Saturday, September 30, 2006

No Smoking

No Smoking

Sometime back we were discussing about October 1 (Vijayadasami) and its significance for a new learning. Just thought I think, we can make it more concrete by spreading a message about cleaning our atmosphere too. Currently the worst killer of our Ozone is smoking of cigarattes, which also causes lung cancer not only to the smokers but to the passive smokers (people who are near the smoker and inhales the smoke).

Let us pass the message that people should slowly stop this killer habit and make the world a better and a healthy place to live. Let us have this message spread and a swearing of No Smoking taken on the holy day of Vijaya dashami.

We would also like to share with you an interesting DogSmoking movie, the video creation supported by Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation.


Happy Vijayadasami

Happy Vijayadasami

October 1, 2006 is also revered as Vijayadasami, the tenth day after Dussehra for this year's Navarathri (Dussehra) festival. It is observed with extreme reverence and importance. Most of the schools in India also admit kids as part of the Aksharabhyasam on this day to get the blessings of Goddess of Education. Perhaps during the previous Vijayadasami greeting, we had the Aygiri Nandhini song to greet the Goddess. Check out the URL here.

As a message about Vijayadasami and is glorious heritage and history, check out this URL.

National Blood Day

National Blood Day

It has been striking the headlines for sometime since to observe October 1 as National Voluntary Blood Donation day to spread the message and awareness of the need and necessity of blood donation. It should be understood that blood banks all over the country are in heavy need of blood to cater to patients undergoing a large amount of surgery of diversified types. Donating a blood does not weaken or destabilise the donor in any way. The donated blood is regenerated within the body automatically within 24 to 48 hours.

Who can donate blood?

  1. Any person who is more than 18 years age and less than 60 years of age can donate blood.
  2. The Haemoglobin count should not be less than 12.5 g/dl
  3. The donor should not weigh less than 45 kgs.
  4. The donor should be having a normal body temperature during the blood donation process.
  5. The donor should have a normal blood pressure levels at the time of blood donation.
  6. Preferably, the blood donor should not be suffering from any fever or infection while donating blood.

Who are restricted from donating blood?

  1. Normal Persons but under special circumstances
    1. Persons are steroid medications.
    2. Pregant woman or who have just concieved a baby.
    3. Thos who have consumed alcohol within 24 hours of process of blood donation.
    4. Who has undergone surgery in the previous six months.
    5. Woman during menstruation period.
  2. Patients with the following diseases are restricted from donating blood.
    1. HIV/AIDS
    2. Jaundice
    3. Rubella
    4. Typhoid
    5. Malaria
    6. Hepatitis-B

Also check out the following website for a detailed FAQ on blood donation. Feel free to register yourself in Indian Blood Donors website.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Driving in Nights -- Safety Precautions

Driving in Nights -- Safety Precautions

Be it staying late at work and returning home or travelling to countryside for a weekend or a festive occasion, it is real pleasure to have our own cars since we have the pleasure of stopping and starting anywhere and the route we choose. With the amount of traffic we have in place at any point in Tamil Nadu and particularly the arterial cities and towns, we often chose nights for our journey.

No doubt -- Night Journeys in car or train is a memorable occasion particularly on the National Highway 45 (Chennai - Dindigul). It would be even more memorable if we practice certain safety norms for our own and peer drivers who use the road.

  1. Ensure that we have enough of sleep during the day time and we are not exhausted. Night driving needs perseverence and concentration on the roads.
  2. Have a good knowledge on the route. Since we are travelling by night, if we are lost in the unknown jungles, there may not be enough resources to help us out of the ways. Depending on a few available resources may also pose additional security burdens and risks to shoulder.
  3. Have enough repair equipments like backup tyres and repair equipments handy. You also need to know how best to make use of them during an emergency breakdown. In this context, it would also be advisable to carry the telephone numbers of on-road service numbers. Quite a few of them in Chennai are MyTVS, Maruti On-Road care.
  4. When you feel tired, take a break off the road in a good small lighted down. Till you reach that place, travel at a good manageable speed.
  5. A good FM stereo could help you in getting through the night's journey avoiding sleep. But ensure that you don't keep full volumes since you should not disturb others' travelling along with you. Let them catch a wink of thier sleep.
  6. Don't keep honking horns wildly. The driver who you are trying to catch his attention is also undergoing the same night driving syndrome and the incessant honking of horns might be of irritation to him. Flash your headlights by toggling them between High and Low beam to attract his attention and take sides. Be wary of oncoming vehicles while overtaking.

