Q: "Robert, will you suck my blood out?" - Alley
Pattinson: Yes. Right now? Do they give their addresses and stuff?
MTV: They give their names, and I am sure if you click on MTV.com, you could e-mail any of them.
Pattinson: "Will you suck my blood out?" Is that, like, a worried question? Or is it kind of a desiring question? I won't if you don't want me to.
--
Q: "If you had a choice to play any character (gender aside), who would it be?" - BobKellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen): I'd play Rosalie. She's just so feisty. And you know, to think about the gender thing, playing a female would be quite fun. It would be a stretch for an actor who is male, so yeah, I would enjoy playing your role.
Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale): Well, thanks, babe.
Lutz: And she has a hot outfit. I'm wearing velour, by the way, so I doubt anyone said Emmett. 
Reed: My monkey man!

AHH! He agreed to suck our blood! And Monkey Man! Lolz. Let me just say this, all of the Cullen couples have such amazing chemistry! Eep! So, on the actual MTV Blog, they have quite a few videos, I only have the first one up so far... But they are all equally as awesome! To read the full transcript and see all of the videos, CLICK HERE.

Larry also posted a blog entry where he discusses the upcoming Twilight Live event and he promises some important news in the coming weeks. Click HERE to read it.

Patriots who crept in to the UNP which serves as a death trap of patriots, never returned. History repeated itself in the cruelest manner for another braveheart of Sri Lanka. Major General (retired) Janaka Perera was killed by a suicide bomber at a political event. Janaka Perera was a brave soldier who fought fearlessly for Sri Lanka, but, he sided with the wrong political crowd. His new friends were traitors and he gave in to their plans on a number of occasions. His spiteful allegations against the Defence Secretary, the President, the army commander and even against military victories were despicable to say the least. His mistake was too obvious. Patriots around the world knew from the start what was cooking for him in UNP quarters. He simply didn't fit in. The soldier who rarely lost a battle lost the election; it was a massive defeat. Unbeknown to him, masters of his party had decided his fate. He were to be disposed as Luxman Algama was disposed in 1999. The much talked about new office complex of the UNP which was built in place of the old one, that was destroyed by vandals, was declared opened by a number of regional UNP stalwarts. Strangely there were no high ranking officials of the party; not even an MP! This is too similar to what happened in Ja-ela on 18th December 1999. The bomb blast took place carefully avoiding the UNP top brass.

However, Janaka should have sensed the inappropriateness of the UNP which is today made up of political nobodies, traitors, turncoats and the like. It is the same party that houses the likes of the WPF leader who admitted to keeping LTTE operatives in his house during the ?ceasefire' period. In addition he has been a strong and open proponent of the LTTE. The there is the SLMC leader who was repeatedly rejected by his constituents and has an active MoU with the LTTE signed in 2002. This party is further infested with the likes of one medical practitioner who used to habitually pay homage at LTTE ?mahaveer' cemeteries. A senior member of parliament from the other camp also joined the UNP recently. He has been known to have a soft corner for the LTTE and he had turned many acts of treason committed by senior UNP members into mockeries. Another recently appointed MP has criticized the army commander for making a factual statement. His allegation was all too similar to the type coming from the LTTE camp. Nobody can forget the hilarious statement made by a very senior UNPer that any ass can fight; clearly dispersing the warrior within the party! Most patriotic members have already left the UNP and those who hold high positions within the party are baptized by the separatists. All this are in addition to its leader who mislead the nation with a surrender agreement with the LTTE which he depicted as peace. There is no way a seasoned soldier could have missed these vital signs.

LTTE separated out the UNP which was the main political force at that time to be its southern counterpart. It eliminated Lalith Athulathmudali and Premadasa in rapid succession. This happened within nine (9) months of killing a number of gallant soldiers in Ararly Point in the Jaffna peninsula. After the assassination of Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993 by the LTTE, UNP became a lame duck headed by timid yet strong-willed supporters and sympathizers of the LTTE cause. Within another 18 months it bumped-off the remaining patriots it had including Gamini Dissanayake, Gamini Premachandra and Oswin Abeygunasekera. Thereafter the UNP was dancing to the tune of the LTTE until General Luxman Algama joined forces in 1999. He was swiftly eliminated, however, after he was used to the most to derive maximum political mileage. Then the UNP refused to blame the LTTE and instead blamed the government. In 2008 T Maheswaran was killed by the LTTE. Yet again the UNP couldn't sum up enough courage to blame the LTTE. LTTE trims the UNP which it considers to be its backyard. There were bigger political giants than Janaka Perera who tried to change the cause of the UNP in vain. It should not surprise anybody if the UNP once against starts screaming about alleged human rights violations. It stopped this hue and cry after inducting the General a few months back.

On the other hand senior UNP leaders are under no Tiger threat. Not even a single attempt was made to harm them!

As the saying goes, if you sleep with dogs, you wake up with fleas. The only way not to make it a problem is by becoming a dog. Clearly the good General didn't become a LTTE poodle and that was his crime according to LTTE books.

This is a cruel awakening by the LTTE to other patriots. It has started eliminating patriotic military and political leaders of this country. It has started from the easiest. Leaders of this country must be fully aware of this heightened LTTE threat to their lives. If they believe the military campaign will soon eliminate the LTTE, they should stay away from public places until such time. The LTTE supremo has outlived ten (10) Sri Lankan administrations and is determined to outlive the present one as well. He should be eradicated soon.

Dangerous times are ahead as the final battle for the terror capital heats up. LTTE will viciously struggle like a drowning man; it will not hesitate to do anything that in its belief would put it off the hook. It is the duty of every Sri Lankan to support the present war effort wholeheartedly; there may not be another chance.

A matéria "Depois eu faço" da Superinteressante de outubro fala sobre Procrastinação. Sobre sempre deixarmos para depois o que poderíamos fazer hoje. A revista trata do assunto como uma coisa séria, que vem afetando ambientes de trabalho em vários pontos do globo. E pelo que foi visto em recentes pesquisas, os procrastinadores gostam de trabalhar sob pressão mas nem sempre se sentem felizes com a situação e podem até mesmo  sofrer de "estresse, sentimento de culpa, baixa auto-estima e arrependimento por não terem trabalhado antes".

A máteria traz uma listinha de como fazer para não enrolar,  o negócio é tentar por em prática e ver se resolve o problema. Como uma procrastinadora nata, desde criança, não sei se funciona, mas pode ser de alguma serventia. Tente ler no site. Depois eu faço,  ou deixe para depois...

