Mass Communication par excellence..

It is an undeniable fact that mass communication is critically essential in one 's life and the development of the nation in general . This is for the reason that aside from human 's basic necessities , mass communication is also a requirement in daily living as well as for the overall growth of a country and its people . In today 's modern world , mass communication is not only a primary provision of life but serves as a tool for survival as well . This is because the industry addresses and responds to the technological needs of contemporary people and the latest demands of hi-tech community . In fact , the significance and powerful impacts of mass communication or mass media to people and the society have already been acknowledged . This is because it is considered as the Fourth Estate which guards the nation 's democracy and defends the general interest of the public . Additionally , the functions of mass communication are important life components . Based from the benefits that a person and the society can get or its positive implications in human life and the community in general , it is vital for mass communication to exist and operate .To better understand and appreciate the relevance and usefulness of mass communication , it is worthy to discuss its five basic roles or functions in the promotion of interests of individuals and the society . In particular , it is helpful to focus on mass communication 's functions in relation with today 's advancement of the industry or the concept of mass media in the digital age .
On the other hand , mass communication transmits values in such a way that it also means mobilizing people and the society . This role is very significant specially to developing societies because it aims to group people...And so i'm proud of being a student of PGDJMC.

Ad on AIDS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHiGK0kXeA0&NR=1

an ad on AIDS by Heroes Project Star Care which is humourously delt. It is a scene in the court room were there is a situation and the guilty is being questioned. but the questions are not simple and to the point they are pretty intriguing and specific and very detailed imformation is being asked for simply to imply that if people have any such complicated, difficult, detailed or specific questions related to AIDS will be answered by Star Care.

Ad by Times of India

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NQzsUMxpSA&NR=1

a classic advertisement by Times of India to tell the importance of correct education and opting for places suitable for our career. The ad is made specifically for the youth to see and understand the importance of right and correct education. a must watch and it deserves appreciation because not only is it funny and entertains but also educates.

Hutch GPRS

a commendable ad by hutch to show the personal attachment it has with its consumers. the ad is a revealing kind which is mysterious in the beginning and as it ends its real meaning comes out. it tries to explain that the brand is concerned about the costumer and wants to provide the best service by providing a touch of reality to it. and also that be it anywhere in the world or any of the remote place service is up to mark.

Camlin Whiteboard Marker

yet another hilarious vedio by camlin to show the power of its product. Simple concept that states that a word is taken to its literal meaning to actually bring out the coins out of their pocket so that they could bring about a change in the company. the pun that has been implied really creates an impact.

Camlin Markers..

as the ad in the beginning clearly says that bangles, mangal sutra and sindoor are part of married woman's life. And hitting the axe at the traditional string it focuses on the way people behave with women when the husband dies. With a comic touch to the seriousness of the issue the ad makers have tried to satirically present the evil and expressed the power of their product. the camlin maker which is permanent and lasts forever and is important for a happy ending.

Glycodin

the is for sure funny but at the same time its truly creative. the idea for bringing together the "naam karan" of 2 liniage is typically represented. The repetation of the first and second part creates a rhythm in this advertisement and appeals to the audience. We see that the folllower of the Baba is dumb which is also a slight sarcasm on the blind faith people have which is a bad tendency. The fast and affective effect of gylicodin is positively shown and the product is superbly advertised. It is preferably liked by the people. the mordern irony and the traditional touch are perfectly intermingled and maintained. the sound effect are suitable and the visual comes out be b appealing.

my sketches...

butterfly sucking nectar

Myths causing pollution

white lotus

peacock feathers

crorus

Photography..

PHOTOGRAPHY is a latest and fastest medium of communication and has become an essential part of every day’s life. The basic idea of using photographs in various channels and outlets such as newspapers, periodicals, albums, books, leaflets, portfolios, display, exhibitions, and stills on T.V. etc. etc. is to attract the receiver to receive your information by visual support of your message and minimize your words for your expression. In fact, photography is a universal language of expression and communication. It is rightly said that, “One Good Photograph is equivalent to thousand words.”

Early morning, while sipping a cup of tea, our attention is drawn by three or four column Photograph along with headlines. Moreover we find number of photographs spread all over the newspaper depending upon the news value, subject, interest etc. Glossy Magazines are full of photographs on variety of subjects and interests. Exhibitions are adorned by photographic display. Internet is flooded with variety of photographs. Approximately three million photographs are browsed per day.

Photographs are clicked of anything, anytime, anywhere. Photographs are required at all occasions from birth till death of a person or institution and there are A to Z subjects with many branches of specialization.  Photography is very challenging, interesting, exciting, and glamorous enjoyable field whether you adopt it as a hobby or career. It has got tremendous job opportunities and good financial returns, for trained persons. Photography is combination of Physics, Chemistry and Creative art. Since it is a creative medium, man behind the camera always plays main role. If same camera, same film and same subject is given to 10 different persons, the result will vary from person to person depending upon his angle, exposure, mood, composition etc. And camera never lies, since it records and reproduces truly whatever sees through the lens. Therefore, before clicking the shot, one has to be extremely careful.

Still photography is more skillful than film or video shooting because the still photographer has to act instantly to catch the right moment at the right time within a fraction of a second on a single frame which will be the cream of the event, On the other hand, film or T.V. cameraman will be exposing hundreds of frames with various effects such as pan, zoom fade-in, fade-out, focus-in, focus–out etc. to illustrate the same event under the guidance of the Director or the Producer.

Photography appears to be simple but it is not that easy that simply clicking camera and exposing full film roll of 36 frames will give us all the photographs which are correctly exposed, properly composed, presentable and acceptable by majority of people or our clients.  We may find very few pictures, which are up to the mark. Because, though we may have best of equipment, but lack of experience and knowledge about the technique of photography, we will not be in position to produce reasonably good picture. Moreover, we must know our equipment well and use and purpose of all the parts as well as accessories so that appropriate justice is done to the assignment.

stress relief..

