Tenomania.com

What are flames?

Flames are violent and aggressive responses to Email messages, newsgroup messages, IRC messages or any other form of communication over the Internet or any other computer network. Flames usually consist of bad words (e.g. Shut the f**k up, R a v e N!), swearing (e.g. R a v e N, you are a complete a**hole!), cursing (e.g. Go to hell, f***er!!), censorship-like marks (e.g. You can take your tutorials and shove them up your !#$^*&!! Why wouldn’t you go and suck some @$(&!@$)^*!!!), threats of physical violence (e.g. You are about to enter a world of pain, you son of a b**ch!! I’m gonna kick your head until it falls off and starts bouncing and rolling down the stairs!!) and capital letters (E.G. F**K OFF, YOU STUPID B**CH!! GO GET A HUMAN FACE OR SOMETHING INSTEAD OF THE HIDEOUS-LOOKING ONE YOU HAVE!!).

WHAT ARE F… Sorry, forgot to turn off the caps lock button. What are flame wars?

Flame wars occur when two or more different parties engage in a violent argument that, in a certain stage, turns into what is called a “flame war”. A flame war would continue until one of the parties would withdraw and admit that they were wrong, if the flame war is killed by the moderator of the discussion mailing list, message board, IRC channel etc’ or if one of the parties gets tired and stops responding to the other party’s flames.

When and why can/would I get flamed?

You can and probably will get flamed when you ask a number of questions or post a number of comments. I’ve sorted these into several groups and given examples for each group.

* * * * * * * * * *

1) Begging.

Please OP me!! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!! P-L-E-A-S-E!! I’ll do ANYTHING!!Can anyone please send me this file/URL/whatever? Please? PLEEEEEEEEEEEASE? Please please pretty please?

2) Asking people to do things for you.

Please hack this server/PC/website for me.

Please help me hack a friend’s PC.

Please help me find this and that (unless you say that you’ve been searching this and that for a lot of time and give a short list of some of the places you’ve tried, in which case you probably won’t get flamed, although most chances are that noone would help you, unless it’s a special help board like mine, in which case the moderators would probably help you).

3) General lameness.

I want to impress my friends and look elite. How do I hack?

Remote administration trojans are elite! Now how do I use Netbus?

4) Extreme lack of knowledge.

What is an ISP?

Do I have a sound card? How can I tell?

My printer stopped working. It says: “out of ink”. Why is it “out” of ink? Can’t it just say it ran out of ink? And why did it ran out of ink anyway? I mean, it’s a completely new cartridge! I only replaced it about 8 months ago!

5) Over-use of capital letters and exclamation marks.

HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!!

HEY, LISTEN UP GUYS!!!!!!!!! I DID THIS AND THAT AND I’M SOOOOOOOOOOO ELITE AND STUPID ‘CAUSE I USE CAPITAL LETTERS AND TONS OF EXCLAMATION MARKS LIKE SOME SORT OF A FREAK OF NATURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! MOO, MOO, BAAAA, SQUEAK, MEAU, WOOF WOOF AND OTHER SUCH ANIMAL SOUNDS!

6) Saying something that is against common belief or something that is of plain stupidity.

Hey, people, guess what? I think Windows is a stable operating system and that it kick’s Unix’s ass and I’m here to say it out loud like a total jerk!! I’m an idiot, hear me roar!!

What is Linux? It’s an ISP just like AOL, right?

7) Starting a flame war.

* This part has been censored for the sake of your mental health *

Asking inspecific questions.

Hey, how do I hack an FTP server?

Please teach me EVERYTHING about TCP/IP – it’s ins and outs, how it works, the history of TCP/IP and it’s evolution over the years, detailed analysis of every protocol in the TCP/IP suite etc’ etc’.

9) Praising yourself.

Hey, look at me!! I’ve just hacked my friend’s PC and I’m sooooooo eleeeeeeet!!

You guys are lamers! You know nothing!! I’m ten times better than you all!!