De tudo isto, queria que minha mãe visse estas pesquisas e estudos, além da matéria, para eu finalmente convencê-la quando disser: Não é preguiça, mãe! É procrastinação!

I have been wanting to write a post on this topic for sometime, mainly because of the many different input styles from various manufacturers. Of the leading companies who make calculators (Casio, HP, Sharp, TI), only HP still produces Reverse Polish Notation (RPN) style input, that is, to add 2+2, you press: [2] [ENTER] [2] [+]. The other 3 offers algebraic input, albeit in different flavours. Newer calculators have a new form of algebraic input normally known as textbook mode, where you input an equation as:  instead of πr^2. So, below is the rundown of various common input methods (not all) complete with the calculators that uses them.

Algebraic 

• Chain Algebraic

Description:Mostly used in old single line display calculators, some business calculators, desktop calculators. Does not follow operator precedence. sin90 is entered in RPN style: [90] [SIN].

Some Calculators that uses it: Casio fx-570, HP10bll

• Equation operating system (EOS) style algebraic (Single line)

Description: Mostly used in calculators (scientifics) before dual line display calculator became common. Follows operator precedence and you enter sin90 as [SIN] [90] [=]. Input the way as that the equation is written. May or may not show the equation you type, depending on manufacturer's implementation.

Marketing terms: Casio's V.P.A.M (Visually Perfect Algebraic Method), Sharp's D.A.L (Direct Algebraic Logic).

Some Calulators that uses it: Casio fx-992s, Sharp EL-503W

• EOS style algebraic (Dual line), also known as linear mode

Description: Most modern calculators (scientifics & even some business calculators) uses dual line display. Follows operator precedence and you enter sin90 as [SIN] [90] [=]. Input the way as that the equation is written. Equation that you evaluated is shown in the top line, while the answer is shown on the bottom. Some of them have a playback feature that let you recall your previous calculation. A few calculators have dual mode that can switch between linear mode and textbook mode (see below).

Marketing terms: Casio's S.V.P.A.M (Super Visually Perfect Algebraic Method), ?Sharp's Advance D.A.L (Direct Algebraic Logic)?.

Some Calculators that uses it: Casio fx-115MS, HP 35s, Sharp EL-506W, TI-30X llS

• EOS style algebraic (Textbook mode)

Description: Some of the newer scientific calculators are equipped with this textbook mode where the display of equations resembles equations in textbook, i.e where you input an equation as:  instead of πr^2. All uses full dot matrix displays and Casio's models can revert back to linear mode. Not too sure about Sharp and TI though. Input style is very similar to typing equations on Microsoft Words.

Marketing terms: Casio's NATURAL-V.P.A.M (Visually Perfect Algebraic Method), Sharp's WriteView, TI's MultiView

Some Calulators that uses it: Casio fx-991ES (115ES|U.S), Casio fx-991ES PLUS, Sharp EL-W506, TI-30XS MultiView

Reverse Polish Notation (RPN)

• Traditional RPN (4 level stack)

Description:The traditional RPN first appeared on the HP-35, the world's first scientific pocket calculator, and is still now used is some HP calculators, like the hp 35s. To add 2+2, you press: [2] [ENTER] [2] [+]. The 4 level stack are named x, y, z, t. With the x and y register showing on dual line display and only the x register in the case of a single line display calculator. Values entered are directly entered on the x register and when [ENTER] key is pressed, the value is copied to the y register. In modern calculators, only HP still offers RPN on their calculators.

Some Calculators that uses it: HP-35, HP 35s, HP-12C, HP-42S

• Reverse Polish LISP (RPL) input method

Description:First appeared on the HP-28C. To add 2+2, you press: [2] [ENTER] [2] [+]. Unlimited stack, only limited by memory. A few lines of the stack (more than traditional RPN) is shown on the dot matrix screens of these calculators, 7 on the HP 50g. Values entered are entered on a "temporary holding area", not on the x register as in traditional RPN, when [ENTER] is pressed, the value is copied to the x register, but not to the y register. Used in HP series of graphing calculators.

Some Calculators that uses it: HP 28/48/49 series of calculators

1. V.P.A.M and S.V.P.A.M
2. D.A.L
3. RPN and RPL. Worth a read if you want to know more about RPN.

Here's my response to it:

excellent article mike. too often, myself included, strugglers with SSA give up because they can’t shake their attractions to the same sex. but just because this is so, doesn’t mean that they aren’t walking in freedom from these attractions. a straight man shouldn’t divorce his wife because another woman catches his eye as he walks down the street - just like one who struggles with SSA shouldn’t give up because someone catches their eye every so often.

i still struggle with SSA, even though i’m VERY happily married. it’s still a struggle because i’m fallen and i live in a fallen world - not to mention that satan is pissed that i’m not walking with him anymore.  but just because i struggle doesn't mean that i'm still gay ... it just means that i struggle.

GOD is the one who defines who you are, and who you aren’t. period. end of story.

so yeah, props to your article mike.

*

I love you for all the times your laughter has chased away the clouds from a bad day, for all the times your voice has let me know you understand.

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I love you for all the ways your gentle touch has shown me how much you care, for all the moments you've held me tenderly in your arms.

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I love you for the wonderful gift of your love.

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I love you and my feelings hasn't changed.

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I want you. I need you. You're all that I care about.

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I will give you everything, anything that your heart desires. I will always be here for you.

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I have given you my vow that I will love no other but you. I will never break that vow, not even in our next lifetime.

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You have my heart.

*

Always and forever.

I was standing. Looking behind me at the summer that has passed. Kind of like watching the big orange sun descend slowly into the the back of the field across the street from my house. And it is really a beautiful sight to behold. The orange and the pink streaked sky spans from one side to the the other and the lights and the colors are as amazing as a Fourth of July fireworks finale. Every night. Beauty that lays the day to rest. And the sunset of the summer. As the cooler nights require sweaters. And the trees already look as though they are gearing up for their autumn wardrobe change. Has me standing in awe of what this time has been, and how incredibly it is setting on my own landscape.

It has been by far...one of the hardest and tear filled summers of my life. There have been days when I felt as though I was wracked with pain. And days when I felt as though I was too low to even get out of bed. But something everyday would drag me out to my back porch. To lay my crumpled self at the feet of god. To weep. To pray. To praise. To just watch the goldfinches eat their little seed bag everyday and sing their little songs. And god met me. And continues to do so. Everyday. In sickness and in health. In hope and despair. And I have been given this incredible privelege of so much quiet time. Just holding hands and not speaking a word. In understanding his promises. And seeing them jump off the page and into my life. I have seen first-hand that perfect love does, indeed, cast out all fear. I am witness to the fact that he never leaves nor forsakes. I have proof that like the little sparrow, my god has noticed me and fed me out of the palm of his hand.