Readers What do you think? These might be a very simple rules of thumb while driving through nights on the highways but on the long run would promise a memorable journey.

Legendary Actress Padmini Passes Away

Legendary Actress Padmini Passes Away

It is indeed a significant loss for Tamil world with the sudden demise of the legendary actress Padmini Ramachandran. Born on 12th June, 1932 in Poojapura near Thiruvanathapuram and together with her sisters (Lalitha and Ragini) was known as Travancore sisters. She started learning dance at the age of four and at the tender age of ten, she had her debut performance (arangettram).

Though she was a very great actress, her entry into the filmworld was rather accidental. It was by invitation of the legendary dancer, Udaya Shankar, who was impressed by her dance performance that he invited her for his film, "Kalpana" (which became her first film). The other famous films of Padmini are Thillana Mohanambal, Vietnam Veedu.

Let us spend a couple of minutes in silence to pray the Lord Almighty to have her soul rest in peace.

Bit Busy These Days

Bit Busy These Days

Just observed from my MSN Calendar since I needed to visit Parikkal sometime during Diwali. It has been since four years that all my schedules are religiously observed and recorded through my MSN Calendar. If there is an activity that is being solicited out of the same, I do not see even the courtesy of turning it down out right. After all, it is our time and time is more precious than anything. Time once lost can not be gained. Thanks to MSN Calender, and is able to streamline processes for me effectively.

Just wanted to share some interesting observations.

  1. Since Blog UnConference in Chennai on 9th and 10th September, I personally observed that all my weekends are showing booked.
  2. There were some issues like Rahu Kalam interfering and thanks to the repeated advises of Organizer, Ahobilam.com that these things do not apply for Sri Vaishnavan and even obeying these Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam etc is a heinous sin and a testimony of disobedience to Sriman Narayana.
  3. Sometime back, I have been suggesting and reviewing about Efficient Organizers like Inbox.com and Norada Junglemate. Alongside that I would feel that Windows Live powered MSN Calendar can also occupy a proud and prestigious position.

The bottomline message of the post is two fold.

  1. Emphasis on the use of organizers to complement and help us in our Time Management efforts.
  2. Avoiding the superstitious time and belief as long as the social sect that you fall into allows the same.

Sunday, September 24, 2006

World Heart Day

World Heart Day

September 24 is being observed as World Heart Day all over the world. Heart has been regarded as a very valuable physical and as well as mental resource throughout the world. To granularly quantify it:

  1. Physical It supplies all the organs in the body with necessary oxygen and rejuvenates it. Without it, there would'nt be any life.
  2. Mental Be it a love or affection or devotion, we always associate with to the heart. We always say 'Tell it from your heart'.

With these arguments in place, WHO has rightly brought out the concept of World Heart Day for bringing comfort to heart care through out the world. World Heart Day emphasizes on healthy heart and cardiac habits by practising healthy diets and abstaining from smoking and other activities that harm the heart. Check out World Heart Day website for more details.

Escaping from Pocket Pickers and Making Celebrations Colorful

Escaping from Pocket Pickers and Making Celebrations Colorful

The business hub of South India, Chennai is known for very many great fame, including the latest achievement of having a branch of World Bank coming up in Taramani. But Chennai is famous for its notorious pocket pickers and baglifters too. There are also white collar thieves in the caps of autorickshaw fellows, who would charge you anything ranging from 50 USD for a small distance of five kilometers from Chennai Airport to Tambaram or Vandaloor. All with the blessings and connivance of the political parties.

Starting this week, it is Dussehra and then Diwali and a plethora of festivals lined up. It is upto us to ensure the safety and security of our valuables while we travel in public conveyances. This post is intended to illustrate how much we, commuters in Chennai Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses have to coooperate with the bus crew to bring this pocket picker menace down. A few tips to guard yourselves from pocket pickers in Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses. While travelling in a late night bus (G70 -- Vadapalani - Tambaram), I compiled a few points from the conductor with the caps of a blogger. Thanks to the conductor, Selvam, for sparing his time in giving the following tips.