10) Not reading the topic message in IRC channel or the readme files, FAQs and help files in message boards and discussion mailing lists, thus asking silly questions and acting like a total jerk.

Hey, who are the moderators?

How do I use this bot? How do I use this feature?

* * * * * * * * * *

How to avoid getting flamed
—————————
a) DO NOT make any of the mistakes and flame-starting actions listed above.
b) Think twice before doing anything.
c) Make sure you knwo what you’re talking about.

What to do after you’ve been flamed
———————————–
In most cases, it’s better to leave the flamer alone and quiet-down the issue. In some cases, you might have to reply, in which case you must find a way out. While you do so, try not to flame anyone back and make sure you don’t give too many reasons for why you did this and that or said this and that, and only give REEEEAL GOOD reasons.

Flaming-related concepts
————————
* /dev/null – if you don’t know what this is, you probably never studied Unix very thoroughly. Everything sent to /dev/null disappears from existence. This feature is very useful in many situations. For example: if you want to run and kill all the output and direct possible errors to /usr/share/logs/log.txt, you can type this: command > /dev/null 2>/usr/share/logs/log.txt

command > /dev/null or command > 1>/dev/null will direct all output (stdout – Standard Output) to /dev/null. command 0>/dev/null will direct all input (stdin – Standard Input) to the command to /dev/null. command 2/dev/null will direct all errors (stderr – Standard Errors) to /dev/null.

When someone tells you to direct your flames to /dev/null, he means that you’d better shut up.

* STFU – Shut The F**k Up.

* FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions. A file that contains… you’ve guessed it!
Frequently Asked Questions.

* RTFF – Read The F***ing FAQ / Read The Fine FAQ.

* EOF – End Of File (not so flaming-related. Skip two lines ahead to see why I
added this entry).

- E.O.F -

Everyone has limits. But we never know our limits, until our skills have been put to test. Never say: "This is all I can do", unless you’ve tried t o do it. Do you know that humans use only 10% of their brain? While much more you can do. You have the resources. You just need to find it and the first place to look into is yourself.

Our skills double, when we face danger. Then we see, hear, smell and move faster. It shows that we are capable to act and do much more than we think. We are just too afraid at times. But what are we afraid of? Are we afraid, we may actually find our true strengths? Or is it, we just need to be pushed to find our true potential.

"What is the most universal human characteristic: fear or laziness?"

Some of us aren’t afraid. We just aren’t bothered. "So what?" are the two most dangerous accountable words. "So what, if I am weak? So what if I am not using my abilities to their best?" These are questions that can never be answered. But think about it for a while; if everyone starts asking you the same question, how would you feel? If all the great leaders fuss, "So what if the country is unhappy?", if your grocer yells, "So what, you’re hungry?", if your garbage collector tells, "So what, your home is dirty?"; pointing their fingers to you, how you sense?

Replace the acidic "So what?" with the hopeful "What if?"

"What if you became someone great worth remembering?"

"What if you can make people proud of you?"

The thing that’s worse than quitting or failing is ~ being complacent. Believing that you are weak and that’s all you are capable of. When you start to say, "This is the way I am and there’s nothing I can do about it", that is when you hit rock bottom. No one can help you in such a situation. Even the skills you’ve mastered will be a waste with such an attitude. Believe in yourself, and only then you can expect others to believe in you. And when you stand for what you believe in, you can change the world.

Start to care. Even if no one else does care for you. The last person to give upon you should be you yourself.

New Delhi: In what could prove to be a major marketing and legal embarrassment for Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), a 26-year-old man has filed a case against the FMCG company, which owns the Axe brand of men grooming products, for ‘cheating’ and causing him ‘mental suffering’. The plaintiff has cited his failure to attract any girl at all even though he’s been using Axe products for over seven years now. Axe advertisements suggest that the products help men in instantly attracting women.

