Real Estate in Madurai, because of IT park news!

Real Estate and property values must be starting to raise...

If you have money, go and invest in Madurai - this is the right time to buy property and lands in Madurai. You will get hell of a return....

I wish I had more money to buy lands:-) near MKU, Nagamalai Pudukkottai and overall in north-west part of Madurai!!

IT park located in Madurai - two sites near MKU

The district administration has identified two sites on several acres of land, one near the Madurai Kamaraj University at Nagamalai Pudukottai and the other on the city outskirts, for setting up the much-awaited IT Park.

Read More in The Hindu, India's Leading National Daily

MORE LATEST NEWS:
READ MORE HERE in Made in Madurai

General Tip for you electronic instrument - laptop, cell phones, PDAs etcetra

Whenever there is any rain and if you knew that you are going to get wet - switch off your laptop or your cell phones or PDAs. That saves the instrument for you.

If it gets wet, you will have to visit a service center then!:-)

If you have coffee, juice or water spilt on the electronic instrument you have, then immediately switch it off. You could probably remove take out the battery or any removable part out and dry it out. After you observe that, it got dried completely, then only you start it.

It saves your electronic instrument.

New Appearances is Healthy for any industry!

As it is in Cinema industry, if we have new faces and new technicians trying out different things in the industry, taking risks and trying out things - is very healthy for the industry.

In IT industry, new vendors have to come into a market space, then only consumers and customers can benefit from that.

Same thing applies in politics as well - If we just have two old parties ruling between each other, we won't have a perfect administration. At the same time, we cannot be given to the ministers just like that - for trying it out!

The initiatives like Vijayakanth's or IITian's or any youth with enthusiasm should be encouraged, appreciated and make them continually try again for serving!

Definitely, they should loose their hearts. Well, if they loose their hearts, then that shows their perseverance, which happens to be an automatic filter.

Customer Service and police force?

Customer service and police??

Are our police force in Tamil Nadu dear to the customer? It is definitely a big question! But now, the scenario is changing and there is a first step taken.

There is a survey going on - for filling out the customer feedback form for the police, for evaluation. Well, it is a very first step and way to go, but it is definitely a right step in a right direction.

Read More in NTN

Warren Buffet and Bill Gates making a change for good!

The two richest men in the world will meet in Manhattan today. Inspired by his close friend Bill Gates, Warren Buffet plants to give away the bulk of his $44 billion fortune. And Gates is going to help him do it.

Warren Buffet is giving a total of $44 billion to the Gates Foundation which focuses on issues like fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Read More...

Customer Satisfaction Management Space - Guidelines

1. Top management commitment,
2. Linking of Customer Satisfaction scores with employee and management monetary incentives,
3. Recognition of employees who contribute to customers' satisfaction,
4. Identification, measurement, and tracking of operational variables which drive satisfaction scores,
5. Customer-based improvement goals,
6. Plans for improving operational variables,
7. Incorporation of customer satisfaction skills into employee training programs,
8. Measurement of and plans for improvement of employee satisfaction and
9. Changes in corporate hiring practices.

Some Quotable Quotes

You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere.

One way to become enthusiastic is to look for the plus sign. To make progress in any difficult situation, you have to start with what's right about it and build on that.

Look for the good in every person and every situation. You'll almost always find it.

Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life -- facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities, testing our resources against the unknown and in the process, discovering our own unique potential.

The good you do today may be quickly forgotten, but the impact of what you do will never disappear.

You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what you're doing is work or play.

You should always learn, with life comes wisdom and with wisdom comes the courage
to live your life selflessly. The more you learn about yourself and the experiences
surrounding your life the more opportunities you have, to make your life better and more fulfilling.

If you have not asked your employer for a salary hike yet, SPEAK UP!

Something really interesting happenned to my friend!
He was working hard for the company he was working for...
He has financial troubles in his home and he did not ask his manager for a salary raise.

As days progressed, he was dejected and didn't know what to do with the money situation. He was frustrated, depressed and his work situation was little disturbed, because he was not able to concentrate much on his work, because of financial problems back home.

He needed some money and he got a quick handy loan from his manager - well, he had a good relationship with his manager in fact. So he immediately gave the money as a loan.

One fine day, manager called him for a lunch and the manager talked about everything my friend wanted to talk about. This guy was totally shocked to hear about all these.

He also said - We are in a capitalist economy, where everyone cares for themselves. Nobody cares for anybody. There is something good in this, but also bad things in it.

Anyway, if are expecting a salary hike and you have not asked about it, Shoot a mail for an appointment with your manager!!

Computers and Madurai Villages

In a Community Learning Centre in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu state, India, a grandmother named Anu waits with a CD-Rom clutched in her hand. Visitors have gathered in the Centre for a workshop about a UNESCO project that uses ICT to enhance literacy education.

In a few minutes, it is Anu’s turn to speak. Her presentation is about what she learned in her literacy course at the Centre. She calmly inserts her CD-Rom into the computer and shows the audience how she is able to read and write in her own language.

Read More...

Tamil TV Serials?!

I think Television TV serials are filled with cheating, cunningness, manipulation, grief and nothing is positive out of it!!

It is definitely not positive...! I am terribly frustrated with them and because of them.

Jack of all trades or Master of one trade?!

I am not sure whether I am a Jack of all trades or Master of one trade?

I am doing good in many things, but I am not at all concentrating on one thing to become a master. In order to achieve in life - do I have to be master of one trade or jack of all trades or master of all trades? Is that possible to be master of all trades??

In the company I work for, they call me - Jack of all trades - does that mean that I am good to be successful in life? Should I master one trade and just concentrate on just one art??

If you have any thoughts, please let me know...
I guess, many might have crossed this situation....

