At the Age 64 , She adopted her First Orphan…

September 22, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Thousands of orphaned children in India never find loving homes because the authorities take too long to declare them ‘free for adoption.’ Prabhavati Muthal, 79 years old and mother of two adopted orphans herself, has been fighting to get justice for these children all her life. We appeal to all our readers to support her by signing her petition.

“We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning the children, neglecting the fountain of life. Many of the things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now is the time his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, and his senses are being developed. To him we cannot answer ‘tomorrow,’ his name is ‘today’.”

― Gabriela Mistral

“Aai tu Aai saarkhi nahi disat, Aaji sarkhi diste. Mala ‘Mummy Papa’ hawa aahe”

(Mom you don’t look like a mom, you look like a grandma. I want my Mummy Papa!)

Mohini often used to say this to Prof. Prabhavati Muthal. Mohini was 5-years-old now and she had heard from her schoolmates that she had not come out of her mother’s womb but from a dirty sack, and because of that, her right arm was paralyzed.

Photo Credit: Tawheed Manzoor/Flickr

On November 30, 1996, Prof. Prabhavati Muthal had retired and was all set to relax for the rest of her life in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, after working for 35 years as a history professor. Her son was a well-known paediatrician at the local government hospital.

There was no orphanage in the town. Thus, unwanted and orphan (mostly newborn) babies landed in Dr. Muthal’s ward. Like all government hospital wards, this too was crowded. The nursing staff were always overloaded.

On March 30, 1997, a lady sarpanch from a nearby village brought a brutally battered newborn girl to Dr. Muthal. The baby was just 3 days old. She had been tied in a gunny bag and thrown in the garbage to die. Someone had found her and informed the sarpanch.

The girl was visibly injured. Her skull was fractured. Yet, for three days, the lady sarpanch had not provided her with any treatment nor had she informed the police. Consequently, the child became critically sick, developed a high fever and started convulsing.

Even then, the lady was reluctant to let the hospital keep the child and treat her. Dr. Muthal had to threaten her and force her to admit the child to the government hospital. On seeing how serious the child’s condition was, the lady sarpanch disappeared from the scene.

For weeks, the child hovered between life and death. One usually associates government staff with impersonal and callous behaviour, but the nurses at this government hospital rallied together to save the child. One of the sisters told Dr. Muthal: “God will not forgive us if we cannot save this child.”

Due to their untiring efforts, the child survived. But the prolonged battle for life had taken its toll. She was badly emaciated and cranky due to constant pain. She had major neurologic deficit, which left her right side paralysed. Feeding and cleaning her was an ordeal.

Prof. Prabhavati Muthal willingly took over this daunting task. With her selfless love and care, the child gradually improved. As she grew healthier, a beautiful face emerged. She looked so attractive that she was called ‘Mohini.’

Little abandoned but inncocent infants giggling at Kilbil, not knowing their fate

Her story attracted a journalist’s attention and she became well known. Many people, including a doctor, came forward to adopt her. Suddenly, the lady sarpanch re-entered the scene and demanded custody of the child.

The custody of orphan children is decided by the JWB or Juvenile Welfare Board (the name for the Child Welfare Committee before the year 2000). To everybody’s surprise, the local JWB gave Mohini’s custody to the same sarpanch, ignoring better claimants and the lady’s past suspicious behaviour.

Alarmed, Prabhavati approached the Sessions Court. After a prolonged struggle lasting over 2 years, the Sessions Court finally overturned the JWB’s order.

Prabhavati then decided to establish an orphanage so that Mohini had a place to stay. The orphanage, called Kilbil (chirping of birds), is now 16 years old.

Prabhavati Muthal with a 1.5-year-old child who is waiting to be made ‘free for adoption’ by CWC –

However, Mohini’s agony did not end here. The infuriated JWB avenged the situation by blocking her transfer to the orphanage for a year. Finally, her case was cleared by special order of the state government. The JWB continued to obstruct her rehabilitation. She was finally declared ‘free for adoption’ by the Session Court under section 7.3 of the Juvenile Justice Act after one more year.

‘Free For Adoption’ means that a child’s parents or guardians have relinquished their parental rights or have had them terminated in a court of law. Once this has occurred, a child is then ‘legally free’ to be adopted by another person or family member. Any orphan or abandoned or surrendered child, declared legally free for adoption by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), is eligible for adoption.

“Most of the couples prefer small babies so that they can enjoy each milestone of the baby while growing up. If a child is not made ‘free for adoption’ soon, then mostly they don’t get adopted and lead an affectionless life,” says Prabhavati Muthal.

Unfortunately, in Mohini’s case too, all the prospective adoptive parents had given up by the time she became ‘free for adoption.’ No one was willing to wait for years and fight court battles just to adopt a physically impaired child.

When nobody came forward to adopt her for more than a year, Prabhavati decided to adopt Mohini herself and become a mother to a 4-year-old child at the age of 64. –

Kilbil had now become the home of many abandoned children. Vasundhara (Vasu) was one of them. Just a few days old, Vasundhara was found in one of the movie theatres of Chandrapur. She did not have one ear. Every adoptive couple wanted a beautiful and flawless child and so did not adopt Vasu. It was Vasu’s 11th year in Kilbil. She was supposed to go to a remand house for juveniles once she became 12. Prabhavati couldn’t let this child go and so, once again, she took the legal guardianship of Vasundhara.

Vasu and Mohini are sisters with the same mother now!

