Official languages of India

More customer care numbers

I find that lot of people search for customer care numbers of various Indian banks and services. So, here is a small list. Hope this would be useful for all. Will try to keep this updated. If you find that any of these numbers don't work, or have an alternate number, please leave a comment.

• ICICI Bank Customer Care Number
  
  • Bangalore - 4113 1877
    
  • Karnataka - 98455 78000
    
  • For other cities, click here. Phone Banking workflow click here.
    
• Citibank Customer Care Number
  
  • All Citibank customers - Bangalore - 2227 2484. For other cities, click here
    
  • Citibank Suvidha account holders - Bangalore - 2227 2265. For other cities, click here
    
  • CitiBusiness Customers - Bangalore - 2229 4653. For other cities, click here
    
  • Citibank Credit Card - Bangalore - 2227 2484. For other cities, click here
    
  • Priority service to CitiGold Customers, Diners Club Members & Citibank Gold Card members - Bangalore - 2229- 4653. For other cities, click here
    
• HSBC Customer Care Number
  
  • Banking related - Bangalore - 2558 9595
    
  • Credit card related - Bangalore - 2558 9696
    
  • For other cities, click here
    
• HDFC Customer Care Number
  
  • Debit card related - 9945863333
    
  • Banking related - Bangalore - 5500 3333. For other cities, click here
    
  • Credit card related - Bangalore - 6622 4332. For other cities, click here
    
• ABN AMRO Customer Care number
  
  • Bangalore - 4124 5555
    
• SBI Credit Card Customer Care Number
  
  • Karnataka - Bangalore - 98441 05454 (people are reporting that this number does not work. If you know a number that works, please let me know!)
    
  • All India Toll Free - 1600 180 1290 (works only on BSNL and MTNL Line)
    
  • Try : 1800 180 1290 too. May work!!!
    
  • Other lines : 39 02 02 02
    
• UTI Bank Customer Care Numbers
  
  • Bangalore (M G Road) - 2537 0615
    
  • Bangalore - 2531 7830
    
  • Mumbai - 022 5598 7700
    
  • For other cities, click here
    
• IDBI Bank Customer Care Number (Phone Banking)
  
  • Karnataka - Bangalore - 080 22297000
    
  • Mumbai - 022 66937000
    
  • Delhi - 011 23627000
    
  • Chennai - 044 28295550
    
  • For other cities, click here
    
• Manhattan Credit Card Customer Care Number
  
  • Bangalore - 3030 1969. (this number seems to work in Mumbai too! Give it a try in your local city!)
    
• Standard Chartered Credit Card Customer Care Number
  
  • Bangalore - 2558 8888 (updated). For other cities, click here
    
• Deutsche Bank Customer Care Number
  
  • 6601 6601 (this number is available in Aurangabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Kolhapur, Kolkata and Mumbai. If dialing from Gurgaon / Noida please prefix 9511 before dialing.)
    
• Airtel Customer Care
  
  • Dail 121 from your airtel mobile
    
  • Karnataka - 98450 98450 - For prepaid if you are calling from landline
    
  • Karnataka - 98450 12345 - For postpaid if you are calling from landline
    
• Hutch Customer Care
  
  • Karnataka - Dial 111 from your Hutch phone or dial 98860 98860
    
• BSNL Mobile Customer Care (Cellone & Excel)
  
  • Karnataka - Dial 94480 24365
    
  • For other cities, click here.
    
• Reliance Mobile Customer Care
  
  • Call 3033 3333 Or dial *333 from your Reliance Mobile
    
  • For other numbers, click here.
    
• Reliance Broadband Customer Care
  
  • Call 022 - 3033 7777 Or dial *377 on your Reliance phone
    
• SpiceJet Customer Care
  
  • From BSNL/MTNL : 1800 180 3333
    
  • Others (GSM/CDMA): +91 98718 03333
    
• LIC Policy Details (Life Insurance Corporation)
  
  • Call - 1251 or
    
  • New Delhi 011 - 2332 9595
    
  • Mumbai 022 -2612 5555
    
  • Kolkata 033 - 23341765, 23211893/94/95
    
  • Chennai 044 - 28602626/28602929
    
  • Hyderabad 040 - 2329 7455
    
  • Bangalore 080 - 2248 5210
    
  • Pune 020 - 2553 6161
    
  • Ahmedabad 079 - 2550 7777
    
• Yahoo! India Customer Care
  
  • I am not sure if these numbers work, but give it a try & leave a comment!
    
  • Bangalore : (080) 39805078
    
  • Chennai : (044) 39119494
    
  • Yahoo! US "Customer Service": 1-866-562-7219 (for yahoo.com)
    
  • Yahoo! Small Business/Store: 1-866-800-8092
    
  • Other US Yahoo! numbers to try
    
    • +1 866-850-4303
      
    • +1 866-562-7228
      
    • +1 408-349-1572
      
    • +1 408-349-3300
      
    • +1 408-329-5151
      
    • +1 800-318-0631
      

Poison food- MSG

Have you ever thought why 'outside' food tastes so much better than home food? You may be following the same recipe for a particular dish you ordered at the restaurant or that dip you picked off the rack at the supermarket, but somehow you can never match the taste! Well, that's because you don't store MSG in your kitchen cabinets. MSG what, you ask? Read on to know more about this invisible factor creeping into our bodies through the food we eat, like a silent parasite that preys on you without your slightest knowledge!

MSG, or Monosodium Glutamate is a 'flavour enhancer'. It tricks the brain into thinking it is getting something tasty. It is not a preservative and it has no nutritional value. It does nothing to food, but it does affect the person using it.

In fact, some of the common ailments we experience today can largely be connected to ingesting MSG, a chemical commonly used in many food products we eat. Regular occurrence of headaches/migraines, lethargy, anxiety, panic attacks, disorientation, insomnia, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, asthma attacks, shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, runny nose/sneezing, extreme dryness of the mouth and flushing that cannot otherwise be put down to a concrete cause, can all be attributed to MSG.

MSG is a fine white crystal substance that looks like salt. It is used as a flavour-enhancer in many foods, especially in pre-made soups, broth, bouillon, natural chicken flavouring, sauces, dressings, and processed foods.

It is called an 'excitotoxin' or 'neurotoxin' by leading neuroscientists because of its degenerative effects on the brain and nervous system. Neurons are over stimulated to the point of exhaustion and cell death. MSG first goes to the brain through membranes in the mouth and throat, and also enters the blood stream as MSG laden foods are digested.

The problem with MSG is that some people experience adverse reactions within an hour after they taste it.

A 1995 FDA-commissioned report acknowledged that an unknown percentage of the population may react to monosodium glutamate and develop 'monosodium glutamate symptom complex', a condition characterized by one or more of the following symptoms:

• Burning sensation/numbness in the back of the neck, forearms and chest
• Tingling, warmth and weakness in the face, temples, upper back, neck and arms
• Facial pressure or tightness
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Nausea
• Rapid heartbeat
• Drowsiness
• Weakness
• Sweating

A 2002 report from researchers at Hirosaki University in Japan found rats fed on diets very high in glutamate (up to 20%) suffered eye damage. Lead researcher Hiroshi Ohguro said the findings might explain why, in eastern Asia, there is a high rate of normal-tension glaucoma.

Effects of MSG

Besides the above mentioned effects, the following show MSG's dire health consequences:

• • Obesity is one of the most consistent effects of excitotoxin exposure and is a growing problem that knows no age or sex boundaries. MSG triggers an insulin/adrenalin/fat storage/food craving response. This depletes serotonin levels which trigger headaches, depression, fatigue, and leads to more food cravings.

• • Asthma, which was on the decline until the mid-eighties, now shows a 100% increase in the death rate among children and seniors. Incidence has increased 600% in the last 10 years. The FDA recognizes that 'uncontrollable asthma' can be caused by MSG.

• • MSG is a known 'mutagen' (mutates fetuses) and causes significant damage to intellectual development, growth patterns, reproduction and gonadal functions.

• • Lab studies show devastating effects on brain development including dyslexia, autism, schizophrenia, violent episodes, panic attacks, seizures, depression and even cerebral palsy! Humans are five times more sensitive to MSG than other mammals.

Avoiding MSG

1 Ask the servers at restaurants to have the chef omit MSG from your meal.

2 Avoid these food additives, which always contain MSG: hydrolysed vegetable protein, hydrolysed protein, plant protein extract, sodium caseinate, yeast extract, textured protein and hydrolysed oat flour.

3 The following additives frequently contain MSG: Malt extract, malt flavouring, natural flavouring, natural chicken flavouring, seasoning and spices.

