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