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Monday 7 December 2020

Friendship Over Diamonds!

friendship, diamonds, precious, loyalty
Friendship Over Diamonds!
Tags: Friendship, Diamonds, Precious, Loyalty

This is a poem on friendship written by our 9-year old niece Ashritha.


When I started out,

I was afraid and alone.

But then, I met them,

And then, they came along.

They gave me courage,

To talk and shout!


Nothing can take them away, 

I would choose friendship over diamonds!!


My friends...

Are more than diamonds to me.

I would rather be with them.

They will be in,

My heart as best friends forever more!


Christmas Cheer!

Christmas, cheer, festival, spirit, joy, enjoyment, merry, happy, happiness, celebration, community, santa, claus
Christmas Cheer!
Tags: Christmas, cheer, festival, spirit, joy, enjoyment, merry, happy, happiness, celebration, community, santa, claus

This is a Christmas poem / song written by our 9-year old niece Ashritha. Thought we will publish it on the blog as Christmas is almost here - for all to enjoy, including our niece!


Christmas time is here,

All around Christmas cheer.

Voices like angels sing,

All the bells ring.

 

The Christmas tree lights,

It's the best of nights.

Santa Claus arrives,

Christmas cheer revives.

It's a lot of joy,

For every girl and boy.


Christmas,

Christmas,

Christmas is here!

Saturday 18 April 2020

Life In The Days of Covid-19!


lockdown isolated covid novel corona virus world country cities infection fatality doctor asia american european monitoring healthcare testing equipment death pollution connectivity technology dictatorships monarchies democracies autocracies manufacturing factories travel air sea road rail cruises transport communities survival humanity medical smartphone cars planet healing HIV AIDs SARs MERs ebola nature deadly incubate asymptomatic carriers lifesaving ozone aviation vehicular industrial genetic tuberculosis pandemic wuhan china nightmarish crisis
Life In The Days of Covid-19!
Tagslockdown, isolated, covid, novel corona virus, world, country, cities, infection, fatality, doctor, asia, american, european, monitoring, healthcare, testing, equipment, death, pollution, connectivity, technology, dictatorships, monarchies, democracies, autocracies, manufacturing, factories, travel, air, sea, road, rail, cruises, transport, communities, survival, humanity, medical, smartphone, cars, planet, healing, HIV AIDs, SARs, MERs, ebola, nature, deadly, incubate, asymptomatic carriers, lifesaving, ozone, aviation, vehicular, industrial, genetic, tuberculosis, pandemic, wuhan, china, nightmarish, crisis.

It is nearly a month that we are in country-wide lockdown and essentially isolated in our homes. Though the novel corona virus (Covid-19) has hit the world much earlier in late 2019, we are only now experiencing its full impact right at our door-step. The emerging picture is quite scary and devastating with millions across the world getting infected and high fatalities! What is heart-breaking is that the near and dear cannot even see each other through this dismal experience! The deaths are not typical and are occurring across in 1st world to 3rd world countries.

At this point of time, for inexplicable reasons, Asia (unlike its American and European neighbours) appears to be insulated from the worst that the virus could inflict in terms of infection and fatalities. Of course, this could be owing to lack of proper monitoring systems and data. While it is being said that most people dying are those with co-morbidities and elderly, yet it is also the case that several of them are also healthy citizens. It is clear that the virus does not discriminate!

As is now widely evident, without any preamble, the world has undergone a deep and radical change in the way it operates. In the last century, we have not seen anything like what is unfolding now. It is all the more worrisome that it is happening in a world that prides itself on fast connectivity and advanced technology! A huge chunk of the world’s population is in various stages of lockdown. Most people are being asked to stay at home and isolate themselves. Borders of countries have been shut down irrespective of the type of governing systems ranging from dictatorships, monarchies, democracies, autocracies et al.

Wherever possible, if at all, people are being asked to work from home. Hard core manufacturing has winded down. All kinds of travel have literally come to a standstill. Air and sea travel have become non-existent. Cruises have become undesirable as they are fertile breeding grounds for corona virus if even the slightest infection is onboard. Rail travel and road travel have ground to a halt too. The roads are unbelievably empty and these days. Cities are bearing a deserted look as if they are ghost towns. Travel, where it is still happening, is largely to transport essentials much needed for communities to survive while they are isolated and for medical assistance. All this would have been unbelievable and unthinkable a while back but sadly, it is the reality that we are now experiencing! In a nutshell, humanity has been brought down to its knees!

