Say you decide to take the Shatabdi Express from New Delhi station to Chandigarh...something that you've done at least a hundred times earlier.But this time, there's a real difference. For just after you've boarded the train and reach out for your wallet to pay the Coolie, you disover that you've been pickpocketed...
Far more important than the money you've lost are your ID cards, particularly those related to Health and Insurance, which might take upto six months be re-made.
But then you console yourself...and finlly shrugging your shoulders, you tell yourself that it could have been far worse.And then you carry on with your way of life and living.Exactly two days later, your front door bell rings and standing there, are three young schoolboys. After having introduced themselves, they hand over your wallet...which is now much lighter, but still has ALL YOUR 6 ID cards.
Looking at your open mouthed surprise, they decide to enlighten you. They were on a school trip to Delhi Zoo and saw this wallet thrown in a bin just ahead of the monkey's cages.
So they did simply what they thought they must..And brought it back to you.
Now this would be a story that I would find hard to believe, but i did. For it was told to us by my own Father in law, earlier today, who is delighted with this sheer coincidence.
Or I'm left wondering...Should I re-phrase it as 'Divine intervention'?
PS- I'm repeating this Blog post, but thought it needed to be done...
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sleep and its huge benefits
I've often wondered, how long I could go without sleep. And about three years ago, did manage to stay awake for almost two days running,. That was of course, because I was travelling and the body clock was very, very confused.
But what I do remember is that it wasn't a good feeling-at all, in fact.
Having done some basic reading, I'm reminded of the fact that sleep is a basic human need, as important for good health as diet and exercise. When we sleep, our bodies rest but our brains are active. Sleep lays the groundwork for a productive day ahead. Although most people need seven to nine hours of sleep each night to function well the next day, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) 1998 Women and Sleep Poll ( USA)found that the average woman aged 30-60 sleeps only six hours and forty-one minutes during the workweek.
So how much sleep is really required?
The first thing experts will tell you about sleep is that there is no "magic number." Not only do different age groups need different amounts of sleep, but sleep needs are also individual. Just like any other characteristics you are born with, the amount of sleep you need to function best may be different for you than for someone who is of the same age and gender. While you may be at your absolute best sleeping seven hours a night, someone else may clearly need nine hours to have a happy, productive life.
Another reason there is "no magic number" for your sleep results from two different factors that researchers are learning about: a person’s basal sleep need – the amount of sleep our bodies need on a regular basis for optimal performance – and sleep debt, the accumulated sleep that is lost to poor sleep habits, sickness, awakenings due to environmental factors or other causes. Two studies suggest that healthy adults have a basal sleep need of seven to eight hours every night, but where things get complicated is the interaction between the basal need and sleep debt.
For instance, you might meet your basal sleep need on any single night or a few nights in a row, but still have an unresolved sleep debt that may make you feel more sleepy and less alert at times, particularly in conjunction with circadian dips, those times in the 24-hour cycle when we are biologically programmed to be more sleepy and less alert, such as overnight hours and mid-afternoon.
According to researchers Michael H. Bonnet and Donna L. Arand, "There is strong evidence that sufficient shortening or disturbance of the sleep process compromises mood, performance and alertness and can result in injury or death. In this light, the most common-sense 'do no injury' medical advice would be to avoid sleep deprivation."
On the other hand, some research has found that long sleep durations (nine hours or more) are also associated with increased morbidity (illness, accidents) and mortality (death). Researchers describe this relationship as a "U-shaped" curve (see illustration) where both sleeping too little and sleeping too much may put you at risk
I've made up my mind. - will definitely aim at getting all the sleep I need.
Right now, I'm feeling really, really refreshed, having woken up from a long siesta, and all I can say is that everything certainly seems to be all right in my world....
But what I do remember is that it wasn't a good feeling-at all, in fact.
Having done some basic reading, I'm reminded of the fact that sleep is a basic human need, as important for good health as diet and exercise. When we sleep, our bodies rest but our brains are active. Sleep lays the groundwork for a productive day ahead. Although most people need seven to nine hours of sleep each night to function well the next day, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) 1998 Women and Sleep Poll ( USA)found that the average woman aged 30-60 sleeps only six hours and forty-one minutes during the workweek.
So how much sleep is really required?
The first thing experts will tell you about sleep is that there is no "magic number." Not only do different age groups need different amounts of sleep, but sleep needs are also individual. Just like any other characteristics you are born with, the amount of sleep you need to function best may be different for you than for someone who is of the same age and gender. While you may be at your absolute best sleeping seven hours a night, someone else may clearly need nine hours to have a happy, productive life.
Another reason there is "no magic number" for your sleep results from two different factors that researchers are learning about: a person’s basal sleep need – the amount of sleep our bodies need on a regular basis for optimal performance – and sleep debt, the accumulated sleep that is lost to poor sleep habits, sickness, awakenings due to environmental factors or other causes. Two studies suggest that healthy adults have a basal sleep need of seven to eight hours every night, but where things get complicated is the interaction between the basal need and sleep debt.
For instance, you might meet your basal sleep need on any single night or a few nights in a row, but still have an unresolved sleep debt that may make you feel more sleepy and less alert at times, particularly in conjunction with circadian dips, those times in the 24-hour cycle when we are biologically programmed to be more sleepy and less alert, such as overnight hours and mid-afternoon.
According to researchers Michael H. Bonnet and Donna L. Arand, "There is strong evidence that sufficient shortening or disturbance of the sleep process compromises mood, performance and alertness and can result in injury or death. In this light, the most common-sense 'do no injury' medical advice would be to avoid sleep deprivation."
On the other hand, some research has found that long sleep durations (nine hours or more) are also associated with increased morbidity (illness, accidents) and mortality (death). Researchers describe this relationship as a "U-shaped" curve (see illustration) where both sleeping too little and sleeping too much may put you at risk
I've made up my mind. - will definitely aim at getting all the sleep I need.
Right now, I'm feeling really, really refreshed, having woken up from a long siesta, and all I can say is that everything certainly seems to be all right in my world....
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Omans First Ever 'Twestival'
But more than all of that, to support the cause of education in the Sultanate of Oman .
Within a very short span of time, RO 825 had been raised and this was aided by another RO 500 contributed by one of the sponsors for the event.
We saw a wonderful sunset, accompanied by the sounds of the Arabian Oud and a guitar playing in the background, had a chance to meet and interact with so many new people, (hopefully some of whom will become friends).
Most importantly, I believe that it has laid the foundataion for what can be a very powerful tool of communication- the 140 character thing called Twitter/Tweeting, something which will help form more and closer bonds of communication in today's world.
A very special Thank you to the core organising committee, as well as all the sponsors.
Not to forget, a special hats off for the fact that it all came together in......5 days!
Way to go, Oman Tweeps and may your tribe increase.
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