At the time that Prabhavati was looking to adopt Mohini, the law required that to contest a case, you must be the ‘aggrieved party.’ This means you should be affected somehow by the case — it is only then that you have the ‘locus standi,’ that is, eligibility to participate in the judicial dispute.

Prabhavati had none, but she could participate in the dispute because lawmakers then (1986 version of the Juvenile Justice Act) had wisely put in Sec 7.3, which said:

“The powers conferred on the board or juvenile court by or under this act may also be exercised by the high court and the court of session, when the proceeding comes before them in appeal, revision or otherwise.” – Juvenile Justice Act 1986. Sec. 7.3 Chapter II

The word ‘otherwise’ opened the window for any conscientious citizen to seek redress from the Sessions Court purely on merit of the case, bypassing technicalities like ‘locus standi.’ The same clause also allowed the Sessions Court to declare Mohini ‘free for adoption.’

It is vital to keep this window open for the orphans, because they have no one to look after them. The orphanages that keep the children and the parents who adopt the children are really ‘beneficiaries’ and not truly ‘aggrieved.’ They have no real stake in any individual child.

The only victim of a wrong decision (or lack of decision) is the orphan child. The child is therefore, the only truly ‘aggrieved. –

Unfortunately, this Section was deleted only for orphan babies in the newer editions of the Act. The implications are tremendous for the orphan children, because now the CWC has absolute power over orphan children. There is no effective, accessible mechanism to correct its mistakes, misdeeds and inaction. –

Please help Prabhavati make a representation to the government authorities to suitably amend the Juvenile Justice Act and include a clause like Sec. 7.3 of 1986 Juvenile Justice Act in the present Bill for orphan children by signing this petition

. Prabhavati has also penned the story of her struggle in a book titled Adhantari. This book has bagged an award from the Maharashtra government. –

If you wish to help Prabhavati in her struggle for justice for these kids, or wish to donate for Kilbil, or want to adopt a child, please email at kilbil.mvm@gmail.com. You can buy Adhantari (the book is in Marathi) by writing to the same email address. Prof. Muthal is also looking for writers who can translate the book into English.

About the author: A mechanical engineer, Manabi Katoch has been brought up listening to Tagore’s poems and stories, so she is kind of an emotional person within. She loves writing poems and stories on social and political issues. Few of her poems can be viewed on www.poemocean.com and satires on www.mindthenews.com. She has worked with Wipro, Frankfinn and Educomp in the past.

Source………Manabi Katoch….www.the betterindia.com

Natarajan

Image of the Day….Best Seat in the World…!!!

September 22, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The central bugle of our Milky Way galaxy shines brightly above the vast ocean of lights of Yaqing Temple in China.

View larger. | Jeff Dai submitted this photo of the Yaqing Temple, Sichuan, China. He calls it ‘Lights or Stars.’ Visit his Flickr page.

Jeff Dai submitted this photo to EarthSky – taken September 9, 2015 – and wrote:

Lights or Stars? Today most city skies have become virtually empty of stars. But there is someplace beyond your imagination. Pictured above, the central bugle of our Milky Way galaxy shines brightly above the vast ocean of lights of Yaqing Temple. Located at Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province of China, Yaqing temple lies in an isolated valley with 4,000 meters above sea level. The monastery is associated with the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. With more than 30,000 Sangha members now, it’s the largest concentration of nuns and monks in the world.

This is a single exposure image, No photo montage, additional filter and black card.

Read more about the Yaqing Temple and Monastery

Posted by Deborah Byrd …www.eathskynews.org

Natarajan

” WHY DON’T COMMERCIAL AIRPLANES HAVE PARACHUTES FOR PASSENGERS?…”

September 21, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Seatbelts and airbags in cars save passengers lives. Parachutes save people who, for a variety of reasons, exit a plane in mid-flight. So why aren’t parachutes provided to passengers on commercial airline flights, in case of emergencies?

Because they almost certainly would not save anyone’s life.

Parachuting Basics

When your average daredevil skydives for fun, the plane is typically travelling at between 80 and 110 mph when the skydiver jumps. Tandem and accelerated free fall (AFF) jumps occur between 10,000 and 13,000 feet, while static jumps can be as low as 3,500 feet.

Student divers choosing the easiest, tandem jump, where the newbie is physically and securely attached to an experienced instructor, are still required to undergo “a half hour of basic ground instruction.”

Braver neophytes who wish to fly untethered will have to endure:

Four to five hours of intense ground instruction, including learning body flight maneuvers and hand signals that instructors use to coach the student as they fly alongside.

For an AFF jump, although not harnessed together, freshman flyers are accompanied by two instructors who “hold onto the student’s harness until” it’s deployed.

Those who choose a static line jump also have to take four + hours of training prior to the jump, although the parachute is deployed as the rookie flyer leaves the aircraft.

When skydivers leave a plane, they do it alone or in small groups. When successive groups will be jumping, they try to keep separated by anywhere between 500 and 1500 feet; this is often accomplished by waiting until the preceding group is “back under the tail to 45 degrees behind the airplane” or several seconds in between groups.

Experienced skydivers can make even riskier jumps, although when descents begin at higher than 15,000 feet, “the risk of hypoxia and being significantly affected by altitude” increases dramatically and divers are less able “to make effective safe decisions at critical times.” Therefore, divers who jump from 15,000 feet or higher carry supplemental oxygen.

