— Apache Blessing

Nature has this unique gift- it helps us rejuvenate, re-energize and bring balance in life. The picture attached is one I took at the UBC Botanical , Garden- it has a good collection of lush green trees and plants. I found myself lost in the nature, the tress, some of them 700-800 years old… they must have seen the good , the bad , the ugly ( forest fire, storms) in their life and they are still standing tall-suddenly my problems in life start looking too small

Here is a blog post on CNN that talks about randomness. New ideas require some down time, some coming off the grind- many researchers see creative thinking as a four-step process: preparation, incubation, illumination and verification or revision.”Incubation is “the ‘mystical’ step,” one in which both the conscious mind and the subconscious mull over the problem in hard-to-define ways.” Hard to define, yes, but not hard to foster, as long as chunks of the day or the week are left open for relatively random activity: long walks, surfing the Internet, browsing a bookstore, household chores that don’t require too much thought, watching the birds at the birdfeeder and gazing out at the ocean.”

Here is another great reference to serendipity discoveries , a blog post on Harvard Business Review- apparently the Post it Note, Viagra, Nylon, Aspirin, tech behind Ink Jet printers were all chance events!

The lesson- don’t restrict yourself to the tried and tested- go explore the world, venture out little bit, take risks…the possibilities are immense! Something somewhere is waiting to be discovered, that distant person you never thought you could be friends with, may turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you, go ahead extend that hand of friendship! Most of my friends today are a result of serendipity, and hence I am a firm believer

This little tryst with a microorganism (bacteria) got me thinking, one day of sickness and I already feel behind on some of my pending tasks, how about millions others who die every year because of bacterial infections. Despite it being such a big killer and more so of infants (0 to 5 years), people know very little about this dreaded microorganism. So this week I did some research and tried to understand all the microorganisms which threaten humans- bacteria, virus, fungus, parasites and protozoa. I read about the progress we have made in the last 200 years and the challenges which still lie ahead. The developing countries are worse off, per one stat 50% child mortality could be avoided just by proper vaccination, the defense is there but people are too poor to be able to afford it.

I chose engineering line as my career, but sometime I think the work in medicine may have been more fulfilling. There are still many things unknown in this world. The bacterias mutate, the virus mutates, and the medicine which worked earlier is no longer effective. No doubt we have made important progress, like we have mapped some key bacterial gnomes, we have vaccination, we have antibiotics but the task is still far from over. It takes too long to come up with a vaccination once new strains of virus or bacteria are identified. We could definitely do better. Now I can’t be a doctor , too late for me, but I am going to try my best to do my part in disseminating the available information.

I will work on spreading awareness about these dangerous microorganisms and the precautions we can take to avoid their wrath. In the medical community it is said that Prevention is better than Prescription or Procedure(surgery). Till such time we map the gnome of these deadly microorganisms completely and have an antidote, let us make all out effort to steer clear of them- prevent it from happening in the first place. Here are some of the suggestions I have read- wash your hand, use hand hand sanitizer, cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough, eat antioxidants, get good sleep, exercise, eat healthy diet, stay up to date on vaccinations, take annual flu shot etc. You can read some more from this link courtesy WebMd.

Here’s hoping you a very healthy life , let us take care of ourselves and enjoy the little pleasures of life! You have so many more milestones left in life, some small some big- like enjoying the morning sun on a beach, watching your near and dear ones grow, run a marathon…go get your vaccination, stick around

10. Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL)
Type of drug: diuretic (water pill)
Used to treat: high blood pressure
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 47.8 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 47.9 million

The tenth most popular drug treats high blood pressure, one of the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. About 1 in 3 American adults currently have high blood pressure, which is more common among older adults, the overweight or obese, people with a family history, smokers, people who don’t exercise and African Americans.

9. Metformin HCL (Glucophage)
Type of drug: anti-diabetic
Used to treat: diabetes
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 48.3 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 44.3 million

Type 2 diabetes, the kind linked with obesity, affects 25.8 million Americans, or about 8% of the total population, and an estimated 7 million people are undiagnosed. What’s more, 79 million people are estimated to have a condition called pre-diabetes, in which patients have impaired glucose tolerance and are at high risk for developing diabetes. In 2010, 1.9 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older, according to the American Diabetes Association. Metformin is commonly used to control blood sugar in diabetes patients.