4 Be wary of these additives, which may contain MSG: enzymes, soy protein concentrate, soy protein isolate and whey protein isolate.

5 Contact the distributors of foods containing the above additives to see whether they contain MSG.


Effect on children


Thousands of packaged foods, ginger pastes, garlic pastes, dips, curry paste, chili sauces, pickles, packaged soups, stock cubes, packaged snacks like chips, crackers, etc., including many so-called health foods contain MSG in considerable amounts. Packaged foods designed for children tend to be especially high in MSG.

MSG has been shown to cause lesions on the brain, especially in children. These lesions cause cognitive, endocrinological and emotional abnormalities. In children excess glutamate affects the growth cones on neurons. MSG could seriously affect cognitive skills in children and cause learning difficulties. It also causes anxiety and hyperactivity leading to ADH.

The MSG myth

It is a myth that MSG is restricted only to Chinese cuisine. MSG is frequently used in all kinds of restaurants, even Indian joints. In fact, down south, some restaurants have been asked to add it to sambars just to add a different texture to it! Restaurants are notorious for using it, out of habit and lack of knowledge about it. The processed food industry, however, is using it with full knowledge of its making and effects.

So, whenever you can, read your labels and be aware!

WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW by Carol Anne Strange

Writing about what you know is sound advice when you’re starting out as a freelance writer but many would-be scribes flounder at the thought and don’t think they know enough about anything in particular to warrant publication. Yet we all have the potential to specialise by accessing the wealth of knowledge gained from our past and present experiences.
By specialising in a subject area, it is easier to become known by editors and you can quickly build up a strong reputation in the publishing world. This can escalate your career from writing a regular column in your local newspaper to writing features for a national title to being commissioned to write a book on your subject. Even if you are capable of writing anything and everything, being known for a particular topic area is more likely to win you commissions.
When I started out writing professionally nearly 20 years ago, I focused on health and well-being because this was the field that I was interested in and involved with at the time. I read widely on my subject, took courses and did all I could to learn more. This resulted in me securing one of my first regular columns and feature commissions for a martial arts magazine titled ‘Fighters’, which I covered for several years. From this, I started to explore how I could use my knowledge in the field to write for other publications and I picked up many more commissions before going on to publish a book on martial arts. Later still, as I took on new interests and expertise, I diversified and was able to add to my specialist subject areas. This continues to provide endless scope for freelance opportunities.
You too can become a specialist writer and pick up regular contracts quite early on in your writing career. So start off with some active reflection to set you on the right path:
Make a ListTake some time out to make a list of all the subjects that interest you. Include your hobbies, skills and areas of expertise. Write down what you’re passionate about. It might be films, gardening, food, travel, music, home, art etc. You’ll be surprised how many areas of interest you have. Now highlight what excites you the most and what you’ll enjoy writing about.
Consider Your Life SkillsA new writer once told me that she didn’t think she had any specialist knowledge as she’d spent years bringing up her three children and hadn’t had chance to develop a career. Yet parenting is a specialist skill. When she looked a little deeper, she realised that she had mountains of material on issues and anecdotes concerning parenthood. She decided to specialise in writing parenting articles and went on to be widely published.
Don’t underestimate your knowledgeYour experiences in life can make interesting and informative material for publication so don’t overlook this potential.
Research Your SubjectAnother writer had a profound interest in gardening yet assumed that he didn’t have any real specialist knowledge in the subject. After all, everyone knows something about gardening, don’t they? Well, that’s not so. Even if you’re not an expert, you’ll be surprised just how much you do know when it’s a subject that you’re passionate about and, what you don’t know for sure, you can research. You don’t need a degree in your subject to write about it – you just need passion for the topic and a willingness to learn more as you go along. Take the opportunity to study and build up a good reference library. Subscribe to specialist journals that will give you inside knowledge.
Join an AssociationOnce you’ve decided on your specialist subject, see if there are any organisations that you can join that will provide you with access to news and information that might otherwise be difficult to obtain. For example, if you’re a writer specialising in all things equestrian, you could join the British Horse Society or similar bodies that will give you access to people and the latest developments in the equestrian world.
Promote Your SpecialityStart working on your article outlines to prepare a body of material. Make sure editors are aware of your specialist area when you contact them. Start out by writing a column for a local newspaper or magazine. This is a great way of establishing a reputation. Work on creating a name for yourself so that you become known for your expertise.
Think LaterallyIf your specialist subject is food and wine, don’t necessarily aim for the food and wine magazines. Usually, they already have long term experts in place. Instead, think laterally and consider how your expertise can be used to write articles on your subject for a diverse range of magazines. Taking food and wine as an example: how about an article on party food for a parenting magazine? Or consider a seasonal food and drink feature for a general interest magazine such as Prima or The Lady. There are plenty of angles to approach; you just need to think creatively to use your expertise to the best advantage.
The benefits of being a writer who specialises are quite significant. It is much easier to focus on a subject that you’re passionate about and you’ll find that you are never short of ideas for articles. Even if your subject is quite narrow – for example, focusing on ‘cats’ rather than ‘pets’ – you’ll still be surprised how many markets are open to you. The secret is in being able to think laterally and being creative enough to write for a diverse market place.
Writing about what you know can provide you with consistent work for years. Your expertise can even lead to the publication of books and many specialist writers have been asked to give talks or appear on television.
So, if you’re not already known for a specific subject area, do give it some serious thought. There’s nothing stopping you from taking on board ‘general’ writing commissions, but once you’ve got yourself a specialist writing role, then you will find that more publishing opportunities open up for you.

Cute url- I can't smile without you.

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Interesting quotes

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark. The real tragedy of life is when man is afraid of the light." -Plato

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. --Leonardo DaVinci

The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that
the necessary may speak. --Hans Hofmann

People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a big smile. --Lee Mildon

You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers
of gold. Richer than I you can never be -- I had a mother who read
to me. --Strickland Gillilan
If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. --Mark Twain
Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or
strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing
each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build
a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls ... --Robert F. Kennedy

You are the only person on earth who can use your ability. --Zig Ziglar
Each one sees what he carries in his heart. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

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Distance is meant to relate, not separate. --Satish Kumar

One must know not just how to accept a gift, but with what grace to
share it. --Maya Angelou

The books that help you most are those which make you think the most.
The hardest way of learning is that of easy reading; but a great book
that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted
with truth and beauty. --Theodore Parker

People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves
of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the
ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by
themselves without wondering. --St Augustine

I have always thought it would be a blessing if each person could
be blind and deaf for a few days during his early adult life.
Darkness would make him appreciate sight; silence would teach him
the joys of sound. --Helen Keller

Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your
windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the
light won't come in. --Alan Alda






Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. --Samuel Ullman
It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself. --Joyce Maynard

Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and pupil are located in the same individual. --Arthur Koestler



Compassion is to share the pain without sharing the suffering. --Shinzen Young

Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom. --Viktor Frankl



Don't let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. --Earl Nightingale

Intelligence and capability are not enough. There must be the joy of doing something beautiful. --Dr Govindappa Venkataswamy

It isn't reasonable to ask that we achieve perfection. What is reasonable is that we never cease to aim for it. --Atul Gawande



I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me. --Isaac Newton

One of the great joys that comes from generosity is the understanding that no matter how much or how little we have by the world’s standards, if we know we have enough, we can always give something. --Sharon Salzberg

People mistake tradition for religion. Men are always saying, 'Women can't do that because of religion,' when in fact it is only tradition. It's important for us to study so that we will know the difference. --Enas al-Kaldi

Walk around feeling like a leaf.
Know you could tumble any second.
Then decide what to do with your time. --Naomi Shihab Nye

I have the audacity to believe that people everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, quality, and freedom for their spirits. I believe that what self-centered men have torn down, other-centered men can build up. --Martin Luther King Jr

Ignorance is an accumulation of thoughts undigested. --Ragunath Padmanabhan

Honesty is telling the truth to ourselves and others. Integrity is living that truth. --Ken Blanchard

I believe we are transformed and connected by the power and beauty of our creativity. --Mel Rusnov

Truth, like gold, is to be obtained not by its growth, but by washing away from it all that is not gold. --Leo Tolstoy

What you appreciate -- appreciates. --Lynne Twist

I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of plotting to make me happy. --J.D. Salinger


No system or machinery or economic doctrine or theory stands on its own feet: it is invariably built on a metaphysical foundation, that is to say, upon man's basic outlook on life, its meaning and its purpose. I have talked about the religion of economics, the idol worship of material possessions, of consumption and the so-called standard of living, and the fateful propensity that rejoices in the fact that 'what were luxuries to our fathers have become necessities for us.' --E. F. Schumacher


Two kinds of gratitude: The sudden kind we feel for what we take; the larger kind we feel for what we give. --Edwin Arlington Robinson


He drew a circle that shut me out --
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in. --Edwin Markham

Writing is an adventure. To begin with, it is a toy and an amusement. then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, the it becomes a tyrant. The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude, you kill the monster and fling him to the public. --Churchill

The most important thing in communication is to hear what isn't being said. --Peter Drucker

A painter paints pictures on canvas but musicians paint their pictures on silence. --Leopold Stokowski




Each person has inside a basic decency and goodness. If he listens to it and acts on it, he is giving a great deal of what it is the world needs most. It is not complicated but it takes courage. It takes courage for a person to listen to his own good. --Pablo Casals

Prayer is a radical response to the mysteries of life. --Matthew Fox

Great people talk about ideas,
Average people talk about things,
Small people talk about others.

