My Photo Album-34: "House where my dad lived 70 years ago"

My dad lost both his parents before he was 9. He and his younger brother were brought up by a rich, childless, widowed aunt. This is the house of that aunt where my dad spent more than 10 years of his boyhood. During my recent visit to Tuticorin, I took this photo. Actually, the house is on the right side where the road from Sri Bagampiriyal Temple intersects West Great Cotton Road. Only the middle portion remains as it was; the facade and the rear portions have been modified.

ஆத்திச்சூடி: விரிந்த பொருள் காணல்

அஃகம் சுருக்கேல்.

ஒவ்வொருவரிடமும் ஒரு தனித்திறமை ஒளிந்திருக்கிறது. முதல் படி, தனது தனித்திறமையை உணர்தல்; இரண்டாம் படி, அதை முறையாக வளர்த்தல்; மூன்றாம் படி, அதை வெளிக்கொணர்தல்; நான்காம் படி, அதை தனக்கும், தன்னைச் சேர்ந்தோர்க்கும், மற்றும் இந்த சமுதாயத்திற்கும் பயனுள்ளதாக்கல்.

Health News-24: "Swine Flu Scare Spreads"

World Health Organization has raises pandemic alarm as Swine Flu spreads; WHO has labeled it as public health emergency of international concern. Already 149 deaths have been reported in Mexico. Swine flu has been found in other countries like US, Canada, and France. US Govt has cautioned its citizens about visiting Mexico. Swine flu is supposed to be caused by a new strain of virus, H1N1. As the flu virus is constantly mutating, finding full immunity has not been possible so far. The symptoms of SIV or swine influenza virus attack are just like normal flu: fever, cough, sore throat, body pain, headaches, chills and fatigues and sometimes diarrhoea and vomiting also. The US Govt says it has stock of medicines to treat 50 million people and have advised people to take normal precautions and not to panic.

For detailed Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_Flu

Swine Flu: 5 Things You Need to Know About the outbreak http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090427/hl_time/08599189402900;_ylt=AgPgFD8FSl1NTlDyH.rg1toDW7oF

Grateful thanks to Yahoo News and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

இன்றைய சிந்தனைக்கு-42:

பிறர் உடல் அல்லது உள்ளத்தைப் புண்படுத்தாமை மட்டும் அஹிம்சை அல்ல. சாதாரணமாக இதை அஹிம்சையின் வெளிப்படைத் தத்துவம் எனலாம். உண்மையான அஹிம்சை விருப்பு வெறுப்பற்ற நிலையில் உள்ளது. – காந்தியடிகள்

Letters-73: "Work for Success"

In his conversation with Ravi S Joshi, Infosys chief mentor N R Narayana Murthy has correctly underlined the need for the youngsters to be industrious and innovative for a better India (“Password for confidence in rural India”, The New Sunday Express, April 19,2009). In this highly competitive world, nothing is offered on a platter.

As John Ruskin had correctly put it, “Toll is the law”. Also, NRN stresses on values such as integrity and humility. One feels, schools and colleges across the country must have a few copies of his new book, A BETTER INDIA; A BETTER WORLD in their libraries. This would certainly help transform the younger generation into invaluable human resources, which are a sine qua non for the nation’s all-round growth. – S.Ramakrishnasayee, Ranipet.

Courtesy: The New Sunday Express, Tiruchy, April 26, 2009 (“Letter to the Editor”).

Grateful thanks to Mr.S.Ramakrishnasayee and The New Sunday Express.

நாலடியார்-4: "செல்வம் நிலையாமை"

நின்றன நின்றன நில்லா எனஉணர்ந்
தொன்றின ஒன்றின வல்லே செயின்செய்க;
சென்றன சென்றன வாழ்நாள் செறுத்துடன்
வந்தது வந்தது கூற்று.

திருவருட்பா-3:

புண்படா உடம்பும் புரைபடா மனமும்
பொய்படா ஒழுக்கமும் பொருந்திக்
கண்படாது இரவும் பகலும்நின் தனையே
கருத்தில் வைத்து ஏந்துதற் இசைந்தேன்
உன்பனே எனினும் உடுப்பனே எனினும்
உலகரை நம்பினேன் எனது நண்பனே
நலன்சார் பண்பனே உனையே
நம்பினேன் கைவிடல் எனையே.

பாரதிதாசன் கவிதைகள்-10: "வெள்ளம் வருமுன்"

வெப்பத்தால் வெதும்பு கின்ற
வெளியெலாம் குளிர்காற் றொன்று
தொப்பென்று குதிக்க, அங்கே
துளிரெலாம் சிலிர்க்கக் கண்டேன்.
எப்பக்கம் இருந்தோ கூட்டப்
பறவைகள் இப்பக் கத்துக்
குப்பத்து மரத்தில் வந்து
குந்திய புதுமை கண்டேன்.

பாரதிதாசனின் “அழகின் சிரிப்பிலிருந்து”

Gems from Swami Vivekananda-28:

The only religion that ought to be taught is the religion of fearlessness.

How To-21: "How to Find a Theme for Your Short Story"

How to Find a Theme for Your Short Story

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Writer’s block can be a real pain. Here are some easy steps to finding interesting ideas to write about.

Steps

1. There is not a specific formula to finding ideas to write about, but there are ways to help you brainstorm.
2. Think about topics that you have expertise in. The cliché that states “write what you know” is absolutely true. If you love baseball, write about a fictional baseball character.
3. Think about topics that interest you. If you don’t have a definite grasp on the subject, find a local library (or Google ) and start researching.
4. Another way to find ideas is to start noticing the world around you. Is there something about your life that has always struck you as odd?
5. Take an interesting event in your life and change it around a little. Perhaps you got cut from your city’s basketball team, but join the rival team and help them win the championships? You could take the basic idea and have a story if you change the setting and the characters.
6. Formulate a character. Try mixing traits from people you know. Work with the character and write down their interests, dislikes, desires, occupation, physical features, etc. Sometimes making a character sparks an idea to “write their story.”
7. If you can’t make a character, choose a random person who you encounter during the day. Write their story.
8. If none of these ideas work, Google the term “story ideas” or something along those lines. There are several websites that have lists of plot lines waiting for someone to develop.

Tips

• Read, read, read. Lots of writers get ideas from reading the work of other people.
• Be observant. You never know when an idea will suddenly formulate.
• Write all your ideas down, even the ones that aren’t winners. Sometimes a little brainstorming can spark a better idea.
• Take a few ideas and “free-write.” What you come up with may not be publish-worthy, but it will get you started in the write direction for your eventual Pulitzer.
• When you have a good portion of the story, have a trusted friend read and edit it. S/He may give you details for a better direction, idea, etc. Plus, it is always good to get a second opinion about the work. After all, your story will eventually have an audience.
• Along this line, think about your audience, is this a story they would want to read?

Warnings

• Absolutely avoid plagiarizing the work of someone else.
• No one said that writing fiction is easy. These things take lots of time, energy, and reams of paper.
• If you decide to write a non-fiction story, don’t write about events that never happened. Research James Frey for details.

Related wikiHows

• How to Brainstorm Children’s Picture Book Ideas
• How to Come up With a Topic to Write About
• How to Develop a Character
• How to Get Inspired to Write
• How to Stop Yourself from Getting Writer’s Block

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Find a Theme for Your Short Story. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-34: "How to Become Inspired to Write Poetry"

How to Become Inspired to Write Poetry

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Writing free verse poetry is a great release of feelings, emotions and thoughts. Writing poetry in rhyme also gives you the ability to release emotions, but is more constricted in that you have to find words that rhyme. Here is how to express yourself in free verse.

