Light up your nights!

Labels: ad, india, video

Children @ Play II - Happy Mid-Autumn Festival :)

It was a very hot day today...much hotter than the official reading of 30degC. We met as per plan to have a BBQ party under our building...only that it was too hot even at 3pm and we had to take the kids to the clubhouse instead...
After we took off our shoes, the kids ensured that all hell broke loose...including the toys and stuff...I rushed to get my camera...
They pushed, pulled and tumbled over...a few times it was quite spectacular!
The playground is an interesting place and has something for everybody...even for the most curious kids...
But the rocking chairs and play was too much for one little baby...She took a nap...
45 minutes alter we went out on to the lawn...where two of them decided to play some chess in their style.
The pawns were heavy but they did manage to lift them...
The baby woke up and looked around until she found something interesting...
A tiny water fountain...with its frozen crystal drops of water...
Soon it was time to return home and the attention switched to NDS, Wii and XBOX360...
And some music. We were exhausted...but the baby was full of energy...she is still running around :-))
At long last the baby is not scared of me any more...doesn't run away...doesn't cry if I pick her up...I am no longer the monster...I am family...End of part II.

Click here to read what my fellow photobloggers had to say about it.

Labels: children, photoblog, Photography

Lights & Portraits - Photography Course by Richard Wong

I joined a very enjoyable course on Lighting for Cinematographers and Photographers by Richard Wong. At first there was a theory class on the Laws of Light. Then a quick lunch followed by a shoot in the canteen. Everybody seemed quite shy in the beginning and took time to open up, i.e. in front of the camera. Then we went out on to the street...back again at the studio, we set up different lightings and had a go at each other...It was a great evening and we are meeting up again soon. The emphasis was on portraits.

Read what my fellow photobloggers had to say about it - Click here.

Labels: photoblog, Photography, portraits, richard wong

Do we want to be Shopkeepers or customers?

An interesting article on USA's Spending, written by an Indian Economist:

Japanese save a lot. They do not spend much. Also Japanexports far more
than it imports. Has an annual trade surplus of over $100 billions. Yet
Japanese economy is considered weak, even collapsing.

Americans spend, save little. Also US imports more than it exports. Has an
annual trade deficit of over $400 billion. Yet, the American economy is
considered strong and trusted to get stronger.

But where from do Americans get money to spend?

They borrow from Japan, Chinaand even India. Virtually others save for
the USto spend. Global savings are mostly invested in US, in dollars.

Indiaitself keeps its foreign currency assets of over $50 billions in US
securities. Chinahas sunk over $160 billion in US securities. Japan's
stakes in US securities is in trillions.

Result:

The UShas taken over $5 trillion from the world. So, as the world saves
for the US, Americans spend freely. Today, to keep the USconsumption
going, that is for the USeconomy to work, other countries have to remit
$180 billion every quarter, which is $2 billion a day, to the US!

Otherwise the USeconomy would go for a six. So will the global economy.

The result will be no different if US consumers begin consuming less.

A Chinese economist asked a neat question. Who has invested more, US in
China, or Chinain US? The UShas invested in Chinaless than half of what
Chinahas invested in US. The same is the case with India. We have
invested in US over $50 billion. But the UShas invested less than $20
billion in India.


Why the world is after US?

The secret lies in the American spending, that they hardly save. In fact
they use their credit cards to spend their future income. That the US
spends is what makes it attractive to export to the US. So US imports more
than what it exports year after year.

The result:

The world is dependent on USconsumption for its growth. By its deepening
culture of consumption, the UShas habituated the world to feed on US
consumption. But as the USneeds money to finance its consumption, the
world provides the money. It's like a shopkeeper providing the money to a
customer so that the customer keeps buying from the shop. If the customer
will not buy, the shop won't have business, unless the shopkeeper funds
him. The USis like the lucky customer. And the world is like the helpless
shopkeeper financier.

