The edge and beyond

It is fun to choose interesting titles for the insignificant material that is going to be churned out.

When we come across a fork in our life-paths, different roads start beckoning us with their varied advantages.The power to make the right decisions differentiates people with respect to their success.Taking the correct decision is like standing on the edge of a cliff.We know that there is something different when we step off.But beyond a certain point,the visibility is poor.The thrill of stepping off the edge and finding out for yourself whether the decision was right or wrong is itself worth the risk.There are so many variables to be considered before taking the decisions.And while you are treading your chosen path,many things change.Variables ,by definition,have a tendency to change!

Initiative is an invitation to hypertension!But,rather be bland in life, it is better to rock your blood vessels and live your life!    

Exercise...exercise

We have all heard about the therapeutic effects of exercise,about how it can rejuvenate your mind and body,how it can brighten your day etc.But,there is a dreary side to it as well.After the novelty of starting to exercise wears off,it becomes a drag.You not only have to set aside some time for it everyday,but also fill up that time!You have to follow the same routine everyday and the results are slow to show.Kudos to the fitness freaks who can keep it going for years together.
My army colleagues(ex servicemen)look quite fit without apparently exercising.Perhaps,it is the healthy lifestyle or the robust air of the front which has kept them smart.Most of them look at least 10 years younger than their age.A good example to follow!

satisfaction vs happiness

I recently read an article about a comparison between life satisfaction and happiness.Happiness was defined as how people feel about themselves and satisfaction was arrived at by comparing various economic factors.People in developed nations had more life satisfaction compared to those from poorer nations.People in developed nations compared themselves to poorer nations and their satisfaction quotient increased!
Goes against the standard teaching,doesn't it?

product reviews

There are reviews on the net for all products like cars,electronic goods etc.Where are the reviews for drugs(medicines)?People blindly listen to their doctors' advice and swallow a host of medicines.What are their experiences after ingesting a particular drug?The same can be said of a host of health-care products like wellness regimes and also about hospitals and diagnostic centers.There is a need for user feedback and objective assessment of the various options available to patients and doctors.

For example,there are at least 10 manufacturers of Ciprofloxacin in India.Is there an easily accessible chart comparing the costs and efficacy of the various brands?

Is an attempt to rate drugs,various treatments and even doctors feasible?

Unfair end

I was driving back from work and listening to Michael Jackson's songs.Suddenly,it flashed to me that his death was unfair to all of us.The allocation of talent and genius is haphazard and its grooming is chaotic,to say the least.

I am sure some more songs were due from him.Even though his album 'Bad' was released in 1987,the songs are still fantastic and I am sure will be evergreen.

Let us hope that his soul rests in peace and thank God (and MJ) for the songs.

Jungle warfare

Another story from the stable of army doctors!

A doctor whose chopper landed in the jungles of Northeast India found himself with only a knife and a matchbox.Although he had been taught survival tactics,he could not remember anything.So,he followed some simple rules.He decided that since monkeys are our ancestors,it would be safe to eat anything they ate. He drank the sap of plants instead of the unsafe water.He found a stream and followed it thinking that it would definitely lead him somewhere.

His plans worked and he finally made it to civilization after a month! 

Health Hazard

I am getting alarmed by the health problems that some of my colleagues have come to face during the discharge of their duties.

At least three people I know have been affected by tuberculosis and one of them even had to undergo surgery because of the complications.

At least two people I know have had mild heart attacks due to stress.Of course,in one case it was due to a metabolic problem but still stress might have been the trigger.

One of my friends was attending an interview where there was a medical checkup.The doctors found elevated blood pressures in 9 out of 10 candidates although none of them had symptoms.

I have forgotten the number of people who have mild complaints like back pain,gastritis etc.

Is the 'noble profession' really worth the price?

How to fail in exams

I recently heard some funny stories about how people managed to flunk their exams because of flimsy reasons.

A final year student was taking ophthalmology exams(viva).The examiner was a well-known terror.He asked the student to spell out the word 'ophthalmology'.The poor fellow spelt it-'opthalmology'.The examiner asked him if he was sure about the spelling and the student quite confidently replied in the affirmative.The gentleman got really pissed off that he did not know the right spelling and failed him.

There was another professor who used to fail students if their walk seemed too arrogant to him.If the students had prepared well and were confident,they were flushed down the drain.

A student who was taking his final year clinical exams noticed that the examiner was wearing a beautiful saree and could not take his eyes off her.The lady happened to notice the gleam in his eye and promptly failed him!