Further, each parachute weighs around 40 pounds and the equipment is expensive. To be fully outfitted with “rig, main, reserve, ADD, altimeter, jumpsuit, helmet [and] goggles” can run between $5,900 and $9,000.

Commercial Airplane Basics

Perhaps the most popular commercial jetliner is the Boeing 737 family. Its 737-800 can carry nearly 200 people (including the crew).

Although speeds can vary slightly, the 737-800 travels at approximately 600 mph when at its cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. Cruising altitudes are assigned by air traffic controllers and are usually up to 39,000 feet, except for longer flights that may fly higher.

Individual Parachutes Won’t Improve Passenger Safety

Doing the math . . .

Passenger Training

Since four hours of training just to board a plane is unrealistic, passengers would have to read and execute detailed skydiving instructions including how to properly strap the chute on in order to benefit from the parachute. Not everyone is good at following detailed, technical instructions even when time and stress aren’t a factor. In a situation where the plane is going down and one has only a moment to get the parachute properly strapped on (likely while keeping an oxygen mask firmly attached and perhaps also needing to keep the seat belt on to keep from being thrown about in the cabin), it’s unlikely most would be able to even get this far.

Every Man for Himself

Unless passengers wanted to fly suited up and tethered for a static jump, parachuting from a commercial airplane will be an AFF jump; however, unlike the conditions that students get – training and trained instructors to assist, commercial passengers will just have to learn as they go.

In addition, they will have to keep calm and proceed in an orderly fashion, which will require most to patiently wait their turn to exit. This is not likely to happen.

Parachuting Equipment is Bulky

Adding just parachutes (not counting helmets, altimeters, etc.) for each passenger would add another 8,000 pounds or so to the flight’s weight. In addition, that equipment would take up space, that is already at a premium.

Parachuting Only Makes Sense if Something Happens in Mid-Flight

The only feasible time for people to jump from the plane is while it’s cruising. However, most fatal airline accidents occur on airplanes during takeoff and landing.

Consider that between 2003 and 2012, only 9% of all fatal accidents on commercial flights, seven total, occurred while the plane was cruising; moreover, at least one of those accidents happened as a result of wind shear or thunderstorm. This is a situation where parachuting is extremely dangerous even if you’re an expert.

So even if parachuting were feasible from a jetliner, the conditions in which parachutes could theoretically save lives are almost never apparent in fatal commercial accidents. But even if they were, it still wouldn’t be a good idea.

Jetliners Cruise Very High and Very Fast

At 35,000 feet (three times higher than a typical jump) every passenger would need high altitude equipment (HALO) that includes an oxygen tank, mask and regulator, flight suit, ballistic helmet and altimeter just to manage the thin air. Or they could just pass out from hypoxia and wake up later, hopefully when the parachute automatically deployed at under 15,000-20,000 feet.

Of course, none of this would matter since the plane is moving so fast (600 mph), and it is so large, that many passengers would almost certainly smash into it and suffer debilitating if not fatal injuries.

Whole Plane Parachutes May Save Lives

There is hope, however. Over the past few years, many small planes have been equipped with whole-plane parachutes that slow the craft’s descent. As of late 2013, the largest planes equipped with these safety devices carry five people, but plans are in the works for putting them on larger crafts. As one manufacturer said, “There is no doubt that big commercial airlines of the future will be equipped with some kind of parachute recovery system.”

Bonus Airplane Crash Survival Tips:

Sit in the back with the cool kids. According to several studies, “passengers near the tail of the plane are about 40 percent more likely to survive a crash than those in the first few rows up front.” The other advantage is that most passengers choose not to sit in the back. So unless the plane is full, you might get the row of seats to yourself.
However, other research into surviving plane crashes indicated that “those [passengers] who sat more than six rows from an exit were found to be far less likely to survive.” So if the plane doesn’t have a rear exit, that’s something to be factored in.
If you do happen to fall out of a plane at 35,000 feet (without a parachute), Popular Mechanics has some advice on how to survive the fall: “The concept you’ll be most interested in is terminal velocity. As gravity pulls you toward earth, you go faster. But . . . you [also] create drag . . . . and [eventually] acceleration stops. Depending on your size and weight, and [other] factors . . . your speed at that moment will be about 120 mph [this takes about 1,500 feet. At about 22,000 feet] You sputter into consciousness [hypoxia had knocked you out from shortly after you exited the plane]. . . . Take aim . . . . Glass hurts, but it gives. So does grass. Haystacks and bushes . . . and trees aren’t bad, though they tend to skewer. Snow? Absolutely. . . . Contrary to popular belief, water is an awful choice [to cushion the fall]. . . . With the target in mind, the next consideration is body position. To slow your descent. . . spread your arms and legs, present your chest to the ground, and arch your back and head upward. . . . Relax. This is not your landing pose. . . . . [To land, assume] the classic sky diver’s landing stance – feet together, heels up, flexed knees and hips.”

According to the Geneva-based Aircraft Crashes Record Office, between 1940 and 2008 there were 157 people who fell out of planes during a crash and without a parachute and lived to tell about it. A full 42 of those falls occurred at heights over 10,000 feet! One such incident involved a British Tail-gunner whose plane was shot down in 1944 during WWII. He fell over 18,000 feet without a parachute. His fall was broken by pine trees and soft snow. After his “landing” he found himself completely fine, except for a sprained leg. Things didn’t initially improve for him as he was quickly captured by the Germans. Apparently the Germans were more impressed by his near death experience than his nationality, because they released him the following May after having given him a certificate commemorating his fall and subsequent survival.