A cloud does not know why it moves in just such a direction and at such a speed ... It feels an impulsion ... this is the place to go now. But the sky knows the reasons and the patterns behind all clouds, and you will know, too, when you lift yourself high enough to see beyond horizons. --Richard Bach


If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change. --Buddha

Anything that you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you, and in this materialistic age a great many of us are possessed by our possessions. We are not free. --Peace Pilgrim

Dream it. Believe in it. Receive it. --Anonymous

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great, and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be. --Patanjali



In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. --Eric Hoffer

Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. --Vince Lombardi

When I rise, let me rise joyful, like a bird. When I fall, let me fall without regret, like a leaf. --Wendell Berry



We do not see things as they are. We see them as we are. --The Talmud

There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm. --Willa Cather

To do something, however small, to make others happier and better, is the highest ambition, the most elevating hope, which can inspire a human being. --John Lubbock

Things don't change. You change your way of looking, that's all. --Carlos Castaneda


Do not depend on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. You gradually struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationship that saves everything. --Thomas Merton



All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts. --William Shakespeare
Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than in trying to solve them. --Henry Ford
Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. --John Muir
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler. --Henry David Thoreau

Education is much more than a matter of imparting the knowledge and skills by which narrow goals are achieved. It is also about opening the child's eyes to the needs and rights of others. --Dalai Lama


The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react. --George Bernard Shaw
One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. --Henry Miller



You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage--pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically--to say 'no' to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. --Stephen Covey
We should not judge of a man's merit by his great abilities, but by the use he makes of them. --Francois de la Rochefoucauld

Progress in every age results only from the fact that there are some men and women who refuse to believe that what they know to be right cannot be done. --Russell W. Davenport

Cooking is at once child's play and adult joy. And, cooking done with care is an act of love. --Craig Clairborne

Creativity, as has been said, consists largely of rearranging what we know in order to find out what we do not know. Hence, to think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted. --George Kneller
Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more. --Anthony Robbins

No one knows your capability as well as you do. No one knows how big you can dream and no one knows how far you can go. You, like water, can seek and reach your own level. --Lynne Cox

If we can really understand the problem, the answer will come out of it, because the answer is not separate from the problem. --Jiddu Krishnamurti

The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live. --Mortimer Adler

Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be. --Samuel Johnson

How do you go from where you are to where you want to be? I think you have to have an enthusiasm for life. You have to have a dream, a goal, and you have to be willing to work for it. --Jim Valvano
There comes that mysterious meeting in life when someone acknowledges who we are and what we can be, igniting the circuits of our highest potential. --Rusty Berkus
People who do not see their choices do not believe they have choices. They tend to respond automatically, blindly influenced by their circumstances and conditioning. Mindfulness, by helping us notice our impulses before we act, gives us the opportunity to decide whether to act and how to act. --Gil Fronsdal
Most of us serve our ideals by fits and starts. The person who makes a success of living is the one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That is dedication. --Cecil B. De Mille
Love is a believing creature. –Ovid

We're never so vulnerable as when we trust someone -- but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy. --Walter Anderson

What if you slept, and what if, in your sleep you dreamed? And what if, in your dream, you went to heaven and there plucked a strange and beautiful flower? And what if, when you awoke, you had the flower in your hand? What then? --Deepak Chopra

One little person, giving all of her time to peace, makes news. Many people, giving some of their time, can make history. --Peace Pilgrim

Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other. --Mother Teresa

Something in human nature causes us to start slacking off at our moment of greatest accomplishment. As you become successful, you will need a great deal of self-discipline not to lose your sense of balance, humility and commitment. --Ross Perot

You can understand and relate to most people better if you look at them -- no matter how old or impressive they may be -- as if they are children. For most of us never really grow up or mature all that much -- we simply grow taller. O, to be sure, we laugh less and play less and wear uncomfortable disguises like adults, but beneath the costume is the child we always are, whose needs are simple, and whose daily life is still best described by fairy tales. --Leo Rosten
We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are. Anonymous

Never regret anything, because at one time it was what you wanted. Anonymous

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes. Mahatma Gandhi

It has been said that man is a rational animal. All my life, I have been searching for evidence which could support it. Bertrand Russell.

For most of history, anonymous was a woman. Virginia Woolf
Its not that some people have willpower and some don’t. Its that some people are ready to change and some are not. James Gordon

If you want to know what God thinks of money, just look at the people he gave it to. Dorothy Parker

We meet to create memories, we part to preserve them. Anonymous

If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes. --Albert Einstein

It's the heart afraid of breakingthat never learns to dance.It's the dream afraid of wakingthat never takes the chance.It's the one who won't be taken,who cannot seem to give,and the soul afraid of dyin'that never learns to live. --Bette Midler
Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight. --Albert Schweitzer
Being healthy means a wholeness in the living of one's life -- a dynamic and constantly changing balance that acknowledges the soundness of our physical state, the wholesomeness of lifestyle, the values that define our behavior, our intimate and collective relationships, the meaning and purpose of our work in the world, and the spiritual dimension of our existence. --William B. Stewart

If Oppoutunity doesnt Knock the Door, Build One"

Appearance VS Reality

To appear wise, one must talk;
To be wise, one must listen.

To appear to do good, one must be busy;
To do good, one must know when to stand aside.

To appear to lead, one must put oneself first;
To lead, one must put oneself last.

To appear caring, one must give advice;
To be caring, one must give space.

To appear to love, one must know how to give;
To love, one must know also how to receive.

To appear happy, one must smile;
To be happy, one must be free of fears.

I'm not the best
But I'm not like the rest


'A diamond is just another coal which did very well under pressure'

Hilarious quotes

SOME THOUGHTS TO PONDER ON AND LAUGH IT OUT


Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour.Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity - Albert Einstein

The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts workingthe moment you get up inthe morning and does not stop until you get into the office.. - Robert Frost

The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it - Franklin P. Jones

We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don't like?> -Jean Cocturan


It's amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world everyday always just exactly fits the newspaper -JerrySeinfeld


It matters not whether you win or lose; what matters is whether I win or lose -Darrin Weinberg

Life is pleasant Death is peaceful.It's the transition that's troublesome.


Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again.


Complex problems have simple, easy to understand wrong answers

It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving


Whoever said money can't buy happiness, didn't know where to shop.


Alcohol doesn't solve any problems, but then again, neither does milk.


Most people are only alive because it is illegal to shoot them.

Forgive your enemies but remember their names.

The number of people watching you is directly proportional to the stupidity of your action.


Dont worry that the world ends today, its already tomorrow in Australia.

SLICES OF INSPIRATION By Lorraine Mace

There are times when I wish I had writer's block. The thought of sitting in front of a computer where nothing is happening sounds quite appealing to my beleaguered brain. Blank screen, blank page and blank mind. Heaven.
Actually, it isn't writer's block I need; it's an idea filter. Many articles have been written to show how to find inspiration, but that has never been my problem. Avoiding cerebral fatigue, whilst competing thoughts have a mental boxing match, is my dilemma. The ideas are like tiny cartoon figures, each shoving and pushing to the front of my consciousness, while jumping up and down screaming: "me, me".
In the bath, crossing the street, playing tennis, cooking, reading and, worst of all, writing. It doesn't matter where I am, or what I'm doing, ideas attack without respite.
You don't think it's a problem? It isn't possible to have too many good ideas? Well, imagine this:
I'm writing an article about the early years of the Tour de France when a brainwave for a travel feature strikes. So far so good, only one article in progress and one new idea. I leave my cyclists labouring up a hill and make a note about the travel piece. Then I'm inspired by the thought of a cooking article on the region that I'm going to write the travel feature about. This in turn gives me the idea for a short story set in a hotel, which I have to set down as an outline before I lose the plot. Meanwhile, my old-time cyclists have decided to take a smoke break and are chatting amongst themselves.
As I am about to return to them another idea strikes. This has no connection to anything that I've either written or thought about before. It's what I call one of my random slices through the brain. How about a piece on relationships between older women and younger men? Or love in retirement homes? First passion? Last passion? No passion?
I cannot write fast enough and my head hurts. The cyclists are now threatening to ride off into the sunset unless I come back, which wouldn't please the editor at all as the piece is due at the end of the week.
In an attempt to recapture the mood, I read what I've written so far, and am horrified to find that I've inserted odd words into the text. Nestling gently amidst a description of the endurance required to compete in a cycling race, I discover an aide-memoir about breast implants. Not mine, you understand. An idea for an article on the possible problems attached to the operation. No wonder my cyclists were getting hot under the collar and wanted to race away.
I try to be single-minded, but I'm terrified that the idea I allow to escape will be the best one. I'm imprisoned by my own fertile imagination.
Won't somebody please write an article on how not to find inspiration? Hey, that gives me an idea or four ...