Vaibhav Bedi, the petitioner, also surrendered all his used, unused and half-used deodorant sprays, perfume sticks and roll-ons, anti-perspirants, aftershaves, body washes, shampoos, and hair gels to the court, and demanded a laboratory test of the products and narcotics test of the brand managers of Axe. Vaibhav was pushed to take this step when his bai (maid) beat him with a broom when he tried to impress her by appearing naked in front of her after applying all the Axe products.

No girl ever asked Vaibhav to call her

"Where is the Axe effect? I’ve been waiting for it for over seven years. Right from my college to now in my office, no girl ever agreed to even go out for a tea or coffee with me, even though I’m sure they could smell my perfumes, deodorants and aftershaves. I always applied them in abundance to make sure the girls get turned on as they show in the television. Finally I thought I’d try to impress my lonely bai who had an ugly fight with her husband and was living alone for over a year. Axe effect my foot!" Vaibhav expressed his unhappiness.

Vaibhav claims that he had been using all the Axe products as per the company’s instructions even since he first bought them. He argued that if he couldn’t experience the Axe effect despite using the products as directed, either the company was making false claims or selling fake products.

"I had always stored them in cool and dry place, and kept them away from direct light or heat. I’d always use a ruler before applying the spray and make sure that the distance between the nozzle and my armpit was at least 15 centimeters. I’d do everything they told. I even beat up my 5-year-old nephew for coming near my closet, as they had instructed it to keep away from children’s reach. And yet, all I get is a broom beating from my ugly bai." Vaibhav expressed his frustration.

Vaibhav claims that he had to do go a lot of mental suffering and public humiliation due to the lack of Axe effect and wants HUL to compensate him for this agony. An advocate in Karkardooma court, who happened to mistake Vaibhav for some deodorant vendor when he entered the court premises with all the bottles, has now offered to take up his case in the court. HUL has been served a legal notice in this regard.

HUL has officially declined to comment on the case citing the subject to be sub judice, but our sources inform that the company was worried over the possible outcomes of the case. The company might argue that Vaibhav was hopelessly unattractive and unintelligent and didn’t possess the bare minimum requirements for the Axe effect to take place. Officially HUL has not issued any statement, but legal experts believe that HUL could have tough time convincing the court.

"HUL might be tempted to take that line of argument, but it is very risky. There is no data to substantiate the supposition that unattractive and unintelligent men don’t attract women. In fact some of the best looking women have been known to marry and date absolutely ghoulish guys. I’d suggest that the company settles this issue out of court." noted lawyer Ram Jhoothmalani said …

Men Are Just Happier People– What do you expect from such simple creatures.

Your last name stays put. The garage is all yours. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can be President. You can never be pregnant. You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. You can wear NO shirt to a water park. Car mechanics tell you the truth. The world is your urinal. You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky. You don’t have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. People never stare at your chest when you’re talking to them. New shoes don’t cut, blister, or mangle your feet. One mood all the time. Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. You know stuff about tanks. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend. Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You almost never have strap problems in public. You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes. Everything on your face stays its original color. The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. You only have to shave your face and neck. You can play with toys all your life. One wallet and one pair of shoes — one color for all seasons. You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look. You can ‘do’ your nails with a pocket knife. You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache. You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are never depressed!!!

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the wine I drink I feel shame. Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the vineyards and all of their hopes and dreams .. If I didn’t drink this wine, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered. Then I say to myself, "It is better that I drink this wine and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver." ~ Jack Handy

"I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day." ~Frank Sinatra

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." ~ Henny Youngman

"24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not." ~ Stephen Wright

"When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let’s all get drunk and go to heaven!" ~ Brian O’Rourke

"Beer is the only proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." ~ Benjamin Franklin

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." ~ Dave Barry

To some it’s a six-pack, to me it’s a Support Group. Salvation in a can! ~ Dave Howell

And saving the best for last, as explained by Cliff Clavin, of Cheers.

One afternoon at Cheers, Cliff Clavin was explaining the Buffalo Theory to his buddy Norm.
Here’s how it went:

"Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this… A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers." ~ Cliff Clavin

A father passing by his son’s bedroom was astonished to see the bed was nicely made, and everything was picked up. Then, he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, "Dad." With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter, with trembling hands.

