Random thoughts 3486 to 3500.

3486. After losing their valuables, the greedy shows panic, the rich show anger, and the poor show resignation.

3487. To become a "butterfly", one must endure the “caterpillar" phase of struggle. "Success requires a unique niche and the grit to keep going."

3488. Calm seas don't teach us how to steer the boat. It is the storm that forges steady hands. 

3489. Anxiety brings constant worry, while depression leads to low mood and loss of interest.

3490. Monogamy is the practice of marrying or state of being married to only one person at a time.

3491. Love is not to be demanded, or asked for, or to be begged, or to be sought or to be expected. It is given voluntarily, and willingly.

3492. In India, pre nuptial agreements are not considered legally valid because marriage is treated as a sacrament rather than contract.

3493. Parental love is unconditional love. Children’s and spouse’s love is conditional. Everything else is not love. It is just “like”only.

3494. Mangoes fall before they become ripe when a tree experiences stress due to drought, heat, or poor nutrition.

3495. A five-minute meditation before sleeping helps the brain switch from an active and alert state to a calmer parasympathetic mode.

3496. Placing a cold cloth on the forehead (cold sponging) is medically sound. It is an effective way to manage heat while the body fights infection.

3497. The "X" in Xmas comes from the Greek letter Chi (X), the first letter of "Xplotós" (Christos), meaning Christ. Early Christians used "X" as a sacred abbreviation for Jesus Christ.

3498. People say "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Christmas" due to historical usage in English. "Merry" suggests lively joy, while “happy" refers to general contentment.

3499. I wonder that a joint family system was insisted when there was no financial freedom. Now it is avoided when there is financial independence. 

3500. "Swearing is an easily available way to help yourself feel focused, confident and less distracted,"

THE PEN COVER.

About 47 years back in 1979, I happened to go to the post office near Pondy Bazaar in T.Nagar, Chennai, to post an envelope to Bombay. I had written the address at home leaving some space for the pin code to be verified at the post office. 

After reaching the post office, I got the correct pin code from the staff. When I wanted to write it on the envelope, I noticed that I had forgotten to bring my pen. So, I requested the person standing nearby to lend me his pen. 

To my utter surprise, he gave the bottom of the pen retaining the cover with him. Such was his confidence he had in me for a worthless pen. 

I felt as if he had slapped me. I felt as if he had spat in my face. After filling the Pincode, I gave the pen back to him politely. 

From that day on, I never ever missed keeping a pen in my shirt pocket whenever I put on my shirt. Whenever anyone asked me for the pen, I remembered this incident and gave him the pen with the cover. 

In my opinion, the person retaining the cover doubts that the person might not return the pen. He considers that he is not trustworthy. This affects the integrity of the person. Even if the pen is taken away by him absentmindedly, another one can be bought as it is not worth a fortune.

Similarly, I find the tumblers provided for drinking water at public places and the mugs in the train toilets are chained so that people cannot take them away. This is also an act of not trusting others and their integrity. It means that people always have stealing attitude.

We must consider fellow humans trustworthy and believable.

Companions in the train.

Few years back, I was returning from Bengaluru to Hyderabad by the Kachiguda Express with my wife. It leaves Bengaluru at 6-20 pm and arrives at Kachiguda [Hyderabad] at 5-45 am. We prefer early morning arrival so that we can have our coffee and also attend to the morning rituals. 

We always booked lower berths and our seats were near the windows. After we boarded the train, two ladies who were senior citizens arrived and occupied the middle seats near to us. They were fair, orthodox, clad in silk saree and must be beautiful during their younger years. They said they were sisters and belonged to Madwa community.

After the departure of the train and everyone settled in their seats, the younger sister requested me whether we could take their middle berths and spare our lower berths for them. I readily agreed and asked them what was their age. She said the elder was 70 and the younger was 68 as against our age of 74 and 71.

They had come to attend a wedding. They arrived in the morning and returned in the evening and hence they were sleepless and tired. I told them not to worry and that they could go to bed after dinner at 8 pm. However, they were not aware that we were returning after performing 15 days arduous last rituals for my departed mother.

They were gossiping about many people at the wedding. They were commenting about the arrangements and treatment etc. At 8 pm, they had their dinner containing tamarind rice soaked rich in oil which stained the seat also. It was followed by few medicines. We had our usual idly and buttermilk.

