DEMISE OF COMMON SENSE -- R.I.P.

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Recycling...

 

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This article was written by Lori Bergman and first published in the Indianapolis Star on March 15th, 1998.

An Obituary for Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies: don't spend more than you can earn and adults, not children, are in charge.

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, wife Discretion, daughter Responsibility, and son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

A Superb Thought

 

A Superb Thought 

 

There once was a farmer who discovered that he had lost his watch in the barn. It was no ordinary watch because it had sentimental value for him. After searching high and low among the hay for a long while; he gave up and enlisted the help of a group of children playing outside the barn.

 

He promised them that the person who found it would be rewarded.

 

Hearing this, the children hurried inside the barn, went through and around the entire stack of hay but still could not find the watch. Just when the farmer was about to give up looking for his watch, a little boy went up to him and asked to be given another chance.

 

The farmer looked at him and thought, "Why not? After all, this kid looks sincere enough."

 

So the farmer sent the little boy back in the barn. After a while the little boy came out with the watch in his hand! The farmer was both happy and surprised and so he asked the boy how he succeeded where the rest had failed.

 

The boy replied, "I did nothing but sit on the ground and listen. In the silence, I heard the ticking of the watch and just looked for it in that direction."

 

Moral:

 

A peaceful mind can think better than a worked up mind. Allow a few minutes of silence to your mind every day, and see, how sharply it helps you to set your life the way you expect it to be...!

Bend but Don't Break

 

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    Blog: www.nuve.info

   One of my fondest memories as a child is going by the river and sitting idly on the bank. There I would enjoy the peace and quiet, watch the water rush downstream, and listen to the chirps of birds and the rustling of leaves in the trees. I would also watch the bamboo trees bend under pressure from the wind and watch them return gracefully to their upright or original position after the wind had died down.

 
When I think about the bamboo tree's ability to bounce back or return to it's original position, the word resilience comes to mind. When used in reference to a person this word means the ability to readily recover from shock, depression or any other situation that stretches the limits of a person's emotions.
 
Have you ever felt like you are about to snap? Have you ever felt like you are at your breaking point? Thankfully, you have survived the experience to live to talk about it.
 
During the experience you probably felt a mix of emotions that threatened your health. You felt emotionally drained, mentally exhausted and you most likely endured unpleasant physical symptoms.
 
Life is a mixture of good times and bad times, happy moments and unhappy moments. The next time you are experiencing one of those bad times or unhappy moments that take you close to your breaking point, bend but don't break. Try your best not to let the situation get the best of you.
 
A measure of hope will take you through the unpleasant ordeal. With hope for a better tomorrow or a better situation, things may not be as bad as they seem to be. The unpleasant ordeal may be easier to deal with if the end result is worth having.
 
If the going gets tough and you are at your breaking point, show resilience. Like the bamboo tree, bend, but don't break!

Has water entered my ship?

Has water entered my ship?

 
In 1923, eight of the wealthiest people in the world met.  
 
Their combined wealth, it was estimated, exceeded the wealth of the government of the United States at that time. These men certainly knew how to make a living and accumulate wealth. But let's examine what happened to them 25 years later.
 
1.  President of the largest steel company, Charles Schwab, lived on borrowed capital for Five years before he died bankrupt.
 
2.  President of the largest gas company, Howard Hubson, went insane.
 
3.  One of the greatest commodity traders, Arthur Cutten, died insolvent.
 
4.  President of the New York Stock Exchange, Richard Whitney, was sent to jail.
 
5.  A member of the President's Cabinet, Albert Fall, was pardoned from jail to go home and die in peace.
 
6.  The greatest "bear" on Wall Street, Jessie Livermore committed suicide.
 
7.  President of the world's greatest monopoly, Ivar Krueger, committed suicide.
 
8.  President of the Bank of International Settlement, Leon Fraser,  committed suicide.
 
What they forgot was how to make life! 

Money in itself is not evil.  Money provides food for the hungry, medicine for the sick,  
clothes for the needy; money is only a medium of exchange.  
 
We need two kinds of education:
 
a)  One that teaches us how to make a living; and

b)  One that teaches us how to live.
 
There are people who are so engrossed in their professional life that they neglect their family, health and social responsibilities.  
 