Special Money Saving Tips

Money Saving Tips from Madurai Machan

Health is Wealth
Spend time in library - to save some outside expenses - gain knowledge!
Move to a new home with less rent than what we give now
Think of a hike or a new secured job
Reduce some external expenses
Start thinking of some external source of income
No more waste expenses
Think before you buy anything
Stop drinking : Save Health and Money
If you smoke, quit right away
Any special gifts, only from Walmart(cheap shops)
Read Gas Saving Tips, Use A/C, heater reasonably
Start saving on any accidental expenses
Most of all - Prepare Budget (long-term, short-term and interim) and be prepared for any financial goals

No Fear!!

Fear is negative thinking! that's why - NO FEAR!!

No Fear is happiness - no fear is bliss - no fear is courage.
Be brave in anything. Why do you have to worry? Why do you have to be afraid?
Whom should you be afraid of? Fight back on anything!

If you don't fight back, you will not get anything in life!
There are somethings you need to be silent and patient, but that does not mean that you have to be afraid of life....

Be brave and face the monkeys and dogs - you will see the animals run back and away from us.

Father is the role model for any child. Never ever show your cowardness to your child. The child in his real life, reacts just similar to the father. So be a great and brave father to win in life....Click...

Nice Tips for Sales, Marketing, Management, Small Business etc.,

Nice Tips for Sales, Marketing, Management, Small Business etc.,
http://www.businessweek.com/smallbiz/tips/

Happiness Tips

Don't sweat small stuff
There is always a way out!
Love the work, whatever you do. Do everything perfectly. Make sure everything is

neat and perfect, even if it is just sweeping the floor. Have respect for work.

Have discipline in life/work. Dedicate yourself for the work.

always Have something to love.
always have something to hope for...
Always have something to do...

Positive Thinking

Have everything positive. Think Positive. Be Positive.
There won't be any problems, no matter whatever happens.
Main reason for depression is negative thinking.

Every thought is followed by an action.
Every action is followed by a habit.
Every habit is followed by a character.

So be careful about your thoughts!
If we have our thoughts clean and positive, we will get the results positive.

There is no chance wrong things can happen - that is the mathematics and that is

how it should happen!!

What if it is a girl child or a boy child?

We do ultrasound scan during the fifth month of pregnancy.

In United States, we get to know the gender of the child, but we don't get to
know the gender in India. Well, that is a different story and it is a law in
India.

Coming to the point - When we come to know it is a boy or girl - there is a
narrow thinking in most of us, who are brought up in a conservative and slightly
narrow-minded society. There is a differnce in thinking or feeling, when we hear
it is a boy or a girl.

Is it the problem with the culture we are brought in? Even ladies(mother, grand-mother) think the same way? Why?

Whatever it is - it is a child - god given! Shouldn't we be just happy? Even if
we are happy - people come and give advice and say the advantages and disadvantages to us? Why??

I asked one of my friend, when I was in college - What will you do if you got a
handicapped child born? His spontaneous answer, without giving much thought was -
Everybody is born with some defect or other - it does not mean that everyone
comes into the world with perfect psychological abilities? We just need to accept
people as they are? Same thing applies to the child also - we just need to accept
it as god gift.

Accept the child born as - God's gift and never listen to any narrow-minded thoughts.

An amazing personal financial guide

A very useful personal finance guide...
Check out this link from CNN Money

It had definitely helped me...click

Money Saving Tips from CNN

It may not seem like much, but keeping your computer monitor on all the time, will cost you $.60 cents a day, or $18 a month. Keeping your cell phone and battery charger plugged in may cost you $1.50 a month. And the night light? That'll cost you $.50 a month if you keep it on 24/7.

Read more in CNN - very useful article

Perfect example of democracy in grassroots level

A beggar woman has been elected a village head, or 'mukhiya', defeating powerful candidates in panchayat or local bodies elections in Bihar.

Meanwhile, another woman, Shanti Devi, a tea stall vendor, was elected a panchayat committee member in a village in Purnea district.

Read More in Indian Express

Textile Park in 4 cities of Tamil Nadu

Union Minister Thirumaavalavan announced that there would be four Textile parks in the Tamil Nadu state each costing 50 crores.

The cities would be - Kadaloor, Palladam, Tirupur and Erode!

Read More in Dinamani

MKU ready to give land for Madurai IT Park

The Madurai Kamaraj University is open to the ‘unofficial’ proposal of parting with a portion of its land for an Information Technology park.

Read More in Indian Express...

Applying for US Visa?

If you are applying for visa or you want to change status or anything related to US Visa or Green Card, you can check out the following web sites...

Path2Usa
Murthy
Immigration Portal

There are some government sites too - which I shall post later.

To book or check availability of an appointment - VFS-Visa-Appointment

FREE Credit Rating Check in America!

If you are in United States of America(USA), and you want to check your credit rating for free? Here is the free site. You can check out your limit within few minutes, just by entering two forms.

Annual Credit Rating

Madurai Campus Recruitment update

Madurai Campus Recruitment update in Thiagaraja College of Engineering...

Read more in Hindu

Please note that we are not able to get our articles to you properly for couple of days, due to resources unavailability. We will get back to normal asap. Click here..

Madurai Collector's industry related activities update

The District Collector, T. Udhayachandran, has urged the manufacturers of renewable energy devices and systems to lower the prices and strengthen their post-sale service to popularise them.

Read More in Hindu

CIOL - Indian IT industry news wire

CIOL - IT Unlimited, provides the complete IT industry news. There are good amount of updates on IT industry updates. I don't think any other indian site, concentrates like CIOL.

click here..