Who is America's biggest shopkeeper financier? Japan of course. Yet it's
Japanwhich is regarded as weak. Modern economists complain that Japanese
do not spend, so they do not grow. To force the Japanese to spend, the
Japanese government exerted it self, reduced the savings rates, even
charged the savers. Even then the Japanese did not spend (habits don't
change, even with taxes, do they?). Their traditional postal savings alone
is over$1.2 trillions, about three times the Indian GDP. Thus, savings,
far from being the strength of Japan, has become its pain.

Hence, what is the lesson?

That is, a nation cannot grow unless the people spend, not save. Not just
spend, but borrow and spend. Dr. Jagdish Bhagwati, the famous Indian-born
economist in the US, told Manmohan Singh that Indians wastefully save. Ask
them to spend, on imported cars and, seriously, even on cosmetics! This
will put Indiaon a growth curve. "Saving is sin, and spending is virtue."
Before you follow this neo economics, get some fools to save so that you
can borrow from them and spend

Labels: article

Right to Emergency Care

Date of Judgment: 23/02/2007.
Case No.: Appeal (civil) 919 of 2007.

The Supreme Court has ruled that all injured persons especially in the case of road traffic accidents, assaults, etc., when brought to a hospital / medical centre, have to be offered first aid, stabilized and shifted to a higher centre / government centre if required. It is only after this that the hospital can demand payment or complete police formalities. In case you are a bystander and wish to help someone in an accident, please go ahead and do so. Your responsibility ends as soon as you leave the person at the hospital.

The hospital bears the responsibility of informing the police, first aid, etc.

Please do inform your family and friends about these basic rights so that we all know what to expect and what to do in the hour of need.

Labels: india, medical

Yuvraj 6 Sixes vs England Twenty20 World Cup Match

Labels: sixes, yuvraj

Take care of your heart!

A chat with Dr.Devi Shetty, Narayana Hrudayalaya (Heart Specialist) Bangalore was arranged by WIPRO for its employees. The transcript of the chat is given below. Useful for everyone.

Qn: What are the thumb rules for a layman to take care of his heart?
Ans:
1. Diet - Less of carbohydrate, more of protein, less oil
2.Exercise - Half an hour's walk, at least five days a week; avoid lifts and avoid sitting for a longtime
3. Quit smoking
4. Control weight
5. Control blood pressure and sugar

Qn: Is eating non-vegfood (fish) good for the heart?
Ans: No

Qn: It's still a grave shock to hear that some apparently healthy person
gets a cardiac arrest. How do we understand it in perspective?
Ans: This is called silent attack; that is why we recommend everyone past the age of 30 to undergo routine healthcheckups.

Qn: Are heart diseases hereditary?
Ans: Yes

Qn: What are the ways in which the heart is stressed? What practices do you suggest to de-stress?
Ans:Change your attitude towards life.Do not look for perfection in everything in life.

Qn: Is walking better than jogging or is more intensive exercise required to keep a healthy heart?
Ans: Walking is better than jogging since jogging leads to early fatigue and injury to joints.

Qn: You have done so much for the poor and needy. What has inspired you to do so?
Ans: Mother Theresa, who was my patient.

Qn: Can people with low blood pressure suffer heart diseases?
Ans: Extremely rare

Qn: Does cholesterol accumulate right froman early age(I'mcurrently only 22) or do you have to worry about it only after you areabove 30 years of age?
Ans: Cholesterol accumulates from childhood.

Qn: How do irregular eating habits affect the heart?
Ans: You tend to eat junk food when thehabits are irregular and your body's enzyme release for digestion getsconfused.

Qn: How can I control cholesterol content without using medicines?
Ans: Control diet, walk and eat walnut.

Qn: Can yoga prevent heart ailments?
Ans: Yoga helps.

Qn: Which is the best and worst food forthe heart?
Ans: Fruits and vegetables are the best and the worst is oil.