How To Conduct an Interview

Interviews have four stages that precede the writing of a story:? arrangements, preparation, the actual interview and the reconstruction.
ARRANGEMENTS--Spontaneous interviews, except in connection with breaking news, seldom contribute to thoroughness? Once you have decided to interview someone, call in advance to make an appointment? Identify yourself by your name and the name of your publication? If you feel the need to do so or are asked to describe what the story is about, be brief and general.? The shape of the story might change as you continue your reporting.? If you are interviewing several persons in connection with your story, interview the principal person last, because you will be better prepared based on what you learn from the earlier interviews.
PREPARATION?Do as much research as possible in advance on the person and/or topic you are working on.? Sources might include the library, public records, the internet and people you know who can provide background information.? Prepare your questions in advance in writing and bring them to the interview.? Refer to them but don't show them to the interviewee, because it creates too formal an atmosphere.? Ask other questions as they might arise, based on what the interviewee says or something new that might come to you on the spur of the moment.? Bring two pencils (or pens) and paper.? A stenographer's notebook is usually easier to handle than a large pad but use whatever is comfortable.? Bring a tape recorder if you can but be sure to get the permission to use it from the person you are interviewing.? You also should take notes, because it will help in the reconstruction phase, and, yes, tape recorders fail occasionally.
THE INTERVIEW?It is inadvisable to launch right into the interview unless you are only being given a few minutes.? Some casual conversation to start with will relax both of you.? Questions should be as short as possible.? Give the respondent time to answer.? Be a good listener.? If he or she prattles on, it is appropriate to move on as politely as you can.? You might say something such as:? "Fine, but let me ask you this?".? Try to draw out specifics:? How long, how many, when, etc.?? Absorb the atmospherics of the locale where the interview takes place, with particular attention to what might be a reflection of the interviewee's personality and interests, such as photos of children or bowling trophies or a paper-littered desk or a clean one, etc.? Note characteristics of the interviewee that might be worth mentioning in your story, such as pacing, looking out the window to think, hand gestures and the like.? Invite the person to call you if she/he thinks of anything pertinent after the interview.? It often happens, so be sure to provide your name, email address and phone number on a card or piece of paper before you leave.? If that person has a secretary, be sure to get that person's name and telephone number, too, in case there is some detail that needs followup and, again, leave information as to how you may be contacted.? If a photo is needed and is not taken during the interview, be sure to make arrangements then to have one taken at a later time.
RECONSTRUCTION?As soon as it's practical after the interview, find a quiet place to review your handwritten notes.? In your haste while taking notes, you may have written abbreviations for words that won't mean anything to you a day or two later.? Or some of your scribbling may need deciphering, and, again, it is more likely you'll be better able to understand the scribbles soon after the interview.? Underline or put stars alongside quotes that seemed most compelling. One star for a good quote, two stars for a very good one, etc.?? It will speed the process when you get to the writing stage.? One other thing to look for in your notes:? the quote you wrote down might not make a lot of sense, unless you remember what specific question it was responding to.? In short, fill in whatever gaps exist in your notes that will help you better understand them when writing.
Interviewing involves to two types of skills. The first is questioning skills. By asking the right types of questions in the right sequence, you can elicit more complete information from informants than likely without these techniques.
The other is rapport building skills. These skills help you build rapport with your informant so that they trust you and freely give you information. In fact, when you develop a sufficiently strong rapport with informants, they contact you when they have information they think you might be interested in).
The following procedure suggests how you might plan for and conduct an interview. Following this procedure should help you elicit the desired information from your informants and develop a good rapport with them.
Top
Before the Interview
What is your purpose? Concretely state the type of information you hope to get by the end of the interview. Suppose, for example, that you were asked to prepare information for end users of a new software application and plan to interview the chief designer of the application.
By the end of the first interview, you might want to know what the application is and the five tasks that users are most likely to perform with it. Similarly, suppose you are developing the internal policies guide for a medium-sized retailer and you plan to interview the human resources manager. By the end of the interview, you might want to know the policies that need to be addressed and how they will be administered.
What types of things do you need to ask so informants reveal the desired information? List the broad topics for 3 to 7 questions. If you have more questions than that, you probably need to schedule a second interview. Suppose once again that you are preparing information for end users of a new software application and your goal is finding out which tasks will most commonly perform with the application. Your topic areas might include:
Most common tasks
Character sketches of typical users
How users currently perform these tasks
How easily will users be able to learn these tasks
The most likely "tough spots"
Present these topics as questions. When writing questions, focus on "open" questions. Open questions require more than a single word as an answer and therefore more likely to elicit information from informants. Open questions usually begin with words like what, why, and how . Avoid closed questions, questions that only require an answer of a single word. Any question that requires a yes or no answer is an example of a closed question.
Consider the question about the most difficult tasks for users to learn. An example of a closed question is:
X Are there any tasks that users might find difficult?
The informant might respond yes, but you will have to ask another question to find out which tasks are difficult. In contrast, this open question is likely to elicit the sought-after information on the first try:
Y Which tasks do you expect users to have most difficulty with?
This list of questions is called an interview guide.
When writing questions, also consider these suggestions:
Avoid "double-barrelled" questions, that is, questions that really ask two things at once, such as "Are you a technical communicator and do you exercise regularly?"
Avoid negatives in questions; focus, instead, on the positive
Be careful using technical terminology in questions; make sure that your informant will understand the term or be prepared to provide a clear, succinct definition
Contact the informant and schedule an appointment for the interview. A first interview should take about 1 to 2 hours. Later, when you build a rapport, you can meet for a longer period of time. When scheduling the interview, tell the informant what your goal is. The informant can review any appropriate documents and make copies for you, if appropriate.
Review your interview guide.
Determine how you plan to record information--audiotape or notes--and make sure you have the appropriate equipment or materials before the interview.
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At the Interview
Be prompt. Appearing late for an interview, especially a first interview, interferes with your ability to build trust with an informant. If you are going to be late, call to let the informant know. Most informants understand that some delays cannot be avoided.
Be prepared. Walk in with all materials ready to use (other than quickly setting up the tape recorder, if you use one).
If you plan to record the interview, first ask the informant if he or she minds your doing so. Only after the informant provides permission should you turn on the tape recorder.
Begin the interview by repeating the purpose. Ask questions. Start with your first question.
Although you have an interview guide, consider straying from it if the informant is providing you useful information.
As the informant responds to your questions, make sure that you clearly and completely understand the responses. If you do not, ask your informant to clarify points that seem unclear, amplify points that seem ambiguous, and to verify points (for this purpose, you might use closed questions, such as "Did you say that...")
Actively listen to what the participant says. People provide you with information when they believe that you are listening to them. Whenever possible, use the informants own words as a means of reflecting back the informants’ responses and of encouraging further discussion. For example, suppose the informant told you that "users are really going to love this product."
You respond. "Really going to love this product?"
"Oh yes," the informant replies, and continues to explain how.
Do not exceed the time limit for the interview. Instead, ask the informant if you may continue beyond the scheduled time or schedule an additional interview.
Before closing the interview, summarize the main points with the informant to verify that you correctly understand the information provided.
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After the Interview
Write a thank-you note to acknowledge your appreciation for the interview.
Transcribe your notes and assess whether you actually whether or not you got the information you wanted. If not, identify the information that’s missing and determine whether you want to interview the informant again or seek the information from another source.
Difficulty: Average
Time Required: Minutes to hours
Here's How:
1. Track down your subject. This could be as simple as walking next door and knocking or calling the office of a city official to ask for an interview. Famous people always have P.R. reps that set up their interviews; business people will often have their secretaries set up such appointments.
2. Identify yourself. And what is it you're writing about? You don't have to reveal potential scoops here, but be straightforward enough that the source can't later say you misled him.
3. If calling ahead, set a mutually acceptable time and place for the interview. If not meeting at the person's business, public places such as coffeehouses are best. If covering spot news, politely ask if the person can spare a few moments of his time to talk with you.
4. Ask the source if they wish to be quoted. If so, ask the source to spell his or her name. (Don't assume that "Smith" isn't spelled "Smyth.") PRINT this in your reporter's notebook, even if the rest of the interview is in scribbled shorthand. Spell the source's name back to him or her to make sure you got it right.
5. When asking a question, give the source room to breathe. Often you'll get your best quotes and information by not jumping to the next question, but letting the source carry on with his train of thought and expanding upon the question.
6. Don't be afraid to slow a source down. Better to ask the source to repeat himself than get the quote wrong.
7. Pick out the best quotes as you go. This is a learned skill. As you grow accustomed to interviewing people, your mind will pick out the noteworthy quotes, the key facts, the interesting details, and these are the things that will wind up in your notes. Remember, you might only use 10 percent of what a source says, or they might be the anchor for your story. You'll never know until you talk to them.
8. Referrals yield good stuff. Sometimes a source will tell you that he can't give you all the information that you need. Ask him who can. Get that name, get that number, get the information.
9. A bit of friendliness goes a long way. I think of one time when I knocked on a door near a crime scene, and the resident was very wary of talking to the press (as many involved in crime stories are, for fear of retribution). She let me as far as inside the front door. After I complimented her sofa, I was soon sitting on it, getting much more information from her than I could even use.
10. Be available for more. Sometimes sources will think of more later, and sometimes they have to cut interviews short. Always have business cards with your contact information. And be prepared to take a call or answer an e-mail at nearly any time.
11. Always say thank you. Your time is valuable, and so is theirs. Thank them for taking the time to speak with you.
12. Fill in the blanks. You might take notes so quickly that it's good to sit in your car, or rush back to your desk, and rapidly fill in some of the shorthand so there is no question in your mind later when you sit down to write.
What You Need:
· A spiral-bound reporter's notebook and pen
· Identification and a business card with contact information
· A tape recorder, if you and the subject are comfortable with it
· A digital camera, should a good image present itself
· A cell phone, to keep on top of appointment changes








