They said it costs the environment great danger. We didnt listen. They now say its going to cost you money- we will listen, wont we?
For the first time ever, I felt happy paying for something which I didnt have to pay for so far. A medium size plastic bag costs Rs 2 henceforth and doesnt come free with your groceries at the department store. Though I had a desire to contribute to the cause of saying NO to plastics, I never stood by it strong. I went to the extent of placing an online order for a reusable cloth bag to carry for shopping but never bothered to followup when the online payment failed. Now I HAVE to
Is it human nature to ignore long term benefits against short term pleasures and convenience. Is it human nature to neglect unless something costs money. Seems to be so!
Please take a look at http://smallsteps.in/?q=models. Encourage your colleagues, friends and family to order these easy to carry cloth bags that can be used instead of plastic bags. This way you not only take that small step that can save the environment but also contribute to the well being of those who produce and distribute it. What more, it looks trendy too!
Educated and Literate we claim ourselves to be. Little more time on the website will help us see how arrogant we have been in contuinuosly contributing to the damage to the environment in every small way we can and pretending not to have known it . Time to wake up, face the fact, listen to, love and respect our Mother Earth. To wither or to Go Green is our choice now
Monday, August 15, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Bharathi - I adore you.
தேடிச் சோறுநிதந் தின்று - பலசின்னஞ் சிறுகதைகள் பேசி - மனம்வாடித் துன்பமிக உழன்று - பிறர்வாடப் பலசெயல்கள் செய்து - நரைகூடிக் கிழப்பருவ மெய்தி - கொடுங்கூற்றுக் கிரையெனப்பின் மாயும் - பலவேடிக்கை மனிதரைப் போலே - நான்வீழ்வே னென்று நினைத் தாயோ?
This poem was an inspiration to me when I got to read it the first time a decade back. It haunts me these days. Afterall, what is it that I do other than eat, sleep and work. Time to wake up. And here is my Prayer
நின்னைச் சிலவரங்கள் கேட்பேன் - அவைநேரே இன்றெனக்குத் தருவாய் - என்றன்முன்னைத் தீயவினைப் பயன்கள் - இன்னும்மூளா தழிந்திடுதல் வேண்டும் - இனிஎன்னைப் புதியவுயி ராக்கி - எனக்கேதுங் கவலையறச் செய்து - மதிதன்னை மிகத்தெளிவு செய்து - என்றும்சந்தோஷங் கொண்டிருக்கச் செய்வாய்...
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
From my offline blog (?) - Mangalore
I resorted to logging my thoughts in a word doc during those intial days when I missed being connected to net.. This is dt.30 March 2010. A year has flown past and lot of things have changed now..
Mangalpuram
New job, new place, new team, new look.. Life seems nice all of a sudden
When I got the offer, there was the usual hesitation and resistance to change.. in addition to which I didnt get to hear anything positive about this place People didnt seem to know much about this place except communal sensitivity and very hot weather. Its human tendency to remember such things forget the good as mundane. Coimbatore is still remembered for the blasts that happened more than a decade back though the population there doesnt. Applying the same logic here I decided to take it a shot. The weather which is considered as bad by " normal" beings was ok for me due to the abnormalities nature of my health and it was a good point to convince my Parents and bro. Now about Mangalore
1. For two masala dosas, one plate sambar vada, two coffees all you pay is 52 bucks. tasty simple food. My Dad was shocked.You get full dabba of leechi icecream for just 30 rs!!! I was shocked
2. Auto men stick to meter and dont harass you. They pay you back the change even if its one re( Chennaites and cbeians reading this.. Believe me..it IS TRUE)
3. Traffic though not so organised is less comparitively.
4. City is yet to develop in terms of the no of IT or ITES companies however already has happenign malls in the place
5. Though few farmlands are being cleared,, there is still lot of greenery around
6. Women are beautiful ( MLR gave India her first Miss World). Men are ok ok but then mostly decent and disciplined.
7. The place where I work,, our country manager prefers to take the bus to office and eat the not so good yet no so bad food at cafeteria along with the team, steps out for women to enter the lift first..(( OH.. I ADORE HIM) He hails from Mangalore..