The situation is such that across the world, people are looking forward to summer in the hope that it will dissipate the virus. In this context, air-conditioning is being reduced as it is believed that virus spreads easier in it. Under the radically changed circumstances, we have been shocked out of the excesses of our consumerism. Previously, the mantra was not about what is actually needed but what you could be swayed into through various modes of persuasion like advertising!

Take an example of the number of smartphone models that come out of the stable of every smartphone manufacturer on yearly basis! If you look closely, there is not much difference in the models year on year. More importantly, you hardly use the full features of the smartphones. Yet you are persuaded to replace your smartphone as frequently as possible. Similar is the case with cars. How many cars do you need and how big should they be vis-à-vis the actual passengers they carry and the road infrastructure? Yet, you are encouraged to keep changing them as frequently as possible! Our shallowness and lack of depth has allowed runaway consumerism which has plundered our economic health but more importantly, the health of our planet! Another crystal clear example are our celebrities, the rich and powerful. While some of them are worth respecting, most of them are not. Even in these dire circumstances, they keep trivializing the events in multiple ways!

Anyways, we should remember that the corona virus is not the first deadly virus that we have seen in recent times. It will not be the last either! Our memory will recall HIV AIDs, SARs, MERs, Ebola and many others. However, what is different with the novel corona virus is its highly contagious nature and its clinging nature not only in passing infection from human to human but also through high touch surfaces such as metal, plastic and glass. Worse, while we have seen many deadly viruses, yet this time, humanity has been caught napping and with its pants down in its preparations.

Even after many months of becoming aware of the corona virus infections, we still do not seem to know enough to make a difference in handling, containment and curing ourselves from it. Our frontline workers who are our angels and saviours – their numbers are not enough to deal with the staggering number of infections across the world. They are being overwhelmed with poor infrastructure and lack of protective equipment! To add fuel to the fire, they are themselves getting infected. Sometimes, without their knowledge, they are becoming the super-spreaders of the virus. Add to this, the huge equipment shortages like personal protection equipment (PPE) and ventilators and you have a perfect recipe for disaster!

A trend has also been noticed wherein the virus appears to have a normal infection rate for a period of time giving the false impression that it is being brought under control - before it explodes and rises exponentially! It is like the calm before the perfect storm! The virus can incubate several weeks without exhibiting any kind of symptoms giving a false picture that all is well when it actually is not! Such infected population become asymptomatic carriers. This defeats our monitoring equipment and scientists have had to devise newer methods and mechanisms to detect and contain the virus.

In the developed countries, the crisis took an ugly turn as we did not pay heed to the warnings emanating from Wuhan of China. We blissfully chose to ignore the nightmarish scenario emerging right in front our eyes and noses. Compounding it, the political systems in China are not known for their transparency thus feeding speculations of cover-ups and data fudging. Without accurate data, the rest of the world which should have been better prepared, did not do so. Obviously, it was convenient for us until the pandemic hit us right in the face!

Our healthcare systems over the decades have seen critical staffing and lifesaving equipment being cut drastically! Further, one would think that medical coverage for all would be a reality in developed countries but that was a far cry from the truth! The countries that could afford it, chose to abandon their duty to their citizens. In that scenario, it is an absolute nightmare for an ordinary citizen without proper or no medical coverage to wade not only through the health aspects but also the financial aspects.

The situation was not any better in third world countries. They have to contend with poor ratio of healthcare workers to general population, inadequate healthcare systems / infrastructure, resources crunch. Owing to these factors, the means are insufficient to purchase healthcare equipment required for containing the pandemic in their countries. This includes personal protection equipment (PPE) like masks and suits for healthcare workers and testing kits for detecting Covid-19 infection. In the absence of adequate PPE and testing kits, we are risking high rates of infection and increasing number of super-spreaders through doctors and patients.