Steps

1. Think about something you feel strongly about.
2. Be in tune with your feelings and allow your emotions to stir within you. You will need these emotions to inspire you.
3. Sit at a computer or wherever you do your best writing and thinking and let the thoughts flow out of your mind, your heart and your fingers.
4. Don’t stop if you feel you are misspelling a word. When your feelings have been released, your poem will, like magic, come to an end. Now is the time you can correct.
5. Sit back and read what you have written, correct only the spelling. Do not change the poem’s meaning or content. Make sure your name and date are on the bottom of the page.
6. Read what you wrote and read it to others if it is not too personal. Much great poetry is personal; part of the fun is finding the courage to read that to others.

Tips

• Some inspirations can come from any walk of life:

• Look out the window and see the sunset.
• Be glad you are alive.
• Sit in the Mall and observe a mother and a child.
• Look at the young woman in a wheel chair. Be thankful that it is not you, and write about those feelings
• Think about a lost loved one
• Think about the big piece of cake topped with a big scoop of ice cream that you just pigged out on, after you announced you were on a diet.

Not all poems have to be happy. Not all poems have to be long. Not all poems have to be short. Some poems can be silly.

Be thankful for good health.

Do not put restrictions on the style you use. Although choosing a certain style for one poem may help.

Save all your poems, no matter what they say or how you feel about them. One day you will look back and see that you have somehow, without knowing it, written the story of your life.

Safeguard your poetry. Place it into a plastic cover, and store it in a looseleaf binder set aside for just your poetry.

Download a photo or clipart on the poetry page that relates to your poem. Dress the page up.

Be proud…you have just finished the first page of your first ‘book.’

There are many other poetry styles that most people are not even familiar with. See the url at the bottom for information.

Relax.

Related wikiHows

• How to Write a Love Poem
• How to Write a Haiku Poem
• How to Write a Poem
• How to Gain Control of Your Emotions
• How to Be a Poet
• How to Explicate a Poem
• How to Write a Love Poem
• How to Write an Emo Poem
• How to Write a Poem About Nature
• How to Write a Love Letter or Love Poem
• How to Be Dark

Sources and Citations

• http://members.cox.net/berniehpoetry/styles.html
• http://www.eliteskills.com/poetry/poetry_styles.php

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Become Inspired to Write Poetry. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-33: "How to Overcome Writer’s Block in Poetry"

How to Overcome Writer’s Block in Poetry

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

If you are suffering from writer’s block, you are in good company. Many people feel this problem and it is mostly due to a feeling that one is not a good enough writer. How do you overcome the block when it comes to poetry? Poetry has a rhythm and emotion of its own that cannot be compared to writing novels or short stories, so it is not necessarily helpful to compare writer’s block in those fields with that suffered by a poet. Here are some ideas for the stuck poet.

Steps

1. Think of a topic that moves you deeply and fills you with emotion. The topic might involve love or hatred, deep affection for someone or something, nature, (for instance, trees), or even parts of the body, such as feet or eyes. In other words, focus on something that is fascinating at the moment or something that is moving you in a passionate and interested fashion. Another stimulus trick is to combine your emotions and perhaps connect love and hate or trees and feet. The resulting poetic feeling may be quite exulting.
2. Brainstorm on rhyming words or rhythmic phrases. The words or phrases should have a common theme to do with your topic and provide you with further sources of inspiration. Even if you have no idea why certain words keep occurring, write them down for use as you develop your poem.
3. Organize your words. After brainstorming the words, collecting them and writing them, now is the time to place them into an order that will serve your poem best. Perhaps group the words relating to one theme together and words relating to another theme together and any words that might link the two themes in yet another grouping. This is something that will improve with practise.
4. Write to your heart’s content. A poet must let the words flow through herself or himself. The poetry will only come to life when the poet relaxes and lets the passion flow through unabated. Correct and perfect grammar and tone are for the editing stage, not the creative writing stage. Just write and write and write, whether there is a clear order to the writing or not. You have the words – use them. And follow the path that your mind leads you down.

Tips

• Go beyond the ideas listed here; they are only by way of example.
• The combination of love and hate is fairly cliched and time-worn; if you are looking for a different style of poem you will probably do better to either avoid this combination or learn to craft it anew in a clever and magnificent manner that will grasp the attention of your reader and rivet his or her attention.

Warnings

• Do not be obsessed with perfection as you write – that is what the editorial stage is for. If you are waylaid by this idea, ask a friend, family member or professor to assist you with editing. A good poet’s writing will always be clear to a fair and smart reader – find one and this will be the ideal person to assist you with improving your poem after it has been written.

Related wikiHows

• How to Freewrite
• How to Become Inspired to Write Poetry
• How to Be a Poet
• How to Write a Haiku Poem
• How to Become a Freelance Writer

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Overcome Writer’s Block in Poetry. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-59: "How to Pack Your Possessions When Moving"

How to Pack Your Possessions When Moving

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Even if you can’t wait to live in your new house, curb your enthusiasm and resist the urge to cram all your possessions any which way into boxes.

Steps

1. Pack one room at a time if possible, and start with items that are least often used.
2. Write down a list of everything you are packing, in particular if it’s valuable. Books, cds, expensive clothes. Also, take note of which item is in which box.
3. Use sturdy boxes. Fill the box to the brim and seal the lid. That way, you can easily stack boxes on top of one another.
4. Tape the bottom of the box securely so that it doesn’t give way.
5. Never fill a box until it is so heavy that you can’t lift it safely. Spread the heavy items over a few boxes. Balance boxes with lighter items like towels or soft toys. Pack the lighter items on top.
6. Use bubble wrap or newspapers when packing fragile items. However, newsprint may smudge so use newspaper selectively. Clean paper can be purchased cheaply from moving supply stores. Boxes should be marked “Fragile” and “This side up” to prevent mishandling.
7. Label each box clearly and which room it belongs to. Write on the sides of the box as well.
8. Pack a separate box of essentials you may need for the first night at your new house. Include items like toiletries, toilet paper, bottled water, snacks and a change of clothes in case you cannot unpack everything in time.

Tips

• Don’t pack one box full of books or paperwork – you might not be able to carry it at all. Fill it halfway with books, and fill it up with lighter stuff.

. Digital Photos – use your camera to document the contents of boxes.

• Tape is cheap. Use lots of it. Close box bottoms well. Get masking tape or packing tape and tape screws and other little things that came out of something back against it. You’ll want to find the right screw reassemble something without having to pick it out of 100 others when you get there.
• Buy boxes from a local moving company. When boxes are of uniform size they stack better. These boxes also have rooms listed on the sides of the box so you only have to check the box next to the room the box is going to.
• Fill empty spaces with additional paper.
• U-haul and other nation companies offer box buy back services. If you buy too many boxes you can return the unused for a full refund. These boxes are also quite sturdy so you can re-use them or stash in your attic until you move again. Some national companies even offer free shipping and handling so you can have some delivered or go to the local location.
• Don’t label boxes with contents if the contents are valuable. Instead of writing “Silver Service-Fragile” you should write something that makes it sound less theft inviting while showing the fragile nature of the contents. Example: “Mom’s old dishes” instead of “Fine China”
• Throw away or donate junk you don’t want to take to your new place. Don’t pack it again!!!
• Pack books and heavy items into smaller boxes.
• Set aside an area of the house where you can put all the packed boxes. Use a room that isn’t used every day such as the formal dining or living room. You won’t be tripping over boxes and you can have a better idea of what you have and where things are.
• National superstores (Wal-mart) will let you walk the store for boxes when they are stocking the stores between 11 pm and 1 am. You can find boxes of all sizes. Cereal, diaper and houseware boxes are a good size and durable. Just take a cart and roam the store. They do check the cart as you leave so don’t try to sneak anything past them.