Stress not only affects our body and corrupts its natural functioning; it also affects our mind and spirit as well. Everyday, each of us goes through stress a number of times—mild or severe. We follow our own ways to fight or flee them. But, human endeavor to find the most effective deterrent against stress is still going on. It is so, because stress still remains the major affliction of modern life. Since its complete eradication is neither possible nor desirable, we can equip ourselves to manage stress positively.

Through trial and error modern man has found a unique stress buster—knocking at the door of soul. When all outward sources of solace dry up it is but natural to look within, and to know, to understand the nature of the `self` and its requirements. This kind of mental orientation helps realize one`s inner potential and achieve personal growth. Spirituality, or knowing one`s `self`; the real purpose of life, and one`s relationship with the concept of God, is rapidly catching the imaginations of modern men.

Satish Nanda, MD, Heritage Handlooms, India, a follower of Osho explains, "The mind is a great tourist. It strays. A spiritual Guru gives birth to your inner self. We rediscover our being. In the vicinity of a guru one feels `unburdened`."

It encourages you to reflect on your experiences and may convince you about the insignificance of these from the point of permanency. You may learn to accept the fact that even this will pass away and hence, there is nothing to be worried about. Pursuance of spirituality encourages one to empty all negative thoughts and distractions from one`s mind and helps one cultivate a passive attitude towards nagging life situations.

Dr. Benson, who pioneered the work on Relaxation Response, suggests that a passive attitude is the most essential factor in eliciting the Relaxation Response.

Says Mr Nanda: "Spirituality doesn`t fall off when you are at work or business. Rather, it enhances your total outlook. One is positive, cheerful, absolutely spontaneous, flowing....like the stream of a river."

Our mental strength and attitudes are the deciding factors in identifying a stressor and the nature of our response to it. As you come to realize more about your `being` you develop tolerance towards others. Being able to understand your inherent needs as well as of others helps improve inter-personal relationships. It may improve your relationship with your whole environs.

•For example, a hyper-reactive husband can lend an ear to his spouse`s complains and can show patience to judge the merit of it.

•Various practices associated with the path of spirituality—meditation, breathing exercises, physical exercises (yogakriyas/yoga practices), and practice of positive thinking make one physically and mentally better equipped to manage stress. It also maintains equanimity of mind. Ravi Bhoothalingam, president, The Oberoi Group, India and a regular participant of Sri Sri Ravishankar`s Art of Living workshops, says, "It has been three years since I`m practicing meditation. Meditation brings down stress levels, improves balance and provides calmness to the mind."

Thinking about God and not necessarily following elaborate rituals to worship Him can be the answer to tackle stress and its effects. Even rituals associated with the path of spirituality have often proved to be effective stress reducers.

For example, the use of aromatic substances (incense, flowers, sandal-paste et al), spending some time in an undisturbed, orderly and quiet atmosphere may soothe the nerves, make the body calm and composed, and uplift the spirit. Simply meditating in private provides relaxation and gives one peace of mind.

A recent study by the National Institute for Health Care Research (NIHR) titled Religious Involvement Linked to Good Health reveals that, "Canadian college students involved with campus ministries paid fewer visits to medical clinics, scored higher in psychological well-being, and experienced less stress during difficult times." Those affiliated students also showed higher positive feelings and considerably lower levels of depression. They are also better at handling stress.

Spirituality facilitates intra-personal relationships in practitioners. You come to know and assess yourself more, and try to grow as a person. Thereby you become more adept and more skillful in facing life`s various situations.