Honestly. What a gift to be stripped of everything that we all hold onto. When our faith gets so bogged down with who is preaching and what ministry we are currently running. Whether or not the worship is to our liking, and whether or not sister so and so was nice to us at the church potluck. Ugh. We are all guilty. The American modern day church reflects the modern American. We want things to cater to us. To be quick and easily controlled. And unfortunately our faith usually falls right into line with our compartmentalized and tiny human reasoning. A reasonable god. An even more reasonable spirituality. Keep it to ourself. Don't let it bother anyone. And we are who we are. And I was guilty of that as well. The busyness of ministry and knocking myself out to please the unsatisfied bellies, the moaners and complainers nudged my relationship with him out of the center and off into the wings somewhere. And then suddenly when we were kicked out into the streets with not much left to hold onto he clothed me in his righteousness. He filled my walls with peace and joy, comfort and healing. And I began to become a place where love has no choice but to spill over.

I learned so much about his goodness and our time has been so sweet that I am almost nervous about life beginning again. Will i forget the water from rocks, the manna from heaven, the meat on my table day after day? Will I forget how he hid me in the cleft of the rock and let me catch a glimpse of his glory? Will I become the din and the clatter of so many Christians that surround me - noisy but lacking the depth of the love that can only be found in surrender...I would rather never be used again if that were the case because i know how easily we get distracted. How simple it is to take credit for things that only he could accomplish within us. I know how selfish we are and how stupid we can be. And so in that respect I wish the sun would not have to set on this moment of my life because through the agony and the tears he has proven himself to be exactly who he says he is. Healer. Provider. Lover. Friend. And I never want to forget any of it.

The other thing that was a result of all of this was the gift of an entire summer to watch our children play and pretend. To hear days of belly laughs and watch movies every night on the couch that we rented from the library for free. We have never had a free summer. One where we weren't running around busy with ministry. Where we weren't shuffling our kids from one grandparent to the next in order to serve other people's children. We got to be ministers to our own. Our children got to see just how terrible and sad the people of god can be to one another. And believe me,as children of a minister they would have seen it one way or the other. It is a rough job to be a kid of pastor and to see and hear all that goes on in the church that is trying desperately to look spotless and without wrinkle. It leaves alot of broken kids in its wake. Everyone tries to make things seem so perfect and without fault like there is this magic"god pill." Take one and god will make our lives always happy. And easy. And we will all truly love one another...That isn't the case in the church. And it produces so much disillusionment that in many cases is hard to ever come back from...Instead they learned this huge lesson. That our faith is not wrapped up in a building or a pastor, in a program or a pew, but in the way that we are so very very weak and yet our god somehow gives us the strength to live each day and bring him glory. That the church is far from perfect and that his people are even less, an yet he is exactly who he says he is.day after day.year after year.trouble and trials notwithstanding.that he is truly good. And that our faith and hope must be anchored in the God that will never leave us hanging.

We have prayed together and sought his word. They have seen first-hand the goodness of God as he has met all of our needs and allowed us to rest in his love and our love for each other. I feel as though I have already missed so much time with them. Katie is already 12. And yesterday she was just a bald little baby born to two dumb kids. Who knows what tommorrow holds for anything of them and how quickly time will fly, but i am assured of this: that god has a plan and a purpose for all of us,and that his plan is perfect. And so, I thank him for the gift of today. Of this past summer. Of allowing us to love on our children and understand how much more he loves on us.

And we still don't have answers. I still don't know what lies in the heart of those who did this to us. I only know that when I saw them face to face a couple of weeks ago, I felt only saddness and love for them, and that in itself was such a gift from God to me. Because i know in my own strength it would be impossible for me to look at them with love and forgiveness for what has happened. And i cannot begin to tell you...what a feeing it was to realize that I did not hate them. That I did not want to beat them up, or spit in their face. I wanted to hug them and tell them that I still love them and that there is one who loves them even more than they could ever imagine. And just knowing that I have become more than a conquerer in that respect was a huge gift and a prize for me alone.

Finally. We still don't know how things will work out, or how we will pay our bills. We don't know what kind of job Mike will get or who will even want to hire him. But again, I guess I feel confident in the God that has ministered to us all summer. Who has opened up heaven and let it pour down upon us. Who made everyday breathtakingly beautiful and kept the birds aflight in the sky above. Who paints the landscape in brilliant colors and who collects my tears in a bottle. Who never promises us a world without pain or struggle and yet who promises to never leave us on our own through any of it. Who has broken through the stormclouds of my life and walked on the wind and the waves. Who holds all of eternity in the palm of his hand and whose love cannot be contained in any of the oceans or even in an expansive sky full of stars that we cannot begin to even count. That if nothing can seperate me from that love. Not life. Not death. Not angels. Not demons. Not depression. Or bitter disappointments. Not betrayel. Or friends that run away. If nothing that has happened this summer has seperated me from the love of my god. Then i know that we will be ok. That nothing I could wish for myself or any hope for a happy life can come close to what a life surrendered and orchestrated by him can create in me. And will look like when the sun sets in my own sky. The possibilities are endless. His promise is never broken. His plans are always perfect.

I am a rich woman. I am well loved by a a wonderful husband and three sweet faced kids. Who give a glimpse of the goodness of God, every time i look at them. I have been put here for such a time as this. To be a witness to the love and hope that can only be found in him. The water that satisfies. The way. The truth and the life.

And I am loved by god. I am beautiful in his sight. He welcomes my tears. He eases my pain. He holds my hand through the long dark stretch of night. He makes the sun to rise every morning and fills the skies with songs. The earth is full of his glory. My life is full of his glory. Let me be a gift back to you, dear Lord. Use me whatever way you can.

Thank you for the sweetest and prettiest summer of my life...

You are worthy of our praise. Summer lover. Sky painter. Bird watcher. How can I not sing your praises. Amen.

Kim and her husband Mike have been putting on rock shows in southern New Jersey almost as long as Tangzine has been around. Kim blogs regularly on her MySpace page.

In reality we talk to ourselves all the time it's just that we do it so often without any conscious thought we forget that it's even happening. We talk to ourselves all day, every day, yet we are aware of so little of what we are saying to ourselves.