8. I have not so troublesome colleagues.. no trouble so far team with good friendly open minded members
Than everything else, the smile I had almost lost somewhere down the line is back in my face
All this could be just because of the fancy in place and people being new... I still dont mind.. for these days are the good ones I am having after a very loooooooong time.I love Mangalore for that
Mangalpuram
New job, new place, new team, new look.. Life seems nice all of a sudden
When I got the offer, there was the usual hesitation and resistance to change.. in addition to which I didnt get to hear anything positive about this place People didnt seem to know much about this place except communal sensitivity and very hot weather. Its human tendency to remember such things forget the good as mundane. Coimbatore is still remembered for the blasts that happened more than a decade back though the population there doesnt. Applying the same logic here I decided to take it a shot. The weather which is considered as bad by " normal" beings was ok for me due to the abnormalities nature of my health and it was a good point to convince my Parents and bro. Now about Mangalore
1. For two masala dosas, one plate sambar vada, two coffees all you pay is 52 bucks. tasty simple food. My Dad was shocked.You get full dabba of leechi icecream for just 30 rs!!! I was shocked
2. Auto men stick to meter and dont harass you. They pay you back the change even if its one re( Chennaites and cbeians reading this.. Believe me..it IS TRUE)
3. Traffic though not so organised is less comparitively.
4. City is yet to develop in terms of the no of IT or ITES companies however already has happenign malls in the place
5. Though few farmlands are being cleared,, there is still lot of greenery around
6. Women are beautiful ( MLR gave India her first Miss World). Men are ok ok but then mostly decent and disciplined.
7. The place where I work,, our country manager prefers to take the bus to office and eat the not so good yet no so bad food at cafeteria along with the team, steps out for women to enter the lift first..(( OH.. I ADORE HIM) He hails from Mangalore..
8. I have not so troublesome colleagues.. no trouble so far team with good friendly open minded members
Than everything else, the smile I had almost lost somewhere down the line is back in my face
All this could be just because of the fancy in place and people being new... I still dont mind.. for these days are the good ones I am having after a very loooooooong time.I love Mangalore for that
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
KISS
Did I mention earlier I shall keep my posts smaller? Its end of Jan and resolutions start to fade by now.
BTW, the title is a abbreviation used in Communication skills Training sessions- To Keep It Short and Simple( or sweet). I managed to keep the title atleast that way
BTW, the title is a abbreviation used in Communication skills Training sessions- To Keep It Short and Simple( or sweet). I managed to keep the title atleast that way
Phir mile sur??? Nowhere close
When I saw a mention about this in the net, I immediately logged into youtube to see the video. It definitely had a grand opening with ARR on Continuum and my expectations soared that very moment. ARR on this instrument reminded me of the haunting but awesome music in Delhi 6(Rehna Tu) An all pervasive, reverberating, melancholic still sought after music that lingers on for long.So.. grand opening it was. Did the rest meet my expectations? Hardly.
The benefit of doubt that remakes and remix dont satisfy people who tend to compare it with the original, doesnt hold good here.
I have watched Mile Sur a million times on DD in my teens. It had the effect close to that of our National Anthem in me and maybe a little more enthusiasm/commercial masala effect due to the presence of cinestars, musicians and other famous personalties.Even today when I hear/see the old version,it has the same effect, not to mention nostalgic. The latest one is a complete disappointment that way. Forget partriotism..it just seems just as a hurried attempt to remake a masterpiece by lining up celebrities.
I found even Sonu Nigams singing a little out of place. Deepika should have saved that dress for the ramps. Why did Aamir choose to sing this one in Aye.. kya bolti style? Heights! Shahrukh could have spared atleast this one of his boring outdated arm stretching posture.
On the other hand, you find almost all of the great musicians and artists of the country there doing their part in the most sincere and beautiful manner possible( Sivamani rocks).I guess Vikrams tried it himself and he sounds good, not sure though. Priyanka should have tried as well for the singer she is claimed to be and could have avoided coming out so strange. Big Bs voice creates the usual magic.Aishwarya does her part by looking stunning as ever and holding hands with her husband. Salman with the kids is a touching, heart warming addition. Individually, most have done justice - but the mixing together is totally messed up. So there is Sur.. but why is the essence of it interwining and coming out as a whole missing big time? You see gaps and holes in the whole which the popularity of the participants has failed to hide.
Also, Where is the common man?? Is India all about Cinema and Sports? I really miss the shy malayalee atop an elephant going "ente swaramum.." slanting his face and moving histhin body to the music, the bunch of oldies getting off the train, the man on the boat in Kashmir lake.. How can a Indian relate himself to this one like the earlier one which showed a part of him in there? The earlier one celebrated both the significant and simple aspects of India while this one seems like a toast for the successful ones only
The benefit of doubt that remakes and remix dont satisfy people who tend to compare it with the original, doesnt hold good here.
I have watched Mile Sur a million times on DD in my teens. It had the effect close to that of our National Anthem in me and maybe a little more enthusiasm/commercial masala effect due to the presence of cinestars, musicians and other famous personalties.Even today when I hear/see the old version,it has the same effect, not to mention nostalgic. The latest one is a complete disappointment that way. Forget partriotism..it just seems just as a hurried attempt to remake a masterpiece by lining up celebrities.
I found even Sonu Nigams singing a little out of place. Deepika should have saved that dress for the ramps. Why did Aamir choose to sing this one in Aye.. kya bolti style? Heights! Shahrukh could have spared atleast this one of his boring outdated arm stretching posture.
