Diabetic Myths …Dispelled …

Diabetes is fast becoming one of the most common illnesses in the world. As such, there is a treasure trove of rumors and misinformation regarding this disease. It’s extremely important to separate fact from fiction, and that is why we’ve brought you 8 of the most common myths about this disease that we are going to bust right now.
Myth 1: Eating too much sugar causes diabetes

It is widely thought that eating too much sugar causes diabetes. What does cause diabetes is an insulin malfunction . This means your body struggles to turn the food you eat into energy. Usually food gets broken down into glucose, a sugar that powers cells. The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone which helps cells use glucose for energy.

There are 3 common forms of diabetes and none of them are caused by sugar intake.

  • Type 1 diabetes usually starts in childhood or young adulthood and is when the pancreas can’t produce insulin. These people need to take insulin to help move the sugar into the cells and prevent it from amassing in the blood.
  • Type 2 diabetes can affect any person, of any age and is when the pancreas doesn’t produce sufficient insulin or the insulin stops working, and sometimes both scenarios. Being overweight can make this form of diabetes more likely.
  • Another common type is Gestational diabetes, a temporary form of diabetes that occurs in pregnancy due to hormone changes that cause insulin not to work properly.
Myth 2: You won’t be able to eat your favorite foods anymore

The idea that you are limited to uninteresting food when you are diabetic is widespread and misleading. You don’t have to give up foods you love; you just might need to think of how you eat them differently. You will need to change the way you prepare these foods, and might need to change the foods that you eat alongside them, and possibly reducing the portions.

Myth 3: You’ll have to prepare separate diabetic meals

You might be thinking that you won’t be able to eat what the rest of the family is eating, and extra preparation would be required. This isn’t necessarily true. A diabetic diet is a healthy diet, nutritious for the whole family and doesn’t require separate preparation. The person with diabetes just needs to pay more attention to the amount of calories she or he eats and monitor the types of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in their diet.

Alternative sugars
Stevia

  • This is a plant extract that tastes much sweeter than sugar and has no calories. It has the added benefit of lowering blood sugar and blood pressure. Stevia has a distinct taste and it can take a while to adjust.
Erythritol

  • This sugar alcohol is low in calories and doesn’t affect your blood sugar levels. It is safe to eat however eating too much can cause digestion issues.
Xylitol

  • Another sugar alcohol that doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin levels. Similar to Erythritol, Xylitol causes digestive issues if eaten in large quantities. This sugar alcohol is also been shown to have dental benefits and improve bone density. It’s highly toxic to dogs.
Myth 4: Carbohydrates are bad for diabetics

Carbohydrates, commonly shortened to carbs, are the foundation of any healthy diet and are not bad for diabetes. Why they are important to monitor is because they have the greatest effect on blood sugar levels. It’s best to discuss which ones you eat with a dietician so that you select nutrient rich ones.

Myth 5: You can replace carbohydrates with protein 

Myth 5: You can replace carbohydrates with protein

Carbohydrates ability to affect blood sugar levels quickly might tempt people with diabetes to lower their intake of carbs and compensate with more protein. This is fine in principle, but in practice many proteins, such as meat, are dense in saturated fats. Consuming too much fat can increase the risk for heart disease.

Myth 6: You can take medicine and eat what you like

It would be great if taking a pill would allow you to go about eating what you usually do but adjusting your medication makes it less effective as medicine works best taken consistently, as instructed by your physician. For those who take insulin, it’s often the case that you learn to adjust the amount of insulin to match the amount of food you eat, but this doesn’t give you permission to eat as much as you want. You still have to stick to a diabetic diet to stabilize your blood sugar levels.

Myth 7: You have to eat diet foods

A lot of ‘diet’ foods are smart marketing. They are often more expensive and no healthier than regular foods. It’s important to read the ingredients and consider the number of calories before deciding if it’s suitable for your diabetic diet. As always when in doubt about what food is beneficial its best to consult with a nutritionist or dietician.

