Yet Another Blast in India

Yet another blast in Indian commercial city

Today, in a very shocking incident terrorist attacked Indian commercial capital Mumbai. This terrorist attack totally took Mumbai hostage as terrorists attacked multiple places including Taj Hotel, Oberoi Hotel, Metro theatre, Central Railway station, Bombay Hospital etc. These attacks started around 10:05 PM. So far there are reports of nine terrorist attacks where terrorists opened fire on people and also reports of 8 blasts. There are also reports of death of 80 people in these attacks and more than 250 are injured. There is also report of death of 9 police men including one ACP and ATS chief Hemant Karkare. Police encounters are currently continuing at multiple places. There are total five explosions of hand grenades in Taj Hotel. There are also estimates that total numbers of terrorists were 10-12. Terrorists used hand grenades and AK47 for carrying out these attacks. Police has killed two terrorists and captured 7 terrorists alive. Terrorists were wearing army/police like uniform. Terrorists also have control of police jeeps. Police has also defused three bombs from three different places. There are also unconfirmed reports that terrorists have made hostage few US and UK citizens. Terrorists look to be in total control of two major hotels of Mumbai Taj and Oberoi. New terrorist organisation Deccan Mujahidin has taken responsibility of this attack. Central government has rushed 200 NSG commandos, Navy commandos and one army battalion to Mumbai. These are worst kind of attacks in Indian history which were earlier unknown to India. These attacks put question mark on the preparedness of Indian security forces and failure of our governments. Government has asked people to stay inside their homes because there could be some terrorists free on road.


Today, it looks that terrorists have took control of Indian commercial capital Mumbai. Terrorists have control of major hotels like Taj and Oberoi and moving here and there in police jeeps firing on people. So far there are reports of 80 people killed in these attacks and 250 people being injured. There are estimates that numbers of these terrorists could be more than 10. 7 police men including one ASP has also died in these blasts. There is no news about these terrorists and their group so far.

Child's......

நட்புக்கு கூட கற்புகள் உண்டு நல்லா தெரிஞ்சுக்கடா!

ஒன்பதரை மணி காலேஜிக்கு
ஒவ்வொருத்தனா கெளம்பும் போது
ஒருத்தன் மட்டும் தூங்கிகிட்டிருப்பான்
ஒன்பது இருபது ஆகுற வரைக்கும்...

அடிச்சி புடிச்சி கெளம்புறப்போ
அரை குறையா குளிச்சதுண்டு
பத்து நிமிஷ பந்தயத்துல
பட படன்னு சாப்டதுண்டு

பதட்டதோட சாப்பிட்டாலும்
பந்தயத்துல தோத்ததில்ல,
லேட்டா வர்ற நண்பனுக்கு
பார்சல் மட்டும் மறந்ததில்ல!

விறுவிறுன்னு நடந்து வந்து
காலேஜ் Gate நெருங்குறப்போ
'வெறுப்படிக்கிதுடா மச்சான்'னு
ஒருத்தன் பொலம்பி தொலச்சாக்கா,
வேற எதுவும் யோசிக்காம
வேகவேகமா திரும்பிடுவோம்
வெட்டியா ரூம்ல அரட்டை அடிக்க,
இல்ல 'வெற்றி' தியேட்டர்ல படம் பாக்க!

'கஷ்டப்பட்டு' காலேஜிக்கு போனா
கடங்கார professor கழுத்தறுப்பான்...
assignment எழுதாத பாவத்துக்கு
நாள் முழுக்க நிக்கவச்சி தாக்கறுப்பான்!

கேலி கிண்டல் பஞ்சமில்ல,
கூத்து கும்மாள குறையுமில்ல,
எல்லாருக்கும் சேத்துதான் punishmentன்னா
H.O.Dய கூட விட்டதில்ல!

ஈ அடிச்சான் காபி இந்தபக்கம்னா
அத அடிப்பான் காபி அந்தபக்கம்...
ஒருத்தன் மட்டும் படிச்சிட்டு வந்து
ஒன்பதுபேர் பாஸ் ஆனதுண்டு!

பசியில யாரும் தவிச்சதில்ல
காரணம் - தவிக்க விட்டதில்ல...
டீக்கடையில கடன்வச்சி குடிச்சாலும்
சரக்கடிக்க பஞ்சமே வந்ததில்ல!

