I failed to find anything to brand as 'rudeness' in Mr. Alvares’ message, what I can understand is "the organizers or host of this site publishes those remarks unpleasant to the team members themselves", am I right or ...? All of us aware of the pains and pressures of running this show, and the host and his team, doing their best. All visitors and we including Mr. Alvares, Ms. Diana too appreciate this work being fellow Barkurians. Moreover this is a free service in the interest of our small community as Barkurians, need moral support and guidance at large.

Barkurgar, 24/06/2003

Daily after my office hours I browse this site & enjoy reading the messages from my various old friends. Basically I am from Surathkal now working for Maersk Sealand, Shipping Company based in UAE. An excellent work done by Kishoo-Naveen & Co. Well done. Cheers

Yogesh Kunder, Dubai, 050-4295211, 24/06/2003

Dear readers,

I noticed lately, requesting readers of this  great Website to send articles frequently and other useful news items to Kishoo.  It is my observation and I am sure many of you will also agree that there are only a few dedicated individuals taking trouble in contributing rather frequently to this site. Of course, we Barkurians should be very proud of Archie for his very informative and well written articles which we all  enjoy reading them, again.  Besides, there are those (like Harry) who gather community events, news, sports, special articles, and especially interviews with powerful political  or influential people. Of course, my brother James makes efforts in sending frequently  his 'two cents' worth contributions in all kinds of areas, irrespective of any real expertise; only he can do it because he has computer skills and he enjoys stirring up  the pot. Then, there are a few gentlemen, briefly responding frequently and asking  more from others for better articles etc. I don't see that they themselves do not contribute any new scholastic material. I think based on my own shortcomings, some of us do not type or write well, and we hesitate to do so because of our inability to write well or for lack good or better communication skills.  Writing in good English, we many of us do lack the talent because at least in my younger days we did not have the opportunity or did not pay much attention to it at all.   Also it takes our much of time as we have other priorities. Further, I am wondering how many people are visiting  this Website?  For instance there may not be very many having computers in Barkur,  and skill to write or just afraid to write just like me! I may be good in my profession but I do not have the ability to write good articles of popular interest to entertain many.

Well, at least some of our burden is taken away recently by Fr. Andrade.  I would like  to really thank him to shoulder this added responsibility by contributing regularly in the future in spite of his busy personal, pastoral or spiritual schedules. We all will certainly  benefit from his short spiritual articles, which will be of interest to all, irrespective of  our religions.  Finally my own small request to many who read this Web site but  hesitate to write, is to try to make an effort and send the article anyway to the Web

masters who will be glad to polish a bit and print it. Many of you will enjoy seeing your own articles in print in this site, and you may be tempted to do so more often!  Or ask your growing children to do so. They may enjoy doing a small article of their own interest! They can ask their parents, " Why the parent smokes, while children are not allowed to smoke?" Recently Archie lectured us gently to cultivate the reading habit , which has recently shown in elderly that who kept themselves reading more often had  in them less Alzheimer disease.  So let us make some efforts both to write often and also develop constantly a habit to read often, and thus avoid mild criticisms from a few  of our regular readers. Once again let us continue our encouragement and good prayers  on behalf of Kishoo to have him good health and wealth to continue this most charming Barkur.Com!!

Gabriel Fernandes. USA, 24/06/2003

Laughter is the "Best Medicine" for Your Heart Can a laugh every day keeps the heart attack away? Maybe so. Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to a recent study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The study, which is the first to indicate that laughter may help prevent heart disease, found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease. "The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart," says Michael Miller, M.D., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack." In the study, researchers compared the humor responses of 300 people. Half of the participants had either suffered a heart attack or undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The other 150 did not have heart disease. One questionnaire had a series of multiple-choice answers to find out how much or how little people laughed in certain situations, and the second one used true or false answers to measure anger and hostility. Miller said that the most significant study finding was that "people with heart disease responded less humorously to everyday life situations." They generally laughed less, even in positive situations, and they displayed more anger and hostility. "The ability to laugh -- either naturally or as learned behavior -- may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer," says Miller. "We know that exercising, not smoking and eating foods low in saturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease. Perhaps regular, hearty laughter should be added to the list." Miller says it may be possible to incorporate laughter into our daily activities, just as we do with other heart-healthy activities, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. "We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously," Miller says. "The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day." In addition to helping your heart, laughter offers other important health benefits. "People become healthier from laughter," observes Judy Goldblum-Carlton, a humor therapist at the University of Maryland Hospital for Children's Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. "It improves circulation. When you laugh heartily, every organ is being massaged including your heart, lungs and digestive system. Headaches can just go away. When you laugh the endorphins released make you feel this elation. It makes those big decisions seem so much less important." Humor yourself so how can you make yourself laugh, even when you're angry or tense? And how can you find ways to improve your sense of humor and add more laughter into your life? Goldblum-Carlton offers the following creative ways to incorporate humor into your everyday routine: ? Figure out what tickles your funny bone. "You have to figure out what makes you laugh," says Goldblum-Carlton. Some people like slapstick while others prefer a more intellectual type of humor. "Once you isolate what makes you laugh and what turns your knobs, then you can go out and look for these things." ? Rent a funny movie. Goldblum-Carlton suggests videos, like "America's Funniest Home Videos" and others that appeal to a mass audience -- Bill Cosby, Jeff Foxworthy, etc. "Watch videos that have something for everyone." ? Add comedy to your commute. Listen to a funny audiotape when driving to relieve road stress and if possible, turn the cell phone off when you're in the car. "The car is a great place to listen to funny stuff because that's where a lot of your tension is," says Goldblum-Carlton. ? Start a humor library. Clip funny cartoons, collect calendars, mugs, pictures, funny greeting cards, books, or anything else that makes you laugh. Collect some humorous audio and videotapes. Post those cartoons and calendars on your wall, so you can look at them often for a good laugh. ? Laugh with others. People laugh much more often when in groups, says Goldblum-Carlton. So watch a funny movie with some friends and share the laughter. "People laugh more with other people. It gives you permission to laugh." ? Find humor in seemingly ordinary, everyday things. Anything from funny road signs to a walking crow to a feeding squirrel can inspire a laugh. "Watching a crow walk is hysterical, and squirrels are natural comedians," observes Goldblum-Carlton. "There is so much funny stuff around you really just have to open your eyes." ? Learn the basics of humor. Improve your sense of humor by taking a class. Often, community colleges and elder hostels offer classes on how to tell jokes and improve your sense of humor. ? Remember a funny moment. "Start thinking about something funny that happened when you're feeling tense," suggests Goldblum-Carlton. This will ease the tension and help you forget your troubles, at least temporarily. ? Laugh at yourself. Tell a funny or embarrassing story about yourself. After all, as Goldblum-Carlton says, "even the most embarrassing situation years from now will be a funny story." ? Make fun of your fears. "When you make fun of what frightens you, you get a mastery over it and gain control," notes Goldblum-Carlton. ? Act silly. "Let yourself act silly and share it. Get a pair of silly head glasses and put them on," suggests Goldblum-Carlton. "Laughter is contagious. When you're happy and you're laughing it rubs off on people. Everyone can have a sense of humor." ? Learn to play. Play with your kids or your pets. Teach Fido or Fluffy some stupid pet tricks. Games are also funny -- Scattegories, Charades, Password -- all of which can bring a laugh. ? Visit the zoo and watch the animals, especially the monkeys. "The number one thing that makes people laugh are monkeys. Monkeys are a riot, [and] zoos are great," Goldblum-Carlton says. ? Lighten up! You take your life's work seriously, but take yourself a little more lightly. As Goldblum-Carlton puts it: "When you throw your head back and laugh, you're not thinking of anything else. Laughter is the best thing you can do for your health." Finally, just appreciate the importance of laughter. "The most powerful thing we're given is our ability to laugh," Goldblum-Carlton says. "It's our greatest gift, especially if we can laugh at ourselves and not take ourselves so seriously." (Courtesy: Michelle Weinstein University of Maryland)

James D' Almeida,  Kuwait,24/06/2003

Folks: I am back to my fish market analogy: Pretty looking fish, ugly fish, small mouth or large mouth fish, young or old fish, live or dead fish, slimy or scaly fish, fresh or stale fish, are for sale. Not one fish can be pleasant for all of the buyers. People buy what they want anyway. Sometimes some attention getting tactics, within limits, are permitted, I suppose, in order to reach any common goal. Hope no one is referring to the topics of 'soliciting write-ups' as unpleasant. In order to achieve 'world peace' during wars, a few soldiers and civilians are unconvinced! That's the nature of this "Non-Profit" Barkur.com site. Only Christ fed 5000 people with just 2 fish! We need more fish. This young man, Kishoo, without knowing programming or website designing, put Barkur on Cyberspace map, without soliciting a naya-paisa. Some people asked him to jump, and now that he is in the waters, I admire him, because he is learning to swim and making progress. He needs support, and begging for support in the form of writings is not necessarily to cause to 'put any one down!' Can some one write a page on "Laughter is the best medicine"?

James Fernandes , USA 23/06/2003

NEW ARTICLE

Dear Viewers of the web site Barkur.com, I am sure some of you had a opportunity to have a glimpse on my article "Blessed are the peacemakers" and some of you have send the comments on the feedback column. Thank you very much for the encouragements. Look for my next article "COMFORTING THE GRIEVING FAMILY WHEN THE CHILD DIES". I write this article with my own experience being a hospital chaplain for 7 years at United and Children's hospital here in St. Paul. All of us go through the struggle in this task of comforting the grieving family. We know that a child is precious gift to every parent. So we struggle with the appropriate words in the process of comforting the family over the loss of their precious child. Hope my article and my experience may shed some light to the readers and the viewers of our web site.

Fr. Tony Andrade ,USA. 23/06/2003

I don't know whether I mis-understood Mr. Alvares first or Mrs. Diana. The way it is grasped, feel the former had any reservations in other words, appreciated the Web-site, not on one occasion but good number of times. He is only asking for a clarification why neither the author nor the host not giving a CONCLUSION to most of the issues discussed over here. Am I right, Mr. Alvares? I find nothing criticising either quality or objectives of the said site. Truly, confining to a small town, this is a GREAT JOB, no one has dared to attempt to such works knowing its limits. Ultimately, it is few writer's keeping the site active and MESSAGES are playing second fiddle to all segments, am I right reader's? Before concluding this note, let me congratulate "Mr. Hegde", a popular man in the natives, whose un-known side of the PERSONALITY is very well narrated in "Archie's Corner. But I feel the said article bit short to explain his contribution to our SOCIETY.

Vincent D'Souza, 23/06/2003

It is a very good site to know about our place and people over there. I started browsing this site just recently, and nowadays I am a regular visitor. Actually I am from Kavady, which is located around 5km from Barkur. Thank you very much.

SUKESH KUMAR SHETTY, Arabian Construction and Maintenance Company Ltd,P.O.Box No#11,31971, Ras Al-Khafji, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 23/06/2003

This site is very nice....

Vijayraj , 23/06/2003

Mr.Alvares' comment that `some unpleasant messages are flashed' is bordering on rudeness. This website was conceived and hosted by Kishoo and his team out of their overflowing love for Barkur and with the main intention of acting as a link to unite Barkurians spread all over the globe. It is very important to note that this website is not hosted for any commercial considerations. This is a medium through which Barkurians from all over the globe can get to know about the latest happenings in Barkur and exchange views. Barkur.com serves this purpose very well. When Barkurians visit this site, nostalgic memories of their lives in Barkur flash through their minds and this website evokes some very special feelings for one's native land. No Barkurians visit this site to check its professional outlook. Whether or not comments are invited at the end of the articles, (as expected by Mr.Alvares) people can still voice their views, which is updated quickly. I sincerely hope this website will always remain simple and serve its main purpose - that of uniting the large diaspora of Barkurians all over the world; it will retain its distinct `spirit of Barkur' and not become another Canara website for Gulfy Mangloreans like Daaiji, Maaibhaas etc.

Diana, Mumbai , 21/06/2003

I really like the article of Father Tony Andrade. The word peace  is what is lacking in every human being of today, we human beings are  like machines with no feeling for one another. We always like to put others down and be one step forward than the other person. But one thing we all should remember that, no matter  how much money we have made,  we can never buy peace because  peace is priceless, and we can achieve it by doing good to other human beings.

JYOTHI SEQUEIRA, 21/06/2003

Unsolicited advice can reduce friends!      

Once, I was invited for a dinner.  For some reason, I was escorted through the back door entrance of the house, which goes through the garage.  Garages are used to store the garbage as well until disposed.

During the meal, the conversation was about work. I just mentioned, “In the laboratory, we keep the dead animals in the refrigerator, and after the necropsy, the carcasses are kept in the freezer. I use the same concept at home. I put the chicken or fish’ non-edible left over waste, upon cutting, in a plastic bag which I store in the kitchen freezer, and on the garbage-day, I place the frozen waste in the garbage on garbage pick up day.  So much so, the garbage man asked me one day, ‘Looks like you guys gave up eating fish!’”

However, the friend never invited me for dinner again! 

James Fernandes, USA 20/06/2003

Often, you the host Mr. Kishoo, never hesitated to flash, few unpleasant messages, to look at the outset, but with a sincere intention of improving, elaborating or correcting you. Many of the updates, especially those flowing from Archie's pen, (also few other pages,) never conclude with a call, I mean a request, at the end, for reader's comments, and host, this itself a specialty of your site, truly praise worthy, I mean it!. One more aspect, I 've noticed is, even after lengthy discussion, which normally they evoke, partially because of they are fewer in number) neither you or the writer of such articles come back to respond, any reasons for this stand ? Sadly, in these days, the early tempo of frequent up-dates also missing, I don't know - 'dil maange more but diya kam' Good thing, a new column will be added, but see that articles, are of mass appeal and entertainment value too. All the best, any specialty on St. Peter's Feast...?

M.M.Alvares, 18/06/ 2003.

Much awaited Monsoon arrived! Thanks to Almighty!! Erratic behavior of rainy season, not only left hectares of land un-cultivated but threatened normal life in our natives, as various pictures of dried up rivers, last week, wells and major sources of drinking water with no water, really shocking. Harry Dsouza's photograph pretty nice, so is his reporting the news, most importantly need of Ring road!

Philiph Richard,18/06/ 2003

Just now I had a look at your site, normally I visit messages, the live wire, yes I deeply inspired by few short but to the point messages of Mr. James Fernandes. He is having an answer ready and handy to any simple or complex issue, keep it up MR. FERNANDES, me really enjoy your tips!!

G.S.Lewis, Kallianpur.18/06/ 2003

Hi,
The page "male bantu male" is appealing. Congrats.

Dr Sheshagiri Rao is a person who is to be honoured by all and his services are to be appreciated. Thanks for projecting him as the personality of the month.
My best wishes to Mr Alwyn D'Almeida, the newly elected president of ICYM, the association which is in news these days and I think is doing wonderful job in Barkur.

Suresh, Barkur (Bangalore) 16/06/2003

Even though my memory cells are deteriorating, I do remember reading over a year ago, that Kishoo started this Barkur.com site, as though, at someone esle's suggestion and with the promise of whole hearted and united support and blessings of the Holy Ghost. [I don't think it was Kishoo who said it. It was someone else. I tried to get to the archives, but I could not find that article in Sandesh or memorylane or in the news, besides technical problems in accessing.] I am not saying that there is no support but I read lately, that the enthusiasm is getting cold, especially with such display of paucity for articles. Within two days 'tomorrow becomes yesterday.' When we go to fish market we expect fresh fish. The fish is caught by fisherMEN and Kishoo alone cannot feed the multitude!

James Fernandes, USA , 16/06/2003