P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I’m over at, my friend, Tommy’s house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the school report that’s on my desk. I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.

Aries Girl

The Aries girl is a live wire, full of verve. She has loads of energy to burn, and attracts a lot of admirers. She has a fiercely independent streak and likes to chart her own course. It is not unusual to find her taking on leadership roles at school. As Aries rules the head and the face, she will always be particular about her makeup. She can be a bit selfish at times; she sure won’t like to exchange clothes with a younger sister. There could be some major feuds with siblings, and parents may have to intervene occasionally. She is a hyperactive, forever rushing from one activity to the next. Being the energetic type, she is very likely to be actively involved in sports, usually the physically demanding ones. She is self-sufficient, and goes after what she wants with will power and determination. She thinks big and is likely to go to the right academic institutions. She is definitely an achiever who is going places.

Aries Boy

A parent will find it hard to keep up with the Aries boy; he has tremendous reserves of energy. He usually has a fiery temper and can be dangerous when aroused. He is one of the most dynamic people around. Occasionally his haste will get him into trouble, or even accidents. The Aries teen views life as one long competition, and always struggles to come out on top. This, combined with his impulsiveness, often leads to frustration. He is a born leader and always rushes to take charge. Be it the football team or the local cricket club, you will find him in a position of authority. The Aries lad can be a bit self-centered at times due to his need to have things his way. He is a bit of a pioneer and wants to chart his own career. When presented with a challenge, he will be the first to jump up and accept it. Strength, determination, initiative, energy and courage are his greatest strengths. This boy is certainly going places.

Taurus Girl

This girl is extremely fashion conscious and loves to dress up. She is ruled by Venus, the planet of Love and Beauty. She has a penchant for necklaces, as Taurus, her sign, rules the neck and throat. She can often be seen at shops, spending her stash of cash. She can be a bit self-indulgent at times, so gently remind her that she may not need all the things she spends her money on. She has a weakness for all things sweet, which often causes digestive problems. She is extremely patient and determined as she systematically goes about realizing her goals. Her ambition ensures that she is both hardworking and helpful towards others. She is not likely to be actively involved in sports, though she wouldn’t mind light sports like golf. The Taurus girl is a bit obstinate at times and holds fixed opinions, but on the other hand, when she sets goals for herself, she follows them up thoroughly and unwaveringly. She is rarely hindered by obstacles that others find daunting. Look out for her, she will go places.

Taurus Boy

The Taurus lad is big, powerfully built and obstinate. While he may be extremely stubborn and want to have his way, it would do well to remember that ‘his’ way is probability the best ‘way’ of all! He can be very opinionated, but he can also be extremely patient, tolerant and dependable. He pursues his goals with perseverance and determination, and it shows up in his schoolwork. He does well at school, paving the way to a good career. He can often be self-indulgent, spending money on the good life. He works hard so that he can pay for his own indulgences. The Taurus lad knows the value of networking and always mixes with the right crowd. He is a plodder, and rarely gives in to frustrations. He enjoys outdoor activities like hiking and gardening; anything that gets him close to the earth. The Taurus boy is a neat, orderly person. All in all, he is the perfect son to have.

Gemini Girl

The Gemini girl is quick on the uptake, brilliant in patches. Represented by the Twins, she is apt to run in opposite directions. Her heart may want peace, but her mind needs stimulation. Smart and witty, she has loads of friends and the phone will never stop ringing. Her communication skills are highly developed and her letters are usually masterpieces. The Gemini lass needs a host of hobbies to keep her occupied, which is why she is constantly engaged in everything from aerobics to philosophy. Though she loves to talk and gossip, she usually excels at studies. And she does that without trying hard too hard. She enjoys sports like swimming. She may also be involved in athletics, burning off the excess energy.