Related wikiHows

• How to Pack for a Move
• How to Survive Moving
• How to Pack Without Overpacking
• How to Cheaply Move Cross Country
• How to Host a Great Moving Sale

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Pack Your Possessions When Moving. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-58: "How to Move to a New Apartment"

How to Move to a New Apartment

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Moving can be a fun and exciting adventure. But it can also be lots of work–not to mention very stressful. Here are some suggestions that might make your transition a little easier.

Steps

1. Before you even decide on an apartment, go through everything you own. Do you really want to read that book again? Do you need that many commemorative coffee mugs? Get rid of everything you don’t really want. It’ll save the time, money and trouble of moving it, and your new place will have an uncluttered look.
2. Get boxes from grocery stores (or other stores) rather than buying them. Don’t disregard the value of large plastic trash bags – just be careful not to throw them out!!
3. Choose boxes in sizes that will be easy for one person to carry, just in case you find yourself moving most of it on your own.
4. Start the moving process as soon as you can find time to. The more unessential items you can pack as early on as possible, the less you’ll have to worry about when it gets down to the wire.
5. Make sure that you wrap breakable items (dishes, knick-knacks, pictures, et cetera) in old newspaper, towels, bedsheets, even clothing.
6. If you have a lot of books, pack a few in many boxes, rather than all in a few.
7. Label your boxes as you pack – kitchen, living room, bath, etc. Also make a list of contents on each box, to make it easier to find certain things when unpacking. This will save you loads of time and grief when you arrive at your new place (and label BREAKABLES as such so your movers will know to be careful–hopefully they will be). Color-coding can be a good idea too. Just get colored stickers, and slap a red one on the box for kitchen, blue for bedroom, green for living room, etc.
8. After you have securely packed all of your belongings… now you face the decision of hiring movers, and finding out who your real friends are or being a real friend (and saving $$$) and doing as much of it on your own as you can! (if you CAN afford it, hire a reputable, insured moving service listed with the BBB for the heavy stuff and transporting it all) (*save $ by doing your own packing!)
9. GOOD LUCK & GET MOVING!!

Tips

• Make sure you reward helpful friends with pizza and/or beverages for their efforts.
• Tip your movers accordingly–they work hard. (Just make sure that any damaged items are accounted for and returned at no cost to you.)
• Clean your old place as well as or better than when you moved in – you will likely get a nice and much-needed deposit in return for your efforts, not to mention a good future reference.
• Keep a number of rolls of tape, trash bags, and markers around.
• VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY ISSUE: drive by your potential new place at night, especially on the weekends, to see if the atmosphere is suitable to your lifestyle. (Is it too noisy? too much traffic? too quiet?)
• Make sure the last tenant of your new place does not still have the keys to your doors.
• If you have the opportunity to meet anyone who lives in your potential new residence, ask them what they think, but remember that is just their opinion.
• Always be aware of all aspects of your new manager-tennant contract, and know your rights–and don’t abuse them!
• Your new landlord/manager will let you know what utility options are available to you.
• make sure you have given your previous apt. mgr. the required notice regarding your anticipated move–but only after you have found your new place
• If you’re not sure where to move, ask friends, fellow employees, local real estate agencies, and of course your local Sunday paper.
• Get your utilities disconnected at your older home and connected at your new home – Gas, Electricity, Water, Internet, Cable, Telephone. Remember to keep track of any deposits you pay so that you can ensure that they are reimbursed at the time of your next move.
• Update your address information with any relevant institutions – Cellphone, Insurance, Loans, Financial (Credit Cards, Banks), Government (USPS address change, Car Registration, Drivers license), Employer
• When looking for a new apartment, be sure to look at the apartment and not a model. This way you can point out issues to the manager that should be addressed prior to your move-in date.

Warnings

• While all floors are suspect, ground floor apartments and basement levels are the easiest targets for burglars.
• Moving companies are regulated by the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/) and are required by law to provide you with a brochure on your rights and responsibilities when moving. Make sure you get one from your mover.

Related wikiHows

• How to Survive Moving
• How to Deal With Moving Related Loneliness
• How to Say Goodbye to Your Best Friend That Is Moving
• How to Pack Your Possessions When Moving

Sources and Citations

• http://www.uship.com/
• http://www.movex.com/
• http://www.allmovinghelp.com/
• http://www.allmovingquotes.com/

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Move to a New Apartment. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-57: "How to Take Better Photographs"

How to Take Better Photographs

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Many people think they’ll improve their photography by buying a spiffy new camera. The truth is, in photography, technique is much more important than equipment. And taking good pictures is something anyone can do with any camera, if you practice enough and avoid some common mistakes.

