Carey Suante

Articles on Podcast Transcription and General Transcription

2011-10-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

Below are the latest blog posts on podcast transcription and general transcription. Make sure you click on the links and read the articles and comment on them!

My Podcast Transcription Service is OPEN!

2011-08-03T01:16:00.000-07:00

With million of podcast bloggers it's difficult to differentiate one from the other. But one thing you can surely do to attract more listeners and readers is to get your podcasts transcribed.

When a podcast is converted to text by transcriptionist it's just so convenient for those not having the time to listen to a podcast or time to download.

It's also convenient for referencing and linking from and to the podcast.

That's why podcast transcription has become the secret ingredient for successful podcast bloggers and online entrepreneurs. Some entrepreneurs even converted their podcasts into books!

Podcast transcription service is not a simple transcription service. It includes transcribing, editing, researching, proofing, formatting, Grammar, context, spelling. It's a full-blown service of itself.

My podcast transcription service, TranscriptionistForBloggers.com is open and active.

Please check out the website for rates and if you have any question do not hesitate to shoot me a mail.

Easter Sunday @ Church

2011-04-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

In My Kids' Eyes

2011-04-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

Last Day @ KSP

2011-04-16T00:43:00.000-07:00

Me and my Girls

2011-04-16T00:37:00.000-07:00

Seeing is Believing

2011-04-16T00:34:00.000-07:00

Reasons Why Writing a Blog can Boost your Career

2010-12-17T23:20:00.000-08:00

I write a blog called TranscriptionHQ.blogspot.com which is “Transcription Blog on Transcription Business, Transcription Jobs and Outsourcing Transcription“. It’s a little over two months old and now has over 45 posts already.

It was my transcription blog.

It allows me to write about my experiences, thoughts, insights on the transcription industry.
As you can see from the posts below, I wanted to help transcribers, transcription business owners and also transcription customers.

I basically want to contribute to the transcription industry. Or, at least that is the idea.

Read the full article here.

Home-based Transcription Job

2010-12-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

I've written much about freelance transcription and its potential.

However, the truth is that freelance transcription work is difficult to find. Especially when there are so many scams and get-rick-quick-working-from-home sites.

A couple of months ago, I applied to a company called Cripton, a transcription company based in Mumbai, who employ freelance transcribers.

Fortunately, I was accepted and have now signed the contracts and started working for them.

If you are interested in making more money working as a freelance transcriber I highly recommend Cripton, especially if you are an Indian transcriber.

Read more: Home-based Transcription Job

Transcription HQ: Blog on Transcription

2010-10-03T00:29:00.000-07:00

I've just started a new blog called Trancription HQ. It's about ...transcription.

If you are interested in learning more about transcription or just curious about transcription, just go over to transcriptionhq.blogspot.com.

I plan to write regularly at this blog and turn it into one of the best resources on the internet on transcription industry.

If you are a writer and want to contribute to Transcription HQ, please do get in touch with me at careysuante[@]gmail[.]com

It will cover all types of transcriptions - legal transcription, business transcription, media transcription, medical transcription, etc.

The Un-making of a Copywriter?

2010-09-06T21:17:00.000-07:00

Just like some bloggers, I have had this dream of becoming a copywriter. I wanted to become a copywriter mainly for two things - improve my writing and have a more creative career.

My career right now in the transcription industry is good to be fair, but it's not the most creative job for me.

So a few weeks ago, I went for an interview at a content management company hoping to become a copywriter.

However, it was more like the un-making of a copywriter!

Needless to say, I was rejected. I was rejected as I was no graduate.

The funny thing is that I got through all their tests fine.

The only reason I was not given a job was that I had no degree. [Side question to all: Do you need a degree to be able to write?]

Anyway, this episode does not in any way make me give up the dream.

I am now working towards a degree in English.

And, am going to write more often to improve my writing on this and other blogs.

I still believe I am on the right track to becoming a writer.

What do you think? Is a degree absolutely necessary to become a copywriter/writer?

Loan - To Take or Not to take?

2010-08-17T20:28:00.000-07:00

I've been toying with idea of taking out a loan.

If you are wondering what the loan's for; let me put them in bullet points!

Clearing up my credit card debts - not a huge amount; nonetheless, a debt,
Securing my children's future by investing in a one-time payment investment-insurance scheme,
Buying a two-wheeler - this will definitely help bring down our expenses in a big way. When we (wife and I) considered our expenses on auto-rickshaws, it comes to some 4k to 6k per month! With a two-wheeler, this could easily be brought down to 1K to 1.5K per month, the rest can be used for payment towards the EMI for the loan.
Invest upto 70% of the said loan in new land purchases or building a house on our plot of land.

Basically, that's it!

I've talked with some friends and family over this topic and everyone agrees.

It's every parent's dream to own a house, secure their children's future etc. Me too!

After 5 years of being married, in hindsight, I've not achieved any milestone yet. I need a change - in my approach to financial independence and security.

My friends and I reasoned that every business builds on credit. Any business not worthy of credit is not worth your time or money. And, so is an individual.

I've always been almost scared of having debts. I thought only failures have debts! How wrong! Only people who are positive in their outlook, know their own (credit) worthiness, have good self-esteem have the guts to take on loans and debts.

The meek and the ignorant play safe with average returns!

I want to break free from average.

Am I doing the right thing? Should I take a loan? What would you do in my situation? Open up like I just did to you!

Why blog when you are a daddy?

2010-06-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Can you believe I have 30+ blogs on Blogger.com and 3 self-hosted WordPress blogs right now!
To be perfectly honest, only 4 are active.

And, I'm a dad to two little girls, aged 4.5 and 1.5 years.

On top of that, I work fulltime as a transcriptionist!

Why blog at all?

Well, I wanted to give the best to my family and myself.

Working for someone else or a company, is not the best in terms of the money you make. I want to supplement my income with the Adsense money.

Also, blogging improves my writing. Writing is something I neglected during my school days. So I want to see how far I can go with it with blogging.

As you might suspect I also blog about transcription hoping someday I could go freelance or even build a business out of it!

I also believe in NOT putting all your eggs in one basket. I don't want to depend too much on my job. It is too unstable and unreliable. These days with global economic downturn and the politics of outsourcing it is only prudent to be ready for anything untoward.

Finally, blogging is fun! What can I say. Connecting with other bloggers and readers is something special for me. Maybe, it's because I am not too good with people face to face! Having said that blogging helps shed my shyness to a large extent and am now more vocal with my thoughts. In fact, last night a gave a speech during a house fellowship at home. And, I was rad, if I should say so myself!

So, that's way.

So, whats your take on being a blogger and a daddy? Is it a no-no for you?

Father's Day Blues: How Not to Be a Dad

2010-06-17T11:21:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is just around the corner; and I'm feeling the blues.

What have I done to deserve any acknowledgment much less appreciation for being a dad?

Father's Day is a beautiful festival that acknowledges and appreciates the important role played by a father in raising the child and consequently building a stronger society.

This is the first sentence on a website I found about the Story of Father's Day.

Fortunately, for me, my kids are too young to "thank me" for being their dad. Fortunately, because, they don't yet judge me or scrutinize my (non-existent) parenting skills.

Looking back the past five years I realized I've not been spending enough time with them. I've been busy setting blogs up chasing the elusive dollar online. Much to my chagrin, I'm making less than $50 monthly!

Is that a fair exchange for my time. My time that could well have been spent with my daughters. No. I think not! If I may say so myself.

Much have been said about spending "quality time" with family, especially with kids. To me that's a farce! Kids don't quantify time spent with them. You are either with them or not. It's that simple.

I started this blog to think about my parenting skills, my relationship with my daughters and my family life.

One thing is for sure, I need to spend much more time with them.

Well, any way, Happy Father's Day! (Maybe you deserve it, even if I don't!)

Confession Time: I'm a Puma Shoe Freak!

2010-06-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

As a kid I've always admired Nike and Adidas sneakers.

Being from a lower middle class, those were beyond our means. I remember thinking how comfortable and classy these shoes looked!

However, since fatherhood, I somehow always bought Puma sneakers.

I still like a few Adidas shoes. Especially the canvas shoes. I guess, I'm obsessed with the three stripes.

And, I love, love the old Adidas logo - you know, the lotus-like logo. (picture to the left)

The main problem with Nike and Adidas is that, in general, their designs are not up to what it used to be.

Or maybe, this is New Delhi specific.

The designs are cheap and the looks aren't polished enough for me!

And, Nike, simply over-priced.

However, I'm a Puma shoe freak!

I love the designs. I love the fresh looks and the casual attitude of most of the designs. Puma shoes are reasonably priced and they can be worn everyday. That's hugely important as a dad.

Take this, for example.

This shoe can be worn everyday, any occasion - to the gym, drop kids off to school, go to church or the office even.

Puma is definitely my favorite shoe right now.

What's your favorite footwear?

Dad Writer - A blog for Dads and their Kids

2010-06-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

Welcome to DadWriter.Blogspot.Com!