  1. Plan you routes well before. Ad hoc boarding does not help. Rather it delays the services for others as well.
  2. Give way for others to alight from the bus before boarding the bus.
  3. Try to board the bus right at the terminus or at marked bus stands rather than at signal points or where it slows down. The problem with this approach is that your concenteration is purely on boarding the bus and your focus on security gets relaxed in a passive reflex action.
  4. While boarding the bus, ensure that your hand baggage and/or other luggage is always in front of you. If you are having them in shoulders, ensure that it does not go back swinging at least while boarding the bus.
  5. Keep a correct change of currency handy instead of digging the wallet after boarding the crowded bus.
  6. First ensure the safety position in the bus and then ask the conductor to issue the ticket. The conductors normally emphasize this too. The simple reasons are:
    1. Safeguarding you from other pocket pickers who stand near the entrance and exit gateways.
    2. Making way for other passengers who are in the pipeline.
  7. Once you get the ticket, go forward. The buses have ear marked 'Entrance' and 'Exit' gateways separately.  The entrance is at the rear and exit is at the front.
  8. Ensure that your kids are safe with you instead of loitering here and there in the crowded bus. Avoid adoring your kid with costly jewellery while travelling in crowded bus.
  9. If somebody keeps brushing against you continuously, let your inner alarm sound. It is most probably a pocket picker at work. Also when somebody presses his hands against your face and you are forced to turn to a different direction, ensure that you move out of the place to a different position at an immediately available occasion. Remember that your focus and attention to your luggage and valuables must be doubled during this emergency.
  10. Try carrying only credit cards. Though a little more charges are leviable in merchant places, it is more safe to carry than a swollen wallet. Avoid too many credit cards and avoid a credit card with very fat limit, since loss of card in that case may mean more serious financial implications.

The safety and security of our valuables is upto us. There is no use lamenting later than the incident and pointing to the impotency of the administration or police security. With the amount of populations and crowd, which is geometrically increasing during the festival occasions particularly in business-centric places like Tambaram, T. Nagar, Parrys Corner, I don't think Police can mobilise enough forces to control and combat this menace without the cooperation of public. The ultimate security of our valuables and us is in our own hands and ingenuity.

With enough self-security in place, let us make the celebrations colorful and enjoyable.

Friday, September 22, 2006

In the service of the Lord 'Sixth Purattasi Month'


In the service of the Lord 'Sixth Purattasi Month'

What started as a humble practice of weekly visit to Triplicane Sri Parthasarathy temple sometime in 1999 Purattasi month has humbly stepped in to its sixth year this 2006. The weekly schedule has been continuing as a humble service and thanks to the Lord amidst little and more, meek and might trials and tribulations, acceptances and denials, supports and detests, schedules and free time, with the great blessings and choicest wishes of my Lord Sriman Lakshmi Narasimha and my friend, Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa.

Vedhatthai Vedhath thinsuvaip payanai
vizhumiya munivargal vizhungkum,
Kodhilin kaniyai nandhanaar kaLirraik
kuvalayath thordhozhu dhetthum,
aadhiyai yamudhai yennai yaaLudai
appanai oppava rillaa
Maadhargal vaazhum, maadamaa mayilaith
thiruvallikkani kandanae.

Palliyil Odhi vanNdhadhan siRuvan
vaayilO raayira nNaamam,
oLLiya vaagip pOdhavaaNG kadhanuk
konRumOr poRuppila Nnaagi,
piLLaiyaich cheeRi veguNduthooN pudaippap
piRaiyeyiR Ranalvizhip pEzhvaay,
theLLiya singka maagiya dhEvaith
thiruvallik kENikkaN dEnE.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Amazing Bookshops in Triplicane

Amazing Bookshops in Triplicane

Triplicane is famous for many things. Not just the Sri Parthasarathy Temple. And new comers to Chennai particularly bachelors find Triplicane as a right abode of mansions and share accomodations. There is one more salient feature of Triplicane. Accompanied and supported by places like Moore Market and Luz. It is a noble academic service by some small shop keepers who buy and sell second hand books. In Chennai there are shops which sell novels and other bad books which are plenty. But in these three places you can find a lot of platform shops where you can find even rarest of the botany, zoology or mathematics from tenth, twelfth to even research sciences.

Last thursday when I went to Triplicane, it started to rain a bit. I took a shelter near a fancy store, the platform near which there was a bookshop. Thanks to the heavy downpour that I could'nt come out of the shop and this poor bookshop was covered by a transparent plastic cover. Even that time, when somebody asked about a topic, the bookshop wala could rightly say whether the topic is available or a nearest author is there. It was really amazing. Even the famous bookshops including Landmark chain of bookshops and Higginbothams, when a topic is asked to a representative, the most probable responses would be

  1. Representative 'X' scratches his head.
  2. Representative 'X' would call representative 'Y'
  3. Representative 'X' would say 'One second sir' and he would disappear into the wild.

