The Crowd at the Marathon site.

On the foggy Sunday morning, I went to witness the razzle dazzle of the 7th Edition of Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2010. I have never visited this event earlier. The razzle dazzle of this event prompted me to skip my usual Sunday morning laze.

The eternal flame brought from Marathon in Greece and the inclusion of about 5.6 kms stretch of the architectural marvel – the Bandra Worli Sea Link were the main highlights of this year’s edition.

This year’s Marathon had more runners, but what I heard from others, the Dream Run was a bit less carnival compared to the previous editions. This came as a surprise to me since I found it quite entertaining.  Might be, the previous editions would have been more extravagant.

Though the Bandra-Worli Sea Link was the highlight of the race, it turned out to be quite a killer. The race officials did a major blunder. There wasn’t a single water station on the 5.6 kms stretch of Bandra Worli Sea Link leaving the runners thirsty. It definitely affected their run. Because of the direct sun falling on them, it was hot and humid and there was no wind. “It was like running in a desert,” said actor Milind Soman. And now there is some news – the sea link toll agency plans to claim Rs. 5 lakh from the state for losses during the closure period.

Denis Ndiso

The 27 year old Kenyan farmer Denis Ndiso clinched the men’s event clocking 2:12:34. Bizunesh Mohammed (2:13:09) won the women’s title. Amongst Indian Men, it was Binning Lyngkhoi (2:20:12) and Shastri Devi (3:10:03) won amongst Indian Women.

Here are the two instances -

After returning from a wedding, my son asked – “Daddy, why do we never pay to the waiters at wedding after dining as we normally do at restaurants?” 

I replied, “Son, when we are invited to a wedding reception, it is the host, the person who has invited us, pays for all the expenses and hence we are not required to pay.”

He paused for some moment.  Gave a thought to it and then innocently inquired, “Then Daddy, when I get married, it will be YOU who will pay for all the expenses?”

I replied, “Not me dear, it will be YOU.”

Once he asked me the ill-effects of tobacco. 

Explaining him, I said that the person who consumes tobacco, gets addicted to it.  It is also very dangerous for health and causes dreaded diseases.  After consuming tobacco, the person feels dizzy, very weak and hence unable to work with accuracy. 

He felt satisfied with my reply.

Once while returning home in a cab, the cab driver suddenly stopped aside and asked me to give him two minutes for he needed to have his staple of tobacco from the nearby shop.  As soon as the driver left, my son quipped – “Daddy, why did you let him go?  He will chew tobacco.  Won’t he feel dizzy and weak?  Will he be able to drive properly?  Will we reach home safely? What if any untoward happens?”  His series of questions started to shower upon me.  I wondered how to reply them. 

Left clueless, I just said, “Pray dear so that we reach home safely.”

Teaching children good money habits have life-long benefits and it’s worth the effort.

Where do most parents go wrong?

Most working parents find difficult to spend much needed time with them. To compensate for this, they shower their children with gifts. Providing whatever and whenever they demand does affect the children’s lacking the importance of value of money.

Children should not be pampered to the extent of being spoiled. When children grow up without hearing “no” for their demand, one cannot expect to understand the value of money when they are in teens and start to rebel.

Parents are children’s role model -

Children learn about money from observing their parents.  Parents are children’s role model and they study their every move including the way they spend money.  Parents should set the right example as children interpret your financial actions.

Value of Money -

It is important that kids learn the value of money. They should know that money is product of struggle. They have to work really hard to earn money. Parents should inculcate the value of money and let them know how it is used in everyday life. 

If the kids really want something, ask them to do some jobs around the house and reward them with the pocket money to buy it. This will help them to understand the value of money.

Parents should make them understand the importance of saving for its use in future.  Saving money in “piggy” or coin banks can help children learn how to plan and also develop their patience.

“The art is not in making money, but in keeping it.”

 

The characters depicted on the television, especially the violent ones, have great impact on the children’s behaviour. Use of abusive words, committing violent acts and being aggressive are the reactions of the cartoons on children. 

5. Poor concentration. 

6. Watching television at a stretch may damage your eyes and cause several focal problems.

 7. Poor educational achievement.

A study published in the May 2007 issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine says that frequent TV viewing during adolescence could increase the risk of attention and learning difficulties.

Thus censorship on the content of these shows is very much essential. 

Give your children your time and attention.  Be with them.  

Presence is more than just being there.  Communication with your children is very important.  Let your children understand what is correct and what is wrong; what is good and what is evil.

The parents definitely need to keep the remote in control.

Know Your Income-Tax PAN – If You Do Not Remember Your PAN.;

Track Your PAN Card Status – Applied Through UTI

Track Your PAN Card – Applied Through NSDL

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers About PAN

This is what I tell myself :

If you feel depressed, sing.

If you feel sad, laugh.

If you feel ill, double your labour.

If you feel fear, plunge ahead.

If you feel inferior, wear new garments.

If you feel uncertain, raise your voice.

If you feel poverty, think of wealth to come.

If you feel incompetent, think of past success.

If you feel insignificant, remember your goals.

Today be the master of your emotions.

Click at http://penwords.blogspot.com/2008/12/famous-thoughts.html and explore some other very good ones.

HOLY WORDS

If all the trees in the earth were pens, and the sea, with seven more seas to help it (were ink), the words of Allah could not be exhausted. Lo! Allah is mighty, wise.
Qur’an, XXXI.27

And verily, We shall try you until We know those of you who really strive and are steadfast, and until We test your record.
Qur’an 47.31

When the prayer is finished, scatter in the land and seek God’s bounty and remember God frequently, that you may prosper.
Qur’an

O mankind! We created you from a single soul, male and female and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may come to know one another.
Qur’an

Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed the souls.
Qur’an
 

Anyone who kills a believer intentionally will have his reward in hell, to remain there. God will be angry with him and curse him, and prepare awful torment for him.
Qur’an

God changes not what is in people, until they change what is in themselves.
Qur’an 13.11

Whoever suppresses his anger, when he has it in his power to show it God will give him a great reward.
Prophet Muhammad

Whoever has in his heart even so much as a rice grain of pride, cannot enter into paradise.
Prophet Muhammad

Fear your tongue; it is an arrow that misses the mark. The tongue is a savage beast: leave it free, and it will wound you.
Ali

God’s Messenger said, “Do you know the thing which most commonly brings people into Paradise? It is fear to God and good character. Do you know what most commonly brings people into hell? It is the two hollow things: the mouth and the private parts.”
Hadith of Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah

Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “God does not look at your forms and your possessions, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.”
Hadith