Myth 8: No more dessert

Similar to myth #2 you need to rethink how you look at desserts. There are plenty sweet options available for eating at the end of a meal. You can use artificial sweeteners, alternative sugars or try expanding your food horizons to include fruit, and yogurts. You can even make your recipes more nutritious by including whole grains, and vegetable oil when preparing desserts. For many recipes you can skip or reduce the sugar without changing the consistency or sacrificing the taste. Another option is to practice portion control. Consider splitting dessert or opting for a single ice cream scoop.

Source……www.babamail.com

Natarajan

Turmeric…. A Wonder Medicinal herb….

 

Remedies You Can Make From Turmeric!

turmeric

The yellow/orange spice of Turmeric has been in use for over 2,000 years, and is considered one of the most effective medicinal herbs through its active ingredient – Curcumin.
Studies have found that a daily intake of Turmeric can do a great deal of actual benefit to our breathing, digestion, blood flow, heart and even brain. The curcumin has strong anti-inflammation and anti-cancer properties. It’s amazing what just a spoon of turmeric, mixed with the right ingredients, can do.
But beyond these uses, old and wise men and women have, through the centuries, have come up with great home remedies using turmeric.

Here are 15 uses for this wonder spice that will bring you relief, healing and better living:

1. Treat ulcers and digestion problems: Mix one spoon of turmeric powder in a cup of boiling water, let it cool and then drink (you can sweeten with sugar or honey).
2. To relieve problems of digestion and acidness in the stomach: Mix half a spoon of turmeric with 1/4 spoon of black pepper and a 1/4 spoon of cardamom, and swallow after your meal.
3. To relieve a sore throat: Mix a spoon of honey with a spoon of turmeric and swallow about 4 times a day.
A second option: Mix 1/2 a spoon of turmeric and 1/2 a spoon of salt in a glass of warm water and gurgle in the throat.
4. To treat fungus on the foot and nails: Mix turmeric powder with lemon juice until an ointment is created. Smear the ointment on the problematic area for a week. Recommendation: Put socks on them and sleep through the night this way.
turmeric
5. Treating acne: Smear a mix made of a tablespoon of milk and a bit of turmeric. This may stain your face, so best to put it on at night and wash your face well in the morning.
6. To stop a bleeding caused by cuts or scrapes: Dub generously with turmeric powder for its anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation effects.
7. For quick healing of wounds: Make a thick mixture of turmeric with a bit of water. Smear on the wound and bandage it for at least 24 hours.
8. To treat arthritis: Boil a glass of milk with a spoon and a half of turmeric powder. Wait till it cools and drink.
9. To relieve asthma attacks: Mix 1/4 spoon of turmeric powder in a glass of hot water and drink in small sips.
10. To stop your gums from bleeding: Massage the teeth and gums with a mixture made of equal parts turmeric powder, mustard, oil and salt.
11. To treat mouth wounds: Mix a 1/4 spoon of turmeric in a glass of hot water and wait till it cools. Gargle several times a day.
12. Treating stubborn calluses: Prepare a thick mix of 50 grams of turmeric powder with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix well to receive the salve and then smear it on the callus.
13. To treat insect bites: Make a mixture of turmeric and lemon and smear on the injured area to stop both the itching and suck away the small amount of poison they leave behind which irritates the skin.
14. For rough PMS syndrome and cramps: Mix a spoon and a half of turmeric in a glass of hot milk.
15. To ease a labor: It is recommended for women 9 months pregnant to swallow 1/2 a spoon of turmeric with hot milk every day. This combination, taken late in the pregnancy, should make giving birth a little easier.
Source…….www.ba-bamail.com
Natarajan

Southern California’s Logistics Airport….” Official boneyard ” for Yester Years Jumbo Jets !!!

The days of the jumbo jet are numbered. Since their debut in the late 1960s, Boeing 747 and McDonnell Douglas DC-10 have been the undisputed queens of the sky.

Unfortunately, the size, four-engine dependability, and range of these big planes are no longer enough of a competitive advantage to justify their operating costs. These relics of the 20th century often end up in places such as the Southern California Logistics Airport – more commonly known as the “bone yard.”