Steps

1. Read the camera’s manual, and learn what each control, switch, button, and menu item does. At the very least you should know how to turn the flash on, off, and auto, how to zoom in and out, and how to use the shutter button.
2. Set the camera’s resolution to take high quality photos at the highest resolution possible. Low-resolution images are more difficult to digitally alter later on; it also means that you can’t crop as enthusiastically as you could with a higher-resolution version (and still end up with something printable). If you have a small memory card, get a bigger one; if you don’t want to or can’t afford to buy a new one, then use the “fine” quality setting, if your camera has one, with a smaller resolution.
3. Start off with setting your camera to one of its automatic modes, if you have a choice. Most useful is “Program” or “P” mode on digital SLRs. Ignore advice to the contrary which suggests that you operate your camera fully manually; the advances in the last fifty years in automatic focusing and metering have not happened for nothing. If your photos come out poorly focused or poorly exposed, then start operating certain functions manually.
4. Take your camera everywhere. When you have your camera with you all the time, you will start to see the world differently; you will look for and find opportunities to take great photographs. And, of course, you will end up taking more photographs; and the more you take, the better a photographer you will become.[1] Furthermore, if you’re taking photographs of your friends and family, they will get used to you having your camera with you all the time. Thus, they will feel less awkward or intimidated when you get your camera out; this will lead to more natural-looking, less “posed” photographs. Also, remember to bring batteries or charge it if you are using a digital camera.
5. Get outside. Motivate yourself to get out and take photographs in natural light. Take several normal ‘point and shoot’ pictures to get a feel for the lighting at different times of the day and night. Go outside at all times of day, especially those times when anybody with any sense is sleeping, eating, or watching television; lighting at these times is often dramatic and unusual to many people precisely because they never get to see it!
6. Keep the lens clear of caps, thumbs, straps and other obstructions. It’s basic, yes, but it can ruin a photograph completely. This is less of a problem with modern live-preview digital cameras, and even less of a problem with an SLR camera. But people still make these mistakes from time to time.
7. Set your white balance. Put simply, the human eye automatically compensates for different kinds of lighting; white looks white to us in almost any kind of lighting. A digital camera compensates for this by shifting the colors certain ways. For example, under tungsten (incandescent) lighting, it will shift the colours towards blue to compensate for the redness of this kind of lighting. The white balance is one of the most critical, and most underused, settings on modern cameras. Learn how to set it, and what the various settings mean. If you’re not under artificial light, the “Shade” (or “Cloudy”) setting is a good bet in most circumstances; it makes for very warm-looking colors. If it comes out too red, it’s very easy to correct it in software later on. “Auto”, the default for most cameras, sometimes does a good job, but also sometimes results in colours which are a little too cold.[2]
8. Set a slower ISO speed, if circumstances permit. This is less of an issue with digital SLR cameras, but especially important for point-and-shoot digital cameras (which, usually, have tiny sensors which are more prone to noise). A slower ISO speed (lower number) makes for less noisy photographs; however, it forces you to use slower shutter speeds as well, which restricts your ability to photograph moving subjects, for example. For still subjects in good light (or still subjects in low light, too, if you’re using a tripod and remote release), use the very slowest ISO speed that you have.
9. Compose your shot thoughtfully. Frame the photo in your mind before framing it in the viewfinder. Consider the following rules, but especially the last one:
• Use the Rule of Thirds, where the primary points of interest in your scene sits along “third” lines. Try not to let any horizon or other lines “cut the picture in half.”[3]
• Get rid of distracting backgrounds and clutter. If this means you and your friend have to move a little so that a tree does not appear to be growing out of her head, then do so. If glare is coming off the windows of the house across the street, change your angle a bit to avoid it. If you’re taking vacation photographs, take a moment to get your family to put down all the junk they may be carrying around with them and to remove backpacks or hip packs as well. Keep that mess well out of the frame of the picture, and you will end up with much nicer, less cluttered photos. If you can blur the background in a portrait, then do so. And so on.
• Fill the frame with your subject. Don’t be afraid to get closer to your subject. On the other hand, if you’re using a digital camera with plenty of megapixels to spare, you can crop it later in software.
• Try an interesting angle. Instead of shooting the object straight on, try looking down to the object, or crouching and looking up. Pick an angle that shows maximum color and minimum shadow. To make things appear longer or taller, a low angle can help. If you want a bold photo, it is best to be even with the object. You may also want to make the object look smaller or make it look like you’re hovering over; to get the effect you should put the camera above the object. An uncommon angle makes for a more interesting shot.
• Ignore the advice above. Regard the above as laws, which work much of the time but are always subject to judicious interpretation — and not as absolute rules. Too close an adherence to them will lead to boring photographs. For example, clutter and sharply focused backgrounds can add context, contrast and colour; perfect symmetry in a shot can be dramatic, and so on. Every rule can and should be broken for artistic effect, from time to time. This is how many stunning photographs are made.
10. Focus. Poor focusing is one of the most common ways that photographs are ruined.[4] Use the automatic focus of your camera, if you have it; usually, this is done by half-pressing the shutter button. Use the “macro” mode of your camera for very close-up shots. Don’t focus manually unless your auto-focus is having issues; as with metering, automatic focus usually does a far better job of focusing than you can.
11. Keep still. A lot of people are surprised at how blurry their pictures come out when going for a close-up, or taking the shot from a distance. To minimize blurring: If you’re using a full-sized camera with a zoom lens, hold the camera body (finger on the shutter button) with one hand, and steady the lens by cupping your other hand under it. Keep your elbows close to your body, and use this position to brace yourself firmly. If your camera or lens has image stabilisation features, use them (this is called IS on Canon gear, and VR, for Vibration Reduction, on Nikon equipment).
• Consider using a tripod. If your hands are naturally shaky, or if you’re using very large (and slow) telephoto lenses, or if you’re trying to take photographs in low light, or if you need to take several identical shots in a row (such as with HDR photography), or if you’re taking panoramic photos, then using a tripod is probably a good idea. For very long exposures (more than a second or so), a cable release (for older film cameras) or a remote control is a good idea; you can use the self-timer feature of your camera if you don’t have one of these.
• Consider not using a tripod, especially if you don’t already have one. A tripod infringes on your ability to move around, and to rapidly change the framing of your shot. It’s also more weight to carry around, which is a disincentive to getting out and taking photographs in the first place. As a general rule,[5] you only need a tripod if your shutter speed is equal to or slower than the reciprocal of your focal length.[6] If you can avoid using a tripod by using faster ISO speeds (and, consequently, faster shutter speeds), or by using image stabilisation features of your camera, or by simply moving to somewhere with better lighting, then do that.
12. Relax when you push the shutter button. Also, try not to hold the camera up for too long; this will cause your hands and arms to be shakier. Practice bringing the camera up to your eye, focusing and metering, and taking the shot in one swift, smooth action.
13. Avoid red eye. Red-eye is caused when your eyes dilate in lower lighting. When your pupils are big, the flash actually lights up the blood vessels on the back wall of your eyeball, which is why it looks red. If you must use a flash in poor light, try to get the person to not look directly at the camera, or consider using a “bounce flash”. Aiming your flash above the heads of your subjects, especially if the walls surrounding are light, will keep red-eye out. If you don’t have a separate flash gun which is adjustable in this way, use the red-eye reduction feature of your camera if available – it flashes a couple of times before opening the shutter, which causes your subject’s pupils to contract, thus minimizing red-eye. Better yet, don’t take photographs which require a flash to be used; find somewhere with better lighting.
14. Use your flash judiciously, and don’t use it when you don’t have to. A flash in poor light can often cause ugly-looking reflections, or make the subject of your photo appear “washed out”; the latter is especially true of people photos. On the other hand, a flash is very useful for filling in shadows; to eliminate the “raccoon eye” effect in bright midday light, for example (if you have a flash sync speed[7] fast enough). If you can avoid using a flash by going outside, or steadying the camera (allowing you to use a slower shutter speed without blur), or setting a faster ISO speed (allowing faster shutter speeds), then do that.
15. Go through your photos and look for the best ones. Look for what makes the best photos and continue using the methods that got the best shots. Don’t be afraid to throw away or delete photos, either. Be brutal about it; if it doesn’t strike you as a particularly pleasing shot, then ditch it. If you, like most people, are shooting on a digital camera, then it would not have cost you anything but your time. Before you delete them, remember you can learn a lot from your worst photos; discover why they don’t look good, then don’t do that.
16. Practice, practice, and practice. Take lots and lots of photos — aim to fill your memory card, or to use up as much film as you can afford to have developed. The more pictures you take, the better you’ll get, and the more you (and everyone) will like your pictures. Shoot from new or different angles, and find new subjects to take pictures of, and keep at it; you can make even the most boring, everyday thing look amazing if you’re creative enough about photographing it. Get to know your camera’s limitations, too; how well it performs in different kinds of lighting, how well auto-focus performs at various distances, how well it handles moving subjects, and so on.

Tips

• Your camera doesn’t matter. Nearly any camera is capable of taking good photographs in the right conditions. Even a modern camera phone is good enough for many kinds of shots. [8] Learn your camera’s limitations and work around them; don’t buy new equipment until you know exactly what these limitations are, and are certain that they are hindering you.
• Pick up a big-city newspaper or a copy of National Geographic and see how professional photojournalists tell stories in pictures. It’s often worth poking around photo sites like Flickr for inspiration, too. Try Flickr’s camera finder to see what people have done with the cheapest point-and-shoot cameras. Just don’t spend so much time getting inspired that it stops you from getting out there.
• When shooting photos of children, get down to their level! Pictures looking down at the top of a child’s head are usually pretty lame. Stop being lazy and get on your knees.
• If you shoot digital it’s better to underexpose the shot, as underexposure is easy to correct later on in software. Shadow detail can be recovered; blown highlights (the pure white areas in an overexposed photo) can never be recovered, as there is nothing there to recover. Film is the opposite; shadow detail tends to be poor compared to digital cameras, but blown highlights are rare even with massive overexposure.[9]
• Get your photos off your memory card ASAP. Make backups; make several backups if you can. Every photographer has, or will, experience the heartbreak of losing a precious image/images unless he or she cultivates this habit. Back-up, back-up, back-up!
• If the camera has a neck strap, use it! Hold the camera out so that that the neck strap is pulled as far as a can, this will help steady the camera. Furthermore, it’ll also stop you from dropping the camera.
• Install photo-editing software and learn how to use it. This will allow you to correct color balance, adjust lighting, crop your photos, and much more. Most cameras will come with software to make these basic adjustments. For more complicated operations, consider buying Photoshop, downloading and installing the free GIMP image editor, or using Paint.NET, a free light-weight photo editing program for Windows users.
• Keep a notebook handy and make notes about what worked well and what didn’t. Review your notes often as you practice.
• Upload to Flickr or the Wikimedia Commons and maybe one day you will see your photos used on wikiHow!

