Precaution before helping…

Sad, especially if you are inclined to 'help' people...

While driving on a rural end of the roadway on Thursday morning, I saw an infant car seat on the side of the road with a blanket draped over it.  For whatever reason, I did not stop, even though I had all kinds of thoughts running through my head.  But when I got to my destination, I called the  Police and they were going to check it out. But, this is what the Police advised even before they went out there to check....

"There are several things to be aware of ... gangs and thieves are now plotting different ways to get a person (mostly women)to stop their vehicle and get out of the car.

"There is a gang initiation reported by the local Police  where  gangs are placing a car seat by the road...with a fake baby in
it...waiting for a woman, of course, to stop and check on the abandoned baby.  

"Note that the location of this car seat is usually beside a wooded or grassy (field) area and the person  -- woman  -- will be dragged into the woods, beaten and raped, and usually left for dead.  If it's a man, they're usually beaten and robbed and maybe left for dead, too.

DO NOT STOP FOR ANY  REASON!!!

Received as a forwarded email.. Readers discretion solicited.

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Keep safe while travelling

Dear Friends,

Yesterday only I came to know of a case from a friend of mine which is very scary. One of his friends was traveling to UK via Dubai. Unfortunately he was carrying a packet of Khas Khas which is a commonly used spice in some Indian curries and sweets. Khas Khas is also known as poppy seed which can be sprouted to grow narcotics (afeem etc.).

This innocent person did not know that recently the laws in UAE and other Gulf countries have been revised and carrying Khas Khas is punishable with minimum 20 years of imprisonment or even worse with death penalty. Currently, the person is in a jail in Dubai for the last two weeks. His friends are frantically trying hard for his release but are finding that this has become a very very serious case. Lawyers are asking huge fees amounting to AED 100,000 even to appear in the court to plead for his innocence.

Never ever carry even minute quantities of the following items when travelling to Gulf countries:

1. Khas Khas whether raw, roasted or cooked.
2. Paan
3. Beetle nut (supari and its products, e.g. Paan Parag etc.)

The penalties are very severe and it could destroy the life of an innocent person.

I appeal you to create the awareness by forwarding this email to all you know.

Not sure if this true but just wanted to spread the awareness

 

This was received as a forwarded mail. Readers discretion solicited

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General Knowledge

1. Q: Why are many coin banks shaped like pigs? A: Long ago, dishes and cookware in Europe were made of a dense orange clay called 'pygg'. When people saved coins in jars made of this clay, the jars became known as 'pygg banks.' When an English potter misunderstood the word, he made a bank that resembled a pig. And it caught on.

2. Q: Did you ever wonder why dimes, quarters and half dollars have notches, while pennies and nickels do not? A: The US Mint began putting notches on the edges of coins containing gold and silver to discourage holders from shaving off small quantities of the precious metals. Dimes, quarters and half dollars are notched because they used to contain silver. Pennies and nickels aren't notched because the metals they contain are not valuable enough to shave.

3. Q: Why do men's clothes have buttons on the right while women's clothes have buttons on the left? A: When buttons were invented, they were very expensive and worn primarily by the rich. Because wealthy women were dressed by maids, dressmakers put the buttons on the maid's right! Since most people are right-handed, it is easier to push buttons on the right through holes on the left. And that's where women's buttons have remained since.

4. Q. Why do X's at the end of a letter signify kisses? A: In the Middle Ages, when many people were unable to read or write, documents were often signed using an X. Kissing the X represented an oath to fulfill obligations specified in the document. The X and the kiss eventually became synonymous.

5. Q: Why is shifting responsibility to someone else called 'passing the buck'? A: In card games, it was once customary to pass an item, called a buck, from player to player to indicate whose turn it was to deal. If a player did not wish to assume the responsibility, he would 'pass the buck' to the next player.