The Southern California Logistics Airport is located in Victorville, California — about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
The Southern California Logistics Airport is located in Victorville, California — about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
Due to its location in the Mojave desert, Victorville’s warm and dry climate make it the perfect place to keep aging airplanes for extended periods of time.
Due to its location in the Mojave desert, Victorville's warm and dry climate make it the perfect place to keep aging airplanes for extended periods of time.
Airplanes here have either been retired or declared “surplus” – not needed for immediate operations.
After they arrive, some planes are preserved so they can, one day, return to service with the airline or …
be sold to another airline
Those planes have their windows covered in foil and their fluids drained as they prepare for to sit in the desert for the long haul.
Those planes have their windows covered in foil and their fluids drained as they prepare for to sit in the desert for the long haul.
The aircraft’s engines — the most valuable parts of the plane – are also removed.
However, others — like this ex-Orient Thai Boeing 747 — are broken up and sold for parts.
However, others — like this ex-Orient Thai Boeing 747 — are broken up and sold for parts.
After the valuable parts, such as the electronics, interior trim, and other reusable components have been harvested, the remaining pieces are chopped up and sold for scrap.
As of March 2015, British Airways has quite a few 747s at the bone yard.
As of March 2015, British Airways has quite a few 747s at the bone yard.
The airline has a massive fleet of more than 50 747-400s.
But as the average age of their 747 fleet near 20 years, British Airways is slowly retiring its older birds.
But as the average age of their 747 fleet near 20 years, British Airways is slowly retiring its older birds.
In addition to BA, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, and Cathay Pacific have sent their 747s to Victorville.
In addition to BA, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, and Cathay Pacific have sent their 747s to Victorville.
The Southern California Logistics Airport is located in Victorville, California — about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
The Southern California Logistics Airport is located in Victorville, California — about 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
Due to its location in the Mojave desert, Victorville’s warm and dry climate make it the perfect place to keep aging airplanes for extended periods of time.
Due to its location in the Mojave desert, Victorville's warm and dry climate make it the perfect place to keep aging airplanes for extended periods of time.
Airplanes here have either been retired or declared “surplus” – not needed for immediate operations.
Airplanes here have either been retired or declared "surplus" – not needed for immediate operations.
After they arrive, some planes are preserved so they can, one day, return to service with the airline or …
After they arrive, some planes are preserved so they can, one day, return to service with the airline or ...
… be sold to another airline.
... be sold to another airline.
Those planes have their windows covered in foil and their fluids drained as they prepare for to sit in the desert for the long haul.
Those planes have their windows covered in foil and their fluids drained as they prepare for to sit in the desert for the long haul.
The aircraft’s engines — the most valuable parts of the plane – are also removed.
The aircraft's engines — the most valuable parts of the plane – are also removed.
However, others — like this ex-Orient Thai Boeing 747 — are broken up and sold for parts.
However, others — like this ex-Orient Thai Boeing 747 — are broken up and sold for parts.
After the valuable parts, such as the electronics, interior trim, and other reusable components have been harvested, the remaining pieces are chopped up and sold for scrap.
After the valuable parts, such as the electronics, interior trim, and other reusable components have been harvested, the remaining pieces are chopped up and sold for scrap.
As of March 2015, British Airways has quite a few 747s at the bone yard.
As of March 2015, British Airways has quite a few 747s at the bone yard.
The airline has a massive fleet of more than 50 747-400s.
The airline has a massive fleet of more than 50 747-400s.
But as the average age of their 747 fleet near 20 years, British Airways is slowly retiring its older birds.
But as the average age of their 747 fleet near 20 years, British Airways is slowly retiring its older birds.
In addition to BA, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, and Cathay Pacific have sent their 747s to Victorville.
In addition to BA, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, and Cathay Pacific have sent their 747s to Victorville.
FedEx is also a major tenant.
The cargo carrier is in the process of updating its massive fleet of mostly older jets.
Other airlines include, Air China, Evergreen International, Lufthansa, and United Airlines.
The bone yard is an ever-changing aviation landscape. As old tenants of broken up or sold, new arrivals fresh from mainline service are flown in.
As airlines retire their 747s, one wealthy individual bought a new jumbo to be his private jet…
As airlines retire their 747s, one wealthy individual bought a new jumbo to be his private jet...

Source……..www.businessinsider.in

natarajan

Things That will be so Costly in Future that You will think Twice buying …!!!