Also came across this blog which has a lot of information about this dangerous disease.

8. Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Type of drug: antibiotic
Used to treat: bacterial infections
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 52.3 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 52.4 million

Antibiotics can be used to treat infections of the nose, throat, skin and urinary tract — but they cannot cure colds or flu, which are caused by viruses. Nonetheless, millions of prescriptions are written to try to treat these illnesses — improper use that is contributing to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance.

7. Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Type of drug: antibiotic
Used to treat: bacterial infections
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 52.6 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 53.8 million

Like amoxicillin, azithromycin is used to treat common bacterial infections, including lung infections and some sexually transmitted infections.

6. Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Type of drug: proton pump inhibitor
Used to treat: acid reflux
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 53.4 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 45.4 million

About 20% of Americans suffer from stomach pain and burning related to acid reflux at least once a week, resulting in the popularity of Prilosec. Risk factors for acid reflux include obesity and cigarette smoking.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/19/americas-10-most-popular-prescription-drugs/#ixzz1KKTgH82U

5. Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)
Type of drug: calcium channel blocker
Used to treat: high blood pressure
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 57.2 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 51.3 million

The risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age, affecting about two-thirds of people over 60 (note: the oldest of the country’s 77 million Baby Boomers are turning 65 this year) — one reason that blood-pressure medications make up three of the top 10 most prescribed drugs.

4. Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)
Type of drug: thyroid hormone
Used to treat: low-functioning thyroid gland
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 70.5 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 66 million

A common cause of low thyroid hormones, primary hypothyroidism affects 9% of women and 1% of men. Symptoms include slow speech, lack of energy, weight gain, hair loss, increased sensitivity to cold, and dry, thick skin. The risk of hypothyroidism increases with age, which accounts in part for the increasing number of prescriptions written.

3. Lisinopril (Prinivil)
Type of drug: ACE inhibitor
Used to treat: high blood pressure
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 87.4 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 82.8 million

Out-of-control stress contributes to high blood pressure, which helps explain why the condition may be more common in the poor and in people whose jobs have high levels of responsibility but little control over outcomes.

2. Simvastatin (Zocor)
Type of drug: statin
Used to treat: high cholesterol
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 94.1 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 83.8 million

Nearly 36 million Americans have high cholesterol levels, high enough to more than double their risk of heart disease and stroke — and to keep rates of prescriptions for cholesterol-lowering statins sky high.

1. Hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin)
Type of drug: opioid
Used to treat: pain
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 131.2 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 128.2 million

Vicodin is prescribed to treat chronic pain, which affects 20% to 30% of adults and is twice as common in women as in men. The pill is also commonly prescribed to treat pain following dental procedures. Though drug misuse may account for part of the reason that hydrocodone is so popular, fewer than 3% of people prescribed opioids for chronic pain actually develop new addictions.

Read this far, good! You are serious about your health, I am sure these drugs in your life would be as rare as the black swan pictured above!

10. Hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL)
Type of drug: diuretic (water pill)
Used to treat: high blood pressure
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 47.8 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 47.9 million

The tenth most popular drug treats high blood pressure, one of the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. About 1 in 3 American adults currently have high blood pressure, which is more common among older adults, the overweight or obese, people with a family history, smokers, people who don’t exercise and African Americans.

9. Metformin HCL (Glucophage)
Type of drug: anti-diabetic
Used to treat: diabetes
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 48.3 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 44.3 million

Type 2 diabetes, the kind linked with obesity, affects 25.8 million Americans, or about 8% of the total population, and an estimated 7 million people are undiagnosed. What’s more, 79 million people are estimated to have a condition called pre-diabetes, in which patients have impaired glucose tolerance and are at high risk for developing diabetes. In 2010, 1.9 million new cases of diabetes were diagnosed in people aged 20 years and older, according to the American Diabetes Association. Metformin is commonly used to control blood sugar in diabetes patients.

Also came across this blog which has a lot of information about this dangerous disease.

8. Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Type of drug: antibiotic
Used to treat: bacterial infections
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 52.3 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 52.4 million

Antibiotics can be used to treat infections of the nose, throat, skin and urinary tract — but they cannot cure colds or flu, which are caused by viruses. Nonetheless, millions of prescriptions are written to try to treat these illnesses — improper use that is contributing to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance.