If asked why they do this they would reply that they were doing it for their family.  Our kids are sleeping when we leave home. They are sleeping when we come home.
 
Twenty years later, we'll turn back, but they'll all be gone.
 
Without water, a ship cannot move.  The ship needs water, but if the water gets into the ship, the ship will face problems. 

What was once a means of living for the ship will now become a means of destruction?
 
So take a moment and ask yourself . . .   
 
Has water entered my ship?

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The Cab Ride (Story)

The Cab Ride

 

BELOW IS A MAIL SENT BY OLANDE ANANDA THERO.  HE IS OVER 6 FEET IN HEIGHT AND A HIGHLY RECOGNISED REVERED BUDDHIST PRIEST. Lives in Pagoda, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.

 

DID YOU KNOW THIS THERO IS WELL CONVERSANT WITH OVER 12 LANGUAGES???!!!  THESE INCLUDE PALI, SINHALA, HINDI, ENGLISH, DUTCH, GERMAN, FRENCH, CHINESE, INDONESIAN, RUSSIAN, ITALIAN & SPANISH.  AMAZING.

 

Channel Banner

 

Dear Friends in the Dhamma, Please take a minute or two to read this moving story.....

 

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The Cab Ride

 

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

 

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

 

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

 

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware..

 

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

 

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

 

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

 

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

 

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

 

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

 

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice.. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

 

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

 

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

 

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

 

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

 

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

 

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

 

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

 

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

 

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

 

'Nothing,' I said

 

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

 

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

 

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

 

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said 'Thank you.'

 

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..

 

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?

 

What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

 

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

 

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

 

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

 

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL

 

You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people. But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by sending. it on and reminding us that often it is the random acts of kindness that most benefit all of us.

 

Thank you, my friend...

 

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Comments on Sachin's 100th Century !

Interesting comments by various personalities on Sachin's 100th  century;     1. Digvijay Singh – Sachin is an RSS agent. All these days he was waiting to score his century against a Muslim country.   2. Manmohan Singh – I congratulate Sachin and also appreciate leadership of Shrimati Sonia Gandhi.   3. Rahul Gandhi – My grandmother created Bangladesh. She deserves the credit for this century.   4. Raj Thackray – Sachin has proved himself to be a true Marathi Manus after scoring this century. So what if India has lost, Maharashtrians can not take the responsibility of the whole nation.   5. Mulayam Singh Yadav – If Sachin was from UP, I would have made tickets of all Cricket matches 'Tax free'.   6. Anna Hazare – Sachin deserves to be the next lokpal of the country.   7. Baba Ramdev – If you multiply all the runs Sachin has made by a billion is what is the total black money in foreign country.   8. Kapil Sibbal – Social media need to control comments on Sachin's century. It will harm the fabric of secularism in India.   9. Swami Agnivesh – Now that Bangladesh has helped Sachin score his 100th century, they have proved to be a true friend of India. Lets welcome their citizen in India and let them live wherever they can. Lets issue them voter's ID card.   10. Kris Shrikant – We selectors hope that by 2030, Sachin will also score his 150th century.   11. Arjun Tendulkar – I want to play with my father in 2020 world cup.   12. Sachin Tendulkar himself – Aaeellaaaa…. Now what excuse I will make to not retire.   13. Sonia Gandhi – Er….. She did not respond since she is suffering from an undisclosed disease.   14. Karuna Nidhi.......Who is Sachin Tandulkar?   15. Jayalalitha.....Sometimes Sashikala could have been right. She said something about this guy. I ignored it as I thought that he was a Bollywood filmstar...In any case Dr. MGR was a better player.   But the best one indeed from Mamta which appeared in some Bengali daily: She said- She was not consulted in advance on such massive score hike, hence the century should be rolled back to 90. She also demanded if it is not rolled back or withdrawn by weekend, Sachin should be replaced in the team by MadanMuloRoy.

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    www.nuve.info

The Hair Cut

>>>>>One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he as
ked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you
, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left
the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was
a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

>>>>> 

>>>>>Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill
, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing com
munity service this week.' The cop was happy and left theshop. The next mor
ning when the barber went to open up, there was a'thank you' card and a doz
en donuts waiting for him at his door.

>>>>> 

>>>>>Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to
pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I can not accept money from you.
I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Parliament was very h
appy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up,
there were a dozen other Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free
haircut.

