Connecting to inner-net

If you are easily distracted or find too little time to do things that you love to do, this message will undoubtedly put things in some kind of perspective. A good presentation by Gopi Kallayil- a "naattukaran" :-)

To be honest, I am not an avid Twiterrati or a compulsive Facebook user, primarily because I don't believe that there're enough things happening in my life that I should necessarily convey to the world out there in minute-by-minute updates. So these don't eat up much of my time. However, I do get overwhelmed at work or get distracted occasionally and this video is a "poke" in the right direction. Often the question needs to be asked- "enthinaa"?? (Why?)

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Another "Silsila" in the making?

Before the horror of "Silsila" could be forgotten, here comes another guy- I read somewhere that his name is Santosh Pandithan.

While Silsila Harishankar was remarkable for his lack of "bhaavam" and "rasam", this guy seems to be oozing with loads of both in every frame.

Sample his creativity here.

If you haven't had enough by now, try this as well.

No wonder that within a few days of these videos getting posted, they have invited some very strong emotional outpourings from viewers.

During college days, I had discouraged some of my friends from taking up acting seriously (they're probably better off because of that now). But having seen all these, maybe I shouldn't have. If you're reading this, guys, you were top class!

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Kerala to get workers from other states & train them...

Significantly, it must be noted that the main reason for lack of skilled rubber tappers is that the current generation of people involved in rubber cultivation in Kerala are unwilling to learn the skill. The youth would rather remain jobless if they are not into a white collar job! What irony that a Malayali does far more rigorous jobs in places like Gulf for apparently lesser benefits!

Courtesy of IE, 20th Dec 2010

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The “Worlds Simplest Mobile Phone"

Sort of liked this idea - see John’s Phone Review: The “Worlds Simplest Mobile Phone”

Addresses the issue that I have with many high-end phones- they're everything, but phones!

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Boom, Crash &....Boom?

"I would like to tell capitalists that Dubai does not need investors, investors need Dubai and I tell you that the risk lies not in using your money but in letting it pile up. It is dormant and dead if it is merely a figure in an account. I tell them not to hold onto it and kill it in safes, let it breathe and be active because money is like water - if you lock it up, it becomes stagnant and foul-smelling, but if you let it flow, it stays fresh. If it does not flow, it will become stagnant and its colour will change. When I encourage you to invest, I am not asking you to put your money into a fire - I guarantee that your money will be invested in carefully studied projects. I want to be frank with you - I have the courage to take decisions and to bear the responsibility for the consequences. Do you have the courage to be frank and decisive?"

So asked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the embattled ruler of Dubai in 2003, while riding the high wave, announcing the ill-fated Dubailand project. Interesting tip on money management.  Full text here.

Here's the latest soundbite after the carsh:

 “We are back. Of course we are back. This is a challenge. Life would be boring if there’s no challenge.”

He also claimed that the vision remains unchanged. So are the boom days back? Being in Dubai, something tells me- not quite!

I'm forever blowing bubbles

Property bubbles in the sand

They grow so fast, obviously can't last

But why do I care, I still own the land

People keep on buying

I take all their cash

Oh, I'm forever blowing bubbles

And bubbles always crash

(Poem courtesy of Secret Dubai Dairy)

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Dubai Vaartha

It is very cold these days and I am told this is the best time to be here in Dubai. Just been a day since I came here. AdipoLi sthalam! It's amazing what these guys have done to a desert. It doesn't look at all like a conservative state- what with night clubs, pick-up joints and "aggressively" dressed girls out on the streets . However, at some places I could sense some resentment towards Indians- one of the shopkeepers refused to sell us a kandoora (traditional Arab dress) for Adarsh.

Went around Bur Dubai and Deira area (which has Gold Souk) the other day- photos udan prasidhikarikkunnathaayirikkum. Phone calls to India is prohibitively costly. There's only one phone company (Etisalat) and when there was widespread criticism of its monopoly status, another company was started only recently (Du), so you get an idea of how everything is run in this place.