Introduction
Interviews are particularly useful for getting the story behind a participant's experiences. The interviewer can pursue in-depth information around a topic. Interviews may be useful as follow-up to certain respondents to questionnaires, e.g., to further investigate their responses. Usually open-ended questions are asked during interviews.
Before you start to design your interview questions and process, clearly articulate to yourself what problem or need is to be addressed using the information to be gathered by the interviews. This helps you keep clear focus on the intent of each question.
Preparation for Interview
Choose a setting with little distraction. Avoid loud lights or noises, ensure the interviewee is comfortable (you might ask them if they are), etc. Often, they may feel more comfortable at their own places of work or homes.
Explain the purpose of the interview.
Address terms of confidentiality. Note any terms of confidentiality. (Be careful here. Rarely can you absolutely promise anything. Courts may get access to information, in certain circumstances.) Explain who will get access to their answers and how their answers will be analyzed. If their comments are to be used as quotes, get their written permission to do so. See getting informed consent.
Explain the format of the interview. Explain the type of interview you are conducting and its nature. If you want them to ask questions, specify if they're to do so as they have them or wait until the end of the interview.
Indicate how long the interview usually takes.
Tell them how to get in touch with you later if they want to.
Ask them if they have any questions before you both get started with the interview.
Don't count on your memory to recall their answers. Ask for permission to record the interview or bring along someone to take notes.
Types of Interviews
Informal, conversational interview - no predetermined questions are asked, in order to remain as open and adaptable as possible to the interviewee's nature and priorities; during the interview, the interviewer "goes with the flow".
General interview guide approach - the guide approach is intended to ensure that the same general areas of information are collected from each interviewee; this provides more focus than the conversational approach, but still allows a degree of freedom and adaptability in getting information from the interviewee./LI>
Standardized, open-ended interview - here, the same open-ended questions are asked to all interviewees (an open-ended question is where respondents are free to choose how to answer the question, i.e., they don't select "yes" or "no" or provide a numeric rating, etc.); this approach facilitates faster interviews that can be more easily analyzed and compared.
Closed, fixed-response interview - where all interviewees are asked the same questions and asked to choose answers from among the same set of alternatives. This format is useful for those not practiced in interviewing.
Types of Topics in Questions
Patton notes six kinds of questions. One can ask questions about:
Behaviors - about what a person has done or is doing
Opinions/values - about what a person thinks about a topic
Feelings - note that respondents sometimes respond with "I think ..." so be careful to note that you're looking for feelings
Knowledge - to get facts about a topic
Sensory - about what people have seen, touched, heard, tasted or smelled
Background/demographics - standard background questions, such as age, education, etc.
Note that the above questions can be asked in terms of past, present or future.
Sequence of Questions
Get the respondents involved in the interview as soon as possible.
Before asking about controversial matters (such as feelings and conclusions), first ask about some facts. With this approach, respondents can more easily engage in the interview before warming up to more personal matters.
Intersperse fact-based questions throughout the interview to avoid long lists of fact-based questions, which tends to leave respondents disengaged.
Ask questions about the present before questions about the past or future. It's usually easier for them to talk about the present and then work into the past or future.
The last questions might be to allow respondents to provide any other information they prefer to add and their impressions of the interview.

Wording of Questions
Wording should be open-ended. Respondents should be able to choose their own terms when answering questions.
Questions should be as neutral as possible. Avoid wording that might influence answers, e.g., evocative, judgmental wording.
Questions should be asked one at a time.
Questions should be worded clearly. This includes knowing any terms particular to the program or the respondents' culture.
Be careful asking "why" questions. This type of question infers a cause-effect relationship that may not truly exist. These questions may also cause respondents to feel defensive, e.g., that they have to justify their response, which may inhibit their responses to this and future questions.
Conducting Interview
Occasionally verify the tape recorder (if used) is working.
Ask one question at a time.
Attempt to remain as neutral as possible. That is, don't show strong emotional reactions to their responses. Patton suggests to act as if "you've heard it all before."
Encourage responses with occasional nods of the head, "uh huh"s, etc.
Be careful about the appearance when note taking. That is, if you jump to take a note, it may appear as if you're surprised or very pleased about an answer, which may influence answers to future questions.
Provide transition between major topics, e.g., "we've been talking about (some topic) and now I'd like to move on to (another topic)."
Don't lose control of the interview. This can occur when respondents stray to another topic, take so long to answer a question that times begins to run out, or even begin asking questions to the interviewer.
Immediately After Interview
Verify if the tape recorder, if used, worked throughout the interview.
Make any notes on your written notes, e.g., to clarify any scratchings, ensure pages are numbered, fill out any notes that don't make senses, etc.
Write down any observations made during the interview. For example, where did the interview occur and when, was the respondent particularly nervous at any time? Were there any surprises during the interview? Did the tape recorder break?
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Interviewing Principles
Document Author: Lynch AssociatesReprinted From: Copyright, Lynch Associates, 1996 (reprinted by permission) 206-547-1269(posted 7/97)
Most employment decisions are based on interviewing the applicant. But most interviews don't provide us with sufficient information to make an informed decision. As a consequence, most hiring decisions are based on who the interviewers like best. This is akin to deciding to get married on the first date. To conduct more effective interviews, follow these principles:
Ask questions which allow the candidate to do at least 70% of the talking. For the most part, avoid questions that can be answered "yes" or "no." The best questions are ones in which the candidates recount their past experience.
Phrase your questions so that the desired or "right" answer is not apparent to the applicant.
Ask only one question about one subject at a time.
Ask the easy questions first so as to make the applicant feel comfortable.
All questions should be directly related to finding out about the applicant's ability to do the job, not about his or her personal life.
Spend the entire time writing, recording the candidate's answers and any assumptions you are making.
Interviews are generally a poor place to test the candidate's skills, other than the skill of being interviewed. Some interpersonal skills can be tested, however, through the use of role-playing with the applicant.
While you are writing, nod occasionally to let the applicant know you are listening.
If the applicant doesn't respond right away to a question, wait. Give them time, while you add to your notes.
Follow up: ask the person to tell you more, to give more details.
Ask the candidate to describe their past behavior in the kind of situations they will encounter on the job.
Alternate between easy, non-threatening questions and more difficult, pointed ones.
After you have asked the candidate all your questions, allow them time to ask you any questions they have about the job.
Close the interview by asking the candidate if there is anything they regret saying, any answer they'd like to change, or anything they'd like to add to their previous statements.
Spend at least thirty minutes reviewing your notes after the interview and identifying any key qualities that you feel you have not adequately tested. These become objectives for subsequent interviews or for assessment experiences.
Types of interviewing QuestionsSkilled interviewers use a variety of types of questions to draw the most information from the candidate. These are listed below in the approximate order in which they might be asked.Permission QuestionsPermission questions demonstrate concern for the other party. They are used at the beginning of the interview to put the other person at ease. Examples include:
Are there any questions you have about the process before we begin the interview?
Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable before we begin? . Okay if we start with question one?
Factual Questions:Factual questions are low-risk attempts to obtain objective data about the applicant. They are intended to give you a picture of the status of the other party. These questions can be used to help make the applicant feel comfortable and are good to use at the beginning of the interview and after a particularly difficult or threatening question. Examples include:
What do you do in your present job?
How long have you worked there?
What attracted you to our company?
Tell Me About Questions:These questions are the most important in a hiring interview. They ask the candidate todescribe their past experience. Examples include:
Tell me about a recent important decision you made and how you went about it.
Walk me through the first and last half hour of your most recent normal workday.What did you do first, second, etc.?
Tell me about a recent work assignment that made you look forward to going to work.
Feeling Questions:Feeling questions are designed to obtain subjective data on the other party's feelings, values and beliefs. They are useful as follow-ups to Tell Me About or Factual Questions. Make sure that the applicant responds by describing an emotional state, not by describing what they thought. Examples include:
How did you feel about that reaction?
What do you like best (least) about your present job?
How would you feel if this were to occur?
Magic Wand Questions:Magic Wand Questions encourage the other party to speculate or dream. They are give you an idea of the creativity and aspirations of the candidate. Examples include:
If you could change anything in your present work environment, what would it be?
What would a perfect relationship with your boss be like?
If you were put in charge of a volunteer program, what would you do first?
Tell Me More Questions:These questions are used as follow-up to any of the other kinds of questions. Examplesinclude:
Can you be more specific?
What other approaches did you consider before you tried that?
Then what happened?
Checking Questions:Checking questions allow you to make sure you understand the other person's answer. They are useful at any point in the interview but most useful at the end to help you check any assumptions you have made about the applicant. Examples include:
Is this what you mean?
As I understand it, your plan of action is this. Am I right?
Are you saying that was a negative experience?
Sample Competency ModelBelow is a sample competency model for hiring an administrative assistant in a small business. This model is intended only to provide samples of the kinds of competencies listed in a competency model and is not intended for use in actually hiring such a person.
Knowledge:
Basic understanding of the business we are in.Knowledge of how to use Microsoft Word.Knowledge of how to use Microsoft Excel.Basic accounting knowledge.
Skills:
Keyboard skills.Basic book-keeping skills.Positive presentation of self.Ability to organize information systemsGood time management skillsSkill in using quantitative reports
Attitudes:
Proactive (takes initiative)ReliablePositive attitudeEnthusiasmPositive work ethicBurning desire to make the boss look good.
Credentials:
Technical school degree in business administration
Experiences:
Preparing budgetsUsing appropriate softwarePreparing business documentsSetting up a filing systemInteracting with the publicPurchasing supplies
Affiliations:
Member of appropriate professional organizations.Knowing people in our field