Source….www.today i foundout .com

Natarajan

8-Year-Old Girl Donates Her Piggy Bank Savings To Help Out Farmers In Maharashtra…

September 21, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Sometimes it is not the big things that make a difference but the small gestures that touch the heart.

An 8-year-old girl named Rasika Joshi saw a picture of Aamir Khan with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. Being a huge fan of Aamir Khan, she asked her father, Manoj Joshi, what was Aamir Khan doing with the CM.

To which he replied that he is giving a cheque to the CM for the relief fund to help the farmers who lost their crops to bad weather and are struggling to survive now.

Inquisitive, Rasika asked if her photo would be clicked if she donated the money to which her father said yes. That excited Rasika and she decided to give her piggy bank donations to the farmers to help them.

Her benevolent gesture impressed her family as well as the Maharashtra CM who said he was touched by her gesture. He assured that no matter what, her savings would reach the farmer.

Her father was elated by the CM’s response to the little girl’s plea and his reaction to it.

Earlier, many celebrities including Ajinkya Rahane, Akshay Kumar, Nana Patekar etc have donated funds to aid the farmers in drought-stricken Maharashtra. The recent rainfall has brought relief to some of the areas, however, many areas still remain dry with people struggling to make the ends meet.

Will there be another Rasika Joshi to help them out and show them love?

News Source: TOI

Source….Shubhi Dixit ….www.storypick.com

Natarajan

” LA has turned to most unusual methods to protect the city’s water …”

September 21, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

The sea of 96MILLION plastic balls that LA hopes will save it from drought: Reservoir is covered in an ocean of black spheres to stop 300million gallons of water evaporating

Black plastic balls were this week released into the 175-acre Los Angeles Reservoir in Sylmar, California
They are designed to cover the water, prevent evaporation and protect it from dust, rain, chemicals and wildlife
The polyethylene balls, around the size of an apple, cost 36 cents each and are black to help deflect the UV rays

With no apparent relief to California’s record-breaking drought, Los Angeles has turned to more unusual methods to protect the city’s water.

Officials recently released 96 million floating ‘shade balls’ into the 75-acre Los Angeles Reservoir in Sylmar, California.

The black plastic balls are designed to help protect the water against dust, rain, chemicals and wildlife, as well as prevent 300 million gallons of water from evaporating each year.

With no apparent relief to California’s record-breaking drought, Los Angeles has turned to more unusual methods to protect the city’s water. City officials recently released ninety six million floating ‘shade balls’ into the Los Angeles Reservoir to cover the complex’ water

The balls work by floating on the surface and blocking the sun’s rays.

As well as protecting against evaporation, they also prevent the chemical reaction that creates the carcinogenic compound bromate.

For most people, exposure to bromate – created from naturally-occurring bromide in water -is unlikely to be cause problems.

But some people who ingest large amounts of bromate have suffered nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

The balls also form a protective barrier across the surface that helps keep birds, animals and other contaminants out.

Dr Brian White, a now-retired Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP biologist), was the first person to think of using shade balls for water quality.

The idea came to him when he learned about the application of ‘bird balls’ in ponds along airfield runways.

His in-house solution has been used in LADWP’s open-air reservoirs since 2008 to block sunlight, prevent chemical reactions and curtail algae blooms.

The balls, around the size of a large apple, cost 36 cents each and are black because it is the only colour that is able to deflect UV rays.

They balls work by floating on the surface and blocking the sun rays to prevent the water from evaporating. By doing this, they also prevent the chemical reaction that creates the carcinogenic compound bromate.

They are currently in place at Upper Stone, Elysian and Ivanhoe reservoirs, and come with the added benefit of reducing evaporation off the reservoir surfaces by 85 to 90 per cent.

Mayor Eric Garcetti joined officials yesterday to release the final 20,000 shade balls as part of the region’s $34.5 million water quality protection project.

‘In the midst of California’s historic drought, it takes bold ingenuity to maximize my goals for water conservation,’ Garcetti said.

‘This effort by LADWP is emblematic of the kind of the creative thinking we need to meet those challenges.’

The polyethylene balls are expected to save $250 million when compared to other, similar techniques to protect the water.

These include splitting the reservoir into two with a bisecting dam; and installing two floating covers that would have cost more than $300 million.

‘In addition to cutting back on the need to chemically treat our water to prevent natural occurrences like algae, these shade balls are a cost-effective way to reduce evaporation each year by nearly 300 million gallons, enough to provide drinking water for 8,100 people for a full year,’ added Councilman Mitch Englander.

Pictured is an aerial view of the reservoir showing the shade balls in position. The polyethylene balls are expected to save $250 million when compared to other, similar techniques to protect the water

Dr Brian White, a now-retired LADWP biologist, was the first person to think of using shade balls for water quality. The idea came to him when he learned about the application of ‘bird balls’ in ponds along airfield runways.

Source…..www.dailymail.co.uk

By ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

PUBLISHED: 04:49 EST, 12 August 2015 |

Natarajan

Forget Cable TV…. Look at the Alternatives….!!!

September 21, 2015September 21, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

When TV started becoming popular, it was transmitted via radio waves and the quality wasn’t great. Later came cable and satellite TV, offering better quality, more channels and even smart features like checking a channels scheduled programs. Now, it’s the turn for the next revolution:

Meet the media streamers – These devices can turn your TV into a “smart TV”, allowing you to install apps, stream high-definition TV shows and movies, play games, browse the internet and visit Baba-Mail from the comfort of your living room. Want to watch Downton Abby now? Go to Hulu or Netflix. Got an Amazon Prime account? Watch free movies and shows. The possibilities are endless.

