Favourite Books

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Tuesdays with Morrie - Mitch Albom

பொன்னியின் செல்வன் - கல்கி

அதிகாலையின் அமைதியிலே - பரீஸ் வஸீலியெவ், தமிழில் - பூ . சோமசுந்தரம்

ஒரு பொருளாதார அதிகாரியின் ஒப்புதல் வாக்குமூலம் - ஜான் பெர்கின்ஸ், தமிழில் இரா.முருகவேள்

First among equals - Jeffrey Archer

The Prodigal daughter - Jeffrey Archer

The Monk who sold his ferrari - Robin Sharma

Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

Two States - Chetan Bhagat

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

The Help - Kathryn Stocket

Brain Works

 Brain Works - The mindbending science of how you see, what you think and who you are  By Michael S.Sweeney Foreword by illusionist David Copperfield. This is the book that i am currently reading.....Just wanted to put down my favourite lines from the book.

Perception is influenced by many things, including cultural biases and beliefs,
and a skilled magician takes advantage of these things to accomplish the appearance of the miraculous.

The human brain - the most complicated organ on the planet - is the theater where the magic i perform takes place

The hand is not quicker than the eye, but the hand is quicker than perception.

The book is an extraordinarily powerful and fun tool for enrinching your knowledge and perception and capacity to wonder.

Machines are not poets, architects, doctors or artists. They do not think.

The brain makes humans unique.

Urban Trees and Urban Transportation

The need for a change in thinking.

Coimbatore-Mettupalayam Road, India.
Source of the pic from facebook which shows the actual scenario

I feel so hurt whenever they cut the trees in the name of road widening, to ease the traffic situation, in the name of development, etc,etc. I feel the need to do something, and every time they cut a tree the urge is becoming stronger. Our trees they act as silent saviours to all the attrocities we do in the name of development, but what we do we don respect any of that and cut them off. Due to pollution, health concerns like breathing problems and asthma are a major concern and have become common nowadays. Increase in green house gases and global warming etc etc are major global concerns.

As a person with common sense i know cutting trees in the name of road widening or any other reason is not a solution. And as a planner, i have been taught road widening is in itself not the permanent solution, the vehicle population will keep on growing. In reality, cutting off the trees in the roadside, is only easy solution that has been opted for.

I asked my sir who has a NGO, when they were planning to cut the trees along mettupalayam road for multiple laning. Many NGOs and groups protested against that and got a stay in the court finally after somedays they got a higher court order and finally cut the trees, which were more than 50 years old or may be more than that. Now that road which used to be so shaded is full of dust. This is the case in almost all the places all over India and across the world. Increasingly we are seeing more protests all over.

Is protesting the only solution?? What needs to be done to prevent that(cutting of more trees in the name of development) and create more awareness among the decision makers????

Need ideas and ccomments....As a planner what should i do??? 

Will doing research on the after effects be an alternative??

3D flower pop up Greeting card

Made this card for a friend. My first attempt at a popup card....:-).Here are some clicks of the card.

Instructions on how to make the flower pop up card can be found in the links below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUGrIop_pwo

http://extremecards.blogspot.com/2008/05/seven-flower-pop-up-card.html

Abraham Lincoln's Letter to his son's Teacher

Was searching for this letter, which I've read long back in a book, and found a video in Youtube made by sparkling galaxy. Thought I'll share it. 

Abraham Lincoln supposedly wrote this letter to his son's teacher. Its authenticity of authorship is not proven. But the thoughts reflected in the letter are worth a read and what every parent wants their child to learn to survive in this world.

"My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. It is an adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will require faith, love and courage. 

So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him - but gently, if you can.

He will have to learn, I know,

that all men are not just,

that all men are not true.

But teach him also that

for every scoundrel there is a hero;

that for every selfish Politician,

there is a dedicated leader…

Teach him for every enemy 

there is a friend,

It will take time, I know;

But teach him, if you can,

That a dollar earned...

Is far more vauable than five found.

Teach him to learn to lose gracefully

And also to enjoy winning

when he does win.

Steer him away from envy,

if you can,

Teach him the secret of

quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that

the bullies are the easiest to lick…

Teach him, if you can,

the wonder of books…

But also give him

quiet time to ponder

over the eternal mystery

of birds in the sky,

bees in the sun,

and flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him

it is far honourable to fail

than to cheat…

Teach him to have faith

in his own ideas,

even if everyone tells him

they are wrong…

Teach him to be gentle

with gentle people,

and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son the strength

not to follow the crowd

when everyone is getting on the band wagon…

Teach him to listen

to all men…but

teach him also to filter

all he hears

on a screen of truth,

and take only the good

that comes through.

