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The sun, the Earabadu flowers and the cry of the Koha are synonymous with the Sinhala Avurudda, the Sinhalese New Year.

Are you addicted to email?

(Published on 6 February 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

This is a confession. I have to admit that I am addicted to email. The first thing I do in the morning before I even brush my teeth is to check my mail box. The last thing I do before jumping into bed at night is to quickly check on my email. If for some reason I am unable to get online before hitting the pillow – I am restless all through the night… believing that there’s something lurking in the shadows of the virtual world. A feeling of uncertainty at what awaits me in my mailbox engulfs me. An uneasy fear.

Before you guffaw and pass off this write up as just another writer whining and wanting to turn yet another non-issue into an issue… think again for I am not alone. Many people suffer with what psychiatrists call – addiction to email!

Dilbert, the comic strip character once complained to Dogbert, “I’m addicted to email. My endorphins spike when I get a message. And when there are no messages, loneliness and despair overcome me.” Though over-the-top, Dilbert’s feelings are quite common. A lot of internet users today look to the web for solace and company. According to a study, nearly 41 percent of adults in America clamber out of bed and check their email first thing in the morning. What’s even more amazing is that more and more people now believe that it is unthinkable to go beyond two or three days without a virtual fix!

Email addiction can be compared to drug addiction. All the symptoms of addiction are present. There is a rush when one hears the sound of an email alert… and withdrawal symptoms come into play in the form of depression when the inbox is empty. An email addict has a perpetual craving to be wired. How else would you explain travellers on transit rushing to internet cafes or to wi-fi enabled locations at an airport?

Office goers are known to work right through the day with their mail boxes open – with one eye (or ear in the case of an email alert) firmly planted on the inbox. This has resulted in chronic multi-tasking and as a result shrinking attention spans. What we fail to realise is that this addiction to email has a devastating effect on one essential thing: productivity. If you’d like to enhance your productivity, give up the tendency to multi-task—and stop checking and rechecking your email inbox in the midst of other assignments.

It is wise to look for rehabilitation to counter any addiction. Email addiction cannot be taken lightly. For email addiction there are solutions short of rehab. Here are some tips to help loosen the grip of the ‘web’ noose:

Emails are supposed to ease and streamline communication. Work with your email, not against it. Make the system you have chosen work in your favour and to suit your requirements.

Send certain messages, like greetings, thank you notes and congratulatory notes by snail mail. Alternatively, take the help of the organiser to pre- plan and send these messages at an earlier date.

Set a rigid email timeframe. This is difficult and requires immense will power. Enforce rules and convince yourself that email is not allowed before or after the set timings.

Turn off the ‘ding’ sound that alerts you to new messages. It can be distracting and an annoying interruption.

Try to close up email shop completely for a few days. As a rule not accessing your emails over week-ends is a good start.

I’ve made up my mind. I am going to turn a new leaf. I am not going to let myself turn into another internet junky! I am glad I have been able to extract myself before I got entangled in the vicious World Wide Web.

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

The goodness of honey...

(Published on 30 January 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Insomnia is something that many live with. A friend of mine was dousing herself with pills to keep from staying awake all night… but with not much relief. “Believe in grandmother's remedies?” I asked her on one of the many occasions when she seemed exhausted and frayed. I could have suggested just about anything – for she was ready to try whatever it would take to catch some shut eye. Old fashioned cures have been proven effective by modern medical research. The physicians of Rome, prescribed honey to their patients who had trouble sleeping. Even to this day, a glass of warm milk sweetened with honey is believed to help ensure a restful night. Honey acts as a sedative and is also very useful in bed wetting disorders.

In Ayurveda honey is called ‘madhu’. Various ingredients of honey have helped it to become a natural product with high nutritional and medicinal value. Honey is composed of sugars like glucose and fructose and minerals like magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium chlorine, sulphur, iron and phosphate. It contains vitamins B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3 as well as small quantities of copper, iodine, and zinc. Several kinds of hormones are also present.

The medicinal quality, taste, colour and aroma of honey differs according to the geographical area and the species of plants from which it has been collected. As per Ayurveda there are eight types of honey depending on the type of bee which collects it. ‘Makshika,’ is honey collected by small honey bees and is considered as the best with immense medicinal properties. From time immemorial, honey has always played an important role in the pursuit of health and vitality. It is said that Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, realised the healing power of honey way back in the 1st century BC and prescribed it regularly to his patients. Honey has various therapeutic uses and is known to have the following qualities:

– Healing quality
The most ancient use of honey is as a healing agent for wounds, burns and cuts. During the First World War, honey was mixed with cod liver oil to dress soldier’s wounds. Even today, medical professionals from Eastern European countries continue to dress wounds with honey. Honey prevents further infection of wounds and burns. Modern science acknowledges honey as an anti-microbial agent. This property enables it to arrest infection.

– Remedy for sore throat and cold
Since honey arrests infection it is the best natural remedy for sore throats, coughs and general cold. Honey has long been used in various natural sore throat remedies. Even today many cough syrups and preparations for sore throats are honey based.

– Contains antioxidants that support good health
Honey contains antioxidants that help to eliminate the free radicals in our bodies that contribute towards many chronic diseases. Antioxidants are non-nutritive agents that can decrease the activity of cell-damaging free radicals. The darker varieties of honey contain large quantities of a particular antioxidant called flavonoids. ‘Pinocembrin,’ a unique antioxidant is only found in honey.

– Acts as a preservative
Honey does not spoil and is a preservative. Honey slows chemical reactions that cause foods to get rancid. This beneficial characteristic of honey is due to its antioxidant agents.

– Energy provider
As honey contains sugars which are quickly absorbed by our digestive system and converted into energy, it can be used as an instant energiser. Honey is more energy-packed and sweeter than sugar. However it has a low calorie level. Honey rapidly diffuses through the blood. Its free sugar molecules make the brain function better since the brain is the largest consumer of sugar. Honey thus reduces mental fatigue.

– Supports blood formation
Honey provides energy needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation.

– Enhances Skin
Honey is a wonderful beauty aid that nourishes the skin and the hair. Antioxidant-rich honey plays an important role in skin care and is used to produce alpha hydroxy acids, a vital ingredient in skin creams and moisturisers. These acids are said to help skin shed dead surface cells and increase the rate of cell renewal. Honey also helps the skin retain its moisture.

Honey restores the damaged skin and gives soft, young looks. Here are some great beauty tips from the desk of Miss Know-All. Now don’t complain that I did not share my beauty secrets with you my ‘dahlings.’

þ Honey mixed with ground almonds makes an excellent facial cleansing scrub.
þ Mix 1 teaspoon of honey, with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and a 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice to treat dry patches of skin.
þ Honey is good for chapped lips as well as for acne because it has antibacterial properties.
þ A tablespoon of honey whisked together with an egg white, 1 teaspoon of glycerine and 1/4 cup of flour makes a brilliant firming mask.
þ Mix 2 tablespoons of honey with 2 teaspoons of whole milk to create an effective moisturising pack.
þ For lustrous and shiny hair, mix 1 teaspoon of honey into 4 cups of warm water and use as hair rinse.

Ever doubted the goodness of honey?
To quote Martin Elkort: "Nobody disputes the role of the dog as man’s best friend, but a convincing argument can be also made for the honeybee."

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

Know your sunscreen - SPF and more!

(Published on 16 January 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

There is one thing we people living in this part of the world love – smothering ourselves with a whole lot of creams and lotions that promise to make us… “fair and lovely.” Donning layers of foundation to camouflage ourselves is another obsession. My Aunt has been using a whitening cream for years. I hesitate to tell her that it has made little or no difference. I bought her a bottle of a sunscreen lotion the last time I went overseas. She looked at the jar with great suspicion and it lay on her dresser for months. What she failed to realise is that what is more important than the bleaching cream is the regular use of a sunscreen lotion.

A sunscreen, also known as sun block is a substance that helps protect the skin from the sun's harmful rays. It reflects and absorbs ultraviolet radiation. Lotions or creams that contain sunscreens are used not just to protect the skin from tanning but to help protect the skin from premature aging and damage that may lead to skin cancer. The best sunscreens protect against both UVB (ultraviolet radiation with wavelength between 290 and 320 nanometres), which can cause sunburn, and UVA (between 320 and 400 nanometres), which damages the skin with more long-term effects, such as premature skin aging.