This is a diary by a daddy with two beautiful daughters - Rita and Deborah.

My name is Carey; I'm the daddy.

More updates and pictures of the team coming up!!

Map of Chin State/Zogam

2010-03-12T19:50:00.001-08:00

chin_map2.jpg, originally uploaded by mailme_carey.

Map of Chin State(Zogam) showing the bigger towns in the state.

The people of Chin State are also known as Zo people. Although known as Chin people by others, they prefer to be known as Zomi or Zo people.

Zo History and Zo Chronicles

2009-12-17T13:35:00.001-08:00

ZO HISTORY: WITH AN INTRODUCTION TO ZO CULTURE, ECONOMY, RELIGION AND THEIR STATUS AS AN ETHNIC MINORITY IN INDIA, BURMA, AND BANGLADESH

Zo Chronicles: A Documentary Study of History and Culture of the Kuki-Chin-Lushai Tribe

Zomi Traditional Shawl

2009-10-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

My Classmates in Lamka

2009-10-06T14:15:00.000-07:00

Giving a Speech!

2009-10-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Baby

2009-10-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

Am Gonna Getcha!

2009-09-09T12:50:00.001-07:00

Rita The Geek

2009-09-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

She's Got MY Hair!

2009-09-09T12:41:00.000-07:00

Give Me a Drink

2009-09-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

Ho Ho Ho

2009-09-09T12:35:00.000-07:00

Me and My Adorable Kids on my Mobile Phone

2009-09-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

Carey - The Transcriptionist

2009-07-04T03:35:00.000-07:00

Carey Suante is a transcriptionist who also loves blogging and connecting with people.

He is working full-time in a transcription company in New Delhi, India in the capacity of Assistant Team Leader.

He joined this company in 2005 where he started off as a transcriber. After promoted to QC within 6 months of joining, he was promoted as Team Co-ordinator within the next year. By 2007, he was promoted to Assistant Team Leader.

He lives with his family in New Delhi.

ZoAw.info is his personal blog. Please visit.

For more info please contact him at careysuante AT gmail DOT com.

Actors Who Blog about actors who blog

2009-02-21T13:58:00.000-08:00

I just found this little site nice, in the sense that where else would you find your favourite movie stars' blogs, huh?

This site is a very, very good idea.

Something like this is easy to set up and you know there will always be "post ideas" for there will be actors blogging more and more.

Thats a cute little idea if you ask me.

Actors Who Blog

Are you a Carrot, an Egg or Coffee?

2008-12-19T14:58:00.000-08:00

I just came across this beautiful story about how a mother teaches her daughter to be a coffee!

Below is the story:

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up, She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first, she placed carrots; in the second, she placed eggs; and in the last, she placed ground coffee beans . She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see.”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?”

Years they come and go...

2008-12-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

Years and months they come and they go...but here I am stranded in LIFE!

That sounds kinda negative, I know but I mean time goes so fast!

I mean see I started blogging around December 2006 or so on Blogger.com. Before Blogger I was on My Opera, is it? That means I have been blogging more than two years now!

Phew! Two years!

Have I mastered the art of blogging? Have I earned money blogging? Have I published any book? Is there any article of mine published offline?

The answer to all of these questions is sadly - NO!

Will I still go on blogging?

Definitely!

Blogging has become a part of my life. It has helped me make friends and connect with people who I would otherwise would have never met.

Because of blogging I am now more aware of things I have never heard of. Blogging changes lives. And I believe it has changed and will keep changing mine too however minutely.

Being a blogger, a writer makes me see things I have never noticed. Makes me more aware and informed.

What single activity does all these things for you? What single thing in your life make you more aware, informed and improved? Blogging helps me in all areas of my life. Thats a fact.

Re-newing my writing and blogging goals

I was thinking I would now write more regularly on this blog. I hardly posted anything here in 2008.

So I will make this blog come alive with words and thoughts, conversations and rants, laughter and cries, through sickness and health, through boom and even dips!

What will I write about? Well, for starters just about anything that come to my silly mind!

Everything and anything will be on-topic as well as off-topic. I guess in one single word - life. Or the stuffs that make up what we call life!

Something like this post!

My Newest Project - ZoMiVideos

2008-10-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

I have recently started a new blog called ZoMiVideos.

Here I will try and post every Zo related videos posted on the net. It is simply a way to create a space where one can find all Zo related videos in one single place.

This is again just another hobby of mine as I collect all kinds of videos and thought it would be interesting to have a blog like this one so I won't have to enlarge my already bulging hard disc!

On this blog you will also find tricks and applications to help you download YouTube videos so that you can enjoy them off line!

You will also find songs from raps stars like Michael M Sailo to Gospel singers Sangpi.

Hope you love this.

If you find it lacking and would like to advise me on any new videos etc please feel free to do so here or on the blog itself.

Its a Girl!

2008-10-18T16:37:00.000-07:00

It was a lazy Sunday.

By the evening, it got even lazier.

However it suddenly got restless and her Mother couldn't bear no more!

So we rushed to the hospital at 4:30 am Monday without even a wink of sleep.

The cool breeze that morning is unexpected; though its mid October, reminding us Winter is knocking at the doors.

Registration and formalities took much time.

Standing around. Waiting anxiously. Exchanging stupid jokes and empty laughter we wait.

More tests and more waiting.

By 1:40 - "its a girl"!

Then phones won't stop ringing. My service providers start pestering me with offers after offers.

I never used my phone so much before that day - the day Deborah Ciin Biak Dik is born.

Over 18 dead, 50 injured in blasts

2008-09-13T07:42:00.000-07:00

Over 18 peopled are reported dead and 50 injured in the blast a few hours ago.

The various affected marketplaces are closed down and other marketplaces like Sarojini Nagar Market are also closed off for fear of attacks on such places.

Obviously terrorists are targeting crowded places and markets are their obvious choice.

The first blast at Ghaffar Market, Karol Bagh came from an auto rickshaw.

Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility for blasts

2008-09-13T07:36:00.000-07:00

Indian Mujahideen claims responsibility for the blasts in New Delhi just an hour ago.

This group earlier claimed responsibility for blast in Jaipur and Ahmedabad.

About 80 are reportedly injured in the blasts today.

NDTV reports 9 Deaths in 5 Blasts

2008-09-13T07:11:00.000-07:00

NDTV one of India premier news channels reports 9 deaths in 5 blasts

More here.

Blasts rock New Delhi

2008-09-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

A car destroyed on the bomb blast a few minutes ago in New Delhi India.

Hands of terrorists cannot be ruled out.

This may be related to blasts in other parts of India a few months ago.

Serial Blasts Rock New Delhi

2008-09-13T07:07:00.000-07:00

Just an hour ago in various parts of New Delhi bomb explosions were reported.

Palika Bazaar (Conaught Place), Ghaffar Market (Karol Bagh) and M Block Greater Kailash are rock by what seems to be a concerted serial blast. Although nothing cannot be confirmed yet. Nature of blast is not ascertained yet.

BANS, NING and Internet Entrepreneurship

2008-09-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

Today I found myself starting up a new social networking site called Cimphawng at NING.com and had a few sign ups as well. Uploaded a few videos and snaps and audios and smoothly came the site live! Works like a charm.

Experiment is what I do to learn new stuff so this is no surprise for me.

NING was kind of easy of use and easy to personalise (if only time permits). Just toyed around with KickApps as well but it will definitely take some time to get used to it so left it within 20 mins! But it seems to work pretty well for those who use it, mostly HUGE media houses and all that.

Anyway I also visited a website which I have always wanted to check out. It is called BuildaNicheStore.com. It basically is an eBay affilliate programme that seems to do really well. I first heard it from the BloggingExperiment.com and thought what a great idea. But will have to wait some more time ..maybe next year....before I can actually invest in internet business of any kind!

Yes one fine day I would love to be an entrepreneur, an affilliate marketeer or a businessman even!

Not that I am complaining where I am today - although I believe it is everyman's duty to develop his talents to the fullest and always aim and work towards better life for himself and family, ultimate to the betterment of the society of humanity!

Rev Khup Za Go ZBC in Pahtawi

2008-09-09T15:26:00.000-07:00

Am I Cool or What!

2008-09-09T15:07:00.000-07:00

Man Sian Muang

Khual Lian Mang

2008-09-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

Man Sian Muang & Khual Lian Mang

2008-09-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

Man Sian Muang

2008-09-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

Man Sian Muang

2008-09-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Man Sian Muang in front of Free Church New Delhi.

Man Sian Muang

2008-09-09T14:59:00.000-07:00

A picture of Man Sian Muang.

Earning Money Receiving SMS on Your Phone

2008-06-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

Spice up your mobile and earn money!

Receive interesting discounts, events, sales happening near you by registering here and start earning from your phone.

You do not pay for receiving sms.

Invite your friends to sign up too so that you earning more and more.

Free SMS

Once you sign up you will also be able to send FREE sms to your friends and family.

You save your money and earn by doing that!

So what are you waiting for sign up now !

