health wise

Bitter Experience of a British Journalist with British Airways …

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British airways boeing 747

A British Airways Boeing 747.

First-class airline tickets are expensive. Prices can easily reach $US15,000 a flight, and that’s not even for the really opulent first-class suites that have become more prevalent on the most prestigious carriers.

Those go for as much as $US30,000.

Just for the sake of comparison, Mercedes-Benz is offering its CLA sedan — an entire car — for $US29,995.

For that kind of money, passengers in first class expect a fine glass of champagne, in-flight entertainment, and an environment free from … dried-on stains and thick layers of dust.

That’s why a YouTube video posted by British journalist Owen Thomas last weekend was so shocking. (CNN originally reported Thomas’ experience.)

In the 29-second video — which has garnered more than 1 million views — Thomas documented his “filthy” first-class experience on board a British Airways jet from London to St. Lucia.

Thomas grows increasingly annoyed as he shows off the “cheap, motel-esque” dried stains and deep layers of dust that encrust his very expensive seat.

“This is British Airways first class and it is absolutely filthy,” the enraged journalist says in the video. “You see the marks on here you can just scrape off with you finger.”

“It’s when you open your seat, the real horror begins. This is first class. This is British Airways first class. It’s disgusting,” Thomas added.

British Airways didn’t let the video pass without comment.

“We have contacted our customer to apologise. We are very sorry that on this occasion we have fallen short of our usual high standards,” a representative for the airline told the Telegraph.

“We pride ourselves on delivering a relaxing and pleasant experience in first class, and are taking immediate action to address this issue.”

Thomas’ encounter with what looks like a fairly offensive level of filth is alarming, given that BA has built a solid reputation in recent years for quality service, especially in the first class cabins. After all, the airline’s motto is “To Fly, To Serve.”

But this incident seems to be the exception rather than the rule. British Airways is a Skytrax four-star airline, and reviews for the carrier’s service are generally positive.

And besides, it’s not as if YouTube is jammed with videos about poorly cleaned first-class seats — on BA’s planes or anyone else’s.

SOURCE::::: BENJAMIN ZHANG  in  www.businessinsider.com .au  and YOU TUBE

Natarajan

Jan 24 2015

 

Message For the Day…” Incarnation of God in Human Form is Only to Spread the Message of Love … “

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There is no point in talking sweetly if there is no sweetness in your heart. Sweetness in speech and bitterness in heart is not the quality of a human being. There should be sweetness in your thought, word and deed. This is the true sign of a human being. Human beings are considered most sacred because they have the unique quality of love in them. God incarnates in human form only to spread the message of love. Once you have love in your heart, you can conquer the whole world. There is love in you, but you are not able to express it in the proper way. Develop the spirit of brotherhood. Even when you come across your bitter rival, address him as brother and talk to him with love. When you address him as brother, his heart will melt and hatred will disappear at once. Hence fill your life with love. Nothing is superior to love in this world.

Sathya Sai Baba

கூந்தலூர் குமர குருபரன் …சனி பகவானிடம் இருந்து நம்மை காக்கும் கடவுள் ….

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கூந்தலூர் குமரகுருபரன்
b113d-shankarimurugavan
குன்று தோறாடும் குமரன் தமிழ் நாட்டில் உள்ள திருவாரூர் மாவட்டம், குடவாசல் வட்டம் கூந்தலூரில் வள்ளி, தெய்வயானையுடன் குமரகுருபரனாக, வரங்களை வாரி வழங்கும் வள்ளலாக கோவில் கொண்டுள்ளான். கூந்தலூர் ஆனந்தவல்லி உடனுறை ஜம்புகாரண்யேஸ்வரர் ஆலயம் திருநாவுக்கரசரால் பாடல் பெற்ற வைப்புத் தலமாக இருந்தாலும் .முருகன் ஆலயமாகவே புகழ் பெற்றுள்ளது. அருணகிரிநாதர் இத்தலத்து முருகனை “தரையினில் வெகு வழி சார்ந்த மூடனை” என்ற திருப்புகழால் சிறப்பித்துள்ளார்.இந்த ஆலயம் 1600 ஆண்டுகள் பழமையானது. இந்த ஆலயத்தில் முருகப் பெருமான் தேவமயிலுடன் ஈசான்ய பாகத்தில் எழுந்தருளியுள்ளது தனிச் சிறப்பாகும். மேலும் தன்னை வணங்கி நிற்கும் சனி பகவானுக்கு எதிரில் முருகப் பெருமான் கோயில் கொண்டு அருள் செய்வது வேறு எங்கும் இல்லாத தனிச் சிறப்பாகும்.

