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Editor's Desk

We need more "World Hello" days

It was 2:24pm on 23rd November 2010, the residents of the South Korea's Yeonpyeong island were running for a cover from an artillery attack from North Korea. Several houses were set on fire and a number of civilians and troops were injured. North Korea was later reported to have fired at least 50 shells and South Korea retaliated with 60 shells. There are numerous theories floating around as a reason for this conflict. One of them claims that it symbolizes the leadership transfer occurring from Kim Jong II to his son Kim Jong-un. Another one claims this as a North Korean response to the military exercises conducted by South Korea near this island a week ago.

It is ironic that this happened two days after the "World Hello day" which is observed as a "Peace promotion day" on 21st November of every year. The World Hello day began in response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel in 1973. The goal of this day is to encourage the world leaders to use communication instead of force to settle a conflict. The goal is to emphasize the need for peace instead of a war. Since then, people around the world (around 180 countries) observe this day to send a "Hello" note at least to ten people in their network to promote communication and camradarie. This year marks the 38th Annivesary of World Hello day. This Korean conflict highlights the need for more Hello days to maintain peace on earth.

By the way, Did you say hello to your ten best friends?

On a lighter vein, Do you know who first used the word Hello? Some historians say it is Graham Bell while some claim it is Mark Twain. Many articles (including our article "Tale of Telephone") support the fact that Graham Bell did not use the word "Hello" when he first spoke into his prototype phone. It was Mark Twain who used the word Hello in his 1872 work called "Roughing". Today we have many ways of saying Hello in various languages. The "Oi" in the above cartoon means "Hi, Hello" in Portugese! We cover a few more in our brain tickler section.

In this issue, we have hand picked the contents around the "Hello" theme which we are confident you will enjoy.

• In the Brain-tickler category:
  • "Say Hello to the world!" Test your Hello skills in many languages.
• In the Health Topic section:
  • Are you aware of the health risks associated in using the cellphones? Read our article "Cellphone and Cancer - the debate goes on.."
  • How about Children? Can they use cell phones? Is it safe? Find your answers in the video picks "Children and Cellphones"
• In the English Song category:
  • We have some excellent song picks with Hello theme for you. Enjoy!
• In the Short Tale:
  • Read a short science related tale about telephones in "Tale of Telephone"
• In the Seriously Funny section:
  • Watch the funny video "Beware of what you are speaking and where you are speaking" to be aware. .
  • Read the humor, "Hello UFO"
• In the Surfboard section:
  • Read the thought "Say Hello to your best friends"
• In the Tamil Picks section:
  • Enjoy the collection of new and old songs on Hello theme. You will love our picks!
  • Read our Tamil poem pick "Hello Solluvom"
• Nuggets:
  • Enjoy our World Hello day humor and thoughts across the edition under the "Hello" category!
    • Main page - Talk is cheap!
    • Health - Long distance and Wrong Number, No problem!
    • Story page - Dinner? I will be right over ...
    • Seriously Funny - Wrong Number?
    • Surfboard - Hello, What is the time?
    • Reader's feeback - Where were you at the time of the accident!
    • Your feedback - You have a phone, right?
• Additional Bonus Videos:
  • Enjoy our additional bonus video picks on "Hello" theme, provided in the following sections.
    • Reader's Feedback - Phone Etiquette!
    • Your Feedback - Future Hello - 2010-2014

As always, we are very confident that you will enjoy our picks and we hope you will send a "hello" to us after reading this issue. Read, enjoy, share and write your feedback about this issue by clicking on the email icon. We value your opinions, thoughts and time.

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Talk is cheap!