Spice up your mobile

2008-06-11T02:19:00.001-07:00

carey suante invites you to mGinger.com. You get:

- 1500 Free SMS every month saving you Rs 3000
- Deals & Discounts of your interest in your city saving you tons

To find out more, logon to:

http://www.mGinger.com

- carey suante

mGinger helps millions of new-age consumers to stay abreast with the latest schemes, discounts, and offers doing the rounds in their respective cities.

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The Enigma's Beard: Osama video

2007-09-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Many are baffled including the US' CIA. Osama in his latest video tape appeard to have trimmed and dyed his otherwise gray beard. Is this a signal to his loyal friends? Here is a report:

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Osama bin Laden's beard seen in a new video tape featuring the Al-Qaeda supremo has baffled the top US spy.
The traditional gray beard of the terror mastermind looked trimmed and dyed in black in the video released last week, his first of appearance since October 2004.
Questions over the elusive Saudi extremist's beard cropped up at a Congressional hearing Monday featuring top US security experts, including Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell.
"First, is this his beard?" Republican Senator Norm Coleman asked the spy chief. "Do we expect that -- is it a signal?"
McConnell swiftly rejected any possibility that the hair in his chin was intended to send any signal to his Al-Qaeda members.
"So far, we do not think there's been a signal. He's done this periodically, as has (Ayman al-) Zawahiri (the group's second-in-command), and there has not been a correlation necessarily between one of these tapes or a public statement and a particular event," McConnell said.
But he wondered whether Bin Laden's beard was genuine.
"The big question in the community this morning, 'Is that beard real,' because as you know, just a few years ago, the last time he appeared, it was very different," he said.
"So we don't know if it's dyed and trimmed or real, but that's one of the things we're looking at. But no specific message."

Zo Traditional Dress

2007-09-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

Lets kill your distractions at work

2007-07-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

Joan was a nice 50-something but man, she could talk your head off. Everything was a crisis and no matter what you did, the complaining continued. If she wasn't complaining, she was talking about her 2 cats. Honestly, it was a nightmare. In fact, I resigned from a company for unrelated issues and 2 months later she did the same thing. She moved with me to the new company and actually worked in my department. I compare the entire episode to a mosquito that just won't leave you alone.

From: Dump Little Man blog

2007-07-17T04:14:00.000-07:00

Money Management:

(This piece is from a blog I read today. I just want to put up for my own reference when in doubt ;)! - Carey Suante)

It was a little more than 160 years ago that Henry David Thoreau decided to leave his home in Concord, Massachusetts, and take up residence in a remote cabin he'd built on Ralph Waldo Emerson's land next to Walden Pond. "A mile from any neighbor," the Harvard graduate wrote:

"Our life is frittered away by detail. I say, let your affairs be as two or dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumbnail ... Simplify, simplify."

Well, given modern-day complexities Thoreau couldn't even imagine, his advice is as timely as ever. If your financial life has become a bit cluttered, consider the following seven steps:

CONSOLIDATE YOUR ACCOUNTS
Having too many accounts scattered among different providers creates a twofold problem: It's harder to track your investments, and you may be paying more in fees than necessary. Consolidating your accounts (including your banking services), with a single provider makes managing your financial affairs that much easier. In addition, you may be more likely to meet minimum balance requirements and pay less in the way of fees and service charges.

CUT DOWN ON YOUR CREDIT CARDS
If you have more than one or two major credit cards, plus a bunch of department store and gas station cards, then you may have too many. Even if you don't use them all, a large number of cards could hurt your credit rating because lenders may be wary of all that available credit. And if you do use more than one or two cards, you could end up making a whole lot of minimum payments each month, burying yourself in interest.

If you currently carry a balance from month to month, consider consolidating all outstanding credit card debt into a single tax-deductible home equity loan or line of credit. Then, just keep one or two major credit cards and use them only for purchases you can pay off each month. All else being equal with respect to fees and rates, keep the major cards you've had the longest to protect your credit history.

MUTUAL FUNDS — ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Some people collect mutual funds like others collect baseball cards or beanie babies. Too many funds, particularly in a single asset class style (large-cap growth or small-cap value, for example), could turn you into a "closet indexer."

Being a closet indexer means you're paying higher fees for active management, when, if you put all your mutual funds together, you'd get pretty much the same thing if you just went out and bought a much cheaper index fund. Even worse, all those different managers could end up being concentrated in similar positions, increasing your risk and exposure.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research found that holding more than three funds per asset class style could be too much. By consolidating your portfolio into fewer funds, you could find your portfolio is both easier to track and less costly, to boot.

MULTIPLE RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
There's little reason to have more than one traditional IRA. The IRS looks at all your traditional IRAs as one, whether they include deductible and/or nondeductible contributions. It's called the "aggregation rule."

If you have more than one traditional IRA, consider consolidating them into a single account. And if you have an old 401(k) still sitting with a former employer, consider rolling it over into your traditional IRA. You'll find it easier to keep track of your investments and you might even end up paying less in fees overall.

TOO MANY INVESTMENT BUCKETS
Some investors like to compartmentalize their investments into multiple buckets. That's fine, as long as you don't get carried away and end up with a dozen different asset allocations for each of a dozen different short-term and long-term goals.

Consider taking a "total portfolio" approach that includes all of your accounts, both taxable and tax-advantaged. With fewer accounts, that should be easier to do. You can always earmark certain funds for certain things, but putting it all together provides you with a one-portfolio, big-picture view of where your overall asset allocation lies. This could help you manage the overall risk you might be taking at any given time.

FILTER THE NOISE
We all seem to suffer from information overload these days. Between newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet, we have access to more financial news and information today than previous generations could ever dream of.

However, access to lots of information doesn't always lead to wise decision making. In fact, following the day-to-day noise too closely can be bad for your financial health if your goals are measured in years and decades. Be discerning — seek out sources you find truly informative, reliable and worthy of your attention, then tune out the rest of the clatter.

FOLLOW THE KISS PRINCIPLE (KEEP IT SIMPLE, SWEETHEART)
It seems like Wall Street is forever coming up with fancy new financial products, and the more complex they are, the better they seem to sell. But do you really need to concern yourself with the latest derivatives, specialty funds, or any of the other new-fangled gimmicks for (supposedly) making money? Maybe. Then again, maybe not, especially if you believe that the simpler you can structure your financial life, the better.

In closing, keep in mind that "simpler" should not be confused with "simplistic," just as "buy-and-hold" should never be confused with "buy-and-forget." Simplification doesn't mean you ignore the sound principles of investing, and keeping things simple should never lead to neglect.

Still, there's no reason to make things more complex than they need to be, and wouldn't it be nice to structure your financial affairs without having to worry about how your portfolio is doing at any given moment in time? Why not choose a diversified asset allocation that fits your personality, goals and objectives, implement it as simply and efficiently as you can, resolve to revisit your plan periodically to keep it on track, and then just relax? After all, there are enough things to worry about already.

Biography of Aung San Suu Kyi

2007-07-08T22:46:00.000-07:00

Aung San Suu Kyi (pronounced Ong San Soo Chee), Burma’s pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laureate, symbolises the struggle of Burma's people to be free.

She was born on June 19th, 1945 to Burma's independence hero, Aung San, who was assassinated when she was only two years old.

Aung San Suu Kyi was educated in Burma, India, and the United Kingdom. While studying at Oxford University, she met Michael Aris, a Tibet scholar who she married in 1972. They had two sons, Alexander and Kim. On March 27 1999, while Aung San Suu Kyi was in Burma, Michael Aris died of cancer in London. He had petitioned the Burmese authorities to allow him to visit Suu Kyi one last time, but they had rejected his request. He had not seen her since a Christmas visit in 1995. The government always urged Suu Kyi to join her family abroad, but she knew that she would not be allowed to return.

Aung San Suu Kyi had returned to Burma in 1988 to nurse her dying mother and was immediately plunged into the country's nationwide democracy uprising. Joining the newly-formed National League for Democracy (NLD), Suu Kyi gave numerous speeches calling for freedom and democracy. The military regime responded to the uprising with brute force, killing up to 5,000 demonstrators. Unable to maintain its grip on power, the regime was forced to call a general election in 1990.

As Aung San Suu Kyi began to campaign for the NLD, she and many others were detained by the regime. Despite being held under house arrest, the NLD went on to win a staggering 82% of the seats in parliament. The regime never recognized the results of the election.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been in and out of arrest ever since. She was held under house arrest from 1989-1995, and again from 2000-2002. She was again arrested in May 2003 after the Depayin massacre, during which up to 100 of her supporters were beaten to death by the regime's militia. She is currently under house arrest in Rangoon.

She has won numerous international awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Sakharov Prize from the European Parliament and the United States Presidential Medal of Freedom. She has called on people around the world to join the struggle for freedom in Burma, saying "Please use your liberty to promote ours".