7. Azithromycin (Zithromax)
Type of drug: antibiotic
Used to treat: bacterial infections
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 52.6 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 53.8 million

Like amoxicillin, azithromycin is used to treat common bacterial infections, including lung infections and some sexually transmitted infections.

6. Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Type of drug: proton pump inhibitor
Used to treat: acid reflux
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 53.4 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 45.4 million

About 20% of Americans suffer from stomach pain and burning related to acid reflux at least once a week, resulting in the popularity of Prilosec. Risk factors for acid reflux include obesity and cigarette smoking.

Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/19/americas-10-most-popular-prescription-drugs/#ixzz1KKTgH82U

5. Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)
Type of drug: calcium channel blocker
Used to treat: high blood pressure
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 57.2 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 51.3 million

The risk of developing high blood pressure increases with age, affecting about two-thirds of people over 60 (note: the oldest of the country’s 77 million Baby Boomers are turning 65 this year) — one reason that blood-pressure medications make up three of the top 10 most prescribed drugs.

4. Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)
Type of drug: thyroid hormone
Used to treat: low-functioning thyroid gland
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 70.5 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 66 million

A common cause of low thyroid hormones, primary hypothyroidism affects 9% of women and 1% of men. Symptoms include slow speech, lack of energy, weight gain, hair loss, increased sensitivity to cold, and dry, thick skin. The risk of hypothyroidism increases with age, which accounts in part for the increasing number of prescriptions written.

3. Lisinopril (Prinivil)
Type of drug: ACE inhibitor
Used to treat: high blood pressure
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 87.4 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 82.8 million

Out-of-control stress contributes to high blood pressure, which helps explain why the condition may be more common in the poor and in people whose jobs have high levels of responsibility but little control over outcomes.

2. Simvastatin (Zocor)
Type of drug: statin
Used to treat: high cholesterol
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 94.1 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 83.8 million

Nearly 36 million Americans have high cholesterol levels, high enough to more than double their risk of heart disease and stroke — and to keep rates of prescriptions for cholesterol-lowering statins sky high.

1. Hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin)
Type of drug: opioid
Used to treat: pain
Number of prescriptions in 2010: 131.2 million
Number of prescriptions in 2009: 128.2 million

Vicodin is prescribed to treat chronic pain, which affects 20% to 30% of adults and is twice as common in women as in men. The pill is also commonly prescribed to treat pain following dental procedures. Though drug misuse may account for part of the reason that hydrocodone is so popular, fewer than 3% of people prescribed opioids for chronic pain actually develop new addictions.

Read this far, good! You are serious about your health, I am sure these drugs in your life would be as rare as the black swan pictured above!

Why am I talking metaphors today, well because this is all about conditioning the mind to operate in the zone, the state of perfection! I trade the financial markets, which are very competitive in nature, nothing less than perfection will do in this business! The mind over market concept is now formally studied as part of behavioral finance, the psychology of the trader. The mentors, I have come to respect in this industry, all tell me that trading is one third psychology, one third execution and one third setups. So if i just mastered the charts alone, it is just one third of the battle:-)

I was researching how people in the financial market community use metaphors in life. I came across psychologist Ruth Barrons Roosevelt article
“I like to think of trading as sailing. Here you harness the forces that are there. You take into account the wind direction and velocity, the currents, and your destination. You’ve got your charts to guide you and you constantly adjust to nature’s forces, sometimes pointing into the wind, sometimes running before the wind, sometimes tacking, but always in partnership with your boat, your crew, the wind, and the currents. Sure, storms can come up, but you can always let down the sail and anchor and wait out the storm. You work with the forces that are there, the forces that are much bigger than you, but you enjoy the journey, the day, the sport, and you’re confident you can get to your destination, your port, your safe harbor.”

Of course some people compare trading to fishing where the patience is the key element people are trying to focus on. Some compare trading to a sniper, or a pray -predator relationship. Look for the opportunity and jump on it, no room for error. It all depends on ones mental makeup which one you like more, obviously the aggressive types will prefer the pray predator metaphor, but the same metaphor may have negative connotation to the conservative mindset traders( BTW the picture above is of a lioness I captured in my Nikon DSLR, look at the intense eyes, that kind of focus and intensity is what you need, if you believe in the pray-predator metaphor).