“நாள் என் செயும், வினைதான் என் செயும்,
எனை நாடி வந்த கோள் என் செயும்,
கொடும் கூற்று என் செயும், குமரேசர் இரு தாளும்,
சிலம்பும், சதங்கையும், தண்டையும், தோளும்,
கடம்பும் எனக்கு முன்னே வந்து தோன்றிடினே”
ரோம ரிஷி

என்று அருணகிரிநாதர் அருளியபடி, கர்ம வினைப்பயனாக நமக்கு சனி பகவானால் ஏற்படும் பாதிப்புகளிலிருந்து கூந்தலூர் குமரகுருபரன் நம்மைக் காக்கிறார்.திருக்கூந்தலூரில் உரோம மகரிஷி பல ஆண்டுகள் தவம் இயற்றி இத்தலத்து சிவனை வழிபட்டு வந்தார். இப்பகுதியில் உள்ள மக்களின் வறுமை நீங்க தன் தாடியிலிருந்து பொன் வரவழைத்து அளித்து வந்தார். ஒரு நாள் சிவன் திருவிளையாடலால் தாடியிலிருந்து பொன் வரவழைக்க முடியவில்லை.இதனால் மனம் வருந்திய சித்தர் தன் தாடியை நீக்கிவிட்டு நீராட மறந்து ஈசனை வணங்க ஆலயம் சென்றடைந்தார்.

  ரோம ரிஷி
நீராடாமல் ஆலயம் புகத்துணிந்த சித்தரை விநாயகரும், குமரப் பெருமானும் தடுத்து நிறுத்தியதாகவும், புறத்தூமையை விட அகத்தூய்மையே சிறந்தது என்ற உண்மையை நிலைநாட்ட, பிறகு சிவனே ஆலயத்துக்கு வெளியே வந்து காட்சி அளித்ததாகவும் கூறப்படுகிறது. இது ஒரு சனி,செவ்வாய் பரிகார ஸ்தலமாக விள்ங்குகிறது.இவ்வாலயம் கும்பகோணத்துக்கு அருகிலுள்ள நாச்சியார் கோயிலிலிருந்து பூந்தோட்டம் செல்லும் வழியில் 10 கி.மீ தொலைவில் உள்ளது. இனி இத்தலத்துத் திருப்புகழையும் அதன் பொருளையும் காண்போம்.

தனதன தனதன தாந்த தானன
தனதன தனதன தாந்த தானன
தனதன தனதன தாந்த தானன …… தனதான

தரையினில் வெகுவழி சார்ந்த மூடனை
வெறியனை நிறைபொறை வேண்டி டாமத
சடலனை மகிமைகள் தாழ்ந்த வீணணை …… மிகுகேள்வி

மண்ணுலகில் பல (தீய) வழிகளிலும் போய் கெடுகின்ற அறிவில்லாதவனை, குடி வெறி கொண்டவன் போன்ற பித்தனை, நீதி, பொறுமை முதலிய நற்குணங்களை விரும்பாத (மத) செருக்குக் கொண்ட அறிவிலாப் பொருள் போன்றவனை, ஒரு மகிமையும் இல்லாத தாழ் நிலையில் இருக்கும் வீணனை, மிகுந்த நல்ல கேள்வியையும்