We pass by a shop window or a mirror and look in it and say "oh you look terrible today" or we do something and we say "man you're dumb". And the words go into the matter of our body and our mind and begin their work. That's right our words work! They will either work for us or against us. Our words are so powerful they can create; in fact they are at work in us even now creating the reality that we have sent them out to create.

God said of His words "My words which go forth from my mouth will not return to me void but will accomplish what I send them out to do" Is 55:11. We don't have a problem with God's words having the power to create reality but we give our words such little thought sometimes; yet we are created in the image of God. Our words will go to work when we speak them. We might not have the power to create galaxies with our words (or maybe we do, only God knows at this moment) but our words certainly work to create the realities of our life.

In fact the Bible says "Life and death are in the power of the tongue" Prov 18:21. Are you speaking life or death over yourself? And, what are you speaking over others? Although to be honest we usually speak far nicer things over others than we do over ourselves.

Our words set the course of our lives in so many ways. Now we know that the words others speak over us have power, like those of our teachers or parents yet I don't want to concentrate on them here. I want to look at the words we speak over our own lives and the realities they create.

1. First of all we need to listen to ourselves, what are we saying about ourselves, over ourselves.

What do we say without thinking? What decrees are we making over our lives? Are we decreeing clumsiness or stupidity, brokenness or any manner of negative things. Or are we decreeing wholeness, health, sanity and the blessings of God. Maybe take the time to write down, over the course of a few days, the things you catch yourself saying or thinking about yourself. You'll be surprised at what you speak without thinking about it.

2. Find out what the Word of God says about you.

Do some study, search the Word of God for what He thinks and says about who you are. Form some of these things you find into decrees to speak over your life. The Word works! When we speak it over our lives we decree the plans and purposes of God over ourselves and what we decree begins to go to work.

3. See yourself differently based on that Word.

Change the way you look at yourself. Ask God to help you see yourself as He sees you. A practical exercise to try - look at yourself in a mirror (without pulling a face) and tell yourself you are "wonderfully made" Ps139, you are "bold and courageous" 2Tim 1:7 or something else the Word says about you. Smile at yourself and keep that smile on your face until after you have walked away from the mirror. If you don't keep the smile on your face until after you've walked away, chances are, you'll pull a face at yourself, mocking what you've just said. How do I know that? Yep, done it.

4. Change what you say.

What you say to yourself will create your reality. Make a deliberate choice to change what you say over yourself. Speak positive things over your life. I know some of you are possibly thinking that what I'm saying has "new age" overtones and am talking about the power of "positive thinking and confession" and other stuff like that. But the idea of positive thinking never originated with the new age people, it originated with God. they use the principles that God laid out and of course they get results - the principles when applied, work!

Are we into soul power? No, we're into Holy Ghost Spirit power; the power of the Spirit of God working in us to create just as He worked in creation to create when God spoke.

Make yourself some word decrees to speak over your life from verses about how God sees you and even take some of the prophetic words he has spoken over your life and decree them daily.

David knew the power of  talking to his soul from his spirit. He said "Why are you cast down oh my soul... hope thou in God" Ps 42:5,11 Ps 43:5 . David spoke to his soul and he spoke hope and faith into his life. He talked to himself about God and reminded himself that God had come through for him before.

God will come through for you too when you align yourself with His Word and begin to decree it over your life. He and you will co-create a new reality for you to live, one based on how He sees you and the plans and purposes He has for your life.

So what are we saying to ourselves? I used to talk to myself and think I was crazy but now I talk to myself and I know I'm not crazy, in fact I'm getting saner and wiser day by day.

Although my purpose in writing this article wasn't to sell you anything, we do have in stock some of Patricia Kings 'Decree' books and CD's. These are full of Word decrees you canspeak over your life based on the Word of God. you can purchase them  from us by emailing us at  nz@xpmedia.com

Sedangkan tahun sebelumnya selalu menjadi perdebatan?

Begini penjelasan ilmiahnya sodara-sodara:

Bumi kita bulat (360º dahsyat) dan berputar dalam 1 hari selama 24 jam,

Berarti 1 jam = 15º

Sedangkan Pulau Indonesia (1/8 dari lingkar Bumi) yang mempunyai perbedaan waktu 3 jam,

Bayangkan !! 3jam berarti mempunyai perbedaan 45º !!! ini nggak kecil lhoh

Jadi…..kalau Aceh sudah melihat bulan, belum berarti Denpasar juga sudah melihat bulan (Nhah, ini yang membuat perdebatan tempo hari masalah perbedaan 1 Syawal)

Yak, seperti pikiran rekan semua, tahun ini pas kebetulan bulan tepat ditengah-tengah (masuk di 45º kita, dan posisi ditengah dengan prosentase eror < 10%) bingung kan?? Xixixi…..

Jadi baik dari Aceh, Denpasar, bahkan Merauke semua dapat melihat bulan, maka 1 Syawal bisa ultra berbarengan.

Namun….di negara kita belum ada peraturan, semisal: kalau bagian negara kita sudah melihat Bulan maka yang lain mengikuti (jadi kalau Aceh sudah melihat, Merauke juga dianggap sudah 1 Syawal) toh, juga 1 negara.

Kalau tidak ada ketetapan, ya 1 Syawal tahun depan bisa berbeda lagi setidaknya 1 hari antara ujung Indonesia barat dan ujung Indonesia timur.

Kalau saya ada salah dalam menganalisa, mohon dikoreksi yah?

MSG (monosodium glutamate), Excitotoxins
Seizures: The MSG Connection
From the book: "EXCITOTOXINS THE TASTE THAT KILLS"
by Russell L. Blaylock M.D.

See our full line of Nutritional Supplements

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is a taste enhancing and hydrolyzed vegetable protein. At the time of discovery, MSG was thought to be safe since it was a natural substance (an amino acid). The amount of MSG alone added to foods has doubled in every decade since the 1940's and by 1972 262,000 metric tons of MSG were produced.

In 1957 two ophthalmologists, Lucas and Newhouse decided to test MSG on infant mice in an effort to study an eye disease known as hereditary retinal dystrophy. When they examined the eye tissue of the sacrificed animals they made a startling discovery. MSG had destroyed all the nerve cells in the inner layers of the animals retina which are the visual receptor cells of the eye.

Ten years later John W. Olney, M.D. a neuroscientist working for the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis repeated Lucus and Newhouse's experiment in infant mice. He found that MSG was not only toxic to the retina, but also to the brain. When he examined the animals brains, he discovered that specialized cells in a critical area of the animals brain, the hypothalamus, were destroyed after a single dose of MSG.