After jumping here and there in a wild limbo dance and then regrets that the topic is unavailable. He does not know the alternatives either or he could not take up a request for the topic. Furthermore, these so called big shops have a healthy tax and charges for the books besides the strong lack of committment. Alternatively these small shops, if you request them and come, they would try to get you the book somehow in a week. But the only unfortunate thing is that these bookshops do not have even a proper shelter for them to save themselves from rain and shine.

Would the Government or NGOs look into these issue and provide them some rehabilitation or assistance?

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Precautions to take while driving in rains

Precautions to take while driving in rains

Rains are intense in very many parts of India and we have already discussed for the welfare of public regarding safety measures that we need to observe during monsoons. Sometime last week, there was a brief narration in Tamil Murasu, an evening daily in Tamil Nadu. It was actually an accident news that in Gurgaon where a family was driving in their closed cars through roads that have been flooded. They had thier car air conditioner switched on even in that chill climate. Unfortunately, the car got entangled in a ditch and in a bid to recover it automatically, the head of family, who was driving the car tried to switch gears but in vain. His hard efforts were joining hands with fate to act in the opposite direction. The engine started to emit and leak partially combusted gas, the silent killer (Carbon Monoxide) into the vehicle.

With the windows lifted off, the entire vehicle was soon engulfed with this gas bringing the entire family into unconsciousness. Since they could not even gather strength to open the windows, very soon the entire family succumbed to the silent killer.  I thought, I would share this with other readers after compiling more info regarding safe driving during rains.

Here are the some of the tips.

  1. During rain, the roads would be very slippery. Hence avoid rash driving and speeding up since we may not get enough brakes to apply in case of need and the vehicle might skid. Slow and steady wins the race too.
  2. Have your headlights on so that the opposite vehicles would know of a vehicle coming. Ensure that the bulbs are bright and new during rainy season. Avoid using parking and indicator lights in lieu of headlights since they cause a serious confusion to other vehicle users.
  3. Ensure that batteries are charged to operate the lights and windshield wipers.
  4. There are chances that overhead electric cables might fall on the vehicle particularly travelling towards highways. Do not jump out of the vehicle and alert the Highway Patrol Emergency Team. Ensure that you do not give direct earthing contact. However, when a fire is imminent, try to carefully jump out of the vehicle.
  5. Keep windows open and spare the air conditioners so that the Carbon monoxide poisoning accidents are avoided. A properly overhauled engine and exhaust systems reduces carbon monoxide forming in the vehicle. Avoid running or racing the engine in closed places like garage.
  6. Remember the following some of the symptoms of carbon monoxide in case of emergency:
    1. Weariness
    2. Dizzing
    3. Nausea
    4. Headache
    5. Ringing in the ears.
  7. And avoid cellphones while driving. We have been pleading this for your care for time and again. Check this out post.

International Ozone Day on September 16

International Ozone Day on September 16

Ozone is a special form of Oxygen which is a lifesaver for the earth. You can check out the complete description of Ozone here. The special layer in the atmosphere that surrounds the earth is Ozone, which helps us by screening out harmful ultra violet rays from Sun, which can cause skin cancer to human beings. Unfortunately, the innumerable number of human made chemicals, pollution and non-bio-degradable substances are having unwanted chemical reactions with this Ozone and this layer of atmosphere is fast depleting.

Already, we are witnessing unusually high temperatures on earth, which Scientists are calling Global Warming and increasing of sea water levels due to melting of ice in the polar regions. Taking all these into consideration, United Nations Organization has decided to observe September 16 every year as 'International Ozone Day' to promulgate the necessity of every one in the world of thier duty to protect this life-saving protective coating layer in the earth's atmosphere. This has been observed since 1995, following the signing up of the Montreal Protocol on the substances that deplete the Ozone layer.


Let us join hands together to spread the awareness of protecting the Ozone layer in our neighborhood minimizing pollution and use of bio-friendly substances in refrigeators etc.

It is our Mother Earth, which shelters us and it is our duty to protect it too.

E-Campaign to increase the tenure of our president

E-Campaign to increase the tenure of our president

As we know that the tenure of our current President, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam is about to be over and a new president is planning to be sworned in. Kalam has a great vision for India and we need his dynamic leadership to take our nation fast forward.