Science & Spirituality-- Bridging the Gap

Science can try `to see the world in a grain of sand', in the stars and galaxies, in the energy hidden within the atom, or in the growth and development of the human brain. But it does not really matter where science starts, because eventually it will lead to the same place - the mystery of Life, the Universe and everything in it.
Today's new breed of mystics, comprising quantum physicists, cyberneticists, molecular biologists, mathematicians and computer scientists, have all largely explored the depths of frontier sciences and have somehow been introduced to the oneness of it all. The apparent gulf between science and spirituality is caused by the use of different languages. Both camps are, however, saying the same thing.
Science has shown that the world is not a giant clock, that God was not a detached clock-maker who made the system and is now watching it operate, and that reducing the system into its constituent parts kills its inherent essence of synergy, and continually makes the truth slip further away from our grasp.
But isn't that what the mystics and philosophers of the past and present have been trying to tell us? Is not the universe one giant cosmic soup of energy which, depending on how we wish to observe it, will manifest into that particular reality?
Physicists are telling us that the observer affects the observation. Science is showing that we no longer perform objective experiments. Instead, we participate in subjective experiments because our minds, thoughts and expectations will bring the results we expect.
It is not that we are changing reality, but that the definition of reality itself is changing. Reality is no longer the external unaffected something out there, that we can accept, deny, challenge, overcome, or resign to. It is something that is inside us. But that is only half the truth. The other half is that we are inside `it'.
In the late '60s and early '70s, renowned physicist David Bohm proposed that the workings of the universe were based on a holographic model. Simultaneously and independently, Karl Pribram, the eminent psychoneuroemmunologist, while attempting to localize memory in the brain, came to the conclusion that the human brain also functioned according to a holographic model. Yet another example of `As above, so below!'
Bohm proposed that our four dimensional space-time continuum model of the universe was only part of the story, and that these dimensions constitute what he called the `explicate order'. This explicate order is constantly unfolding, based on the information contained in a reality of higher dimensions, which he called the `implicate order'. Sounds like mysticism? This is frontier physics.
That the implicate order contains the sum-total of all that has been, is, and will be, transpiring in the explicate order. It sounds deterministic, as if pre-ordained by a supreme divinity. However, Bohm suggested that the quality of the implicate order was much the same as the quality of thought or consciousness. In other words, we as human beings, with the quality of our thoughts, from our explicate existence, can affect and re-write the implicate order which, in turn, will create a new reality unfolding into the explicate order.
But what determines the information within the implicate order? Bohm proposed that the implicate order itself was the result of the unfolding of yet a higher order which he called `super-implicate order' and, to our limited knowledge and perception, this could go on ad infinitum.
Furthermore, the qualities of all these orders are holographic in the true sense of the word (Holo means whole, and graph means recorded). In other words, in the universe the whole is contained in each and every part.
So science is describing the universe as the dance of quantum energy based on the symphony of thought and consciousness which is constantly unfolding from the implicate order into the explicate, and enfolding back into the implicate. All the information about the totality of the space-time continuum is contained in every part, time and location in space.
In other words, we can `see the world in a grain of sand' or in the stars. But isn't that what astrology is about? We can look at the pattern of the stars in heavens, and determine how, through the implicate order, they affect our lives.
Physics is saying that if we can go within our consciousness and tune into the implicate order, then we will see the totality of time and space for the entire universe. Therefore, is it not possible to use tarot cards, the I ching, tea leaves or any other divination technique to tune into the implicate order and talk about the past or the future? By the same token, can we not know something as simple as who it is when the phone rings.
Isn't it possible that, by tuning into the implicate order, we can regress back into our past lives and, indeed, into the entire process of evolution on this planet and in the universe, and be able to see and experience everything in a timeless manner? Isn't it also possible that, like Nostradamus or Joules Verne, we may be able to tune into the implicate order and predict the shape of things to come?
But physics is also saying that we are active participants in the process of creation. Through our minds and consciousness, we can go from the explicate order and re-write the information in the implicate, and perhaps even the super-implicate order. In other words, we have the freedom to choose, to determine our futures. The future is written, but only in pencil, and we have the ability to erase what is written and write what we desire.
After all, isn't the purpose of astrology to understand our lives so that we can transcend our limitations and, indeed, astrology itself? Doesn't future-gazing give us the power to see what parts we do not wish to have happen, and therefore re-write them? Nostradamus himself said, in his will to his son, that he left these horrific prophecies about the future so that we would start changing them.
Furthermore, if we truly affect our world through the implicate order, then our thoughts have power, because they can re-write what is to unfold in the implicate order. Whether we walk on fire or bend spoons with the power of our minds, we are re-writing the unfolding of events in the explicate order.
Chaos mathematics is telling us that, in many non-linear systems, because of the number of variables, the events have a chaotic appearance. But underlying that chaos, at a certain level there is order - just as the currents in a river or the weather pattern around the globe have an inherent order. It is this order that enables us to read the different patterns produced by EEG machines, and to separate a happy thought from a sad one, or relaxation from stress and anger and fear.
Science tells us that, just because we do not perceive the events from a higher order, it does not mean that there is randomness and chaos. The limitation is not in the universe but in our choice of perception of it.
Both psychology and mathematics tell us that synchronicity is real, and that we can create desirable coincidences. The `Butterfly effect' tells us that if a butterfly in China flaps its wings in a certain way at a certain time and location, then it can create a cascading chain of events that will lead to a hurricane in California. But is it possible to somehow influence that butterfly to be in that place at that time and flap its wings in that way? It is, if we can tap into the implicate order and re-write the future.
And isn't that exactly what we do when we ask our guides and angels to assist us in a certain healing process; or when we ask for coincidences to make our work and life more effortless; or we pray to God to bring the conditions necessary for certain outcome to materialize. Faith healing, spiritual healing, and miracles fall into this category.
From the very beginning, Science and Religion were the two methods employed by mankind to try to understand the world. Now, more than ever before, these two completely distinct branches of wisdom are coming together. Science is embracing multi and inter-disciplinary approaches to reach the ultimate truth. And, in its embracing of diversity, it is espousing religion, mythology and philosophy to reach Spirituality. Paradoxically, it is only through diversity that the spirituality of unity can be reached.
Science describes spirituality, but spirituality also describes science. It is only through the communion of their differences that each one may be understood and experienced.

Relation untold..!!

Some come, some go,

Some stay, some explore.

Friends are the part of life,

They stay with you in your strife.

Fallacies may plunge in sometimes

Faith and trust then will confine.

How up or low, how down or slow,

They combat in a duo.

You came in my life and changed in then

Sadness, dejection was of no content.

Laughter, happiness, joy were emotions uncontrolled.

You filled my life with hope.

Depression was my alamode then,

But you changed it to frolic stem.

Smile was then my key to things,

Problems just flew because you were there.

Bonhomie you have been to me,

Humorous , enigmatic, full of zeal.

Delighted I’m to have you in my life,

Promise this relation will never end.

Thank You for entering my life,

Thank You for making it worthwhile,

Thank You for pulling me out of the dark pit,

Thank You for encouraging me to live,

Thank You for sparkling my days,

Thank You for enlightening my nights,

Thank You for eradicating loneliness in my life,

Thank You for filling it with smile,

Thank You for sharing my sorrows and pain,

Thank You for dismissing the slain,

Thank You for holding me when ever required,

Thank You for cheering me up when I altered,

You have been a real strength for me,

Adorable, lovely a friend to close.

The Meaning of Colors

Colors are one of the most beautiful and also one of the most under-appreciated aspects of the physical realm. We are surrounded by colors, but how often do we notice the numerous subtleties in the myriad shades.
Spiritually, color can impart both information - as in aura colors, and energy - as in healing. The aura is the spiritual energy field surrounding living beings which is "visible" to the psychically sensitive.
This short article presents the meanings generally associated with the most common colors. Use these meanings as a starting point in your own explorations. We are each unique individuals and colors may hold different meanings for us than for others, just as a piece of music inspires different feelings in different people.
Use colors to promote those qualities you wish to emphasize. Use them in your surroundings for qualities you wish to emphasize permanently. Wear clothes of appropriate colors to promote those qualities in a particular situation. You can also use colors simply by visualizing them, whether to promote their qualities or to exploit their healing energy for yourself or others.