At this time the concentrations of MSG found in baby foods was equal to that used to create brain lesions in experimental animals and in all these experiments, immature animals were found to be much more vulnerable to the toxic effects of MSG than older animals (this was true for all animal species tested).

The FDA refused to take action after Dr. Olney informed the FDA and it was only after his testimony before a Congressional committee that the food manufactures agreed to remove MSG from baby foods.

But instead of adding MSG, added hydrolyzed vegetable protein, instead. Today EXCITOTOXINS are still added to our food, usually in the form of caseinate, beef or chicken broth, or flavoring.

In experimental animals "MSG babies" are found to be short in stature, obese and have difficulty reproducing. This effect only becomes evident long after the initial use of MSG exposure. More detailed studies have found that "MSG babies" have severe disorders involving several hormones normally produced by the hypothalamus.

MSG is not the only taste "enhancing" food additive known to cause damage to the nervous system. They all share one important property.

When neurons are exposed to these substances, they become very excited and fire their impulses very rapidly until they reach a state of "extreme exhaustion". Several hours later these neurons suddenly die as if the cells were excited to death.

As a result, neuroscientists have dubbed these class of chemicals "EXCITOTOXINS."

Several EXCITOTOXINS are man made,-- others are found in nature-- such as glutamate, aspartate and cysteine - all which are amino acids.

MSG is a modified from of 'glutamic acid' in which sodium is added to the molecule. But the toxic portion is the *glutamic* acid, not the sodium.

Often manufactures will mix MSG with other substances to "disguise" it.

Hydrolyzed vegetable protein also referred to as vegetable protein, or plant protein is a mixture made from "junk" vegetables,-- unfit for sale, especially selected so as to have naturally high contents of "glutamate".

The extraction process of "hydrolysis" involves boiling these vegetables in a vat of acid, followed by the process of neutralization with caustic soda. The resulting product is a brown sludge that collects on top. This is scraped off and allowed to dry and the end product is a brown powder that is high in 3 known EXCITOTOXINS -- glutamate, aspartate and cystoic acid (which converts in the body to cysteine).

It's then added to the food manufacture.

All these chemicals stimulate the taste cells in the tongue, thereby enhancing the taste of food. Another excitotoxin additive is the artificial sweetener Nutra-sweet, 40% of the compound is composed of the excitotoxin "aspartate". Like glutamate, aspartate is a powerful brain toxin, which can produce similar neuron damage.

It is well recognized that 'liquid' forms of excitotoxins are much more toxic to the brain than dry forms, as they absorb faster and produce higher blood levels than when mixed with solid foods.

But the negative effects of excitotoxins are not limited to small children. There is growing evidence that excitotoxins play a major role in a whole group of degenerative brain diseases in adults - especially the elderly.

These diseases include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, Huntington disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and more disorders of the nervous system.

What all these disease have in common is a slow destruction of brain cells that are specifically sensitive to excitotoxin damage. More and more diseases of the nervous system are being linked to excitotoxin build-up in the brain.

For example, disorders such as strokes, hypoxic brain injury, hypoglycemic brain damage, seizures, migraine headaches, hypoxic brain damage, ADD, ADHD, and even AIDS dementia have been linked to excitotoxins 'damage'.

There is evidence that some individuals born with "metabolic" defects in certain brain cells may be particularly susceptible to excitotoxin damage.

The food industry and representatives of the glutamate manufactures have joined together to fight anyone who would dare criticize the use of flavor enhances, in fact they have formed a special lobby group to counter any negatives about their product.

This group is called the Glutamate Association and is made up of representatives of major US food manufacturers and the Ajinomoto G. based in Japan, the chief manufacturer of MSG and hydrolyzed protein.

The 'neuron system' within the "hypothalamus" appears to use glutamate as a "neurotransmitter". The pituitary gland "Master Gland" controls the other endocrine glands, such as the adrenals, the thyroid and reproductive organs by releasing small amounts of it's controlling hormones into the blood.

What controls the pituitary gland, the hypothalamus - it controls hormone releasing factors that stimulate the pituitary to release hormones. By the feed back control, the hypothalamus "regulates" the hormone balance in the body.

Sort of a hormone thermostat.

The discovery by Dr. Olney was particularly important, because the hypothalamus plays an important role in "controlling" so many areas of the body.

The hypothalamus regulates growth, the onset of puberty, most of the endocrine glands, appetite, sleep cycles and waking patterns, the biological clock and even "consciousness" itself. When MSG feed in doses similar to those found in human diets, destroys hypothalamic neurons. Later experiments demonstrated that MSG could cause the hypothalamus to secrete excessive amounts of a reproductive hormone (luteinizing hormone) which is associated with an early onset of puberty. Many of these endocrine effects appeared at an older age.

The primary purpose of us eating is to support the chemical reactions of the body. Many of the substances absorbed from our food plays a vital role in the overall metabolic process of life. When adult humans are fed 100-150 milligrams per kilogram of body weight of MSG, their blood levels rise 20 times higher than normal as compared to a four fold rise seen in experimental mice fed a comparable dose. A child's brain is four times more 'sensitive' than an adult brain to these toxins.

Glutamate and aspartate are "s" neurotransmitter (the keys) found normally in the brain and spinal cord and even though they are two of the most common transmitter chemicals in the brain and spinal core, when their concentrations rise above a critical level they become deadly "toxins" to the neurons containing "glutamate receptors" (the locks).

What this means is that excessive glutamate will not only kill the 'neurons' with the receptors for glutamate, but it will also kill any neuron that happens to be connected to it, even if that neuron uses another type of transmitter. Both glutamate and aspartate can cause neurons to become extremely 'excited' and if given in large enough doses, they can cause the cells to degenerate and die. It is for this reason that the nervous system carefully controls the concentration of these two amino acids in the fluid surrounding the neurons (called the extracellular space). Even small doses can damage these neurons without actually killing them. Within 15-30 minutes after being exposed to high doses of MSG, neurons suspended in tissue culture are seen to 'swell' like balloons. Within 3 hrs. those neurons are not only dead, but the bodies defense mechanism begins to haul away the "debris".

Be aware, the FDA does not regulate the amount of carcinogens allowed in "hydrolyzed vegetable protein" or the amount of hydrolyzed vegetable protein allowed to be added to food products.