On the other hand, you find almost all of the great musicians and artists of the country there doing their part in the most sincere and beautiful manner possible( Sivamani rocks).I guess Vikrams tried it himself and he sounds good, not sure though. Priyanka should have tried as well for the singer she is claimed to be and could have avoided coming out so strange. Big Bs voice creates the usual magic.Aishwarya does her part by looking stunning as ever and holding hands with her husband. Salman with the kids is a touching, heart warming addition. Individually, most have done justice - but the mixing together is totally messed up. So there is Sur.. but why is the essence of it interwining and coming out as a whole missing big time? You see gaps and holes in the whole which the popularity of the participants has failed to hide.
Also, Where is the common man?? Is India all about Cinema and Sports? I really miss the shy malayalee atop an elephant going "ente swaramum.." slanting his face and moving histhin body to the music, the bunch of oldies getting off the train, the man on the boat in Kashmir lake.. How can a Indian relate himself to this one like the earlier one which showed a part of him in there? The earlier one celebrated both the significant and simple aspects of India while this one seems like a toast for the successful ones only
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Why blog?
Aasai arubadhu naal, mogam muppathu naal- This is usally said to denote that the fancy of love/lust/marriage dies quickly, a max of 90 days. I think it applies to all. Even blogging. I started it few months back and now I dont seem to get a chance or mindset to post something regularly as before. Why start then? People always want to try something new when there is no loss/harm in trying. So did I. Why do people blog. These are few things I could come up with. Maybe others can add
1. They are bored and got nothing else to do
2. They want to share information
3. Voice their opinion( you dont have to worry if any one is listening. so convenient)
4. Avoid debating as a consequence of 3. Moderate or remove comments
5. Bring out the writer in them or test writing skills
6. Portray they're net savvy - am the Gen X Y Z Z1 Z2 Z3 group( I wonder why they started with X..maybe the one who coined it thought the world would disappear in three to four decades from then). Or is it something I am not aware of.
7. Connect with the rest of the world
8. Can write better than talk.
9. Just for fun
10. Get no strings attached companions.
I sqeezed my brains so hard and could comeup with nothing more.I , btw, belong to category 1.
Having noted that my posts are way too long mostly and that its the age of "Twittering" I am going to try to convey more in less. That again sounds convenient for now. Not sure if it will work out for me
1. They are bored and got nothing else to do
2. They want to share information
3. Voice their opinion( you dont have to worry if any one is listening. so convenient)
4. Avoid debating as a consequence of 3. Moderate or remove comments
5. Bring out the writer in them or test writing skills
6. Portray they're net savvy - am the Gen X Y Z Z1 Z2 Z3 group( I wonder why they started with X..maybe the one who coined it thought the world would disappear in three to four decades from then). Or is it something I am not aware of.
7. Connect with the rest of the world
8. Can write better than talk.
9. Just for fun
10. Get no strings attached companions.
I sqeezed my brains so hard and could comeup with nothing more.I , btw, belong to category 1.
Having noted that my posts are way too long mostly and that its the age of "Twittering" I am going to try to convey more in less. That again sounds convenient for now. Not sure if it will work out for me
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
To help or not to
One of my friends recently narrated this incident that happened in the bus and how bad he felt for not being able to help a woman who fell down flat on her face when the bus braked suddenly. She was standing next to him. He could have prevented her fall if at all he had held her while she was falling. I asked him why he hadn't. He said he was afraid to be mistaken. Now, is a fall embarrassing or a man holding you ( which means physical contact)to prevent the fall.
I was at the chennai station a little too early for my train and was waiting at the platform. A man not the conventional " decent looking" type came to me with his luggage- few blankets, a big shopper and another bag and asked me if I could watch it for him when he went out to do/get something. When I hesitated he said " just five mins". I accepted. And then all the worrying started. I looked at the bags and was wondering what was inside them. I tried finding reasons to justify my decision which only made it worse. He was actually seated earlier next to a North Indian family and it would have been easier for him to have asked them. Why me? Every minute seemed like hours and he hadnt turned up even after ten mins. I forgot the bags ( including mine) and started gazing around and far to get signs of him coming and/op look for some help. I realised that many of them had worn similar color combination dress like him. I started wondering if I need to tell someone about this and saw a cop. Thankfully before I I went to him this man came back. He showed me his ticket and said he was not able to make the coach number because of the poor print. It looked anything similar to S5 S3 S8 and S9. He had gone searching the charts for his name. I tried to look at other numbers printed, matched it and told him it would probably be 8 or 9. How nice it would have been if he had told this to me earlier.