Chronology
1945:
Born in Rangoon on June 19th, the daughter of independence hero and national leader General Aung San and Daw Khin Kyi; General Aung San is assassinated July 19, 1947.Aung San Suu Kyi is educated in Rangoon until 15 years old

1960:
Accompanies mother to Delhi on her appointment as Burmese ambassador to India and Nepal and studies politics at Delhi University

1964-67:
BA in philosophy, politics and economics, St. Hugh's College, Oxford University. She is elected Honorary Fellow in 1990.

1969-71:
Assistant Secretary, Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, United Nations Secretariat, New York

1972:
Research Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bhutan; married Dr. Michael Aris, a British scholar.

1973-77:
Birth of sons Alexander in London (1973) and Kim (1977) in Oxford

1985-86:
Visiting Scholar, Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Kyoto University

1987:
Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Studies, Simla

1988, March:
Student protests break out in Rangoon.

1988, July 23:
General Ne Win steps down as Chairman of the Burma Socialist Programme Party(BSPP) after 26 years, triggering pro-democracy movement.

1988, Aug 8:
The famous 8-8-88 mass uprising starts in Rangoon and spreads to the entire country, drawing millions of people to protest against the BSPP government. The following military crackdown killed thousands.

1988, Aug 26:
Aung San Suu Kyi addresses half-million mass rally in front of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon and calls for a democratic government.

1988, Sep 18:
The military reestablishes its power and the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) is formed. The military again crushes the pro-democracy movement, killing hundreds more.

1988, Sep 24:
The National League for Democracy (NLD) is formed, with Aung San Suu Kyi as general secretary.

1988, Dec 27:
Daw Khin Kyi, mother of Aung San Suu Kyi, dies. The funeral procession draws a huge crowd of supporters, which turns into a peaceful protest against military rule.

1989, Jul 20:
Aung San Suu Kyi is placed her under house arrest in Rangoon under martial law that allows for detention without charge or trial for three years.

1990, May 27:
Despite her continuing detention, the National League for Democracy wins a landslide victory in the general elections by securing 82 percent of the seats; the military junta refuses to recognise the results of the election

1990, Oct 12:
Awarded, in absentia, the 1990 Rafto Human Rights Prize.

1991, Jul 10:
Awarded, in absentia, the 1990 Sakharov Prize (human rights prize of the European Parliament)

1991, Aug 10:
The military regime retroactively amends the law under which Aung San Suu Kyi is held to allow for detention for up to five years without charge or trial.

1991, Oct 14:
Awarded the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize

1991, Dec 10:
Aung San Suu Kyi's ‘Freedom from Fear’ and other writings published in London.

1992:
The Nobel Committee reveals that Aung San Suu Kyi has established a health and education trust in support of the Burmese people to use the $1.3 million prize money.

1994 Sep 20:
Gen. Than Shwe and Gen. Khin Nyunt of SLORC meet Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time since the house arrest.

1995 Jul 10:
The junta releases Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest.

1995 Oct 10:
The NLD defied junta's ban on changes in party leadership positions and reappointed her as the party's General Secretary.

1999 Mar 27:
Aung San Suu Kyi's husband Michael Aris dies of prostrate cancer in London. His last request to visit Aung San Suu Kyi, whom he had last seen in 1995, was rejected by the military junta which said if Aung San Suu Kyi wanted to leave the country she could do so. She refused the offer knowing that she would not be allowed to return to Burma.

1996-2000:
Aung San Suu Kyi defies travel bans imposed against her and continually tries to leave Rangoon. In March 1996, she boarded the train bound for Mandalay but citing a "last minute problem" the coach she was in was left behind at the station.
On 2 September 2000, around 200 riot police surrounded Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's motorcade near Dala and forced them to return to Rangoon after a nine-day standoff.

2000 Sep 23:
Aung San Suu Kyi is placed under house arrest.

2000, Oct:
Aung San Suu Kyi begins secret talks with the military junta. Substance of the talks remains secret, and UN Special Envoy Razali acts as a "facilitator."

2000 Dec 07:
US President Bill Clinton confers America's highest civilian honour on Aung San Suu Kyi. Her son Alexander Aris receives the award on her behalf.

2002 May 6:
Aung San Suu Kyi is freed after 19 months of house arrest.

2003 May 30:
During a tour of northern Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi and her supporters are attacked by the regime's militia in the town of Depayin. As many as 70 people were killed in the attack and over 100 people arrested, including Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi remained in secret detention for over three months.

2004 March:
Razali Ismail, UN special envoy to Burma, has his last meeting Aung San Suu Kyi.

Current situation:

Aung San Suu Kyi is currently under house arrest in Rangoon. She is allowed no visitors, her phone line has been cut, and National League for Democracy volunteers providing security at her compound were removed in December 2004.

On 20 May 2006, Ibrahim Gambari, UN Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs, met Aung San Suu Kyi, the first visit by a foreign official since Razali’s visit in 2004. Gambari met Aung San Suu Kyi again in November 2006 but his visit failed to secure any concessions from Burma’s military regime.Aung San Suu Kyi's term of house arrest was extended on 25 May 2007.

My Sassy Girl

2007-06-27T21:41:00.000-07:00

Also known as: That Bizarre Girl / Yeopgijeogin Geunyeo

Language: Korean

Subtitle: English

Release Date: 2001

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Synopsis:

Based on a series of true stories posted by Ho-sik Kim on the Internet describing his relationship with his girlfriend. These were later transformed into a best-selling book and the movie follows the book closely.

As the film opens we are introduced to Gyeon-woo, a kind-hearted but at times naive college student who seems to keep getting into trouble. On his way home one night he rescues a beautiful but completely smashed young woman. She subsequently causes a scene in the subway, calls him "honey", and then passes out. With the eyes of the other subway passengers upon him, who all believe that she is his girlfriend, he has little choice but to take responsibility for her.

Thus begins his relationship with the at-times charming, at-times violent damsel who steals his heart. Much of the film is structured around the bizarre antics of Gyeon-woo's newfound girlfriend. After she passes out yet again, Gyeon woo looks at her blissful face and promises to himself that he will save her, and right whatever it is that troubles her. This proves to be much more of a challenge than he expects.

Starring:

Tae-hyeon Cha as Gyeon-woo
Ji-hyeon Jeon as The Girl (name is never mentioned in the film)

Rating: 8/10

Personal Note:
"My Sassy Girl" is a not-to-be-missed Korean movie of all time (at least that's what most of the reviews I've read about says, hehe!)

DAISY: FAVOURITE KOREAN MOVIE

2007-06-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Language: Korean

Subtitle: English (Hard-subbed)

Release Date: 2006

Genre: Melodrama / Romance

Synopsis:

Artist Hye-Young (Jeon Ji-Hyeon), a rather naïve Korean girl who lives in Amsterdam, spends her life working in her grandfather's antique shop and doing portraits for tourists. One day, she begins receiving flowers at exactly the same time from a secret admirer, who she believes to be a mystery man from her past who once built her a nice little bridge. One day she meets Jeong-Woo (Lee Seong-Jae), who unbeknownst to her is actually an Interpol agent tracking Asian criminals in the Netherlands.

With Hye-Young assuming that Jeong-Woo is responsible for the flowers, the two fall very slowly into a chaste romantic relationship. However, it turns out that the man sending the flowers is actually Park-Yi (Jeong Woo-Seong), an assassin working for a Chinese crime syndicate.

Two men’s fate cross over each other through one woman, but the hardest decision is yet to be made when Park-Yi receives a picture of Jeong-woo who is his next hit.

Cast:

Jeon-Ji-Hyeon as Hye-Young
Jeong Woo-Seong as Park-Yi
Lee Seong-Jae as Jeong-Woo

Personal note: It is a rather slow paced movie - almost dragging. But it is dragging you along and the last few minutes of the movie more than makes up to you. Everyone should watch the movie and be thankful for their lives!

A Zomi Couple in traditional dress

2007-06-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

Khuado Pawi Post Card: Miss Zolia 2005 Winners

2007-04-26T23:57:00.000-07:00

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder!

Anjolina Jolie with Chin Refugees in New Delhi

2007-04-26T23:54:00.000-07:00

Anjolina Jolie meeting Chin refugees in New Delhi while on a shooting schedule with beau Brat Pitt and her sons.

She is currently the ambasador for UNHCR.

A Tribute: Rev. Khup Za Go

2007-04-26T00:19:00.000-07:00

Lyan said...

I wrote this a year ago and I was looking for the right place to put it up. I hope you won’t decline, it’s all yours now.

Topa aw, khat veivei Na vaihawm zia tel thei kei ung,

Ka it pen leh ka ngaihpen te uh Nong lakkhiat sak zel hi.

Ahih hang na khempeuh a bawl Pa na hih lam tel ung,

Na khempeuh Nang deihna bang hi cih zong ka tel uhi.

Nuam ung, Topa aw, Sia Khup nong piak man in,

Nuam ung, Sia aw, kote lakah nong om man in,

Nang’ vang a ka luahsa uh thuphate na simsim ung,

Ka sinlung uh ah hong ngilhngei kei nung.