அம்மா ஆசையா போட்ட செயினும்
மாமா முறையா போட்ட மோதிரமும்
fees கட்ட முடியாத நண்பனுக்காக
அடகு கடை படியேற அழுததில்ல ...

சட்டைய மாத்தி போட்டுக்குவோம்
சாதி சமயம் பாத்ததில்ல,
மூஞ்சிமேல காலபோட்டு தூங்கினாலும்
முகவரி என்னன்னு கேட்டதில்ல!

படிச்சாலும் படிக்கலன்னாலும்
பிரிச்சி வச்சி பாத்ததில்ல...
அரியர்ஸ் வெச்சாலும் வெக்கலன்னாலும்
அந்தஸ்த்து பாத்த ஞாபகமில்ல!

வேல தேடி அலையுறப்போ
வேதனைய பாத்துப்புட்டோம்
'வெட்டி ஆபிஸர்'னு நெஜமாவே
மாறி மாறி சிரிச்சிகிட்டோம்!

ஒருத்தன் மட்டும் சம்பாதிக்க ஆரம்பிச்சு
ஒன்பது பேரும் உக்காந்து சாப்பிட்டப்போ
மனசு கட்டபொம்மனா நண்பனுக்கு நன்றி சொல்ல
கண்ணு எட்டப்பனா கண்ணீர் சிந்தி காட்டி குடுக்கும்...
பக்குவமா இத கண்டும் காணாம
நண்பன் தட்டி கொடுக்க நெனைக்கிறப்போ
'சாப்பாட்ல காரம்டா மச்சான்'னு
சமாளிச்சி எழுந்து போவோம்...

நாட்கள் நகர,
வருஷங்கள் ஓடுது,
எப்போதாவது மட்டுந்தான் இ-மெயிலும் வருகுது
"Hi da machan... how are you?" வுன்னு...

தங்கச்சி கல்யாணம்,
தம்பி காலேஜி,
அக்காவோட சீமந்தம்,
அம்மாவோட ஆஸ்த்துமா,
personal loan interest,
housing loan EMI,
share market சருக்கல்,
appraisal டென்ஷன்,
இந்த கொடுமையெல்லாம் பத்தாம
'இன்னிக்காவது பேச மாட்டாளா?' ன்னு
இஞ்சிமறப்பா போல ஒரு காதல்,
.
.
.
எப்படியோ வாழ்க்க ஓடுது ஏடாகூடமா,
நேரம் பாக்க நேரமில்ல போதாகாலமா!

இ-மெயில் இருந்தாலும்
இண்டர்னெட் இருந்தாலும்
கம்பெனியில ஓசி phone இருந்தாலும்
கையில calling card இருந்தாலும்
நேரம் மட்டும் கெடைக்கிறதில்ல
நண்பனோட குரல கேக்க
நெனச்சாலும் முடியறதில்ல
பழையபடி வாழ்ந்து பாக்க!

அலைபேசி இருந்தும் அழைக்க முடியாம போனாலும்
orkut இருந்தும் scrap பன்ன முடியாம போனாலும்
'available' ன்னு தெரிஞ்சும் chat பன்ன முடியாம போனாலும்
'ஏண்டா பேசல?' ன்னு கோச்சிக்க தெரியல..
இத பெரிய பிரச்சனையா யோசிக்கவும் முடியல!

கல்யாணத்துக்கு கூப்பிட்டு
வரமுடியாமா போனாலும்,
அம்மா தவறின சேதி கேட்டதும்
கூட்டமா வந்தெறங்கி,
தோள் குடுத்து தூக்கி நிறுத்தி
பால் எடுத்தவரை கூட இருந்து
சொல்லாம போக வேண்டிய இடத்துல
செதுக்கிவச்சிட்டு போன என் தோழர்கள்
தேசம் கடந்து போனாலும்
பாசம் மறந்து போகாது!
பேசக் கூட மறந்தாலும்
வாசம் மாறி போகாது!
வருஷம் பல கழிஞ்சாலும்
வரவேற்பு குறையாது!
வசதி வாய்ப்பு வந்தாலும்
'மாமா' 'மச்சான்' மாறாது!

