iqdigest

MANI RATNAM Born June 2, 1956 (age 51) Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India Occupation Film director, film producer, screenwriter Website http://www.madrastalkies.com Mani Ratnam (born June 2, 1956) is a critically acclaimed Tamil Indian film director, writer and producer. BIOGRAPHY EARLY LIFE: Ratnam was born as G. Subramaniam on June 2, 1956, in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India Degree in commerce from Madras University and an MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, a management consultant before becoming a filmmaker. Brother, film producer G. Venkateswaran. CAREER: Mani Ratnam's films often feature realistic, contemporary themes and complex plots. FAMILIAL AND MARITAL HARDSHIPS, TERRORISM, LOVE, CLASS AND RELIGIOUS CONFLICT, WAR, POLITICS, ADOPTION, HISTORY AND DISABILITY are just some of the socio-political issues to have been featured in his films. His movies are generally made in the Tamil language, but are usually also dubbed into other languages like TELUGU AND HINDI. He ha

English Edification Enrichment- What is the meaning and origin of the idiom, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch"? Some people, as soon as they buy a lottery ticket think they are going to win. They begin to make plans as to what they are going to do with the money when they get it. When you tell such a person "not to count your chickens before they hatch" what you are doing is warning him. You are telling the individual not to celebrate prematurely; you are advising him not to count his profits before he has the money in his hand. You are asking him to wait for the lottery results to be announced before he starts making plans. Here are a few examples. * Ask Suresh. He may be willing to lend you some money. But don't count your chickens before they hatch. * Stop talking about the places you are going to see. You still haven't got your visa yet. Don't count your chickens before they hatch. This is an expression which comes from a story in Aes

English Edification Enrichment- What does “the telephone has been ringing off the hook” mean? It means that the phone has been ringing non stop. When you say that the phone has been ringing off the hook what it means is that it has been ringing constantly. Here's an example. * Whenever Achala is at home the phone keeps ringing off the hook. * When I entered the house this morning the phone was ringing off the hook. * Ever since people came to know that Mr. Sunderam has been nominated for an award, his phone has been ringing off the hook. What does “grungy” mean? The ‘u’ is pronounced like the ‘u’ in ‘cut’, ‘but’, and ‘hut’ and the final ‘g’ is like the ‘j’ in ‘jug’, ‘juice’, and ‘joy’. When you say that something is `grungy' it means it is smelly and dirty. * Can I say that your kitchen is grungy? * My kitchen is definitely not grungy! You get your grungy feet off the sofa. * I don't like going to the new Udipi restaurant. There is always some grungy stuff on the table. * I

I witnessed a lady stealing clothes today; I was surprised the way she had to do it, she was very obvious and moreover at the changing room she left behind her dress which she carried as spare in her personal bag. Immediately she rushed ignoring everyone at the shop and did not buy anything. After realizing that she has left her dress behind as four clothes been taken for trial and out of which three belong to the shop and the one was not; assuming that to be hers the sales girl rushed to stop her mainly to give her cloth back. Normally shop lifters plan well before they steel or at least would not make it so prevalent but here it was neither. I felt something was amiss. Later after few minutes the lady was called in her mobile; “the visitors books carries her mobile number since she was a regular and an errant” she was not confronted but politely asked to take back her own cloth. Continues...

Shop lifter - She” the customer” She” the customer” returned to the shop with vigour and when the sales girl dealt with her informing her about the missing apparel and being the first customer at the shop; she the sales girl was brusquely certain that the lady is the accused. Customer being the nominated accused became furious with the sales in charge and raised a complaint with the owner of the shop against the sales girl. After some time the customer called the owner asking if she found the dress within the shop and enquired if she would be allowed in the boutique again as she intend to purchase few designer dresses for her children. This entire scene was narrated to my friend by me the same way, who at this point of time sympathised on the customer and mentioned she is been falsely accused and clarified if there was no mistake made by the sales girl in the process. It is seldom a shop lifter or a thief would call back the shop asking if the lost dress is brought into being. It is fi

“Shop lifter guilty” I had my own untold sympathy myself but did not reveal since it was very evident that the customer is guilty. The point here is one cannot prove that she is guilty but there is her consciousness which would do the rest; I am sorry I am getting too personal this super human term “consciousness” does not relate to ordinary people like us. Frankly it is almost dead in our society. The entire reason for this blog “raise your voice – society speaks “is to find out how many such souls exist. The customers frequent calls more than the naturally genuine non guilty self also gave me a doubt. Now she called and asked to meet the owner in person as soon as possible. At the meeting she fell on the shop owner’s feet and apologised. The boutique owner appreciated her courage to apologise.