But does one go to a supermarket and pick up the sunscreen lotion that promises the world – or does one pick up something as per one’s complexion and requirements? Sun screen lotions are graded as per their SPF value. SPF or - sun protection factor is a number representing the amount of sun that the lotion has the ability to block. That is SPF is a scale for rating the level of sunburn protection that a sunscreen product can provide. The higher the SPF, the more sunburn protection it gives. A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters 92% of the UVB. In other words the SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer. Sunscreens with an SPF value of 2 - 11 give minimal protection against sunburns. While, sunscreens with an SPF of 12 - 29 give moderate protection. And those with an SPF of 30 or higher give maximum protection against sunburn.

This brings us to the next question. How would one choose the best suited sunscreen for oneself? The answer lies in the colour of your skin as well as the nature of your work. Other factors to be considered are the skin type (sensitive skin), the amount of sunscreen applied and frequency of re-application as well as activities in which one engages for example, swimming. If your work requires you to be out in the sun for longer periods - the best sunscreen would be one that blocks enough UV radiation to protect your skin for the longest possible time. The chart below can be used as a guideline to obtain the proper protection:

.SPF 30 – 50: Fair; blonde, light brown hair; unexposed skin is white; freckles. Tans lightly and usually develops a painful burn quickly.

.SPF 15 – 20: Average Caucasian; unexposed skin is white. Develops an average tan and moderately burns.

.SPF 6 - 15: Medium complexion; unexposed skin is light brown; usually with dark hair and dark eyes. Tans easily and burns minimally.

.SPF 2 – 10: Dark, unexposed skin is brown. Tans easily and rarely burns.

Most sunscreens work by containing either an organic chemical compound that absorbs ultraviolet light or an opaque material that reflects light, or a combination of both. Absorptive materials are referred to as chemical blocks, whereas opaque materials that reflect are called physical blocks. Research has shown that the best protection is achieved by application 15–30 minutes before exposure to the sun, followed by reapplication 15–30 minutes after the exposure begins. Further reapplication is only necessary after activities such as swimming or excessive sweating. However it is advisable to consult a skin specialist when choosing a proper sunscreen especially if you have sensitive skin and are prone to photosensitivity.

Interestingly, clothing also provides protection from the sun. The ‘protectiveness’ of clothing can also be measured by SPF. The following are SPF's of various types of clothing:
4Stockings - SPF 2
4Caps / Hats / Shade - SPF 3-6
4Light summer clothing - SPF 6.5
4Thick cottons/ sun-protective clothing - up to SPF 30

And to my Aunt who has just consumed yet another jar of whitening cream…
“Its beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.”
You need to start focussing more on enhancing your personality!

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

Netizen Speak

(Published on 9 January 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Netizens, referring to citizens belonging to the world of Internet come from a different planet for not only do they speak a strange language, they are also governed by their own set of rules and regulations. While we the citizens of mother earth are still coming to terms with what we call disputes, quarrels, clashes and battles, the netizens are fighting what they call a Flame War. While the rest of us think that Archie was a comic book, the Netizens believe that Archie is a tool (software) for finding files stored on anonymous FTP sites. While we, the ordinary are still trying to cope with cockroaches and mosquitoes, our netizen friends speak of spiders that they also call worms or crawlers.

Eddy Peters could not have been more correct when he said that: “Not only does the English Language borrow words from other languages; it sometimes chases them down dark alleys, hits them over the head, and goes through their pockets.” This holds true for the Netizen language as well. Except, that this time around, - it’s the English Language that’s at the receiving end.

If you by now are already fidgeting in your seat wondering what this is all about – here’s an opportunity for you to bring yourself up to speed on the various terms that are used online by the netizens.

Backbone: A high-speed line or series of connections, that forms a major pathway within a network.

Bandwidth: How much stuff you can send through a connection. Usually measured in bits-per-second.

Bit (Binary DigIT): The smallest unit of computerised data.

Browser: A software that is used to look at various kinds of Internet resources.

Byte: A set of Bits that represent a single character. Usually there are 8 Bits in a Byte.

Cookie: Refers to a piece of information sent by a Web Server to a Web Browser that the Browser software is expected to save and to send back to the Server whenever the browser makes additional requests from the Server.

Cyberpunk: Cyberpunk was originally a cultural sub-genre of science fiction taking place in a not-so-distant, dystopian, over-industrialized society. The term grew out of the work of William Gibson and Bruce Sterling and has evolved into a cultural label encompassing many different kinds of human, machine, and punk attitudes.

Cyberspace: Term originated by author William Gibson in his novel Neuromancer the word Cyberspace is currently used to describe the whole range of information resources available through computer networks.

Finger: An Internet software tool for locating people on other Internet sites. Finger is also sometimes used to give access to non-personal information, but the most common use is to see if a person has an account at a particular Internet site.

Fire Wall: A Fire Wall is a combination of hardware and software that separates a LAN into two or more parts for security purposes.

Flame War: A Flame War is when an online discussion degenerates into a series of personal attacks against the debaters, rather than discussion of their positions. A heated exchange.

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): The coding language used to create Hypertext documents for use on the World Wide Web.

IP Number: (Internet Protocol Number): Sometimes called a dotted quad. A unique number consisting of 4 parts separated by dots, e.g. 176.143.248.2. Every machine that is on the Internet has a unique IP number.

ISP (Internet Service Provider): An institution that provides access to the Internet in some form, usually for money.

Modem (MOdulator, DEModulator): A device that you connect to your computer and to a phone line that allows the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system.

Port: First and most generally, a port is a place where information goes into or out of a computer. A port also refers to a number that is part of a URL, appearing after a colon (:) right after the domain name. And finally, a port refers to translating a piece of software to bring it from one type of computer system to another.

Spam: An inappropriate attempt to use a mailing list, or other networked communications facility as if it was a broadcast medium by sending the same message to a large number of people who didn’t ask for it.

Spider: A software robot that serves a search engine by exploring the net, collecting web page addresses and page contents, and following links from them to other addresses to collect still more web information. Also known as a worm or crawler.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator): The standard way to give the address of any resource on the Internet that is part of the World Wide Web (WWW).

Words and terms from the Netizen language are now being embraced by the English language as they are now in common use. In the words of John French:

“Words are the leaves of the tree of language, of which, if some fall away, a new succession takes their place.”


Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

From the desk of Miss Know-All: The significance of the Christmas Tree

(Published on 2 January 2007 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Just attended a lovely Christmas party - an occasion that holds a special place in my heart right from when I was a child. The spirit was one of festive cheer and bonhomie. The MC on the mike asked the children if they knew the significance of the Christmas Tree. Surprisingly none of the kids had any idea. Then the question was put forward to the adults. Everyone shuffled uncomfortably in their chairs. A Christmas Tree is such an integral part of Christmas – but sadly nobody was really sure of its significance. Has it become just a decorative addition to the celebration?

The Master of Ceremony asked everyone to look at the Christmas Tree again with an open heart and listen to what it told us. He said the triangle shape denoted the trinity.
Further the tree pointed upwards towards God. Being an evergreen the tree indicated that life was eternal. The needles grew upwards like hands praising God. The lights on the tree represented heaven and the gifts around it represented charity, love and compassion. This was truly beautiful – and suddenly the Christmas Tree came to life and had a truly different meaning.

A tree is known to represent the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It is believed that the Christmas tree originated in Germany. The earliest record of an evergreen tree being used and decorated for Christmas is 1521 in the German region of Alsace. In the fourteenth century, churches held plays to tell the people in villages and towns stories from the Bible. The play that was held every December 24 was about the Garden of Eden and showed how Eve was tempted by the serpent and how she picked the apple from the forbidden tree. A major problem was to find an apple tree with needles on it in the middle of winter. A solution was found by cutting down an evergreen tree, probably a spruce or pine, and tying apples onto it. The tree was also decorated with round white wafers to remind that even though Adam and Eve were expelled from Paradise, the birth of baby Jesus would bring redemption. The idea of a Christmas tree decorated with apples enchanted people so much that before long many families were setting up Paradise trees, in their own homes. The custom persisted long after the plays were no longer performed.

Ever since, red and green, the colours of apples hanging on the tree have been the main colours of the festive season. History records that the first person who decorated an indoor Christmas tree was Martin Luther. The first Christmas tree in Windsor Castle was brought by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, in the year 1834.