Nice One

"மழையில் நனைந்துகொண்டே வீட்டுக்கு வந்தேன் 'குடை எடுத்துட்டுப் போக வேண்டியதுதானே' என்றான் அண்ணன் 'எங்கேயாச்சும் ஒதுங்கி நிக்கவேண்டியதுதானே' என்றாள் அக்கா 'சளி பிடிச்சுக்கிட்டு செலவு வைக்கப்போற பாரு' என்றார் அப்பா தன் முந்தானையால் என் தலையை துவட்டிக்கொண்டே திட்டினாள் அம்மா என்னையல்ல; மழையை!''

Tea - A Healthy Drink

The story of tea begins over four and a half thousand years ago. According to Chinese mythology, the Emperor, Shen Nung, scholar and herbalist, was sitting beneath a tree while his servant boiled drinking water. A leaf from the tree above dropped into the water and he decided to try the concoction. The pleasant aroma and refreshing taste enchanted him and soon everyone in the realm was drinking tea. Tea soon became renowned for its properties as a healthy, refreshing drink. Its soothing, healing and invigorating effects have been appreciated throughout the world for hundreds of years. Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world exceeded only by water. India is one of the most prolific tea drinking countries, after some south eastern countries like Japan, China.

There seems to be some debate by various lobbies regarding whether tea is good for one's health or does it end up harming us?

When tea harms

It is alleged that tea can actually decrease the amount of iron which is absorbed by the body. People who are habituated to drinking tea after meals, are the worst affected since tea consumed right after meals can indeed lead to the above allegation. Studies done on this hence advice people to avoid tea after meals and say it is not to be used as a digestive.

Like anything that's done in excess, too much tea also has negative effects on one's health. In other words excessive consumption of tea can over stimulate the nervous system, which is a fact. Too much tea can lead to restlessness lack of concentration.

On the same frame the other talked about ill effects of tea seem to be acidity and gas; although this is true but only in cases of strong tea, which is richly brewed and had with milk or lemon. Light green tea does not have this effect

Goodness in a cup of tea

It is truly believed that tea has many beneficial affects like an increase in concentration levels, good memory, alertness and stamina to work. It has the ability to shake us out of our afternoon lethargy! It is essential to remember nevertheless that moderation is in our best interest.
Tea also is very rich in antioxidants that clean the whole system and are responsible for the process of aging or the cholesterol deposits which cause the hardening of the arteries, skin pigmentation and also kidneys becoming weak..

Tea is said to be rich in fluorides which protect the gums and teeth and are also good for one's oral health. Another wonderful benefit is that tea is also a mood elevator.

Google SMS Search on 9-77-33-00000

- Power cut during a nail biting cricket match?
- New city, late night and you're out of cash with an upset tummy. Need to find an ATM, a doctor and a taxi service?
- Dread long queues at the railway reservation enquiry counter simply to confirm your seat or find the train information?


If you've been through any of above then we have a great friend for you - Google SMS Search (9-77-33-00000), which lets you find answers to these specific problems and a lot more questions on the go.

In the past, cricket scores and astrology updates on SMS brought a smile to a lot of us until seeing the premium charges associated with short code services. And this was after we had to remember a complicated set of prefixes for different types of information.

Understanding these woes, the SMS team at Google has come up with Google SMS Search. Now send all your queries to 9-77-33-00000 without paying any premium charges! SMS Search offers an easy-to-use way to type in free-form searches. No longer will your questions require complicated prefixes or a tight syntax. You can learn about the interesting features and try our interactive demo at http://www.google.co.in/sms.

Launched nationally, this service is available across all operators on both GSM and CDMA mobile phones. Give it a try by SMSing "help" to 9-77-33-00000 and don't forget to save the number of your newly found friend (Google SMS) in your phone book!

Windows Vista Audit Mode

Audit mode is a mode of Windows Setup that lets you bypass Windows Welcome so you can quickly access the desktop.

Audit mode is usually entered by running sysprep /audit command or using an answer file setting during unattended installation.

But if you install Windows Vista manually on a computer, you can also break into audit mode when the Windows Welcome screen appears by pressing CTRL+SHFT+F3.