Freelancers and the internet by : JACKIE SHERMAN

Have you noticed how many features in some magazines and local papers are written by the same people? It's disappointing, isn't it, when the author of the theatre review page also covers his or her latest restaurant meal and gives you financial advice several pages further on. It makes you think the publication is being run on a shoe-string, and that you'd rather get advice on these things from an expert.Well, websites are just the same; they need fresh blood and new angles for their pages. When someone gets an idea for a new site, a key question is going to be: who is going to write the content of all those thousands of pages? Which is why it can be quite easy to get freelance work on a new magazine-style website, as long as you know your subject well enough, are willing to write new copy regularly and don't expect to be paid! Yes, sadly, making money from writing for lifestyle websites doesn't seem to be easy in the first few years, but without a presence on the web these sites haven't a hope of becoming financially self-supporting in the longer term. It's a real Catch 22 - without a viable, well-visited site, no advertiser is going to put an ad on the page, and without ads on the page, no website can survive, develop and get the money to pay the contributors. So you need to view writing for the Internet as a long-term investment which will hopefully pay off some time in the future.However, a presence on the web can offer quite unforeseen if non-pecuniary advantages. For a start, your name and work are on show. If you want to, and especially if you haven't got around to creating a personal website, you can put the web address of your page on business cards, headed notepaper or at the end of any other contributions you make. No one will then be able to doubt your ability and you can save time explaining your special approach, if enquirers are directed to your articles on the Internet.Secondly, if more permanent or full-time work dries up for a while having a regular column or even occasional piece on-line will give you the appearance of being "in work" when you try applying for another job. Freelancers have always had the luxury of being able to avoid that dreaded "provide a reference from your current employer", but if your field of expertise enables you to put work on the web, then you are clearly keeping up-to-date and (they may believe) being paid for your skills.A third advantage of an Internet presence is that it allows you to test yourself in a new area. In my case, I started writing for an over 50s website some years ago purely by coincidence, as I was more concerned with the content (advice about using computers) than the age group of my readers. However, when I applied to a magazine covering the same target audience, being involved in a similar enterprise on the Internet gave the appearance of my having an expertise with older people, as well as in my specialist field and I ended up with a regular column. This gave me the idea of specialising further and so when a new website aimed at the retired population appeared on the web, I wrote straight away suggesting a similar column which I have now written for three years. Even more exciting, this lead to my writing a book on my subject aimed at older people and published by Age Concern, as it filled a gap in the market that no-one else seemed to have spotted.The fourth reason to write for the web is that it will force you to learn skills that everyone is going to need in the future. If your accompanying pictures are too large, or in the wrong format, for example, you will be told - or will have to find out - how to convert them to a file type known as a JPEG. You can no longer write long, text-based articles but will need to think about hyperlinks, graphics and animated GIFs, and all the other technological razzmatazz that comes with the Internet. Who knows, it could lead to a whole new career e.g. in teaching others what you have learned, writing books on working on the Internet or web authoring etc that you might otherwise never have considered.A fifth reason to work for (almost) free on the Internet is that you can link your pieces to a personal website and any services or products that you want to offer. If you contribute to a prestigious site - company-based or popular with a wide audience - it is likely to have thousands of visitors a week. Most websites will include links for their contributors to personal websites so that any of your items could lead to people clicking a link to your page. This is where you can display the rest of your work and even conduct a business. Having only a personal website, visitors will be very few and far between because, let's face it, who are you? So now we've established that it can be a very good idea to contribute to magazine-style websites, you need to know how to get started. The key question is - what is your specialist area? If it is anything that would appeal to a wide audience of surfers, then there are probably one or more slots you could fill. The best way to approach getting a job is to write to your chosen webmaster offering your idea for a feature or regular column and provide them with a sample of your work. Here are a few different ideas for a contribution, bearing in mind that you need to stick to the same length and style of current contributions as far as possible:Questions and Answers - either real or imaginary queries about your area of expertise can be answered in a short, snappy, jargon-free way. Many websites have features that take this form, so you need to visit a range of similar sites and make up a few questions that you feel would be of interest to the target audience. It is likely that you would be required to write new questions once every month or so, as this will keep the website fresh and worth re-visiting.Personal accounts - if the style of the site allows for anecdotal pages, then your background or job knowledge might form the basis of a few good features. Clearly, you need to study the style of current accounts before contributing a piece, so they can see that it would fit in.Factual articles - the How To column is often a vital part of any website, so that any topic that has not yet been covered but would fit in well with the potential audience could be tackled. Some websites have their articles set out as a series of numbered steps, or they might prefer to publish a chatty item that covers the basic skills in a more general way. In-depth information - you may feel that your knowledge of an area of the world (work, leisure or education etc) might be of real interest, and if it hadn't come up before on the site, would certainly not duplicate anything already covered. On the other hand, you may find a previous article mentioning something you know about that could justify being covered again in more depth. In both cases, it is possible that this type of item could be repeated over the months e.g. looking at different roles in an organisation, looking at varied markets for work or following up different types of training course or qualifications. Entertainment - if the site is light-hearted, you may be able to contribute jokes, cartoons, photos etc that would fit in well and fill a gap.Audience-related - you may feel that you have something to offer teenagers, women, older people, lone parents, ethnic minorities etc and can find a relevant website that would welcome your contributions. Each website is competing for an audience and someone interested in your field may visit a site which seems to speak to them in their situation, or at their age, more personally than one that is content-based.You may have other ideas for contributions, so whichever route you take, I hope that you manage to find a niche. With perseverance, you should be able to get on the web and eventually, you may even make a living working in this way

Food for thought

ü It is always great fun to achieve what people deem impossible.