Qn: Which oil is better - groundnut,sunflower, olive?
Ans: All oils are bad.

Qn: What is the routine checkup one should go through? Is there any specific test?
Ans: Routine blood test to ensure sugar,cholesterol is ok. Check BP, Treadmill test after an echo.

Qn: What are the first aid steps to be taken on a heart attack?
Ans: Help the person into a sleeping position, place an aspirin tablet under the tongue with a sorbitrate tablet if available, and rush him to a coronary care unit since the maximum casualty takes place within the first hour.

Qn: How do you differentiate between pain caused by a heart attack and that caused due to gastric trouble?
Ans: Extremely difficult without ECG.

Qn: What is the main cause of a steep increase in heart problems amongst youngsters? I see people of about30-40 yrs of age having heart attacks and serious heart problems.
Ans: Increased awareness has increased incidents. Also, sedentary lifestyles, smoking, junk food, lack of exercise in a country where people are genetically three times more vulnerable for heart attacks than Europeans and Americans.

Qn: Is it possible for a person to have BP outside the normal range of 120/80 and yet be perfectly healthy?
Ans: Yes.

Qn: Marriages within close relatives canlead to heart problems for the child. Is it true?
Ans: Yes, co-sanguinity leads to congenital abnormalities and you may not have a software engineer as a child

Qn: Many of us have an irregular daily routine and many a times we have to stay late nights in office. Doesthis affect our heart? What precautions would you recommend?
Ans: When you are young, nature protects you against all these irregularities. However, as you grow older,respect the biological clock.

Qn: Will taking anti-hypertensive drugs cause some other complications (short / long term)?
Ans: Yes, most drugs have some side effects. However, modern anti-hypertensive drugs are extremely safe.

Qn: Will consuming more coffee/tea lead to heart attacks?
Ans: No.

Qn: Are asthma patients more prone to heartdisease?
Ans: No.

Qn: How would you define junk food?
Ans: Fried food like KFC, McDonalds, samosas, and even masala dosas.

Qn: You mentioned that Indians are three times more vulnerable. What is the reason for this, as Europeans and Americans also eat a lot of junk food?
Ans: Every race is vulnerable to some disease and unfortunately, Indians are vulnerable for the most expensive disease.

Qn: Does consuming bananas help reduce hypertension?
Ans: No.

Qn: Can a person help himself during aheart attack (Because we see a lot of forwarded emails on this)?
Ans: Yes. Lie down comfortably and put an aspirin tablet of any description under the tongue and ask someone to take you to the nearest coronary care unit without any delay and do not wait for the ambulance since most of the time, the ambulance does not turn up.

Qn: Do, in any way, low white blood cells and low haemoglobin count lead to heart problems?
Ans: No. But it is ideal to have normal haemoglobin level to increase your exercise capacity.

Qn: Sometimes, due to the hectic schedule we are not able to exercise. So, does walking while doing daily choresat home or climbing the stairs in the house, work as a substitute for exercise?
Ans: Certainly. Avoid sitting continuously for more than half an hour and even the act of getting out of the chair and going to another chair and sitting helps a lot.

Qn: Is there a relation between heart problems and blood sugar?
Ans: Yes. A strong relationship, since diabetics are more vulnerable to heart attacks than non-diabetics.

Qn: What are the things one needs to takecare of after a heart operation?
Ans: Diet, exercise, drugs on time , Control cholesterol, BP, weight.

Qn: Are people working on night shifts more vulnerable to heart disease when compared to day shift workers?
Ans: No.

Qn: What are the modern anti-hypertensive drugs?
Ans: There are hundreds of drugs and your doctor will choose the right combination for your problem, but my suggestion is to avoid the drugs and go for natural ways of controlling blood pressure by walk, diet to reduce weight and changing attitudes towards lifestyles.

Qn: Does dispirin or similar headache pills increase the risk of heart attacks?
Ans: No.