Na it na Pawlpite Sian anglai nong heisan zong,

Ma lobang nong patpihsa na sulnung na zom zel nung,

Na it na tuunote tawh tong ki sang thei nonlo zong,

Na gen, sak leh at sa Siansinthu na nuntak pih nung.

Sianmang maituah in na thamante na saan tak teh,

Lungdamna luankhi nul in naubang na kah kul non ken teh,

Suplawh liang a Ana na sepsak i Topa mai ah,

Na seploh om kei, kisuan na ding bangmah nei kei teh.

Lyan Samte

Note: this was a comment posted by Lyan Samte.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles .........

2007-04-18T23:18:00.001-07:00

A writer needs three things, experience, observation, and imagination, any two of which, at times any one of which, can supply the lack of the others.
--William Faulkner

There are three rules for writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.
--William Somerset Maugham

I have always had this urge to write. To write something that entertains, provoke or flirts with the accepted line of thoughts! It has been some time now since I (like millions of others) have starting having my own blog. But have I managed to write anything that is readable? May be. May be not. So what else have I got to do to come "of age"?

Well since I have had experience with writing more often bad than good I guess I still lack observations and imagination as William Faulkner puts it.

Having read some very good blogs and books I always admired writers who keep me engrossed in their books or blogs for so long (sometimes 4-5 hours at a stretch)? So what else do I need? Is it my lack of ideas - good or bad? Is it just that I am still frightened and overwhelmed by the monstrous undertaking that is writing.

So to get over the fright I have penned this down. It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step right?! Right!
Now there it is! My first real go at writing??

Are you in the habit of reading online? If you are reading novels Arthur Conan Doyle and William Shakespear click here and enjoy!

4:25 pm 12th April 2007

Bye For Now!

2007-04-10T01:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it is hard to define one's feelings।

Just the other day we invited a family friend over to attend the Good Friday service and have lunch with us after that।She came to India some seven years ago escaping from the clutches of the military rulers of Myanmar (Burma) to seek asylum। She and many like her are in Delhi hoping one day to be transferred to countries like UK, US, Canada and Australia where they hope to build their lives all over again. Where they believe they can make a new start and build back their lives from scratch. Having spent some years in India under the aegis of UNO she became a refugee and thus given some kind of stipend to make ends meet. She told me this is not enough. It is also doubted that they are getting the whole amount due to them.

As we were having our lunch we reminscened the day I dropped them off at Guwahati Railway station to their uncertain life ahead। Now that she has been assigned to go to Australia she was upbeat and even enthusiatic about her new life ahead. We were also happy for her but at the same time one wonders if this should be an occasion to celebrate or be extremely unhappy about it. On the one hand she may be able to live a normal life which is not possible in her home town in Chin State nor in New Delhi where she is virtually an unknown face, an alien. She had, must have, undergone some very traumatic experiences here in New Delhi where the local people are not known for their empathy for outsiders. Yes we are happy for her to that extent that she can now do whatever she wants, go to college or start working and somehow live a better life. The whole experience of being displaced again was never an issue for her or others who have been transferred from one country to another। They prefferred some foreign country to their own home.

Why would anybody want to live in some foreign country? It must be sheer desperation and hopelessness that drove thousands like her away from their own country and start from scratch.

My sympathy to all those who are misplaced, displaced and disowned by their own country and hopefully one day there will come an opportunity to go back home। I also hope the elements that make people run away from their own homes be wipe out from the face of the earth and punished for their sins.

Someday she will invite us to her home and it won't be Australia or Canada or US but home where we all love and where our loved ones are. Where we live and build our own society with peace and harmony, where we practice our own religion and be a part of the government that provides for us and protects us from foreign forces. A home to die for and most importantly a home to live for.

Ka Pa’ Hong Nusiat Kum Nih Cingta

2007-04-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

Zomi i cih ciangin, Zo ngeina limtak lenin, puahin kipsak hi.
Zolai bulbawlin mainawt sak hi.
Zogam itin khual hi.
Zola phuakin sa hi.
Zomin phuakin, Zopuan silh in kizem hi.
Zonik tengin kalsuan hi.
Zo kumthak bawl in Khuado hi.

- Rev Khup Za Go (Courtesy: Chin Students Association Golden Jubilee Souvenir 2006, Lamka)

Dahna sungpan lungdamna

Amasa in tuni ciang hong kem,hong huai i biak Pasian’ tungah lungdamna thu ko Rev Khup Za Go’ innkuan te in ka ko uh hi.
9th April 2005 ni in ka pa in moto accident in hong nusiat vat ciangin dahna tawh ka kidim uh hi. Tua laitak, kei leh ka nau in sep leh bawl kician zong nei lo ka hihmanun bang ci nek zon ding, bang tawh kivak ding cih pen ka lungkhamna mahmah khat uh hia, u-le-nau, pi-le-pu, veng-le-paam, pawlpi mite in zong hong ngaihsutna thu khat mah ahihi.

Tua hinapi in, tagahte, meigongte a kem i Pasian in tuni ciang dong khat vei beek ann hong ngawl sak lo a, giah na ding inn hong pia lai a, silh ding ten ding hong guan a, hong it ding hong ngai ding veng-le-paam, pawlpi mite leh makai cing mahmahte hong pia lai cih ka theih manin lamdang sa in lungdamthu ka gen cim kei hi.

“Na thuphate sim dih in;
Khat khit khat ngaihsun dih ve!”

Ka pa’ hong nusiat ciangin kivak bang sepna ka zonloh phamawh a hihmanin ka sangkahna ka khawlsan phot hi. Lamdang takin khakhat zong bei manlo phial in sepna ka zong leh ka mu pah mawk hi. Transcription company Standard Data Pvt Ltd kici khat hia, Zomi tampi in ki sem a nuam mahmah hi. Tuni dong hih company mah ah ka sem lai hi. Kum nihpha nailo napiin “promotion” khatvei leh “increment” nihvei –yearly increment simloh – ka ngah man hi. Pasian in tagahte leh meigongte kem in hong cing takpi hi cih kit el mahmah hi.

August 23, 2006 in ka pa’ hansuang honna Lamka-ah Chin Baptist Association makaihna tawh ka va nei thei uh a, ka lungkim tuam mahmah hi. (NB: Ka pa’ luang ka va zui kei hi; ka nu leh ka nau ni zui hi.). Tua ni in Lamka sung pawlpi mite’ hong itna leh hong deihsaknate a hizong Zomi muntuamtuam a omte tungah lungdamthu genna mipi maiah ka nei thei a ka lungdam hi.

Hih bang ciang ah ko innkuan, bangmah siamna leh pilna neilote, neih-le-lam bangmah a nei zolote, ka nuntak theih na uh pen, hong kem i biak Pasian leh Zomite hang bek mah ahihlam ka tel mahmah hi.

Lungdam!

New Delhi Khuapi sung ah ka pawlpi uh Zomi Christian Fellowship in ka pa’ hong nusiat nung nangawn in financial support hong pia lia uh a, ka lungdamna lian mahmah hi. Siate leh makaite in hong veh in thu hong ngetsak ngitnget uhi.

Siatvehna hong piak ban uah Leivui Panin hong zuaksak Rev Chin Do Kham (Tulsa, US), Rev GK Nang (Pasadena, US), Pa Ngo Cin Thawng Suantak (Washington DC, US), Pa Pum Za Chin (Norway), Rev Tuan Za Mung (Singapore) leh internet ah hong zuaksak www.zomistore.com neipa Paul Khaipite tungah lungdamthu ka puak hi.

Ko innkuan hong it tawntung, hong veh zo den Pa MC Dal Thang, Zo Chronicles vai leh case vai hong huh tawntung Pa Kam Khan Siing, Tg Dr Lam Khan Piang, Tg Kham Khan Suan, Pa Thang Za Lun leh midang tampi tak in ka kisap bang un sum leh pai ahizong tha-le-ngal tawh hong huh tawntungte tung ah i biak Pasian in thupha a tam sem hong piak na ding ka thungetna ahihi.

Ka pa’ han ciamtehna mualsuang hong bawlsak hong vaihawm sak ka u Pa Nang Sian Paute nupa tung ah ka lungdam mahmah hi.

"Rev. Khup Za Go Tangthu" ci a ama tangthu kimtak a hong kaihkhawm sak a, laibu no a hong bawlsak Dr. S. Neng Ngaih Lian tungah lungdam thu ka pulak hi. Ka pa laibu sungah a kigelh lo ama tangthu leh naupang lai thute a kimzaw in hong guangsak ahih manin ka pa tangthu a thei nuam a om khak leh tampi pha tuam dingin ahih manin ka lungdam hi.

"Rev. Khup Za Go Tangthu" sungah pa phawkna thu tuamtuam hong gelhsak, hong phawksak - Rev. Dr. Enn Za Sian; G. Swan Za Lian, Chairman, ZCF, Delhi; Rev. Job Thawngno, Associate Pastor, Tahan Baptist Church; Rev. GK Nang; Upa Nok Suan Lian; H. Kham Khan Suan; Hau Za Cin; Rev. Dr. JM Ngul Khan Pau; Rev. Suan Khan Thang te tungah lungdam thu ka puak hi.

