2006 Wind Down Of Enhance Life

Two more days to go, until we come to the end of yet another year, in our double-sided life. For me, 2006 has been a combination of challenge, excitement and constant change, resulting in many unforgettable experiences! Among which, one I value very highly is entering the world of blogging.

I startedEnhance Life on the 25th of September 2006 as an outlet to spread my incidental gleanings. To be quite honest, I didn’t begin with the end in mind. (I know, I violated ‘Practice what you peach’. Please pardon me on this one!)

Anyway, three months down the line and I am still posting! (May be not as regularly as I want to.)

With out further delay, let me introduce my nominees for the year 2006.
Most commented post - My Humble Christmas Request
Most linked post (source: Technorati)- Ways to make you feel good (when the going gets tough)
Most visited post (source: Google Analytics )- 7 Ways – How NOT to Annoy People
Favorite post - Who borrowed your time?
Debatable post - Are we blogging for attention ?
Blogging post -How to create a blog
Unorthodox post –Songs to Ponder
Humor post - Written by kids
Health post - Posture Matters
Book review post - Re-imagine
‘Such is Life’ post - 5 Reasons Why Letting Go Is So Difficult
Living simplified post - Best Practices In Naming And Managing Files
Nonsense post - The recipe of the ideal person
Seasonal post – So this is Christmas

Please leave a comment and make your vote heard!

I can’t part this year, with out sprinkling an attitude of gratitude.
So please accept by heartfelt ‘thank you’ going out especially to you. ‘Thank you’ for stopping by, ‘Thank you’ for featuring my posts in your blog, ‘Thank you’ for your comments, ‘Thank you’ to everyone who emailed me with words of encouragement, and if you have subscribed to Enhance Life, ‘Thank you’.

YOU have made my year of 2006 a lot more worthwhile. THANK YOU for letting me be a part of your lives.

6 Things about me, you don’t already know

I have been tagged by Ms.Qand I am summoned to reveal 6 things about me, you don’t already know.
Ok. So here goes.

#1. When I was 12 years old, I slipped, fell and knocked my face on a chair, while playing with my dog, Casper. The fall chipped off parts of my teeth and had to be replaced with fillings!

#2. I can play five musical instruments (Organ, piano, guitar, clarinet and the recorder) with dignity intact! I didn’t count the trumpet and drums because I drive people nuts when I play them!

#3. My birthday is on the 2nd of Dec. Happy belated birthday to me! If you really want to know my age, you will have to tag me again!

#4. I can uplift my spirits by listening to music. My main preference, Michael Learns to Rock, Chicago and Brian Adams.

#5. My family consists of me, myself and I. In other words, I am the only child. (No, that does not mean I am spoilt. Grrrr)

#6. I hail from the techno junky industry. Jargon aside; I work for a software company. (Now you know why some of my posts are technology savvy!)

Advocates Gather to Make Human Rights a Fact in Massachusetts

BOSTON – Members of several human rights groups met at St. Paul’s Cathedral in downtown Boston Tuesday, December 19th, to strategize how to strengthen support for House Bill 706 (http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/ht00pdf/ht00706.pdf) that calls for statewide hearings into the human rights conditions affecting Massachusetts residents and how to best protect and fulfill the human rights of all who live in the Commonwealth.

The coaliton which has over 50 human rights groups supporting it, was chaired by Laura Roskos, Ph.D. of the Massachusetts CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) Project. The purpose of the coalition is to make human rights a reality in Massachusetts using legislation, public hearings, grassroots efforts and any other means necessary to improve the quality of life of people in the state.

During the meeting, Dr. Roskos stressed how the group was part of an international effort that included implementing the principles laid out by the United Nation’s Univerals Declaration of Human Rights which has been ratified by nearly all the world’s nations.

“I am pleased to be able to assist such a positive and influential group of human rights advocates,” said Gerard Renna of the Church of Scientology of Boston. “I feel that we may be of assistance by utilizing a public service announcement campaign that has put each of the United Nation’s accepted human rights into concise video form www.youthforhumanrights.org

My Humble Christmas Request

I know I am a total stranger to some of you. However, if you have browsed through my site and feel like giving me a Christmas present, (without spending any dollars!), there is a little something you can do for me.

It’s been around four months since I started Enhance Life and I really could use your assistance to spread the news of my blog. You can help me spread the news by favorite-ing me over at Technorati (Just click the link) or add a link to Enhance Life to your blog.
(If you want me also to link to your blog, just leave a comment and I will give the same Christmas present to you too. It’s a win-win situation!.)