This lets you get to the desktop quickly so you can add drivers, install applications, and do other stuff without having to go through all the steps of Windows Welcome.

Friends forever

Diet Mantras for Working People

Most working people have the same complaints these days - no time to eat , rushed office time , long office hours and inadvertent eating out leading to acidity , gas , bloating , nausea , and obesity. Many people woefully complain that they hardly eat and yet they are gaining weight. What could be going wrong? The problem is that the food, instead of energizing, is sapping them away of all the energies.

If you are a working man/woman, here are a few mantras for you that can help you stay healthy and feel energized:

Don't skip the most important meal of the day (breakfast)

Missing the most important meal of the day tends to set a trend for the rest of the day. People skip breakfast for various reasons; it could be due to eating late at night therefore they don't feel hungry in the morning; they have no time because they're running late or even that they believe that skipping breakfast will keep them slim. What ever the reason, the problems one faces are ten times worse. Out of the many reasons to eat breakfast in the morning, some are:

1. Eating breakfast first thing in the morning is very important for the brain and the body. For people on the go, a ready to eat cereal topped with fruits and yoghurt is one of the many easy options.
2. Breakfast is the first chance the body has to refuel its glucose levels (also known as blood sugar) after eight to 12 hours without a meal or snack.
3. Breakfast is also important for weight loss and management as it helps curb your hunger and prevent binge eating later in the day.

Eat at regular intervals

Our bodies need food (that equals energy), at regular intervals. Denying food to our bodies is like not greasing a piece of machinery, how will it thus function? Here is why meal timings are important:

1. The best way to avoid acidity, gas, bloating is to eat small meals several times a day. Frequent mini-meals supply a steady stream of insulin to preserve muscle, but less of an insulin release (and thus less fat gain) over 24 hours than if you ate three big squares.
2. Along with sleep and coffee, food has a huge impact on how energized you feel during the day. So keep handy some healthy snacks if you're going to have a late lunch/dinner and when you finally get to your meal, just eat a small potion instead of gouging on it.
3. Regularize your eating patterns so body knows there's steady supply of food, this in turn, will ensure that it doesn't store fat.

Pay attention towards healthy food options

When hunger strikes, you eat chocolates, chips or fried foods. All these are contributory factors towards obesity, constipation etc. Some things to keep in mind:

1. Read up on healthier options such as dry roasted nuts which taste great and yet pack 1/3^rd of your daily needed calories. Keep them with you when you're on the go or even in your office drawers.
2. Breakfast should consist of fruits and milk products e.g. papaya, apples, bananas, oranges, cottage cheese, yoghurt etc.
3. For lunch/ dinner, make sure there is a balance between carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Dals, vegetables and lean meats are a good option as well as non starched rice and wheat roti's etc.

Avoid Eating outside food

With a busy and long day at work and other commitments, we tend to take the easy way out by just grabbing some junk food. Here are a few suggestions -

1. Don't leave home with a satisfying breakfast under your belly.
2. Carry fruits and nuts with you, instead of cookies and chips.
3. Pack lunch as and when possible or get the famous dabbawallas to send you a home cooked meal.

Reduce intake of aerated and caffeinated drinks.

Feeling thirsty? With all the choices of many drinks we end up consuming lots of fizzy drinks thus feel no hunger. Fizzy drinks of any brand cause excessive bloating, palpitations, inability to concentrate and lead to reverse hypoglycemia. Here are a few suggestions -

1. Always keep water on your bedside and on your work stations.
2. Choose packaged coconut water, nimbu pani (lime drink), fruit juices or herbal drinks.
3. If you need to have coffee or tea, restrict the amount you drink in a day to not more than 2/3 cups.

Avoid Stress and long working hours.

High stress jobs, lots of late night parties, alcohol, fizzy drinks, smoking etc. accelerate the side effects of poor dietary habits. Some ways to alleviate the harmful effects are -

1. Intake of foods that cool your system such as yoghurt, cucumbers, tomatoes etc keep us hydrated.
   
2. Intake of high-fibre foods such as oat bran, woody vegetables etc. keep your energy levels high.
   
3. A balanced diet and regular meal timings will ensure your health can cope with such physical stress.

Anger & Love have no limits

While a man was washing his new car, his 4 yr old son picked stone & scratched lines on the side of the car.