Check out ZDNet whiteboard videos

If you want real tech news, check out ZDNet news wire. They are real good, in updating on what is happenning in and around IT all across the world.

Especially, I like the whiteboard videos, which has 3 minute lessons on various topics and I would like you also to reap the benefits...

Scroll down on the link below to find out more videos.

Check out here...

Government Rajaji Hospital getting better?!

The patients at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai don’t have to wait for hours to be called in for diagnosis. There seems to be good amount of improvement happenning, after the new collector took charge.

Attendants and other staff are pushing gurneys and wheel chairs from one ward to another. The buildings and premises are being cleaned, drainage channels are being unclogged, drinking water facilities are being installed, waste bins are being constructed and electrical maintenance is also underway.

Recently, as per dinamalar.com, it was reported that recovery room was recovered from contamination. Recovery room is nothing but a post-surgery room, where you have all the post-surgery needs would be available. Looks like that was recovered.

Overall, there are many improvements to this age old hospital happenning. Let us wait and see, how it goes...click here...

Tamil Nadu attracts the most FDI

Tamil Nadu has attracted 2700 foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals in the last one year, thanks to the industry-friendly climate that prevails here. Nokia, Flextronics, Motorola, Foxconn are to name a few.

Comparing Tamil Nadu with China, which is another important FDI destination, Chandramouli said that wage rates are about 10 to 12 per cent low in Tamil Nadu. He said that Tamil Nadu is having a notable share in the country in many industrial sectors including software, hardware, automobile, and cotton.

Thank you CyberMedia News and CIOL.

Read More in CIOL.

June 2006 Monthly Newsletter - New Madurai Foundation

Dear all,
It is been quite a while, since we have published our newsletter, which explains quite a bit about our status and what we are planning to do!

Management Words:
As you all know, we started off nicely in the beginning of the year by - (i) Registration of New Madurai Foundation legally (ii) Proceeding on "Helping Akshaya" project (iii) Launch of the first free library in South Madurai. This newsletter will explain about the status and the plan going forward.

We are very glad to share some of the updates happenning as of now. For the past two or three months, there was not much interaction on the group as such!

We have decided to expedite our activities in a gradual manner on New Madurai Foundation projects. This won't be a drastic shift, but it would be gradual. We are going to call for more help from you. More and more people need to come forward, then only we can achieve what we want to do! It is definitely not a single man's work. Everybody need to come forward for helping us complete our projects. We have only two projects currently, so it is definitely easier for us to achieve the target.

Current Community Strength:
A good thing about New Madurai Group is - currently the strength is 134! This strength was gained in a time span of around 1 year, including some silence among the group for quite a while. This is in fact, without much campaign efforts.

There are some MSW(Masters in Social Work - in American College) students also joining the team. We would be glad if they step up to help us in what we are doing. We will do all kinds of help, if they step up to help in any of the projects.

Marketing and New Networking Updates:
We have not done enough marketing, but there are new networking contacts coming up by themselves.
(i) Mr.Bruno Winck and Ms.Sylvie Winck from US/France were interested in our library and they wanted to give some help. Mr.Winck came down to New Madurai Foundation and evaluated our library to update Ms.Sylvie, who is a Librarian and she had built libraries in many places from different parts of the world. Mr. Winck gave a huge list of comments, but we have not got back to them yet. We will get back to them and work together as soon as possible, I guess.

(ii) Mrs.Ibrahim from US wanted to help us in someway, but she is still understanding on what we are doing.

Project Updates:
First Free Library Project Updates:
We have the library running and there are few visitors coming and using the facility. But it is definitely not going great, because of the poor marketing. This is because of lack of funds and lack of resources to proceed. If anyone would like to come forward for spending time on spreading the news, that would be highly appreciated.

"Helping Akshaya" Project Updates:
We were on target for collection of Rs.2500 and handing it over to Akshaya Krishnan! But we were not able to meet the target for 3 months or so! We are going to make it a point from now on to get Rs.2500 collected! Any help on this will be appreciated!

Need Resouces for:
(i) Madan lal, who is already a New Madurai Member is working on (campaign and proposal) documentation.
(ii) Need some one from Madurai - who will get a cheque from our New Madurai Foundation, Alagappan Nagar to Akshaya Krishnan, Doak Nagar in Madurai. And then get the receipt and hand over it to New Madurai Foundation. Please contact us, if you can help us!?
(iii) Need everyone to spread the news.
(iv) Our important project officer had to proceed with some other activites and wanted to break for sometime. This is a planned break and he will definitely come back sometime, after he settles down. This is a big loss for us!

Miscellaneous "Madurai Times" Blogging:
We are currently blogging about Madurai in Madurai Times Blog Publication. You can check out the articles, which are mostly about Madurai, any general help and improvements or anything related to Madurai.

If you think you want to help us?
Basic thing you could do is spread the news of New Madurai Foundation to your friend networks.
If you want to do more help than that - then please send a mail on your interest to info@newmadurai.org, so that management can help you in providing some help to us in any of the projects. Please note that - it does not have to be monetary. It could be just plain efforts only!!

If you have any questions or comments on this newsletter - you can email me at sselvan@gmail.com.

thank you
Managing Trustee,
New Madurai Foundation.

Karunanidhi having a glance at IT companies in Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi visited top two IT companies today to get a first hand feel of the IT boom here, evoking a swift response from Infosys which committed a Rs 1,250 crore investment to expand its operations in Chennai.

He had also asked IT companies to invest in tier II cities like Madurai, Coimbatore etc., There is a potential of employment of 25,000 personnels through IT companies.

Read More

Madurai Kamaraj University - MKU Updates

In a bid to bridge the gap between education and needs of industry, Madurai Kamaraj University has launched an innovative Industry Integrated programme here on Wednesday.

The Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) will offer degree courses in collaboration with various foreign universities, including Mexico University, dean of the university P R Athappan has said.

Read More in Chennai Online

Read More in Indian Express

Health is very important - a realization

Health is very important through out our life!

Recently I had severe stomach ache from a monday morning 4 AM. I could not sleep peacefully. I tried all the measures I could like - lie down, drink water, take break in restroom etc., but didn't help. After sometime, I had to start to office, with the stomach ache ON.

I could not work at all. But tried to check mails...Fortunately, I have done most of my monday's work on the Sunday, since I had time. In fact, I and my wife went to the office to complete my work in the office on sunday - because my offshore team have to followup with the work.

By around 10AM Monday, I could not sit anymore in office, so I came back home to take rest. Took some rest, after making myself cool with oil applied on my stomach. The stomach ache was because of the heat produced inside my body, because of the food I had the previous day!

In the noon, I became normal - after I had some curd, butter milk etc., We did not go to doctor, since it was manageable by ourselves!

Finally, I realized somethings - Be sure whatever you do it does not affect your health! It is terrible, if you are not well and all of your work will be stuck, considering the fact that you are responsible today or if not, anytime in the future!

So...keep up your good health for good life! You might not encounter any difficulties today, but later in your life, you will get problems. So take care of yourself today!!

Thought of sharing this realization to all of you! This is not the advice, but a sharing of realization!!!

Couple of pending projects in Madurai being expedited!

Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister M K Stalin today said all unfinished projects which were started during 1996-2001 would be expedited and hurdles in the way of their implementation, if any, would be removed.

Couple of projects pending for Madurai...Check it out in Chennai Online

Read More in Chennai Online...

Someone in crowd tried to attack Stalin in Madurai

Tamil Nadu Urban Development Minister M.K. Stalin, son of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, escaped unhurt as an unknown assailant threw a knife at him while he was surrounded by admirers at the Madurai railway station Tuesday.

According to police sources in Madurai, as Stalin disembarked from a train, someone pulled his shirt from behind. As his attention was distracted, someone else from a distance threw a knife into the crowd.

The attacker escaped, police said. A policeman, Suresh Kumar, sustained injuries to his hand as he tried to catch the assailant. Police are reluctant to give details of the attack or the number of people involved.

However, the opposition parties claim that this drama is for getting a 'Z' category security for Mr.Stalin.

Read More here

Freshers recruitment for Honeywell, Madurai - Written test in Chennai!

The following mail is from Honeywell, Madurai.
-------------------
Dear All,

We are conducting a written test for candidates who
have applied through naukri database. If you have any
known candidates who have not taken the written test
so far and have not applied through naukri you can ask
them to take the test. The details are as follows.

Eligibility
� Fresh Engineers - 2006 Passouts (Strictly 2006
passouts only)
� 70% and above with no standing arrears
� Streams – CSE, IT, EEE, ECE, EIE (Any other
streams are not eligible)
� Students who have already taken the written
test conducted by Honeywell, Madurai must not appear
again.

Date: 11.06.2006 (Sunday)

Venue
Loyola College
Nungambakkam
Chennai

Procedure for Written Test
We will follow the following steps for conducting our
written test.

� Presentation to all the students about
Honeywell.
� Written Test will be conducted in 2 sessions.
You can come in the afternoon (01.30 pm).
� The written test will be for 2 hours.
� Computer Science students will have a separate
paper and other stream students will have a separate
paper.
� There will be 4 sections
Technical Questions (Objective) - 50
Minutes
C Questions (Objective)
- 30 Minutes
Aptitude Questions (Objective) - 20
Minutes
Descriptive Questions (Objective) - 20 Minutes

� Use HB pencils for shading your answers

Evaluation will be done at Madurai and all the short
listed candidates will be invited to Madurai for
further rounds of interview.

ONE EXTRA BEDROOM - A Thought Provoking Article - but slight depressing and it is from a pessimistic angle!

One Extra Bedroom...A Thought Provoking Article - but slight depressing and it is from a pessimistic angle

We don't own this article - Someone had written and we got this article as a forward!

------------------------------------------------------------------------
ONE BEDROOM FLAT... AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER'S LIFE...- A Bitter
Reality
As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software
Engineer
and joined a company based in USA, the land of braves and opportunity.
When
I arrived in the USA, it was as if a dream had come true.
Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would
be
staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have
earned enough money to settle down in India.
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only
asset
he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.
I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and
lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents
every
week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years
of
Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the
foreign
exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.
Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I have only 10
days
of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my
ticket booked in the cheapest flight. Was jubilant and was actually
enjoying
hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then
there
will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going through
all
the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was
forced to
select one candidate.
In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in
2-3
days, as I will not get anymore holidays. After the marriage, it was
time to
return to USA, after giving some money to my parents and telling the
neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA.

My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started
feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a
week
sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing. After two
more
years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were
gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they
asked
me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.
Every year I decide to go to India. But part work part monetary
conditions
prevented it. Years went by and visiting India was a distant dream.
Then
suddenly one day I got a message that my parents were seriously sick. I
tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India.
The
next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no
one to
do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I
was
depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand
children.
After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and
my
wife's joy we returned to India to settle down. I started to look for a
suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the
property
prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA.
My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in
India. My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife
I would be back for good after two years.
Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and
my son
was happy living in USA. I decided that had enough and wound-up every
thing
and returned to India. I had just enough money to buy a decent 2
bedroom
flat in a well-developed locality.
Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the
routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me
and
gone to the holy abode.