Thanks a lot.

So This is Christmas....

On my way to work today, I heard this song by John Lennon on the radio. I am half way down the day and I still find my self humming the tune.

“So this is Christmas, And what have you done?”
This question reminds me that within the next five days, I still have a lot more to do for Christmas!

Changing times, changing lives, creating memories…. “Another year over”, Oh yes, sometimes we all do wonder, how time does fly. It seemed like yesterday, I was celebrating this year’s New Year. Was it pleasant and rewarding? Do you have moments have taken your breath away?


“I hope you have fun, The near and the dear one, The old and the young”. To you and your family, I am wishing good cheer, good health, and fun family reunions.
“A very Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear”

Merry Christmas!

Heroes of our Time: Sidewalk Sam

Heroes of our Time: Sidewalk Sam

Meat workers health problems

Meat is not just bad for the animals slaughtered, of course, and for the humans who consume it. It’s bad for the humans who work in the meat industry too.

Few people realize that, in a country like the USA, meatpacking is the most dangerous occupation.

In the year 2000, about 25 percent of all employees of American meatpacking plants had non-fatal occupational injuries or job-related illnesses: that is as many as 4 times the national average for all private industry sectors.

In addition, serious injuries and illnesses (measured by lost workdays) in the meatpacking sector are almost 5 times the national average in all private industry sectors (14.3 percent versus 3 percent).

The frequency of disorders associated with repeated traumas, mainly back problems and tendinitis, is an astonishing 30 times higher than the private-industry national average. This is the effect produced by the working pace of some modern slaughterhouses, which “process” as many as 400 cattle per hour, and in which some workers make up to 10,000 repetitive knife cuts every day.

So much for the idea that man is a “natural” meat-eater. Meat seems to be associated with diseases and unnatural lifestyles wherever it occurs.

Humor central:Written by kids

Its been far too long since my previous humor central post. Let me end that by presenting to you, What kids had to say! (Source: Email)

Q:HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kristen, age 10

Q:HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

Q:WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

Q:WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

Q:On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that Usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10

Q:WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?
I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-- Craig, age 9

Q:WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7 (smart girl)

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard, age 8

Q:IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

Q:HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
-- Ricky, age 10

Christmas Anti-Fur Week at Harrods

CAFT (Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade UK) is organising a fur week of action in the run up to Christmas next week at Harrods, in Knightsbridge, London, Europe's largest department store, and the last one in the UK to still sell real fur.

Harrods has over a million square feet of floor space, and has large amounts of real fur throughout the store, made from a wide variety of animals including fox, beaver, mink, chinchilla, wolf, coyote, rabbit and squirrel.

In recent years, CAFT has successfully campaigned to persuade the few remaining department stores in the UK selling fur, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges and then Liberty, to adopt fur-free policies.

That left Harrods as the only department store selling fur. In October last year CAFT launched the Harrods campaign, and within two months, Harrods went to the High Court to obtain an injunction against CAFT and three named individuals, applying to have the protests moved away from the store.

Anti-Fur activists have been carrying out regular protests outside Harrods.

Now, to persuade Harrods to stop selling fur, the campaign intensifies and there will be protests every day in the week leading up to Christmas, a vital time of the year when the store makes a large proportion of its annual profits.

Whether or not you can make the protests, please politely email, phone, fax, write to Harrods during anti-fur week (see below for details) to request that it takes the compassionate decision to stop the sale of all real animal fur and adopt a fur-free policy. Remember to point out that fur farming is illegal in the UK, so the store should come into line with the wishes of the British public and the democratic will of Parliament.


Harrods Ltd 87-135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge London SW1X 7XL
Telephone 020 7730 1234
Fax 020 7581 0470
customer.services@harrods.com

Harrods Corporate Service
corporate.service@harrods
+44 (0)20 7225 5843

Other email addresses
Ladies.fashion@harrods.com
service@harrods-casino.com
direct.mail@harrods.com


If you get any replies please forward them to:

CAFT
PO Box 38
Manchester M60 1NX
0845 330 7955
caft@caft.org.uk

5 Reasons Why "Letting Go" Is So Difficult

My earliest memory of "letting go" something takes me back to my toddler years. I was so used to the feeding bottle, and I couldn't understand why my parents insisted that I get used to a cup.