Sujeet Shilamkar (Pune) has started an online campaign in PetitionOnline website to move the Government of India in increasing the tenure of the president till at least 2020. Check out the following URL and give your signatures too.

http://www.petitiononline.com/apj/petition.html

Sunday, September 10, 2006

Two days at India's Largest Blog Unconference at Chennai

Two days at India's Largest Blog Unconference at Chennai

It was indeed a great time and a spectacular weekend at India's Largest Blog Unconference, that was organized at Tidel Park, Chennai during 9th and 10th.  I have also shared some initial photographs through a live blogging here. Please note that embedded videos hosted at YouTube need a fast broadband connection.

Day 1

I reached TidelPark around 10 AM after little hallabaloo because of the stupid Velacherry route. I think Velacherry can be rightly crowned as the abode of educated illiterates for the type of road and civic sense they showcase.  Coming back to our discussion. After reaching Tidel and after a brief of security procedures and formalities, we resumed discussions in Track 1. Track II was more or less like discussions on wordpress hacks, blogspot beta etc. Track 1 was concenterating to community activities in blog, colloborative blogging, corporate blogging initiatives etc.

The evening had been scheduled for some beach house activity and hence myself and a couple of my blogger friends decided to have a sneak peak before we can start off. It was at Shyamala Gardens, opposite Mermaid Swimming Pool about a kilometre drive from VGP Golden Beach resort.  Interestingly, this beach house activity comes exactly one week after my team had a beach house activity at Buena Vista.

After we started at about 9 PM, we reached Thiruvanmiyur travelling for half an hour. There was a bus waiting to Camp Road (T 51) but the usual bureocratic red tape procedures were at work and some goons seemed to have damaged the bus. There was a mechanic lacking at the place and the bus was deferred its journey by one hour. Hence I chose to take the route of Tiruvanmiyur - Saidapet - Tambaram - Camp Road. Of course, it was a detour but an interesting night freak out during the weekend, to reach home at 0035 Sunday.

Day 2

Day 2 was again one more great days. The chief guest of the day was none other than Sunil Gavaskar.  The sessions on Corporate blogging ventures and how weblogs are really an inspiring moments for the enthusiasm and development of employee morale and profile was very interesting. There were some live Skype video sessions with bloggers across the globe.  I too got the autograph of Sunil Gavaskar. :) And there were a couple of snaps we took. I would try to have them posted after sometime.

Towards evening, we had some interesting quizzes on weblogs. We started back at about 1730. With a couple of friends from Mumbai and Bangalore, we were having some small dinner at Thiruvanmiyur. After that I got a bus -- the same T51 (with which there was an interesting date on Day 1) to reach Rajakilpakkam at about 2130.

All along it had been a great time through out the weekend -- inspiring, rejuvenating and refreshing with bloggers across the globe, thanks to the broadband sponsor, Sify. The Platinum sponsor, Yahoo, can not be forgotten too for tons of goodies like Yahoo bag, T Shirts.  All bloggers have sincere thanks to the other sponsors like MeriNews, Ford India and Nokia.

Monday, September 04, 2006

The Teacher's Day on September 5

The Teacher's Day on September 5

Teachers who educate children deserve more honor than parents who merely gave them birth; for bare life is furnished by the one, the other ensures a good life.
--Aristotle

And so is rightly accorded a unique position of pride for teachers in our Vedas and Indian heritage "Acharya Devo Bhava". We observe September 5 as the Teachers Day in India. This also coincides with the birth anniversary of our former president of India, Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.

It is indeed a festival of great glory to one and all. Without our teachers in our schools and colleges, we are no more. Without Millie Amon or Meena Suresh at Balalok, there could have been this Deepak or this weblog that you are reading and provides you a greater degree of reading pleasures and serves as sumptous information repository.

Let us try to meet our teachers tomorrow (be it school and/or college) and take thier blessings. Let us pray Lord Almighty for all welfare and prosperity of our teachers to further bless us and our next generation and thus bring in a more prosperous and developed country and a more peaceful India and the world.

Sunday, September 03, 2006

Elegant Efficient and Excellent Personal Organiser Services

Elegant Efficient and Excellent Personal Organiser Services

We are busy. The work challenges and assignments keep us busy. No one can afford to waste even a second of time and aspire for victory. It was said that Napoleon Bonaparte of France gave greatest of great focus and attention to time and hence he was able to win most of Europe. But the same time, which he lost a few seconds made him to fall to his enemies in the Battle of Waterloo. Somewhere some weblog or Wikipedia, I read about this. Of course, this recalls me the European History, which we had in our tenth class chapters.