Predominantly, life style determines a person's health. Sedentary life style leads to all physical problems. My wife is a workaholic. Wherever she goes, she never hesitated to do any work. People used to admire her for this attitude. Hence she is healthy and active. I also do my part and encourage her.

I gave them the lower berths and took their middle berths. They were astonished to see my wife at the age of 71 effortlessly and carelessly climbed over to the middle berth. The younger sister was pointing out this to the elder. When they left at Kachiguda, they did not even have the courtesy to say a thank you or goodbye.

Random thoughts 3471 to 3485.

3471. Female harpy eagles can lift up to 18kg (40lbs), which is twice their body weight. Their strength is due from their powerful talons and grip.

3472. Idlis do not contain significant amounts of added sugar, whether hot or cold. It is usually around 0.1 to 0.15 grams per serving.

3473. India's butter garlic naan and Amritsari kulcha secured the top two spots on TasteAtlas' Best Breads in the World list.

3474. People are always in pursuit of happiness and not knowledge. That is why You get crowd in theatres and restaurants and not in libraries.

3475. In India,

It’s dangerous to talk to strangers but we can marry strangers. 

Everybody in the street is in a hurry but no one reaches on time.

We can’t go forward unless we are backward. 

we can piss in public but we can’t kiss in public. 

3476. The two most important days in our life are the day when we are born and the day when we find out why we are born. Mark Twain.

3477. Jaw movements in crocodile during feeding put pressure on their tear glands, forcing fluid to appear around their eyes. It is called crocodile tears.

3478. Alex Simpson, born in the US without a brain, ( hydranencephaly ) turned 20 on November 4, 2025.

3479. Enlicitide , A new experimental pill reduces bad cholesterol levels by up to 60 percent, a breakthrough in heart disease prevention.

3480. A  study conducted on over 80,000 adults found that knowing multiple languages is linked to slow brain ageing.

3481. Chopping an onion produces a syn-Propanethial-S-oxide, which stimulates lachrymal glands in the eyes, to produce tears.

3482. Ho-Ren-So is a Japanese culture meaning reporting (Houkoku), informing (Renraku), and consulting (Soudan) in communication.

3483. Heart-healthy oils like olive, mustard, and sunflower are rich in unsaturated fats and antioxidants, supporting heart health and lowering cholesterol.

3484. Ghee is rich in vitamins and aids digestion, butter offers gut-friendly nutrients but is high in saturated fat, while oils like olive and mustard boost heart health with unsaturated fats. 

3485. For cooking at high heat, ghee is stable; for salads, oils are best. Balance and moderation remain secret to optimal health.

THE PROSTATE.

The prostate is a small, walnut-sized gland in the male reproductive system, located below the bladder and surrounding the urethra. Its primary function is to produce fluid that nourishes and transports sperm, constituting a key part of semen. It is crucial for reproductive health.

Key Aspects of the Prostate:

• Location: Situated directly below the bladder and in front of the rectum, surrounding the urethra.
• Function: Produces a milky, alkaline fluid that mixes with sperm and other fluids to form semen, supporting sperm motility and viability.

A normal adult prostate is typically the size of a walnut or chestnut, weighing approximately 20–25 grams. Its volume is usually around 20–30 cubic centimeters (cc) or milliliters (ml), with average dimensions of roughly 4 cm wide, 3 cm high, and 2 cm thick. 

Normal Prostate Size Details:

• Weight: ~20–25 grams.
• Volume: ~20–30 cc/ml.
• Dimensions: ~4x3x2 cm.
• Growth: The prostate grows until age 20, remains stable until about age 30–45, and often begins growing again after age 45.
• Age-Related Changes: While 20-30g is normal for young adults, moderate enlargement (30–50 cc) is common in men aged 40–60, and larger sizes (>50-80 cc) are frequently seen in men over 60, often without causing severe symptoms. 

Key Considerations:

• Growth: The prostate is known for growing throughout a man's life.
• Variability: Normal size can vary between individuals, and an "enlarged" prostate does not always cause urinary symptoms.
• Symptoms: Medical consultation is recommended if symptoms like frequent or weak urination occur, regardless of the size.

Source: Google.

A LETTER FROM FATHER TO SON.