The best streamers in the market today:

The Fire TV is Amazon’s official media streamer, it lets you use your Amazon account, and if you’re using Amazon Prime – you can enjoy hundreds of thousands of TV shows and movies. The Fire TV’s remote has a built-in microphone you can use instead of a keyboard, and you can also install a remote-control app on your smartphone or tablet if you feel like it.

APPLE TV

If you prefer Apple’s iOS interface and mainly have iPhones or iPads in your home, going with Apple TV is the best choice for you. The interface is sleek and runs smoothly, and the device connects to other iOS devices with ease.

Google Nexus Player

Google recently released the Nexus Player, which unlike the rest of the competition, has an internal (albeit small) hard drive and the remote includes a microphone for voice-search. You can pair the Nexus with a Bluetooth keyboard & mouse for easier use. If you or someone in your family enjoys gaming, you can purchase a specialized gamepad to improve your gaming experience.

preferred media streamer, by far, is the Roku 3. The device currently has more apps than all of its competitors, access to a great many channels, the ability to stream content from your phone to your TV via Roku, and best of all, it has a feature none of the competitors have: A headphone jack in the remote control that lets you enjoy those late-night movies and shows without disturbing anyone.

Data Sheet:

	Roku 3	Apple TV	Amazon Fire TV	Google Nexus Player

Remote	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Voice control	No	No	Yes	Yes
Harddrive	No	No	No	Yes
Headphone jack	Yes	No	No	No
WiFi required	No*	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ethernet	Yes	No	No	No
Connects via:	HDMI	HDMI	HDMI	HDMI
Supported services:
Netflix	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Amazon Instant	Yes	AirPlay	Yes	TabCast
YouTube	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Hulu Plus	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HBO Go	Yes	Yes	Yes	Cast
Showtime Anytime	Yes	Yes	Yes	Cast
Vudu	Yes	AirPlay	No	Cast
Flixster	Yes	Yes	Yes	Cast
Crackle	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
PBS	Yes	Yes	Yes	TabCast
PBS Kids	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
FXNow	Yes	Yes	No	No
Disney Channels	Yes	Yes	Yes	TabCast
Time Warner Cable TV	Yes	No	No	No
SlingPlayer	Yes	AirPlay	No	Cast
Sky News	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Starz Play	No	No	No	Cast
Bloomberg TV	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Watch ESPN	Yes	Yes	Yes	Cast
MLB.TV	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
NFL Now	Yes	Yes	Yes	Cast
NBA Game Time	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pandora	Yes	AirPlay	Yes	Yes
Spotify	Yes	AirPlay	Yes	TabCast
Rdio	Yes	AirPlay	No	Cast
Beats Music	No	Yes	No	No
Rhapsody	No	AirPlay	No	Cast
Vevo	Yes	Yes	Yes	Cast
“Radio” & iTunes radio	No	Yes	No	No
TuneIn	Yes	AirPlay	Yes	TabCast
iHeartRadio	Yes	AirPlay	Yes	Cast
Amazon Music	Yes	AirPlay	Yes	No
iTunes content	No	Yes	No	No
Google Music	No	No	No	Yes
Google Play Movies and TV	Yes	No	No	Yes
Plex	Yes	AirPlay	Yes	Yes

* No WiFi needed if connected via Ethernet

Glossary:

AirPlay: Apple technology that allows wireless streaming of audio, video, and photos between devices.
Cast / TabCast : Google technology that allows wireless streaming of audio, video, and photos between devices.
HDMI: A digital connector, used for high-definition video and audio broadcasting.

Source….www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Health Benefits of Guava Fruit….

September 21, 2015September 21, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Guavas are found in the tropics, and invoke images of vacations, summer parties and island life, but this tasty fruit is more than a celebratory food. This fruit is bursting with healthy vitamins and minerals and can be used to treat many serious ailments. You can recognize guavas by their yellow, green or maroon skins and creamy white or pink pulp.

Weight loss and gain

Guava is a winning fruit for its many great benefits. If you’re trying to lose weight, guavas are not a fruit you need to give up. In fact, this snack-sized fruit can satisfy your appetite while adding few calories, low amounts of carbohydrates and no cholesterol to your diet. And, compared to other fruit, adds a low dose of sugar. Guavas also offer a great source of vitamins, proteins, roughage, fibers and minerals. For lean people trying to gain weight, this fruit is also beneficial as it promotes the healthy absorption of nutrients and its substantial nutrients regulate one’s metabolism.

Blood pressure and Diabetes

Guavas are hypoglycemic and rich in fiber, which helps reduce blood pressure. Dietary fibers maintain the blood’s fluidity and prevent it from thickening, which can worsen blood pressure. Foods lacking in fiber (for example refined flour) increase blood pressure because they convert to sugar more quickly. This can help fight or even prevent diabetes. The fiber regulates the sugar being absorbed by the body and the risk of both high spikes and drops in the body’s insulin and glucose levels is reduced.

Diarrhea, dysentery, and gastroenteritis

The abundant astringent (substances that contract body tissue) makeup of raw guava and guava leaves helps loosen the bowels and can reduce the symptoms of diarrhea and gastroenteritis. Being highly alkaline, the guavas act as a disinfectant, removing excess mucus from the intestines and inhibiting microbial growth. For these reasons, guavas can also be used to treat dysentery. The guavas’ plentiful supply of vitamin C, carotenoids and potassium can also boost your digestive system.