Manufacturers disguise MSG- in foods it is disguised as hydrolyzed vegetable protein, natural flavorings and spices, each of those may contain 12%-40% MSG.
MSG-free: Avoiding the hidden sources

-- Sufferers of monosodium glutamate (MSG) toxicity syndromes have long been dismissed by the makers of glutamate and food additives and by the FDA, whose labeling standards for foods containing the controversial flavor enhancer are fairly lax. For many of these MSG sufferers, the experience of coping with the ambiguities of food labeling leaves them feeling like Han Solo navigating his way through an asteroid field. Not only is it confusing -- it can be very dangerous. ~WebMD
What is MSG toxicity syndrome?

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) toxicity syndrome occurs in response to free-glutamic acid, which is a breakdown product of protein after it has been processed by a food manufacturer. While all protein has glutamic acid bound in it, it is only the glutamic acid that has been freed from the protein before it is consumed that causes the reactions.

Growing numbers of patients and physicians and some scientists are convinced that the ingestion of this processed free-glutamic acid can cause adverse reactions in one or more organs of the body.

In 1969, H. H. Schaumburg, an MSG researcher who helped educate the public and the medical industry about the dangers of MSG, concluded that up to 30 percent of the population had sensitivity reactions from the MSG in an ordinary diet.
Symptoms that MSG can bring on

Reported MSG reactions, which can occur as a result of consuming even small amounts (much less than the 1/2 gram the FDA considers to be low), include migraines; hives; mouth eruptions; numbness; tingling; swelling of mucous membranes in the oral, gastrointestinal or reproductive tract; asthma; runny nose; insomnia; seizures; mood swings; panic attacks; diarrhea; and cardiac irregularities.

Sufferers of MSG's effects are not experiencing an "allergy." Instead, they are experiencing the results of direct nerve stimulation and possible nerve damage, although the latter has notbeen verified in humans. Emergency room physician George R. Schwartz, author of "In Bad Taste: The MSG Symptom Complex," says MSG is a "neurotoxin," a substance that actually induces nerve 'changes' and possible nerve 'damage'.

Despite the fact that MSG causes known toxic reactions, and despite the fact that some labeling does exist, MSG-sensitive individuals are still at risk for becoming severely ill from food they buy at the store or order off a menu.

1. Most processed foods contain MSG. Kathleen Schwartz, president of NoMSG, a New Mexico-based nonprofit group, explains that MSG is deceptively represented as a "natural" additive on many containers and in some natural-food departments as well.

"Anything that tastes good ... all of the fast foods, flavored chips, most of the condiments, most salad dressings, most processed lunch meats, most sausages, soups off the grocery shelf," she says, are likely to contain MSG.

2. Seasonings and basic food staples contain MSG. Adrienne Samuels, Ph.D., co-director and founder of the Truth in Labeling Campaign (TLC), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote "full and clear labeling" of all food, says that the unwary consumer is quite vulnerable to the unintended ingestion of MSG. In doing research for a TLC report, Samuels found that the glutamate and food-additive industry is adept at disguising the presence of MSG in foods.

"Bouillon, stock, broth, malt flavoring, barley malt, seasonings, carrageenan, soy sauce, soy protein, whey protein and anything enzyme-modified," she writes, "always contain MSG."

3. MSG by any other name is just the same. Samuels notes that the FDA has demonstrated a curious relaxation of its usual standards for product labeling. "With some exceptions," she writes, "the FDA requires that ingredients -- MSG-containing ingredients included -- must be called by their common or usual names." The FDA uses the term "monosodium glutamate" for ingredients that are a 99 percent pure combination of glutamic acid and sodium.

However, most of the MSG-containing foods that cause MSG syndrome are not 99 percent pure and are allowed to be labeled obscurely: "monopotassium glutamate," "autolyzed yeast," "hydrolyzed soy protein" and "sodium caseinate" are examples of ingredients that always contain MSG.

4. The FDA won't tighten its standards. In 1994 TLC attempted through a petition to pressure the FDA "to require that processed free-glutamic acid be clearly labeled when used in food."

That petition -- and a subsequent lawsuit -- were not successful. The court ruled that the FDA, being a food-industry expert, did not have to disclose the "basis" of its conclusion that current labeling standards adequately protected the public.
What the future may hold for the players in the MSG debate

MSG proponents are currently facing a new battle -- one with potentially far-reaching legal repercussions. In a recent, well- publicized legal case, a California man, Mr. Livingston, initially lost a suit that was recently reversed on appeal and set for retrial. Livingston's complaint is against a restaurant that had served him a vegetable soup that had been made with a beef base containing MSG. After consuming it, he suffered an asthma attack and cardiac arrest.

"The restaurant had a 'duty to warn' this man of the dangers of the MSG content of the food," says attorney Howard Goldstein, who represented Livingston and who likens the case to the current tobacco industry lawsuits. Goldstein says he is more aware of the dangers of MSG as a result of his involvement with this case. A member of his own family suffered from MSG sensitivity.

"At a time when we were eating a lot of foods containing MSG," he says, "during the meal she would start having vision changes, cramping and asthma. At least once or twice a year for a dozen or so years we would be making emergency room visits, usually on the Friday or Saturday night after eating out, to get to respiratory therapy."

Goldstein says that after getting involved in the Livingston case and learning to eliminate MSG from the family diet, the trips to the emergency room have not occurred for five years. But until relief arrives, consumers must navigate on their own.
Health and Nutrition Secrets that Can Save Your Life
by Dr. Russell Blaylock

Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can Save Your Life covers some of the hottest topics in health and nutrition: heavy metal toxicity the food additive controversy. Health and Nutrition Secrets also presents the latest information on strokes and heart attacks, diabetes, protecting the digestive system, and the best ways to keep the immune system young and powerful.

Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon, combines many years of medical practice with study of thousands of research studies to create this monumental book.
Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills

Book Description (from the publisher)

Nutrasweet (Aspartame) has been scientifically linked to brain tumors, brain cell damage and neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. According to author Russell Blaylock, MD, a practicing, board-certified neurosurgeon, we are witnessing enormous damage to the brain and nervous system due to the ever-increasing amount of Nutrasweet and other excitotoxic subtances added to our foods.

With detailed accuracy citing well over five hundred scientific studies, Neurosurgeon Blaylock explores the "must-know" dangers of these substances being added indiscriminately to our food supply.

Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" and his research team used the book Excitotoxins: The Taste That Kills, as one of their sources to report on the increasing evidence of a brain tumor connection.