Gemini Boy

He is a smart and likeable young man, who charms everyone with his ready wit and humor. Though he is not a born leader, he always participates in group activity — he loves people. He generally lacks in consistency and flits from one thing to the next. A variety of things capture his imagination, be it chess, trivia or computer games. The chief dangers are a lack of patience and an unwillingness to persist until a thing is thoroughly mastered. He sometimes glib-talks, simply skimming over a subject without a thorough understanding. He is a born charmer and can leave a group enthralled with his talk. He may find his calling as a politician or a public servant. However, he may change his mind a hundred times about his future career.

Cancer Girl

More emotional than the average girl, she appreciates the nurturing aspects of home and hearth. She is dependable and does not view her duty as a chore, but really a pleasure. A true nurturer, she is a comfort-giver to all around. The Cancer girl goes through life with a shell around her that is not easily cracked. If fact, she can stay in that shell until she’s sure it is safe to step outside. Most Cancerians are apt to be crabby from time to time, and the Cancer girl is no exception. However, for most part, she has a cheerful disposition. She takes her studies seriously and can retain information well, thanks to her good memory, which also makes her good at taking exams. She will sail through her exams with flying colors. She is apt to view college merely as a means to a great career rather an end in itself.

Cancer Boy

The Cancer lad is very emotional and apt to mood swings. He often takes offence when none is intended. He is family oriented and a deeply caring person. You can count on him to help out with family chores. He is bound to be involved in sports, preferably those requiring a team effort as he is drawn towards the camaraderie of a team. His hobbies usually involve collecting things. He never throws away anything. He is a natty dresser, though he is certainly not narcissist . He tends to be a bit of a miser and rarely spends money on himself. Since Cancer rules the stomach, he usually has a healthy appetite, so make sure the fridge is always stocked. He usually makes a good leader and his friends look to him for help and guidance. He is likely to gravitate towards a small college or university where he can build a family environment away from home.

Leo Girl

Leo girls are at the centre of attraction all the time. And that is the way they like it. The Leo girl always manages to look good. She has a fine sense of style, and is always dressed for effect. Her natural flamboyance and verve make her ideally suited for the show business. With her creativity and drive, she could very well become a film star. Her hobbies include acting and others artistic pursuits, activities like tennis, riding and sailing. She is a sociable person and can always be found in groups. She is a born leader; she dreams big and aims high. She may be a handful at times, but this young lady is definitely going places.

Leo Boy

The Leo lad cannot be held back in narrow confines. He is a big player for sure. The Leo boy is a born charmer. He is a born leader and is usually the leader of his group. He sets his own rules and plays by them until he’s bored, after which he will pick a new sport. He usually excels at school because he cannot contemplate being anywhere but the top. He likes to think big and will aim for the best universities. He could grow up to be an actor, or an important politician. Driven by ambition and vitality, he wants it all. His flamboyance and love for the spotlight makes him take quite naturally to fame.

Virgo Girl

The Virgo girl is a shy and reserved young lady, disposed to spending much of her time fretting over things. She is a perfectionist who is never satisfied. The ever-organized Virgo is forever planning and making lists. She chooses her friends, both boys and girls with care. She prefers the company of like-minded individuals, perhaps those who are as health conscious as her. As Virgo rules the nervous system, this young girl is prone to nervousness and anxiety. She is consumed by her obsession for detail. Studious and hardworking, she always gets good grades, which gives her immense satisfaction. She is not out there to seek glory and fame, but merely the satisfaction that comes from a job well done. Relationship with her siblings may not be good as she is prone to criticize them constantly. Academically, she is inclined towards research activities. She is ideally suited to be a doctor, nurse, programmer or editor.

Virgo Boy

He is always very particular about his appearance and is a fussy dresser. He is not a big spender, and is careful with his money. He takes a logical approach to every aspect of his life. He expresses himself in a straightforward manner. He often lacks tact and his criticism is not always endearing. With his analytical mind, he is often engaged in activities like chess and advanced mathematics that stimulate his mind. This leaves him little time to participate in physical activities and sports. He is usually a top performer in school and has all the ingredients for a successful career, possibly as a businessman or a doctor. He should watch out for anxiety or depression, which are common amongst Virgo boys.