Thyroid health

A good substance for regulating the thyroid’s metabolism is copper, which guavas have plenty of. The thyroid glands regulate important hormones and organ system functions, which helps maintain a healthy balance in your body.

Healthy brains

Also present in guavas are high amounts of vitamins B3 and B6. These both have benefits for the health of your brain. B3, which is also called niacin, is known to help increase blood flow and stimulate cognitive function, while B6 helps preserve normal nerve function.

Scurvy

Guava is your best source for vitamin C. In fact it has four times the amount of Vitamin C found in oranges, which are regarded as the go-to food for this vitamin. The concentration of vitamin C can prevent scurvy, a disease caused by a deficiency of this vitamin.

Constipation

The seeds of guavas, either ingested whole or chewed, are excellent laxatives. In addition to the fruits’ substantial amount of dietary fiber, guavas are advantageous for treating constipation. These two sources cleanse your intestines and excretory system and help your body retain water, helping you achieve healthy bowel movements. Frequently snacking on guavas, then, can be beneficial for proper digestion.

Colds and coughs

Drinking the juice of guavas and fresh guava fruit helps in fighting colds and coughs. The astringent quality can lessen mucus, disinfect the respiratory tract, throat, and lungs and reduce microbial activity. The substantial amounts of iron and vitamin C in guavas also help treat viral infections. It’s advised to avoid eating overly ripe guavas when you have a cold or cough as they can actually aggravate them.

Eyesight

The considerable quantities of vitamin A in guavas are extremely beneficial for the health of your vision. This helps slow down macular degeneration, the growth of cataracts and even improve one’s eyesight degradation once it has begun.

Source

Cancer prevention

Guava is also valuable in your diet as a preventative measure against cancerous growths and metastasis. The high levels of an antioxidant called lycopene has been shown to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Guava leaf oil is another anti-proliferative extract from the guava plant that has proven effective in reducing cancer growth.

Skincare

Guavas are also fantastic at improving skin texture and keeping your skin looking fresh. Guavas are full of astringents, particularly in fresh fruit and the leaves of the plant. If you rinse your skin with a guava decoction, the fruit can tone and tighten areas of loose skin. Eating the fruit also provides a rich source of vitamins A, B, C, as well as potassium, which are excellent antioxidants and detoxifiers. They can keep your skin glowing, prevent premature aging and wrinkles, and can speed up the healing process of wounds.

H/T: www.organicfacts.net

Source….www.ba-bamail.com

Natarajan

Message for the Day…” Place Your Faith in God and do Your duty to the best of your ability…”

September 21, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

Every being is an embodiment of the Divine. True human relationship can grow only when this truth is recognised. The first stage is where you recognise, ‘I am in the Light.’ Next is when you know, ‘The Light is in me,’ and finally you realise, ‘I am the Light.’ ‘I’ represents love and light which connotes Supreme Wisdom (Jnana). When love and light unite, there is Realisation. The path of devotion is easier than the path of wisdom. Love should come from within, not forced from outside. Develop spontaneous love. The attitude of petitioning to God for favours should be given up. Love of God should not be based on quid pro quo, seeking favours in exchange for prayers and offerings to God. Place your faith in God and do your duty to the best of your ability. Saturate yourself with love and share it with all.

Sathya Sai Baba

” இது ஒரு ‘ சுண்டக்காய் ‘ விஷயம் இல்லை ….” !!!

September 20, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

சுண்டைக்காய் மருத்துவம்!

கிருமிகளை அழிப்பதில் சுண்டைக்காய்க்கு
நிகரே இல்லை எனலாம். உணவின் மூலம் நம்
உடலுக்குள் சேர்கிற கிருமிகள் தியாக
உள்ளே பலவித பாதிப்புகளை உருவாக்கலாம்.
அடிக்கடி சுண்டைக்காய் சாப்பிடுகிறவர்களுக்கு
இந்த நச்சுக் கிருமிகள் உடலில் தங்குவது
தவிர்க்கப்படும்.

சுண்டைக்காயை உலர்த்திப் பொடியாக்கி,
தினம் சிறிதளவை தண்ணீரில் கரைத்துக் குடித்து
வந்தால், ஆசனவாய் தொற்றும், அதன் விளைவால்
உண்டாகிற அரிப்பும் குணமாகும். வாரத்தில்
4 நாட்களுக்கு சுண்டைக்காய் சாப்பிடுகிறவர்களுக்கு
இரத்த சர்க்கரை கட்டுப்பாட்டில் இருக்குமாம்.

சுண்டைக்காயைக் காய வைத்து வற்றலாக்கி,
சில துளிகள் எண்ணெய் விட்டு வறுத்து, சூடான
சாதத்தில் பொடித்துச் சேர்த்து ஒரு கவளம்
சாப்பிட, அஜீரணக் கோளாறுகள் குணமாகும்.

வாயுப்பிடிப்பு பிரச்னை உள்ளவர்களுக்கும்
சுண்டைக்காய் நல்ல மருந்து.

பச்சை சுண்டைக்காயை அடிக்கடி எடுத்துக் கொள்வதன்
மூலம் எலும்புகள் பலப்படும் என்பது பெண்கள்
கவனிக்க வேண்டிய சேதி.