Warnings

• Beware of taking photographs of statues, artwork, and even architecture; even if it is located in public places, in many jurisdictions this can often constitute a violation of the copyright in these works.[10]
• When taking photos of people, their pets, or even their property, ask for permission. Legally, you may or may not need it, but it’s polite to do so; that and people may get annoyed at it if you don’t ask first.

Things You’ll Need

• A camera. Whatever you have, or can borrow, will be good enough.
• The biggest memory card you can get, if you’re on digital, or as much film as you can afford to have developed if you’re not.

Related wikiHows

• How to Get Up and Start Taking Photos
• How to Take A Good Picture On Your Camera Phone
• How to Take Portrait Photographs
• How to Take Flattering Photos of Yourself
• How to Brighten up Backgrounds in Flash Pictures
• How to Take Hand Held Pictures Indoors Without Flash
• How to Avoid Your Photo Being a Dark Silhouette
• How to Have a Great Photoshoot

Sources and Citations

• Google Picasa – Software for organizing and editing photographs
• 7 Common Mistakes When Taking Digital Photos
• http://library.thinkquest.org/28146/composition.html Source

1. ↑ See 5 Reasons to Take Your Camera Everywhere in 2008.
2. ↑ For more on white balance, see How to Set White Balance by Ken Rockwell.
3. ↑ See the Wikipedia article on the subject for a fuller explanation of this.
4. ↑ From Seven Common Mistakes When Taking Digital Photos.
5. ↑ Shutter speed and the difference between fast and slow shutter speeds.
6. ↑ For example, if you have a 300mm lens, then you want a shutter speed faster than 1/300th of a second.
7. ↑ See Ken Rockwell’s page on sync speed for more details on this.
8. ↑ See Your Camera Doesn’t Matter by Ken Rockwell.
9. ↑ See Film vs. Digital for a more in-depth discussion.
10. ↑ See this page on the Wikimedia Commons for a country-by-country breakdown of local laws.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Take Better Photographs. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-56: "How to Take Portrait Photographs"

How to Take Portrait Photographs
from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Have you ever felt that you have far too many “snapshots” of your family, and want a more professional-looking photograph to hang on your wall? Or perhaps you’ve been roped in to take a photograph for your company’s magazine or website. Whatever the reason for wanting them, you don’t need a photo studio and a ton of expensive lighting and camera gear to take portraits. With intelligent use of your equipment, thoughtful framing and due attention paid to lighting, anybody can take good portraits. Here’s how.

Steps

1. Set up your camera. Where circumstances permit, use a slow ISO speed (lower number). In natural light, use “shade” or “cloudy” white balance if you have it; this leads to much warmer colours.[1] See How to Take Better Photographs for further elaboration and advice.
2. Get the lighting right. Those fortunate enough to have a photo studio can precisely control their lighting. They also aren’t reading this; the rest of us will have to go out and find the right light. What you’re looking for is consistent, and diffused lighting.
   • Avoid direct, harsh sunlight from any direction. Apart from a few hours of soft light in the early morning and afternoon, direct sunlight is largely unfavourable for taking portrait photos. Looking into the sunlight will cause your subject to squint, and harsh light from behind will make it more difficult to get a consistent exposure.[2] From any other angle, it will cast harsh shadows on the face (including the horrid “raccoon eye” effect from direct overhead light). Overcast days are best, as clouds will diffuse the sunlight;[3] although since making your own cloud isn’t typically an option, head for the shade.
   • Fill the shadows. Sometimes you’ll have no choice but to take photos in direct, harsh sunlight. If your camera has a flash sync speed fast enough, use your flash to fill the shadows. If not, get your subject or an assistant to hold a piece of white or colored card to bounce the sunlight into the shadows. You could use your self-timer and hold it yourself.[4]
   • Don’t rely on your flash. That is to say, if you don’t have a ton of studio lighting (and you probably don’t, since you’re reading this), don’t count on your flash to illuminate your scene or your subject. Using it to fill in shadows is fine; depending on it as your only source of lighting is usually a bad thing. Go outside if weather permits, or get more natural light into your scene by getting closer to windows if it does not.

3. Make your subject comfortable. A comfortable subject will feel happier, more relaxed and less “posed”. This will make for much better shots.
• Get to like your subject, and have them like you. If you have time, talk to your subject. Learn to be genuinely interested in other people (or if you’re terminally sociopathic, fake it). As one photographer writes about the famous photographer Elsa Dorfman,
  Elsa has the same kind of studio, background, lights, and equipment as a lot of folks with more technical skill. Yet those folks aren’t portrait photographers and Elsa is. What’s the difference? Elsa cares about people. She is genuinely curious about people she has never met and can connect with them in just a few minutes. After a one-hour session, she knows more about her average subject’s life than I do about my sister’s.[5]
• Get them comfortable with you having a camera around, time permitting. Many, probably most, people freeze up and feel awkward the moment you pull the camera out.
• Factor your subject’s feelings in with your lens choices. This is not as strange as it might sound. A super-wide angle lens will require you to travel halfway up the nose of your subject in order to frame the photo properly. On the other hand, a subject might feel distinctly awkward at a monster Howitzer-sized telephoto pointing at them from 50 feet away.
• Give your subject something to play with. People with something in their hands will relax their shoulders more and feel less awkward than they would if they were standing around doing nothing.[6] If you’re taking body shots, have them hold something relevant to them as a person (for example, an executive might hold a book,[6] a child might hold a teddy bear, a photographer might hold a camera, and so on). If you’re not taking body shots, even better; find something to keep their hands occupied. Try a stress ball or something else that gives your subject something to do.
4. Choose your lens and frame your shot. There are three primary ways to frame a portrait; which you will choose is a matter of artistic judgment.

The head-and-shoulders shot. If you’re starting out taking portraits, this is probably the best place to start. For this, use a telephoto lens. Ignore the myth of a “portrait lens”. There is no optimal lens focal length for portraits.[7] Longer lenses are good, because they force you to stand further back, and consequently, due to perspective, facial features like noses are de-emphasised (but see “factor in your subject’s feelings with your lens choices” above). They also give the illusion of a shallower depth of field (i.e. blurring the background more).[8] In accordance with the rule of thirds, have the subject’s eyes one third of the way from the top of the frame. Set your camera to aperture-priority (Av) mode and use a large aperture to blur the background to make it less distracting (or if you have a “Portrait” mode on your camera, use that instead).

• The body shot. All of the above applies. Have your subject stand at a slight angle to the camera; they will look slimmer and more relaxed.[6]
• The “environmental” portrait, of people in action and in context. Compared to the above, this is difficult to get right and very easy to make into a mere snapshot, so tread carefully. Use a wider-angle lens for this sort of thing.
• Everything else. The cost of experimentation with digital cameras is almost exactly zero. If you have time, try different and drastic angles, strange framing, zooming in “too close”, and so on (see also “ignore this article”, below).

1. Focus and take your pictures. If your camera has an auto-exposure and auto-focus lock, then meter and focus on the subject’s face, lock, reframe, and then take your photo.
2. Post-process your photo. Use advanced photo editing software like GIMP or Photoshop. Correct the colour balance and remove any haziness. You might want to sharpen features like hair and clothing; smooth out lines and imperfections in faces (this latter part might not be necessary; the sharpening of other features in the photo will make skin look smoother, because our eyes perceive sharpness and softness relative to other things in the photo). Brighten the eyes using the “Levels” tool.
3. Ignore this article. Photography is an art, not a set of methods. You can follow all these steps and still take an uninteresting photograph that you dislike. Technically “incorrect” photos can be the most stunning, such as those which are hugely over-exposed, harshly lit, packed with “distracting” background detail, strangely composed, and so on.[9] Know the rules, but know that you can, and should, break them whenever you see fit.