ü Life is tough. One just has to be tougher.

ü If one wants to succeed in life, a cool head and calm demeanor are of utmost importance.

ü Never should one underestimate anyone or anything. Even a spoilt clock shows the correct time twice in a day.

ü Ungrudgingly, keep your expectations from people & life in general low. That way, you won’t get disappointed too often.

ü Life is a bed of roses. You just have to look out for the thorns.

ü Shit happens. Accept it and move on.

ü Life’s not fair. But then, it isn’t fair for anyone. That makes it fair, doesn’t it?

ü A short course in human relations. Most important words

Ø 6 most- I admit I made a mistake
Ø 5 most- You did a good job
Ø 4 most- What is your opinion?
Ø 3 most- If you please..
Ø 2 most- Thank You!
Ø 1 most- WE

The least important word à I


ü Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

ü Talk health, prosperity and happiness to every person you meet.

ü Look at the sunny side of everything. Be the eternal optimist. Always, ALWAYS, see the glass as half full.

ü Professionally, think only of the best, work only for the best, expect only the best.
FOOD FER THOUGHT

ü Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future.

ü Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

ü Give everyone a smile. Everybody you meet deserves to be met with a smile.

ü Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others.

ü Be too big for worry and too noble for anger.

ü Always put yourself in others shoes. If it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person too.

ü You don’t know what you can achieve unless you try.

ü To accomplish great things, one must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.

ü The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything. They just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Caring for Oily Hair - Is it too Big a Struggle?

If you have ever spent hours in the bathroom, blow drying and primping your hair, only to look in the mirror and realize that it looks like an oily blob, you probably threw down your comb in frustration, wondering what the causes of oily hair are.
Perhaps you should try shampoo for oily hair. Or are there other oily hair remedies you should try. No matter how frustrated you are, rest in mind that there are solutions to oily hair!

Top Tips For Your Oily Hair:
If you have oily hair there are many things you can do to control the problem, from fixing your diet to working with your hair care regimen. Here are some of the top tips for fixing greasy, oily hair.
Shampoo For Oily Hair
The best shampoo for oily hair is going to be a shampoo that is clear in color. The clearer the shampoo is, the less junk there is going to be in the shampoo to gum up you hair.
Frequent Washing
One cure for oily hair is frequent washing, provided you are using the right shampoo. Also, leave the shampoo touching your scalp for around five minutes. This is one of the common causes of oily hair-not leaving the shampoo on long enough. You can wash your hair every single day and not damage it when you are dealing with oily hair.
Avoid Conditioners
Conditioners are often not needed by those struggling with oily hair. If you have greasy hair, try skipping conditioner every other time you shampoo. If you need a conditioner for manageability, look for a conditioner that is low on oil, and remember that conditioning only the ends of your hair will often take care of the manageability issue, without adding oil to the scalp. Avoid putting conditioner near your scalp if you have oily hair.
Proper Diet
The oil in your hair is secreted by your sebaceous glands on your scalp, the glands that are located at the base of each shaft of hair. When you eat a diet high in fatty foods, these glands will over produce the oil causing your hair to be oily. Those struggling with oil in their hair should avoid it in their diets.


Major Causes for Hair Damage
Hair comes in a variety of textures from fine to coarse. It can suffer a range of hair damage from fraying, split ends to damage caused by straightening hair with chemical agents or hair irons.
There can be hair damage due to heat from blow dryers or curling irons, hair coloring problems, or even scalp problems like over-production of oil from the sebaceous glands.But if hair is healthy and protected from over exposure to heat and harsh chemicals, it should require nothing more than a good quality shampoo (perhaps one formulated for a specific hair type) and weekly conditioning either with a commercial product or a natural mixture like rosemary and olive oil. Problem hair is usually hair that is being damaged by either an internal or external agent that can be eliminated by a change in routine or habits.
Ten Things That Cause Hair Damage
All to often what we choose to do to our hair in terms of style and supposed "care" actually damages the hair. In addition, our life habits have a significant impact on the health and appearance of the hair.
Caffeine
The jury is still out on the effects of caffeine on the body and its associated systems like the hair. In most cultures, the mild stimulant caffeine, commonly distributed in coffee and soft drinks, is a matter of daily routine. Caffeine has the effect of stimulating the central nervous system, heart, and lungs and will stave off fatigue.It is a general rule of thumb that anything used to excess in the body has a resulting effect on the hair but the most recent studies conducted in 2005 suggest that caffeine actually prevents hair loss. Used topically, caffeine creams sold in Germany have shown good effect on male pattern baldness.Your daily coffee consumption may be good for your hair, but stress and fatigue are not. If you are dinking enough coffee that you experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches and trembling hands when you don't get your "fix," it's time to cut back not just for your hair but for your whole system.If your primary caffeine consumption comes from sodas, these drinks carry a heavy sodium punch that can elevate your blood pressure. Given the fact that some hair loss remedies like minoxidil (Rogaine) were initially developed to combat high blood pressure and were then discovered to stop hair loss, the blood pressure / hair growth link would seem to be confirmed.


Expert Advice on How to Straighten Black Hair Naturally
Obtaining straight hair styles when you have curly, kinky, wavy or frizzy hair can be a difficult thing to do if you do not want to run the risk of damaging the hair permanently.
Black hair straighteners and hair strengtheners can be fairly strong chemical applications used to soften the hair. This process is also known as relaxing, and in this process the basic curly structure of the hair is broken down and changed into a straight form.
Natural Ways to Straighten Black Hair
There are several natural ways to straighten black curly hair. These processes are less damaging on the hair, depending on the treatment, and the results can be possibly less long-lasting. Some examples of natural ways to straighten curly hair are:
Hot Oil Treatments
Hot oil treatments contain proteins and vitamins that are vital to maintain healthy hair, especially if the hair is handled and styled a lot. The oil conditions the hair and straightens it at the same time, resulting in glossy healthy looking hair.The oil used for the treatment is heated and applied to the hair and scalp, after which the hair is covered with a plastic cap allowing the oil to settle on the hair. This method can help heal damaged black curly hair and leaves the hair straightened and shiny.
Blow Drying
For the best straightening result, wash the hair first and use a good conditioner. Comb the conditioner through to the hair ends and leave in for at least half an hour. Rinse the hair and comb it again, after which the hair is blow-dried with a blow dryer with a comb attachment. Working your way down from the scalp to hair ends gives the best results. This way to straighten hair naturally lasts till the next washing treatment.
Straightening Brush
After the hair has been washed and treated with a (leave in) conditioner, the hair must be combed from the scalp down to the hair ends, possible adding a little oil or water to the hair in the process. As it takes a long time for naturally curly hair to dry, this technique can be used wile blow drying. It is important to use a boar hair brush, as synthetic bristle brushes can tear hair out and possible leave it damaged.
Another way
Another way to straighten curly hair is to brush it through after conditioning and dividing the brushed hair into sections after which the hair is tightly curled around big hair rollers. After drying the hair can be brushed straight down.

