Puzzle - 36

I visited a science exhibition and found a stall that bets over guessing of our weight. When approached that stall owner and asked he said "If I write your correct weight you have to give me 10 bucks, I can't then I will give you 10 bucks". i thought since there is no weighing machine around I will add bit of weight with whatever he guesses and took the bet. Still I ended up loosing in the Bet and paid him 10 bucks. How is it possible?

Answer: He wrote on the paper 'your correct weight' as this is what he promised that he will write

The Joy of Serving

Source: Unknown

I held onto the hand of my shivering granddaughter as we waited our turn to get into the huge barn-like building. We couldn't see inside because of the length of the line up and so we passed our time watching the outside lineups.

Volunteers were busily placing frozen turkeys into bags at the head of one line up and in the other, families and individuals were receiving milk.

The parking lot was filled with trucks and cars and still more were waiting to get onto the lot. Strangely, though vehicles were blocked, no one honked nor appeared impatient. It seemed surreal as though everyone had been touched by something magical.

Finally we could see into the building and I was overcome with emotion as my eyes took in hundreds of overflowing boxes. Each box filled with care represented not only hours of time on the part of volunteers, but the generosity and caring of hundreds of people. The boxes were filled with food for empty stomachs. Some boxes sported brand new toys, gifts from anonymous individuals throughout the town and area, toys for children who might otherwise go without.

I suddenly felt self-conscious, aware that tears were flowing freely down my cheeks. I was touched by the display of kindness. I turned away from the crowds of people to wipe away the tears, and just as I did I was to see everything in a kind of mist and glow-like appearance. How fitting to see the "Angel Project" in this way.

It was four days before Christmas and today marked the climax of the Angel Project. This was the day that families in need could pick up food hampers and toys. Everything was donated through the generosity of strangers.

Finally it was our turn at the table and I found it difficult to speak past the lump in my throat. I was overwhelmed by all that was happening around me. Every box in that massive room represented the love of others. Every toy had been carefully selected, to be given away, yet the receiver and the sender would never meet.

Instead of Christmas shopping or cleaning, instead of baking cookies or decorating a tree, these people had dropped everything to sort, label and number boxes, and to hand out delivery addresses to volunteers to drop off boxes for those who had no transportation.

I could feel something extraordinary there in that building. It wasn't tangible nor quite definable but there was something special, beyond friendliness and I felt privileged to be there and be a part of it all.

People helped us pack the trunk and back seat of my car with food and toys for the first family and we set off to locate the address. As we drove along I felt blessed to have a tank full of gas and the opportunity to be among the delivery people in the "Angel Project."

I was not prepared for the greeting we were about to receive. I located a basement suite and when no one answered after ringing the bell I ventured down a set of steps and began calling out. "Hello, is anyone home?" A lady opened a door and as soon as I mentioned who I was and why I was there the woman began to shout. She was overjoyed and was calling out to some unseen person that we were there. Next she ran ahead of me up the stairs calling out to a neighbor, "they're here, they're here, the Angel people are here."

She ran up to the car, out there in the snow with only socks on her feet and began thanking us. She continued to thank us with each box we unpacked and though we gently reminded her that we were only the delivery people, she could not contain her joy and she continued thanking us again and again.

At the second house there were young children and when we introduced ourselves and explained why we were there, the children were sent upstairs and were admonished not to peek. I knew then that what we were about to unload might very well be the total sum of their Christmas presents.

Jani carried in the teddy bears, the huge craft set and the two other toys, all of which had been specifically chosen by Angel Project volunteers for these children. The mother helped me with the heavier food boxes and I knew this abundant supply would last a number of days.

As we left we exchanged "Merry Christmas" greetings. The woman paused just before the door closed. She looked directly at me and her eyes looked misty as she said "thank you, so much."

I shut my car door, fighting tears and a choked up feeling. This giant surge of emotion burst inside of me as I pictured those children on Christmas morning opening the wonderful gifts chosen by strangers. I could imagine tummies filled and good meals throughout the season. All this, because generous individuals opened their hearts and purse strings for people they did not know.

For Jani and I, we got to spend a special day together being a part of something beautiful and unforgettable. And though we were delivery people that day, I drove away feeling as though I was the one who had received the gift.

No matter what amount of little work you do for charity, The Joy you get out of it is uncomparable and you can never pay a price for it. Do you agree with me? Try this in your own life and you will know what I mean as it can only be felt by experience.

Ice Cream Facts

Are you a lover of Ice Cream? Of course everybody loves to try a single lick at least. Here are some interesting Yummy Ice Cream Facts for you...