In anger, the man took the child's hand & hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father....
with painful eyes he asked 'Dad when will my fingers grow back?'

Man was so hurt and speechless. He went back to car and kicked it a lot of times.

Devastated by his own actions..... . sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches, child had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'.

The next day that man committed suicide. . .

Anger and Love have no limits, Choose the later to have a beautiful & lovely life....



Things are to be used and people are to be loved,

But the problem in today's world is that

People are used and things are loved.......

Say hello to Gmail voice and video chat

Today Google launching voice and video chat -- right inside Gmail. Gooogle have tried to make this an easy-to-use, seamless experience, with high-quality audio and video -- all for free. All you have to do is download and install the voice and video plugin and we take care of the rest. And in the spirit of open communications, they designed this feature using Internet standards such as XMPP, RTP, and H.264, which means that third-party applications and networks can choose to interoperate with Gmail voice and video chat.

Once you install the plugin, to start a video chat, just click on the "Video & more" menu at the bottom of your Gmail chat window, and choose "Start video chat." You'll have a few seconds to make sure you look presentable while it's ringing, and then you'll see and hear your friend live, right from within Gmail. You can click the "pop-out" iconto make the video larger, or click the fullscreen iconin the upper left-hand corner for a fully immersive experience. See this all in action in the video below:

A good man leaves in good time

There was so much that was ‘correct’ about Kumble even if his leg-spin was not exactly of the orthodox variety. Even the umpires and the Match Referees loved him. Not once was he pulled up for bad behaviour during his 18-year international career.

It would be hard to pick his greatest attribute. Anil Kumble was a spinner who won matches. His commitment and integrity were unmatched. He was aggressive and courageous, soft-spoken and humble. Jumbo played his cricket with great honour and dignity.

The burden of expectations seldom weighed on him. Year after year, he shouldered the mantle of being the spin spearhead. The responsibility only inspired Kumble.

There was so much that was ‘correct’ about Kumble even if his leg-spin was not exactly of the orthodox variety. Even the umpires and the Match Referees loved him. Not once was he pulled up for bad behaviour during his 18-year international career.

He would look you in the eye and his hand-shake was firm. Kumble was direct and forthcoming, spoke his mind when there was a need. His words were measured, but he would make his point.

Now, he will not bowl for India again. The champion leg-spinner’s decision to retire after the drawn third India-Australia Test in New Delhi saw him once again putting “team over self.”

There were stitches in his non-bowling hand and he was not going to allow speculations about the team and its composition to do the round ahead of the crucial fourth Test at Nagpur.

The last few days were not particularly easy for Kumble. Rumours about retirements in the Indian camp upset him, so did the flippant manner in which some of the accomplished seniors were dismissed by sections of the media.

A troublesome shoulder meant his bowling suffered as well. Kumble’s deliveries had lacked bite over the last six months, the fizz off the pitch was missing.

Test cricket’s third highest wicket-taker with 619 scalps in 132 Tests picked his moment to walk away and his timing could not be faulted. Seasons of bowling had also taken their toll and he was being bothered more by fitness concerns.

The captaincy baton was passed on to Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Kumble had also cleared the way for the younger spinners.

Kumble always reached out to the younger bunch. Lakshmipathy Balaji would tell you tales about Kumble’s discipline and preparation before and during matches and his kind words of guidance. Recently, Amit Mishra revealed that the first call he received after his selection in the Test squad against Australia was from Kumble.

The champion leg-spinner leaves with the knowledge that both Mishra and Piyush Chawla are promising leg-spinners. The void left by a giant such as Kumble will be hard to fill and the younger lot face a daunting challenge. The depth in the Indian spin ranks will be tested in the coming days.

If the younger cricketers saw Kumble as a role model, there was also immense respect for the man from the senior players. The other day, Sachin Tendulkar called Kumble a “great warrior.”

Kumble was a ‘warrior’ who would not kill a fly. He only knew how to dismiss batsmen.

And he comprehended a ‘fight.’ Whether his broken jaw was wired up or his non-bowling arm sported stitches, he gave it all. He conquered the barriers of pain much like a footsoldier.