If you think your life is going in the right direction and your speed of minting money is pretty steady, think again. This article might already make you feel broke for the future. Don’t mean to scare you, but it’s good if you’re scared. Or worried. Here is a list of things that are soon going to be unaffordable. If you may ask why? It is because the population of idiots is growing who don’t value things in time and demand like a greedy buffalo.

Take a look at the things that are difficult to prevent and may cost a bomb in the future.

Honey. Yeah, sounds like no big deal? Think again

 

6th-honey

This is because a rapid decline of adult bees in the colony is observed. Beekeepers have reported 90% reduction in their colonies. This is affecting the crops that require pollination through industrial bees. So, basically it is not just honey that will grow expensive, but the livelihood of beekeepers will also be affected.

 

8 All the chocolate lovers, here is a bad news. In a few years, the prices of the original chocolate made of cocoa butter will shoot up like a rocket in the October sky

8th-chocolate-cocoa

Cocoa beans require extremely hot climate and generally grow near the equator. This crop is difficult to grow and takes about 5 years to complete a crop and incredibly hot climate, that can’t be outsourced to machines. Yes, chocolates will be as good as buying gold. Chocolate jewelry sounds yum though.

 

This one’s a shocker. Freshwater

10th-fresh-water

It’s time you stop taking this “Blue gold” for granted. Many parts of the world like The US, India, Israel, middle east etc., are facing water shortage because of prolonged droughts. Ready to help clean all the rivers?

 

 

 

 

Natural Remedies Readily Available in your Kitchen…

 

People take a lot of pills today. And sometimes that’s ok. But using too many painkillers can really cause your body damage. So, if your pain is small to moderate, nature has provided us with quite a number of natural painkillers. These 19 foods are natural cures and can be used to alleviate many types of pain.

Muscle Pain – Ginger 

19 Natural Painkillers

Danish researchers found that regular consumption of ginger could reduce chronic muscle and joint pains, as well as swelling and stiffness within just a couple of months. The credit goes to the main ingredient in ginger – Gingerol, which inhibits the production of pain-inducing hormones. A teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of fresh ginger every day will do the trick.

Toothaches – Cloves 

19 Natural Painkillers
Powdered cloves are a known home remedy for toothaches and gingivitis. Furthermore, a recent research from the University of California proved it scientifically by isolating the active ingredient that reduces the pain. It is an organic compound called eugenol – a powerful natural anesthetic. ¼ teaspoon every day will help keep your heart healthy, and scientists are saying that it also aids in stabilizing blood-sugar levels and even starts lowering cholesterol levels within three weeks.

Acid Reflux – Apple Cider Vinegar 

19 Natural Painkillers

If heartburn constantly plagues you, you can stop them with apple cider vinegar. The active ingredients in the vinegar that treat reflux are malic acid and tartaric acid, which quicken digestion and help your body break down fats and proteins. Faster digestion means fewer chances for the stomach to overflow with acids, causing the reflux. By adding just a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water before every meal can prevent acid reflux within 24 hours.

Earache – Garlic 

19 Natural Painkillers ‘

Often referred to as “nature’s antibiotics”, garlic indeed possesses powerful anti-inflammatory qualities. Experts from the Mexico School of Medicine claim that applying two drops of warm garlic oil into the ear can cure an ear infection in five days. Garlic contains minerals such as selenium, germanium and sulfur, all are very toxic to most kinds of bacteria. To make your own garlic oil, slowly cook (do not boil) three garlic cloves in half a cup of olive oil for two minutes. Filter the oil and use it as instructed (make sure it’s not too hot). The oil can keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.

Headaches and join pains – Cherries 

19 Natural Painkillers

Michigan State University found that the daily consumption of a bowl of cherries is highly beneficial for people who suffer from headaches and various joint inflammations. Anthocyanin is the pigment that gives cherries their bright red color. It is also a powerful anti-inflammatory, ten times more powerful than ibuprofen or aspirin. Anthocyanin actively paralyzes the enzymes that cause tissue inflammation, making cherries the perfect treatment. Eating about 20 cherries every day will do the trick.

