Surf the Web via Email - Read Web Pages in your Inbox

If you work in an office where employees have no access to Internet but are allowed to send and receive email, the new Web-In-Mail service from Rediff will come very handy.

“Web In Mail” lets you fetch full web pages to your inbox by simple email commands. You may even perform searches on Google Web and Google Image through email.

Full HTML Web Pages Delivered to your Inbox

To browse a web page, send a blank email message to browse@webinmail.com with the page URL as the subject. If you like to search google, send an email to the same address but the subject should say google:query (e.g. google: how to impress your boss).

Also see: Most Useful Email Addresses

You can read emails in Outlook, Blackberry or any email client that understands HTML.

And there’s something smart about Web in Mail as noted by Allen Stern – it rewrites all the links in the web page as mailto. That means you’ll automatically launch a blank email message when you click any of the hyperlinks in the existing email.

To get started, why don’t you just send a blank email to browse@webinmail.com.

 

15 Tips to Improve Your Memory and Exercise Your Brain

Everyone can take steps to improve their memory, and with time and practice most people can gain the ability to memorize seemingly impossible amounts of information. Whether you want to win the World Memory Championships, ace your history test, or simply remember where you put your keys, this article can get you started. Scientists believe that exercising your brain can create a 'cognitive reserve' that will help you stay sharp as you age.

1. Convince yourself that you do have a good memory that will improve.

Too many people get stuck here and convince themselves that their memory is bad, that they are just not good with names, that numbers just slip out of their minds for some reason. Erase those thoughts and vow to improve your memory. Commit yourself to the task and bask in your achievements — it's hard to keep motivated if you beat yourself down every time you make a little bit of progress.

2. Keep your brain active.

The brain is not a muscle, but regularly "exercising" the brain actually does keep it growing and spurs the development of new nerve connections that can help improve memory. By developing new mental skills—especially complex ones such as learning a new language or learning to play a new musical instrument—and challenging your brain with puzzles and games you can keep your brain active and improve its physiological functioning.

3. Exercise daily.

Regular aerobic exercise improves circulation and efficiency throughout the body, including in the brain, and can help ward off the memory loss that comes with aging. Exercise also makes you more alert and relaxed, and can thereby improve your memory uptake, allowing you to take better mental "pictures."

4. Reduce stress.

Chronic stress, although it does not physically damage the brain, can make remembering much more difficult. Even temporary stresses can make it more difficult to effectively focus on concepts and observe things. Try to relax, regularly practice yoga or other stretching exercises, and see a doctor if you have severe chronic stress.

5. Eat well and eat right.

There are a lot of herbal supplements on the market that claim to improve memory, but none have yet been shown to be effective in clinical tests (although small studies have shown some promising results for ginkgo biloba and phosphatidylserine). A healthy diet, however, contributes to a healthy brain, and foods containing antioxidants—broccoli, blueberries, spinach, and berries, for example—and Omega-3 fatty acids appear to promote healthy brain functioning. Feed your brain with such supplements as Thiamine, Vitamin E, Niacin and Vitamin B-6. Grazing, eating 5 or 6 small meals throughout the day instead of 3 large meals, also seems to improve mental functioning (including memory) by limiting dips in blood sugar, which may negatively affect the brain.

6. Take better pictures.

Often we forget things not because our memory is bad, but rather because our observational skills need work. One common situation where this occurs (and which almost everyone can relate to) is meeting new people. Often we don't really learn people's names at first because we aren't really concentrating on remembering them. You'll find that if you make a conscious effort to remember such things, you'll do much better. One way to train yourself to be more observant is to look at an unfamiliar photograph for a few seconds and then turn the photograph over and describe or write down as many details as you can about the photograph. Try closing your eyes and picturing the photo in your mind. Use a new photograph each time you try this exercise, and with regular practice you will find you're able to remember more details with even shorter glimpses of the photos.

7. Give yourself time to form a memory.

Memories are very fragile in the short-term, and distractions can make you quickly forget something as simple as a phone number. The key to avoid losing memories before you can even form them is to be able to focus on the thing to be remembered for a while without thinking about other things, so when you're trying to remember something, avoid distractions and complicated tasks for a few minutes.

8. Create vivid, memorable images.

You remember information more easily if you can visualize it. If you want to associate a child with a book, try not to visualize the child reading the book – that's too simple and forgettable. Instead, come up with something more jarring, something that sticks, like the book chasing the child, or the child eating the book. It's your mind – make the images as shocking and emotional as possible to keep the associations strong.