6. Q: Why do people clink their glasses before drinking a toast? A: It used to be common for someone to try to kill an enemy by offering him a poisoned drink. To prove to a guest that a drink was safe, it became customary for a guest to pour a small amount of his drink into the glass of the host. Both men would drink it simultaneously. When a guest trusted his host, he would then just Touch or clink the host's glass with his own.

7. Q: Why are people in the public eye said to be 'in the limelight'? A: Invented in 1825, limelight was used in lighthouses and stage lighting by burning a cylinder of lime which produced a brilliant light. In the theatre, performers on stage 'in the limelight' were seen by the audience to be the center of attention.

8. Q: Why do ships and aircraft in trouble use 'mayday' as their call for help? A: This comes from the French word m'aidez - meaning 'help me' – and is pronounced 'mayday.'

9. Q: Why is someone who is feeling great 'on cloud nine'? A: Types of clouds are numbered according to the altitudes they attain, with nine being the highest cloud. If someone is said to be on cloud nine, that person is floating well above worldly cares.

10. Q: Why are zero scores in tennis called 'love'? A: In France, where tennis first became popular, a big, round zero on the scoreboard looked like an egg and was called 'l'oeuf,' which is French for 'egg.' When tennis was introduced in the US, Americans pronounced it 'love.'

11. Q: In golf, where did the term 'Caddie' come from? A. When Mary, later Queen of Scots, went to France as a young girl (for education & survival), Louis, King of France, learned that she loved the Scot game 'golf.' So he had the first golf course outside of Scotland built for her enjoyment. To make sure she was properly chaperoned (and guarded) while she played, Louis hired cadets from a military school to accompany her. Mary liked this a lot and when she returned to Scotland (not a very good idea in the long run), she took the practice with her. In French, the word cadet is pronounced 'ca-day' and the Scots changed it into 'caddie.'

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The Secret in Their Eyes

There are many countries in the world who have abolished death penalty & there are even more associations who rally for the cause to abolish it in India but what effect will this bring about in the mindset of criminals ?????

Will you be able to digest the fact that a notorious criminal will be able to save his skin from the clutches of justice ???

Will you feel safe if all these butchers are set free to roam around in jail where they might tutor & breed even more criminals ????

Will a person feel vindicated to see the life of the criminal who tortured to death his loved one just end in a few seconds by hanging ????

PLOT : " A legal counselor tries to pen down a novel about a case of rape & murder that took place 25 years before. "



"El secreto de sus ojos" aka "The Secret in Their Eyes" is a spanish film that won the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards.The interest to watch the film became even more after watching its trailer.

I still can't stop thinking about the film ,such was the subtle impact the film had over me.The film faithfully follows the life of a legal counselor who tries to unravel the case of a brutal rape & murder of a newly wed wife ,his hesitations in expressing his love for his senior counselor & the trauma faced by the husband who had lost his lovely wife.

Directed by Juan José Campanella ,based on Eduardo Sacheri's novel La Pregunta de Sus Ojos (The Question in Their Eyes).Its a crime thriller set in the backdrop of 1974 Argentina ,the film also portrays the unstable nature of the judicial system where criminals are let scot free.

The flow of the film was never disturbed at any part during its running time of 2 hours ,the director maintained the pace of it beautifully.The characters in the film were all very realistic & hard-hitting.

Ricardo Darín as the counselor ,Soledad Villamil his love interest & senior counselor ,Guillermo Francella his assistant ,Pablo Rago as the husband & the accused as Javier Godino gave outstanding performances.

Cinematography Félix Monti of 1970s Argentina was very justifiable ,the colour tones used helped as it went well with the film ,it gave a serious & a more concerned look for it.

Juan José Campanella also took care of the editing ,his dedication to the film is evident as the plot never looses its rhythm.By the time the film gets over the audience will be left pondering over & over.

I have never read this novel yet but seeing the way the movie had come out i would certainly love to give this a read.

The sufferings of the husband & his desperation in finding out the one who had taken the life of the person he loved most was very moving.The justice he seeks out for the horrific murder was definitely right ,we cant let criminals like those suffer a quick death.