I like the sailing analogy to trading that Ms. Ruth provided, to me trading is a complex endeavor, and sailing is apt representation, the winds – if you get tailwinds that is, will make for a soaring bottom line, on the other hand if you have headwinds…well you need to learn to deal with that too, else the boat sinks So what are the metaphors you use in your life or work:-)

Why am I talking metaphors today, well because this is all about conditioning the mind to operate in the zone, the state of perfection! I trade the financial markets, which are very competitive in nature, nothing less than perfection will do in this business! The mind over market concept is now formally studied as part of behavioral finance, the psychology of the trader. The mentors, I have come to respect in this industry, all tell me that trading is one third psychology, one third execution and one third setups. So if I just mastered the charts alone, it is just one third of the battle:-)

I was researching how people in the financial market community use metaphors in life. I came across psychologist Ruth Barrons Roosevelt article
“I like to think of trading as sailing. Here you harness the forces that are there. You take into account the wind direction and velocity, the currents, and your destination. You’ve got your charts to guide you and you constantly adjust to nature’s forces, sometimes pointing into the wind, sometimes running before the wind, sometimes tacking, but always in partnership with your boat, your crew, the wind, and the currents. Sure, storms can come up, but you can always let down the sail and anchor and wait out the storm. You work with the forces that are there, the forces that are much bigger than you, but you enjoy the journey, the day, the sport, and you’re confident you can get to your destination, your port, your safe harbor.”

Of course some people compare trading to fishing where the patience is the key element people are trying to focus on. Some compare trading to a sniper, or a pray -predator relationship. Look for the opportunity and jump on it, no room for error. It all depends on ones mental makeup which one you like more, obviously the aggressive types will prefer the pray predator metaphor, but the same metaphor may have negative connotation to the conservative mindset traders.( BTW the picture above is of a lioness I captured in my Nikon DSLR, look at the intense eyes, that is what you need, if you believe in the pray-predator metaphor).

I like the sailing analogy to trading that Ms. Ruth provided, to me trading is a complex endeavor, and sailing is apt representation, the winds – if you get tailwinds that is, will make for a soaring bottom line, on the other hand if you have headwinds…well you need to learn to deal with that too, else the boat sinks So what are the metaphors you use in your life or work:-)

Although winter has over stayed and in some cities on the west coast totally surprised their residents (San Francisco recently had its first snow in 35 years)- I am not complaining!These things of nature make me emotional at times, recently read a poem by Mary Frye, normally read during funerals, talks about how our near ones never leave us even when they die- they are in gush of wind that touches us, the snow that falls on our garden, the birds that chirp…here it is and do not get too sentimental

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave bereft
I am not there. I have not left

Although winter has over stayed and in some cities on the west coast totally surprised their residents (San Francisco recently had its first snow in 35 years)- I am not complaining!These things of nature make me emotional at times, recently read a poem by Mary Frye, normally read during funerals, talks about how our near ones never leave us even when they die- they are in gush of wind that touches us, the snow that falls on our garden, the birds that chirp…here it is and do not get too sentimental

Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave bereft
I am not there. I have not left

With that bit of optimism, here’s something I want to share ( with permission from author)- this is from a dear friend of mine, who happens to be my classmate from IIT Kanpur, and who is a senior executive in a Technology firm might I add We fondly call him Ramki.

Ramki this is dedicated to you!!

[In the spirit of re-living the lost pleasure of writing letters, minus the handwriting]

To,

A few more tears of happiness listening to soulful music,
A little more tiredness as you work yourself towards a worthy goal,
A few more thoughts towards the plight of the less fortunate,
A little less annoyance at the machinations of the keepers of power,
A few more hearty conversations with your best friends(for life),
A lighter load of worries of the past and anxieties for the future,
An increased zest in the service of those whom you love unconditionally,
An increased responsibility towards the world which made you,

From,

The blessings of those who helped you be what you are, and
The company of those who truly make you live your life to the fullest,

Subject: to the best of health, happiness and fun,

Dear Sir/Madam,

I humbly request your New Year visit you, and stay all year long!

as ever,
Ramki