Qn: Why is the rate of heart attacks more in men than in women?
Ans: Nature protects women till the age of 45.

Qn: How can one keep the heart in a good condition?
Ans: Eat a healthy diet, avoid junk food, exercise everyday, do not smoke and, go for health checkups if you are past the age of 30 (once in six months recommended) ...

Labels: general, health, heart attack, medical

SMS from KN

Sardar: saala, kal raat 3 ghanta Angrezi picture ki CD dekha. Na koi scene dikha na awaaz sunaai diya.
Friend: Movie ka naam kya tha?
Sardar: "NO DISC INSERTED".

Q: Why don't the Income Tax people ever raid Mallika Sherawat's home?
A: She has no hidden assets!

When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife!!

Man receives telegram: Wife dead. Should be buried or cremated?
Man: Don't take any chances. Burn the body and bury the ashes.

A girl says to her boyfriend, "One kiss and I'll be yours forever."
The guys says, "thanks for the warning!!"

Q: What's the difference between data & information?
A: 362436 = Data whereas 36-24-36 = Information!!

Labels: joke, sms

HOW TO CALL THE POLICE...

WHEN YOU'RE OLD AND DON'T MOVE FAST ANYMORE.

George Phillips of Meridian, Mississippi was going up to bed when his wife told him that he'd left the light on in the garden shed, which she could see from the bedroom window. George opened the back door to go turn off
the light but saw that there were people in the shed stealing things.
He phoned the police, who asked "Is someone in your house?" and he said "no". Then they said that all patrols were busy, and that he should simply lock his door and an officer would be along when available.� George said,
"Okay," hung up, counted to 30, and phoned the police again.

"Hello, I just called you a few seconds ago because there were people stealing things from my shed. Well, you don't have to worry about them now because I've just shot them." Then he hung up.
Within five minutes three police cars, an Armed Response Unit, and an ambulance showed up at the Phillips' residence and caught the burglars red-handed.
One of the Policemen said to George, "I thought you said that you'd shot them!" George said, "I thought you said there was nobody available!"

(True Story) I LOVE IT - Don't mess with senior citizens!

Labels: general, joke

President Bush went to school...

Once President BUSH went to a school to interact with the children. After having one brief talk with the children he asked them if they have any
questions to ask him.

One boy raised his hand and stood up;

Bush: what's your name?
John: John
Bush: What's your question?
John: Sir I have three questions:
1) Why did America attack Iraq without the approval of UNO?
2) Where is Osama?
3) Why does America support Pakistan so much?

Bush: you are an intelligent student John?(just then the bell for
recess rang)
Bush : Oh dear students, we will continue after the recess is over.

After the recess...

Bush: Ok children where were we? Yes, so anybody wants to ask any questions?
Peter raises his hand.
Bush :Whats your name?
Peter : Its Peter. Sir, I have 5 questions:?
1) Why did America attack Iraq without the approval of UNO?
2) Where is Osama?
3) Why does America support Pakistan so much?
4) Why did recess bell ring 20 mins before the scheduled time?
5)Where is JOHN??

Labels: joke

Amazing Abacus Skills!! WOW!!

Labels: abacus, amazing, video

Jung Jung Jung Yeah Jung

Labels: abhishek bachchan, ad, motorola, video

Yet more ads!

Crazy hairstyle - Center Shock

Labels: ad, video

Rinpoche - my favourite ad

Labels: ad, havells, rinpoche, video

IN INDIA NOWADAYS..... :)

Labels: Cartoons, joke

Cute Ganpati series :)

Labels: cute, Ganpati

Samsung builds the world's tallest tower in Dubai

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070913/wl_mideast_afp/uaedubaiconstructiontower
Click here!

Bhagwad Gita : A great poem!

An old Farmer lived on a farm in the mountains with his young grandson.
Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table reading his
Bhagavat Gita. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to
imitate him in every way he could.