The admiration for Kumble within the team was reflected in the send-off given by his mates at Ferozeshah Kotla. It was a heart-warming moment of genuine affection.

It was only right that Kumble put a full stop to his Test career at Kotla; he had already announced his retirement from the ODIs. The ground meant so much for him, was a home away from home.

Kumble staged a memorable comeback here in the 1991-92, bowling himself into the Indian team for the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa. The Irani Cup duel marked the turning point in Kumble’s career.

The leg-spinner relished the bounce in the South African pitches and he, indeed, was back on the highway to glory. Then, when he had become India’s top bowler, Kumble achieved ‘a perfect ten’ in the Pakistan second innings during the series of 1999 at the Kotla.

Yes, he could destroy line-ups, was India’s biggest match-winner.

The precision in Kumble’s bowling, the ability to send down long spells with control and accuracy, subtle variations, slight spin and killer bounce made him a formidable adversary.

The Smiling Assassin’s bowling simmered with aggression. He only smiled after sending back a batsman. Otherwise, Kumble was all intensity and focus. He would hardly mask his rage at a misfield or a dropped catch but never crossed the line. A wonderful sense of rhythm underlined his bowling. Someone who started as a paceman in his primary school days, Kumble ran in quicker than most spinners. He was also faster through the air.

He ripped the ball hard but his deliveries were more top-spun than side-spun. The bounce he extracted on most pitches made Kumble a compelling bowler. In the early stages of his international journey, he bowled a mix of leg-spin and top-spinners. Along the way, he developed the wrong ’un, and the flipper. A tall man, he complemented his height with a high-arm action and a wonderful wrist position. He would change the angle to bemuse batsmen, and his bowling was in harmony with his field placements.

Though not a conventional spinner of flight and guile, he did attempt bowling slower through the air in the later stages of his career and the changes in pace and trajectory added to his repertoire.

He could be devastating on wearing surfaces but Kumble was a healthy competitor on any pitch. The leg-spinner once sliced through Australia on a firm first day track at Chepauk (2004). Down Under in 2003-04, he almost won the series for India with persistent high-quality bowling. Pitches with an element of bounce suited his style.

Kumble’s spin partnership with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh won several matches for India. The pair had variety, seldom allowed the batsmen to breathe easy. If one didn’t strike, the other could.

Kumble’s batting — his Test hundred in the Old Bligthy last year was an unexpected moment of celebration — reflected his determination. His mental strength was enormous; Kumble’s comeback from a disturbing shoulder surgery in 2001 displayed his resolve.

He was conventional rather than attacking in his methods as captain but led the side capably during the acrimonious series in Australia last season.

Kumble leaves but `Jumbo the Giant’ will live on.

Scattering Dream in a fraction of Second

I was walking around in a Big Bazaar store making shopping, when I saw a Cashier talking to a boy couldn't have been more than 5 or 6 years old.


The Cashier said, 'I'm sorry, but you don't have enough money to buy this doll. Then the little boy turned to me and asked: ''Aunty, are you sure I don't have enough money?''

I counted his cash and replied: ''You know that you don't have enough money to buy the doll, my dear.'' The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

Finally, I walked toward him and I asked him who he wished to give this doll to. 'It's the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much . I wanted to Gift her for her BIRTHDAY.

I have to give the doll to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.' His eyes were so sad while saying this. 'My Sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see God very soon too, so I thought that she could take the doll with her to give it to my sister.''

My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: 'I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.' Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me 'I want mommy to take my picture with her so my sister won't forget me.' 'I love my mommy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister.' Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.



I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy. 'Suppose we check again, just in case you do have enough money for the doll?''

'OK' he said, 'I hope I do have enough.' I added some of my money to his with out him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll and even some spare money.

The little boy said: 'Thank you God for giving me enough money!'

Then he looked at me and added, 'I asked last night before I went to sleep for God to make sure I had enough money to buy this doll, so that mommy could give It to my sister. He heard me!'' 'I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn't dare to ask God for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and a white rose. My mommy loves white roses.'

I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local news paper article two days ago, which mentioned a drunk man in a truck, who hit a car occupied by a young woman and a little girl. The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-sustaining machine, because the young woman would not be able to recover from the coma. Was this the family of the little boy?

Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young woman had passed away.. I couldn't stop myself as I bought a bunch of white roses and I went to the funeral home where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wishes before her burial. She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest. I left the place, teary-eyed, feeling that my life had been changed for ever.

The love that the little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all this away from him.

DO NOT DRINK & DRIVE

Stay On After A Lay Off

The folding up of Lehman Brothers has highlighted the role of planning in dealing with sudden layoffs. Seven-step way to financial security for employees.

On Friday, 13 September, when Rohit Kumar (name changed) wound up work and left for home, he knew that his employer, Lehman Brothers, was in a spot of trouble.

However, over the week, as rumours got stronger and stronger, his bosses in his office in Powai, Mumbai, assured him that the India unit would not be affected. “We were told that none of this would affect us, Barclays or someone would buy the parent company over and our life would go on as usual. We were not misled by our bosses, this is what they believed as well,” he says. Reassured, Kumar went home looking forward to a relaxing weekend.

On Sunday night, his phone rang. It was a colleague who asked him to watch CNN. The company had filed for bankruptcy, the TV news showed employees trooping out of the US office carrying boxes of their personal belongings. Kumar sat up and watched the news unfold all night.

“Even on Monday morning, when I drove to work, I expected that my job would still be safe. I was anxious, but I wasn’t panicking. Maybe I was in denial,” he says. But once in office, there was only despondency and gloom. Everybody knew the game was up and no one knew what to tell the other person.

Loan load. The first worry for Kumar was his home loan. He had bought a house in Mumbai in 2006. After seven years with his previous employer, Kumar had signed the appointment letter from Lehman. There was a fat joining bonus and 60 per cent jump in his salary and even though real estate prices were high, the EMI seemed well within his new budget. “My wife also works, but her salary does not even cover the EMI, much less our monthly expense,” he says. For now, Kumar is desperately seeking job options elsewhere. His company has said that it would pay the salaries of its employees till 31 October.

Job search constraints. “There are two problems now,” says Kumar. “One, with the meltdown in the financial services space, jobs are hard to come by, so it is going to take me longer to find an equivalent job. And two, future employers are all aware of our situation, so we have very little space for negotiating a good salary package. They know we are desperate.”

Fund value. It is important that we set aside a contingency fund of three to six months’ living expenses. But, warm in the cocoon of a secure job and stable life, most of us often ignore this step. In Kumar’s case, his EMI is substantial and he does not have liquid funds beyond his salary.

Security Blankets

Be your own FM. Financial experts say the first thing to do while preparing a strategy for a sudden layoff is to make a survival budget. Kumar expects it will be at least five months before he starts his new job. His wife’s salary can cover their basic expenses like food, transport, electricity and water bills.

Health cover—for you, by you. “If you are laid off suddenly, there are steps you need to take,” says Gaurav Mashruwala, director, ACE, a Mumbai-based financial planner. “Some of these are important and some are urgent. Getting a health cover is both urgent and important. Most salaried people depend on the medical policy offered by their employer and do not see a need for an additional health cover. If you are unemployed for a while, there is nothing more debilitating than having to spend all your money or borrowing to pay for medical expenses in case you fall ill.”

Portfolio management. The next step is to look at your investments. If you have an equity portfolio, you may have to liquidate a part of it. Says Mashruwala, “If you have debt, then in times like this you will have to liquidate your equity. Keep funds aside for the next six months’ expenses and use the rest towards part-prepayment of your loan.” With stockmarkets losing considerable ground in the last nine months, this might seem like an option loaded with losses, but you have to focus on your immediate concerns and sacrifice long-term wealth creation. If you are confident that you would be able to find a job in the next few months, then only liquidate to cover expenses and EMIs until then.

You should also relook at your debt instruments. If you have fixed deposits, try and reallocate these to schemes that offer monthly interest payout. Certain bank and post-office schemes offer this option.

Seconds to go. If you do not have enough equity to cash in and see you through the next few months, then you will have to think about cashing in on some other assets. If you have two cars, you could sell one off. Or if you have invested in a second home or plot of land, you could liquidate these and use the funds to see you through the next few months and use the remaining to pay off your loans.