Red

Red symbolizes energy, passion, strength, courage, physical activity, creativity, warmth, and security. It is also associated with aggression. In healing, use red to bring warmth and burn out disease. Red is a powerful color and should be used in moderation. In the aura red signifies materialism, materialistic ambition, a focus on sensual pleasures and a quick temper.

Orange

Orange symbolizes the individual's relationship to the external world, the needs and wants of the physical body and the ways in which these are satisfied, the world of work. In healing orange may increase immunity and sexual energy. In the aura orange signifies thoughtfulness and creativity.

Yellow

Yellow symbolizes intellect, creativity, happiness and the power of persuasion. It is also associated with cowardice. In healing use yellow to promote clarity of thought. In the aura yellow signifies intellectual development, for either material or spiritual ends.

Green

Green symbolizes money, luck, prosperity, vitality and fertility. It is also associated with envy. Green is the color of healing; it is beneficial in all healing situations. In the aura green signifies balance, peace and often indicates ability as a healer.

Blue

Blue is the color of spirituality, intuition, inspiration and inner peace. It is also associated with sadness and depression (the "blues"). In healing blue is used for cooling and calming, both physically and mentally. In the aura blue indicates serenity, contentment and spiritual development.

Indigo

Indigo is associated with psychic ability. In healing, use indigo for relaxation, reassurance and promoting psychism. In the aura indigo signifies a seeker, often of spiritual truth.

Purple

Purple is associated with power, both earthly and spiritual. In healing, purple is used for mental disorders and also for becoming one with Spirit. In the aura purple signifies higher spiritual development.

White

White is associated with truth, purity, cleansing, healing and protection. It is a good general healing color for the removal of pain and suffering. In the aura it signifies a high level of attainment, a higher level soul incarnate to help others.

Gold

Gold represents understanding and luck. Remember though that nothing comes from nothing, It is the most powerful healing color, but so powerful that many are not able to stand it initially and must be conditioned to it via other colors. In the aura it represents service to others.

Pink

Pink represents unconditional love, love requiring nothing in return. It is also the color of friendship and conviviality. In the aura it signifies balance between the spiritual and the material.

Brown

Brown is the color of the earth and represents practicality, material success, concentration and study. In the aura it indicates "down to earth-ness" and common sense.

Black

Black is the absence of color. It represents the unconscious and mystery. Its visualization can help promote deep meditation. Black also stands for evil (eg black magic). In the aura it signifies some kind of blockage or something being hidden.

Hypocrites stay away..

They say one thing, yet do another. They say they hate something, yet they themselves are doing it. I know that just frustrates me too. I want to grab them by the neck and shake them senseless and say, "Hey, get a clue!" But, for some better reason, maybe a jail term, I have decided maybe that I just don't want to approach the issue that way. So, let's try something different.

First of all what is hypocrisy? The word comes from a word that means 'Actor.' Which is just bewildering to me, because I love my actors, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, and Marlon Brando. Ok, I know, I am dating myself. But if I am dating myself, is it possible to go Dutch Treat, and what would my wife think about it. Oh sorry, I side tracked. I am glad we pay our hypocrites millions, I mean our actors. But, is there a correlation to the amount of hypocrites in the world to the idolization of our actors? Hmmmm, I wonder. But, anyway back to beating the tar out of the hypocrites in our lives. How about if we beat them intellectually? That might be an idea.

I guess I feel sorry for hypocrites because there is inconsistency in their mental programming. I like using computer analogies with people. Their computer programming is in conflict. For their words are saying one thing and their actions are doing another. There has got to be all kinds of conflicts in their lives. Just think about it. They have to have two sets of internal thought programs going on; one to run their mouth and one to run their actions. And that is just their internal conflicts. They must have external conflicts also. Let's us the example of a mom who is cheating on her husband and her daughter sees it. Then the daughter starts sleeping around and the mother confronts her, because she loves her daughter. She tries to confront her daughter and then her daughter confronts the mom with her sleeping with every man she sees and the conversation gets heated, and the mom says, "Do what I say, not what I do." and the daughter stomps off and slams the door to her room. The daughter and the mother are now at odds with each other in this internal and external conflict because of the mom’s hypocrisy. The mom by using the old saying, 'Do what I say, and not what I do' is actually teaching her daughter that it is ok to be a hypocrite; that when you are in authority it is ok for authority to control others by their authority and then have a different internal programming that dictates the acceptable actions of their own life. The daughter in this story reminds me of a sailboat that is trying to gain power, but the wind of her mother's words and actions keeps fluctuating between two or more opposing directions.

Little Johnny has overheard every year, just before the April 15th tax deadline, the discussion of his parents on how they can get away with little lies to cheat on their taxes. One day Johnny gets suspended from school for cheating on his tests. His parents are furious that he cheated. But, Johnny’s little programming doesn't comprehend their anger. Then His internal programming realizes, "Oh, its ok to be a hypocrite as long as I am in authority and don't get caught." So, Johnny begins to figure out ways to lie better. Then, he has got to stand his ground to the very end because he has to have authority over his parents. He uses that authority as a platform for the launching of his hypocrisy. So, he ends up being a rebellious and lying teenager, and the parents wonder why? These kinds of conflicts in their programming must cause hypocrites all kinds of trouble. I won't even go in to the parents that talk bad about authorities and then wonder why their children have to be controlled with an iron-fist because their children are so rebellious.

Then there are the hypocrites who hate thieves, yet they steal hours at work, by lying on their paychecks, taxes, and lying to their spouses about where they have been, and so steal time away from their better halves.