1. It takes 12 lbs. of milk to make just one gallon of ice cream


2. Flavored ices may have been eaten in Italy as early as the mid-1500’s


3. A traditional name for ice cream is Hokey Pokey. The name originated from early ice cream vendors who peddled their product shouting “ecco un poco” – Try a sample


4. the first real evidence of the existence of ice cream was in China’s Tang period (A.D 618-97). King Shang had 94 ice men on his staff who helped make a dish based on buffalo milk, flour and camphor


5. The first ice cream parlor is said to have opened in New York City in 1776


6. In 1843, American Nancy Johnson invented the hand cranked ice cream maker. Johnson’s invention made it possible for many more people to make and enjoy ice cream. Agnes Marshall of England created a similar device later that year


7. In 1851, Jacob Fussell converted his Baltimore milk plant into the world’s first ice cream factory


8. The biggest ice cream sundae in history was made in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in 1988, and weighed in at over 24 tons. You need many ice cream parlor to store that in


9. In 2003, Portland, Oregon bought more ice cream per person than any other U.S. city. Looks like everyone else has a lot of catching up to do


10. The U.S. produces more than 800 million gallons of ice cream every year.


11. The U.S. enjoys an average of 48 pints of ice cream per person, per year, more than any other country. Maybe we should make ice cream the fifth food group


12. In U.S, the average amount of ice cream eaten is an amazing 21 litres per person per year


13. The ice cream cone became popular at the 1904 World’s Fair held in St. Louis. An ice cream vendor reportedly didn't have enough dishes to keep up with the demand, so he teamed up with a waffle vendor who rolled his waffles into cones!


14. The most ice cream in the world is consumed in America where the average person eats about 15-20 quarts each year


15. Some types of ice cream are more than 75% air


16. Most ice cream contains more milk protein weight for weight than is present in milk itself


17. The ice cream cone is considered one of the most environmentally friendly forms of packaging


18. Vanilla is still the most popular ice cream flavour for nearly one out of every three people who eat ice cream


19. Ice cream is second only to cookies as the favorite dessert in North America


20. Some types of ice cream use "carrageenan' to improve texture and thickness. Carrageenan is a type of seaweed


21. It takes approximately 50 licks to polish off a single-scoop ice cream cone, try counting your number of licks per scoop


22. Sharing ice cream with a pet cat or dog is done by approx 5% of people


23. The first record of a cone being used for serving appears in Mrs Marshall’s Cookery Book in 1888. Before then, ice cream was either licked out of a small glass known as a penny lick or taken away in wrapped in waxed paper


24. Britain is Europe’s third biggest consumer of ice cream at around 8 litres per person Taking first and second places are Denmark and Sweden


25. On average, people in Scotland and Northern Ireland eat more ice cream than those in England and Wales

The Right Move

The great Zen teacher, Benzei had many pupils. One day, one of them was caught stealing by his fellow-students and they reported him to Benzei. But he took no action against the boy.

A few days later the same boy was again caught stealing. And again Benzei did nothing. This angered the other students who drew up a petition asking for the dismissal of the thief. They threatened to leave en masse if the boy was allowed to stay.

The teacher called a meeting of the students. When they had assembled he said to them: “You are good boys who know what is right and what is wrong. If you leave you will have no trouble in joining some other school. But what about your brother who does not even know the difference between right and wrong? Who will teach him if I don’t? No, I cannot ask him to go even if it means losing all of you.”
Tears coursed down the cheeks of the boy who had stolen. He never stole again and in later life became renowned for his integrity.

One wrong move could have been spoiled the future of that Student. At times lesson can be taught either in hard way or soft way. This Zen teacher choses the soft way.

Puzzle - 35

This puzzle is bit tricky. Try soloving this puzzle...
You are given with three hour glasses with the measuring of 9, 12 & 14 mins respectively. If you are asked to measure the time of 8 mins to do a certain job with these hourglasses. How will you do it?

Answer:There are few possible way to do this, One is start the 14 min & 9 min hourglass simultaneously. Once the 9 min glass is over start it again. once 14 min glass is over start the 12 min glass. Once the 9 min glass is over, start the job and do it till 12 min glass is over which is 8 mins. For the another one pls check the answer by Lakshmi. There are still some more also. You may try and leave it here...

Expect the unexpected

Once upon a time there was a little sparrow, who hated to fly south for the winter. He dreaded the thought of leaving his home so much that he decided he would delay the journey until the last possible moment.