Few months back, a lady came to my house for a survey. She informed me that she is doing a survey on consumer behavior patterns on behalf of AC Neilson. Having worked for Call centers and in outbound calling for more than two years, I usually try to be nice to these people. I felt a fully filled survey form is definitely going to fetch her some money. Why shouldn't I help her. I started answering the questions and it took more than half hour. I brought her inside the house as it started raining mid way.
After she left I went over the questions she asked. There were some very suspicious ones
1. Who are all the earning members in the family
2. What time does your brother come in and go out( She said as per her sampling , she was supposed to question the third member ( as per age) in the family and that will help her more
3. What brand TV, Fridge, Washing machine, computer, phone do you have
4. What brand shoes do you buy
5. How often do you watch movies and where you go and when you go
6. What time does everyone watch tv at home
She asked a lot many questions and I had also refused to give her some.,.ex, salary range, phone numbers however I had given her enough info to find out when there will be people in my house and what items we have, their value. Next few days I wasnt able to sleep peacefully and would wake up at the slightest sound.I still dont know if what I had done was right or not.
Similar confusions happen when I pay beggars( especially after watching Naan Kadavul). There are many who ridicule/scold me for paying them. " Kai kaal iruku la..ozhachu sambathikalam thaanay". This statement fills me with rage. Why the hell would someone resort to begging if they had other options to live. If its about being lazy, is begging as easy? Would you resort to begging at any point to save physical or mental strain?. But then, you never know. I finally decided that anyways I would pay them. Firstly, I try to buy them food if hunger is the problem else pay. Where it goes and how its used is not my problem. Even if I paid hundred of them and 99 cheated, its worth " being fooled" for the sake of one.
Many of us might have reasons ( genuine enough at times) for not being able to help. However at most times, we just look for excuses. Other than the fact that I am an AR fan, I love this song "Pray for me brother" for this one single line coined. - ARE YOU SEARCHING.. FOR A REASON.. TO BE KIND..
I was at the chennai station a little too early for my train and was waiting at the platform. A man not the conventional " decent looking" type came to me with his luggage- few blankets, a big shopper and another bag and asked me if I could watch it for him when he went out to do/get something. When I hesitated he said " just five mins". I accepted. And then all the worrying started. I looked at the bags and was wondering what was inside them. I tried finding reasons to justify my decision which only made it worse. He was actually seated earlier next to a North Indian family and it would have been easier for him to have asked them. Why me? Every minute seemed like hours and he hadnt turned up even after ten mins. I forgot the bags ( including mine) and started gazing around and far to get signs of him coming and/op look for some help. I realised that many of them had worn similar color combination dress like him. I started wondering if I need to tell someone about this and saw a cop. Thankfully before I I went to him this man came back. He showed me his ticket and said he was not able to make the coach number because of the poor print. It looked anything similar to S5 S3 S8 and S9. He had gone searching the charts for his name. I tried to look at other numbers printed, matched it and told him it would probably be 8 or 9. How nice it would have been if he had told this to me earlier.
Few months back, a lady came to my house for a survey. She informed me that she is doing a survey on consumer behavior patterns on behalf of AC Neilson. Having worked for Call centers and in outbound calling for more than two years, I usually try to be nice to these people. I felt a fully filled survey form is definitely going to fetch her some money. Why shouldn't I help her. I started answering the questions and it took more than half hour. I brought her inside the house as it started raining mid way.
After she left I went over the questions she asked. There were some very suspicious ones
1. Who are all the earning members in the family
2. What time does your brother come in and go out( She said as per her sampling , she was supposed to question the third member ( as per age) in the family and that will help her more
3. What brand TV, Fridge, Washing machine, computer, phone do you have
4. What brand shoes do you buy
5. How often do you watch movies and where you go and when you go
6. What time does everyone watch tv at home
She asked a lot many questions and I had also refused to give her some.,.ex, salary range, phone numbers however I had given her enough info to find out when there will be people in my house and what items we have, their value. Next few days I wasnt able to sleep peacefully and would wake up at the slightest sound.I still dont know if what I had done was right or not.
Similar confusions happen when I pay beggars( especially after watching Naan Kadavul). There are many who ridicule/scold me for paying them. " Kai kaal iruku la..ozhachu sambathikalam thaanay". This statement fills me with rage. Why the hell would someone resort to begging if they had other options to live. If its about being lazy, is begging as easy? Would you resort to begging at any point to save physical or mental strain?. But then, you never know. I finally decided that anyways I would pay them. Firstly, I try to buy them food if hunger is the problem else pay. Where it goes and how its used is not my problem. Even if I paid hundred of them and 99 cheated, its worth " being fooled" for the sake of one.
Many of us might have reasons ( genuine enough at times) for not being able to help. However at most times, we just look for excuses. Other than the fact that I am an AR fan, I love this song "Pray for me brother" for this one single line coined. - ARE YOU SEARCHING.. FOR A REASON.. TO BE KIND..
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