Strangely, it would seem, against all odds, that third world countries have lesser infections and fatalities but that is again a mirage. Perhaps, the full extent of the pandemic is not recorded for lack of proper healthcare infrastructure, testing, monitoring and analysing systems. Or the pandemic is still unfolding. Or just may be, the citizens of these countries are used to handle such crises compared to their Western and European neighbours. There have been theories on this including one about the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine (administered to millions of children soon after birth to protect against tuberculosis) could protect against Covid-19 and another about how Indians are less susceptible to Covid-19 due to their special genetic makeup (owing to a particular RNA protein that makes them less vulnerable to novel coronavirus). Yet, all these remain to be proven through hard evidence. To put it simply, we do not know enough and only time will tell!

At this point of time, there is no vaccine or cure for the deadly and highly contagious virus and this paints a grim and dismal picture of the days to come! Given the mutations that viruses undergo over a period of time, even vaccines are not a permanent solution! Therefore, the only longlasting solution is for humanity to live in harmony with nature as we did long long ago!

If humanity does not change its nature busting ways, then we are all in trouble permanently! Without any thought and only motivated by greed and selfishness, we have been sending millions of species into extinction, spreading recklessly and destroying animal habitats, demolishing the green cover of our planet and have been inviting onto ourselves numerous viruses currently existing in wildlife and dangerous to humanity through our wet markets and destruction of wildlife habitats. We have also been breeding insanely without any containment and proving a deadly risk to our planet Earth!

The resources of our planet, like water, are no longer sufficient to meet our needs. Our crazy methods have led to severe damage to the planet and unleashed multiple catastrophic events across the globe like unprecedented wildfires in Amazon and Australia, tornadoes, earthquakes, rapidly melting glaciers, category 5 storms, tsunamis, floods and droughts, to name a few. We are around 7 billion of us and still growing! How long can the planet sustain us if we are not in synchrony with the planet?

Even worse, despite the so-called prosperity in the world, social disparities have never been this stark and fatal! How can we call ourselves prosperous and advanced if we cannot eliminate stark economic inequalities? A majority of population do not have access to basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, education and healthcare! A very minuscule percentile of the world’s population controls the majority of the planet’s resources! This is nothing short of obscene and vulgar and we allow this?

Seeing all this, sometimes, one wonders who is the true virus - perhaps humanity itself and the viruses like Covid-19 are perhaps nature's way of reacting, responding and resetting the equilibrium of the planet. We still do not know conclusively on what destroyed the dinosaurs but if we do not mend our ways soon, then it may lead to our very extinction and the end of the age of Anthropocene!

The interesting part is that not all of it is a gloomy picture. The biggest positive is that our planet apparently is healing itself. As per experts, the ozone layer is repairing itself. The layer of pollution common across the world, especially in major cities, on account of industrial, aviation and vehicular pollutants, have come down drastically and can be even seen in satellite pictures. It is a great relief to be able to breathe far cleaner air and see clearly across the horizon without our sight being thickly impacted by the haze of pollution.

Our views of the night sky that we remember nostalgically from our childhood have returned! Our water bodies, namely our rivers, that are our lifeline are actually displaying signs of increased health as industrial and human pollutants reduce significantly. We can hear clearly birds chirping away merrily, something we have forgotten in the sound pollution that is our everyday life. It is now becoming a more expected sight to see wild animals reclaiming land including human habitats.

One common lifesaver in this entire episode still playing out is that the internet has turned out to be a lifesaver. It has allowed us to stay indoors to contain the pandemic while at the same time, allowing us to stay connected. Through it, students and teachers have been able to move learning online. In many ways, the crisis has contributed to intensified innovative thinking. Collaboration has truly taken a new meaning. It has proved to us that you do not to always travel to do various activities. Even after the crisis passes, the likelihood is high that the world will be forever changed in the way we work, probably for the better and how we conduct our social interactions.

We have rediscovered the beauty of home food, which is far healthier for our bodies than junk food. It naturally contributes for a healthy lifestyle. And let us not forget the most important of all – hygiene. The significance of hygiene is now drilled into our minds and hopefully, it sticks throughout our lives. And yes, we are now familiar with new terminology, thanks to Covid-19 such as social distancing!

Tuesday 6 March 2018

Castle TV Show - A Breath of Fresh Air!

