'Can someone from Barkur tell whether the high tides on Dec. 26 till Dec 29 were higher than usual?'  Hope the low lying grain fields, and coconut groves are not inundated by salt water tides, which would cause plenty of damage and loss.

Such a big solid world, yet so very fragile toy! There is a  'Bigger Power', than all the world powers combined, I suppose And yet we fight  'who gets the bigger piece of fish!"

James Fernandes, USA, 30/12/2004

 A Terror named Tsunami

Pictures sent by Sunitha D'Silva , Kuwait

Dear host Kishoo, Marina, Master Anirudh, Barkur.com Team, Friends, browsers, and writers,

Compliments of the season, and wish you all a bright New Year 2005. May this year bring  peace, joy, good health and every success in all your undertakings.

Jessie D’Cruz, Kuwait, 29/12/2004

Dear  Barkurians & viewers of barkur.com, Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous, Joyful New Year-2005.

From : Vincent, Ida, Elston & Elisha D’Almeida, California,USA. 26/12/2004

Hi, Wishing you all happy Xmas.  God beless you. Regards

Vijay Suvarna, Qatar, 26/12/2004

Merry Christmas and Very Happy New year to you all our esteemed visitors.

Director, Animators, President and Members, ICYM , Barkur. 25/12/2004

'Glad to know that the alternate bridge is complete.  A New Year gift to all Barkurians, indeed!Thanks to all the doers involved.  Thanks for the live pictures Alwyn ,Marina, and  Kishoo.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate the same.  Happy holidays to those who get holidays! However, wishing you all, a very happy, prosperous, and healthy NEW  YEAR 2005.'

One of my new year wish is utopian indeed.  I wish I could see more participation in this site. Can some of you prove me wrong?  Your candle does not lose any light  when you light another!

Something to think about:

'Christmas  time when everyone gets Santamental'. I know. I know. People say "It's the thought that counts, not the  gift", Hence, no gifts from me!

Father to three-year old: "No a reindeer is not a horse with TV antenna." Every year, Christmas becomes less of a birthday and more of a  clearance sale."

Where are the three kings, when we need them?

James Fernandes, USA, 25/12/2004

Xmas gift for all Barkurians, says Muralidhar all the way from Korea. But Sir not all Barkurians celebrate Xmas! However, you may be right. The spirit of Xmas is everywhere.

I asked a little girl, "Whose birthday we celebrate on Xmas?" " You silly man, it's Santa Claus' B.Day!" At this rate, Xmas is for all, I suppose.

James Fernandes, USA, 08/12/2004

Proverbs

How To Make Smart Decisions By Rick Warren.

Success is largely a matter of making wise choices.  As F. W. Boreham said,

"We make our decisions and then they make us."  That's why every decision has an element of risk to it.  We can't always predict the outcome.

Are you dealing with any difficult decisions these days?  Try following these eight steps for decision-making from the book of Proverbs in the Bible:

STEP 1: PRAY FOR GUIDANCE (Principle of Inspiration) - Start by asking God to help you see His perspective on the problem.  Intuition is often wrong.  "A man is foolish to trust only himself.  But those who use GOD'S WISDOM are safe." Pr. 28:26

STEP 2: GET THE FACTS! (Principle of Information) - Don't make decisions out of ignorance.  Find out all you can first.  "Every prudent man acts out of knowledge." Pr. 13:16  "How stupid to decide before knowing the facts" Pr. 18:13

"Get the facts at any price..." Pr. 23:23

STEP 3: ASK FOR ADVICE (Consultation) - Talk to someone who has already taken the risk if possible.  It's wise to learn from experience - but it is even wiser to learn from the experiences of others!  That way you don't have to learn everything the hard way.  "Get good advice and you will succeed." Pr. 20:18  "The intelligent man is always open to new ideas - in fact, he looks for them." Pr. 18: 15

STEP 4: SET YOUR GOAL (Selection) - Be sure you understand the reason and purpose for the decision you're about to make.  You can't chase two rabbits at the same time.  "An intelligent person AIMS at wise actions, but a fool starts off in many directions." Pr. 17:24

STEP 5: COUNT THE COST (Evaluation) - This is called a "calculated risk.” Ask yourself:

(1) Is necessary?

(2) What will it cost... in terms of time, energy, or money?

(3) Is it worth it? "It is a trap to dedicate something rashly, and only later to consider your vows." Pr. 20:25

STEP 6: PLAN FOR PROBLEMS (Preparation) - Remember Murphy's Law - and he was an optimist!  Don't ignore problems - they won't ignore you. So be prepared.  "Don't go charging into battle without a plan." Pr.20: 18  "A sensible man watches for problems and prepared to meet them. The fool never looks ahead and suffers the consequences." Pr. 22:3

STEP 7: FACE YOUR FEARS (Confrontation) - Fear is not a sign of weakness -

it is a sign of your humanity. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather it is moving ahead in spite of your fears.  "Fear of man is a dangerous trap, but to trust in God means safety." Pr. 29:25

STEP 8: GO FOR IT! (Initiation) - This is the point at which you must stop talking

and start acting. You must begin.  "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed." Pr. 16:3

Edgar Fernandes , Hong Kong., 08/12/2004

Oh.........its really a good news, after  a long time that the money is  released for  the reconstruction of Barkur bridge. How  it will be  rebuilt, only God knows. Hope they don’t reverse  the ratio of sand & cement !!!or  will it be a good construction??????.Any way I think it is really a Xmas  gift for  all Barkurians.

Muralidhara, Korea, 04/12/2004

We are very happy to see the Site Barkur on line after a break, with the goodnews of Barkur Bridge being repaired by Summer and a Crore got sanctioned!

If the whole lot of is spent on the Project, I’m sure the Bridge can carry any weight, serve and last long, for Decades even Centuries.

Please update your colomns regularly, to keep us closely knit with Barkurian spirits. The month of Feasts and X'Mas is just started, have a wonderful Season folks!

Philip Richard, 02/12/2004

After a long break, I had a chance to roam around the Barkur site. Specially happy to note that Barkur Bridge will be re-built at a cost of a Crore. The political parties, people, press and of course your web-site have played their role effectively to build public opinion, at last paid results.Thank you very much.

GS LEWIS, Kallianpur, 02/12/2004