As the years passed the trees were decorated by hanging gilded nuts, gingerbread cookies and marzipan candies, shaped like fruits and vegetables from the boughs. Brightly decorated eggshells, cut in half and filled with candies, were set in the tree. The wafers that once hung on the Paradise tree were replaced with cookies in the form of hearts, bells, angels and stars. With time, the cookies were replaced with decorations made out of thin, painted metal. When people combined the decorations with candles, they created the Christmas tree that we know of today.

Decorating the tree is a special task that is shared by everyone in the family and is supposed to bring about a special bonding between family members. These days sparkling ornaments, electric lights, and shining tinsel are used as decorations. Glittering with colour and light and topped with a star or an angel, the green Christmas tree symbolises that life is eternal. The presents below the tree are reminders of the love and close ties that are shared by families and friends.

"O Tannenbaum" – a German folk song says:
Not only in summer's glow,
But 'mid the winters frost and snow
O faithful pine, O faithful pine,
You're true and green forever.

Season’s greetings to all the readers of W@W. May the beauty of this joyous season fill your heart and home with peace and happiness.

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

RSVP - 'respondez, s'il vous plait'

(Published on 26 December 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

The four little letters at the bottom of a wedding invitation card almost always go unnoticed. There is no doubt that the host sending out the invites must have put this acronym there with a purpose. Especially at a time when the cost of printing the card depends on the number of words being printed on it… the person sending the card most certainly would not add these four letters to heighten the aesthetic value of the invite or show-off his knowledge of the English language. Judith Martin, the author of many books on etiquette believes that ‘RSVP’ came about as a polite way of reminding people of something that they should already know: If you receive an invitation, you should reply.

Interestingly the acronym RSVP has numerous meanings:
m RSVP - Rotating Surveillance Vehicle Platform
m RSVP - Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary, Pronunciation
m RSVP - Rapid Service Voice Processing
m RSVP - Rating Site Value Points
m RSVP - Reinforcing Safety Values in People
m RSVP - Retrieve Sound Velocity Profile
m RSVP - Recognise Success via Implementation
m RSVP - Rapid Serial Visual Presentation
m RSVP - Rare Symmetry Violating Processes
m RSVP - Retired and Senior Volunteer Program
m RSVP - Research Society for Victorian Periodicals
m RSVP - Renewables for Sustainable Village Power
m RSVP - Restartable Solid Variable Pulse (rocket motor)

Now if you are a rocket scientist you might just confuse RSVP to stand for Restartable Solid Variable Pulse with reference to a rocket motor – but for you and me it really is quite simple. RSVP stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means ‘please reply.’ Implying that, the person sending the invitation would like you to tell him whether you accept or decline the invitation. Invitations carry the host's telephone number so you can call with your answer. However, under strict etiquette rules, a written invitation requires a written reply.

For hosts who are planning a dinner party, a wedding or a reception, this is important from a practical point of view. The host will need to know how many people to cater for, not just for planning food quantities but issues relating to appropriate seating, transportation, etc. among other administrative things. However what is more important is the simple courtesy of responding to someone who was nice enough to invite you, even if it is to say that you will not be able to attend. Nowadays, to make it more convenient for the guest, invitations often carry a request saying -‘regrets only.’ That means that the host will count on your being present unless you tell him otherwise.

There is lot of confusion in the minds of guests as to what exactly RSVP means. RSVP does not mean to respond only if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the expression ‘regrets only’ is used if that is what is to be conveyed). It means the host needs a definite head count for the planned event. It is considered as rude and a pointless exercise to respond and communicate on the very date of the event itself. Rather too late for the host to make changes and swing into action.

I’d like to believe that the decline in RSVP's is attributed to ignorance and people not really knowing what it means rather than rudeness. RSVP is a term given to us by the French and it would be thus appropriate to close with a line on etiquette by Colette, a French novelist: “It is wise to apply the oil of refined politeness to the mechanisms of friendship.”

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Dating Allowance! Staff retention... at what cost?

(Published on 12 December 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Given the current demand for skill, HR heads of multinationals are getting their knickers in a twist about retaining a committed workforce. Finding and keeping good people is always a major concern. As corporate loyalty and commitment are in short supply, a great workplace culture is the need of the hour. Organisations are now looking at innovative changes in the workplace and work culture and improved ways to motivate their staff.

Recently, there was much hue and cry in the press when a leading Indian company was accused of giving its employees a ‘dating allowance’. One had heard of HRA, LTA, Medical, Transport and Dearness allowance... but what in the world was a ‘dating allowance’?

A case was filed by Tripti Nigam against Wipro, India's third-biggest software company under the new Domestic Violence Act alleging that her husband Gaurav Nigam had deserted her because the company paid him a ‘dating allowance’. Tripti, who lives in Kanpur, alleged that Wipro paid her husband an allowance for dating and this was leading to ‘moral degradation’. While Wipro officials went blue in the face denying that they gave employees ‘dating allowance’, the whole incident has brought to light something that is still very new to the Indian corporate world.

Dating Allowance is the latest to join the list of incentives being offered to employees. More of a trend in the US, this new allowance has now made its way to India as well. Believed to be an essential addition in times of long stressful work hours, a dating allowance is typically aimed at promoting inter-personal communication and possible long lasting relationships, within the office. The philosophy behind the initiative is to show that the company wants to participate in the lives of its employees. Whether a company should participate and interfere in the lives of their employees to such an extent is debatable… as well as a personal choice.

Staff turnover costs companies dearly. But staff retention… at what cost? A driving factor of the employee’s loyalty is the company’s well-planned and executed package of benefits. These days among the perks are on-campus fitness centres, lap pools, tennis courts, basketball courts, and volleyball courts. Company hosted events are organised to help build camaraderie. The benefit package includes flexible work hours. While recreational activities have nothing to do with improving the employee’s job performance, companies recognise that such activities help employees grow personally. Organisations actively encourage off-the-job activities, which include scuba classes, yoga classes, dance classes and ski-resort getaways.

However, employee retention efforts are not all focused on fun and games. Competitive compensation packages which include not just the salary but bonuses, stock options, and the traditional health and retirement package are other tools that help keep employees onboard. Both communication and staff development are crucial. A communication plan needs to be devised to keep employees apprised of company performance and business objectives. A company needs to be committed to employee education and respond effectively to their needs. Rewards and recognition can be powerful tools and are proving to be effective especially when recognition is linked to personal needs such as time off, job sharing, flex-time, office space, special tasks and public acknowledgment.

Attention to retention should be a constant, ongoing process. Nurturing staff should be a non-stop, day-to-day activity. We are no moral police to judge if this new perk called ‘dating allowance’ is appropriate or not... for at the end of the day isn’t it up to the employee to decide how he uses his allowance… irrespective of what name it is given.

Zig Ziglar makes an interesting observation on employee motivation - “People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.”

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Yes! I've finally been 'mammographed'!

(Published on 5 December 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Overcoming one’s fears is not easy. I have been wanting to get a mammography done for some years now… but was scared stiff. Friends are to be blamed for this – for they told me that it was a painful exercise that resulted in a lot of discomfort. But really – it was fear of the unknown. I was not even sure of what the procedure entailed. Was it an injection? Or was it a needle biopsy? Or was it just a plain ultrasound or an x-ray? Or do they put you in a ‘CAT scan’ like machine? I reached the hospital clueless. The only instruction given prior to the mammography was to avoid using any deodorant, talcum powder or lotion. The lady doctor was gentle and before she proceeded chose to explain the whole process to me.

Mammography is the process of examining the breast for different types of tumours and cysts by using low-dose X-rays. The process has been proven to reduce mortality from breast cancer as it results in early detection. During the procedure, the breast is compressed by two plates that are part of the machine, in order to even out the tissue and increase image quality. Both front and side images of the breast are taken. Radiologists then analyze the image for any abnormal growths. Self-breast examination is essential for regular breast care but mammography is a more reliable method. Routine mammography of older women is encouraged as a screening method to diagnose early breast cancer.