Richard Castle Hollywood Movies Television TV Show Series Comedy Crime Drama Thriller Mystery Romance Actor Nathan Fillion Firefly Famous Sci-Fi Fans Actress Audience Stana Katic Detective Kate Beckett New York Police Department NYPD Cast Susan Sullivan Martha Rodgers Jon Huertas Javier Esposito Seamus Dever Kevin Ryan Molly Quinn Alexis Castle Tamala Jones Lanie Parish Penny Johnson Jerald Captain Victoria Gates Ruben Santiago-Hudson Roy Montgomery Jack Coleman Senator William Bracken Andrew Marlowe Ratings Seasons Plot Millionaire Playboy Serial Killer Books Inspiration Chemistry Characters Skills Dialogue Facial Expressions Postures Mannerisms Episode Viewer Charm Wit Successful Writer Cop Gorgeous Beautiful Powerful Backstory Alluring Mysterious Flirtatious
Castle TV Show - A Breath of Fresh Air!
Tags: Richard Castle Hollywood Movies Television TV Show Series Comedy Crime Drama Thriller Mystery Romance Actor Nathan Fillion Firefly Famous Sci-Fi Fans Actress Audience Stana Katic Detective Kate Beckett New York Police Department NYPD Cast Susan Sullivan Martha Rodgers Jon Huertas Javier Esposito Seamus Dever Kevin Ryan Molly Quinn Alexis Castle Tamala Jones Lanie Parish Penny Johnson Jerald Captain Victoria Gates Ruben Santiago-Hudson Roy Montgomery Jack Coleman Senator William Bracken Andrew Marlowe Ratings Seasons Plot Millionaire Playboy Serial Killer Books Inspiration Chemistry Characters Skills Dialogue Facial Expressions Postures Mannerisms Episode Viewer Charm Wit Successful Writer Cop Gorgeous Beautiful Powerful Backstory Alluring Mysterious Flirtatious

The television series Castle has been one of the most beloved comedy / crime / drama / thriller / mystery  / romance shows on the air. Its lead actor Nathan Fillion of Firefly fame (a cult Sci-Fi TV Show) is a much loved actor and has a huge fan following. Apart from Fillion, another lead actress who has captured the attention of the audience is Stana Katic who has perfectly embodied and brought to life the character of Detective Kate Beckett of New York Police Department (NYPD).

The show is also supported by a strong ensemble cast that includes Susan Sullivan (as Martha Rodgers), Jon Huertas (as Detective Javier Esposito), Seamus Dever (as Detective Kevin Ryan), Molly Quinn (as Alexis Castle), Tamala Jones (as Lanie Parish), Penny Johnson Jerald (as Captain Victoria Gates), Ruben Santiago-Hudson (as Captain Roy Montgomery) and Jack Coleman (as Senator William Bracken). Of course, this is only the main cast and the full cast is far longer! The show was created primarily by Andrew Marlowe and clearly, he did a fantastic job going by the show ratings especially for the first 6 seasons!

The plot of the show is all about Richard "Rick" Castle, a millionaire playboy who recently killed off his main character when a serial killer starts killing people like he does in his books. He teams up with New York police detective Kate Beckett to solve the case. He finds inspiration in Detective Beckett and starts shadowing her for his next book. Interestingly, the show was initially latched on by Fillian's fans but it took a turn when Stana Katic played out the character of Kate Beckett quite so well and brought it to life.

The audience loved the chemistry between the lead characters and that rocketed the show to fame! Further, the story telling was exceptional well into the sixth season. We liked the acting skills of the actors - acting does not always mean dialogue delivery. It includes facial expressions, postures and mannerisms. In this area, the main actors pull it off big, especially Stana Katic. Though it was a long series, it did not feel boring and in fact, it kept the viewer riveted to each episode as it played out.

For the casual viewer, it was wonderful to find a series that was sprinkled with comedy, mystery, drama and thrilling sequences. Importantly, the elements of romance were electric and nicely done! Further, there were quite a few interesting tidbits to add to our overall knowledgebase in various fields.

The show focuses on the charm and wit of Castle complemented by the grit and fortitude of NYPD Detective Kate Beckett. The chemistry between the lead characters is awesome - irresistible force meets immovable object, opposites attract, oil and water and fire and ice. On the comic element, Fillion is a perfect match for anything that the show throws at him and he brings out the best! He plays out the role of a successful writer - in fact, he even has a protective vest printed Writer when he goes out with NYPD detectives! He is obviously charismatic and an egocentric mystery writer!