Sometimes I wondered was it worth all this? My father, even after
staying in
India, had a house to his name and I too have the same nothing more.
I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.
Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing. This
damned
cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing
their
values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my
children
asking I am alright. Well at least they remember me.
Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be
performing my last rights, God Bless them. But the question still
remains
'was all this worth it?'
I am still searching for an answer................!!!!

- By an Indian SE who was in US.

Successful 200th article in Madurai Times! - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

We are very happy to present you with 200th article of Madurai Times Blog Publication! We have good amount of visitors as on date and we would like to THANK YOU for your support so far and seek your support as always!!

-----------------------------
I have read Linda GoodMan's Sun Signs in my college days and I have belief on these sun signs to a bit! Basically there is a scientific reason to sun signs and their reliability.

First of all - Linda Goodman's reputation as the world's foremost authority on astrology was established by her first book, Linda Goodman's Sun Signs. There are over 60 million copies of her books in print throughout the world.

When we are born, that is - when we step into this world from mother's womb - the place where the planets are matters - this is what this science is all about!!

When we are coming out, the location of the planets decide on how our basic mental, attitude, behaviours and mannerisms will be in our life! All these parameters change as we grow and when we interact with the society, but these sun sign's decide on something basic on us.

Believe it or not, it is a science again!

I hate popups in internet explorer!

I have never clicked on popups and went for what I wanted! I have never seen anything in popups, for what I wanted.

I believe it is a waste of money by the advertisers. I am not sure it is effective enough advertisement or referral program. It creates more frustration, rather than any interest towards their business.

One website I have always seen from many sites - Smashits.com.
I have always felt it is a black-listed website and the site looks clumsy in fact!!

Overall, I hate popups!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some good shopping sites for sending gifts to India

I have used couple of shopping sites for sending gifts to India.

Two of the sites, I have used are ahmedabad.com and indiavarta.com.
IndiaVarta.com is owned and operated by Dinamani and IndianExpress Group. They have limited options, but their service is good. This is the most cheap gift service provided so far, I guess.

Ahmedabad.com is also good. They are good - but might not be as cheap as IndiaVarta.com. They have good amount of options.

One important thing is - both of them provide tracking service, using a number online.

Overall, I think indiavarta.com is reliable and cheap. Enjoy sending gifts to India by indiavarta.com and ahmedabad.com

Attitude of children from India vs USA

I recently went to a birthday party of a 3 year old daughter of my friend.
There were many south indian families - tamil, telugu and kannada speaking families which are like 35 years old. They have either one kid or two kids at the most.

There was a 30 second incident, which had affected me quite a bit and had been thinking about it for a while.

There was a family, which had their son 8 years old kid grown in Thiruvallur, Chennai - visiting US for an official trip and there was a Sikh family with their boy, about 5 years old - born and brought up here.

Everyone got stunned that the chennai boy started hitting the sikh boy, because of a baloon issue! The Singh father was stunned to see that somebody is hitting his son. Even, he would not have hit his son, nor his teacher! In fact, Chennai father conveyed his apologies to the Singh father.

Is it the way kids are brought up in US vs India? I am litte worried about that chennai boy, who was trying to hit the small boy - just for a small issue.

I believe this is something the Chennai father has to think about a bit - about the way his kid is being brought up!!

Credit History seems to be important!

This is the first time, I am hearing credit history concepts in India. Looks like there is a serious verification process in India, before giving loans to anybody.

I have heard the same in USA, and in other countries. However, my thought is - the process might not be perfect enough in India, because there is no social security number! Or probably, in India - they might use a different unique number for this verification process.

Please read what is the importance of credit history in India - HERE...

Chief Minister Karunanidhi congratulated and invited by Microsoft Chief Bill Gates

Chief Minister Dr.Kalaignar Karunanidhi and Central Minister Dayanidhi Maran was recently congratulated by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates by a postal mail. In addition to that he was invited to Seattle Microsoft Office, when he comes to America, which will be planned shortly.

It seems, Bill Gates is interested in development of Tamil Nadu - especially in Education, Electricity, Power and other infrastructure developments.

Looks like Bill Gates wants to have strategic relationship with Chief Minister, so that his business initiatives could be easier in the state and at the same time, it might be part of their corporate social responsible efforts.

I am one kind of an Internet Reporter!

Internet Reporter is one another news or views reporter or publisher or author/writer - who reads in various places, sees things in different places and sees things in different perspectives comes up with an article and throws into internet.

Another general term for Internet Reporter is BLOGGER! Yes, there are millions of bloggers out there, blogging in different blog providers around the world.

Everyone reports on internet, for various reasons they have with themselves. It could be personal, knowledge share, social, networking or it could be anything and it is their wish.

If you are not an internet reporter already, become ONE through any of the blogging providers. It is very satisfying and fulfilling!! If you want to blog about Madurai, please let us know and you are welcome to join us!

If I have to say about Madurai Times Publication:
We blog about
(i) Madurai and its related happennings.
(ii) Any useful things, we could share with all of you
(iii) Any views on any news pertinent to the visitors of Madurai Times.
(iv) Any knowledge, which could be useful in life, in any way.
(v) General and Social feelings also added.

This blogging is done for a 90% reason of social cause and 10% reason of personal satisfaction. Please support us, in just reading our publication regularly - that is more than enough for now.

Note: We don't blog about Movies and Entertainment - If you want to read about Movies - check out Madurai Machan.

Recognition, Recognition, Recognition!!!

Recognition is like OIL to an engine, while an engine is an employee.
Recognition is the best reward anybody could get in life as well.

If someone does not get recognition for he or she has done, that frustrates like anything. This frustration leads to getting this person doing wrong things as well.

If you are a manager, be sure you recognize the right employee doing right things. If you are not doing, then you are not a good manager.