Stomachaches – Fish 

19 Natural Painkillers

Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, enteritis – all of these can be treated by eating fish. Many a research have shown that Omega3 fatty acids found in fish can actively reduce stomach cramping and enteritis. In some cases, Omega3 was found to be as effective as prescription medicine. The fatty acids aid in maintaining the general health of the digestive system thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties. 1 pound of fish per week is enough to support the digestive system. The fish richest in Omega3 are salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel, sardines, and trout.

PMS – Yogurt 

19 Natural Painkillers

80% of women suffer from PMS-related pains before and during their periods. The reason for the pain is the nervous system’s sensitivity to the changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. A study conducted at Columbia University found that eating two servings of yogurt daily can reduce the intensity of PMS pains by almost 50%. Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally soothes the nervous system, thus preventing painful symptoms despite the hormonal changes.

Chronic Pains – Turmeric 

19 Natural Painkillers

Turmeric was found to be three times more powerful than ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen. Researchers from Cornell University found that turmeric can heal up to 50% of people suffering from arthritis and fibromyalgia. The active ingredient in turmeric – curcumin, paralyzes the enzyme that causes serial pain. A ¼ teaspoon of turmeric every day will reduce your chronic pains considerably. 

Endometriosis – Oats 

19 Natural Painkillers

When the tissue that normally grows inside the uterus grows outside the uterus, it may cause a severe and painful inflammation that drags on long after the end of the period. Luckily, an oats-rich diet can reduce up to 60% of the pains within six months. The reason is that oats don’t contain gluten, which can induce inflammation in many women.

Ingrown Toenails and Toothaches – Salt 

19 Natural Painkillers

An ingrown toenail is a common ailment that affects millions of people around the world. Luckily, it’s easily treatable by using salt-water. Stanford University researchers found that soaking your feet in salt water can heal ingrown-related infections in just four days. Salt is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, so adding just a teaspoon to a cup of warm water, and then add it to your foot bath twice a day until the infection is gone. Additionally, dentists recommend gargling with salt water to treat and prevent gingivitis. Finally, gargling with salt water can also help when you’re suffering from a throat infection.

Indigestion – Pineapple 

19 Natural Painkillers

Pineapples are a delicious tropical fruit that is rich in protein-breaking enzymes. These enzymes help the body with the digestion processes, speeding it up and reducing stomach pains that come from gas buildups. Researchers at Stanford University found that one cup of fresh pineapple every day can treat pain caused by gas within 72 hours.

Muscle Pains – Mint 

19 Natural Painkillers

Cramped muscles can be painful for months, especially if they originate from incorrect posture or reoccurring overexertion. A hot bath with ten drops of mint oil, three times a week, are 25% more effective than prescription drugs. The hot water help relax and loosen the muscles while the mint oil soothes the aching nervous system. Such treatment will also help reduce the frequency of future pains.

Backaches – Grapes 

19 Natural Painkillers

In a study conducted at the University of Ohio, researchers found that one cup of fresh grapes per day can help improve blood flow to the damaged tissue in the back, sometimes within as little three hours. The spine is highly dependent on the nutrients and oxygen in the blood, making eating grapes a highly beneficial act.

Injury-Related Pains – Water 

19 Natural Painkillers

Good old H2O – we need it to survive, but researchers at Manhattan College in New York found that water can also easy pain from injuries. When body tissue is damaged, it produces a chemical compound called histamine, which causes pain. Water dilutes the amounts of histamine in the blood, thus effectively reducing the level of pain. Water is also essential for the health of the cartilage tissue between our bones, as well as lubricate our joints, as well as the soft tissues in our spine. A well-hydrated body is a well-lubricated machine, which prevents joint pains. Doctors recommend drinking 8 cups of water per day.

Sinus Pain – Horseradish 

19 Natural Painkillers

Sinusitis is a chronic disease that affects many people. It is effectively a state of infection of the cavities in the skull. Sinusitis causes severe headaches, face pains and can even hinder breathing. German researchers discovered that horseradish can increase the blood flow to the sinuses, decongesting them and draining any obstructions that may cause the infection. Eat a teaspoon of horseradish every day until your symptoms are gone.

Oral Infections – Honey 

19 Natural Painkillers

Experts from the Dubai Center for Health recommend treating mouth sores, cold sores and other oral infections with honey. Honey contains anti-inflammatory enzymes that destroy viruses and speed up the healing process. To effectively treat such sores, it is recommended that you apply unpasteurized honey directly onto the wounds four times a day. The healing process will take 43% less time compared to OTC  ointments and creams.