Oh, then there are the angry people who hate people who get welfare, and yet they work at government jobs and boast about how all the employees have conspired to get as little done as possible. Talk about hypocrisy that has gone to a new level of group agreement to be hypocrites and then to condemn others. This reminds me of all the people who hate to be stereotyped and then turn around and stereotype all the people in churches as hypocrites. They turn around and condemn God for the actions of his so called children, when their children are languishing in prison. Hmmm, wow we say we hate God because he tells us not to lie, steal, cheat, commit adultery, and murder. We hate others when they wrong us and we run to authorities to get our just due from all the liars, embezzlers, swindlers, murderers, and adulterous husbands. We desire with all our hearts that those murderers and slimy cheating husbands would be put to the most awful death forever and ever, yet we turn around and hate God for applying those same principles to us. We even hate God for all the hypocrites in the church, even though he fights against hypocrisy in the church and was even killed because he stood up against the church people of their day and said things like, 'do as they say, but don't do as they do,' and 'do not be like the hypocrites.' We hate the people of the church because of their hypocrisy, but these are the children our society has raised and trained to be hypocrites.

I know you women can't stand all those guys who do not know how to discuss all their problems, fears, and emotions with you; they are just so shut down emotionally. A man discusses something with some woman and then the man is manipulated and controlled, with their emotions being used against them. Then the man gives in and begins to share. The woman then complains and cries and frets about how her man doesn't totally love her, because of that something he confided to her. The man's inadequacies are used against him, his emotions are controlled to get what she wants. She complains that he doesn't share and doesn't trust her love, yet her love is not accepting and safe. His confessions become a way for the woman to feel safe because she now feels that she understands her man, and that understanding gives her the resources to get him to do what she wants. She feels that he should feel safe with her, yet she may never feel safe with him until she is in a position to control, but then she complains about men that are controlling. She puts down men and then complains that men are so relationally shut-down to women. Her words say one thing; her actions say another. We wonder about all the power struggles and fault blaming that goes on in our relationships. We then complain about church leaders who get us to confess our faults to them and then try to force us to change. Some use those confessions to control us. But, we as a society, are the ones who have trained them, when they were children, in effective ways of hypocrisy and control.

I don't know about you, but I just hate those hypocrites and want to grab the closest hypocrite and shake him senseless, but for some reason I can't seem to reach that guy standing in the mirror.

Myths n Facts for AIDS

We see that people often confuse certain myths related to HIV & AIDS.
We need to keep in mind that they both are way different from each other.
A person infected with HIV may not be effected with AIDS....but a person who has AIDS is necessarily infected with HIV....
The AIDS virus is NOT contracted through :-
-Touching
-Hugging
-Kissing
-Massage
-Sharing toilet seats
-Drinking or eating from utensils used by an infected person or
Any other mode of casual contact.
Nor does working, socialising and living with infected people cause the disease.

serenity indeed..!!

Peace of mind is the most sought after 'commodity' in human life. It appears that most of us are in a state of perpetual restlessness. On analyzing the causes of this restlessness, I have ventured to find for myself ten solutions that need to be followed religiously if we are serious about achieving perfect peace of mind.

1. Do not interfere in others' business

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic, and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction.

This kind of attitude on our part denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God, for God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way. All men or women act the way they do because they are prompted to do so by the Divine within them. There is God to look after everything. Why are you bothered? Mind your own business and you will have your peace.

2. Forget and forgive

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often nurture ill feeling inside our heart for the person who insults or harms us. We forget that the insult or injury was done to us once but by nourishing the grievance we go on excavating the wound forever. Therefore it is essential that we cultivate the art of forgiving and forgetting. Believe in the justice of God and the doctrine of Karma. Let Him judge the act of the one who insulted you. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forget, forgive, and march on.

3. Do not crave for recognition

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motive. They may praise you today because you are rich and have power but no sooner you are powerless, they will forget your achievement and start criticizing you.

Moreover, no one is perfect. Then why do you value the words of praise of another mortal like you? Why do you crave for recognition? Believe in yourself. People's praises do not last long. Do your duties ethically and sincerely and leave the rest to God.

4. Do not be jealous

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know you work harder than your colleagues in the office but they get promotions, you do not. You started a business several years ago but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. Should you be jealous? No, remember everybody's life is shaped by his previous Karma that has now become his destiny. If you are destined to be rich, not all the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere, but will only give you restlessness.

5. Change yourself according to the environment

If you try to change the environment single handedly, the chances are you may fail. Instead, change yourself to suit the environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has remained unfriendly for you, will mysteriously appear to be congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure what cannot be cured

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations and accidents that are beyond our control. We must learn to endure them cheerfully thinking, "God will it so, so be it". God's logic is beyond our comprehension. Believe it and you will gain in patience, in inner strength, in will power.

7. Do not bite more than you can chew

This maxim should be always remembered. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable to carry out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Spend your free time on prayers, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind, which make you restless. Fewer the thoughts, greater is the peace of mind.

8. Meditate regularly

Meditation makes the mind thoughtless. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour every day, you will tend to become calm during the remaining twenty-three and a half hours. Your mind will not be disturbed as much as before. This will increase your efficiency and you will turn out more work in less time.

9. Never leave the mind vacant

An empty mind is devil's workshop. All evil deeds start in the mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. You must decide what you value more - money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social work may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even if you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental chanting of God's name (japa).

10. Do not procrastinate and never regret

Do not waste time in wondering "should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Always remember God has His own plan too. Value your time and do things. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can rectify your mistakes and succeed the next time. Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET! Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Take it as the will of God. You do not have the power to alter the course of God's will. Why cry?

Systems Approach in Development Communication

The economic realities of the 1980s have made communications an indispensible tool for increasing productivity, profitability and competitiveness. Deregulation makes the benefits of private communications ownership both possible and desirable. Advancing technology offers more-effective ways to conduct business while reducing costs through applications such as videoconferencing and electronic mail.
A relatively recent approach that has enriched thinking about communication considerably the concept of “systems”. A system is any set of interacting parts that maintains boundaries while exchanging influences with its environments. Introducing the systems concept in the theoretical study of development communication has had several positive consequences. It helps for careful analysis of problems at the planning stage for development communication programmes.
A close look at how human systems works has shown that the communication is the very essence of these systems: it supplies information about environmental needs and conditions; facilitates internal interaction and coordination through information exchange- channels- through outgoing messages- the system influences on the environment; and brings back through- feedback- information about the environments reactions and its changing needs.
Important byproducts of systems approach are having a deep and beneficial effect on development communication. For instance, one very important trend growing out of this approach is an interest in formulating policies and plans. In other words, the more careful analysis the systems approach has promoted in the designing given development communication programme has an analogue in the examination of the totality of communication activities-what they are now and what they should be.