Coming back to our prime line length discussions. This is an Internet age and I don't think time management can be underspoken of its value now. Rather its importance has grown manifold. And equally contributing is very user friendly sites that help us in our time management efforts. The most popular things are MSN Hotmail, Yahoo Calendar, Google Calendar etc. But among the flock of websites, the most significant ones impressed me was Norada Junglemate (which is now Solve 360) and Inbox.com. Norada Junglemate is currently not free but they have low priced editions of Solve360. I guess both the providers support for entreprise versions of thier products too.

The latter two are really excellent for the following features and this is a small testimonial and an information tip to other users who I would like them to try out too.

  1. Superior Helpdesk. The helpdesk comes to your rescue with whatever queries you have.
  2. Constant Product Innovation and Upgradation.
  3. Site Security. Both these sites have a Secure Sockets Logon. Even Junglemate had SSL Login, albeit the fact that it was not publicly advertised.
  4. Suite of products like Email, Calendar, Reminder, Storage, Notes, Photos, Tasks. Each of them individually competing with one another to add its own feather to the crowning product.
  5. Particularly with Inbox.com, the excellent thing is thier rich UI based on AJAX. It provides almost a desktop experience. As thier slogan says, 'Inbox.com - when communication becomes a pleasure...'.
  6. Inbox is pretty cool in its homepage too. Myself and most of my friends admire to even play around its homepage, AJAX style of customization, drag and drop.

And sweetest thing with Inbox.com is that they are always for open for suggestions from users. Most of the suggestions are investigated into and almost everything which can be included into the system are taken into consideration.

I fondly recall a scene from Sindhu Bhairavi. JKB (Sivakumar) sang a song 'Manadhil Urudhi Vendum' from Bharathiyar Kavithaigal. I am trying to describe the scene with the dialogues translated in English for the easier reach of the audience (an approximate Tamil version in transliterated form in brackets) The song was so lively that a fisherman roaming nearby put his fishing net down and listened to his song. When the song got over, he came to JKB and told him

"Salutations Sir" [kumbidren sami]
"Sir. You really sang really well" [saami. neenga romba nalla padineenga]
"I feel like gifting something to you. But I am just a fisherman folk. I don't have cash and currency with me. " (thinks a while and takes a beautiful garland made out of sea shells and pearls from sea) ". Will you accept this conch as my humble gift?". [ungalukku edhanachum kodukkanum pola irrukku. sembadavan. kaasu panam illai. indha paasi malai vangippengala?]

JKB with very much humbleness, accepts the garland. He was very happy that his song got accepted to all quarters of the people. His fan-friend, Sindhu (Suhasini) too commented on this and she was remarking that this is the greatest of the great gifts that he can get since it came from one of his admirer-fans.

But why am I thinking this Sindhu Bhairavi scene suddenly? And all between while I am appreciating the user interface and friendliness of digital organizer software. I think love is really blind and the love and craze for Inbox makes me to compare Inbox to JKB the great singer and the affection of the fisherman to gift something to JKB. The state of fisherman applies to me too. I am not that capable of gifting anything decent to Inbox. This is just a small testimonial -- some scrap of appreciation -- my love letter. The other thing, I can do is to pray the Lord that he should shower His choicest of merciful and bountiful blessings to Inbox.com for thier success in all spheres of life.

Oru Nimisham. Ameer Mahalukku Vazhi Solla Mudiyuma?

Oru Nimisham. Ameer Mahalukku Vazhi Solla Mudiyuma?

In Hindu mythology, there are some spritiual observations like the following. Some people say they are superstitious but equally some people believe that a percentage of them is truth. I think, rather than beating around the bush, I would give you some examples which would illustrate this narration. We would two tamil proverbs for our analysis and study.

When we start on a journey or a mission,

  1. A cat running across the street, is considered ill-omen.
  2. If someone (traveller or cotraveller) or one who bids adieu or a stranger sneezes, it is considered ill-omen.
  3. If some one interrupts you ('excuse me', 'yes kiss me', 'one moment') it is considered ill-omen.

This analysis is purely on a scientific basis and it is ongoing. If you have a view, please feel free to share the same with us.

Why do we say that when someone interrupts us it is considered ill-omen?