Finally, don't be tempted to skip breakfast – or any meal to lose weight. While skipping a meal will reduce your calorie intake for that hour, it will leave you much hungrier later on. Not only are you likely to overeat to compensate, but you'll often make bad choices to fill the gap: a cereal bar is not as healthy as a bowl of cereal or as filling, leading you to 'need' something extra for lunch. Irregular eating habits also disrupt your body's metabolism, which makes it harder to lose weight in the first place. You're also more likely to stick to, say, swapping full-fat milk for semi-skimmed or making time for breakfast each morning than a diet that sets rules for all foods. You should think of weight loss in terms of permanently changing your eating habits. While weight-loss goals are usually set in term of weeks, the end game is to sustain these changes over months and years, ie lifestyle change for life. Increase your activity levels Someone who increases t

The same goes for people who suddenly start starving themselves. Diets that severely restrict calories or the types of food 'allowed' can lead you to be deficient in the nutrients and vitamins that your body needs. Energy needs and weight loss Your body uses food for energy. It stores any excess energy as fat. This means if you eat more food than your body needs for daily activities and cell maintenance, you'll gain weight. To lose weight, you need to get your body to use up these stores of fat. The most effective way to do this is to: reduce the amount of calories you eat increase your levels of activity. This is why experts talk about weight loss in terms of diet and exercise. Introduce changes gradually Small changes can make a big difference. One extra biscuit a week can lead you to gain 5lb a year – cut that biscuit out of your diet and you'll lose the same amount.

How to lose weight the healthy way The healthiest way to lose weight is neither crash diets nor bursts of exercise. The body likes slow changes in terms of food and exercise. For example, someone who hasn't exercised for years shouldn't rush into running miles a day or pounding the treadmill. Not only will the struggle to do so leave you feeling disheartened and demotivated, you're also far more likely to injure yourself and set your fitness levels back further.

English Edification Enrichment- What is the meaning of "chock-a-block"? This is an expression, which is mainly used in informal contexts. Chock-a-block means, "completely full; tightly packed". The expression is usually followed by "with". The main stress is on "block". The first word "chock" is pronounced like the first syllable of "chocolate". Here are a few examples. * The cupboard was chock-a-block with hundred rupee notes. * I wouldn't go there now. The place will be chock-a-block with tourists. * On Friday evening, Ashok's house was chock-a-block with guests

                    TOO CRUEL FOR PHOTOGRAPH At 9-15 a.m., the Blue Cross of India’s Resident General Manager Mr. Dawn Williams received a phone call from a person who stated that homeless puppies and dogs were being killed in a mass culling operation in Mugilvakkam. Mr Williams obtained the address and rushed to the location. While in the process of asking for directions, he encountered a tractor that was filled with the carcasses of the animals that had been poisoned that morning. He counted 23 dogs and 11 puppies – one dog was still in pain and succumbed shortly after. Mr Williams rescued the other dogs that were about to be killed. He identified five persons (4 men and 1 woman), a driver, cleaner and asked the driver about who gave him directions to kill the dogs. The driver said that the local Panchayat President Mr Palani had given him these instructions. Mr Palani also said that they ironically had made a “resolution” on Gandhi Jayanthi to catch the dogs. Killing of Dogs is ille

In filmmaking, dubbing or looping is the process of recording or replacing voices for a motion picture. Voices recorded that do not belong to the original actors and speak in a different language from the one in which the actor is speaking. "Dubbing" can also be used to describe the process of re-recording lines by the actor who originally spoke them. This process is technically known as automated dialogue replacement, or ADR. Foreign-language films and videos are often dubbed into the local language of their target markets to increase their popularity with the local audience by making them more accessible. Automated dialogue replacement / post-sync In conventional film production, a production sound mixer records dialogue during photography, but several uncontrollable issues, such as traffic or animal noise, during principal photography can cause the production sound to be unusable. When the film is in post-production, a Supervising Sound Editor or ADR Supervisor reviews all

It Is: Marijuana (say: mar-uh-wa-nuh) is the most widely used illegal drug in the United States. It is made from the shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the hemp (Cannabis sativa) plant. It looks like green, brown, or gray dried parsley. Marijuana is a mind-altering drug and is considered a hallucinogen if taken in large amounts. Sometimes Called: weed, grass, pot, chronic, joint, blunt, herb, cannabis, hashish, Mary Jane How It's Used: Marijuana is smoked in the form of a hand-rolled cigarette (called a joint or a nail), in a pipe, or water pipe (also known as a bong); it is sometimes smoked after being placed inside of hollowed-out cigars called blunts; mixed into foods; or brewed as a tea. What It Does to You: Marijuana makes it hard to keep track of time and concentrate. People who use it have difficulty with memory and find it hard to solve problems and learn. Marijuana raises your heart rate and blood pressure. Some people get red eyes or dry mouths or become sleepy