பக்கவாதம் பாதித்தவர்களுக்குக் கூட சுண்டைக்காய்
மெல்ல மெல்ல நிவாரணம் தரும் என்கிறது
பாட்டி வைத்தியக் குறிப்பு ஒன்று.

எப்படிச் சுத்தப்படுத்துவது?

காம்புடன் கூடிய பச்சை சுண்டைக்காய்களாகப்
பார்த்து வாங்க வேண்டும். காம்பு நீக்கி,
சுண்டைக்காய்களை லேசாகத் தட்டி, தண்ணீர்
உள்ள பாத்திரத்தில் போட வேண்டும். பிறகு
கைகளால் லேசாக அவற்றை அலசினால்,
விதைகள் அடியில் தங்கும். விதைகளை
முழுக்க நீக்கத் தேவையில்லை. பிறகு
இன்னொரு முறை காய்களைக் கழுவிவிட்டு,
சமையலுக்கு உபயோகிக்கலாம்.

உடலிலுள்ள கிருமிகளை அழிப்பதிலிருந்து,
கொழுப்பைக் கரைப்பது வரை பெரிய பெரிய
வேலைகளைச் செய்யக் கூடிய மாபெரும்
மருத்துவக் குணங்களை உள்ளடக்கியது
சின்னதான இந்த சுண்டைக்காய். இத்தனை
சிறிய சுண்டைக்காயினுள் இவ்வளவு
விஷயங்களா என மலைக்க வைக்கிறது,

* நமது வீட்டுத் தோட்டங்களில் மிகச்
சுலபமாகவும் சீக்கிரமாகவும் விளையக்கூடிய
ஒரு தாவரம் சுண்டைச்செடி. மகத்தான
மருத்துவக் குணங்கள் கொண்ட
சுண்டைக்காயின் உபயோகம் மெல்ல மெல்ல
குறைந்து வருகிறது. சுண்டைக்காயை நுண்
ஊட்டச் சத்துகளின் பவர் ஹவுஸ் என்றே
சொல்லலாம். தேவையற்ற செல் பாதிப்புகள் நம்
உடலில் ஏகப்பட்டவியாதிகளை வரவழைத்து
விடும்.

நீரிழிவு, இதய நோய்கள் என
எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் ஏதுவாக உடல்
பலவீனமடையும். நோயற்ற வாழ்க்கைக்கு
ஆன்ட்டிஆக்சிடண்ட்ஸ் அவசியம். வைட்டமின்
ஏ (பீட்டா கரோட்டின்), சி, இ போன்ற சத்துகளை
எக்கச்சக்கமாக உள்ளடக்கியது இது. குறிப்பாக
நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்திக்கு மிக முக்கியமான
தேவையான வைட்டமின் சியை அபரிமிதமாகக்
கொண்டது சுண்டைக்காய். ஆரஞ்சு, கொய்யா,
பப்பாளிக்கு இணையான வைட்டமின் சி இதில்
உண்டு.

*இரத்த அழுத்தத்தைக் கட்டுப்படுத்தக் கூடியது.
இரத்தத்தில் கொழுப்பு சேர்ந்து, அது இரத்தக்
குழாய்களில் படிவதைத் தவிர்க்கும் சக்தி
இதற்கு உண்டு. ஆன்ட்டி இன்ஃப்ளமேட்டரி
குணங்கள் கொண்டது.

வெள்ளை இரத்த அணுக்களை அதிகரித்து அதன்
விளைவாக நோய் எதிர்ப்புச் சக்தியை அதிகரிக்கக் கூடியது.

சுண்டைக்காயில் உள்ள இரும்புச் சத்தானது
இரத்த சோகையை எதிர்த்துப் போராடக் கூடியது.

இரும்புச் சத்து என்றதும் கேழ்வரகு, கீரை
போன்றவற்றையே நாடுவோர்க்கு, அது
சுண்டைக்காயில் அதிகளவில் உள்ளது
தெரியாது.

* சுண்டைக்காயை பச்சையாகவோ,
வற்றலாகவோ எப்படி வேண்டுமானாலும்
சாப்பிடலாம்.

காய்ச்சல் நேரத்தில் சுண்டைக்காய் சேர்த்துக் கொள்வதன் மூலம் வெள்ளை இரத்த அணுக்கள் அதிகரிப்பதுடன், காயங்களும் புண்களும் கூட ஆறும்.

* தையாமின், ரிபோஃப்ளேவின், நியாசின்
போன்ற பி காம்ப்ளக்ஸ் சத்துகள் அனைத்தும்
இதில் உள்ளன. இதில் உள்ள ரிபோஃப்ளேவின்
வாய் புண்களையும், சொத்தைப் பல் உருவாவதையும் தடுக்கக் கூடியது.

* நரம்பு மண்டலத்துக்குச் சக்தி கொடுக்கக்கூடியது
சுண்டைக்காய். பார்வைத் திறன் அதிகரிக்கவும்
நினைவாற்றல் கூடவும் சுண்டைக்காயில் உள்ள
நல்ல குணங்கள் உதவக்கூடியவை.

நம்மூர் மக்களுக்குச் சுண்டைக்காய் வற்றலைத்
தவிர அதை எப்படி உபயோகிப்பது என்பது
தெரியாது. ஆனால், சுண்டைக்காயை விதம்
விதமாக சமைத்து உண்ணலாம்.