After all death penalty is awarded to serve as warning but what use is it if its carried in a simple manner ,its only justifiable if similar gruesome treatment is meted out to the criminals who carry out heinous crimes.We cant bring back the dead but we can however make an example out of these criminals so that it serves as a stern warning for those who think they can get away with anything.

• Director : Juan José Campanella

• Writers : Juan José Campanella(screenplay) , Eduardo Sacheri(novel)

• Cast : Ricardo Darín , Soledad Villamil , Pablo Rago , Guillermo Francella , Javier Godino

• Rating : "A" for nudity & violent images.

P.S : " As of 2009 it is Argentina's most viewed cinema movie since 1983, with nearly 3 million viewers.
This is the second movie directed by Juan José Campanella to receive an Oscar nomination. The first one was Son of the Bride (2001). "

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Open Your Eyes

How do we judge a person ???
It differs from people to people as to how they evaluate a person ,some look for a person's character ,some for skills ,some at their background & the like.

How does one fall in love ?? Even to be specific ,What are the Rules of Attraction ??
Likewise ,this also differs from people to people ,some get attracted by the person's skills ,some by their charm ,some by companionship they provide & most get attracted by the person's LOOKS.

So the X factor in getting attracted is a person's LOOKS ???

PLOT : " A very handsome & rich man's life is turned upside down when a car accident severely disfigures his face. "



"Open Your Eyes" aka "Abre los ojos" is a spanish film written & directed by Alejandro Amenábar ,who is one of my favorite & inspiring directors.He is also critically acclaimed for many of his works which include The Others & three other spanish films of which one earned him an oscar.

I got completely immersed in the movie from the start ,all in all expected a drama kinda film but was bowled over by the sheer talent of the director who had orchestrated such a emotional & compelling film.

The way the director had handled the movie is something which movie makers off late seem to get inspired from ,after watching the movie you would pretty sure know where Christopher Nolan got his ideas for Inception.

Apart from directing & writing the script ,Alejandro has also handled the music along with Mariano Marín.The music was set in tune with the flow of the film which thereby raised the emotional content.

The cast are Eduardo Noriega ,Penélope Cruz ,Chete Lera ,Najwa Nimri & Fele Martínez.All of these actors had their roles perfectly fitted & had ample scope for performance.They all put stellar performances & justified their selections.

Camera work was mesmerizing in this film which is to be expected from Alejandro whose has a penchant for it.All his movies come with beautiful cinematography that enhances the viewing pleasure.

The role of Eduardo Noriega as a disfigured man was a neat performance by the actor ,giving him company or should i say his competition were his four co-stars ,for the entire film was centered around these five people.

Handling such an intricate theme was always going to be risky & complicated but the director has simply showed his class by outfoxing the audience till the very end.

Mind you ,this film grows on you slowly & finally leaves you with a feeling of awe.The screenplay kind of confuses you here & there with its flashbacks ,however you will understand their relevance thereafter.

The trauma faced by the lead actor is something that which happens in our society ,how people are avoided or grouped as untouchables ,ugly or allergic.It rarely occurs to those who have the luxury of beautiful looks that life is unpredictable & we might also be outcasts one day.

There are people who have a blind notion that looks are the X factor to be attractive but there is more to it than it meets the eye.

• Director : Alejandro Amenábar

• Writer : Alejandro Amenábar

• Cast : Eduardo Noriega ,Penélope Cruz ,Chete Lera ,Fele Martínez ,Najwa Nimri

• Rating : "A" for sexual content.

P.S : " Director Cameron Crowe remade the film as Vanilla Sky , with Tom Cruise , Penélope Cruz reprising her role as Sofia, Cameron Diaz , Jason Lee as the friend and Kurt Russell. "

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GMAIL Priority Inbox - A new feature

Gmail has come up with a new feature called Prioritize your Inbox which is in beta state. This would really help not to miss the important emails from the other junk emails which we generally recieve.