Tips

• Don’t bother with a tripod unless poor light mandates it. This will give you greater freedom to experiment with angles, as well as giving you less gear to carry around.
• Don’t read the discussion of lenses above as an excuse to wait until you have a certain lens (or even a digital SLR at all). Use what you have and work according to its strengths and limitations. Remember that even a 50mm lens effectively becomes a 75-80mm lens on digital SLRs with small sensors (nearly all of them) — a useful length for portraits.

Things You’ll Need

A camera. An SLR and a bunch of lenses (or a single, versatile zoom) are nice if you have them; whatever else you have is fine if you do not.

• Someone to photograph. Start with family and close friends; they’re the most likely to be comfortable around you and, consequently, will look less “posed” and more comfortable in a photo.

Related wikiHows

• How to Take Better Photographs
• How to Choose a Camera
• How to Take Better Pictures of People for Free
• How to Pose for Portraits
• How to Retone a Photograph with GIMP

Sources and Citations

1. ↑ Ken Rockwell, How to Set White Balance.
2. ↑ Bill Hunter, Portrait Photographer’s Handbook (ISBN 9781584282075), p. 77.
3. ↑ Ross Hoddinott, The Digital Photographer’s Guide to Filters (ISBN 9780715326541), pp. 40-41.
4. ↑ AnandTech Guide to Better Photos: Portraits
5. ↑ Quoted from Portrait Photography, by Phillip Greenspun.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Photography tips: taking portrait photos
7. ↑ See Portrait Lenses by Ken Rockwell.
8. ↑ Niell Benvie, The Art of Nature Photography (ISBN 0817433112) says, “The illusion of a telephoto’s shallow depth of field anses from the magnification of an out-of-focus background”.. See also Paul van Walree’s page on misconceptions in photographic optics. “Yes, a telephoto lens may give rise to a large (absolute) blur of the background, but this is not a matter of DOF. From the definition of the depth of field it is clear that DOF should should be judged by the in-focus parts of the image, now matter how unsharp the out-of-focus parts may be.”
9. ↑ See 16 Inspirational Portrait Photography Techniques by Brian Auer.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Take Portrait Photographs. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

இயற்கை மருத்துவ முகாம்-1: "குலசேகரபட்டினத்தில்"

இலவச ஏழு நாட்கள் இயற்கை மருத்துவம், யோகா சிகிச்சை மற்றும் விழிப்புணர்வு முகாம்

நடைபெறும் இடம்:
—————————-
இயற்கை வாழ்வு நிலையம்
(வள்ளியம்மையார் ஆசிரியைப் பயிற்சிப்பள்ளி அருகில்)
குலசேகரப்பட்டினம்-628206
திருச்செந்தூர் வழி, தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டம்

நாட்கள்: 2009 மே 18 முதல் 24 வரை

மருத்துவம் அவசியமா? நோய் தராத உணவுகள் எவை? நோய் தரும் உணவுகள் எவை? எப்பொழுது உண்ணவேண்டும்? எப்படி உண்ணவேண்டும்? எதை உண்ணவேண்டும்? நோய்வந்தால், எளிய இயற்கை வழியில் நம்மை நாமே எப்படி குனப்படுத்திக்கொள்வது? போன்ற கேள்விகளுக்கெல்லாம் விடைகாண.

புனேயில் உள்ள “நேஷனல் இன்ஸ்டிடுட் ஆஃப் நூட்ட்ரிஷன்” (National Institute of Nutrition, Pune) உதவியுடன் நடத்தப்படுகிறது.

கலந்துகொள்ள விரும்புவோர் தொடர்புகொள்ள:

அலைபேசி: 9380873645, 9944042986.
மின்னஞ்சல்: fruitarianashram@gmail.com

இன்று ஒரு தகவல்-22: "உலக டிஜிட்டல் நூலகம்"

ஏப்ரல் 21 அன்று “சர்வ தேச டிஜிட்டல் நூலகம்” திறக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. வரும் 2010 ஆண்டுக்குள் ஒரு கோடிப் புத்தகங்கள் இந்த வெப்சைட்டில் சேர்க்கப்பட உள்ளன. பழமையான புத்தகங்கள், வரைபடங்கள், ஆடியோ, வீடியோ உள்ளிட்ட தகவல்களை இலவசமாக ‘டௌன்லோட்’ செய்துகொள்ளலாம்.

வலை முகவரி: http://www.wdl.org/

நன்றி: தினமலர், மதுரை, ஏப்ரல் 24, 2009.

ஆன்மீக சிந்தனை-20:

தர்மோ ரக்ஷதி, தர்மம் ரக்ஷித – தர்மத்தைக் காப்பீர்களானால் தர்மம் உங்களைக் காக்கும். – பகவான் சத்யா சாய்பாபா

எனக்குப் பிடித்த கவிதை-49: "வருகுது, வருகுது, தேர்தல் வருகுது"

வருகுது, வருகுது, வருகுது, வருகுது!
தேர்தல் வருகுது, தேர்தல் வருகுது!
வீட்டுச் சுவர்களும் வீதி மரங்களும்
ஊர்வன பறப்பன ஒன்று விடாமல்
வண்ணம் பூசிச் சின்னம் தாங்க
வருகுது, வருகுது, தேர்தல் வருகுது!

தெருக்கள் தோறும் கட்சித் தோரணம்
திரும்பும் இடமெல்லாம் கட்சித் தலைவரின்
‘கட்-அவுட்’ சிரிக்க; வண்ண மின்னொளி
தாங்கும் மேடைகள்; சாதனை; பேச்சுக்கள்!
தினந்தினம் நடக்க தெரு-விழா காண
வருகுது, வருகுது, தேர்தல் வருகுது!

கள்ளப் பணமும் கறுப்புப் பணமும்
வெளியில் வந்து வீடுகள் தோறும்
“உங்கள் வீட்டுப் பிள்ளை நான்தான்
உங்கட் காகவே உழைப்பேன் நான்” என
சென்ற தேர்தலில் ஒட்டு வாங்கிச்
சென்றவர்! – மீண்டும் இன்று திரும்பி
குழைந்து பேச கும்பிடு போட
வருகுது, வருகுது, தேர்தல் வருகுது!

இருக்கும் கட்சி உடைந்து சிதற
இன்னொரு கட்சி கூட்டணி அமைக்க
தோளோடு தோளாய் இருந்தவர் பிரிந்து
இவர்மேல் அவரும் அவர்மேல் இவரும்
ஊழல் குற்றம் ஊர்தோறும் கூறி
நாக்கு நாடகம் நடத்திக் காட்ட
வருகுது, வருகுது, தேர்தல் வருகுது!

ஊர்ப்பண மெல்லாம் ஒருசிலர் மட்டும்
பங்கு போடவும் பதவிச் சண்டையில்
சட்ட மன்றில் கட்டிப் புரண்டு
இருக்கையை – செருப்பை எடுத்து வீசி
சிலம்பப் போரும் செய்து காட்டி
“மக்கள் ஆட்சியின் மாண்பைக்” காக்க
வருகுது, வருகுது, தேர்தல் வருகுது!

கவிஞர் கொட்டப்பட்டு ப.சக்திவேலன் அவர்கள் 1989-ல் எழுதிய கவிதை.