Pa phawkna la phuak hong khak: Pa Gin Za Khual, New Lamka; Pa Suak Khaw Gin, Aizawl; Ni Hau Zen, New Lamka; Ni Dim Khaw Luan, Budiman; Pa S. Neng Za Thang, New Lamka te tungah zong lungdam thu ka pulak hi.
Zomi Christian Literature Society, Kalaymyo pan Rev. Suan Khen Mung, Executive Secretary in Dahpihna leh sigalna sum hong khak uh ahih manin hong phawkna uh hong itna uh hangin lungdam ung. Zomi Christian Literature Society India in zong pahtawina laidal hong pia uha tuamah bang in Zomi Baptist Churches, Champhai, Mizoram pan zong ka ngah uhi.

Zomi National Congress min tawh President, Pu Cin Sian Thang in zong dahpihna, thuakpihna lai hong khak hi.

"KA LAIKUNG PANIN" cih laibu ah pa phawkna hong neih sak laigelhpa ka u Dr Hau Za Cin tung leh Zo Aw Publications Director Dr Neng Ngaih Lian tungah zong ka lungdam hi.

Ka gelhkhak loh tampi zong omlai cih zong ka thei a na vek ua tungah lungdam mahmah ing. Zomite kiitna a manphatna leh a taangzai zia ka tel mahmah hi.

Pasian in Ama kiangah om dingin ka pa uh Rev. Khup Za Go, Pastor, Zomi Christian Fellowship, Delhi hong laksak zawh tuni in kum nih tak cingta hinapiin , hong nusia ngeilo vanglian Pasian in hong ompih a, innsungah PA mun hong luah in hong kem, hong khawi, hong khamuan a, zingvai hong hawmsak hi. Tua manin tuni ciang kitung hi. Mailam zong hong gualzawhpih ding hi cih ka lamen hi.

New Delhi
9th April 2007.

Zogam Aw Na Mite'n Hong Taisan Maw!

2007-03-07T05:40:00.000-08:00

Zomi Refugees in Delhi

7th March 2007: Due to the political and economic condition of Myanmar hundreds of Chins (Zomi) have been displaced and are seeking refuge in countries like India, Malaysia, US, UK, Australia, Thailand and few other countries willing to take rehabilitate them.

The fortunate ones get rehabilitated in developed countries like US, UK, Australia, Canada, etc while the unfortunate ones are waiting for their chance to go to these countries by seeking refugee status in countries like India, Malaysia etc. While country like India should have been more sympathetic and understanding of the situations of such refugees it is not always the case.

Hundreds are stranded in India waiting for that golden opportunity to fly across the ocean to the land of "milk and honey" as US of A is known amongst them. They lived in tiny rooms infested with rats and mosquitoes and harassed by their landlords. They have no proper guidance or someone to give them advice.

Worst of all is the total lack of interest or empathy by other Zomis who also live in Delhi and are relatively well connected and well off financially.Strangely enough no Zomi from other countries like US and UK who are more fortunate, have no time for their brothers and sisters in India struggling to make ends meet in a strange and sometimes hostile environment.

Ode to Zogam
Lonely and alone you wail and wail!
Alas! All in vain!

Why have you forsaken me?
Where have you all gone?

Alas! You just have to let us be
Let me tell you I am not alone
In saying "Zogam you have been forsaken by your own!"

Military authorities to rework Jatropha project in Chin State

2007-02-27T21:49:00.000-08:00

24 February 2007 (Khonumthung News): With Jatropha projects failing over the last three years, the military authorities in Myanmar are adopting new methods to replace scientifically nursed Jatropha plants with ones that grow naturally in Chin state.

A move to replace scientifically nursed Jatropha with the home grown variety came into effect following a survey in Hakha, Falam, ThanTlang and Tidim Townships in the first week of January by the agriculture department. The survey supervised by the northwestern commander revealed that scientific bio-diesel plants were not suitable in the soil and climate condition in Chin state.

Locals in Than Tlang and Hakha townships had already slashed the trees on the hillside where home grown Jatropha seeds are to be sowed next monsoon. But there will be a charge for these seeds provided to civilians, said a source in Hakha town.

“We don’t know what kind of natural seed will be distributed by the government. We have to follow what they say as we are afraid of flouting the order,” a source in Hakha said.

Meanwhile, U Lai Too, Chairman of the Township Development and Peace Council (TDPC) in Than Tlang Township has started collecting money (Kyat 4,000 per household) from the people in Than Tlang area for substituting Jatropha plants. The same is likely to be followed in Falam and Hakha Township soon.

Some villagers from Than Tlang Township had already given money to village heads in their respective villages. The money collected has been sent to the TPDC office in Than Tlang town in the last week of this month.

The people are wondering when and where they will receive the seeds and the kind of seed it will be. Some are still doubting whether they will receive the seed they received previously, according to source in Than Tlang.

Jatropha trees are usually grown in tropical regions and it can be harvested after two years. Three kilograms of seeds can produce one kilogram of crude oil and 1.05 kilograms of crude oil can in turn produce one kilogram of diesel.

Recently, the authorities in Chin state issued instructions not to cultivate Jatropha in public places for it could harm humans and animals as well as it destroy soil fertilizer.

Zogam Aw Na Mite'n Hong Taisan Maw!

2007-02-25T02:28:00.000-08:00

Oppression in Chin state force people to abandon homeland

21 February 2007 (Khonumthung News): About 50,000 Chin people have abandoned their homeland and taken refuge in foreign countries in the past year to escape unabated oppression by a brutal military regime in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
The army is still forcing people from Chin state to work on road and army camp construction, carrying army rations without paying them and confiscating land in Chin state. As a result, people started to flee their homeland, said a source from the government department in Chin state.
Besides, the economic crisis a result of mismanagement by the military rulers have made people struggle for their livelihood. This has also contributed to their leaving Chin state.
A survey in 2006 showed the population of Chin state to be around 538,000. But the figure in Chin state has come down to 479,000, according to records in January 2007.
A government employees from Hakha Township, capital of Chin state said that the percentage of people who have died is marginal in the record. The figures show that most have migrated to foreign countries and other states in Burma.
“There are no other options for a career except farming in Chin state. Now, forced labour and recruitment of child soldiers is the main occupation of Chin people. In a condition like this nobody wants to stay in Chin state,” he added.
Sources from Chin state stressed that educated persons are not able to get a good job while relatives of military personnel get privileges and well paid jobs.
“There is no development at all in Chin state,” he added.
Chin people, on a daily basis, are facing not only forced labour but also extortion and have to pay high taxes for house construction and agricultural production.
Chin people who left their homeland due to oppression by the junta are taking shelter in neighboring countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia and have been resettled to third countries like USA, Canada, Australia, Sweden, and Denmark among others under UNHCR’s resettlement programme.
After the military regime grabbed power in 1988, the junta began a crack down on Chin pro-democracy activists and expanded military presence in Chin state resulting in forced labour and human rights abuses.

Zogam aw na mite'n hong taisan maw!

2007-02-17T20:53:00.000-08:00

Kawlgam tawh gamgi kikop India leitung ah democracy lianpen a kigen hi a, India zong a kiliatsakna khat hi. Ahihhang in Kawlgam political situation/governance tawh kisai India in kiliatsak na'ng leh phakisak nang om ka sa kei hi.

Kawlgam gam lianlo khat a kiangah haksatna leh gentheihna a tuak lam thei napi in tudong amah tawh kituak bangmah sep nei in ka thei kei hi. Bang hang hi ding hiam?

Kawlgam government pen Sen companyte/government in uk hi ci leng ki khial lawmlawm in um lo hing. Tua manin India in Sente a lauh manin bangmah sem lo hi zaw hiam?

Inspite of its own problems if there is a country which can help or change the situation in Burma, India is the best for that role. If India is to be a major power in Asia, if not the world, it is time it stands up for its principles and do what needs be done in Burma.

After all this time trying the diplomatic, the appeasement and trading relationship routes which hardly does anything good for the common people, or for the country's condition for that matter, it is time now for India or the US for that matter to keep the military option open so that the powers that be in Burma realise their predicament and free their common people from the chains that bind them.

Burma with the kind of record it has in terms of human rights abuse, restriction of its own people in every way possible and the negligence of its dictators as to their economy and educational systems and development work shoudl be dealt with the only language it understands - the gun power.

In so doing, India will prove to the world the influence it has, the determination and will power it has to become a power to reakon with in today's world.

Zogam aw na mite'n hong taisan maw!!

2007-02-17T03:57:00.000-08:00

Zomite' lakah tunai a lasiam leh music siam minthang Thawn Kham in "Zogam na mite'n hong taisan maw??!!" cih a sak ngeungeu ciang in dik kisa, maan kisa mahmah hi.