  1. The interruption is regarded as a speed-breaker.
  2. The focus on the work taken by the doer is interrupted due to the interruption. Remember that in the story of Mahabharata, Arjuna could precisely see only the dove's eye and not even the head.
  3. Since in olden days it was kingdoms and kings and there were feudal wars between the different territories. Hence the interrupter was also considered as a spy or part of an espionage system. But I think these type of spying activities are also not completely away even now.

Later on, we would discuss more Tamil proverbs and practices too.

By the way, why is the caption like that? If you have watched Visu's film 'Sakala Kala Sambandhi', there would be one character who always interferes with Visu's son-in-law (in film) and his daughter (in film) when they start out with this question. The film director too would give a very nice music in the background to provide emphasis to the situation.

Reader: If you have a Tamil Proverb to study and analyse, let me know. Share them as comments.

A Party at Buena Vista ECR Chennai

A Party at Buena Vista ECR Chennai

Sunday -- Energetically defining from the following perspectives.

  • Just like charging a mobile, we charge ourselves with energy to take up the assignments of the upcoming week with more enthusiasm and vigor.
  • Breakaway from the usual monotony and enthusiasm.

This party of my team has been scheduled at Buena Vista ECR, Chennai. But for some reason, I chose to avoid this. Some reason or many reasons? To take it up in a lighter vien and interestingly though. I strongly see that this post should also make up an interesting Sunday reading of a Sunday experience and a Sun (brighter) day post.

To recap some interesting facts about my philosophy, I would like the reader recall about our earlier discussions.

But in this occasion, I would'nt be able to refuse this for simple reason that Prathiba and Wudali very much wanted a team colloboration effort. With these and with tons of my reverence and respect to them, it had been an arduous ordeal on how to get escaped from this. This has been nagging my mind for a couple of days and Prathiba herself equally nurtured doubt even yesterday while I was in office, whether I would actually turn up. So why?

  • What was that preventing me?
  • What was the mental and/or physical hurdle that stands in between or at least pretends or supposed to stand in between?
  • Is it a tangible hurdle or a horizon or an illusion?

Just a simple and subtle reply -- Object reference not set to an instance of an object. But of course, the above philosophical thoughts hold good at least to some percentage. And to add, there are some transient reasons which I would like to enumerate.



  • First and foremost, I wanted to avoid certain people who does not have a seamlessly friendlier protocol to handshake with. While I don't want to finger point anybody directly, I was upset for at least a month when Ramesh Nagarajan resigned from our team and when Santosh was giving a hint that in a previous party, a casual feudal conflict with a member drew towards breaking the camel's back and that he also attending this event, my simple and sweet responsive action would be AVOID. And I did'nt wanted my closest friends (and most of them appearing in my blogroll) to get disappointed and hence Airtel came to my rescue by flashing a text message, while my bus just brushed past Maraimalai Nagar, where Airtel Chennai approximately transitions into Airtel Tamil Nadu GSM circle.
  • Second, I had enough of personal chores scheduled yesterday. I had to meet somebody at Chengalput as part of my Community Service for my group based at Selaiyur and for AshaNet, Chennai. More than just a luxurious party, I would prefer community service.
  • Third, I have enough of routine personal and professional commitments to deliver and my calendar schedules to adhere to, before going ahead with having fun at the beach resort. I have miles to go before I sleep. If you have watched Visu's film, 'Sakala Kala Sambhandhi', Visu would give an advise to Pandian (the actor) in the film in the following regarding his lover, who departed him and went to her village. He was roaming in the groves. His advise was "You just loved her. But you have'nt been on any dating affairs. Neither were any parental meets regarding betrothal. Even for this infatuation love itself, if you are supposed to succumb your emotions, ignoring the welfare of your family and your elder sister, who is widowed and you have the commitment to ensure that she gets a good life and settlement, it is shameless on part of you. First take care of your family and then you can roam like Devadass in all these groves. These nature and other greenery would not go anywhere. They would all wait for you forever." I personally feel that this is a greatest of great advise and in fact has a convergence to Robert Frost advise (and my favorite phrases, which you can see in my personal website also):

    The Woods are lovely dark and deep,
    But I have promises to keep,
    And miles to go before I sleep,
    And miles to go before I sleep.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Colorful Onam Celebrations

Colorful Onam Celebrations

Onam is a festival of grandeur celebrated all over our southern state of Kerala. This marks the homecoming of the legendary king, Mahabali. The festival roughly falls between August - September every year and this year, during the Malayalam month of Chingam. This year it comes on 5th September 2006.