I am an adult now. (I sometimes have to convince my self this!) During the years that have gone by, I have had to "let go" of many things. I am sure that you too, must have had your share. It could be shifting houses, migrating to another country, changing jobs, relationship break-ups, the death of a loved one ..... The list goes on. The reality is that Change - is The Only Constant In Life. Life is such that sooner or later we have to "let go" something or someone we have become attached to.

If you asked someone for advice on a "let go" matter, you probably have got lectures. Something in the lines of "Take my advice, I don't use it anyway". "Leave", "get over it", "move one", "You will get used to it". Have you gotten any of that lately? I am sure they all mean well. However, these are the very things that you might not want to hear. Yes, it is easy for a by-stander to give advice. I, on the other hand believe in,Practice What You Peach.

Think of the last time you were in a "letting go" situation. Did you enjoy it ? Was the decision to "let go" easy? Of course, it depends on what (or whom) you let go of and how emotionally attached you were. Have you every wondered why it is so difficult? If "letting go" was part and parcel of life, then shouldn't it be a little more easy? Does it get easy with experience? Does it get better with age ? Perhaps not.

So why is "letting go" so difficult? In one sentence, I can say "we make it difficult" or rather, "our way of thinking makes it difficult". Now, for more elaborate reasons.

#1.Transition from known to Unknown
When your in your "comfortable zone" its comfortable! You like it. It is convenient, and you are used to it. It doesn't require additional risk.

#2.Fear
I believe that fear is due to the uncertainty. Uncertainty of the future. "How will I manage without him/her ?", "Will I be able to learn the new skills need for the new job?" Basically, fear of change and the adjustments that follow. The truth is, most people want to change. But they want results, without any effort.

#3."Why"
You keep wondering "why did this happen to me?". As I have mentioned in previous posts, I think only God has the answers to all “why” questions. In the meantime, you can ask a different question. “What did I learn?”

#4. Wait and See
You keep thinking, "I will hang around a bit and see", "May be things will be better”, “May the next financial year my boss will give me a raise". Sounds familiar? You might be trying to figure out what is the "right time" to let go.

#5. Guilt
"Is this the right thing to do?", "Will I hurt him/her by doing this?", "How will the company manage without me?"

Do you agree with me?

Who Borrowed Your Time Today?

I was at a lecture last evening. In case you are wondering I am studying for my MSc. (A juggle of work and studies! Arhhhhh!)

We were given some homework the previous week and the lecturer asked how many actually completed it. The majority of the class said, "No, I didn’t complete". Yours truly included ! To our utter surprise he started asking "why" from every student. When the first culprit answered, "I didn’t have time" the lecturer asked, "Who borrowed your time?". At the time, everyone burst out laughing at the cynical statement. However, it got me thinking and here I am writing a post about it.

I am aware that there are many books and articles that offer many helpful advice on how to save time. This post though, is to highlight a different approach.

Who borrowed you time today? When your at home, it might be the television. When at work, it might be an annoying colleague. When your on the road it might be the traffic. Yes, there is a point I am trying to make. Here it is. Identifying the cause of time wasters. Once you are aware of the factors that drain you time, you might be able to take preventive measures to avoid or reduce it.

Now is the time. Who borrowed you time today? Start making the list and analyze more feasible solutions. Practice it for a few days, and let me know if it made a difference.

nnahenkan: Fighting human rights abuses must begin in the classroom

nnahenkan: Fighting human rights abuses must begin in the classroom

thizzled: Rope: Poets for Human Rights

thizzled: Rope: Poets for Human Rights

Vegetarian dogs

Can dogs be vegetarian? Judging from the fact that in England more than 50,000 best man's friends are fed on the vegan product Happidog Supermeal, the answer should be 'yes'. Among them, are many dogs of celebrities.

Everyone knows that Paul and the late Linda McCartney's dogs were vegetarian. And what about the pop singer Howard Jones, who says: "I spoke to my vet before I put my dog Benny on a non-meat diet and we worked out his meals together. Benny was seven then, and he's certainly as fit as any other dog".