Libra Girl

She is a beautiful young lady who is always surrounded by admirers. She is a born charmer who loves to have people around. As Libra is ruled by Venus, the planet of Love and Beauty, she is always well dressed and possesses a fine sense of style. Many Libra lasses wind up in the beauty and fashion industry for this reason. Librans can’t stand being alone and constantly socialize, and in all probability, are in relationships. And being a born charmer, she will be able to keep the group enthralled. She is sometimes dismissed as superficial and insincere, but her intentions are always genuine. Since Libra is an air sign, she should do well in academics. She is drawn to beauty and aesthetics in her career.

Libra Boy

The Libra lad is always conscious of his appearance. He always moves in the right circles, as he wants to be seen in the right company. He is a smooth talker and a born charmer. As Librans make good diplomats, he brings harmony to his group and manages to accommodate divergent viewpoints. At times, he may appear a bit superficial and lacking in passion and deep-rooted beliefs. The main interests of his life are dressing well and spending time in the company of friends. He has a fine sense of style and enjoys spending on luxury. He has a high I.Q. and should he put his mind to it, there is very little that he can’t achieve. He will go to the best Universities, mostly because it will enhance his image.

Scorpio Girl

A Scorpio girl is secretive, mysterious and enigmatic. She is a very focused person, and once she makes up her mind, there is no stopping her. She is very passionate, and occasionally quite manipulative. As she is given to frequent mood swings, she can be a handful at times. She is a very sensitive person who relies on her intuition to explore the world around her. She enjoys sports, which satisfies her competitive urge. Stubborn and strong-willed, she doesn’t believe in half-measures. She is erratic and unpredictable, yet on some days she can be amiable company and on others she jealously guards her privacy. This also applies to her appearance, as at times she won’t step out of the house without being well dressed and at other times, she won’t bother to comb her hair. School life is unpredictable, and even if she is not a model student, she can achieve her goals by the dint of sheer determination and perseverance.

Scorpio Boy

He is a mysterious and secretive person who never reveals what he is thinking. He possesses an almost mystical and magnetic quality but can also be quite ruthless and dangerous. He usually has a penetrative insight and needs to know people to the core. He enjoys sports, but mostly for the competition it offers. Being a water sign, he is unpredictable and occasionally undergoes mood swings. He is a very passionate and intense person who cannot tolerate things not going his way. He enjoys challenging hobbies. He usually has his own agenda and expectations from life and he goes about fulfilling them with a single-minded passion. He is confident and resourceful, with people flocking to him, but mind you, the sting of a Scorpio can be really dangerous.

Sagittarius Girl

This is a young woman you can always count on, and most of the times, she is fun to be with. The Sagittarius girl never lacks company; she is bubbling with energy and ready to explore any thing. She certainly has the gift of the gab but her tendency to blurt out whatever’s on her mind can land her in a mess. People around won’t understand that she is simply being honest. If she finds something interesting she will simply go for it. She is not the kind to spend long hours in front of the mirror and happily shares her wardrobe with other girls. The young Sagittarius will excel at school and is likely to travel to another country for higher studies.

Sagittarius Boy

A Sagittarian young man is steeped in the spirit of adventure and loves to roam the world more than anything else. He dreams on a grand scale. And what is interesting — this has a good chance of coming true! He has a fiercely independent spirit and finds it really hard to commit himself to anything. The best thing about him is that he is open to all kinds of ideas and this wins him a lot of friends, and lovers as well. Another reason for his popularity is his carefree, fun loving nature, and the enormous generosity that he bestows on his friends. He has a lot of energy bottled up and sports provide just one outlet. The Sagittarian will spend his life chasing wild dreams.