Human Rights

“All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
—Article 1 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Many of the basic ideas that animated the movement developed in the aftermath of the Second World War, culminating in its adoption by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. While the phrase "human rights" is relatively modern the intellectual foundations of the modern concept can be traced through the history of philosophy and the concepts of natural law rights and liberties as far back as the city states of Classical Greece and the development of Roman Law. The true forerunner of human rights discourse was the enlightenment concept of natural rights developed by figures such as John Locke and Immanuel Kant and through the political realm in the United States Bill of Rights and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
The human rights movement emerged in the 1970s, especially from former socialists in eastern and western Europe, with major contributions also from the United States and Latin America. The movement quickly jelled as social activism and political rhetoric in many nations put it high on the world agenda. By the 21st century, Moyn has argued, the human rights movement expanded beyond its original anti-totalitarianism to include numerous causes involving humanitarianism and social and economic development in the Third World.
Medieval charters of liberty such as the English Magna Carta were not charters of human rights, let alone general charters of rights: they instead constituted a form of limited political and legal agreement to address specific political circumstances, in the case of Magna Carta later being mythologized in the course of early modern debates about rights.

The basis of most modern legal interpretations of human rights can be traced back to recent European history. The Twelve Articles (1525) are considered to be the first record of human rights in Europe.
Aristotelian view of humanity as divided into classes of different worth, while Las Casas argued in favor of equal rights to freedom of slavery for all humans regardless of race or religion. In Britain in 1683, the English Bill of Rights (or "An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Settling the Succession of the Crown") and the Scottish Claim of Right each made illegal a range of oppressive governmental actions. Two major revolutions occurred during the 18th century, in the United States (1776) and in France (1789), leading to the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen respectively, both of which established certain legal rights. Additionally, the Virginia Declaration of Rights of 1776 encoded into law a number of fundamental civil rights and civil freedoms.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen approved by the National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789.
“ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ”
—United States Declaration of Independence, 1776
These were followed by developments in philosophy of human rights by philosophers such as Thomas Paine, John Stuart Mill and G.W.F. Hegel during the 18th and 19th centuries. The term human rights probably came into use sometime between Paine's The Rights of Man and William Lloyd Garrison's 1831 writings in The Liberator, in which he stated that he was trying to enlist his readers in "the great cause of human rights"

One of the oldest Western philosophies on human rights is that they are a product of a natural law, stemming from different philosophical or religious grounds. Other theories hold that human rights codify moral behavior which is a human social product developed by a process of biological and social evolution (associated with Hume). Human rights are also described as a sociological pattern of rule setting (as in the sociological theory of law and the work of Weber). These approaches include the notion that individuals in a society accept rules from legitimate authority in exchange for security and economic advantage (as in Rawls) – a social contract
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, partly in response to the atrocities of World War II. Although the UDHR was a non-binding resolution, it is now considered by some to have acquired the force of international customary law which may be invoked in appropriate circumstances by national and other judiciaries. The UDHR urges member nations to promote a number of human, civil, economic and social rights, asserting these rights as part of the "foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world." The declaration was the first international legal effort to limit the behavior of states and press upon them duties to their citizens following the model of the rights-duty duality.
“ ...recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world ”
—Preamble to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

The situation of human rights in India is a complex one, as a result of the country's large size and tremendous diversity, its status as a developing country and a sovereign, secular, democratic republic, and its history as a former colonial territory. The Constitution of India provides for Fundamental rights, which include freedom of religion. Clauses also provide for Freedom of Speech, as well as separation of executive and judiciary and freedom of movement within the country and abroad.