One day the grandson asked, "Grandpa! I try to read the Bhagawat Geeta just
like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as
soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Bhagawat Geeta do?"

The Grandfather quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied,
"Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of
water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back
to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You'll have to move a
little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket
to try again.

This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he
returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was
impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
The old man said, "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of
water. You're just not trying hard enough," and he went out the door to
watch the boy try again.

At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his
grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would leak
out before he got back to the house.

The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he
reached his grandfather the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he
said, "See Grandpa, it's useless!" >

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, "Look at the basket."

The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the
basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket
and was now clean, inside and out.

"Son, that's what happens when you read the Bhagavat Gita. You might not
understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be
changed, inside and out. That is the work of Krishna in our lives."

Labels: bhagwad gita, general, inspirational

This is about software bugs - received by email

Labels: bugs, Cartoons

9/11 - A day of Silence

I maintained a day of silence for 9/11. It's been 6 years and it amazes me to see the reaction of some people around me...they never cared. Too selfish and stuck within their own world.

Labels: 9/11

hong chi climbathon

We are sending two teams to participate in the Hong Chi Climbathon on Oct27.
I am not sure whether I can join or not...may be away on holiday...or celebrating K's birthday somewhere!
Anyways, Ben and myself went to the press conference and met Hins Cheung there.
He said thanks several times and was happy to know that my first Mandarin Karaoke song was his My Way. Looked quite down to earth and nice guy to me...I wish he had to wear less make up...but I guess all celebrities need to do that for the media...
Here is a video clipping...I am there towards the end (1:28-1:38)when we gathered round for a group photo. hehe
Cheers to my way and a great cause!
I need a hair cut but I can't back to Joe's...he cuts it too short!!

Labels: hins cheung, hong Chi Climbathon, karaoke

I almost fell...

Labels: general

Dumb & Dumber!

Labels: video

Gweilo & Bollywood :-))

A good laugh. Well, done!!

Labels: video

Vande Mataram - AR Rehman

This is one of my all time favourite songs and videos.

Labels: music video, vande mataram

It's never too early or late to RECYCLE!!

Labels: recycle

Cancer Update from John Hopkins (emailed article)

This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Please circulate to all you know Cancer update
John Hopkins -- Cancer News from John Hopkins
No plastic containers in micro
No water bottles in freezer.
No plastic wrap in microwave...
A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.
Recently,... Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.
He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers...
This especially applies to foods that contain fat.
He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body...
Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food... You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.
Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.
He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons...
Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

God Bless You!

Labels: cancer, general, medical

Rise of the Waterfalls

Sept1. The dreaded day had arrived. I got up early and got ready as well. No call from Jeff. So I called him...he was already on the way!I wasted precious time walking around trying to flag a cab...since it was too late when I got one, I directed him to take me to Tai Po Market. Cost me a bit...but so embarrassing to arrive late! I was late by 10 mins..We gathered in front of the ticket office to check for supplies...the forecast was 32deg in 90+% relative humidity...there was enough water for the trip. I grabbed a Tuna Bun and popped down my panadol tabs. The sore throat had left me exhausted and I need strength to do my first proper hike in months!We got off the bus at the base of the stream. Gary was quite late but allowed himself to be persuaded to join us later. The walk up the temple was quite easy...only when we climbed a bit further did we realize that it was not an easy one...We encountered 4 major waterfalls - the bottom fall, the middle fall, the main fall and the scattered fall...Julian struggled with his bad knee (but rewarded himself with a massage on the same day and another one on the following day in Shenzhen!!).Some of the shots were ok...but I did miss my tripod so much..I was too tired and hot to hold the camera steady and almost all my HDR shots and slow shutter speed shots were ruined...Some of us decided to leave early rather than carry on to the peak...we missed a great view from the peak...but hey I had to get home before dark...that's when the evil spirits are out and about in this Chinese month...wooo woooo...no...that's just me practising my werewolf call...Hope you enjoy this set.
Read what my fellow-photobloggers had to say about this set by clicking here.