More next time...

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Back again!

This is to break the long silence, which was becoming deafening.

Back in Bangalore now - and looks like I'll be around here for the foreseeable future. Getting used to the Indian way of working again- meaning long hours in office (and more on road to office). We just love staying back at office! While some have to, others just stay back for the heck of it, pretending to work and scoff at the few lucky ones who manage to make their way home in time.

As the circus goes on, wifey dear has been visiting temples. She snapped this picture at Iranikulam Sree Mahadeva temple. I liked it and intend to go there sometime myself. It seems this is one of the most ancient temples of Kerala and has the biggest double storied circular sanctum (seen here).

Website: Iranikulam Temple

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Why smart people make dumb money mistakes

This is an article in rediff, which I found quite interesting. It explores the relatively new area of Behavioural Finance. After all, it's heartening to know that there is an explanation for the irrational behaviour. A lengthy article, but maybe useful.

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Ghosts and Technology

Believe it or not: Ghost hunters go high tech.. Click here

...and this, though not quite hi-tech is proving to be an uncannily accurate angel of death.
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3-Year Old Finger Painter

This kid has formidable talent. I'm sure I didn't do anything spectacular at his age, except probably amusing my parents with my antics. Will Adarsh be suitably motivated?

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വിഷു ആശംസകള്‍

ഇത്തിരി കൊന്നപ്പൂക്കളിതാ...

എല്ലാര്‍ക്കും ഞങ്ങളുടെ ഹൃദയം നിറഞ്ഞ വിഷു ആശംസകള്‍...കണി കണ്ടു പടക്കം ഒക്കെ പൊട്ടിച്ച്‌ നന്നായി ആഘോഷിക്കൂ...നന്മ വരട്ടെ...

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Answered Prayers

It's been over a month since I posted something. When one doesn't have time or inspiration to write something new, what does one do? Take some external help, ofcourse. So here is a poem that I came across recently:

I prayed for glory; and heard my name
Sung by sweet children and by hoary men.
But ah! the hurts, the hurts that came with fame!
I was not happy then.

I prayed for love, and had my soul's desire,
Through quivering heart and body and through brain
There swept the flame of its devouring fire;
And there the scars remain.

I prayed for a contented mind. At length
Great light upon my darkened spirit burst,
Great peace fell on me, also, and great strength.
Oh! had that prayer been first!

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850-1919), "Answered Prayers"

As an aside, I cannot help but wondering how fortunate the poetess is..all her prayers seems to have been readily answered!

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Are you dressed to impress?

With the Oscars on the horizon, the buzz is all about what the celebs will be wearing. Like it or not, appearance matters, and what you wear could be saying more than you realise - take a look at the recent BBC article what your tie says about you.

What you wear to an interview can be crucial. This article dressing to get the job provides tips for guys and gals alike. With everyday becoming dress down Fridays in many industries, here's a tip on business casual outfits. Will I follow these norms when I'm in Bangalore? ...nah!! But it's good to know.

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Weather it is possible..?

Amidst all this talk of global warming, this is how it looked like for a whole of the third week of Jan outside, as seen from my window.


And last week, for 3 days, it snowed whole night....


and day...


Once the excitement of seeing such a lot of snow was over, it was damp, dark and cold. Shorter days and such weather..makes you even more gloomier. Atleast it made for some good pictures, methinks...

Fortunately, the sun was out during the weekend and things cheered up a bit, but more snow is to follow next week. No wonder some of the English whom I spoke to were so smug about the world becoming a hotter place. Probably, they think that some warmth is in order around these parts of the world.

On another note, it is hard to believe that we are already on to the second month of the year which started like, only yesterday...lotta ground to cover and times are a flying!
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Life's unpredictable ways

Another example of the vagaries of life:

This IITian lived on the footpath
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Growth is the only evidence of life..

If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change. If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change. - John A. