Money Money Money

For money you can have everything it is said. No, that is not true. You can buy food, but not appetite; medicine, but not health; soft beds, but not sleep; knowledge but not intelligence; glitter, but not comfort; fun, but not pleasure; acquaintances, but not friendship; servants, but not faithfulness; grey hair, but not honor; quiet days, but not peace. The shell of all things you can get for money. But not the kernel. That cannot be had for money. -Arne Garborg, writer (1851-1924)

Millionaire Sells All His Belongings - His Fortune Makes Him Unhappy

An Austrian millionaire, Karl Rabeder, 47, has decided that he no longer wants to be a millionaire for he realised his fortune makes him unhappy. He says that the money prevents happiness.

He decided to sell every valuable belonging. Mr. Rabeder will move out of his luxury Alpine retreat and live instead in a small house somewhere in Innsbruck.

All money from selling his belongings will go to charities which were set up by him in Central and Latin America. He says he does not feel comfortable among rich people; he wants to be a simple person.

Eco Notes

From The Hindu " A little-known rainforest in north-east India could be home to the world’s largest number of wildcat species, with no less than seven species photo-documented by a wildlife biologist at the end of her two-year survey". Read on for more.

Another piece on wildlife which is definitely cause for worry in The Hindu.

Dick Francis No More

Dick Francis was one of the thriller writers I really enjoyed reading . Of late though, I did not have a chance to read any of his novels. All his novels were in the setting of horse races and were real delight to read.

Read more on him at

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/15/AR2010021503558.html?hpid=moreheadlines

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/feb/14/dick-francis-obituary

Gandhi

A unsavory portrait of Mahatma in The Guardian recently. The article by one Michael Conellan drives home the point that Gandhi was a misogynist and most of woman's miseries in India can be attributed to his principles. This article is now being hotly debated in few Tamil blogs.

You can read the article here http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/27/mohandas-gandhi-women-india

Crossword Connoisseurs

A delightful piece for me, a crossword addict, by Divya Kumar here.

http://beta.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article104334.ece

Big Temple Redux !

An absorbing and engrossing article on discovery of Chola paintings in the Big Temple.

Here is the link:

http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/03/stories/2010020356231800.htm

Public Services & Stay-At-Home Mom

Two noteworthy articles in The Hindu. Here are the links

http://www.thehindu.com/op/2010/01/24/stories/2010012452231200.htm

http://www.hindu.com/op/2010/01/31/stories/2010013150071200.htm

First one is a laudatory article on our much maligned public services.

Second article is about pros and cons of working women and some merits of being stay-at-home mom.