>>>>> 

>>>>>And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between t
he citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

>>>>> 

>>>>>BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS

>>>>>NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN

>>>>>AND

>>>>>FOR THE SAME REASON!

>>>>> 

>>>>>If you don't forward this you have no sense of humor. Nothing badwill
happen, however, you must live with yourself knowing that laughter is not i
n your future. Now send it to everyone you know.

>>>>>

 

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    www.nuve.info

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Why People Shout in Anger?

Why People Shout in Anger

 

 

A Saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled and asked.

 

'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'

 

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'

 

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint

 

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.

 

Finally the saint explained…

 

'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

 

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'

 

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens?

 

They do not speak; only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

 

He looked at his disciples and said.

 

'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.'

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    www.nuve.info

 

This is a masterpiece!!! (Human Clock)

This is a masterpiece!!! This is extremely clever and it does actually work, in BOTH formats!!!! And actually on correct time.                                                                                                                                 Don't miss the human clock. Fantastic    http://lovedbdb.com/nudemenClock/index2.html . Click anywhere in the clock and it becomes digital, another click and it returns to normal.

Technical Support....querys

Tech Support: What kind of computer do you have? Customer: A white one. ............................... Customer: Hi, this is Celine. I can't get my DVD out !!! Tech Support: Have you tried pushing the button? Customer: Yes, I'm sure it's really stuck. Tech Support: That doesn't sound good; I'll make a note. Customer: No, wait a minute, I hadn't inserted it yet. It's still on my desk . . . sorry. Thank you. ............................... Tech Support: Click on the 'MY COMPUTER' icon on the left of the screen. Customer: Your left or my left? ............................... Tech Support: Hello. How may I help you? Male Customer: Hi .. . . I can't print. Tech Support: Would you click on 'START' for me and . . Customer: Listen pal; don't start getting technical on me. I'm not Bill Gates!!! ............................... Customer: Good afternoon, this is Martha. I can't print. Every time I try, it says . . . 'CAN'T FIND PRINTER'. I even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says it can't find it!!! ............................... Customer: I have problems printing in red. Tech Support: Do you have a color printer? Customer: Aaaah . . . . . .. . . . . thank you. ............................... Tech Support: What's on your monitor now, ma'am? Customer: A teddy bear that my boyfriend bought for me at the 7-11 store. ............................... Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore. Tech Support: Are you sure your keyboard is plugged into the computer? Customer: No. I can't get behind the computer. Tech Support: Pick up your keyboard and take ten steps backwards. Customer: Okay.. Tech Support: Did the keyboard come with you? Customer: Yes. Tech Support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in. Is there another keyboard? Customer: Yes, there's another one here. Wait a moment please. . .. . . . . Ah, that one does work. Thanks. ............................... Tech Support: Your password is the small letter 'a' as in apple, a capital letter 'V' as in Victor, and the number '7'. Customer: Is that '7' in capital letters? ............................... Customer: I can't get on the Internet. Tech Support: Are you absolutely sure you used the correct password? Customer: Yes, I'm sure I saw my co-worker do it. Tech Support: Can you tell me what the password was? Customer: Five dots. ............................... Tech Support: What anti-virus program do you use? Customer: Netscape Tech Support: That's not an anti-virus program. Customer: Oh, sorry . . . Internet Explorer. ............................... Customer: I have a huge problem! My friend has placed a screen saver on my computer . . . but, every time I move my mouse, it disappears. ............................... Tech Support: How may I help you? Customer: I'm writing my first email. Tech Support: OK, and what seems to be the problem? Customer: Well, I have the letter 'a' in the address, but how do I get the little circle around it. ............................... A woman customer called the Canon help desk because she had a problem with her printer. Tech Support: Are you running it under windows? Customer: No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting next to me is by a window, and his printer is working fine! ............................... .And last, but not least . . . Tech Support: Okay George, press the control and escape keys at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now, type the letter 'P' to bring up the Program Manager. Customer: I don't have a 'P'. Tech Support: On your keyboard, George. Customer: What do you mean ? Tech Support: 'P' . . . on your keyboard, George. Customer: I AM NOT GOING TO DO THAT!!! ............................... This outta make you feel better about your computer skills!