Their December 29, 1996, program didn't, however, delve into the enormous epidemic of illness caused by the increasing use of these substances.

Dr. Blaylock's book exposes it all in detail--from the questionable history of "approvals" in the 1970s and the 1980s to the increasing body of evidence showing serious brain effects, government inaction, and industry propaganda and cover-up.

The use of aspartame, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and monosodium glutamate in prepared foods and beverages continues to increase on a yearly basis.

Dr. Blaylock clearly demonstrates that the neurotoxic potential of excitotoxins such as MSG and aspartame (NUTRASWEET ) is so overwhelming that it can no longer be ignored.

Table of Contents:

A Crash Course in How the Brain Works - Very Special Amino Acids - What Is an Amino Acid? - Exciting Cells to Death - Effect of Excitotoxins on the Developing Brain - Creeping Death: The Neurodegenerative Diseases - Alzheimer's Disease: A Classic Case of Excitotoxin Damage - Seizures - Headaches - Brain Injury - Strokes: Ischemia-Anoxia - Hypoglycemia - AIDS Dementia - Aspartame, Brain Tumors and the FDA

So what are "excitotoxins"? Basically, they are a group of compounds that can cause special neurons within the nervous system to become overexcited to the point that these cells will die. That's right, they are excited to death.

Excitotoxins include such things as monosodium glutamate (MSG), aspartate (a main ingredient in NutraSweet), L-cysteine (found in hydrolyzed vegetable protein) and related compounds.

What makes this all the more intriguing is that "excitotoxins" appear to play a key role in degenerative nervous system diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and many others.

But the story doesn't stop there. It appears that an imbalance of these excitotoxins during critical periods of brain development can result in an abnormal formation of brain pathways; that is, a "miswiring of the brain." This may lead to serious disorders such as behavioral problems (hyperactivity, aggression, attention deficit disorders, learning disorders, poor learning ability, and ADD)-and a lifetime of endocrine problems such as menstrual difficulties, infertility, and premature puberty.

One of the earliest observations seen in animals exposed to large doses of MSG was gross obesity. Some neuroscientists have voiced concern that America's explosion of childhood obesity may be related to excitotoxins in food.
MANIPULATING THE LANGUAGE (AND THE DATA)

The defenders of 'glutamate safety' have gone through an evolving litany of defenses. First, they denied that brain lesions could result from any dose of glutamate. Then, when the evidence became overwhelming, they claimed that these lesions only occurred when MSG was injected and not ingested. When this was disproved, they denied that human blood levels could reach concentrations that would be toxic to the brain.

When this was shown not to be true, even by one of their own defenders, they simply stated, "So what? It still cannot enter the brain because of the blood brain barrier."

(This is a special "gatekeeper" that normally excludes toxic chemicals from entering the brain from the blood.) But, as even shown by the government-sponsored FASEB report, the brain has several vital areas that have no barrier. (For example, the hypothalamus.) And it was shown that glutamate can pass into protected areas of the brain by seeping through the unprotected areas.

Also, there are many medical conditions that cause the barrier to fail, such as hypertension, diabetes, brain tumors, brain trauma, heat stroke, vascular stroke, multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerate diseases, and with some medications. All of these people would be at great risk.
BRAIN DAMAGE, NOT AN "ALLERGIC" REACTION

I often hear people say, "But I'm not sensitive to MSG. Chinese food doesn't bother me." This is a dangerous mistake. The destructive effects of MSG and related compounds is not an allergic reaction, it is a toxic reaction that occurs in virtually everyone. Some are more sensitive to these destructive effects than others, but everyone is affected to some degree. The MSG-symptom complex differs from the excitoxic reaction. The former is quite obvious to the person (headaches, pressure in the chest, heart palpitations, numbness in the arms and face, etc.), while the latter may remain clinically silent for many years.
SILENT LESIONS

What makes "excitotoxins" so dangerous is the subtle way in which they damage the nervous system. Often the damage goes on for years, even decades, before clinically recognizable disease is evident. For example, when an unborn child is exposed to MSG in the mother's diet, behavioral and learning difficulties may not become evident until the child starts school. Endocrine problems may not surface until puberty or when the person is trying to start a family. Degenerative brain diseases, such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease may take even longer. It is the slow, unrelenting destruction of brain cells-secondary to exposure to food-born excitotoxins-that may lead to either the precipitation of these diseases or their aggravation.
SO WHY DOESN'T THE FDA COME OUT AND SAY MSG IS DANGEROUS?

For one thing, there appears to be a revolving door between the FDA and the manufacturers of and companies that use MSG. We often see that directors of the FDA on review panels suddenly appear some time later either working for the industry or with firms that support the industry.

In the FASEB report, the FDA gleaned the wording that it wanted and packaged it so that it would say exactly what they wanted. For example, they reported that the study found no link between ingested MSG and neurodegenerative diseases. But in truth, what the report said was that no studies have been done to even see if there is a link. That is, no one is looking at these critical questions.

Second, the FASEB investigators took the industry's studies on daily intakes of MSG at face value. This is ludicrous. Why won't the food processors release the data on how much MSG and other excitotoxic additives they add to each food item? What is interesting is that the FASEB study did say that they did consider concentration less than three grams a day as safe, which would imply that more than that is definitely dangerous. But even this is questionable.
Can Nutrasweet Cause Brain Tumors?

Can NutraSweet cause brain tumors, uterine and ovarian cancer?

Research from its own laboratories says it can. In fact, that was why it was first rejected by the FDA for human consumption. This study found that, in all concentrations examined, NutraSweet produced a very high incidence of brain tumors. (The high dose NutraSweet caused a 47x increase in brain tumors over control animals.) Also found were uterine and ovarian tumors.

The number of tumors produced seemed to be dose related. That is, the more NutraSweet consumed, the more likely tumors would develop. It appears that it is a breakdown product of NutraSweet called diketopiperizine (DKP) that is causing the tumors.

Interestingly, with the passage of time more and more NutraSweet breaks down into DKP. This is why the soft drink companies have started to date diet colas. Heating NutraSweet also speeds up this process. This is why using NutraSweet in hot beverages and for cooking is especially hazardous.

There has been an enormous increase in the number of brain tumors reported over the last decade. No other explanation has been given for this incredible explosion of brain tumors. If the early experiments linking NutraSweet with brain tumors is confirmed, we should all be outraged, both at the industry and at the FDA, our federal watch dog.
LIST OF HIDDEN SOURCES OF MSG

As discussed previously, the glutamate manufacturers and the processed food industries are always on a quest to disguise MSG added to food. Below is a partial fist of the most common names for disguised MSG. Remember also that the powerful excitotoxins aspartate and L-cysteine are frequently added to foods and according to FDA rules require no labeling at all.