The doctor also explained that though mammography is the only screening method which has been shown to actually detect cancer, it is not always 100% accurate. 10 – 20% of cancers are missed by mammography. In every 100,000 women approximately 350 women suffer with breast cancer. Of these about 35-70 will not be seen and detected by mammography. The following myths about breast cancer need to be busted:
hOnly women get breast cancer
hOnly women with a family history of breast cancer are at risk
hOlder women are less likely to get breast cancer than younger women
hBreast cancer is contagious
hAll breast lumps are cancerous
hSmall-breasted women cannot get breast cancer
hDrinking coffee increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer
hAntiperspirants are a leading cause of breast cancer
hBreast-feeding causes breast cancer
hOral contraceptive pills cause breast cancer

The examination lasted for less than 30 minutes. While mammography does involve breast compression, which is temporarily uncomfortable, the procedure is not unbearably painful. It was over before I realised that it was. The compression lasts for a very short duration. My appeal to all my readers is to take out half an hour from their busy schedules and get a mammography done. And when you have taken the step – remember to talk about it to as many people as possible.

"Sickness comes on horseback and departs on foot." Dutch Proverb

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

From the desk of Miss Know All: Read the fine print - carefully!

(Published on 21 November 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

The world out there is a nasty place. There are numerous wolves that you will come across as you plod along life’s way. Some, whom you will face head on – while others, who will in their camouflaged garb, take you by surprise. It’s not just about black and white. There are many greys that you will encounter. As a customer one has to be on the guard for there are often agreements in fine print that go unnoticed right under our noses.

Fine print refers to the practice of including necessary terms and conditions, legal stipulations, warnings and disclaimers in small writing on commercial or contractual documents and products. It is usually included at the bottom of a document or product, in a smaller font size with the hope that it goes undetected. Whether it is for opening a bank account or signing a loan agreement, or applying for a credit card or insurance, the customer is always eager to finish the documentation process quickly rather than understand the terms and conditions he has agreed to. Service providers use jargon in contractual small print to conceal terms disadvantageous to the customer, or to obscure legal rights and obligations.

As a customer, you should have an eye for fine print. Ask the service provider to give you all the details and run you through the contract. Taking a loan is not just about interest rates. More than often what is not mentioned is that pre-closing of a personal loan can cost you a penalty. A ‘free for life’ credit card offer from card issuers sounds attractive. But what is not disclosed is that most of these cards don’t allow you to earn reward points against your spend. This can be a disadvantage because these days there are a wide range of redemption options. Some countries require by law that certain information be included on advertisements or packaging. Advertisers and manufacturers include this information in fine print in order to meet the requirements but with the intention that it draws minimum attention.

It is not ethical to bury significant and crucial information within the fine print of an agreement and to rely upon the fact that most people will never read or comprehend its meaning. As if this is not enough lately there's even mouse print. Mouse print is now a common term in the marketing world and refers to legal terms being printed so small that it can only be read by someone the size of a mouse. One wonders how companies get away with it.

Knowledge is power! Awareness is more power! Before making any large purchase or commitment of any nature one should do research and read up what’s available in the market, and compare the alternatives. Then make the best choice to suit your needs. If you do your homework well you will know what exactly you have signed up for. In his album ‘Small Change’, Tom Waits said - "The large print giveth, and the small print taketh away." How very true.

Don’t forget Miss Know All, dahlings – always your well wisher. No hidden agendas here.

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

To chop, dice or slice? Cookery terms for the clueless!

(Published on 14 November 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Although the art of cooking seems a daunting task at first, it’s not as challenging as it seems once you are armed with a little bit of know how and loads of confidence. As per Dr Bryan Miller: “the qualities of an exceptional cook are akin to those of a successful tightrope walker: an abiding passion for the task, courage to go out on a limb and an impeccable sense of balance.”

The great world cuisines came into being when people in diverse environments and geographic locations experimented with limited food resources and technologies over long periods of time. Today, you can prepare foods using different methods that have already been tried and tested, with a variety of equipment, ingredients and seasonings.

However, having said that, are you still clueless in the kitchen? Confidence in the kitchen begins with getting a grip on the various terms used to describe cooking methods. My experiment with this art started at the very bottom rung. I did not even butter my bread as I considered that cooking. It took me ages to fathom out the difference between a saucepan and a frying pan! As recipe terms such as simmer and sauté had me in a pickle, and I could not for the life of me know when to chop, or dice or slice – I created my own little book of common kitchen catchwords:

Al dente: An Italian term that refers to the desired texture of cooked pasta. It literally means "to the tooth". When the pasta is cooked al dente, there should be a slight resistance in the centre when the pasta is eaten. It should be cooked until tender but still firm to the bite.

Baste: To spoon liquid over a food while cooking to prevent it from drying out. The liquid is usually meat drippings, melted butter, or any other liquid such as a sauce. Basting flavours the meat and keeps it moist.

Beat: To make a mixture smooth or to introduce air by using a brisk, regular revolving motion that lifts the mixture over and over.

Blanch: To plunge foods into boiling water for a few seconds or a few minutes, then remove and place in ice water. This process sets the colour of vegetables and lets you easily slip the skins off.

Blend: To combine two or more ingredients so that the constituent parts are indistinguishable from one another.

Braise: To cook meat or vegetables by browning in fat, then simmering in a small quantity of liquid in a covered container.

Bread (as a verb): To roll or coat with bread crumbs.

Broil: To cook by exposing to direct heat.

Brown: To brown a meat means to cook until brown.

Chop: To cut into small pieces with sharp knife.

Coat the spoon: To cook until mixture sticks to the metal stirring spoon in a thin layer.

Cube (as a verb): To cut into small squares of more or less equal size.

De-bone (as a verb): To remove bones from meat, poultry or fish.

Dice: To cut into small cubes.

Dot: To scatter small pieces of butter or other fat over food before cooking.

Dredge: To coat or cover by sprinkling lightly with flour, sugar, etc.

Dust: To sprinkle food lightly with a dry ingredient, such as a seasoning.

Fold: To combine by cutting vertically through the mixture and turning over and over. It is usually accomplished with a spatula. The aim is to mix without losing the air.

Garnish: To embellish or decorate prepared food or drink to add contrasting flavour.

Glaze: A glaze is a coating of a glossy, often sweet, mixture applied to food. Egg whites and icing are both used for this purpose.

Grate: To cut food into very fine particles by rubbing on a grater.

Grease: To coat lightly with fat or butter to avoid sticking.

Grind: To cut food into tiny particles by pushing through a food grinder, or by crushing with a mortar and pestle.

Julienne: Julienne is a fancy word for a simple cut. Julienne means to cut something into long strips.

Knead: To repeatedly fold, turn and press down on dough with the hands until it becomes smooth and elastic.

Marinate: To let foods stand and soak in a liquid mixture, usually of vinegar, wine or oil with various spices and herbs.

Mince: To cut or chop into very small pieces.

Parboil: To cook partially by boiling briefly.

Pan-fry: To cook in a small amount of fat in a pan.

Poach: To cook in water or other liquid that is just below the boiling point.

Roast: To cook by dry heat in oven.

Sauté: To cook briskly in a small amount of fat.

Scald: Scald means to heat a liquid, usually a dairy product, just short of boiling.

Sear: To brown surfaces quickly over high heat, usually with a hot instrument.

Shred: To cut into fine pieces with a knife or sharp instrument.

Sift: To put dry ingredients through a sieve, to either incorporate them, or to remove large pieces.

Simmer: To cook in liquid at a low temperature.

Skim: To remove the fat or scum that rises to the surface of a liquid such as milk, soup or sauce.

Slice: To cut completely through an object. Think of slicing cheese, or bread. Same principle goes for veggies, meat and fruit.

Sliver: To slice into long, thin strips.

Steam (as a verb): To cook covered over a small amount of boiling liquid so the steam formed does the cooking.

Steep: Let stand in hot liquid to extract flavour, as in tea, or to hydrate dried vegetables or fruits.

Stew: To cook slowly in liquid.

Stir: To mix foods with a circular motion for the purpose of blending or obtaining uniform consistency.

Thin: To dilute by adding liquid.

Toss: To throw lightly or fling repeatedly about to mix (as in a salad) so as to cover with dressing.

Whisk: To blend ingredients smooth, or to incorporate air into a mixture, similar to whipping.

And as one ventures into this exciting arena, remember what Barbara Costikyan has to say – “In the childhood memories of every good cook, there's a large kitchen, a warm stove, a simmering pot and a mom.”

From the desk of Miss Know All: Dangers of a long flight - deep vein thrombosis!

(Published on 14 November 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Awareness is critical to prepare oneself for all eventualities. Little did Panna Marfatia know when she boarded the British Airways flight BA-139 from London to Mumbai on 4th November 2006 that she would not step out of the plane alive. Panna complained of uneasiness on board and was given medical treatment by the in-flight staff. However, Panna collapsed and was declared dead by the Sahar Airport doctor after the flight landed. The post-mortem stated cardiac arrest as the cause of death but it was suspected that she had suffered deep vein thrombosis.