Chest Pains – Flax Seeds 

19 Natural Painkillers

Flax seeds contain phytoestrogen, a compound that prevents changes in estrogen levels that cause some women pain. All you need to do is to add three tablespoons of flax seeds to your daily diet. This should help with the pain within 12 weeks.

Migraines – Coffee 

19 Natural Painkillers

People suffering from chronic headaches or migraines can benefit from drinking coffee. Caffeine improves the stomach lining’s ability to absorb medication, increasing its effectiveness by up to 40%. If you’re taking headache medication – take it with a cup of coffee.

Cramped Muscles – Tomato Juice 

19 Natural Painkillers

Our muscles tend to cramp when our bodies don’t have enough potassium. Diuretics or excessive sweating can cause potassium deficiency. Potassium is a mineral that is essential to our muscles’ health. A study conducted by the University of California found that drinking one cup of tomato juice every day can help ease cramped muscles and prevent future occurrences, thanks to the high levels of potassium in it.

Source….. http://www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Image of the Day….Solar Arrays on the International Space Station…

Expedition 43 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti of the European Space Agency (ESA) photographed the giant solar arrays on the International Space Station on Feb. 12, 2015.

The space station’s solar arrays contain a total of 262,400 solar cells and cover an area of about 27,000 square feet (2,500 square meters) — more than half the area of a football field. A solar array’s wingspan of 240 feet (73 meters) is longer than a Boeing 777’s wingspan, which is 212 feet (65 meters). Altogether, the four sets of arrays can generate 84 to 120 kilowatts of electricity — enough to provide power to more than 40 homes. The solar arrays produce more power than the station needs at one time for station systems and experiments. When the station is in sunlight, about 60 percent of the electricity that the solar arrays generate is used to charge the station’s batteries. At times, some or all of the solar arrays are in the shadow of Earth or the shadow of part of the station. This means that those arrays are not collecting sunlight. The batteries power the station when it is not in the sun.

Image Credit: ESA/NASA 

Source………www.nasa.gov

Natarajan

“A Question about the Date of Birth of Cheryl…” !!!…Very Interesting !!!

 

Maths question

This question from a global maths Olympiad for high school children is driving the internet crazy.

It was posted on Facebook by Singaporean TV host Kenneth Kong after the exam on Wednesday. He originally suggested it was for 11-year-olds, but after the question was leaked The Straits Times reports it’s actually designed for the Australian equivalent of Year 9 and 10 students.

The leak has led organisers of the global competition to hastily rewrite the exam paper with a new question before other countries sit the test, with Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad executive director Henry Ong saying it’s the first time a question has leaked in 10 years of running the competition.

Ong told Singapore’s Mothership that it was the 24th of 25 questions and designed “to sift out the better students.”

The brain teaser has gone viral out Facebook and we’ve put the answer below, but if you want to know how the answer is calculated, Ong gave Mothership the solution. It’s not so much maths as a deductive process of elimination.

And if you want to test your mathematical prowess against kids aged between 8 and 16, then SASMO has practice exam papers here.

Perhaps the best answer to the question came from KinMun Theodore Lee on Facebook, when he said regardless of the date, “It doesn’t change the fact that Cheryl is going to be celebrating her birthday alone.”

* The correct answer is July 16. 

SASMO Question solution

Source…….www.businessinsider.com

A Simple Click will Show You The Way… Amazing !!!

 

Hats off to whoever made this.  This website is amazing.  Select start and destination points, it will show you the way,  by all modes of transport.

The Route with map, to any destination in the world by Air/Bus/Train

Just click on link below and proceed further     

http://www.rome2rio.com

Source……..input from a friend of mine

Natarajan

” Why I Need A Password For Everything I do …” ? !!!

Passwords now have to be so secure you need to be a genius to remember them.