9. Repeat things you need to learn.

The more times you hear, see, or think about something, the more surely you'll remember it, right? It's a no-brainer. When you want to remember something, be it your new coworker's name or your best friend's birthday, repeat it, either out loud or silently. Try writing it down; think about it.

10. Group things you need to remember.

Random lists of things (a shopping list, for example) can be especially difficult to remember. To make it easier, try categorizing the individual things from the list. If you can remember that, among other things, you wanted to buy four different kinds of vegetables, you'll find it easier to remember all four.

11. Organize your life.

Keep items that you frequently need, such as keys and eyeglasses, in the same place every time. Use an electronic organizer or daily planner to keep track of appointments, due dates for bills, and other tasks. Keep phone numbers and addresses in an address book or enter them into your computer or cell phone. Improved organization can help free up your powers of concentration so that you can remember less routine things. Even if being organized doesn't improve your memory, you'll receive a lot of the same benefits (i.e. you won't have to search for your keys anymore).

12. Try meditation.

Research now suggests that people who regularly practice "mindfulness" meditation are able to focus better and may have better memories. Mindfulness (also known as awareness or insight meditation) is the type commonly practiced in Western countries and is easy to learn. Studies at Massachusetts General Hospital show that regular meditation thickens the cerebral cortex in the brain by increasing the blood flow to that region. Some researchers believe this can enhance attention span, focus, and memory.

13. Sleep well.

The amount of sleep we get affects the brain's ability to recall recently learned information. Getting a good night's sleep – a minimum of seven hours a night – may improve your short-term memory and long-term relational memory, according to recent studies conducted at the Harvard Medical School.

14. Build your memorization arsenal.

Learn pegs, memory palaces, and the Dominic System. These techniques form the foundation for mnemonic techniques, and will visibly improve your memory.

15. Venture out and learn from your mistakes.

Go ahead and take a stab at memorizing the first one hundred digits of pi, or, if you've done that already, the first one thousand. Memorize the monarchs of England through your memory palaces, or your grocery list through visualization. Through diligent effort you will eventually master the art of memorization.

 

Twenty One Things To Remember

1.       No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission.

2.       Most people will be about as happy, as they decide to be

3.       Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently.

4.       Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have.

5.       Success stops when you do.

6.       When your ship comes in.... make sure you are willing to unload it.

7.       You will never have it all together.

8.       Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip!

9.       The biggest lie on the planet When I get what I want I will be happy.

10.   The best way to escape your problem is to solve it.

11.   I've learned that ultimately , 'takers' lose and 'givers' win.

12.   Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they are shared.

13.   If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive.

14.   We often fear the thing we want the most.

15.   He or she who laughs......lasts.

16.   Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints.

17.   Look for opportunities..not guarantees.

18.   Life is what's coming....not what was.

19.   Success is getting up one more time.

20.   Now is the most interesting time of all.

21.   When things go wrong.....don't go with them.

 

Difficult Behaviours in the Classroom

BEHAVIOR:

·         Rambling -- wandering around and off the subject. Using far-fetched examples or analogies.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Refocus attention by restating relevant point.

·         Direct questions to group that is back on the subject

·         Ask how topic relates to current topic being discussed.

·         Use visual aids, begin to write on board, turn on overhead projector.

·         Say: "Would you summarize your main point please?" or "Are you asking...?"

BEHAVIOR:

·         Shyness or Silence -- lack of participation.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Change teaching strategies from group discussion to individual written exercises or a videotape

·         Give strong positive reinforcement for any contribution.

·         Involve by directly asking him/her a question.

·         Make eye contact.

·         Appoint to be small group leader.

BEHAVIOR:

·         Talkativeness -- knowing everything, manipulation, chronic whining.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Acknowledge comments made.

·         Give limited time to express viewpoint or feelings, and then move on.

·         Make eye contact with another participant and move toward that person.

·         Give the person individual attention during breaks.

·         Say: "That's an interesting point. Now let's see what other other people think."

BEHAVIOR:

·         Sharpshooting -- trying to shoot you down or trip you up.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Admit that you do not know the answer and redirect the question the group or the individual who asked it.

·         Acknowledge that this is a joint learning experience.

·         Ignore the behavior.

BEHAVIOR:

·         Heckling/Arguing -- disagreeing with everything you say; making personal attacks.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Redirect question to group or supportive individuals.

·         Recognize participant's feelings and move one.

·         Acknowledge positive points.

·         Say: "I appreciate your comments, but I'd like to hear from others," or "It looks like we disagree."

BEHAVIOR:

·         Grandstanding -- getting caught up in one's own agenda or thoughts to the detriment of other learners.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Say: "You are entitled to your opinion, belief or feelings, but now it's time we moved on to the next subject," or "Can you restate that as a question?" or "We'd like to hear more about that if there is time after the presentation."