According to the estimates of Reporters Without Borders, India ranks 105th worldwide in press freedom index (press freedom index for India is 29.33 for 2009). The Indian Constitution, while not mentioning the word "press", provides for "the right to freedom of speech and expression" (Article 19(1) a). However this right is subject to restrictions under subclause (2), whereby this freedom can be restricted for reasons of "sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States, public order, preserving decency, preserving morality, in relation to contempt of court, defamation, or incitement to an offence". Laws such as the Official Secrets Act and Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) have been used to limit press freedom. Under POTA, person could be detained for up to six months before the police were required to bring charges on allegations for terrorism-related offenses. POTA was repealed in 2004, but was replaced by amendments to UAPA. The Official Secrets Act 1923 remains in effect.
For the first half-century of independence, media control by the state was the major constraint on press freedom. Indira Gandhi famously stated in 1975 that All India Radio is "a Government organ, it is going to remain a Government organ..." With the liberalization starting in the 1990s, private control of media has burgeoned, leading to increasing independence and greater scrutiny of government. Organizations like Tehelka and NDTV have been particularly influential, e.g. in bringing about the resignation of powerful Haryana minister Venod Sharma. In addition, laws like Prasar Bharati act passed in recent years contribute significantly to reducing the control of the press by the government
Despite an overarching commitment to respecting citizens' freedom to express their views, peacefully protest, and form their own organizations, the Indian government lacks the will and capacity to implement many laws and policies designed to ensure the protection of rights. There is a pattern of denial of justice and impunity, whether it is in cases of human rights violations by security forces, or the failure to protect women, children, and marginalized groups such Dalits, tribal groups, and religious minorities. The failure to properly investigate and prosecute those responsible leads to continuing abuses.
Protests in Jammu and Kashmir
While the level of violence has decreased, failure to investigate human rights violations transparently and prosecute those responsible remains a strong reason for public anger. Kashmiris believe that many of the thousands "disappeared" over the last two decades were dumped into unmarked graves. The government has ignored calls for an independent investigation by human rights groups to determine the fate of the victims.
Widespread protests erupted in Jammu and Kashmir after a state government decision in May 2008 to transfer forest land to a Hindu trust to build temporary shelters during an annual Hindu pilgrimage called "Amarnath Yatra." Several people were killed and many injured in the protests, and the issue fueled religious tension. Security forces used tear gas and opened fire using live ammunition as well as rubber bullets to control protesters who set fires, damaged government property, hurled stones, and in some cases attacked policemen.
Separatist groups announced a boycott of state assembly elections in late 2008 and called for demonstrations.
Naxalite Conflict
Maoist armed groups, also called Naxalites, continue to carry out bombings, abductions, beatings, and killings in several Indian states including Chhattisgarh. Security forces have responded with arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings of suspected Naxalites or their alleged supporters.
The Naxalites claim to be fighting for the rights of the marginalized tribal groups, Dalits, and the poor, but have been responsible for forced recruitment and severe punishment of those who refuse to submit to demands for cash, shelter, and protection.
In Chhattisgarh, government security forces and state-government-backed vigilantes called the Salwa Judum are responsible for attacking, killing, and forcibly displacing tens of thousands of people in armed operations against Maoist rebels. The Naxalite rebels retaliate in a brutal manner, abducting, assaulting, and killing civilians perceived to be Salwa Judum supporters. The government has chosen to view those who do not join the Salwa Judum as Naxalite supporters.
All parties to the Chhattisgarh conflict have used children in armed operations. The Naxalites admit that it is standard practice to recruit children age 16 and above in their forces; they have used children as young as 12 in some armed operations. The Salwa Judum have included children in their violent attacks against villages as part of their anti-Naxalite campaign. The Chhattisgarh state police admit that in the past they recruited children under age 18 as special police officers, but claim they did so due to the absence of age documentation and that all children have now been removed from the ranks. Human Rights Watch investigators in Chhattisgarh found that underage special police officers continue to serve with the police and are used in counter-Naxalite combing operations.
Impunity
While law enforcement is needed to end the violence perpetrated by militants, India continues to provide extraordinary powers to its troops and grants them immunity from prosecution when they abuse those powers and commit human rights violations.
The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was enacted on August 18, 1958, as a short-term measure to allow deployment of the army in the northeast. The law has remained in force in various parts of the country for five decades. It provides the armed forces with sweeping powers to shoot to kill, arrest, and search in violation of international human rights law. The law has led to widespread human rights abuses and protects troops from prosecution for such crimes.

Significance of Communication in human life

A human being starts communicating as soon as he starts producing his first noise in the act of drawing his parents’ attention. Every emotion that we portray on our faces, the movement of our hands, the way we look at someone and our speech instantly communicates our ideas to others. Communication is highly necessary for our society, as it is only through exchange of ideas and co-operation that a society can grow and develop. Effective communication is essential to learn, to teach, to make relationships and to maintain them. In the modern world, the importance of communication has surpassed all previously slated levels. Interestingly, the means of communication has outnumbered the means of food production in the world today. The communicative technologies in the world have been increasing not only in number, but also in speed, accuracy and clarity. Let us take a closer look and perform an in-depth analysis of importance of communication in the modern world.

For Transfer of Ideas
Every human being has some ideas that are unique to his own mind. Many of these ideas can be implemented in real life and can turn into major creations too. But to make the transition from just a thought to an implementation, it requires effectual communication.

For Interacting With Society
Whenever we talk to someone, we, unknowingly or unknowingly, react to his/her questions, actions or comments. This is communication. While corresponding to someone in any way, we are actually communicating. Healthy communication is essential for a healthy society.

For Education
Education involves a collection of all kinds of communication i.e., audio, video, books and lectures. However, herein the deal is not just to communicate, but to communicate effectively. Inefficient communication can lead to transfer of ambiguous knowledge.

To Update Oneself
In the modern world, nothing is more important than staying up-to-date. Only through proper channels of communication can people be updated with current affairs and important events across the globe. Communication is the actual transfer of information through various mediums in such a way that it caters to the needs of people from different strata of life.

For Entertainment
Entertainment, today, is mostly based on the channels of mass communication, like films and television.
Internet is another common platform for entertainment, which again is a mode of communication. In short, we can safely conclude that communication and entertainment are entwined in today’s world.

To Understand the World
People are just a fragment amongst these things. Did you know that other elements of the world also communicate to us, but in their own ways? We need to interact with the environment in order to understand life. People who do not communicate tend to get isolated, which thereby leads to many problems.

Role of Journalism as The Fourth Estate of Democracy

Of the people, by the people, for the people is what we understand by democracy which leads us to understand the three pillars of it, namely legislative, executive and judiciary which in a layman’s language is lawmaking, law abiding and supervision respectively. In addition to this we have the fourth estate of democracy which is media, the informative one. Journalism as we know is about collecting, selecting information, writing, editing, photographing, broadcasting/publishing and owning a news organization. And therefore a journalist is known as the watchdog of the society.
Peeping back into history we see that journalism started way back in Rome where the printed papers were posted on the amphitheatre to inform the public. But it was Thomas Carlyle a Scottish satirical writer in the 17th century who initiated the phrase “The Fourth Estate” to journalism and further the coinage of this phrase was done by an Irish statesman Edmund Burke from the House of Commons in Britain in 1787.
We see that media is a very powerful pillar of our country, as it was only because of the power that Indira Gandhi had to censor media during the emergency in 1975. This proved that “pen is mightier than the sword”, and this is all what is journalism about. The function of media is not only to entertain but also to inform and educate. Journalism as a watchdog of the society tries to set an agenda for the public which can shake the grounds of the policy makers and can bring a tsunami in calm water. It has to its shoulders three responsibilities which are social, legal and professional and so it caters to all. Thus we can say that media is all powerful and can shake the base of the other three pillars.

marriages

I am an Indian and when we look into the Indian culture and tradition, its mostly arranged marriage that happens, but now things are changing, old customs are just remaining customs. In arranged marriages, usually the parents or some elderly person comes up with a proposal for marriage and then they go through the horoscopes, educational qualifications, physical, chemistry, biology, family backgrounds / history and all kinds of stuffs and then finally the acceptance from the boy and the girl. Acceptance from girl side was not of high priority in most cases earlier, but now things have started changing. Some are really forced to get married according to the wish of their parents or elders. In fact they have to sacrifice their life for the sake of keeping their parents happy.