Passwords now have to be so secure you need to be a genius to remember them. Source: Sunday Style

YOU can record a show on telly without even being home, or talk to someone on the other side of the world while sitting in your car, or run an entire office without using a single sheet of paper, or wake up to a device that will tell you how many hours you’ve slept, and how deeply, or carry around 10,000 books on a device slimmer than a hardcover copy of just one of them. There are so many new, extraordinary things in the world, yet it seems there is always a price to be paid that sucks a little bit of soul from your body.

Take passwords.

I mean, please, really, take them. I don’t want them any more. Because I can’t handle the pressure. I have, frankly, been pushed to the brink by EVERY SINGLE FRICKEN thing I do on my computer, or phone, or bank, or at work, requiring a password. I mean, if it was just a sequence of numbers, it would be fine, but now it seems every website or transaction requires an increasingly complicated multiple digit/include a capital letter/and a number/seven-letter foreign word that can only be read upside-down by an encryption wizard wearing dyslexia goggles, which I am then expected to memorise, but not write down anywhere, and then change every month, as though I am the character Russell Crowe played in that Beautiful Mindfilm, so that my entire existence is based around devising and remembering ever-more-complex mathematical formulae.

Really, are these people serious? I am assuming that there are people behind these recommendations, but maybe they’re not.

Maybe it’s the dreaded bots (the ones who apparently can’t read words written in drippy font on a computer screen) dreaming up these unsustainable password-producing demands.

Because, whoever — or whatever — it is, they seem to know very little about the way humans think.

See, the whole never-ending password cycle has actually backfired with me. I have been so beaten down by the constant hanging/remembering/forgetting/resetting cycle of my 329 passwords, that I now don’t change mine at all.

At my last job, I actually stopped accessing my work emails because I lost the will to reconfigure my password every week.

Basically, I just opted out. And you know what happened? After I got through the initial phase, where techs and office managers were dropping by (in person!) to see if there was anything wrong, I gained an hour in my day.

Yes, it actually freed up my time, because I didn’t have to wade through a daily litany of whose birthday it was, what building works would be happening, the latest excuse for why the office lifts weren’t working, reminders that the charity chocolate box was eight dollars short, marketing strategies being implemented in Far North Queensland by colleagues I’d never heard of, and what time we would convene for the hackysack competition/muffin bake/Denim Day extravaganza to raise money for whatever charitable event had co-opted that day.

Some IT trainspotter had expected me to religiously change a password FOR THAT?

Who did they think was going to hack into that email exchange; the dreaded International Boring Office Email Gang? And what, pray tell, were the evildoers going to do with the information they would gain by infiltrating it? Crash the all-staff gathering in the kitchen to celebrate Mandy from Accounts’ birthday?

Steal a slice of her Michel’s Patisserie black forest cake?

So this is where I’m at now. I use the same password ALL THE TIME. And the people in my office know it, so if they ever need to check anything on my computer, they can.

And if, perchance, a Romanian card-skimming gang of fraudsters ends up with access to my Asos account, I don’t care. In fact, it would be a relief, because such a security breach would actually mean it’s become a problem for Asos, whereas at the moment, it’s a problem for me.

I know what’s going to happen. People who are much smarter than me are going to email me, warning of what can happen when online security is breached. There will be terrible tales of money stolen, and identity fraud, and ensuing bureaucratic madness.

But I’ll have to imagine your correspondence. You see, I haven’t been able to access my Sunday Style emails since June last year, after my fifth password change in as many months.

I mean, I’d love to read them. But computer says ‘no’.

Source………

in www,news.com.au

Natarajan

 

படித்ததில் பிடித்தது …” நதிகள் சுத்தமாகும் நாள் நமக்கு நல்ல நாள் …” !!!