Gold glitters. If you have invested in gold, then this is a good time to cash in on that. Gold prices are very high and the money would come in handy.

No credit on card. Tempted as you might be, do not use your credit card as a loan mechanism. Use the credit card sparingly and pay off your entire dues. If you are really strapped for cash, you can take a loan from close family members or opt for a personal loan from a bank. The last thing you want chasing you at this stressful time is sky-high interest payment on credit card dues.

Lesson from Lehman. What is happening to financial services employees around the world has once again highlighted the importance of contingency planning. Like Kumar, no one expects we will lose our jobs overnight. It is not impossible anymore that companies that have survived decades (and in Lehman’s case, centuries) crumble into nothing overnight. Building a contingency reserve and setting aside money for the next six months will save us not just a little anxiety but also the desperation associated with finding the next job. You can wait for the right offer to come along and negotiate a little better if you have the confidence of that money in your bank account.

Steps To Take If You Have Been Recently Laid Off

Buy a health insurance policy if you don’t have one

See how many months’ expenses you have in liquid form

Assess EMI payouts and unavoidable expenses

Cash equities if you are falling short

Rejig(Re-equip) debt investments, move to those that pay out monthly income

If you have gold, sell it

Sell second car, second house, if necessary

Caution:
Never use your credit card as a loan mechanism

Factfile: India's Anil Kumble

Champion leg spinner Anil Kumble has hung up his Test boots. Here is a look back at the 38-year-old's dynamic career.

1970: Born October 17 in Bangalore, Karnataka.

1990: August - Makes Test debut against England at Old Trafford.

Takes three for 105 in the first innings, but goes wicketless in the second and is dropped.

1992: November - On his return to the national team, helps India dismiss South Africa for 252 in the second innings in the second Test in Johannesburg with a six-wicket haul.

1993: February - Takes 21 wickets in the three-Test series against England, including a six for 64 in the second innings of the second Test at Chennai, his first series-winning performance.

March - Passes 50 wickets in only his 10th match.

November - Takes six for 12 against West Indies in Kolkata in the Hero Cup, a new record for an Indian bowler.

1994: January - Claims his first 10-wicket haul, helping India defeat Sri Lanka by an innings and 119 runs in Lucknow.

1995: October - Martin Crowe is his 100th Test victim.

1996: March - Takes the most number of wickets - 15 - at the 1996 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka.

December - Is named Wisden's Cricketer of the Year for his 61 ODI and 105 Test wickets.

1998: September - Becomes the first spinner to take 200 wickets in ODIs.

1999: February - Becomes only the second player after England's Jim Laker to take all 10 wickets in an innings. Achieves the feat against Pakistan as India secure their first Test win over Pakistan in 19 years.

2002: August - Snares seven for 159 in the third Test against England at Headingley as India level series.

2004: October - Reaches the 400-wicket milestone in his 85th Test.

December - Goes past Kapil Dev's record of 434 wickets to become India's leading wicket-taker of all time.

2005: December - Takes 10 wickets in a match for the eighth time in his career in a match against Sri Lanka.

2006: September - Dropped from India's Champions Trophy squad, but is picked for the tour of South Africa.

2007: March - Announces his retirement from ODIs. His last game is the Word Cup match against Bermuda in which he takes three for 38.

Finishes with 337 ODI wickets.

August - Scores a century at The Oval, his maiden Test 100 and comes 17 years after making his debut.

Goes past Glenn McGrath's record of 563 Test wickets and is the world's third highest wicket-taker in Tests.

November - Is named captain of India's Test team for the series against Pakistan.

December - Leads from the front with a five-wicket haul as India bowl of Australia for 343 in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. India go on to lose.

2008: January - The controversial Sydney Test follows, but he becomes only the third bowler to reach 600 wickets at Perth. India go on to win, but lose the series.

April - Is ruled out of the third Test against South Africa in Kanpur due to injury.

November 2: Announces his retirement from Test cricket following the third Test against Australia.

Pay for kindness

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"

"You don't owe me anything," she replied "Mother has taught us never to accept payment for a kindness." He said... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt; stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Years later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he we nt in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room.

She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally, she looked, and something caught; her attention on the side as She read these words.....

"Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Never forget the help even a little bit , helped to you