What is deep vein thrombosis? Why does it happen? How can it be prevented? These are just few of the questions that come to one’s mind. Long flights result in passengers sitting in a sedentary, cramped position for a long duration of time. As a consequence blood flow slows down and there is poor blood circulation. The constricted blood circulation often leads to swelling of the feet. In extreme cases a blood clot develops in a deep vein, usually in the lower leg. Unlike small clots that can be broken down by the body as time passes by, larger clots block blood flow in the vein. This is called deep vein thrombosis. Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis are swelling in the legs and pain in the calves.

People who are either over the age of forty, or those who suffer from diabetes or hypertension, pregnant women and women on contraceptive pills are more prone to get deep vein thrombosis and fall into the high-risk group. Other risk factors include obesity and recent surgery. As long-haul flights bring about prolonged immobility, it is advised that travellers are made aware of what deep vein thrombosis is all about and how they can avoid it. While heart patients, senior citizens and pregnant women are advised to visit their doctors and take professional advice before a flight - the following is recommended for all long distant passengers:

4On a long flight it is advised that you stretch your legs and perform leg exercises while seated. Most airline magazines diagrammatically explain how these exercises can be done.

4Every couple of hours, briefly walk up and down the aisle to enable blood circulation and to prevent cramps.

4Drink juices and water to keep hydrated.

4Avoid alcohol and caffeine drinks as they lead to dehydration which causes thickening of blood.

4Push back your seat so as to assume as much a horizontal position as possible to assist circulation of blood.

Having said that – I’d like to emphasise that good health is something one has to work towards. As quoted by Wayne Fields in ‘What the River Knows’:

“The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling.”

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

From the desk of Miss Know All: Suffering from whitlow?

(Published on 7 November 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Remember those ‘Tell me why’ series of encyclopaedias in the school library dahlings? Well I’m planning to come out with my own series. The ‘Tell me why Miss Know All’ series of books that are destined to be a sell out before they even go into print. The questions people ask me… I can’t help but find myself showing off – my knowledge that is.

Waiting for my turn at the beauty parlour for a facial (a meek and feeble attempt to slow down the aging process) – I found myself chatting with another client… young and pretty, may I add. While I’d give her an A++ for grooming – I noticed she suffered with a bad case of whitlow. Every opportunity to impart knowledge is seized… and here I was sitting amongst a group of hoity-toity make-up laden ladies telling them what to do when struck with this ailment.

A whitlow is an infection that occurs at the side or the base of a finger nail or a toe nail. The medical name for this is paronychia. This nail disease is a bacterial or fungal infection where the nail and skin meet at the side or the base of the nail. Patients suffer with characteristic vesicular lesions. Fluid within the vesicles is usually clear. It can also be chronic and people are known to have a tendency of getting it regularly. The cuticle, which is the skin at the base of the nail acts as a protective covering. If the cuticle is damaged then bacteria are able to enter the skin and cause infection. The skin becomes inflamed, red, and throbs continuously. Despite the small area affected these infections can be extremely painful.

Whitlows are very common amongst people who because of the nature of their work, have to repeatedly wash their hands. Excess water softens the cuticle and soaps or detergents remove the protective skin oils. This leaves the skin dry and more prone to split. Any damage to the cuticle allows infection to enter. Biting or picking at the cuticle or even damage through over enthusiastic manicuring can be the cause. Whitlow can be caused by either bacterial infection or a fungal one. When the infection comes on quickly it's usually caused by bacteria. This needs treatment with antibiotics. Usually a cream would suffice but in severe cases tablets would have to be taken. If the infection persists then a fungal infection is often the cause. An anti-fungal cream is the solution.

When someone is prone to whitlows it's advisable for them to use rubber gloves when washing things. It is also important to moisturise the skin well after drying your hands. Discourage over enthusiastic manicurists from digging around the cuticle when manicuring your nails.

‘Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.’ – Confucius
Real knowledge is to also accept that a Miss Know All has done her homework well and knows what she is talking about.

Miss Know-All
miss.know.all@gmail.com

From the desk of Miss Know All: Want to lose weight? Get your ears stapled!

(Published on 31 October 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

There’s just no end to learning. A Miss Know-All needs to keep alert and vigilant. You need to keep yourself updated with what is latest in just about every field. I’d hate to be a ‘had-been’ – one needs to work hard to maintain one’s reputation of being a Miss Know-All. From maturing cataracts to bouquets n brick-bats… we the Miss Know All’s have an answer for everything!

Just when I thought that the only ways to lose weight and rev up your metabolism was to follow a high protein diet, catch enough sleep and indulge in high impact exercise – I was in for a surprise. Over the last few years, an alleged weight-loss method that is gaining ground and popularity is ear stapling. Stapling of the ear is a pretty simple procedure. A practitioner uses a specialised staple gun. The slightly protruding piece of cartilage close to the tragus is pierced. Tragus is a part of the external ear and is a small projection in front of the ear canal. A very thin staple remains in the ear from anywhere between six weeks to three months. The basic idea is that the pressure created suppresses the appetite. Once the body gets used to the staple, it needs to be repositioned. The person has to return to the practitioner to have the ear re-stapled in a slightly different position. Practitioners recommend stapling both the ears to achieve maximum weight loss.

The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture is attributed as the source of this procedure. Stimulating specific points on the body using needles or finger pressure affects overall health and wellbeing. According to studies, the outer ear and the abdominal organs are right next to each other during foetal development in the womb. The physical connection between these body parts remains via nerve pathways even after they are no longer in close proximity. As per this explanation, stimulating a part of the external ear also stimulates the abdominal organs, including the stomach.

Ear-stapling is supposed to work wonders especially when combined with a good diet and exercise regimen. Believers in ear stapling claim that it can curb appetite reduce stress and increase metabolism. Whether you think it's going to work or not, what’s truly important to keep in mind is that weight loss works best if you focus on eating healthy and keeping active. It's possible that you'll achieve similar results if you leave out the staple and just focus on the food and exercise.

I’d like to close with the legendary entertainer Eartha Kitt’s words:
“I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.”

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Triskaidekaphobia

(Published on 24 October 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

My grandmother organised a family do on 13th September. Everyone graced the occasion except for an aunt who refused to turn up even though she lives just two houses down the lane. No amount of cajoling helped her change her mind. You see this aunt is a triskaidekaphobic and nothing in the world will make her step out of her house on the 13th day of any month. Besides, this September – 13th fell on a Friday… I wonder whether she got out of bed at all, that day.

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13 as over a period of time this number has been associated with bad luck. The word ‘triskaidekaphobia’ has Greek origins: ‘tris’ means three; ‘kai’ means and; ‘deka’ means ten – thus adding up to the number thirteen. Phobia of course denotes fear. This superstition leads some people to fear or avoid anything involving the number 13 and leads to interesting practices such as omitting the number 13 when numbering floors in high-rise buildings.

The association of bad luck with the number 13 has been attributed to the fact there were 13 people at the Last Supper. The association has also been linked to that fact that luni-solar calendars such as the Hebrew and the Chinese calendars have to have 13 months in some years in order to synchronise the solar and lunar cycles. Triskaidekaphobia is also related to Norse mythology. God Odin invited eleven of his closest friends to a dinner party, only to have his party ruined by Loki, the god of evil. The total number of people added to 13. The legend further recounts how Balder, one of the most dearly loved gods, tried to throw Loki out of the party. A scuffle ensued and Balder was killed with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.

Fear of the number 13 also leads to fear of Friday the thirteenth. While the number 13 is associated with the number of people at the Last Supper, the crucifixion took place on a Friday. Thus, bad luck is associated with the combination of this number with this day. The year 1998 was a bad one for triskaidekaphobics. That year was one of the rare years in which Friday the 13th appeared thrice. Every year has at least one Friday the 13th. In a 28-year cycle, there are four years that have three ‘Friday the thirteenths’. The next being in: 2009, 2012 and 2015.

The only consolation I can offer triskaidekaphobics is that they are not alone and share their fears with other famous people. Napoleon, Richard Wagner, Franklin Roosevelt and Mark Twain were known to suffer with triskaidekaphobia. While there does not appear to be any hard evidence to support that the number thirteen is unlucky, it has been noted that a lot of money is lost each Friday the 13th as a result of people avoiding to start a new venture, begin a journey, get married, move and start a new job. Very rightly - Voltaire, one of the greatest French writers and philosophers observed that, "Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy; the mad daughter of a wise mother"

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Paparazzi on the prowl...