“எண்ணத் திவலைகள்”
கவிஞர் கொட்டப்பட்டு ப.சக்திவேலன்
இளங்கதிர் வெளியீட்டகம்
19, காளியம்மன் கோவில் தெரு
கொட்டப்பட்டு, பொன்மலை
திருச்சி-620004
தொலைபேசி: 0431-2491097

நன்றி: கவிஞர் கொட்டப்பட்டு ப.சக்திவேலன் அவர்கள் & இளங்கதிர் வெளியீட்டகம்.

Eyecatchers-137: "100 Milestone Documents of U.S.A."

100 Milestone Documents
http://www.ourdocuments.gov
U.S. National Archives & Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20408 • 1-86-NARA-NARA • 1-866-272-6272

A list of 100 milestone documents which chronicle United States history from 1776 to 1965 has been compiled by the National Archives and Records Administration. These documents are drawn primarily from its nationwide holdings. They contain some important Public laws, Supreme Court decisions, Inaugural speeches, Treaties, Constitutional Amendments, and other documents that have influenced the course of U.S. history. According to the U.S.National Archives & Records Administration: “They have helped shape the national character, and they reflect our diversity, our unity, and our commitment as a nation to continue our work toward forming “a more perfect union.”

To view all the 100 milestone documents:
http://www.ourdocuments.gov/print_friendly.php?flash=true&page=milestone&title=100+Milestone+Documents

Grateful thanks to U.S.National Archives & Records Administration (www.ourdocuments.gov).

Short Stories-30: "Three Questions" by Leo Tolstoy (Translated by L. and A. Maude)

It once occurred to a certain king, that if he always knew the right time to begin everything; if he knew who were the right people to listen to, and whom to avoid; and, above all, if he always knew what was the most important thing to do, he would never fail in anything he might undertake.

And this thought having occurred to him, he had it proclaimed throughout his kingdom that he would give a great reward to any one who would teach him what was the right time for every action, and who were the most necessary people, and how he might know what was the most important thing to do.

And learned men came to the King, but they all answered his questions differently.

In reply to the first question, some said that to know the right time for every action, one must draw up in advance, a table of days, months and years, and must live strictly according to it. Only
thus, said they, could everything be done at its proper time. Others declared that it was impossible to decide beforehand the right time for every action; but that, not letting oneself be absorbed in idle pastimes, one should always attend to all that was going on, and then do what was most needful. Others, again, said that however attentive the King might be to what was going on, it was impossible for one man to decide correctly the right time for every action, but that he should have a Council of wise men, who would help him to fix the proper time for everything.

But then again others said there were some things which could not wait to be laid before a Council, but about which one had at once to decide whether to undertake them or not. But in order to decide that, one must know beforehand what was going to happen. It is only magicians who know that; and, therefore, in order to know the right time for every action, one must consult magicians.

Equally various were the answers to the second question. Some said, the people the King most needed were his councillors; others, the priests; others, the doctors; while some said the warriors were the most necessary.

To the third question, as to what was the most important occupation: some replied that the most important thing in the world was science. Others said it was skill in warfare; and others, again, that it was religious worship.

All the answers being different, the King agreed with none of them, and gave the reward to none. But still wishing to find the right answers to his questions, he decided to consult a hermit, widely
renowned for his wisdom.

The hermit lived in a wood which he never quitted, and he received none but common folk. So the King put on simple clothes, and before reaching the hermit’s cell dismounted from his horse, and, leaving his body-guard behind, went on alone.

When the King approached, the hermit was digging the ground in front of his hut. Seeing the King, he greeted him and went on digging. The hermit was frail and weak, and each time he stuck his spade into the ground and turned a little earth, he breathed heavily.

The King went up to him and said: “I have come to you, wise hermit, to ask you to answer three questions: How can I learn to do the right thing at the right time? Who are the people I most need, and to whom should I, therefore, pay more attention than to the rest? And, what affairs are the most important, and need my first attention?”

The hermit listened to the King, but answered nothing. He just spat on his hand and recommenced digging.

“You are tired,” said the King, “let me take the spade and work awhile for you.”

“Thanks!” said the hermit, and, giving the spade to the King, he sat down on the ground.

When he had dug two beds, the King stopped and repeated his questions. The hermit again gave no answer, but rose, stretched out his hand for the spade, and said:

“Now rest awhile-and let me work a bit.”

But the King did not give him the spade, and continued to dig. One hour passed, and another. The sun began to sink behind the trees, and the King at last stuck the spade into the ground, and said:

“I came to you, wise man, for an answer to my questions. If you can give me none, tell me so, and I will return home.”

“Here comes some one running,” said the hermit, “let us see who it is.”

The King turned round, and saw a bearded man come running out of the wood. The man held his hands pressed against his stomach, and blood was flowing from under them. When he reached the King, he fell fainting on the ground moaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened the man’s clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach. The King washed it as best he could, and bandaged it with his handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But the blood would not stop flowing, and the King again and again removed the bandage soaked with warm blood, and washed and rebandaged the wound. When at last the blood ceased flowing, the man revived and asked for something to drink. The King brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhile the sun had set, and it had become cool. So the King, with the hermit’s help, carried the wounded man into the hut and laid him on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes and was quiet; but the King was so tired with his walk and with the work he had done, that he crouched down on the threshold, and also fell asleep–so soundly that he slept all through the short summer night. When he awoke in the morning, it was long before he could remember where he was, or who was the strange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently at him with shining eyes.

“Forgive me!” said the bearded man in a weak voice, when he saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.

“I do not know you, and have nothing to forgive you for,” said the King.

“You do not know me, but I know you. I am that enemy of yours who swore to revenge himself on you, because you executed his brother and seized his property. I knew you had gone alone to see the hermit, and I resolved to kill you on your way back. But the day passed and you did not return. So I came out from my ambush to find you, and I came upon your bodyguard, and they recognized me, and wounded me. I escaped from them, but should have bled to death had you not dressed my wound. I wished to kill you, and you have saved my life. Now, if I live, and if you wish it, I will serve you as your most faithful slave, and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me!”

The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemy so easily, and to have gained him for a friend, and he not only forgave him, but said he would send his servants and his own physician to attend him, and promised to restore his property.

Having taken leave of the wounded man, the King went out into the porch and looked around for the hermit. Before going away he wished once more to beg an answer to the questions he had put. The hermit was outside, on his knees, sowing seeds in the beds that had been dug the day before.

The King approached him, and said:

“For the last time, I pray you to answer my questions, wise man.”

“You have already been answered!” said the hermit, still crouching on his thin legs, and looking up at the King, who stood before him.

“How answered? What do you mean?” asked the King.

“Do you not see,” replied the hermit. “If you had not pitied my weakness yesterday, and had not dug those beds for me, but had gone your way, that man would have attacked you, and you would have repented of not having stayed with me. So the most important time was when you were digging the beds; and I was the most important man; and to do me good was your most important business. Afterwards when that man ran to us, the most important time was when you were attending to him, for if you had not bound up his wounds he would have died without having made peace with you. So he was the most important man, and what you did for him was your most important business. Remember then: there is only one time that is important– Now! It is the most important time because it is the only time when we have any power. The most necessary man is he with whom you are, for no man knows whether he will ever have dealings with any one else: and the most important affair is, to do him good, because for that purpose alone was man sent into this life!”

From the ebook “What Men Live By and Other Tales by Leo Tolstoy and Translated by L. and A. Maude by courtesy of Project Gutenberg.

Grateful thanks to L. and A.Maude and Project Gutenberg.

Book News-28: Book turns Bestseller – "Open Veins of Latin America"

Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent by Uruguayan writer, Eduardo Galeano
A Passionate account of Latin American History

One of the biggest winners at the ongoing fifth Summit of the Americas turned out to be a decades-old book about Latin America’s colonial past.