Zomite koi ah om khin i hiam? Sum-le-pai, pilna siamna zong in gamdang mun tuamtuam i tung tek hi. I gam i lei kuan na kem, na dawn ding hiam?

Nulepa thahat nawnlo teng bek maw i Zogam i it mahmah cing ding kem ding in i koih ding? Bang ngaihsutna nei i hiam? Inn ngaka omte zong a lungsim uh pen Zogam ah om tuanlo hi leh kilawm hi.

Kawlte (Burmese) leh Sente (Chinese) i tenna i gam hauhna la (ding) in company lianpipi tawh hong lut uh hi lo hiam?

Ei a theilo ki pang ding maw!?

A Phawklo kipang lai ding i hiam???

Zogam na mite'n hong taisan zo ta hi!!!

Zo Videos - II

2007-02-17T03:37:00.000-08:00

The Blue Corns

ZO Videos

2007-02-17T03:19:00.000-08:00

1. Khatna

2. Nihna

3. Thumna

4. Lina

Liapianism

2007-02-17T02:03:00.000-08:00

Preview of Zo Chronicles by the Late Rev. Khup Za Go

THE PAU CIN HAU MOVEMENT IN THE CHIN HILLS

This movement originated about the beginning of the present century but there is no mention of it in the 1911 or 1921 Census Reports. Pau Cin Hau is a Sukte Chin about 60 years of age and now lives at Mualbem, a village not far from Tiddim in the Chin Hills. The origin of the movement is best described in Pau Cin Hau’s own words:
“From the year 1888 to 1902 I suffered from a long and severe illness”.
“From the year 1900 onward in dreams and visions I received a series of communication which I hold to be divine and are the foundations both of my alphabet and my religious teaching”.
“The first of these was in 1900 when in my dream I saw a twisted rope suspended between the heaven and the earth. Many people were trying to climb it but no one was successful. I knelt in prayer and ascended the rope as far as the thirtieth heaven, then descended to the earth and still by means of the rope, which had penetrated the ground, descended deep into the heart of the earth.”
“A year later I heard the voice of God calling me by name and commanding me to look forward to the future when many mysterious things would occur. I saw visions of railway trains, steamships and other Western inventions although I had never been away from the hills and had no knowledge that of stone-clad horses and horsemen. There were English, Indian and many unknown nations engaged in the struggle. I saw amongst other things the unknown nations falling dead and disappearing from view while my own people who were with me, though still alive were left covering in the valleys between the hills, covered with dust and rubbish. I tried to cover my face with my hands but in spite of myself I had to continue gazing into a mirror held by an Englishman so that the vision remained in my mind’s eye for three days and three nights”.
“In 1902 I had another dream. In this dream I saw an Englishman who appeared to me to be divine. He wanted me to learn lessons, taught by means of stones in the shape of letters, which put together formed a book. I tried to learn the same and eventually succeeded and my eyes then opened.”
“When I got up from sleep my passion for learning and teaching the symbols and sounds of the alphabet was so great that I could not sleep either day or night until I had written them out on paper. Though the Deputy Commissioner of the Chin Hills advised me to have my invention printed I was not satisfied with it and revised it more than once — the third and last revision being carried out in 1931”.
“As above stated, during the period of these visions I was still suffering from severe illness which was not cured during the year when I had seen the letters. In the following year, however, in another vision I saw many races of people flocking together in a huge plain. Then there appeared a being who came riding the sun as a horse, the bridle and other trappings of which glittered like gold. Then I shouted ‘Behold and obey the order of God’ and while all bowed themselves to the earth he called me by name twice in succession ‘Pau Cin Hau, Pau Cin Hau, will you worship me?’ I said ‘who are you?’ and he replied, ‘The Lord who made heaven and earth, men and animals, the sun, the moon and the stars and who as power to cure all sickness”.
“I had faith in him and in a moment was cured from my illness of fifteen years. During those years for the cure of that illness I had paid the sum of Rs. 400 in making sacrifices of various kinds of animals to the nats or demons. The cure of God was complete and cost nothing”.
“I stood alone in my faith for three years during which time the members of my own family, even, reviled instead of encouraging me gradually as my neighbours and even my people from distant villages saw me still enjoying sound health my religion began to spread until after six years people from all parts of the hills became my fellow worshippers”.
“Our Chin ancestors worshipped various kinds of Nats such as House Nat, Forest Nat, Water Nat, etc. altogether fifty-four in number. Those who have believed and wished to enter my religion came from far distant villages and invited me to visit them. Together with a little band of disciples I made it my custom to accept their invitation and on entering a house or village after praying to God would destroy completely the articles used making sacrifices to the Nats and whereas sufferers had previously, like myself, had to pay large sums for such sacrifices our only charge was a nominal sum to cover travelling expenses. Sometimes it seemed as though some of my more hasty or unintelligent followers were themselves possessed by demons after such visits but after praying to God they speedily became normal again”.
“Further some of my followers, either through reluctance to destroy completely ancestral customs or through fear of especially powerful nats, have retained in part their nat worship. I have declared that this was not the will of God and many, like myself, are now entirely freed from such practices”.
“One wholesome effect of my teaching is that where formerly many who had nothing went into debt to obtain sacrificial offerings and so could neither afford to buy food nor pay their taxes, my followers being free from such expenses are in much better circumstances”.
“Among other results I should mention that the old custom of the Chins of retaining a corpse in the house for many days, until it stank and bred corruption and disease, has now been abolished amongst the villages which accept my teaching”.
“Another old custom of the Chins was that of attempting to discover the particular nat which caused an illness by feeling the pulse or reading the countenance of the sick person. The nat, when discovered, was propitiated and petitioned. We now pray to the One God.”
“Again according to Chin belief the soul of a man may leave his body and as it wonders afar be seized one by one of the numerous nats resulting in illness or death of the owner. To make the spirit return to its home it was necessary to sacrifice an animal. We retain no such belief. A particular difficult disease to deal with was supposed to be caused by the injection of a foreign substance into the body through sorcery or witchcraft and in this case it was considered necessary to make a compound of turmeric and other roots, ground and steeped in water, to be drunk as a libation while calling upon the name of the king of nats. We, ourselves call upon the name of God..”
“Amongst all the festivals observed by our Chin forefathers we have retained but one, the Festival of the separation of the Years (New Year Festival). It is now, however, called the Festival of God and each year after the completion of the merrymaking we meet in church and offer prayers to God”.
“Amongst all the festivals observed by our Chin fore-fathers we have retained but one, the Festival of the Separation of the Years (New Year Festival). It is now, however, called the Festival of God and each year after the completion of the merrymaking we meet in church and offer prayers to God.”
“As regards the organization of my religion— as I am myself unable to go to every village into which the religion has entered I have appointed an elder connected with the religion in each village. Further, not long after the birth of this religion certain prophets termed either ‘seers’ or ‘interpreters of the word of God’ arose, some of who were able to show wonderful and miraculous doings. Others, alas, have gone astray and are opposing the simple faith”.
“Given under the hand of Prophet Pau Cin Hau at Mualbem, on the 25th May 1932”.
The following information regarding the religion has been furnished by the Assistant Superintendent, Tiddim sub-division, Chin Hills district: -
“Any household wishing to adopt this religion has to pay Rs. 3 as initiation fees. This money is not taken by Pau Cin Hau but is eaten by the person who converts the household. No other payment is made. On New Year’s Day, English calender, a collection is made in his churches. This money is spent on a big feast. Drinking in moderation is not observed by any of the followers, nor is it observed by Pau Cin Hau himself”.
“In the churches are kept earthenware pots. People who are ill go and pray into these pots and ask for divine help. If the person is unable to go as far as the churches he may do so in his house, or some other person may do so on his or her behalf. The spirit addressed is called ‘Pasian’. This is the Chin word for ‘God’. During service in the church a glass of zu is handed round to those present which is said to be the outward sign of thanks to God for the food and drink given”.
“The religion has many amusing parts in it. There are men known as ‘Pa-lik-thas’ (policemen), who also go by the name of ‘Khutdompas’ (men who feel the pulse). These men sport a uniform in the shape of a red headdress. These ‘Pa-lik-thas’ were introduced into the religion, because as all had characters are said to shun the police, so in the same way all evil spirits will shun the sick person, or the society of any person as long as there is a ‘Pa-lik-tha’, so long as he is in uniform, but as soon as the ‘Pa-lik-tha’ removes his red head dress and adorn a white one he is liable to attack at any moment as the nat is no respecter of persons who are not in uniform”.
“The Pa-lik-tha’ number from 3 to 6 per village. There are also commissioned officers amongst them. These men are known as ‘Bu-te’ (meaning an inspector, Jemadar, or Subedar). Whenever a person falls ill the ordinary policeman is sent for. Should his prayers and presence cause no relief, the next highest in rank is called in and so on until the patient recovers or dies. There are quite a number of patients who suffer in silence until the pain they bear becomes unbearable and these men, some very intelligent, will tell one that directly they utter the words ‘Pa-lik-tha sam in’ (call the commissioned officers) their disease or the pains would leave them”
Apparently Pau Cin Hau himself does not favour nat sacrifices but he admits that some of his followers still carry them out. According to the Deputy Commissioner, Chin Hills district, drinking is not forbidden by the Pau Cin Hau rules nor is there anything specially laid down in regard to drinking to excess. Presumably Pau Cin Hau realises that it is too much to expect his followers to give up their former customs entirely. He himself drinks and has admitted that he may occasionally get drunk. The Christian Mission working in the Chin Hills is the American Baptist Mission and it is presumably this liking for alcoholic liquor, which prevents them from being accepted as Christians.
Unfortunately, when the census was taken, the Census Superintendent was not aware of the existence of this movement and the followers of Pau Cin Hau were all recorded in the enumeration schedules as Animists. The Deputy Commissioner of the Chin Hills district has estimated the number of followers in his district at 35,700(26,000 in Tiddim sub-division and 9,000 in Falam subdivision) but there are also followers on the other side of the frontier.