(Published on 17 October 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

It takes so little to excite the gentry ‘dahlings.’ The streets of Pune - a town 160 kilometres south of Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, have been abuzz with excitement. Citizens of Pune woke up one morning to find Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie with their son Maddox riding an auto rickshaw down their crowded and cramped roads. Hollywood’s top couple are currently on a six-week trip to Pune along with their children - Maddox, Zahara and Shiloh-Nouvel. Angelina is in Pune, to shoot for 'A Mighty Heart' based on the real life story of Wall Street journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed in Pakistan by Islamist terrorists in 2002. Jolie is to portray Mariane Pearl, wife of the slain journalist. Pune was chosen for the shooting as the landscape resembled Karachi.

Hollywood’s first couple have descended on this lethargic Indian town with an army of security guards. Also in tow are a mammoth number of paparazzi from around the world. While an average bloke on the street can’t fathom out why his hometown is at the centre of so much attention – the paparazzi is going ballistic trying to steal a glimpse. Paparazzi from across the world are monitoring every move of the stars. Photographers have mounted a 24/7 vigil of all possible exits and entries of the hotel. Recently Angelina’s private security guard manhandled a photographer. The beefy security personnel apparently roughed up British lens-man Sam Pelf. Eyewitnesses said he also used abusive language and threatened to thrash the photographer. While the incident raked up a debate on how far the paparazzi can be allowed to overstep on people’s privacy, I wondered what the origin of the word ‘paparazzi’ was.

Paparazzi - is plural of Paparazzo and comes from the name of a character in the movie ‘La Dolce Vita.’ Paparazzo was a photographer who would go to great lengths to take pictures of American movie stars. In 1960, this annoying freelance journalist was immortalised by the director Federico Fellini. The origin of the name Paparazzo is attributed to the Sicilian word for an oversize mosquito – papataceo. As per Fellini, paparazzo is a buzzing insect, hovering, darting and stinging. He goes further to describe it as a human-like figure that has no bone structure and resembles a vampire like insect that is a parasite. After the movie was released, the word paparazzi became synonymous with intrusive photographers. Time magazine introduced the word to the public in an article entitled, ‘Paparazzi on the Prowl’ and described them as a ravenous wolf pack of freelance photographers who stalk celebrities for a living and fire with flash guns at point-blank. The term soon gained popularity across the entertainment world.

But what is very clear is that no matter what the ‘celebrity bounty hunters’ achieve to capture, paparazzi is a derogatory term. However - each to his own opinion. For as per Anna Nicole Smith: “I love the paparazzi. They take pictures, and I just smile away. I've always liked attention. I didn't get it very much growing up, and I always wanted to be, you know, noticed.”

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Understanding deja vu...

(Published on 10 October 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

My reputation as a Miss Know All is gaining speed for I now have total strangers come up to me and ask the weirdest of questions. Don’t mistake me for an agony aunt pretties… for I’m not here to hear you moan and solve your problems. I’m here to impart knowledge to the ignorant. From technical hitches to marital glitches – we the Miss Know Alls have an answer to everything.

Have you ever visited a park for the first time and felt that there was something strangely familiar about it? Or maybe you're in conversation with somebody and you suddenly get the feeling that you've had the exact conversation before. If you've ever experienced such situations, then you've experienced déjà vu. It can be triggered by sight, sound, taste or even smell. An admirer came over and asked me to explain what déjà vu is…

Déjà vu is a French term that literally means "already seen." It is described as the feeling that you've seen or experienced something before when you know you haven't. Defining types of déjà vu is very difficult. Déjà vu is extremely difficult to study because it occurs briefly, without any notice, only in certain people, and has no witnesses or physical manifestations. Because of this, there is little research and no explanations. Studies depend on personal descriptions. While about 60 percent of people say they have experienced déjà vu, the rates are highest among younger people. Researchers believe that déjà vu experiences decrease with age. There have also been higher reported occurrences among people with active imaginations.

Taking a very broad look at the research and resources available, we can put déjà vu experiences into two categories:

Associative déjà vu: The most common type of déjà vu experienced by normal people is associative in nature. You see, hear, smell or otherwise experience something that stirs a feeling that you associate with something you've seen, heard, smelled or experienced before. Many researchers think that this type of déjà vu is a memory-based experience and assume that the brain is responsible for it.

Biological déjà vu: Déjà vu also occurs among people suffering with epilepsy, psychiatric disorders, including anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. Just before having a seizure they often experience a strong feeling of déjà vu. Researchers have been able to identify the areas of the brain where these types of déjà vu signals originate. The person experiencing déjà vu may truly believe they've been through the exact situation before, rather than getting a feeling that quickly passes.

The mind is truly a strange organ for it can play games. I like what Elihu Burritt has said about the mind: “Our minds are like certain vehicles, when they have little to carry they make much noise, but when heavily loaded they run quietly.”

Ever wondered how the scarecrow knew that he didn't have a brain?

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

There's more to pastas than meets the eye...

(Published on 10 October 2006 in 'Life' - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Going to Europe on a vacation calls for excitement, and a rush of adrenaline. For months… every conversation indulged in somehow trickles down to Europe. My friend was leaving on a three month sojourn to Italy… and as a result we were treated to an overdose of information on Europe for months on end prior to her date of departure. By the time she finally did leave our shores… we all were adept thanks to our proficient (and over-excited) mate.

The one good thing that did come about from her trip was that I learnt a lot about pastas. Earlier all pastas broadly fell into two broad categories. But I soon realised that there was more to pastas than met the eye.

Pastas are available in many different shapes and sizes. Majority of pasta forms that are available originated in Italy. They are available in shapes that resemble shells, bow ties, spirals and tubes. Pastas with basic shapes should be accompanied with a plain sauce, while most shaped pastas can be savoured with a chunkier sauce. Examples of shaped pastas are:

Farfalle - shaped like a bow tie
Fusilli – shaped like a spring
Gemelli – spiral shaped, two strands twisted together
Gnocchetti – shaped like a curved shell
Conchiglie – shaped like a conch
Gramigna – strand shaped like a comma
Lumaconi & Lumache – shaped like a snail
Orecchiette – ear shaped meaning little ear
Radiatori – small chunky pieces that resembles the grill of a radiator
Ruote – shaped like a six spoke cartwheel
Rotini – tightly twisted spring

Tubular pastas are in the shape of a tube. Some tubes are long and narrow while others are short and wide. Tubular pastas have either smooth or grooved exteriors and their ends could either be cut straight or at an angle. They are often served with a heavy sauce, which stays well in the hollows of the pasta tubes. Some of the larger tubes can be stuffed and then baked. Examples: Canneroni, penne, trenne, cannolicchi, cavatappi, garganelli, macaroni, maccheroncelli, manicotti, paccheri, rigatoni, tortiglioni, and ziti

Ribbon pastas consist of flat strands of pasta, which are available in different lengths, widths and thickness. Ribbon pasta can have straight or wavy edges. The dried ribbons are generally used with a thick, heavier sauce and the fresh ribbons are served with a more delicate sauce. Examples: Fettuccine, lasagne, linguine, pappardelle, riginette, tagliatelle, and trenette

Pasta strands are long rods of pasta. The basic difference from one variety to the next is the thickness of the strands. The thicker strands work well with a heavier sauce while the thin varieties are better with a more delicate sauce. Examples: Capellini, chitarra, fedelini, spaghetti, and vermicelli

Soup pastas consist of pasta shapes that range in size from small to very tiny. The larger of the soup pastas are used in thicker based soups. Soup pastas include many shapes, such as round balls, thin strands, tubes, rings, grain-shapes, bow ties and stars. Examples: Stortini, acini di pepe, orzo, anellini, conchigliette, ditali, farfalline, pastine and tubetti.

Stuffed pastas consist of fresh pasta sheets that are stuffed with a filling. Some sheets are folded over the filling and then twisted to form a little crown shaped pasta. Stuffed pastas are formed in different shapes, such as squares, circles, triangles and half moons. They are stuffed with a variety of fillings, such as meats, cheeses, herbs, mushrooms, and vegetables. Examples: Ravioli, agnolotti, pansotti, tortelli, and tortellini

The next time you visit an Italian restaurant – don’t just stick to pizzas and spaghetti to hide your ignorance. And remember, most Italian tables would be incomplete without wine!