After bidding farewell to all his sparrow friends, he went back to his nest and stayed for an additional four weeks. Finally, the weather turned so bitterly cold that he could delay no longer. As the little sparrow took off and started to fly south, it began to rain. In a short time, ice began to form on his little wings. Almost dead from cold and exhaustion, he fell to earth in a barnyard. As he was breathing what he thought was his last breath, a horse walked out of the barn and proceeded to cover the little bird with fertilizer. At first the sparrow could think of nothing except that this was a terrible way to die. But as the fertilizer started to sink into his feathers, it warmed him and life began to return to his body. He also found that he had enough room to breathe. Suddenly the little sparrow was so happy that he started to sing.

At that moment a large cat came into the barnyard and, hearing the chirping of the little bird, began digging in the pile of fertilizer to find out where the sound was coming from. The cat finally uncovered the bird and ate him.

Morals from this story are:
1) Not everyone who craps on you is your enemy.
2) Not everyone who takes crap off you is your friend.
3) When you are warm and comfortable, even if it is in a pile of crap, keep your mouth shut.

Piggy Facts

A New Chinese New Year will be born less than a month. Every new year is named with 12 Animals name in cycle. In that row the upcoming year is going to be year of PIG. In that regard here are some interesting facts about the PIG.

• Pigs are very intelligent and learn very quickly


• Pig's average life span is about ten years


• They have an excellent sense of smell


• Pigs do not sweat because they have no sweat glands, which is why they enjoy rolling in mud to cool off


• A female can give birth to 10 or more piglets


• Pigs usually give birth to about two pig litters a year


• Potbellied pigs originate from the Far East; records show them being kept as pets by a Chinese emperor as far back as 6000 BC


• Full grown potbellied pigs weight an average of 70-150 pounds (keep in mind domestic pigs are 600-1500lbs!)


• They average 3 feet long and 15 inches tall


• Full growth is not reached until about 5 years of age


• Colors range from solid black to solid white, with a variety of spots in between


• Most pigs do not like to be picked up or held. Unlike cats and dogs, pigs are prey not predators, so being lifted up or restrained causes them extreme alarm


• True to their nature, these pigs live to eat and can become overweight very easily


• Pigs are forth in line of intelligence: 1.Humans, 2.Apes, 3.Dolphins, and 4.Pigs

Do you like to know some more interesting facts about Pigs? Click Here

Butterfly Kisses

We often learn the most from our children.

Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found that the box was empty. He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?"

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, " Oh, Daddy it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box. All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged her forgiveness. My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years. Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

If You...

• If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.


• If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.


• If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.


• If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.


• If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.


• If your parents are still alive and still married ... you are very rare, even in the United States.


• If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful ... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.


• If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder ... you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.


• If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

So, Be Thankful to GOD for whatever we are given with...

Puzzles - 34

If You are carrying a sack of grain and your friend is carrying two sacks along with you, Who is carrying more load and why?

Just Push

A man was sleeping one night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Creator appeared. The Creator told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Creator explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Since the man was showing signs of discouragement, the Adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it," thus, giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort; and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do, until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Creator. "Creator," he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?" The Creator responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push."
"Now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back is sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much, and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from the Creator, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what the Creator wants is just obedience and faith in Him.... By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still the Creator who moves the mountains.

When everything seems to go wrong ... just P.U.S.H.!
When the job gets you down ... just P.U.S.H.!
When people don't react the way you think they should ... just P.U.S.H.!
When your money looks gone and the bills are due ... just P.U.S.H.!
When people just don't understand you... Just PUSH!

P.S: P.U.S.H - Pray Until Something Happens!!!!!

Causes for sleep disorders

My Dad who is at his early 60s, Nowadays he has always been complaining about the sleeping disorders in the recent years especially after the retirement. I read this interesting article on my way back in the Flight that was appeared in the popular Indian Daily Hindu. After reading this I am thinking about suggesting my Dad to eliminate the root cause of the problems mentioned in the article. Here is the very same article for you to read and get benefited as well...

Puzzle - 33

There is a barrel that weighs 10 kg with some liquid content in it, and then I put something in it. It now weighs less than 10 kg.

What did I put in it?

Answer: A Hole

The White & Black Wolf

When I read this story, I immediately remembered the song called Kadavul paathi Mirugam Paathi Kalanthu Seitha Kalavai Naan (I'm mixutre of God & Animal) written by Poet Vairamuthu for Kamal's Movie Alavandan. I hope you understand the moral in it after reading this story.

There was grandfather, his little grandson often came in the evenings to sit at his knee and ask the many questions that children ask. One day the grandson came to his grandfather with a look of anger on his face. Grandfather said, "Come, sit, tell me what has happened today."