Not to be outdone, Stana plays out the role of the cop to the dot! She is gorgeous (in real life too) and ever so enticing, egging Castle to match her. One wonders what a beautiful woman is doing in the NYPD - turns out that she has a powerful backstory and that is unravelled in the episodes of the show. She is alluring, mysterious and lightly-flirtatious while maintaining her ability of a tough cop who will not be cowed down by anyone! Both actors are clearly comfortable in their roles and that is one of the main reasons for the series doing brilliantly. This is a show that defies cliche and is cleverly done! If you are looking for a good show that will keep your interest alive for many seasons, then this is it!


Many of the punchlines became famous. Due credit must be given to the actors who delivered the punchlines exceedingly well. Take a look at some of them.

  • Castle: When I was your age... I can’t tell that story, it’s wildly inappropriate, which oddly is my point. Don’t you want to have wildly inappropriate stories that you can’t tell your children?
  • Alexis: I think you have enough of those for the both of us.

  • Castle: [to his daughter Alexis] I just want someone to come up to me and say something new.
  • Beckett: Mr. Castle?
  • Castle: [turning around holding a pen ready to give an autograph] Where would you like it?
  • Beckett: [holding badge] Detective Kate Beckett, NYPD. We need to ask you a few questions about a murder that took place earlier tonight.
  • Alexis: [taking the pen from him] That's new.

  • Ryan: [pointing to inscription on Castle's book] From the library of Katherine Beckett.
  • Beckett: Do you have a problem with reading, Ryan?
  • Esposito: Yo, check it, girl, you're totally a fan!
  • Beckett: Right. Of the genre.
  • Ryan: Right, the genre, that's why you're blushing.
  • Beckett: What are you, twelve?

  • Esposito: [To Beckett] A control freak like you with something you can't control? No, no, that's gonna be more fun than Shark Week.

  • Beckett: Richard Castle, you are under arrest for felony theft and obstruction of justice!
  • Castle: [Smiling] You forgot making you look bad.

  • Martha: It's my fault; he never had a father figure.
  • Castle: Oh, that's not true, Mother, I had lots of father figures!

  • Beckett: Well, guess this is it.
  • Castle: Oh it doesn’t have to be. We could uh… go to dinner, debrief each other.
  • Beckett: Why, Castle? So I can be another one of your conquests?
  • Castle: Or I could be one of yours.
  • Beckett: [extending her hand] It was nice to meet you, Castle.
  • Castle: [shaking it] It’s too bad. It would have been great.
  • Beckett: [stepping closer and leaning toward his ear] You have no idea.

  • Montgomery: Beckett, listen.
  • Beckett: Sir, he is like a nine-year-old on a sugar rush, totally incapable of taking anything seriously.
  • Montgomery: But he did help solve this case. And when the mayor's happy, the commissioner's happy. And when the commissioner's happy, I'm happy.
  • Beckett: How long, sir?
  • Montgomery: [motioning to his door] It's up to him.
  • [Beckett turns to find Castle standing in the doorway, smirking]

  • Beckett: Exactly how much longer do I have to expect you to be shadowing me on my cases like this?
  • Castle: Hard to say, when I’m writing a new character there’s no saying when inspiration might strike.
  • Beckett: I thought I was your inspiration.
  • Castle: Oh you are Detective, in so many ways.
  • Beckett: Yeah well your inspiration might strike you sooner than you might think.

  • Alexis: So, who got killed today?
  • Castle: The nanny.
  • Alexis: Do they know who did it?
  • Castle: Well, apparently, in an actual homicide, they don't know who did it until the guy gets caught.

  • Police Rep: Mr. Castle, be advised: if you get injured following Detective Beckett to research your next novel, you cannot sue the city. If you get shot, you cannot sue the city. If you get killed...
  • Castle: My lifeless remains cannot sue the city?
  • Police Rep: Your heirs, Mr. Castle, your heirs.

  • Beckett: Exactly how many times have you been married?
  • Castle: Twice.
  • Beckett: That’s it?
  • Castle: Isn’t that enough? How about you?
  • Beckett: Me? No, never been.
  • Castle: Really?
  • Beckett: Yeah.
  • Castle: You’d be good at it. You’re both controlling and disapproving.