Teach him if you can,

how to laugh when he is sad…

Teach him there is no shame in tears,

Teach him to scoff at cynics

and to beware of too much sweetness…

Teach him to sell his brawn

and brain to the highest bidders

but never to put a price-tag

on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears

to a howling mob

and to stand and fight

if he thinks he’s right.

Treat him gently,

but do not cuddle him,

because only the test

of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage

to be impatient…

let him have the patience to be brave.

Teach him always

to have sublime faith in himself,

because then he will have

sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order,

but see what you can do…

He is such a fine little fellow,

my son!"

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.....

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim

Because it was grassy and wanted wear,

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I marked the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference. 

From the poem 'Road not Taken' by Robert Frost

Whenever i am at the cross roads, this poem always inspires me.........

The Solutions to Life's 10 Biggest Problems!!!

An interesting article by Dr.Philip E. Humbert. Really inspiring for me.

1. Tunnel Vision : The tendency to focus only on the immediate crisis or sore spot. Under stress, things look worse or more complex than they really are.
The solution - Perspective. Ask if it will matter in 6 months. Ask what else is going on? How did I create this situation and, in an ideal world, what would I like to do about it?

2. Fear : The anxiety or terror that things will go badly, that we will fail or be embarrassed. 

The solution - Humor and Curiosity. Modern life has very few saber-tooth tigers. The situation is rarely life or death. Ask, What's the worst that can happen? What's the best? What can I learn? What would I do if I had no fear?

3. Confusion : The sense of being lost or unclear about our direction. The sense that we don't know our own priorities anymore. 

The solution - Responsible Choices. Choose your values and priorities and set your own path. Your life is yours. Check your moral compass, pick a direction and do something extraordinary!

4. Guilt : The belief that we have hurt or failed or sinned and deserve punishment. Guilt is either accurate, because sometimes we do behave badly, or it is false and simply an illusion. 

The solution - If we have transgressed, we must make restitution, ask forgiveness, learn from our error and move on. If it is false guilt, set it down as an unnecessary and irrational burden.

5. Shame : The belief that we are worth-less than others, that we have a terrible, incurable flaw. It is not that we have done something wrong (guilt), but that we are bad or wrong. 

The solution - Clear, rational thinking. Everyone has behaved badly, but no one was created badly! Any flaws only serve to make you stronger, more heroic or more compassionate toward others.

6. Loneliness : The belief that no one loves us, that no one cares and we must desperately cling to anyone who finds us attractive or acceptable. This creates dependency, not intimacy. 

The solution - Accurate Self-Assessment. Not everyone will love you, but many people will if they meet you, get to know you, and spend time working/playing along side you.

7. Resentment : Holding anger and refusing to move beyond real or imagined mistreatment in the past. Some people spend their whole lives as "victims", nurturing a terrible event in their past.
The solution - Let go! Life is not fair and people do not always behave well or kindly. Use your trauma to make you wise, kind, gentle, and strong. Holding anger will not work.

8. Self-Doubt : The repeated, endless questioning of your own abilities, opinions or actions. The inability to take a stand, to act boldly, or to follow-through.
The solution - Action! Think clearly, then take action and follow-through. Start small, but do it! You are the world's expert on your life! Use your wisdom to live well.

9. Stubbornness : The refusal or inability to re-assess a situation, change your mind, or admit you were wrong.
The solution - Wisdom and Humility. Only a fool stays on a course that is headed for disaster! Search for new and better information, remain flexible, open and creative. When the situation changes, adjust accordingly and set a new course.

10. Addiction : Humans become addicted to drugs, but we also become addicted to our jobs, our opinions or our lifestyle. We can be addicted to people and need them rather than love them.
The solution - Take a vacation! Periodically, walk in someone else's shoes. Break your habits, re-arrange your schedule, delegate those things that only you can do "right". Use habits and traditions to set you free, don't let habits enslave you!

By Phil, Mary, and the Staff at
Resources for Success!™

© Copyright 2003 by Philip E. Humbert. All Rights Reserved. This article may be copied and used in your own newsletter or on your website as long as you include the following information: "Written by Dr.Philip E. Humbert, writer, speaker and success coach. Dr. Humbert has over 300 free articles, tools and resources for your success, including a great newsletter! It's all on his website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com "