தவநெறி தனைவிடு தாண்டு காலியை
யவமதி யதனில்பொ லாங்கு தீமைசெய்
சமடனை வலியஅ சாங்க மாகிய …… தமியேனை

தவநெறியையும் விட்டுக் கண்ட வழியில் திரிபவனை, கெட்ட புத்தியால் கேடு, தீமை செய்கின்ற குணங்கெட்டவனை, மிக ஒழுங்கீனமுடைய துணையற்றவனை,

விரைசெறி குழலியர் வீம்பு நாரியர்
மதிமுக வனிதையர் வாஞ்சை மோகியர்
விழிவலை மகளிரொ டாங்கு கூடிய …… வினையேனை

நறுமணம் நிறைந்த கூந்தலை உடையவர், பிடிவாதமுள்ள மாதர், சந்திரனை ஒத்த முகத்தை உடைய மாதர், விருப்பத்தை எழுப்பும் காம மயக்கிகள், கண் என்னும் வலையை வீசும் மகளிர்- இத்தகையோருடன் அவ்வச் சமயங்களில் கூடிய தொழில் உடையவனாகிய தீவினை மிகுந்தவனை,

வெகுமல ரதுகொடு வேண்டி யாகிலு
மொருமல ரிலைகொடு மோர்ந்து யானுனை
விதமுறு பரிவொடு வீழ்ந்து தாடொழ …… அருள்வாயே

நிரம்ப மலர் கொண்டு விரும்பிப் பூசித்தாகிலும், அல்லது ஒரு பூவோ ஒரு இலையோ கொண்டாகிலும், உன்னை நினைந்து, நல்ல வகையான அன்புடன் கீழே வீழ்ந்து உனது திருவடியைத் தொழுமாறு அருள்வாயாக.

ஒருபது சிரமிசை போந்த ராவண
னிருபது புயமுட னேந்து மேதியு
மொருகணை தனிலற வாங்கு மாயவன் …… மருகோனே

பத்துத் தலைகளுடன் போருக்கு வந்த ராவணன், இருபது கரங்களுடன் ஏந்தின வாளானது, ஒரே பாணத்தால் அற்று விழும்படி (பாணத்தைச்) செலுத்தின திருமாலின் மருகனே!

உனதடி யவர்புக ழாய்ந்த நூலின
ரமரர்கள் முனிவர்க ளீந்த பாலகர்
உயர்கதி பெறஅரு ளோங்கு மாமயி …… லுறைவோனே

உன்னுடைய அடியார்களும், உனது திருப்புகழை ஆராய்ந்த நூல் வல்லவர்களும், தேவர்களும், முனிவர்களும், கொடையால் ரக்ஷிப்போர்களும் உயர்ந்த நற்கதியைப் பெற அருள் விளங்கும் அழகிய மயிலில் வீற்றிருப்பவனே!

குரைகழல் பணிவொடு கூம்பி டார்பொரு
களமிசை யறமது தீர்ந்த சூரர்கள்
குலமுழு தனைவரு மாய்ந்து தூளெழ …… முனிவோனே

ஒலிக்கின்ற கழல் அணிந்த உனது திருவடியை தாழ்மையுடன் கும்பிடாதவர்களும், சண்டை செய்யும் போர்க்களத்தே தரும நெறியைக் கை விட்டவர்களுமான சூராதி அவுணர்களது குல முழுமையும் மாண்டு போய்ப் பொடியாகும்படிக் கோபித்தவனே!

கொடுவிட மதுதனை வாங்கி யேதிரு
மிடறினி லிருவென ஏந்து மீசுரர்
குருபர னெனவரு கூந்த லூருறை …… பெருமாளே.

கொடிய விடத்தைக் ‘கொடு’ என வாங்கி, அழகிய கழுத்தினில் இரு என்று அதை நிறுத்தி, அங்கேயே அதைத் தாங்கி நிலைக்கவைத்த சிவபெருமானுக்குக் குருமூர்த்தி என வந்து கூந்தலூரில் குடி கொண்டுள்ள பெருமாளே!