ஏப்., 14 தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு

தமிழ் புத்தாண்டு அன்று, ஆறுகளில் நீராடினால் பாவம் நீங்கும் என்பர் முன்னோர். புனித தீர்த்தங்களில் நீராடினால் பாவம் நீங்கும் என்றாலும், சிலர், இந்நதிகளில் நீராடி, ஊருக்கு திரும்பியதும், மீண்டும் பாவச் செயல்களை செய்ய ஆரம்பித்து விடுகின்றனர். இவர்களுக்காகவே சொல்லப்பட்ட புராணக்கதை இது:
கங்கையில் நீராட, மகான் ஒருவர் வந்தார். கெட்டவர்கள் மட்டுமே நீராடி, பாவங்களைக் கரைத்து விட்டு போகும் நிலையில், நல்லவர் ஒருவர் தன்னில் நீராட வருகிறாரே என, கங்கா மாதா பெரும் மகிழ்ச்சி அடைந்தாள்.
அவர் தன்னில் கால் வைக்கப் போகிறார் என, அவள் எதிர்பார்த்திருந்த வேளையில், கங்கையை அடைந்த முனிவரின் முகம், அஷ்ட கோணலாக மாறியது. காரணம், சிறிது தொலைவில், கங்கையில் சாக்கடை கலந்து கொண்டிருந்தது. இதனால், குளிக்காமல் கிளம்பினார் முனிவர்.
இதைக் கண்ட கங்கை, ஒரு சாதாரணப் பெண்ணாக வடிவெடுத்து, ‘மகானே… ஏன் கங்கையில் குளிக்காமல் செல்கிறீர்?’ என்று கேட்டாள்.
முனிவர் சாக்கடையை கை காட்ட, ‘ஐயனே… மக்களின் பாவக் கரைசலை விட, இந்த கழிவுநீர் பெரிய விஷயமே அல்ல. கங்கை பாவங்களை மட்டுமல்ல, இந்த சாக்கடையையும் தன்னுள் வைப்பதில்லை; அதைக் கடலில் தள்ளி விடுகிறாள்…’ என்றாள்.
உடனே, கடலரசனிடம் சென்று, இது குறித்து விசாரித்தார் முனிவர். அவனோ, ‘பாவங்களை நான் வைத்துக் கொள்ள மாட்டேன்; அது, சூரியனால் மேலே எடுத்துச் செல்லப்பட்டு விடும்…’ என்றான்.
முனிவர், சூரியனிடம் கேட்டபோது, ‘அதை, மேகங்களிடம் அனுப்பி விடுகிறேனே… அவற்றைக் கேளுங்கள்…’ என, தப்பித்துக் கொண்டார்.
முனிவரும் விடாப்பிடியாக மேக மண்டலத்திடம் விசாரித்தபோது, ‘மகானே… மக்களின் பாவங்கள் மீண்டும் அவர்களையே அடையும் வகையில், மழையாகப் பொழிந்து விடுவேன். பாவத்தை செய்த மக்கள், அதையே மீண்டும் அனுபவிக்கின்றனர்…’ என்றது!
இக்கதை உணர்த்தும் உண்மையை புரிந்து கொண்டால், ஆறுகளை அசுத்தப்படுத்த மாட்டோம்.
தமிழ் புத்தாண்டாகட்டும், இதர விழாக்கள் ஆகட்டும், புனித தீர்த்தங்களில் நீராடச் செல்லும் போது, மனதில் நல்ல எண்ணங்கள் நிறைந்திருக்க வேண்டும். ‘இந்த தீர்த்தத்தில் மூழ்கும் நான், இனி, பாவச் செயல்களை செய்ய மாட்டேன்…’ என, உறுதியெடுக்க வேண்டும். இல்லாவிட்டால், நாம் செய்த பாவங்கள், நம்மையே திரும்ப வந்தடையும்.
இன்று, நாட்டில் உள்ள அனைத்து புனித தீர்த்தங்களும் பாழாக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. கங்கையை சுத்தம் செய்ய, பல கோடி ரூபாய் தேவைப்படுகிறது. காவிரி, தாமிரபரணி, குற்றாலம் போன்ற புனித நதிகளும், கேளிக்கை பொருட்களாக மாறி விட்டன. நீர்நிலைகளை சுற்றுலா கண்ணோட்டத்தில் பார்க்கின்றனரே தவிர, எதிர்காலத்தில் குடிநீருக்கும், விளைச்சலுக்கும் பயன்படும் இடமாயிற்றே என்ற எண்ணம் இல்லாமல் போய் விட்டது.
புதிய ஆண்டிலாவது, நீர்நிலைகளைக் காக்க உறுதியெடுப்போம். இதை, ஒரு இயக்கமாக மாற்றி விட்டால், எல்லாரும் வளமாக வாழலாம்.

தி.செல்லப்பா in  www.dinamalar.com 

Natarajan