And here’s a quick lesson to astonish your guests with some perfect Italian!

>Apri il vino (open the wine bottle): a good glass of wine to accompany your meal.

>Cin! or Alla Salute!: the Italian toast, like saying "Cheers!"

>Buon appetito (have a good meal): before a dinner say this to the whole company and expect the same answer in return.

>Complimenti alla cuoca (compliments to the cook): after enjoying an excellent meal, say this to compliment the lady chef to demonstrate your appreciation. The male version is "com-plee-men-tee al coo-oko".

Viva Italia!

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Looking for soft skills?

(Published on 3 October 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

When a friend from Jakarta came down to Colombo on a job assignment – I was all set to help her find her feet and generally introduce her to the place. But the lady in question had done her homework well, for she carried with her a huge file with maps, contact addresses, list of associations, information on club memberships, directions to super-marts, web site URL’s of international schools and application forms of medical clinics and insurance companies. Impressed, I thought it best to step back and let her explore the beautiful country all on her own, till one fine day I got a call with a much exasperated voice at the other end.

“Will you just speak to the gentleman on the telephone line,” she requested. “He just does not seem to understand my requirements.” On the line was the manager of a placement agency equally frustrated and wound up who informed me that all he wanted to know was what skills she was looking for in her domestic help. And in turn all my friend kept answering was - “just someone with excellent soft skills!”

Here I was doing what I do best. Educating the public and coming to the rescue of the distressed. Soft skills are personality traits that do not require specialised training and practice. They refer to personal character and behaviour and include qualities of social graces, personal habits, and sense of responsibility, self-esteem, integrity and honesty, as well as communication skills and the ability to adapt to different cultures. Actually for any career, soft skills go hand in hand with hard skills, which are the technical requirements of a job. Hard skills have to be learned and require specialised training. For example: carpentry, plumbing, software programming, engineering, etc. However, to be successful in today’s complex job market it takes more than a sound technical background.

Soft skills play an important part in the success of any organisation and are what sets apart any organisation from its competitors. Every employer seeks a different mix of skills and experience from an employee. But soft skills are something that they look for consistently. Organisations dealing with customer interaction are generally more successful if their recruitment policy mainly focuses on soft skills. For this reason, soft skills are increasingly sought out by employers in addition to the required qualifications. Foremost amongst soft skills is interpersonal skills – the importance of which cannot be more emphasised irrespective of any job in any industry.

My friend has been here for over a year now – and extremely satisfied with the domestic help she has at home ever since. As for the placement agency – I saw their new advertisement in a national daily recently which read:
“Available: professional housemaids, drivers and nannies with excellent soft skills.”

A commendable display of soft skills… for the manager of the placement agency had the humility to follow and the drive to change!

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Raising a toast to the queen of crime!

(Published on 26 September 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

In the words of Washington Irving - “There is never jealousy where there is not strong regard.” How very true for I found myself besieged with envy as Mathew Prichard, Agatha Christie's only grandchild and Chairman of Agatha Christie Ltd. led the world in paying glorious tributes to his celebrated grandmother, Agatha Christie on her 126th birthday on 15 September.

And in case you are left wondering where I am coming from pretties, let me explain. No, it’s not Agatha Christie whom I envy. I wish I was in Mathew’s shoes. It must be truly wonderful to have a grandmother who could weave intriguing tales. How many of our grandmothers would tuck us into bed and concoct a story about a Belgian private detective based in London called Hercule Poirot who sported a black waxed moustache and wore patent leather shoes? Or conjure up St Mary’s Mead, the fictional village where the shrewd and intelligent Miss Jane Marple lived?

Agatha Christie remains the world’s best-selling fiction author, with more than over two billion books sold. It was claimed that Agatha Christie was outsold only by the Bible and Shakespeare. I guess that might have changed ever since but Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple continue to remain the most popular detectives. Many of Christie’s novels were released as movies. For her contribution to literature, Agatha Christie was made a Dame of the British Empire in 1971. The magic of her storytelling continues to reach a contemporary audience and she continues to be recognised as the undisputed 'Queen of Crime'. The Agatha Christie Theatre Company was launched with an immensely successful production of ‘The Hollow.’ This classic mystery was also innovatively adapted into the first ever Agatha Christie story to be a PC game. Kevin Elyot's stage adaptation of ‘And Then There Were None’ opened in the West End to outstanding reviews.

A truly grand old Dame who touched so many lives with her timeless stories of murder and deceit, Agatha Christie was a true woman of substance. One of her quotes, that’s a favourite of mine is - “The best time to plan a book is while you're doing the dishes.”

And to my dearest grandma – I love you a lot – but I wish you had been a little more creative and imaginative with your bed-time stories! The only consolation is that like Miss Marple you like gardening and are often seen carrying knitting needles and yarn!

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: What!!! Pluto not a planet...

(Published on 19 September 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Ever since I can remember… (and my Geography teacher, Miss Breganza was a great lady – who would tell me no lie) Pluto has been known as the ninth planet of our solar system since it was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. The new announcement informing the world that Pluto does not fit in with the pattern of the other planets is being unkind to all the Geography teachers down the years. What teachers said in class was law – and one never ever thought of challenging what they said or taught.

Since 1992 small objects, made of rock and ice up to a few hundred kilometres in size, have been found orbiting at a great distance from the Sun. These are called Trans Neptunian Objects (TNOs). The information gathered on Pluto and the discovery of TNOs in the outer solar system with orbital characteristics very similar to those of Pluto, have led to this new deduction. The argument is that Pluto is so small and out of place in its distant orbit around the Sun that it cannot be classified as a proper planet. As a result, Pluto will now have the rare distinction of having dual classification as a planet and a TNO, at least for the time being. This dual classification for Pluto is a result of its remarkable nature.

The group who will decide the official status of Pluto for the professional astronomers is the International Astronomical Union. They will be informing the world of their decision shortly. The definition of a planet is rather arbitrary. Planets need a better definition rather than being known as an object that our ancestors saw moving in the sky. Until there is clarity and a consensus regarding the definition it is not right to either 'demote' Pluto or 'promote' Ceres. Since the discovery of the minor planet Ceres in 1801 astronomers have found thousands of minor planets orbiting the Sun, mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Members of the IAU have been expressing their opinions on Pluto's status. There have been several votes with no clear-cut conclusion. Whatever the result it seems clear that Pluto is a special type of celestial object, which may well deserve a special status.

Well that temporarily puts to rest my belief in my Geography teacher who painstakingly taught us, seven year olds, the names of the nine planets with the help of a model. Miss Breganza – if you are reading this - I still believe that you were right and nothing will ever change that. Today even if the universe changes its views – I shall always remember what you taught me in Grade II. What rings in my mind is what Bertrand Russell has said “More important than the curriculum is the question of the methods of teaching and the spirit in which the teaching is given.”

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Holy smoke... now it's laptop batteries that are exploding!

(Published on 12 September 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Ever heard of exploding laptops that suddenly burst into flames? Good lord. Laptops have now got a mind of their own. Handle yours with care for if you treat it with a little disdain, it will lose its cool – heat up – and just explode!

But this is no banter. Dell recently recalled 4.1 million laptops as they felt that the batteries of these could short-circuit. These Dell laptop batteries could overheat and catch fire or explode. This isn't the first time in the computer industry that laptops have been recalled. HP and Apple have recalled laptop batteries in the past. But the threat of the battery exploding or catching fire is something new.

This really got me worried dahlings. As I work late into the nights often leaving the laptop on for hours on end, it was important I understand the mechanism of how the battery worked and why there were chances of it catching fire. Batteries have two terminals - a negatively charged terminal and a positively charged terminal. Energy from electrochemical reactions causes negatively charged particles called electrons to collect at the battery's negatively charged pole. When a battery is connected to a circuit, the electrons flow from the negative pole to the battery's positively charged pole. In this way a flow of charge or electricity is generated. The cells of a lithium-ion battery also contain separators that keep the positive and negative poles called anodes and cathodes apart.