Pandit Late Sri. Jawaharlal Nehru's letters to his daughter, when he was in prison, were famous. They were published under the caption "Letters from father to daughter". 

I am not so famous like him. But I am also a father. I also write letters to my children. This letter was written by me from Chennai on 26th June 2006 to my son at Hyderabad when he was 26. It is self-explanatory.

My dear son,

After long deliberations, I am writing this letter to you. Everyone has to live his life. No one can escape. No outside guidance will help. He is drawn towards his fate. However, as a father, I have some duty towards you. I will not tell you what to do and what not. I can only guide you. You have to make the decision, lead your life and face the consequences. You have passed your boyhood and you have become an adult, educated, employed making your own money. 

You are now getting ready to be married which is the second stage in everyone's life. The third stage comes when you retire. So, for the second stage which is tougher than the first stage, one has to be mentally, physically and emotionally ready to lead a peaceful and harmonious life. Happiness is not anywhere but it is within you. It depends on how you look at it, how you take it and what your attitude is. 

Coming back to the subject, you have to get ready for married life. Though I am confident you know a good part of it, I feel I must tell you something important. The girl, you are going to choose [not us] may be rich/poor, beautiful/normal, educated/not educated, city/rural, employed/unemployed, and emotional/intellectual. A rich, beautiful, educated and employed girl may not prefer us. You will have to choose the right girl suitable for you.

A person who does not know his weaknesses is not strong enough to face life. We desire so many things but we get only what we deserve. So if a person has the right attitude, to accept what comes in as his destiny, then he lives peacefully. I do not recommend anyone for you. You have to decide. An employed girl can help in building up assets. There are many plus and minus with employed as well as unemployed girls. Now girls are well educated and well employed. They prefer boys according to their education and employment. They are only willing to marry boys who will suit their requirement and they are not willing to adjust to suit other's needs. 

Your life is going to be much more difficult than mine for various reasons. Hence I am worried about you. Traditional girls who do not go for jobs, who are interested in household work, to look after parents, husband and children are rare. You need the help of the parent or in-laws to send the girl for a job. No girl would prefer to leave a job after 2 or 3 years after tasting the pleasures of it. 

The parents are already tired of their living and they do not have the strength to take care of the children's family. That was the reason why they married unemployed girls in their life. We are planning to let you [both] have an independent life so that you have the freedom and good understanding. We know when to come and join you. Therefore, calmly weigh all the pros and consequences and take a wise decision.

Wishing you the best in your life.

Yours loving father,

N.B. In my opinion, a good looking, graduate, unemployed, middle class girl from the rural may be suitable for you.

I HAVE A DOUBT !!!!

IN MAHABHARATA

1. King Chandanu was the emperor of the Kuru dynasty.

2. His son Bhishma relinquished kingdom and wowed not to marry.

3. The king married fisherwoman Sathyavathi.

4. Sathyavathi had an illegitimate son Dvypayanar prior to the marriage.

5. After marriage, she had two sons, Chithrangathan and Vichitraveeriyan.

6. Bhishma also married them to Ambikai and Ambalikai respectively.

7. Bhishma crowned the eldest son Chitrangathan after Chandanu.

8. Chitrangathan died due to ill-health and Bhishma crowned his younger brother next.

9. Vichitraveeriyan also died and both of them did not have any children.

10. To get heirs to the throne, Sathyavathi persuaded the widows to copulate with Dvypayanar.

11. Drudharashtran to Ambikai, Pandu to Ambalikai and Viduran to a maid were born.

12. The eldest son Drudharashtran was blind and hence relinquished the throne to Pandu.

13. Later, Pandu gave back the kingdom to Druharashtran, went to the forest and died.

14. Drudharashtran's wife Kanthari conceived and delivered a huge ball made of flesh.

15. Dvypayanar converted it into 100 sons and 1 daughter. Duryodhana was the eldest.

16. Pandu's wives Kunthi and Mathri got six illegitimate children thro celestial gods. Karna was the eldest.

17. Drudarashtran, the eldest, was alive and he was the King.

18. As per tradition, his eldest son Duruyodana should be crowned.

19. With elder brother Karna alive, Yudishtran has no right to claim for the kingdom.

20. Why Duruyodhanan was denied his rightful right to the kingdom leading to a great war?