This applies to life as well. So be sure, if you are delegating a task to somebody, you recognize that person, if he does it right or atleast for the reason he or she tried.

In order to avoid the frustration - I have a solution. Read Bhagavad Gita's Karma Yoga! It is said that - Just do your duty, for the sake of duty - do not expect the results or recognition.

It is very human that we expect recognition, but it is one level above to practice Bhagavad Gita's Karma Yoga!

Motorola manufacturing in Chennai!

Motorola will set up a manufacturing facility near Chennai with an initial investment of $30 million (Rs 135 crore), which will go up to $100 million (Rs 450 crore) within a year.

Read more here...

Very Good Sign for Tamil Nadu!

Chennai seems to be the destination for these kind of factories and investments, since Dayanidhi Maran became as the IT minister. The fact that he is a central minister is favouring Tamil Nadu in many ways. Apart from a political standpoint, Chennai is a peaceful metropolitan city with excellent infrastructure, compared to many and right resources are available for any industry!

Reading on Web than listening to radio!

People are spending a lot more time during the day on the Web, too -- on average about 120 minutes. That's less than they listen to the radio, but much longer than the roughly half hour they read newspapers or magazines. (TV is still the media king, gobbling more than 240 minutes of a viewer's day.) A decade ago, people were spending less than an hour on the Web, the study says.

Read More in Business Week here

Very Interesting - Something about life - Best of times and worst of times

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.

You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not.

You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while wining the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

~UNKNOWN

Eco-park with musical fountain

Visitors to the corporation-run Eco Park are sure to increase by the news about water ‘dancing’ to music, with the inauguration of the newly-built musical fountain on Thursday.

The final stages of the works to set up the fountain has been completed by the corporation and the new facility, completed at a cost of Rs 43 lakh, is expected to attract more visitors to the park. This was done by a private company from Bangalore.

One interesting thing is - Madurai Council meeting is still happenning, whether to increase the entry fee or not, which is currently Rs.2. Currently they are getting Rs.30000 per week, but with this new addition, revenue is expected to increase.

These kind of meetings and decisions are supposed to happen before the implementation or in planning phase! Now, we definitely don't know whether this is a worst investment in Madurai, by the Madurai Corporation or not!

The views projected are ours, but you can read the news here...

CII South Region prefers Madurai for power generation

The southern region unit of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII-SR) is keen on working closely with the State Government to promote ultra-mega power generation projects.

The CII-SR wants special economic zones established in tier-II cities, such as Madurai, Coimbatore and Tiruchi, and impart skills to the youth for employment generation.

Read More in The Hindu...

Kayak - Flights, Cars, Deals, Fare Buzz

Check out Kayak.com - I have used recently and it is amazing for the speed, look and feel and the results it provides. I have definitely got good deals here....

------------------------------------------

Kayak.com is a new kind of website; a travel search engine site. We help people like you find travel products from travel suppliers all over the world. This means a better travel search experience, more complete search results and best of all, savings for you every day. If you use Kayak.com for your travel planning, you are going to save time and money.



Kayak.com is an excellent example (some would say the poster child) for Web 2.0. We are considered a meta-search engine and that means our website searches hundreds of other websites in real time for the best travel deals available. Kayak.com lets you look at a full range of airlines, hotels and car rental agencies quickly and efficiently based on the exact criteria you select. We have put a lot of thought into the design of our website, and it has won accolades from consumers and the press alike (2006 Forbes Best of the Web for example) because of its simple, straightforward design and ease of use. Building a better travel search product is what we are about here at Kayak.com.

Kayak.com

PonsGroup Organization

PonsGroup Organization is a non-profit organization. It is determined to share knowledge, its primary resource thereby enrich the nation.

Ponsgroup took up its initial form by a handful of energetic, motivated and committed software professionals from Banglore, INDIA and California, USA in 1999. Its dream was to build a society in India with equal opportunity to all, empowered by Education, Employment and Technology. This group of volunteers believed it could contribute towards the same by providing resources in it best possible way to those who either lacked or had fewer resources. In 2004, this voluntary gathering with vigor and zeal got re-launched as a Non-Profit Organization.

Their motivation is derived from our own experience during the course of education and job search, and from whatever they currently see in their society. A society severed as rural and urban. There are those deprived of even basic education, there are those who have education but with no guidance to choose a career or find an employment. While there those privileged to best education, choices of career and vast employment opportunities. There are those farmers who feed the nation but with no food for themselves. There those with no basic health care and sanitation while are those affording the best of health care and good sanitation. And the cruelest fact is the apathy of the elite literati and of the politicians towards the lesser-privileged and underprivileged fellow countrymen. The cynicism that nothing best can happen to our society must be de-rooted from minds of those it rests.

Their commitment is derived from their strong desire to wipe out any such differences among the people from the rural and urban India in terms of socio-economic, technological and educational resources. And from their dream to see India as a developed nation. Sharing knowledge, which is their primary resource and there by enrich the nation, could do this. It's not just act of kindness but a responsibility to contribute towards the development of their nation.

Check out www.ponsgroup.org

Note: We don't have any relationship with this group, as of now!

Madurai Private Tourism Agent

Recently there is a site UP for Madurai Tourism Agency, from a private person.
Check out Madurai Tourism.

You can call an agent, book a room in hotel, check out details about the tourist places and sight-seeing places in Madurai.

They say -
Madurai Tourism brings you Tourist Spots in & around Madurai, India. If you are willing to visit, we take care on you and make your voyage immense safe & relief...

Check out www.maduraitourism.com.
In fact, website also looks good!!!

Note: We don't have any relationship with this private party.