Do you like putting on an apron and making a delicious snack for your family? How about helping out at the stove, stirring and sniffing the sweet smells? Or making cookies by cutting out your favorite shapes? Although making food is fun, it's important to know how to be safe. This means knowing when to get the help of an adult assistant, how to keep things clean, and how to use the kitchen safely. Let's get cookin'! Your Adult Assistant If you've ever seen a cooking show on TV, you know that all the best chefs have an assistant to help them out. If you're a kid, an adult assistant can come in handy to make cooking easier and keep you safe. Before beginning any recipe, get an adult's permission to work in the kitchen. If your recipe uses knives, the stove, or other kitchen appliances, you must have some adult help. Some things that your mom or dad uses in the kitchen may seem simple to operate, but once you use them yourself, you might be surprised by how difficu

In today’s world, when stores are crammed with so many types of diapers, it becomes quite difficult for parents to select the best diaper for their child. So, if you’re brainstorming about how to buy diapers, this article could be of immense help to you. Since diapers make an important part of baby’s clothing, until he is potty trained, the right choice of diaper, which ensures comfort, becomes crucial. Amidst vast collection of diapers, the following tips would help you to choose right diapers for your toddler. Tips For Buying Diapers The very first thing before buying diaper is whether you want cloth or disposal diapers for your child. People also prefer buying disposable diapers for the reason that they can be easily disposed. Other reason is they can be changed and disposed off in public. They are usually comfortable due to their elastic bands. After some time, these diapers need to be changed. So, it becomes a little expensive choice. For years, cloth diapers have been used to wra

Most women who have very young babies are wary about when to start giving the child cereals. It depends on not just your baby’s age and weight and but also many other things. Some babies may be ready for cereals in 3 months, while some may take a little longer. Usually, doctors recommend that one can start giving the baby cereals between 4-6 months. Whatever you do, don’t rush your baby into having cereals just because he/she is four months old. Here are a few signs to watch out for to determine whether your baby is ready for cereals. The baby holds his/her head steady and sits with support Tries to reach out for food and shows interest Opens mouth when he/she sees food No longer thrusts the tongue out during feeding. Food stays in the mouth and the baby swallows it The Best Time Babies can be given cereals when they are between four to six months. Usually, this is the time when the automatic thrusting of the tongue stops and the baby starts to show interest in food. Begin by giving th

Piercing the ears of babies is a personal choice of parents. Some like to get it pierced early while some wait till the baby grows up a bit. Most pediatricians recommend that you wait for a bit till the baby is old enough to look after the pierced area. Ear piercing is not new and one can trace the tradition back to almost 6000 years back when this system was prevalent in the ancient African tribes. Today, piercing is a form of body art that is adopted by many people to look good and make a statement. When to Pierce Baby Ears Most people get the ears of a baby girl pierced when the baby is around 6-7 months old. This is considered to be the proper age for getting the ears of a baby pierced. The practice of ear piercing is widely prevalent in the Hindu culture. Usually, parents get the ears of the baby pierced just before the first birthday. Not just baby girls, even the ears of baby boys are pierced. The ear lobe is pierced at a particular place by the professional as it is supposed to

Taking the temperature of child presents a number of choices as well as some minor difficulties. There are a number of ways through which you can take the temperature of a child. The most popular amongst these methods are rectal method, auxiliary method and oral method. The method to be used mainly depends upon the age of the child. In this article, we will tell you all about taking infant temperature reading. Things Needed Mercury/Digital Thermometer Petroleum Jelly Rectal Method Rectal method is recommended for taking temperature of infants under three months. Take mercury or digital thermometer. Before taking temperature, make sure that the reading on either of them is under 95 deg F. Dab a little petroleum jelly or any other lubricator on the tip of the thermometer. This is to ensure that the tip easily slides inside the butt. Make your child lie face down on your lap or on a flat surface (I would suggest your lap). Separate the buttocks of the baby and gently insert the tip of the

Sometimes, we find that our little toddler is eating more than we do. We can call this habit as overeating, but the point is ‘Is it really overeating?”. At several times in childhood, habit of overeating develops in a child and doctors assert it as part of ‘growth spurt’. Many a times, growth is not accomplished gradually, but rather in spurts. At such times, it is absolutely normal for a child to consume more than an adult, because he is not only required to meet maintenance and energy necessities, but also energy growth requirements. Keep a Track of Growth and Diet If the toddler’s weight and height are increasing, then he needs to have more food. Parents can consult the doctor about the child’s eating pattern and if the case is not of ‘growth spurt’, then a limit must be made to toddler’s intake of food. A limit doesn’t mean to keep your child on a diet, but it’s to keep a track of his meals and what all he prefers to eat. Incase the child is more inclined towards junk and fatty fo