Depending on the type of battery, electrons are generated in different ways. In a lithium-ion battery, pressurized containers house a coil of metal and a flammable, lithium-based liquid. Tiny metal pieces float in the liquid. Manufacturers try their best to limit the size and number of these metal fragments. If the battery gets hot through excessive use or recharging, the pieces of metal begin to move around. If a piece of metal gets too close to the separator that separates the anode from the cathode, it can puncture the separator and cause a short circuit. In case of a short circuit, the spark created could ignite the flammable liquid causing a fire. On the other hand if the short circuit causes the temperature inside the battery to rise rapidly, the battery could explode due to the increased pressure. Conversely if the short circuit causes the temperature to rise slowly, the battery can melt, and the liquid inside can leak out.

As users, we want small, light laptops that we can use for long time periods. We also want our laptops to have lots of processing power. Laptop batteries have to be relatively small, but have the capacity to hold a lot of energy and last a long time. Making lithium-ion batteries that can hold more power for a longer period requires its components, specially the separators, to be small and thin. The reduction in size makes it more probable that the batteries will short circuit or leak.

The thought of your laptop bursting into flames is a scary one. I have started treating mine with a lot more respect honeys. Before I go to bed I cover it with a lace cloth and caress it goodnight… the truth is that I want to be sure it’s not too hot on touch. I’ve come to the firm conclusion that a laptop is a woman. For no one but its creator understands its complexity. Even the smallest errors are stored in long term memory for possible retrieval. And finally – only a woman could explode on losing her cool!

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Fishing or Phishing?

(Published on 5 September 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

I often walk into the public library… it’s always a good place to check out who is working hard and could be potential competition. There are so many who aspire to be Miss Know Alls…

Much to my surprise I bumped into a friend who teaches nine year olds at the local convent. What was even more surprising was when asked what she was doing at the library she said she was preparing for the next day’s class. Preparing to teach nine year olds? How much of a preparation would you need for that? On enquiring I learnt that the previous week she was taken to task by a student’s parent for cutting marks in a spelling test. The child had written ‘phishing’ – instead of fishing. The parent a computer engineer had given my friend an entire book on phishing – and the subtracted marks were duly added to the mark sheet.

In computing, phishing is an illegal activity where in fraudulent techniques are used to acquire sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card details. People who indulge in phishing are called phishers. These swindlers attempt to get confidential information by concealing their true identity and pretending to be a trustworthy person or business. Phishing is most often carried out using email or an instant message. More recent phishing attempts have targeted the customers of banks and online payment services. Typically, a phishing attempt would be disguised as an official email from a bank, and would attempt to trick the bank's members into giving away their account information.

Most methods of phishing use some form of technical deception designed to make a link in an email appear to belong to an organisation. Misspelled URLs are common tricks. Some phishing scams use JavaScript commands in order to alter the address bar. The damage caused by phishing ranges from loss of online access to financial loss. Unsuspecting people often divulge personal information with ease, including credit card numbers; I-card numbers, and address details. Once this information is acquired, the phishers may use a person's details to create fake accounts in a victim's name or even prevent victims from accessing their own accounts

These days legitimate email messages from organisations to their clients will contain an item of information that is confidential. Emails from banks and credit card companies will often include partial account numbers. One should always be suspicious if the message does not contain some personal information.

I left the library feeling sympathetic towards my friend. She sat with a list of all the words she was to give in the spelling test the next day… checking out all possible valid ways of spelling each word. “Don’t give the student an ‘F’ in his report card when he fails,” I advised. “Just give him a ‘PH’!!!!!!!”

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: Being a good houseguest

(Published on 29 August 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

Ever had a painful houseguest pretties? A family is usually full of them – and instead of being a joyful family reunion – the occasion often turns out to be the lady of the house’s worst nightmare.

As a kid I remember frequently going for vacations to my grandmother’s house. A whole bunch of cousins would descend at her place and it would be one big party. Having said that there were strict house rules to be followed and even though we were so many of us – housework never got disrupted and everything else around us worked as it should when it should – like clockwork. We were repeatedly reminded by our parents that if we were good guests we would be welcomed over and over again.

Being a houseguest in another's home is a wonderful way to bond and share friendships. However, it takes special effort to be a good house guest whether it is at a relative’s or a friend’s house. I recollect an aunt and her bratty kids coming over one summer. By the time they left nerves were frayed and the whole family was in a cantankerous crabby mood. Our living room cushions were stained with chocolate, the garden hose had been twisted repetitively, the doorbell would not ring any more, the music system speakers had given up, the doormat had chewing gum and biscuit crumbs would appear from the most startling places.

The perfectionist that I am, I’ve always taken great care to be a good houseguest and formulated my own rules and regulations. Little bit of research on the people you are visiting always helps. After all it would be only appropriate to dress and behave as per what’s acceptable at your hosts. It’s a nice gesture to take the family something as a gift – even if it means a jar of home-made treacle. A small act, that will help you forge friendships. Keep observant and follow small hints that the hostess may drop. Usually the lady of the house wants the housework to proceed without a hitch. Flow with the tide. Don’t be a hindrance. Observe how people behave in their homes and follow suit. Pay attention to when people bathe, how frequently and for how long, when people get up and go to sleep and whether or not shoes are worn indoors.

And for heaven’s dahlings - if you want to remain popular, limit your stay to just a couple of days. As aptly put by Hubbard Kin, “making a long stay short is a great aid to popularity.” Your host may insist you stay longer, but its left for you to evaluate whether, your doing so would affect the host's life and budget. Additional house members are always an economic burden and a strain on the household budget. Paying for groceries, fruits, etc is a polite way of contributing. Give your host numerous opportunities to accept your offers of gifts or to make purchases for the household. Sending a thank-you note along with some photos that include the host family is a lovely and thoughtful way to ensure that your bond with the host family will last forever. Whether a close relative or a dear friend no relationship should be taken for granted.

Wonder why Miss Know All’s are so popular, sugars? It’s because we lead our lives by the book… perfectionists that we are.

In the words of Benjamin Franklin, “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.”

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk

From the desk of Miss Know-All: The difference between warranty and guarantee...

(Published on 22 August 2006 in 'Women at Work' - W @ W - a supplement of the Daily Mirror, Colombo, Sri Lanka)

I bought an electric kettle as a gift for an old Aunt who resides in a hill station. It will be useful by her bedside, as she would not need to get up in the cold, to heat up water for herself. Though a favourite Aunt, one always hesitates to visit her. An acidic tongue, she always has lots to say… whether it is about my gaining too much weight or loosing too much weight… about my skin looking lifeless or my hair looking limp. At eighty five – one always let her take the liberty of passing remarks that would have otherwise been sternly dealt with.

I gave her a warm hug and settled by her rocking chair as I handed her the gift along with a bottle of brandy as I enquired after her arthritis. She chose not to reply as she read the text on the box of the electric kettle with great interest. “So does this have a guarantee card or a warranty card?” she enquired. I squirmed for I hadn’t a clue. I tried to glance at the box in her hand – for some telltale signs … but it was a futile exercise. The only way out was to admit I hadn’t a clue and was not even too sure about the difference between warranty and guarantee. What followed was a volley of accusations of being a careless and irresponsible consumer who was unaware of my consumer rights. I retrieved myself and my battered ego from there and went straight to a lawyer friend’s house. So what indeed is the difference between warranty and guarantee?

A warranty is a promise given and is usually a written assurance for a product and declares the manufacturer’s responsibility to repair or replace a defective product or its parts. It means that the service is perfect when the contract is performed and the manufacturer is liable for this. The period commences on the day of acceptance of the goods. A guarantee on the other hand is an agreement assuming responsibility to perform, execute, or complete something and offers security for that agreement. It is an assurance that attests to the quality or durability of a product or service, or a pledge that something will be performed in a specified manner.

Flummoxed? Well sweeties for once I must admit – so was I! My friend elaborated and slowly the difference dawned. The fundamental difference is that a guarantee is generally a short term pledge. “We guarantee that you will be satisfied or your money back”. While a warranty is a long term contract, it is generally based on the quality of the product and its longevity rather than just simple satisfaction. This means that if you do every thing the manufacturer tells you to do and do it in the specified time frame then they will repair a quality defect at no cost to the consumer. The other type of guarantee involves the financial aspect of the transaction rather than the quality. In this type of guarantee, the buyer is given a promise of getting his money back in the event of a failure in satisfaction over a longer term.

Well, it will be some time till I visit my old Aunt again. But if it wasn’t for her I would not be wiser today. Obeisance from one Miss Know All to a very senior and seasoned Miss Know All!

Miss Know-All
wow@dailymirror.wnl.lk