[பொருள் ஆதாரம்- திரு செங்கல்வராயப் பிள்ளை, திரு முருக கிருபானந்த வாரியார்]
மாலதி ஜெயராமன்,
குடந்தை.

SOURCE:::: http://www.muruganbhakathi.org

Natarajan

Jan 24 2015

Portland Airport Carpet … Most Sought After and a Social Media Star too !!!

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Portlanders REALLY love their airport carpet.

Portlanders REALLY love their airport carpet. Source: Facebook 

 

THE carpet at the Portland Airport has a cult-like following and has become a social media superstar.

That’s right. The people of Portland love the kitsch pattern that lines the flooring of their provincial airport so much that it has its own Facebook, Instagram and Twitteraccounts.

The carpet’s celebrity has spread through the internet as a growing number of travellers partake in a ritual of photographing themselves on the famed flooring. Currently there are nearly 30,000 photos on Instagram with the hashtag #PDXcarpet.

This airport carpet has a cult following

This is what you’re supposed to do at Portland Airport. Picture: adamdachis. Source: Flickr 

 

The popularity of the carpet’s pattern has spawned an online store where one can pick up shirts, mugs, bags and even posters designed in the carpet’s likeness.

But such is the adoration and dedication to the carpet that those not content with a bag have even gone as far as getting the renowned pattern tattooed on them.

If you’re a tad perplexed, you’re not alone.

A spokesperson for PDX, Kama Simonds, seems equally baffled by the carpet’s stardom.

“Yes, other airports have carpets, but right now people seem to think we have a masterpiece of a welcome mat,” she told USA Today.

 

It seems the affection felt for the carpet lies in the nostalgic sentiment it holds for Portland residents returning to their beloved city.

When it was announced that the carpet would be getting replaced this month (albeit with a somewhat similar pattern) people’s reaction on social media was closer to disappointment than despair. But only just.

In an effort to comfort travellers and commemorate the beloved carpet, the airport has installed an artistic display which hangs on the wall over one of the gates entitled “Carpet Diem!”

The 3 metre by 5 metre collage is made of — you guessed it — pieces of that sacred carpet from throughout the terminal.

 

Public demand for the old carpet is likely to be high with an airport spokesperson telling the LA Times they are “offering a very limited number of 1,000-square-yard (304.8 metres) increments of the carpet to interested parties through a formal public advertisement.”

By all accounts, it will be a very competitive sale. !!!

SOURCE:::: http://www.news.com.au

Natarajan

Jan 23 2015

 

 

Message For the Day… ” God Never Lets You Down… “

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You may be subjected to calumny, insult and dishonour; you may be plunged into poverty or pain; but the person who has surrendered to the Will of God will welcome each of these gladly and bear it with equanimity. The Lord will never give up His children. Those devoted to God have to be patient and calm, under the most poignant provocation. The fact is, the pious and the God-fearing are those who are visited by travails and troubles: in order to teach mankind these great truths, Krishna enacted this drama with the Pandavas as the cast. Every incident in their lives is but a scene in His play. Intending to declare to the world their intense devotion and its efficacy, and also to hold them up as examples for the Kali age that was to come, the Lord contrived this thrilling drama. There is nothing more in this than that purpose of the Lord.

Sathya Sai Baba

Best Cities to Live in The World ….

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Some cities are just easier to live in than others.

Global consulting firm ECA International came out with a list of the most livable cities around the world for North Americans.

The ranking objectively evaluates a bunch of factors that contribute to the overall quality of living, including climate, availability of health services, housing and utilities, isolation, access to social network and leisure facilities, personal safety, air quality, infrastructure, and political tensions.

So if you’re thinking about moving somewhere, may we recommend that you check out the following cities. Canada, Northern Europe, and the United States dominated the list.

1. Toronto, Canada

‘Good air quality, solid infrastructure, decent medical facilities, low crime and health risks have contributed to Toronto topping the global ranking for quality of living for American assignees,’ said Michael Witkowski, vice president of ECA International.