கத்தரிக்காயை என்னவெல்லாம் செய்து சாப்பிடுவோமோ, அத்தனையையும்
சுண்டைக்காயிலும் செய்யலாம். கேரட்,
பீட்ரூட் மாதிரி பிரமாதமான சுவை கொண்டதல்ல இது. சப்பென்றுதான் இருக்கும். ஆனால், அதை நாம் சமைக்கிற முறையின் மூலம் சுவை மிக்கதாக
மாற்ற முடியும்.

* சித்த மருத்துவத்தில் சுண்டைக்காயின் பயன்
பாடு மிக அதிகம். அதன் சாரத்தை அவர்கள் பல
மருந்துத் தயாரிப்புகளுக்கு உபயோகிக்கிறார்கள்.

* பிரசவமான பெண்களுக்கு பத்தியச் சாப்பாட்டின்
ஒரு பகுதியாக அங்காயப் பொடி என ஒன்று
கொடுப்பார்கள். அதில் பிரதானமாகச்
சேர்க்கப்படுவதே சுண்டைக்காய்தான்.

தாய்ப்பால் சுரப்பை அதிகரித்து, செரிமான
சக்தியைத் தூண்டி, உடலின் நச்சுகளை
வெளியேற்றும் சக்தி கொண்டது அதில்
சேர்க்கப்படுகிற சுண்டைக்காய்.

“சுண்டைக்காயா… அதை வச்சு என்ன செய்ய
என ஒதுங்கிப் போகாமல் இனிமேல் எப்போது,
எங்கே சுண்டைக்காயைப் பார்த்தாலும் உடனே வாங்கி சமைத்துச் சாப்பிடுங்கள்” .

Source…..input from a Friend of mine

Natarajan

What your Credit Score says about you….?

September 20, 2015NatarajanLeave a comment

A commercial on TV shows a person waving his CIBIL Reports and the lenders flock to him to give him a loan; he is treated well, with a lot of respect and of course his loan is sanctioned. So what does the CIBIL Score actually say about a person’s financial profile that opens doors of banks for him; what all do those three digits tell?

Apart from lenders, employers when hiring people for higher management positions and looking for individuals to work in financial sectors can also ask for an applicant’s CIBIL score. This trend is still at a nascent stage in India. In USA, which is heavily credit driven, it is common for utility providers, insurers to ask for a credit report; even when looking for an apartment or a life partner the credit score comes into play! So have you ever wondered what does the CIBIL Score say about me?

Financial health

The most important fact revealed by the credit score is the financial health of an individual. Credit score is calculated based on a lot of information collected from various sources across a considerable time period. It’s not just recent behaviour or one off random action that is reflected in the credit behaviour.

A lot of variables and factors contribute to the final score; repayment behaviour for all types of credit dating back years, type of debt, credit utilisation, loan tenure etc are all considered when calculating the CIBIL score. Thus these three digits give a concise picture of your financial health and behaviour; any randomness is taken care of by the numerous variables and also the time period over which the data is spread.

In case one or two credit card payments are missed over a five year period then it can attributed to genuine reasons and they will not have an overall adverse impact on the credit score. However if credit card payments are missed every few months then they reflect on the poor financial health of the person. It is clear indicator that the person is in the risk of falling into a debt trap.

Risk profile

A low credit score means a high risk profile and a high CIBIL score means a low risk profile.

A financial institution when lending money does it with an understanding that it will get the money (principal and interest) back and ideally get it back on time. This they judge by looking at the CIBIL score which is an indicator of the risk profile of an applicant.

A high risk profile indicates that the chance of the customer defaulting or delaying payments is substantial; the lender may choose to reject such an application or charge a higher interest if sanctioning a loan.

Personality traits

Apart from the financial habits of a person the CIBIL score can also reveal a few traits about an individual’s personality. This is maybe one of the reason employers may want to have a look at it apart from the potential hazards (litigation, fraud) of hiring a person who is debt ridden or in poor financial health.

a. Planning and organisation

A CIBIL score indicates whether a person is organised and plans ahead or not. Financial health is a result of good financial planning and organisation too. Not planning your finances, taking a car loan without figuring out whether you can pay the EMIs or not; not being organised enough to check about a bank’s policies for sanctioning a loan and randomly applying to it are few actions that affect your CIBIL Score.

Careful planning ahead ensures that you are in a position to meet your financial obligations monthly and loan applications (which result in hard credit enquiries) are not rejected.

b. Discipline

Paying EMIs or credit card bills on time is the simplest thing to do in case you have planned your finances well. However not paying on time frequently is a sure indicator of lack of discipline; you are simply forgetful or not disciplined enough to follow the plan. Similarly swiping the credit card without bothering about the payment that needs to be made at the end of the month also reflects lack of restraint and discipline. All organisation and planning can go for a toss if one is not disciplined enough to follow it through.

c. Integrity

Defaulting on loans or credit card payments can also reflect lack of integrity in the person sometimes. It may be the case that the person does not simply intend to pay; s/he does not have the integrity to honor her/his commitment. There are enough cases of wilful defaults especially on credit card payments and personal loans simply because the bank has nothing the repossess.

The CIBIL score is an indicator of a person’s financial robustness, it is indicative of behavioural pattern to some extent and also tells about the risk potential the individual poses.

The author is a credit expert with 10 years of experience in personal finance and consumer banking industry and another 7 years in credit bureau sector. Rajiv was instrumental in setting up India’s first credit bureau, Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited (CIBIL).

Source….Rajiv Raj….www.rediff.com

Natarajan

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