Victor Hugo had rightly said “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent”. This statement surely values the mind of a child, who doesn’t know words but always want to say much. Possibly, the concept of Early Childhood Music has developed from statement’s reflection. Music, in itself, is a complete therapy that has the ability to bring about healing. It has the capability to open fastened thoughts and relieve the mind. Enhanced Development Researchers have established that music and movement programs affect the development of child between his birth and primary school years. Further, to confirm such situation, it has been seen that children who get preschool piano lessons together with singing, have better brain function that lasts their lifetime. Such lessons aid to develop characteristics and social skills in the child. The major observable change is improvement in academics and more so, in subjects like mathematics and science. Early childhood music

Your milk is a living substance so precious some call it "white blood". It is essential to store your expressed (pumped) milk properly to maximize its nutritional and anti-infective qualities. Human milk actually has anti-bacterial properties that help it to stay fresh. Giving your baby the freshest milk you have pumped ensures its high quality. This information is based on current research and applies to mothers who: have healthy, full-term babies; are storing their milk for home use (as opposed to hospital use); wash their hands before expressing; use containers that have been washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed. All milk should be dated before storing. Storage Guidelines Storing milk in 2-4 ounce amounts may reduce waste. Refrigerated milk has more anti-infective properties than frozen milk. Cool milk in refrigerator before adding to frozen milk. Human milk can be stored at room temperature (66-72°F, 19-22°C) for up to 10 hours in a refrigerator (32-39°F, 0-4°C) for up t

DRINK WATER ON EMPTY STOMACH It is popular in Japan; drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value. For old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society. Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat, epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningtitis, kidney and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhoea, piles, diabetes, constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders, ear nose and throat diseases. METHOD OF TREATMENT 1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water 2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minutes 3. After 45 m! inutes you may eat and drink as normal. 4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours 5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water

You are driving along in your car on a wild, stormy night, it's raining heavily, when suddenly you pass by a bus stop, and you see three people waiting for a bus: An old lady who looks as if she is about to die. An old friend who once saved your life. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about. Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing very well that there could only be one passenger in your car? This is a moral/ethical dilemma. ------------------------ ----------------------- "I would give the car keys to my Old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams." Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. * You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first; * or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to ! pay h

Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (b. 3 July 1918 - d. 18 July 1974) was an iconic South Indian actor, director and producer. He has an important place in the film history of South India (both in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu). He was an internationally recognised actor and is popularly known as "Vishwanata Chakravarthi." He was considered to be a versatile actor and the first actor of his kind with the famous mannerism "orey dongrey" from the film "Jagath Jettilu" he is the household name in Andhra Pradesh. He died on July 18, 1974 suffering a severe cardiac arrest. But, he continues to live in the annals of Tollywood and Kollywood film history. Early life Samarla Venkata Ranga Rao (S.V. Ranga Rao) was born on July 3, 1918 at Nuzvidu village in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, when the World War I was drawing to a close. His mother, Lakshmi Narasayamma, a staunch devotee of Lord Venkateshwara, christened the boy after Him -- Venkata Ranga Rao. His father, Kotesw

Historically, Chennai has relied on annual monsoon rains to replenish water reservoirs, as no major rivers flow through the area.  With a steadily increasing population, the city has faced water supply shortages, and its ground water levels have been depleted. An earlier Veeranam Lake project failed to solve the city's water problems, but the New Veeranam project, which became operational in September 2004, has greatly reduced dependency on distant sources. In recent years, heavy and consistent monsoon rains and rainwater harvesting (RWH) by Chennai Metrowater at its Anna Nagar Rain Centre have significantly reduced water shortages

English Edification Enrichment- What is the meaning and origin of "between Scylla and Charybdis? First, let's deal with the pronunciation of the two words. The "sc" in "Scylla" is pronounced like the "s" in "sit", "sip", and "set", while the following "y" is like the "i" in "it", "is", and "hit". The final "a" is like the "a" in "china". The main stress is on the first syllable. The "ch" in "Charybdis" is pronounced like the "k" in "kit", "kill", and "kiss". The following "a" is like the "a" in "china", while the "y" and the final "i" are like the "i" in "kit", "pit", and "sit". The main stress is on the second syllable. Scylla and Charybdis are two rocks located in a narrow sea passage

http://www.yurock.net/hilarious-collection-of-female-drivers/?nggpage=2