Toronto has a huge services industry, including law, accounting and advertising. Over 56% of employees in Toronto’s multifaceted economy have post-secondary degrees or certificates. It’s also the major design center of Canada’s design economy, and has a ‘fast-moving‘ fashion industry, which has contributed to the 550% increase of Canadian apparel exports since 1994.

The longest street in the world — Yonge Street — runs through Toronto.

Toronto

Toronto is a delightful place to live.

 

2. Dublin, Ireland

In the past, Dublin was a major food processing and manufacturing city, but it has attracted major global pharma and tech companies, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Yahoo!.

Guinness originated in Dublin, and is still brewed there.

 

3. Copenhagen, Denmark (tied)

Copenhagen is a business, finance and commercial center in Scandinavia. Big industries includepharma, biotech, computer science, and telecommunications.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Copenhagen is a bronze statue of the little mermaid, based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale.

 

3. Zurich, Switzerland (tied)

Zurich is another financial hub in Europe — about a quarter of the jobs in the city are finance related. Biotech and life sciences are also big industries, while the small aerospace and automotive supplier industries are rapidly expanding.

Zurich’s St. Peter Church has the largest clock face in Europe (not Big Ben, like most people think.)

 

3. Ottowa, Canada (tied)

Ottawa’s economy centres around two major sectors: technology and the federal government. The two sectors account for 37% of the city’s GDP.

There is a 30-foot-high spider sculpture called ‘Maman‘ in Ottowa’s National Gallery of Canada.

 

Vancouver, Canada (tied)

Vancouver has one of the most active startup scenes, and it was ranked ninth in the world on the Startup Ecosystem Report 2012. Both HootSuite and Avigilon have their headquarters in the city.

Vancouver also has the third-largest film industry in North America.

 

Bern, Switzerland (tied)

The service sector is Bern’s major industry, but tourism is also a driver of the city’s economy.

Watch giant Swatch is headquartered in Bern.

 

Stockholm, Sweden (tied)

Stockholm is Sweden’s major industrial center, including metal and machine manufacturing, as well as paper, printing and chemicals.

Stockholm became the capital of Sweden in 1436.

 

Seattle, Washington, US (tied)

Seattle’s major industries include aerospace, information and communications technology and healthcare. Additionally, tech and clean energy are increasingly becoming more dominant industries.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates was born in Seattle.

 

Boston, Massachusetts, US (tied)

Boston is a major intellectual center in the US, housing numerous universities and medical centres. Other major industries include the financial services, creative industries, and renewable energy.

The Boston Red Sox sold out a record 820 consecutive games in a row.

 

Greenwich, Connecticut, US

Greenwich has a large community of financiers. The city houses hedge funds, as well as Wall Streeters and their families.

Greenwich is one of the wealthiest areas in the US, but is also part of the most unequal place in the country.

 

Geneva, Switzerland (tied)

The headquarters for the UN, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organisation are all located in Geneva (not to mention other international organisations such as the WTO and WEF). And the city’s also known as a major financial hub.

The uber-luxury watch company Patek Philippe was founded in Geneva in 1852.

 

 

The Hague, The Netherlands (tied)

The Hague is a major international city, with over 150 international organisations located there. Notably, it houses the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.

Everyone’s always buzzing over Amsterdam, but you can legally smoke weed in The Hague, too

 

Stavanger, Norway (tied)

Stavanger is the center of the oil and gas industry in Norway, and one of the biggest energy hubs in Europe. Half of the people living in Norway who work in energy are located in Stavanger.

Every May, Stavanger hosts a huge international jazz festival called MaiJazz.

 

Gothenburg, Sweden (tied)

Major sectors in Gothenburg include technology, engineering, and several industrial companies. Additionally, the city serves as a major port.

In August, you can go to a three-day musical festival in the city called Way Out West.