Labels: hong kong, nature, ng tung stream, photoblog, Photography, stream, tai mo shan, waterfall

Book Review : Same Soul, Many Bodies

Dr.Brian's latest book was published in 2004 almost 24 years after his first book Many Lives, Many Masters. This one deals more with progression into future lives...The first thing you notice is the difference in style of writing and presentation which is far better now. The good doctor has come a long way ahead and become more confident in this method of treating his patients. In this book he emphasizes on many virtues that we should work on in this lifetime so that we can walk closer to immortality and becoming one. Virtues like love, compassion, controlling anger, understanding, non-violence, spirituality, etc are dealt with in a nice manner. He has supplied real-life examples from his extensive list of patients; this adds to the fun.
JL mentioned about this book to me some time back but I was unable to get it in HK. Luckily, Peggy got hold of a copy at PageOne in SG...she sent it to me :)
A very nice read and I recommend it to you my friends.

Labels: book review, Brian L Weiss, Same Soul Many Bodies

Meiyang Chang : Exit

Even after his exit, Meiyang is Indian Idol...


Meiyang Chang in Roobaro after his exit. He joins other top 4 contestents on 30-Aug-07 (more)


Meiyang Chang speak about his Exit in Aaj Tak on 26-Aug-07 along with Deepali (more)


Chang voted out 25-Aug-07. He reached till top 5 and voted out after giving superb peformance by singing " Om Shanti Om"


God knows why he was called "chingu mangu"...sounds quite derogatory but probably is not...

Labels: Indian Idol, Meiyang Chang, Music, music video

Ocean Froth

If you thought there was nothing like the ocean whipping up a cappuccino, you are wrong...check this out.

Labels: news

Brave Columbian kids!

Well, faced with one minute of eyeball-spinning terror 1200 feet above the jungle, or a two-and-a-half hour hike, which one would you take?

Click to find out...

Labels: video

BE SPECIFIC

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him. The waitress asks for their orders. The man says, “A hamburger, fries and a coke,” and turns to the ostrich, “What’s yours?” “I’ll have the same,” says the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress returns with the order. “That will be $9.40 please,” she says and the man reaches into his pocket and pulls out the exact change for payment.

The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, “A hamburger, fries, and a coke.” The ostrich says, “I’ll have the same.” Again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.

This becomes routine until the two enter again later in the week. “The usual?” asks the waitress. “No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and salad,” says the man. “Same,” says the ostrich. Shortly the waitress brings the order and says, “That will be $32.62.” Once again the man pulls the exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table.

The waitress can’t hold back her curiosity any longer. “Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket every time?”
“Well,” says the man, “several years ago I was cleaning the attic and found an old lamp. When I rubbed it a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, I would just put my hand in my pocket and
the right amount of money would always be there.”

“That’s brilliant!” says the waitress. “Most people would wish for a million dollars or something, but you’ll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!” “That’s right. Whether it’s a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there,” says the man.

The waitress asks, “But what’s with the ostrich?” The man sighs and answers, “My second wish was for a tall chick with long legs who agrees with everything I say and God gave me this ostrich.

Moral of the story: - Be specific.... .. with what
you ask

Labels: joke

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN in the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's

Firstly, we survived being born to mothers who had no full time maids/cooked food/cleaned the house while they carried us.
They took aspirin, ate cheese, sweet dishes and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking .
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a local bus/train was a special treat.
We drank water from the tap and NOT from a bottle.
We would spend hours on the terrace under bright sunlight flying our kites, without worrying about the UV effect which never ever effect us.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate pastries, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because...
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours repairing our out dated bicycle and scooter out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem .
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..!
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents .
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were never given BB guns for our 10th birthdays,
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them!
Cricket League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned
HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them!
CONGRATULATIONS!

Labels: general