Important Phone numbers from Madurai

Photo is of District Collector's

Name : Thiru. T Udhayachandran IAS
Address : District Collector
Collectorate, Madurai District
625020
Phone : O : 0452-2531110 R : 2532290
Email : collrmdu@tn.nic.in
Fax : 2530925
ISDN for VC : 0452-2528213, 14

Madurai Corporation Office Phone numbers:

Madurai Corporation Office 530521 to 530526
H.W. Mayor 530433 538080, 742930(p)
H.W.Dy Mayor 530398 701111, 607620(p)
Commissioner 5381116 530566, 531029(p)
Asst Commissioner(P) 530186 530320
Corporation Helath Officer 531304 530392
Executive Engineer (planning) 531140 535500
Executive Engineer (North & East) 531385 531345
Executive Engineer (South & West) 530508 538907
Commisioner's Cell (with Fax) 530965

Download Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, Malayalam Music - but it is not FREE

Recently Raaga.com is into providing legal music downloads of Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Hindi Songs from movies.

Till now, there had been many forums and websites for song downloads which were FREE. But this is the first time for downloading legally from internet.

And this is from RAAGA.com. Check it out...

Orkut Dot Com

If you have want to have your network of friends back?
If you want to get in touch with your old friend?

You might have had old friends from school days, childhood days who lived near your home, college days, hostel mates, previous colleagues, place where you live currently, or friends of common interest to talk some like minded things!!

Yes - you should open orkut.com.
It is really great. You might not be able to join by yourself. You need invitation, I think. But it is really effective.

I was slightly skeptical while I joined, but it is really good. I am getting lot of my old friend's contact back!!

Remember - www.orkut.com

Against the government? - you are screwed!

If you are against the government or if you are against the minister's relatives, you are screwed!? Well, this is the reality as on date.

Recently Shereena Begum, her mother and her driver were acquitted from the Ganja cases, which was filed during the previous government. No one knows it is a valid one or not, but immdediately after the change of the government, it all got over. If you are good to the other, you will be released!

This is probably an example, but many might have been released silently, and free'd due to change of government.

Overall, if you are against the government, you are screwed!
When one door closes, another opens!!!

10th Standard exam results - Madurai

Madurai Students of total counting to 14340 which includes 7264 boys and 7076 girls wrote the exam this year. 6028 boys and 6401 girls which makes a total of 12429 passed the exams. This amounts 86.67% pass, while last year it was 84.5% only, which shows some improvement.

BTW, about Matriculation students - they have got 91% pass, which is still more looking good.

This definitely shows a good sign for Madurai, as always!

Some useful helplines in India

Here are some Helplines India - Toll Free Numbers

Airways
Indian Airlines - 1600 180 1407
Jet Airways - 1600 22 5522
SpiceJet - 1600 180 3333

Automobiles
Mahindra Scorpio - 1600 22 6006
Maruti - 1600 111 515
Tata Motors - 1600 22 5552
Windshield Experts - 1600 11 3636

Banks
ABN AMRO - 1600 11 2224
Canara Bank - 1600 44 6000
Citibank - 1600 44 2265
Corporatin Bank - 1600 443 555
Development Credit Bank - 1600 22 5769
HDFC Bank - 1600 227 227
ICICI Bank - 1600 333 499
ICICI Bank NRI - 1600 22 4848
IDBI Bank - 1600 11 6999
Indian Bank - 1600 425 1400
ING Vysya - 1600 44 9900
Kotak Mahindra Bank - 1600 22 6022
Lord Krishna Bank - 1600 11 2300
Punjab National Bank - 1600 122 222
State Bank of India - 1600 44 1955
Syndicate Bank - 1600 44 6655

Cell Phones
BenQ - 1600 22 08 08
Bird CellPhones - 1600 11 7700
Motorola MotoAssist - 1600 11 1211
Nokia - 3030 3838
Sony Ericsson - 3901 1111

Computers/IT
Adrenalin - 1600 444 445
AMD - 1600 425 6664
Apple Computers - 1600 444 683
Canon - 1600 333 366
Cisco Systems - 1600 221 777
Compaq - HP - 1600 444 999
Data One Broadband - 1600 424 1600
Dell - 1600 444 026
Epson - 1600 44 0011
eSys - 3970 0011
Genesis Tally Academy - 1600 444 888
HCL - 1600 180 8080
IBM - 1600 443 333
Lexmark - 1600 22 4477
Marshal's Point - 1600 33 4488
Microsoft - 1600 111 100
Microsoft Virus Update - 1901 333 334
Seagate - 1600 180 1104
Symantec - 1600 44 5533
TVS Electronics - 1600 444 566
WeP Peripherals - 1600 44 6446
Wipro - 1600 333 312
xerox - 1600 180 1225
Zenith - 1600 222 004

Couriers/Packers & Movers
ABT Courier - 1600 44 8585
AFL Wizz - 1600 22 9696
Agarwal Packers & Movers - 1600 11 4321
Associated Packers P Ltd - 1600 21 4560
DHL - 1600 111 345
FedEx - 1600 22 6161
Goel Packers & Movers - 1600 11 3456
UPS - 1600 22 7171

Education
Edu Plus - 1600 444 000
Hindustan College - 1600 33 4438
NCERT - 1600 11 1265
Vellore Institute of Technology - 1600 441 555

Healthcare
Best on Health - 1600 11 8899
Dr Batras - 1600 11 6767
GlaxoSmithKline - 1600 22 8797
Johnson & Johnson - 1600 22 8111
Kaya Skin Clinic - 1600 22 5292
LifeCell - 1600 44 5323
Manmar Technologies - 1600 33 4420
Pfizer - 1600 442 442
Roche Accu-Chek - 1600 11 45 46
Rudraksha - 1600 21 4708
Varilux Lenses - 1600 44 8383
VLCC - 1600 33 1262