BEHAVIOR:

·         Overt Hostility/Resistance -- angry, belligerent, combative behavior.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Hostility can be a mask for fear. Reframe hostility as fear to depersonalize it.

·         Respond to fear, not hostility.

·         Remain calm and polite. Keep your temper in check.

·         Don't disagree, but build on or around what has been said.

·         Move closer to the hostile person, maintain eye contact.

·         Always allow him or her a way to gracefully retreat from the confrontation.

·         Say: "You seem really angry. Does anyone else feel this way?" Solicit peer pressure.

·         Do not accept the premise or underlying assumption, if it is false or prejudicial, e.g., "If by "queer" you mean homosexual..."

·         Allow individual to solve the problem being addressed. He or she may not be able to offer solutions and will sometimes undermine his or her own position.

·         Ignore behavior.

·         Talk to him or her privately during a break.

·         As a last resort, privately ask the individual to leave class for the good of the group.

BEHAVIOR:

·         Griping -- maybe legitimate complaining.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Point out that we can't change policy here.

·         Validate his/her point.

·         Indicate you'll discuss the problem with the participant privately.

·         Indicate time pressure.

BEHAVIOR:

·         Side Conversations -- may be related to subject or personal. Distracts group members and you.

POSSIBLE RESPONSES:

·         Don't embarrass talkers.

·         Ask their opinion on topic being discussed.

·         Ask talkers if they would like to share their ideas.

·         Casually move toward those talking.

·         Make eye contact with them.

·         Comment on the group (but don't look at them "one-at-a-time").

·         Standing near the talkers, ask a nea-by participant a question so that the new discussion is near the talkers.

·         As a last resort, stop and wait.

KEYS FOR MANAGING CHALLENGING STUDENT BEHAVIORS

·         Instead of holding your students with an iron grip, allow them to be themselves until (and unless) their behavior distracts you or others in the class.

·         When you notice unproductive behavior, nip it in the bud. Otherwise, you send a clear message to the students that it's OK for them to talk while you are talking, etc.

·         Use classroom management techniques before you become irritated, impatient or upset. We are much more powerful when we are centered, when we like out students, and when we view our students with fondness rather than impatience.

·         Allow students to save face. When we put students down in front of others, the entire class of students will turn against us.

·         Do all you can to feel good about yourself and others on a daily basis. Your attitude will come across to your students, so it is important to be in good mental and physical shape.

·         If, by chance, you feel that you have spoken sharply in an attempt to manager your students, own up to it. "Wow, that sounded harsh. Forgive me!"

·         Remind yourself: "If teaching were easy, everyone would be doing it." Teaching in front of a classroom full of students can be challenging, but on the other hand, very rewarding!

 

The Advantages of Day Dreaming

When you are young ,you have many dreams and you sometimes dream at night and even daydream when you are free and relax. There are times when your dreams can come true while other times they remain unfulfilled.

For some , life is hard enough and daydreaming is the only avenue which they can escape from realism.We dream of success, of being rich and enjoying everything this world can offer us.

It maybe wishful thinking or useless or unproductive activity to some but taken as a whole , it has it's advantages. According to some experts , it is good for your health. When you daydream , you will be thinking of those positive events which can uplift your spirits .

You would dream of a brighter future and this would make you feel happier even though you have not attain that status yet. To have positive thoughts can relieve stress as your mind is taken off over those negative events which have afflicted your everyday life. Stress is bad for your health.

Daydreaming would also refocus your mind on your objective rather than what is happening around you.It would be easier to accept things around you as they are when you know those things are only temporary .

In daydreaming , there are no physical or mental barriers and you could wish anything or fantasize anything you like. There are two types of people , those who are only dreamers and those who work hard to make their dreams come true.

Everything in moderations is good but if taken into extremes can be bad. We should not overindulge in daydreaming or we will become disconnected and out of touch with reality. There should be a right place and time for daydreaming to get the benefits.

You do not want to start daydreaming while you are driving on the road or cooking a meal or while having sex. That would have disastrous consequences. Sometimes , it does happen that way when you lose control of your senses. It is just too good and your mind gets carried away.

When you get nervous or feel stressed it is a high time to start daydreaming, experts recommend. Dream all you want because it will not cost you anything

With today's rat race where everyone is rushing here and there, many do not have the luxury to dream.These people should get off the super highways and slow down to enjoy the simple way of life and live longer.

Like the song," Dream! Dream! Dream!All you have to do is dream.!