Script-writer Carla Lane, who dreamed up British TV's The Liver Birds, Solo, Butterflies and Bread, is another case. A vegetarian for 40 years, she said: "I've always had vegetarian wolfhounds. My previous wolfhound Egor lived on a vegetarian diet from the age of five onwards. The vet advised the diet after he had a haemorrhage and a stomach complaint. "Wolfhounds normally live for six to nine years, but Egor lived a very long and full life and was healthy right to the end. His eyesight and teeth were perfect. For two years he lived with a rather racy heartbeat, which is all the more reason why it was exceptional that he should have lasted. He loved being a vegetarian dog. He never showed any interest in bones at all".

Not everyone agrees, though. Desmond Morris, the animal behaviour expert, is opposed: "It's not only wrong; it's cruel and stupid too. Dogs are natural carnivores, and to deny them meat and substitute vegetables means that they lack a vital part of their diet". His opinion is shared by many.

Yet, to base the argument purely on the concept of "carnivore", both in the sense of belonging to this order of mammals and of meat eater, does not help because this concept, taken as an absolute barrier beyond which it's impossible to go, does not mean much. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, for example, explains: "Although the word "carnivores" means meat eaters, the diet of these animals ranges from an exclusively meat-eating one to an almost totally vegetarian one. Some Ursidae (bears), Procyonidae (racoons) and Canidae (dogs) depend very much on vegetation, and the giant panda lives almost entirely on bamboo sprouts". For jackals, close relatives of our Fidos, fruits form an important part of their diet; coyotes, wolves and foxes consume great amounts of fruits and berries even in times of the year when it's not difficult to find something to eat, which indicates a genuine predilection for these foods.

The idea that domestic dogs are perfectly healthy on a vegetarian diet is now, anyway, the most commonly accepted by vets and pet experts. The RSPCA is fully in favour. Its chief veterinary officer agrees that it is quite possible to feed a dog on a vegetarian diet: "However, you do have to be careful to get the right balance of protein, vitamins and minerals. If you are proposing to turn a dog from a meat and biscuit diet to a vegetarian one, it is best to consult your own vet and to introduce the change gradually".

Neil Wolff, American vet and Chairman of the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights, says: "Dogs and cats on vegetarian (or close to vegetarian) diets often do better in terms of coat condition, kidneys, liver and heart. With geriatric animals we often supplement with additional vitamins, amino acids, anti-oxidants or herbs".

The UK Vegetarian Society has received so many requests of advice on dogs' menus, that it has published an information sheet on the subject. A typical day should be divided into two meals: breakfast (morning or midday) and dinner (afternoon or evening). For breakfast, dogs should be given wholegrain cereals (for example muesli) with milk, adding, if necessary and according to taste, honey or dried powdered yeast. For dinner, pulses like baked beans or cooked lentils, or textured vegetable protein, or nutmeat, or else, for lacto-vegetarians, eggs or cheese, adding to the whole lot raw or cooked vegetables. The guidelines remind owners that dogs need some hard foods to chew to exercise their gums and jaws: suitable for this purpose are raw whole carrots, cabbage stumps and apples, and hard wholemeal dog biscuits.

Dr. Alan Long, of the Vegetarian Society, warns: "You must know your dog and what he likes to eat and follow his liking. A dog does not have a vast stomach area for fibrous foods, so watch he doesn't get fat. Try him with vegetables, wholewheat bread or toast, and make sure he has oil in his diet for a shiny coat and keep him fit by giving him lots of walks. "It's easier to start a puppy off. At eight weeks old introduce sloppy baby foods, cereals, gruel and mixed savouries. You can then introduce eggs, milk and cheese, remembering a puppy needs more food in proportion to its weight than a dog".

There are cases in which a vegetarian diet is recommended by the vets themselves. Skin allergies and digestive problems are often caused by meat. The ingredients used in the preparation of some dog foods are slaughterhouse by-products unsuitable for human consumption, such as diseased or damaged parts of the slaughtered animal, chicken feathers, horse hair and other refuse. Recent research has shown that the consumption of great quantities of these impurities contribute to gastro-intestinal and allergic diseases. Some skin disorders, such as itch and loss of hair, have been effectively cured simply by improving the animal's nutrition. The American product Nature's Recipe, for instance, has been formulated just for dogs with skin disorders. It contains soya flour, rice flour, potatoes, carrots, salt, spices, with a number of vitamins and minerals added.

Life is double-sided

Life is double-sided;
There’s a wrong side and a right side; A sad side and a happy side.
There’s a good side and a bad side; A black side and a bright side.

So if things seem dark to you, just change your thoughts about.
Life will look quite different if you turn it best side out.

Source: pravsworld