Home Appliances
Aiwa/Sony - 1600 11 1188
Anchor Switches - 1600 22 7979
Blue Star - 1600 22 2200
Bose Audio - 1600 11 2673
Bru Coffee Vending Machines - 1600 44 7171
Daikin Air Conditioners - 1600 444 222
DishTV - 1600 12 3474
Faber Chimneys - 1600 21 4595
Godrej - 1600 22 5511
Grundfos Pumps - 1600 33 4555
LG - 1901 180 9999
Philips - 1600 22 4422
Samsung - 1600 113 444
Sanyo - 1600 11 0101
Voltas - 1600 33 4546
WorldSpace Satellite Radio - 1600 44 5432

Hotel Reservations
GRT Grand - 1600 44 5500
InterContinental Hotels Group - 1600 111 000
Marriott - 1600 22 0044
Sarovar Park Plaza - 1600 111 222
Taj Holidays - 1600 111 825

Insurance
AMP Sanmar - 1600 44 2200
Aviva - 1600 33 2244
Bajaj Allianz - 1600 22 5858
Chola MS General Insurance - 1600 44 5544
HDFC Standard Life - 1600 227 227
LIC - 1600 33 4433
Max New York Life - 1600 33 5577
Royal Sundaram - 1600 33 8899
SBI Life Insurance - 1600 22 9090

Mattresses
Kurl-on - 1600 44 0404
Sleepwell - 1600 11 2266

Investments/Finance
CAMS - 1600 44 2267
Chola Mutual Fund - 1600 22 2300
Easy IPO's - 3030 5757
Fidelity Investments - 1600 180 8000
Franklin Templeton Fund - 1600 425 4255
J M Morgan Stanley - 1600 22 0004
Kotak Mutual Fund - 1600 222 626
LIC Housing Finance - 1600 44 0005
SBI Mutual Fund - 1600 22 3040
Sharekhan - 1600 22 7500
Tata Mutual Fund - 1600 22 0101

Paints
Asian Paints Home Solutions - 1600 22 5678
Berger Paints Home Decor - 1600 33 8800

Teleshopping
Asian Sky Shop - 1600 22 1600
Jaipan Teleshoppe - 1600 11 5225
Tele Brands - 1600 11 8000
VMI Teleshopping - 1600 447 777
WWS Teleshopping - 1600 220 777

Travel
Club Mahindra Holidays - 1600 33 4539
Cox & Kings - 1600 22 1235
God TV Tours - 1600 442 777
Kerala Tourism - 1600 444 747
Kumarakom Lake Resort - 1600 44 5030
Raj Travels & Tours - 1600 22 9900
Sita Tours - 1600 111 911
SOTC Tours - 1600 22 3344

UPS
APC - 1600 44 4272
Numeric - 1600 44 3266

Others
Consumer Helpline - 1600 11 4000
L'Oreal, GARNIeR - 1600 223 000
KONE Elevator - 1600 444 666
Indane - 1600 44 51 15
Aavin - 1600 44 3300
Pedigree - 1600 11 2121
Kodak India - 1600 22 8877
Domino's Pizza - 1600 111 123
World Vision India - 1600 444 550
Telecom Monitoring Cell - 1600 110 420

Madurai Corporation to introduce Mobile Toilets!

The Madurai Corporation is to introduce the "mobile toilet facility" for the benefit of slum dwellers and also to prevent unhygienic health conditions, and the stink prevailing in the slum areas and in river beds - which would be used during the rush of pilgrims during festival season.

Read More in The Hindu, A Leading Indian National Newspaper...

Madurai as Hardware hub and Trichy as software hub?!

C Chandramouli, secretary for Information Technology in the Tamil Nadu Government talks about the IT initiative in Tamil Nadu...

As mentioned earlier, there is a new IT policy which is to be announced which would support the IT and ITES companies who already have shops in Tamil Nadu and also for those who want to set Tamil Nadu as their base for operations.

Shortly, we would also be announcing two Special Economic Zones (SEZ) at Sholinganallur and Coimbatore for which the proposals are pending with the IT Ministry at the Centre.

Apart from that we are also looking at improving the infrastructure at Tier-2 towns such as Madurai and Trichy. While Trichy is to be promoted as a software hub, Madurai has all the essential features to be promoted as a hardware hub.

Read More here on CIOL

Want to keep your customers? Set them free!!!

Imagine a retail store in which the staff blocked your way when you tried to exit without making a purchase. Imagine a TV network that discouraged switching channels by showing the end of one program and the beginning of the next simultaneously. Imagine a doctor's office that refused to transfer your medical records when you decided to change providers.....

Very impressive article, I found in Business Week!!

Please read on what Jesse James Garret has to say...

How to save for future!?

I have been hitting these kind of articles in Rediff more often. But here is one of them, to be looked into. They categorize these articles as "Get Ahead" articles.

Please read and I am sure it will be helpful for you!

You belong to "Double Income and No Kids" group? Please read on...

How to save for future?!

Are you living a normal life?

Birth, Exist and Die!
Starting the day, Doing the usual daily activities, going to work/college/school, coming back and then eat - sleep! Is this your lifestyle? Most of us might say Yes.

Everybody tend to live a normal life, even though we make efforts to change!

We need to break the routine and live life!
As we have mentioned in one of the previous articles - There is a difference between Existing in this world and Living in this world!

If we are just existing in this world, there is no fun in life. We need to LIVE LIFE!!

Need to do something new every day! Need to dream! Need to achieve something new! Need to work hard, without thinking of the results! Need to learn, learn, learn.

Stay Tuned for the continuation of this article...