really do believe it shows your personality.

Oh c'mon, its not that hard is it? With the T9 feature on, its really easy :)

Mobile the Menace

            A few weeks back, I was visiting a friend of mine in the ICU of a renowned hospital in Delhi and suddenly people there were jolted out of their senses by a shrill ring that played out a raunchy tune — kaanta laga — and reverberated across the hall. This was followed by a loud polyphonic Boney M tune!!        Actually, this is not an isolated incident. The Mobile Menace has acquired mammoth proportions and it is everywhere, anywhere. — from seminars and restaurants to hospitals and condolence meetings. Worse are what the service providers call Hello Tunes – you call up someone to convey some serious news and you are greeted by the choicest of the love songs!!! These technological innovations – ring tones and hello tones – get on my nerves.

            It is so common during official meetings that despite repeated reminders to put cell phones on silent mode, rings keep on going on ranging from loud to raunchy tunes and most such users take ages to find the talk button and then talk so loudly as if they were addressing a gathering of a thousand people. The meetings are visibly disturbed and embarrassed. It seems most such people acquire expensive gadgets which they don’t even know how to operate. Most people acquire these gadgets for showing off rather than actual use.

Another irritant in official meetings is people SMSing away to glory rather than listening to what is been discussed. Officials also face the problem of everyone calling on mobiles rather than on the Office land line even during office hours for all kinds of reasons. As far as possible, if it is not an emergency, officials should be called on their land line numbers rather than mobile numbers. Moreover, calling on mobile phone should be done only when the concerned person has given you his number and expects that you can call on his mobile. Most mobile users are yet to imbibe the etiquette of using this new technology. People are yet to realise that the mobile should be used without disturbing others. Lack of mobile etiquette is also putting other people's life at risk. Many people talk on their mobile phones while driving. This is very dangerous. The menace has spread so fast that a report says that penalty collection by the Ahmedabad police from those talking on phones while driving has jumped 506 per cent this year over 2003.

It is important that we all use our mobile phones in a responsible manner and to be considerate and aware of situations where using their mobile phone might annoy others. There are simple manners and courtesies that should be observed while using Cell Phones.

1. When in doubt, always go out: When possible go outside or to another room to make your call if your call might disturb others. Also, features such as text messaging answering services, call diversion and vibration alert can be used to receive important calls without disturbing others.

2. If you can’t turn it off, use silent mode: If you need to keep your phone on for important calls, then turn it to silent or vibrate mode. It’s the ring of a mobile phone in inappropriate places and times such as at meetings, in performances or in restaurants which annoys people the most.

3. When required turn your phone off and check it’s off: There are some places where people should never talk on a mobile phone or send text messages and where the ringing of a mobile phone or message alert is considered highly unacceptable, such as: movies, stage shows, weddings, funerals, concerts, meetings, speeches, classrooms and lectures. In these cases, turn your phone off and remember to check it’s off before you enter the venue. You can always check your missed calls and text messages afterwards.

4. Keep your conversations private: People’s sense of personal space varies in each situation. Making a call in a busy place may be okay, but talking loudly in a confined space like a lift or on a train tends to infringe on others personal space. Be aware of where you are and who you are with and what others are doing before deciding to make or accept a call. In some situations it might be better to send a text message.

5. Speak softly: Mobile phones have very sensitive microphones that can pick even the softest voice, so there is no need to shout. If you are having trouble hearing the other caller, check that you have the volume on your phone set high enough.

6. You don’t always have to answer- use your messaging service: It’s a natural reflex to answer your phone if it rings, however, if you forget to put your phone on silent or vibrate mode and it rings at an inappropriate moment, let it be a missed call so that you can call later or use auto SMS reply service.

7. Talk to the one you’re with: If you receive a call during a conversation, send the call to your voicemail or answering service. Your first priority should be to the person you are with. However, if you are expecting an important call let the person you’re with know before the call arrives and excuse yourself before accepting the call.

8. Don’t send inappropriate messages: Messaging is a great way to communicate, but don’t send offensive or threatening text, voice, picture or any other sort of message, because it is a criminal offence to use a mobile phone to menace or harass someone. Also receivers can save messages and easily identify you as the sender. Avoid sending offensive jokes to people you are not very friendly with and just know as an acquaintance.

9. Respect others' privacy when using in-phone cameras: In-phone cameras shouldn’t be used anywhere a normal camera would be considered inappropriate, such as in change rooms or toilets. You should ask for permission before you take someone’s picture. Also bear in mind that some venues do not allow the use of cameras and may refuse entry to anyone with one.

10. Ban the ring: not the phone: Wherever conversations are normally acceptable, venues can help by asking people to turn their phones to silent or vibrate mode rather than turning it off. This approach will help with compliance, especially for people who need their phone for important calls. Venues can also assist by reminding people to set their phones to silent mode, before they enter.

It is felt that following these simple mobile manners can help us take care of the menace, a mobile is slowly becoming. Wish the readers a very best in using technology for their benefit as also ensuring to not to disturb others.

I really do not know how many of us  love drinking.
     But for those who do...here are some lovely quotes:
 
 
     The Value of a Drink
 
     Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink
 
     I feel shame Then I look into the glass and think
 
     about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes
 
     and dreams .. If I didn't drink this wine, they might be out
 
     of work and their dreams would be shattered.
 
     Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their
 
     dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."
 
     ~ Jack Handy
 
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
     "I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they
 
     wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're
 
     going to feel all day. "
 
     ~Frank Sinatra
 
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
     "When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."
 
     ~ Henny Youngman
 
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
     "24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not"
 
     ~ Stephen Wright
 
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
     "When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk,
 
     we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.
 
     When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let's all
 
     get drunk and go to heaven!"
 
     ~ Brian O'Rourke
 
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
     "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."
 
     ~ Benjamin Franklin
 
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
     "Without question, the greatest invention in the
 
     history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the
 
     wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does
 
     not go nearly as well with pizza."
 
     ~ Dave Barry
 
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
     To some it's a six-pack, to me it's a Support Group. Salvation in a can!
 
     ~ Dave Howell
 
     ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
     And saving the best for last, here is the Buffalo Theory as explained by a friend of mine.
 
     Here's how it went:
 
     "Well ya see, Norm, it's like this... A herd of buffalo can only move as
     fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the
     slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural
     selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and
     health of
 
     the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest
     members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as
 
     the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills
     brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells
 
     first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker
     brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That's
     why you always feel smarter after a few beers."
 
     =======================================
 
 
     WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are
     tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
 
     WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically
     converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
 
     WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends
     over and over again that you love them.
 
     WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy.
 
     WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.
 
     WARNING: The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a
     retard.
 
     WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are
     laughing WITH you.
 
     p.s. if I missed any beer drinkers on the distribution list, my apologies,
     I haven't had a drink today, so my weaker brain cells are still in
     control..
 
 

Lessons on Life


There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge
things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of  promise.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons  are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.


Moral:

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don't  judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches
and better times are sure to come some time or later.