Capricorn Girl

This young lady is both studious and diligent; she doesn’t see much beyond work. She will figure at the top of her class, and that’s just the first step for someone as ambitious as her. She is generally friendly, a trait which helps her to achieve her goals, but she’ll need a lot of external support to prevent her from taking life too seriously. Conservative by nature, the Capricorn lass is realistic. Her cautious approach to life does not allow her to be a daredevil. Her exceptional organizational skills help her to tide over most crises and attain her goals.

Capricorn Boy

The Capricorn lad will rarely find any leisure since he will be busy chalking out future plans. Serious by nature, he has no time for flippant socializing and has his mind on more important matters. Of course he doesn’t want to be rude, but his passion for getting things done often makes him a little bossy. In his leisure time the Capricorn boy loves to indulge in competition, especially in sports, and he finds it very difficult to cope with defeat. For that he needs the support of his compatriots. One-to-one competition also appeals to him. Practical and reliable, he can be trusted with any new responsibility. At the end of the day, a Capricorn boy likes to be surrounded by the spoils of his success. He has been striving for it all through the day. Someday his toils will pay off and he will rule the world.

Aquarius Girl

If the idea is radical, it must be an Aquarian idea. She seems to be game for anything; the rebel in her makes her unique. She has the guts to take on society; on her own terms. She doesn’t care for much small talk; the Aquarian will have lots of acquaintances but hardly any good friends. She’s good with style and fashion; trust her to spring an original on you. For an evening out, she will never opt for a sentimental movie; she is likely to enjoy an experimental theatre performance in the dark! Even when she studies, she builds an un-conventional environment around herself. The Aquarian girl is not for everyone, but then she doesn’t want to be either!

Aquarius Boy

The Aquarius boy generally keeps to himself. He has a lot of creativity within him and needs space to do his ‘work’. He is not into sentimentalizing and don’t be surprised if he doesn’t remember birthdays. A display of affection is not for him. But you can expect the unexpected. The Aquarius lad loves the company of someone who can keep up with him. He loves sophisticated gadgets, and don’t be surprised if this techno youth ends up creating a software that leads to big success. Knowing an Aquarian will be a unique experience full of little adventures.

Pisces Girl

The best shoulder to cry on – that’s the Pisces girl for you. Compassion and sympathy are the hallmarks of this girl and don’t be surprised if she ends up in the profession of social welfare. Since much of her time will be taken up relieving others’ worries, she will hardly find time to pamper her personal self. Comfortable in second-hand clothes, she’ll be happy in whatever makes her feel comfortable. The Pisces lass has a dreamy disposition and loses track when she wanders. She is invariably late for appointments. The best institution suited for her will be, preferably, a small liberal arts college. Always willing to help a friend, the inner beauty of a Pisces lady lies in her creativity and powers of empathy.

Pisces Boy

Kind and compassionate, a Piscean lad generally goes out of his way to help others. He never intentionally hurt others and seeks to avoid confrontation at all costs. He spends much of his time in the cocoon of his private dream world. He is absent minded at times. He sees the world through rose tinted glasses, he walks around with his head in the clouds. He is generally a loner and often has to be drawn into the company of friends. By and large, he is very selective about his friends. He often lacks in determination and this may account for his not realizing his potential. He is an impressionable person who could get into wrong company that might have potentially disastrous consequences. If he can be motivated to work hard, there is very little he cannot achieve.

As my friend was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held only by a rope tied to their legs. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not. My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away?

"Well", he said, "when they are very young and much smaller, we use the same size rope to tie them and at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free." My friend was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were. The powerful and gigantic creatures has limited it’s present abilities by the limitations of it’s past.

Like elephants, how many of us go through life holding onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us refuse to attempt something new and challenging because of our so called MINDSET?

Your attempt may fail, but never fail to make an attempt…

&…

CHOOSE not to accept the false boundaries and limitations created by the past…

It will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking.

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.Every afternoon,  when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine this picturesque scene. One warm afternoon, the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band – he could see it in his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days, weeks and months passed.  One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window besides the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, ‘Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.’ 

Epilogue:

• There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
• Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. 
• If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can’t  buy.
• Today is a gift, that is why it is called   "The Present".