Secrets To Healthy Hair
Unfortunately, most of the real basic ingredients for healthy hair are at odds with the way modern Americans lead their lives. Still, it bears repeating to say that coloring your hair,
going on crash diets, and smoking or being with smokers will damage short and long hair. Care should also be taken to use products with a minimum of chemicals present to prevent a damaging build up that essentially suffocates the hair shaft. There are specific considerations for various types of hair.
Secrets To Maintaining Healthy Hair
There are lots of secrets in maintaining healthy hair and some of them are as follows:
LONG HAIR
Although many people believe long hair is more difficult to handle, in reality it is the most versatile of all hair styles. Tangling is a major issue and can be lessened by detangling before shampooing and by not piling the hair on top of the head and bunching it when wet. It is best to shampoo while showering and to work the shampoo down the length of the hair as if you were milking a cow. Always end with a cold water rinse to enhance the sheen of your hair.Concentrate conditioner at the ends of the hair to avoiding splitting and if possible, air dry. Any natural hair care methods will always be better than artificial ones like blow drying. If you have to blow dry, try to do so in shifts so that your hair does not get too hot which causes the hair to be brittle and to break more easily. Never brush you hair while it is wet and use only wide tooth combs.If you would like your hair to fall in waves, braid it while it is still wet, then take it down when it is dry. Putting it up in a top knot while wet will create volume when the hair is released. Braids or pony tails are always useful in any situation where your hair can become tangled or caught in something. If your hair is down on a cold, windy day, put your hair inside your coat when going outside.For special occasions braiding scarves or ribbons into your hair can create a touch of elegance and the pinned back chignon is always a classic touch as is a French braid. Make sure to have frequent small trim work even if you have to do it yourself to keep any split ends under control. If you trim your own split ends, do each hair individually. For this kind of self-care, it's a good idea to get a friend with long hair to do the trim for you and then you can return the favor.
SHORT HAIR
Short hair presents few problems in and of itself. There are of course issues with the quality of hair worn in any style (curly, fine, thick, frizzy, oily) which will be discussed below. The major consideration in short hair is to match the cut to the shape of your face.There are seven basic facial shapes: diamond, heart, oval, rectangle, round, square, and triangular. Not all facial shapes are compatible with all cuts. Diamond-shaped faces that are narrow at the forehead but wide at the cheeks with a small, pointy chin work best with cuts that add more fullness at the crown of the head to balance out the width of the cheeks.Heart-shaped faces with their wide foreheads and small chins looks best when paired with a layered bob with lots of volume. Asymmetrical cuts also compliment this facial configuration. Oval faces are characterized by high foreheads and narrow but round chins. This is the most balance of all the facial shapes and works well with any cut.Rectangular faces are long with high foreheads and defined jaws and chins. In general a chin-length or shoulder-length cut will be most effective to call attention away from the length of the face and to give an overall softening effect. Some fringe or bangs at the forehead also works well.Round faces have wide foreheads and full jaws. Because the shape is similar to the oval, most styles will work but be sure to have fullness above the ears. The softer the cut and the more the layers come forward toward the face the better the style for this facial type. Asymmetrical cuts are also good.The square face with its "lantern" jaw and wide forehead needs a graduated cut with lots of volume at the crown. Triangular faces, on the other hand, that are widest at the jaw and more narrow at the temple can actually accommodate most styles except those with volume at the top or crown of the head.
CURLY HAIR
Curly hair care can present many issues because this hair type is so susceptible to frizziness. Many people use the old method of lightly spritzing the hair with hair spray, allowing the product to dry, and then shaping the hair with either their fingers or a brush. Be careful about doing this too much, however. Hair spray contains alcohol and if your hair gets too dry the frizziness will only get worse.Always use a wide tooth comb and try to gently detangle your hair while it is wet. Never brush wet hair, however. It is best to allow the hair to drip dry. Beware of straightening products. Most contain harsh chemicals that will damage your hair over time and can lead to hair loss. If you feel you must straighten your hair use a steam straightening device set to the lowest temperature or go to a salon. Professional hair care products for straightening should cause less damage to your hair in the hands of a competent stylist.



FINE HAIR
With fine hair, the shorter the cut the better. Generally fine hair is very limp and cannot take the weight of a longer hair style. You should have the benefit of good sheen, however, so a short and relatively blunt style will give the illusion of volume. Don't do anything to make the hair brittle, which leads to breaking and split ends. Avoid the excessive heat of blow drying and curling irons. Read the labels of your hair care products and avoid harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate. Minimize the use of hairsprays and gels that contain too much alcohol. These products will dry out the hair.Don't over condition. This leads to chemical build-up. "Leave in" conditioners are especially bad in this regard. At least once a week shampoo with a product designed for cleansing the hair only. This will combat build up from conditioners, which leaves the hair even more limp and less manageable.
THICK HAIR
Coarse or thick hair has much more body and life and so has more versatility than fine hair. Avoid blunt cuts which make the hair look bushy. Try something layered. If your hair is thick and curly, cuts that accentuate the curl will in the long run present fewer problems with hair style and care.The greatest problem with thick hair is simply its tendency toward dryness. Avoid hair products that contain alcohol such as hair sprays and gels. If at all possible, air dry rather than using a curling iron and choose a mild shampoo to promote as much softness as possible, maybe even a baby shampoo.
FRIZZY HAIR
Although the problem of frizz is most often associated with curly hair, many people experience problems with frizz in the summer due to heat and humidity. Hair that is dry, drab, and brittle will also be frizzy.You should choose both a conditioner and a shampoo designed to moisturize. Choose products that say they will "replenish" over those that speak to "volumizing" or to creating "body." With frizz, moisturizing is everything.Don't blow dry or use a curling iron. At night or on a weekend when you plan to stay in, apply jojoba oil to your hair, wrap it in plastic, and if possible leave it there through the night. Do not shampoo daily. Wear a hat when you are in the sun. Hair can sunburn just as seriously as the skin. Be religious about getting your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks.


Top Hair Care Tips
Whether you have straight or curly hair, care of that stuff growing on top of your head takes up at least some time in every day of your life.
When most people look for information about that aspect of their grooming routine, however, they're usually seeking articles with titles like Managing Long Hair or Curly Hair Tips. Rarely do we consider that most people don't really know what hair is, what it's made of, or how it grows.Deep in the dermis of the human skin, particularly on the scalp, long, bulb-like follicles produce a shaft of protein. That protein strand is hair. A new hair pushes outward from the follicle and upward through the skin. A single hair can live four to five years before falling out and being replaced by another strand. On the human head the rate of growth is about half an inch a month.A strand of hair has an inner cortex and a series of outer layers (6 to 8 in humans) known as the cuticle. In chemical terms the hair is 90% a-keratin and 10% water. The protein (a-keratin) is encased in a wrapping of microfibrils held together by a kind of protein glue. The resulting tensile strength of hair, even when it is dead, is quite strong. Wet hair, however, is very fragile.
Types of Hair
There are different types of hairs for different people. You need to know what type of hair you have and then plan to maintain your hair.
Straight versus Curly Hair
The type of hair, in terms of straight or curly, depends in part on a further chemical component. The a-keratin and other proteins in hair contain sulfur atoms which bond together in pairs to form a disulfide bond. When the two proteins that bond are distanced from one other, the bonding causes a bend in the hair.In addition, the environment can temporarily increase or decrease this bonding. Damp days are often known as "bad hair" days in the vocabulary of curly hair care. Humidity forces water back into the hair shaft and affects the number and degree of bends. Depending on the chemical structure of the hair, humidity may make it fall or become straighter, or kink and become even curlier. When the humidity subsides, the hair chemistry will seek its normal level.When a person with straight hair gets a chemical treatment known as a "permanent," the solution applied to their hair alters the disulfide bonds and cause the hair to bend into curls. As new hair grows in, however, it will resume its normal state. By the same token people with curly hair can use chemical solutions to break down their disulfide bonds thus straightening the hair, but the solution is only temporary and the normal chemistry of the hair will reassert itself.
Frizzy
Extreme curliness or frizziness can be a product of heredity, as in the case of people of African descent. Because the physical structure of African hair is flat, the strands roll up into very dense, tight curls. Curly hair in other races can appear frizzy when it has been damaged by chemical processes or environmental factors. This is often caused by the end of the hair unraveling and fraying into split ends which gives the frizzy appearance.The combination of summer heat and high humidity can make any hair type dry and brittle which leads to the fraying of split ends. If frizziness is not a product of heredity and physical hair structure, it is an issue of the hair needing to be moisturized and of the damaged, split ends needing to be removed.
Ingrown Hairs
Irregular hair growth or ingrown hairs are most common in people with curly hair (and in men's beards). An ingrown hair occurs when the hair strand grows back into the skin. The area will become inflamed and often pus will form. Normally a single ingrown hair can be allowed to heal on its own. The infected area will open and drain when sufficient pressure has built for the infection to break through the skin. This essentially frees the hair to grow outward again. Many times, however, the area will need to be opened and the hair extracted with a pair of tweezers.If you perform this minor surgery, place a hot wash cloth over the irritated hair to soften the outer layer of skin. Avoid digging at the skin. Use a sterilized needle to gently open the lesion and apply mild pressure to release the pus and encourage the area to drain. Although you may need to use a magnifying glass, the hair should be visible and can be gently lifted out with the tip of the needle until enough of the shaft is exposed to allow it be grasped with tweezers and extracted. If ingrown hairs become a chronic problem, you may need to wear your hear in a longer style to keep the tips of the shafts away from the skin.

Artificial Ways to Straighten Black Hair
Artificial ways of hair straightening encompass all methods in which thermal aids (such as hair thongs) or chemicals are used to relax the hair. These methods are usually more damaging to the hair than natural methods, but the results will last longer with most chemical treatments. How to straighten hair depends on the specific procedure followed.
Thermal Conditioning
In thermal conditioning a pre-conditioner is applied to the hair, to protect the hair from the following chemical procedure. Heat and chemicals combined relax hair (straighten it) and the result will stay. After the conditioning treatment a chemical hair relaxed is applied in stages with intervals of flat ironing of the treated hair.