The child sat and leaned his chin on his Grandfather's knee. Looking up into the wrinkled, nut brown face and the kind dark eyes; the child's anger turned to quite tears. The boy said, "I went to the town today, with my father, to trade the furs he has collected over the past several months. I was happy to go, because father said that since I had helped him with the trapping, I could get something for me. Something that I wanted. I was so excited to be in the trading post, I have not been there before. I looked at many things and finally found a metal knife! It was small, but good size for me, so father got it for me."

Here the boy laid his head against his grandfather's knee and became silent. The Grandfather, softly placed his hand on the boys raven hair and said, "and then what happened?". Without lifting his head, the boy said, "I went outside to wait for father, and to admire my new knife in the sunlight. Some town boys came by and saw me, they got all around me and starting saying bad things. They called me dirty and stupid and said that I should not have such a fine knife. The largest of these boys, pushed me back and I fell over one of the other boys. I dropped my knife and one of them snatched it up and they all ran away, laughing."

Here the boy's anger returned, "I hate them, I hate them all!" The Grandfather, with eyes that have seen too much, lifted his grandson's face so his eyes looked into the boys. Grandfather said, "let me tell you a story.

I too, at times, have felt a great hate for those that have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It is like taking posion and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. It is as if there are two wolves inside me, one is white and one is black.

The White Wolf is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended. But will only fight when it is right to do so, and in the right way.

But, the Black Wolf, is full of anger. The littlest thing will set him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.

Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit."

The boy, looked intently into his Grandfather's eyes, and asked "which one wins Grandfather?"

The Grandfather, smiled and said, "The one I feed."

Hello Buddies

Hello Friends, How are you all? My sincere apologies for not updating my blog for last few weeks. I made a short trip to my home town in India to live my good old childhood days during Pongal Festival (The place where I was brought up)...I could share with you some of the interesting shots I took during my trip as well. I shall try to be regular in my day to day postings reguarly in future. Hope to get all your continuous participation in our famous puzzle section.

Puzzle - 32

A father lived in Middle East having own Horse Firm asked his 2 sons to race their camels from Point A to Point B. His methodology in winning the game was whose Horse comes last considered winner. Hearing this the brothers, really slowed down as much as they could but still cannot reach the specified point because each other want to be slower than other as a result they moved only very few yards away from Point A at the same time Point B is miles away from it, They happen to meet a wise person and got a brilliant idea. After talking to the wise person they instantly got up on the Horses and chase them to the maximum fast as to reach Point B.

The Question is What did the wise person advise them?

Answer: He asked them to swap their horses

Solve Elderly people appetite problem

Ageing is something that cannot be avoided by us. At the same time you might have noticed that there is a change in the appetite. They eat little amount of food and only two times or one time a day. This is a very common problem that is faced among the elderly people. Many of us always puzzled and worried about how to solve this kind of problem. Recently I came across an interesting article in Today News Paper(A free circulation news paper in Singapore) that explains why such issues occur and how we can change their life style to stay healthy. So, here is a link for you to read and get benefited by following the methods suggested.

One more on the similar topic can be found here

Shake It Off

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to
getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of
our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive


2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen


3. Live simply and appreciate what you have


4. Give before you ask


5. Expect your needs to be fulfilled, but not your Wants

A lot to Give

Who made this boy believe that he couldn't stand the test that as a human being he was different from the rest. A father who told him "Son you've come out all wrong" Never would he fit in, nor would he belong.

Why does the little girl live all alone with her fears that daddy's next punch will leave her with more than tears "I'm sorry daddy, please, it's probably all my fault" She really wants to say "I don't need this bloody assault"

When did the little boy stop seeking physical affection and shy away from any that was aimed in his direction

Who was the bastard who stole away his cheeky little grin for innocence lost the pervert should pay the ultimate price for his sin

How come the little girl believes all the crap that she is told day after day on verbal abuse she has been sold "Not good enough, too fat, too thin, you just don't fit in"

Chanted over and over by children standing around her in a ring All these children aren't the first, sadly they are not the last. They will bear forever the scars of a hated past.

Can anyone help them change the beliefs they have been given or to the needle, weed and booze to escape they will be driven?

Who out there is willing to estimate how much it is they've lost for with pain, fear, terror and tears they have paid the cost?

Can anybody out there show them they are worthy to live for to this world they really have quite a lot to give?

Next Time please don't chase your kids for failing up on achieving something higher, because they have a lot to give. Just that you might never know when they will bring out the hidden talents in them.

It is up to you

Up to you to what??? Read through this till the end...

One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.


One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what's true.

One life can make the difference,
You See, IT'S UP TO YOU

TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!