Additives that always contain MSG:

* Monosodium Glutamate
* Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein
* Hydrolyzed Protein
* Hydrolyzed Plant Protein
* Plant Protein Extract
* Sodium Caseinate
* Calcium Caseinate
* Yeast Extract
* Textured Protein
* Autolyzed Yeast
* Hydrolyzed Oat Flour

Additives that frequently contain MSG:

* Malt extract
* Malt Flavoring
* Bouillon
* Broth
* Stock
* Flavoring
* Natural Flavoring
* Natural Beef or Chicken Flavoring
* Seasoning

Additives that may contain MSG or excitotoxins:

* Carrageenan
* Enzymes
* Soy Protein Concentrate
* Soy Protein Isolate
* Whey Protein Concentrate

Taken From :

Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM B) is organizing the annual three day business festival – VISTA ‘08 on its campus from October 10 – 12, 2008.
VISTA '08, organizing with the theme of ‘Emerging Economies, Emerging Realities’, is the initiative of Forum for Industrial Interaction (FII), a student-run initiative at IIM B. Some of the leading speakers who will address Vista 08 include noted management thinker Mr Gurucharan Das and media icons like Mr Shekhar Gupta and Mr Rajat Sharma. MBAUniverse.com is the Official Management Portal for IIM B Vista ‘08.

The business fest will see Media Conclave, Panel Discussion, Keynote address and Post Meridian, which will feature members of IIM-B academia and alumni.

The keynote address on the day one will be delivered by Mr Shekhar Gupta, Group Editor of The Express Group and Editor-in-Chief of The Indian Express. The other renowned personalities on the occasion will be Mr Raju Narisetti, Editor, Mint; Mr Rajat Sharma, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, India TV; Mr Gurcharan Das, author, management consultant and public intellectual; Mr Jayanta Roy, Principal Adviser in Confederation of Indian Industry; Mr Manab Majumdar, Senior Director of FICCI; Mr. Narayan Ramachandran, Global Head, Emerging Markets Division, Morgan Stanley and Dr. Saikat Sinha Roy, Reader in the Department of Economics, Jadavpur University, Kolkata.

VISTA ‘08 will also host a number of contests covering domains like strategy, marketing, operations, finance, HR and others. These events include Numero uno, Drishtikone, Bzzwings, Bizarre, Baadshah, Retailor, Trojan Horse, Slog Out, Milestones , Ops Simulation Game, Sparsh , Finesse, Fast Forwards, Trade On, Paper presentation Manifestations, Papyrus, HR Wise and workshops like IPR workshop, Investments workshop and CAT workshop.

According to IIM B, “Vista attracts thousands of footfalls and hits in its real and virtual venues respectively every year. As the events unravel one after the other, the entire campus would descend into extreme levels of frenzied activity, with the brightest of minds clashing with the best of brains.”

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on IIM B Vista.

For more information and FREE online practice tests visit www.tenaday.in

Students at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are preparing to organise interactive fairs on themes like entrepreneurship, start-ups and marketing.

IIM, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) is gearing up for Pratyarpan, its annual social entrepreneurship fair, which aims to provide a meeting point for social entrepreneurs, emerging social entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. The fair presents an opportunity for the entrepreneurs to learn from each other.

IIM Kozhikode’s entrepreneurship cell will be organising its first-ever ‘Startup Fair’ on October 4 and 5. The premise of the fair is to provide students with a platform to interact with successful entrepreneurs. Both students and start-ups stand to gain from healthy interactions.

The entrepreneurship cell of IIM, Calcutta (IIM-C), recently organised its flagship event Ascent’08. The event was a thorough entrepreneurship workshop and was held in association with The National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN), a not-for-profit initiative of the Wadhwani Foundation and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE).

Despite the focus on entrepreneurship, age-old marketing fairs still attract participants. INSIGHT, the marketing fair of IIM-A, is set to get bigger and better. INSIGHT ‘08 seeks participation from not just IIM-A, but other top B-schools. A preceding event to the marketing fair, called ‘Run-up-to-Insight’ began in September. The event includes contests and workshops covering various aspects of marketing and research.

Ulhaas, the marketing fair of IIM-C, tested the participants on their marketing, selling and strategic skills. The participants also had to submit an elaborate business plan that would be judged by a panel of marketing faculty of IIM-C and the Aditya Birla Group, the corporate partners of the event.

For more information and FREE online practice tests visit www.tenaday.in

My two-year stint at IIM, Ahmedabad helped open a world of opportunities for me. It helped open doors that would have otherwise been inaccessible. My peer group still acts the best-sounding board I can ask for, but most of all, the realisation that I was in the company of such stalwarts, humbled me.

On the academic front, the case study method at B-school simulates real life business situations. This not only gives you a peek into the issues faced by business managers, but also equips you with the conceptual frameworks to handle them.

Still, the lack of an actual business environment means that most solutions stay at a conceptual and strategic level. B-schools are unable to provide the experience of implementation. Although an Excel sheet or Powerpoint presentation can create worthy solutions, there’s no way to test their effectiveness on the field.

Eleven years after I entered B-school, my biggest learning is that execution is the only strategy that the consumer sees. You might have the best communication idea, but unless your TV advertisement translates that idea clearly, sales will remain stagnant. Similarly, you might have the clearest “where to play” choices, but until your business development manager filters out the unwanted ones, you’ll have business dilution. One could have the best entry strategy in the world, but until you get the product available to the consumer at the right place, time and quantity, one will not succeed.

It is the attention to detail, the follow-through on decisions, and the review of in-field performance that makes or breaks a business initiative. B-schools do not lay enough emphasis on this all important “last mile”.

Business lessons apart, experience has taught me three other valuable things. One, don’t burn bridges. It’s a small world, you will meet the same people again. Second, treat others with respect. Human dignity should not be confused with a person’s designation. The last big lesson — an anti-thesis to B-school teaching — enjoying the journey is sometimes more important than reaching the destination. If you’re not doing what you love and instead working to amass those millions, chances are by the time you get there, life would have passed you by. This is the biggest reason that prompted me to switch from Procter & Gamble, Singapore, to India where I am pursuing my love for education through Kidzee and Zee Schools.

For more information and FREE online practice tests visit www.tenaday.in