Most of you would have see Prioritize your inbox link inside your gmail account.


What doest this do. When you click on the link it show a video tutorial to use it and gives a Try now button. When you click on it it show the list of some emails.




You can see two sections one as Important and the other as Not important. You can check the email and decide whether its important or not by using the add and remove signs. Once you are done with choosing click on the Goto Priority Inbox button.

Now you see a different version of your gmail with section's as Important and Not Important.

The emails which you added as Important are displayed on the Important section and rest of the emails are under Everything Else section.



Now you see two controls to Mark your email as Important and Not Important. For example I choose the mail from Gmail as Not Important and click on the Mark as Not Important button it moves the email to the Everything Else section.




From now on the emails coming will go throught this filter and displayed in the appropriate section.



Now there is no chance to miss the important emails. Because the important mails will be present on top of your inbox under the Important Section.Yes ofcourse there are other ways to achieve the same by creating filters and directing it to different folders. But this feature seems to be more user friendly as its just one click to choose if the email is important or not.

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Removal of ELSS from 80 (c) Unfortunate

For savers and investors, who were living in dread of new Direct Tax Code (DTC) completely transforming their tax-planning approach, the new law must come as a relief. There are two main reasons for this. One, generally, the basic structure and the approach to taxation is very much the same. And two, specifically, long-term capital gains on equity and equity-backed mutual funds remain untaxed.

The retention of the zero-tax rate on long-term equity gains is probably the fundamental difference between the DTC as it was proposed originally and the shape it has finally taken. However, on a relative basis, long-term capital gains are now more attractive by a smaller margin than earlier. Since short-term gains are now taxed effectively at half the rate of the income tax slab the investor is in, they can be no more than 15 per cent and potentially as low as 5 per cent. The basic bias of the tax laws for shorter-term gains remains intact.

For mutual fund investors, there are two big changes. One, the tax saving funds — the so-called equity-linked savings schemes (ELLS) — funds will be history after the act comes into force. What used to be the section 80C deductions are now applicable to much smaller range of investments. This is unfortunate — ELSS funds were important in being tax-saving investment, which brings the benefits of equity returns. ELSS funds also have another benefit. For many retail investors, they tend to be gateway products in which the investor gets the first taste of equity investing and mutual funds. The tax-savings attract people to these funds and the three year lock-in generally ensures that investors get good returns. This experience converts many of these investors to investing in equity mutual funds. Under the DTC, 80C-type benefits are limited only to term insurance, Provident Fund (PF), Public Provident Fund (PPF) and the New Pension System (NPS). Of these, only th e NPS offers some equity exposur -- only up to 50 per cent and with a lock-in to retirement age.

The other change is the imposition of tax on dividends distributed by mutual funds. In theory, this has been imposed on unit-linked insurance plans (ULIPs) as well but that's just a characteristically fake attempt to show that the government is treating mutual funds and ULIPs similarly. In reality, ULIPs don't actually pay dividends so this measure hits only mutual fund investors. Worse, this tax will be a disproportionately harder hit on older investors, who rely on mutual funds to provide regular income. Amongst fund companies, I would expect it to be a disproportionately harder hit on someone like UTI Mutual Fund, which has historically been stronger among this class of investors. For investors who understand the mechanics of fund dividend, it would be a better strategy now to derive regular income from redemptions rather than dividends. As long as they avoid short-term capital gains tax by not redeeming within one year of investing, they will find it better to simply redeem a regular income. Fund companies already offer a facility for this called systematic withdrawal plan (SWP).

Incidentally, the new tax code has added art and paintings to the list of assets which qualify as investments. These will now be available for a reduction of capital gains tax by becoming eligible for indexation of acquisition cost. Given the impossibility of nailing down an unambiguous valuation for all but a handful of art, I fully expect this to become a handy loophole for creating capital losses and gains by the art-owning classes. One can also look forward to a recurrence of the plague of art funds that were floated 2006 and 2007.

Mail forward by Satish Kumar

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