 

Basel, Switzerland (tied)

Carnival of Basel.UBS and the Bank for International Settlements are headquartered in Basel. The city also has a large watch-making industry, as well as pharmaceuticals, biotech, and nanotechnology.

Basel in a major cultural center in Europe, and houses a huge art collection in the Kuntsmuseum Basel.

 

Vienna, Austria (tied)

A large proportion of workers in Vienna are white-collar workers, public employees, and civil servants — and that percentage continues to grow. Over half of the employees in Austria’s service industry live in Vienna. Overall, Austria’s most important and fastest-growing industry istourism.

Vienna is known for its famous sachertorte, a thick chocolate cake with a thin layer of apricot jam.

 

Berlin, Germany (tied)

Berlin houses big names like Borsig, AEG, and Siemens, but is always advancing in the sciences and academics. Additionally, the city has established a major film industry, and tourism has skyrocketed in recent years.

A three day international beer festival with over 300 breweries and 2,000 sorts of beers takes place in Berlin. Oh, and it’s held in a 1.4-mile-long beer garden — the longest in the world.

 

Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (tied)

Luxembourg’s economy runs on the steel, banking, and industrial industries. In fact, the largest steel company in the world, ArcelorMittal, is based in Luxembourg City.

Although Luxembourg has three official languages: French, German, and Lëtzebuergesch (‘Luxembourgish.’)

 

Eindhoven, Netherlands (tied)

Although it’s not a particularly large city, Eindhoven has grown into one a leading city in the 21st century by getting ahead in both technological innovation and design. Additionally, it’s a university city with a number of undergraduate schools.

In 2011, the city was named the most intelligent community by the Intelligent Community Forum.

 

Montreal, Canada (tied)

Montreal’s economy is extremely diversified. Major industries include aerospace, electronic goods, pharmaceuticals, engineering, finance, and research and development.

Montreal also happens to have the second largest French-speaking population in the world (it’s behind only Paris).

 

SOURCE::::  ELENA HOLODNY  in  www.businessinsider.com.au

Natarajan

Jan 23 2015

Image For the Day… Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Apollo 11 Lunar Module !!!

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 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Apollo 11 Lunar Module

This July 20, 1969 photograph of the interior view of the Apollo 11 Lunar Module shows astronaut Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin, Jr. during the lunar landing mission. The picture was taken by astronaut Neil A. Armstrong, commander, prior to the landing.

Buzz Aldrin was born in Montclair, New Jersey, on Jan. 20, 1930. Aldrin became an astronaut during the selection of the third group by NASA in October 1963. On Nov. 11, 1966 he orbited aboard the Gemini XII spacecraft, a 4-day 59-revolution flight that successfully ended the Gemini program. During Project Gemini, Aldrin became one of the key figures working on the problem of rendezvous of spacecraft in Earth or lunar orbit, and docking them together for spaceflight. Aldrin was chosen as a member of the three-person Apollo 11 crew that landed on the moon on July 20, 1969, fulfilling the mandate of President John F. Kennedy to send Americans to the moon before the end of the decade. Aldrin was the second American to set foot on the lunar surface.

Image Credit: NASA 

SOURCE::::: http://www.nasa.gov

Natarajan

Jan 22 2015

 

 

Message For the Day….” What Should We seek From God …” ?

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“When the Lord takes on the deluding human form, He moves with us, mixes and dines with us, behaves as our very own kinsman, well-wisher, friend, and guide; and also saves us from many a calamity that threatened to overwhelm us. He showered divine mercy on us and solved the toughest problems that defied solution, in remarkably simple ways. When He was near and dear to us, we were carried away by pride that we had His grace and did not try to fill ourselves with that supreme joy, to dive deep into the flood of His grace. We sought from Him mere external victory and temporal benefits, ignoring the vast treasure that could have filled our hearts. We never contemplated on His reality. We might be born many times over, but can we ever have such a friend and kinsman again?”, remarked Arjuna recounting the time he spent with Krishna. 

Sathya Sai Baba