postaday | wealthymatters

Internet Speed Tester

October 15, 2013 4 Comments

wealthymatters In the past week I have been having problems with my ISP. My upload speed tended to zero.So surfing was a hassle and even accessing simple pages like Google was a challenge.I had trouble reading e-mail.

I found speedtest.net a great tool to make my point with my ISP who persisted in telling me that they were not at fault as they were providing me with the contracted bandwidth.Apparently download speed is in their control and upload speed depends on the website I an accessing.

I had to point out to them that in any case the upload speed can’t be zero,so much so that I can’t reach their own company’s start page to input my password and hence get online,before I got them to improve service.

Is my ISP really telling me the whole truth or is it a version meant to help them profiteer at my expense?If you know more about how broadband internet works,please help me understand things better.

Filed under Tool Kit Tagged with broadband internet contract, broadband internet speed, internet speed checker, postaday

The Price Of Hair

October 14, 2013 7 Comments

wealthymatters

Today I was totally grossed out by reading about the trade in human hair.It felt like reading about the Nazis harvesting dental fillings.

Human hair supposedly fetches between $200-$1000 per kg,depending on its length and quality.It is used in wigs,hair extensions and for grafting.

Apparently hair snipping from salons are sold as also the tonsured hair from temples.And obviously your permission is not required.

In fact there are traders who buy fallen hair just as there are traders of old newspapers.

As both my parents are cancer survivors,I know that baldness is a side-effect of chemotherapy,But I always felt it was a temporary condition that could be handled with a scarf/cap or a wig made of one’s own hair.And in case of permanent baldness,what’s so bad about going bare skulled?Baldness doesn’t kill and a lack of hair doesn’t automatically make you ugly.

Googling round a bit I was surprised to find some personal finance bloggers suggesting making a bit of money off one’s hair.Made me wonder what else next?Eggs,semen,blood,plasma,kidneys,livers,etc.?Though these bloggers did mention the painless nature of harvesting hair.Yes some poor people sell blood,kidneys etc,to make ends meet………but is this really good personal finance?Don’t we practice good personal finance to avoid financial crises that force us to do such desperate things?And can’t financial advisers imagine better ways to make money?

Filed under Tidbits Tagged with baldness, chemotheraphy, grafting, hair extension, postaday, price of human hair, selling human hair, wigs

Green Gold

October 14, 2013 Leave a comment

wealthymatters In Maharashtra there is the practice of offering the leaves of the Aapati tree as sona/gold on Dussehra and saying “Sona ghya, sonasarkha waga” (take gold and be like gold).There is a deep significance behind doing so.

According to the Puranas,Kautsa, the young son of a Brahmin called Devdatt, lived in the city of Paithan. After completing his education with Rishi Varatantu, he insisted on his guru accepting Guru Dakshina, a present. The guru said, “Kautsa, to give dakshina in return for learning wisdom is not appropriate. Graduation of the disciple makes the guru happy, and that is the real Guru Dakshina.”

Kautsa was not satisfied. He still felt it was his duty to give his guru something. The guru said, “All right, if you insist on giving me dakshina, then give me 140 million gold coins, 10 million for each of the 14 sciences I have taught you.”

Kautsa went to King Raghu. Raghuraja was an ancestor of Lord Rama, famous for his generosity. But just at that time he had spent all his money on the Brahmins, after performing the Vishvajit sacrifice. Raghuraja asked Kautsa to return in three days. Raghuraja immediately left to get the gold coins from Indra,the king of the Gods. Indra summoned Kuber, the god of wealth. Indra told Kuber, “Make rain of gold coins, fall on the Shanu and Aapati trees around Raghuraja’s city of Ayodhya.” Read more of this post

Filed under Theory Tagged with Aapati tree, postaday, simolanghan, sona, vijay mahurat on Dussehra

Ayudha Puja

October 13, 2013 2 Comments

wealthymatters Ayudha Puja also called Astra Puja is the “Worship of Implements”.It is part of the Navratri celebrations.

All the implements that are part of one’s occupation, such as machines, vehicles, tools,computers etc. are cleaned properly, polished and decorated. Then they are smeared with sandalwood and turmeric paste. Flowers are offered. The implements are then worshiped along with the image of Saraswati ,for wisdom.

This worship is an expression of gratitude to the divine forces for helping us earn our livelihoods and also prayers or the successful execution of duties in the coming year.

So you can see all types of vehicles including bicycles out on the streets after a wash , decorated with flowers and frills.

Business establishments,offices and factories are spruced up and bedecked with fresh flowers, banana leaves, plantain saplings and other festival related festoons. Read more of this post