  • Castle: You would really clean up at my poker game.
  • Beckett: Right. You, James Patterson and the rest of the times best seller list. No thank you Castle, little to rich for my blood.
  • Castle: We could always make it strip poker.
  • Beckett: Sorry but I prefer mystery to horror.

  • Beckett: Do you know the school?
  • Castle: Oh, I’ve been kicked out of all of New York’s finer educational institutions at least once. The irony is, now that I’m rich and famous, they all claim me as alum and want money
  • Beckett: [sarcastically] It is just so rough being you.
  • Castle: My cross to bear.

  • Castle: What’s the class?
  • Martha: Introduction to life coaching. It’s always been my desire to make a difference, whether on stage or off. And I have had cards made.
  • Castle: It says here I’m your client.
  • Martha: Well of course you are, haven’t I been telling you what to do your entire life?

  • [Talking to Alexis about the case while chopping onions]
  • Alexis: I don’t get it. If Creason didn’t do it, then how does the rug fit in?
  • Castle: Killer probably heard about the feud between the two of them and tried to shift suspicion, which is stupid, because without the rug, it would’ve just looked like a mugging gone wrong.
  • Alexis: So by trying to look smart, they were actually being stupid.
  • Castle: I think you just described the human condition.

  • Lanie: Getting a drink with me after work instead of getting your freak on with writer boy?
  • Beckett: What? He is annoying, self-centered, egotistical, and completely-
  • Lanie: Fun. And take it from me, girlfriend, you need some fun. I mean, how bad can he be?
  • Beckett: [answers phone] Beckett.
  • Castle: [excitedly] Guess who's got a date with a prostitute!

  • Castle: All right, so you and I are married.
  • Beckett: We are not married.
  • Castle: Relax, it's just pretend.
  • Beckett: I don't wanna pretend.
  • Castle: Scared you'll like it?
  • Beckett: Okay, if we're married, I want a divorce.
  • Apartment Guy: Are you two like this all the time?
  • Castle & Beckett: Yes.

  • Beckett: [following Castle across the street] Castle? Castle!
  • Castle: [stops in front of a electronics shop] I’m on TV.
  • Beckett: Are you having a breakdown?
  • Castle: Not a breakdown, a breakthrough. And I really am ruggedly handsome, aren’t I?
  • Beckett: Still waiting for the breakthrough.

  • Beckett: The next time you show up at a crime scene without me, I'll show you how my taser works.
  • Castle: Promise?

  • [talking about a poker game]
  • Judge: [to Beckett] Do us a favor, Detective. Beat his pants off.
  • Castle: Yes please, beat my pants off if you dare.

  • [After Castle wins the game and begins gloating]
  • Judge: [annoyed] Don’t you ever get tired of winning, Castle?
  • Castle: [still gloating] Yeah, you’d think so, right? But no.

  • [After Sorenson leaves]
  • Castle: Nice guy. I can see how it wouldn’t work, though.
  • Beckett: Really?
  • Castle: Sure.
  • Beckett: Huh.
  • Castle: Handsome, square-jawed, by-the-book.
  • Beckett: And that’s a bad thing?
  • Castle: Yeah, he’s like the male you. Yin needs Yang, not another Yin. Yin-Yang is harmony. Yin-Yin is…a name for a panda.
  • Beckett: Any more wisdom, Obi-Wan?

  • Lanie: [examining Castle after the car crash] He'll live.
  • Ryan: What no brain damage?
  • Lanie: If he has some, it happened way before tonight and was probably self inflicted.
  • Castle: Ahh, good times.

  • [A murder calls Castle away from an ad-hoc play rehearsal with his mother]
  • Alexis: Take me with you!
  • Castle: To a crime scene?
  • Alexis: It'd be educational. Please?
  • Castle: Find your own hiding place.

  • [Explaining why they should continue ad-hoc play rehearsal]
  • Martha: If it’s a hit, who knows how long it could run? Then I could take it on the road.
  • Alexis: You mean you’d leave us?
  • Martha: Well, only for nine months of the year. [noticing Alexis’ concerned expression] Oh, don’t look so sad. [noticing Castle’s dreamy expression] And, you, don’t look so happy.