In love marriage, when a boy fall in love with a girl who matches his likes or a girl likes a boy and they becomes friend. The friendship may grow more closer and at one stage if they feel comfortable with each other, they may decide to become life partners. In most of the cases, all these happens without the knowledge of their parents. When the stage comes to get married or if a the girl or the boy is forced to get married to another person, these things come out. Some parents may take it positively and may agree to go ahead with the proposal have will end up with a ceremonial wedding. But in most of the cases, they lose the support from their parents and with the help of their friends, they are forced to go for a registered wedding and end up separating from their family.

Advantages of arranged marriage.

Its not always that arranged marriages are successful or love marriage are successful. We see that most of the arranged marriage are successful for some reasons. When its an arrange marriage, the parents do support the relationship and they try their best to keep the relationship live as it is their responsibility too. Arranged marriages are good, if you believe in astrology and horoscope. I have seen that some really grow good, life changes after getting married and some vise verse. In arranged marriage, the boy and girl will be from the same religion and caste, so they have the life style, food and culture. In arranged marriages, the girl is more protected as the parents care for a girl who married according to their wish.

Disadvantages of Arranged Marriages

All of a sudden you start your life with a person with you have hardly spend any time. You don’t know the person or you may even not like the person if you have go married because your parents and elders decided your marriage. Most of the cases the girl is forced to sacrifice their likes and adjust to the reality. Some may just live their life it goes believing its their fate and their parents are happy, but some break up. Some start their love life after the wedding and really enjoy and are happy.

Advantages of Love Marriage

Love marriage is a legal right for two individuals who care and love for each other to live together and go ahead with their life. In love marriage, you know each other well, you are not going to be with any stranger or you may not have much problems if you know about the person well before you decide to spend your life together. A love marriage can become un-successful, if you had a very short time time know each other and just decided to get married. If you are knowing each other well and you are sure that you can get along with each other without any problems then you can decide to get married. In short the advantage of going for a love marriage is that you are going to live your life with a person who you know well and you are sure that you can get along well.

Its not easy to go for a love marriage. You need to first fall in love with someone and that person should like you as well. It takes time to know each other and both of you should feel comfortable with each other. Decide to get married to a person who loves you more than you love that person. In many cases I have seen that one person is badly in love with the other person, but not vise versa. Never force somebody to love you and get married, you should give sufficient time to the other person whom you love to know you more and you should take sufficient time to learn your partner well before you both come to a decision to live together.

In my opinion, nobody can be sure that he or she will fall in love with a person and even if he or she falls in love with somebody, that person will fall in love in return. If you don’t fall in love or not get a right person, then you can think of arranged marriages. Even in arranged marriages you can know the person well before you decide to get married. You should make sure that your proposed partner likes you as well and is not agreeing for the wedding because of any pressure from her / his parents or any other reasons.

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen..

Elizabeth Bennet and her sister Jane are the oldest of five daughters living in the countryside of England. Their flighty mother dreams of getting her daughters married off. When Mr. Bingley rents a home in their neighborhood, Mrs. Bennet immediately dreams of his falling in love with her eldest, Jane. The family does not count on Mr. Bingley's friend, Mr. Darcy. Darcy is more aloof and is rude to the Bennets at the ball where they meet. Elizabeth is immediately put off.

Jane falls in love with Mr. Bingley who seems to fall in love with her, as well. When he returns to London to take care of business, Darcy and his sisters prevent his return to the countryside of the Bennet's home. Jane is distressed, Elizabeth is infuriated.

Meanwhile, Mr. Collins has visited the Bennet's home and proposed to his cousin, Elizabeth. She refuses him and he marries her friend instead. She is able to visit her friend and cousin at their new home; she once again meets Mr. Darcy and is able to give him her opinion.

This is a classic romance, with all the misunderstandings that characterize a romance with its twists. Since the novel is 200 years old Elizabeth seems unreal today at times in the novel. During Austen's era women's choices were limited, especially to women in the Bennet's genteel class. Elizabeth is very opinionated and would have made well of herself no matter what station she finally had chosen.

At times the language seems wordy and hard to follow. Yet stick with it. It's not modern brief language. It reflects the language and pace of the era. Pride and Prejudice stands all tests of time. Enjoy!

at tymz i feel detached.....

Ever since I was young I have felt like I was on the outside looking in, most of the time.

I used to try and be a part of it all. Sometimes too hard. But never quite made it.

I have a habit of "putting things in a box". Especially my emotions...figured they were mine and I didn't have to share them with everyone. That kept me safe and at a distance.

So while I was trying to fit in...I was also distancing myself at the same time.

(Ain't the teen years just grand?)

But here I am years and years later. The skills I have developed have served me well in many ways. Especially in crisis... I can function, do what needs to be done, etc. People think I'm cold, or just don't care. (sometimes I really am not affected by what is happening but feel horrible for whoever is having to deal with things...so I step up and help).

Other times I watch a drama unfold and truly, truly don't feel a thing. (and that can be a gift).

But there are days I wish...I wish I was a part of the whole.

I was getting there... but now have gone back quite a ways into old habits. Survival techniques asserting themselves I guess. Insulation from the cold world.