The “Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent” by Uruguayan writer, Eduardo Galeano rocketed to bestseller status on Saturday night (April 18, 2009) on the online bookstore Amazon.com after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez handed him a copy of the book to U.S.President Barack Obama on Saturday. Mr.Chavez and Mr.Obama were in Port of Spain to attend the three-day summit between April 17 and 19. The copy had a Chavez handwritten dedicatory that stated: “Para Obama con afecto” – To Obama with affection).

The publicity about the gift helped propel its English version from relative obscurity to No.10 on the Amazon.com list of bestsellers. The book also topped Amazon’s “Movers and Shakers”, a list of the biggest gainers in its book sales rank over 24 hours. After receiving the gift, Mr Obama jokingly said he thought it was a book written by Mr.Chavez.

First published in 1971 and reissued in several new editions since then, the book is called by one reviewer as a “passionate account of 500 years of Latin American history, written with drama, humour, and compassion.” – Xinhua.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 20, 2009.

Grateful thanks to Xinhua and The Hindu, India’s National Newspaper.

நாலாயிர திவ்வியப் பிரபந்தம்-2:

குலந்தரும் செல்வம் தந்திடும் அடியார் படுதுயர் ஆயின எல்லாம்
நிலந்தரம் செய்யும் நீள்விசும்பு அருளும் அருளொடு பெருநிலம் அளிக்கும்
வலந்தரும் மற்றுந் தந்திடும் பெற்றதாயினும் ஆயின செய்யும்
நலந்தருஞ் சொல்லை நான்கண்டு கொண்டேன் நாராயணா என்னும் நாமம்.

– திருமங்கை ஆழ்வார் பாசுரம்

திருமந்திரம்-10:

புறப்பட்டுப் புக்குத் திரிகின்ற வாயுவை
நெறிப்பட உள்ளே நின்மலம் ஆக்கில்
உறுப்புச் சிவக்கும் உரோம் கருக்கும்
புறப்பட்டுப் போகான் புரிசடை யோனே.

தேவாரம்-6: "தோடுடைய செவியன்…"

தோடுடைய செவியென் விடையேறியோர் தூவெண் மதிசூடிக்
காடுடைய சுடலைப் பொடிபூசி எனுள்ளங் கவர்கள்வன்
ஏடுடைய மலரான்முனை நாட் பணிந்தேத்த அருள்செய்த
பீடுடைய பிரமாபுர மேவிய பெம்மான் இவனென்றே.

From My Spiritual Diary-60: "Controlling the Mind"

How hard it is to control the mind! Well has it been compared to the maddened monkey. There was a monkey, restless by his own nature, as all monkeys are. As if that were not enough, some one made him drink freely of wine, so that he became still more restless. Then a scorpion stung him. When a man is stung by a scorpion, he jumps about for a whole day; so the poor monkey found his condition worse than ever. To complete his misery, a demon entered into him. What language can describe the uncontrollable restlessness of that monkey? The human mind is like that monkey, incessantly active by its own nature; then it becomes drunk with the wine of desire, thus increasing its turbulence. After desire takes possession comes the sting of the scorpion of jealousy at the success of others, and last of all the demon of pride enters the mind, making it think itself of all importance. How hard to control such a mind?

The first lesson, then, is to sit for some time and let the mind run on….Until you know what the mind is doing you cannot control it. Give it the rein; many hideous thoughts may come into it; you will be astonished that it was possible for you to think such thoughts. But you will find that each day the mind’s vagaries are becoming less and less violent, that each day it is becoming calmer…..we must patiently practise every day…..It is a tremendous work, not to be done in a day. Only after a patient, continuous struggle for years can we succeed.

Excerpt from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda.

Letters-72: "Politicisation"

1. It is unfortunate that the Sri Lankan Tamils issue is occupying centre stage in Tamil Nadu politics. Every party is trying to outdo the other in portraying itself as the champion of the Tamils’ cause. The ruling DMK is resorting to flipflops to ensure that even while it remains part of the UPA, it is not compelled to yield ground to other parties. The real issue has been obfuscated and the plight of the Sri Lankan Tamils has become secondary in comparison with the LTTE, which is getting undue coverage and misplaced sympathy. – G.Gokul Kishore, New Delhi.

2. Our leaders do not seem to have genuine concern for the innocent Tamils caught in the crossfire between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan army. They seem to be more worried about the LTTE and its chief Prabakaran. They are engaged in a war of statements. Have they taken any step other than going on strikes, organising human chains and writing to the Centre on the issue? – D.Asokan, Tiruvarur.

3. Thousands of innocent Sri Lankan Tamils are caught between the LTTE and the armed forces. Both sides are militant in achieving their goals and the poor people have become pawns in their game. Their misery is a godsend to our politicians. It helps them remain in the limelight and divert people’s attention from price rise, misrule, unemployment, power shortage etc. – A.K.Chari, New Delhi.

4. Colombo is fighting a dreaded terrorist outfit. I fail to understand how anybody can demand that Sri Lanka should stop the war against the LTTE, which is holding the civilians as a human shield. It is the LTTE which should be persuaded to release the people. – P.Senthil Kumar, Gurgaon.

5. The strike called by Mr.Karunanidhi to protest against the killing of Sri Lankan Tamils is unwarranted. We have had enough of strikes, bandhs, fasts, etc. on the issue. It is quite apparent that the move is the result of political compulsions. – N.Nagesh, Chennai.

6. It is frustrating to see bandhs and strikes being organised for some reason or the other. The DMK government should understand the pulse of the common man, who is burdened with day-to-day problems in view of the recession. It should not thrust its outdated ideas on the people to get political mileage in the coming election. – S.Balasubramanian, Chennai.

7. Why are not our politicians talking about development issues? When will we see the end of hartals, strikes, etc., which make the life of the common man a nightmare for no fault of his? – A.C.Krishnan, Chennai.

8. How will a general strike here help the Tamils suffering in Sri Lanka? Instead of observing a strike, the political parties can jointly bring pressure on the Centre to request Colombo to ensure the safety of the Tamils. The Prabakaran question can be discussed later. – Chambath Gopalakrishanan, Palakkad.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 23, 2009 (‘Letters to the Editor’).

Grateful thanks to M/s.G.Gokul Kishore, D.Asokan, A.K.Chari, P.Senthil Kumar, N.Nagesh, S.Balasubramanian, Chambath Gopalakrishnan and The Hindu, India’s National Newspaper.

Letters-71: "LTTE and Terrorism"

1. The world must allow the Sri Lankan government, which has come so close to eliminating the LTTE menace, to do everything it can to complete the task. By any logic, the military can only limit the extent of civilian damage. Any pause in the current offensive will allow the LTTE to regroup. Once the LTTE is finished, India and the rest of the world can apply pressure on Colombo to address the genuine issues of the Tamils. – V.Govindarajan, Singapore.

2. According to the Oxford Dictionary, a terrorist “is a person using especially organised violence to secure political ends.” In the context of Prabakaran and the LTTE, the word should redefined to read as “a sadist who wants to see human blood flow in his relentless pursuit of imaginary ends.” – S.Ramakrishnasayee, Ranipet.

Courtesy: The Hindu, Madurai, April 23, 2009.

Grateful thanks to M/s.V.Govindarajan, S.Ramakrishnasayee and The Hindu, India’s National Newspaper.

Self-Improvement-51: "Promises to Keep"

Promise Yourself ….

1. To be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
2. To talk Health, Happiness and Prosperity to everyone you meet.
3. To make all your friends feel that there is something of value in them.
4. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come through.
5. To think only the best, to work only for the best and to expect the best.
6. To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
7. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
8. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticise others.

Courtesy: “Imaya Geetam”, Tamil Monthly, April 2009.
Grateful thanks to “Imaya Geetam”.