The significant features of Onam include the beautifully drawn Kolam (or Rangoli), which significantly adores the Onam festival and the Keralite homes that observe and celebrate Onam. The special Onam recipes that form part of the celebrations are

  1. Avial
  2. Banana Halwa
  3. Cocunut Chutney
  4. Idli
  5. Mor Kozhambu
  6. Tomato Rasam
  7. Palada Pradhaman
  8. Parippu Curry
  9. Injithair
  10. Olan
  11. Thoran
  12. Pineapple Pachady [Kerala has rich pine apple stores. My trip to Sabarimala, you can see lot of pineapple selling happening all around. It refreshes you very much].
  13. Masala Pesarattu
  14. Rice Puttu
  15. and so on and so forth ...

Also check out the Onam Festival website.

Sabarimala temple opens for Onam today

Melsanthi Sukumaran Nampoothiri opens the temple today morning at 5:30 AM in the presence of Tantri Kantaru Rajeevaru. There would be special poojas till September 7. The Mel Santhi would sponsor the Uttara Sadhya on Monday, which consists of a sumptous meal with eighteen types of dishes. Again there is a sacred combination of number 18 here. The Grand Thiruvonam feast is sponsored by devotee Dr. Manikanta das.

On September 7, Sahasrakalasabishekam and Kalabhabhishekam are offered to the diety and then the temple would close at 10 PM the same day after Athazha Pooja and Harivarasanam.

Let us wish our Keralite fraternities a very Happy Onam and pray Lord Ayyappa for health and prosperity of one and all.

Nationalized Banks -- Truly caring for the Nation

Nationalized Banks -- Truly caring for the Nation

Sometime back, we have been discussing about the importance and need of small savings against spending lavishly. For the interested reader, here is the permalink for the post.  Yesterday, while I was travelling back home, I saw a campaign of Canara Bank with the slogan 'Savings Bank Campaign'. I fondly recalled the essence of nationalized banks, which are really friend indeed at times of need.

With the plethora of unethical private banks in the finance arena of the nation, I think, each and every citizen should concenterate and focus on keeping thier savings in a reputed nationalized banks and thus patronizing them. There are very many instances you can quote as a comparison between how nationalized banks have a soothing touch for you and how private banks are only concerned with 'sucking your blood'. A few comparisons would make this clear.

  1. Nationalized banks have a good amount of security checks and authorisations instructions to be given before a cheque book can be issued. Private banks just issue a cheque book as if it is a A4 Sheet of paper in the down the lane betel nut shop.
  2. Cheque books in Nationalized Banks are free for most of the savings account. Private banks have almost hidden charges for anything and everything ranging from the amount of cheque leaves, collection charges for outstation cheques etc.
  3. Nationalized banks have good security in place to issue only ATM cards. They give ATM-cum-debit cards (tied up with the third party Visa or MasterCard network) only on request.  An ATM card ensures that you have to go to the bank's ATM machine for enquiry or withdrawal while a debit card on the other hand makes you spendthrift.
  4. When a cheque accepted for clearance in Nationalized bank has a problem, they have the courtesy to call the customer or the account holder (till then most of the branches hold it by requesting the Apex RBI bank) and then only in the worst impossible delays dishonour and/or return the cheques. Private banking institutions on the other hand just like that return the cheques and some times bonafide ones become part of them. Additionally there would be Inbound and Outbound cheque return charges debited to your account.
  5. Nationalized banks have a responsible staff who can be called at the bank's telephone numbers for clarification while private banks depend on amateurish out sourced call center staff who has sparse experience in fiscal industry and thus take the customers' for a free ride at thier own whims and fancies.
  6. Following up with (4), if there is a problem with the private bank and a nationalized bank is involved in the transaction, the private bank cooly shifts the burden to the nationalized bank,  making them as bakras and thinking that they are oversmart and highly technosavvy with the tangible latent fact that their systems are the world's most buggy systems.

With the link to the Arjun Prabhu's weblog in the top, you can really see how much is ICICI anti national in its banking efforts. I think, we, citizens should understand the inner workings of the nationalized banks. Even though there is more time involved banking with the nationlized banks, we should prefer them. They cater to the infrastructure building of the nation unlike the private entrepreneurs, who take public money into their personal wallets.

I would like to give you the link to Indian Bank's Association website. It explains the various banking procedures in easy terms. Also, everyone should take the simple effort in supporting and opening accounts in nationalized banks and thus support the nation.