A copy of the script mentioned by Pau Cin Hau will be found in Chapter X.

The Pau Cin Hau Script — in paragraph 135 of Chapter XI an account is given of the Pau Cin Hau movement in the Chin Hills. Reference is made there to certain Chin characters, which were revealed to Pau Cin Hau in one of his dreams. Copies of the original characters are not available but apparently they were very numerous. The characters were revised, the third and the last revision being carried out in 1931. The new alphabet consists of 21 consonants. The first page of the Spelling Book together with the corresponding Roman version is printed on page 195. It will be noticed that there are tones. It is maintained that the Chin sounds can be properly represented in these new characters but not in the Roman character. “The Sermon on the Mount” in St. Matthew has already been printed in this character. In this work of translation Pau Cin Hau is helped by a vernacular teacher named Thang Cin Kham who lives in Tonzang village near Tiddim and who knows Burmese. The whole of St. Matthew is being translated and in May 1932 the first eight chapters had already been completed. For the purpose of translation, the Burmese version of St. Matthew is used and also a Chin version (in the Roman character), which was done by Mr. Cope, the American Baptist Missionary in the Chin Hills. This version in the Roman character is also given in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ referred to above. No information is available as to the number of persons who can read the script.

Source: Census of India 1931, pt. I, Chapter XI, para.135 pp.217-218, Chapter X, Para 120 pp.194-195.

The Pau Chin Hau Script

In paragraph 135 of Chapter XI an account is given of the Pau Chin Hau movement in the Chin Hills. Reference is made there to certain Chin characters which were revealed to Pau Chin Hau in one of his dreams. Copies of the original characters are not available but apparently they were very numerous. The characters were revised, the third and last revision being carried out in 1931. The new alphabet consists of 21 consonants. The first page of the Spelling Book together with the corresponding Roman Version is printed on page 195. It will be noticed that there are tones. It is maintained that the Chin sounds can be properly represented in these new characters but not in the Roman character. “The Sermon on the Mount” in St. Matthew has already been printed in this character. In this work of translation Pau Chin Hau is helped by a vernacular school teacher named Than Chin Kham who lives in Tonzan Village near Tiddim and who knows Burmese. The whole of St. Matthew is being translated and in May 1932 the first eight chapters had already been completed. For the purpose of translation, the Burmese version of St. Matthew is used and also a Chin version (in the Roman character), which was done by Mr. Cope, the American Baptist Missionary in the Chin Hills: this version in the Roman character is also given in “The Sermon on the Mount” referred to above. No information is available as to the number of persons who can read the script.

Source: J.J. Bennison, “Pau Chin Hau Script”, Census of India, 1933, Part I, Chapter X, p. 194-195.

Zo Minam Ni Bangzah veina??!!!

2007-02-07T03:53:00.000-08:00

1948 February 18-22 sung-in Falam-ah Zomi National Conference om-a, Zogam-ah mipi ki-ukna zat ding thu, February 20 ni-in, Pu Thang Za Kai (Tuithang, Tedim) in thu sung-in, Pu Chun Mang (Lailun, Falam) leh Pu Thang Maung (Kanpetlet) in thukimpih uh hi. (Hih minte leh malgawmte pen Pu Khup Khan Thang' ciapteh bang, ahi hi.)

Tua ni (1948 February 20) pen Zomi National Day a masa-peen (a khat veina) hi leh, 1949 February 20 pen a nih veina (2nd time) hi ding-a kum khat cin'na (1st anniversary) hi ding hi. 1950 February 20 pen a thum veina (3rd time) hi ding-a kum nih cin'na (2nd anniversary) hi ding hi.

Tua ahih man-in 2005 February 20 pen Zomi National Day 58 veina (58th time) hi ding-a kum 57 cin'na (57th anniversary) hi ding hi.

U Zahre Lian in Chin Affairs Minister a sep sung-in, kum khat hiam, kum nih hiam khat Zomi National Day bawl lo hi, ci-in za ngei ing. Tua pen a maan leh, 2005 February pen 58 veina hi lo-in 57 veina ahih kei leh 56 veina hi ding hi.

Bang kum hiam khat-a kipan-in, Kawlgam-ah Zomi National Day kibawl nawn lo-in Zomi State Day kibawl hi. Zomi National Day a kibawl loh zawh kum 25 phial pha ta ding hi (1980 khawng khat pan 2005 ciang). Tua ahih man-in 2005 February 20 pen Zomi National Day pen 33 veina hi mai thei hi (58 vei pan-in 25 vei dok leeng). U Zahre Lian hun lai-a a kibawl loh pen khat vei-in tuat leeng, 2005 February 20 pen Zomi National Day 32 veina hi thei ding hi.

A kum leeuleeu pen, Zomi National Day ih bawl leh ih bawl loh tawh kisai lo-in, a kum a pai toto hi lel ahih man-in, 2005 February 20 pen kum 57 cin'na hi ding hi. (Tu kum-in, kum 35 a pha na hih-a, na suah ni-in pawi na bawl pen 7 vei ahih leh, 7 veina suah ni pawi hi ding-a, na kum bel 35 mah hi veve ding hi.)

2005 February 20 pen Zomi National Day 57 veina (57th time) hi lo-in, kum 58 cin'na (58th anniversary) hi lo hi.

zomikhangthakgroupscopyright.

A Child is a Father to a Man!

2007-01-31T19:15:00.000-08:00

It was the darkest period of my young life. It all began with my father complaining of dizziness and a tingling feeling in his legs and hands. We were not ready for such a diagnosis as was shown to us the next day. After seeing that there is no improvement in his condition we went to Charak Palika Hospital in Moti Bagh. There a doctor friend of my father made the first preliminary examination. He must have immediately noted that this was not a case of routine illnesses. He sent us for a further tests of x-rays, blood tests, ultra sound, etcetera. Even then my father had to be wheel-chaired by me as his legs were becoming paralyzed.

My father was diagnosed with GB syndrome. GB syndrome is an acquired disease of the peripheral nerves that is characterized clinically by rapidly progressing paralysis, areflexia, and albumino-cytological dissociation in cerebrospinal fluid. It is autoimmune in nature and affects both sexes; in the post polio era it is the most common cause of an acute generalized paralysis. In short it could paralyse my father in a few days. And that was what happened.

As the day came to pass we realised that this was not a minor routine case it must be something serious or else we would have been home. On top of that the doctors wouldn’t tell us the whole story. After a few days at the hospital my father’s condition became worse; he could hardly lift his hands, his legs and eventually his voice inaudicle.

Even when all these were happening my father would be the one to tell us that in a few days he would be fine. We would go home and live our normal lives. Oh! What a luxury a normal life really is!

After almost 10 days at Charak Palika , his condition became desparate and so my father was transferred to Safdarjung Hospital. By that time we had our comfortable, if that was possible under the circumstances, routine whereby one of my cousins would be at home cooking and looking after the house while I and my mother would always stayed with my father (he would not let my mother go home even for a few hours for bathing, etc). A friend or another cousin brought the lunch or dinner at the hospital and took back the boxes home.

Most of my time in hospital was spent looking after my father's needs and wants. Meeting friends and wellwishers from every walk of life who took the time to come by and visit us. There were calls from all over the country and also from my father's numerous friends in US, Europe and South-Asia and Australia.

The doctors were not very optimistic of my father's condition - he by now found breathing very difficult. At night we would listen if he was at all breathing. The doctors gave my father only six months to live!

But miracalously after the doctors started using an injection, which would have cost us over 1.5 lakh had it not been for the help we got from a nurse who basically helped us in everyway possible, my father improved over the course of the injection and was discharged within 14 days!

Unfortunately though, within a few months after he was discharged, one morning while going to the bank my father was ran over by a motorbike and died around 1:15 pm. Thus my childhood ended around that fateful day in April 2005.

Word Peddler

2007-01-30T08:04:00.000-08:00

Hi!

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Based in New Delhi, India. I'm interested in in anything to do with websites and blogs even though I'm hardly an expert on those subjects!

Welcome and please feel free to teach me a thing or two about web designing and the like!

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