  • [When Beckett tells Castle she hasn’t read Heat Wave yet]
  • Castle: You were all over me to get a copy of that book. Do you have any idea how many hoops I had to jump through, just so my editor wouldn’t send an armed guard to watch over you while you read it? The least you could do is to… [pauses and looks at her] Oh. Oh! I see what you’re doing.
  • Beckett: I’m not doing anything.
  • Castle: Oh, yes, you are. Yes, you are. You’re trying to push my buttons, but it’s not gonna work.
  • Beckett: Really?
  • Castle: Mmm.
  • Beckett: ‘Cause it seems to be working just great. [smirks]

  • Castle: What?
  • Beckett: Nothing... it's just I'm so used to seeing you act like a 12-year-old all the time, it's refreshing to see you as a father.
  • Castle: It makes you want me, right?
  • Beckett: ...And there's the 12-year-old again.

  • Castle: Does he look like a killer to you?
  • Beckett: Everybody looks like a killer to me, Castle. Job requirement
  • Castle: Do I look like a killer to you?
  • Beckett: Yes, you kill my patience.

Monday 5 March 2018

The Power of Positive Thinking!

Life Lesson Moral Management Story Interesting Power Positive Thinking Life Lives Money Trouble Motivator Destruction Self-worth Attitude Self-confidence Dreams Businessman Debt Creditors Suppliers Demand Payments Park Thought Company Bankruptcy Serious Patience Cheque Pay Warren Buffet Rich Worries Cash Safe Strength Work Hard Emergency Deals Enthusiasm Success Nurse Mental Hospital Surprise Stunned Million Dollars
The Power of Positive Thinking!
Tags: Life Lesson Moral Management Story Interesting Power Positive Thinking Life Lives Money Trouble Motivator Destruction Self-worth Attitude Self-confidence Dreams Businessman Debt Creditors Suppliers Demand Payments Park Thought Company Bankruptcy Serious Patience Cheque Pay Warren Buffet Rich Worries Cash Safe Strength Work Hard Emergency Deals Enthusiasm Success Nurse Mental Hospital Surprise Stunned Million Dollars

Quite a few of us spend our lives feeling that if we have wealth, our troubles could be erased or mitigated. Of course, wealth is a great motivator and a wonderful way to turn our lives around. That said, if not used properly, it could lead us on a path of self-destruction. More important than wealth, is the self worth we have... our attitude and self-confidence decide how we run our lives! If we are positive in our thinking, then sooner than later, we can achieve our dreams!

Here is a wonderful story that makes an interesting point!



A businessman was deep in debt and could not see any way out. Creditors and suppliers were demanding payments. He sat in the park, deep in thought, wondering if anything could save his company from bankruptcy.

While lost in thought, an old man suddenly appeared before him and asked, "I can see that something is troubling you seriously". After listening patiently, the old man said, "I believe I can help you". 

He asked the man his name, wrote out a cheque and put it into his hands saying, "Take this money, meet me here exactly one year from today... and you can pay me back at that time". Then he turned and disappeared as quickly as he had come.

The businessman saw in his hands a cheque for $500,000, signed by Warren Buffet, one of the richest men in the world. "I can erase my worries instantly" he realized.

Instead, the businessman decided to take a different path. He put the uncashed cheque in his safe, knowing that it might give him the strength to work harder to save his business and to use this only in case of dire emergency. With a changed way of thinking and a positive outlook on his life, he negotiated better deals, restructured his business and worked rigorously with full zeal and enthusiasm and got several big deals. Within a few months, he was out of debt and started making money once again.

Exactly one year later, he returned to the park with the uncashed cheque. As agreed, the old man appeared. However, as the businessman was about to hand him back the cheque and share his success story, a nurse came running up and grabbed the old man. "I'm so glad I caught him" she cried. "I hope he hasn't been bothering you much. He always escapes from the mental hospital and tells people that he is Warren Buffet". Saying this, she took the old man away.

The surprised man just stood there, stunned! All year long, he had been dealing thinking that he had half a million dollars behind him to back him up in an emergency - in reality, he did not...

➤     Life Lesson: It is not the money, real or imagined that turns our life around. It is our self-worth, attitude and self-confidence that gives us the power to achieve anything and everything that we want.

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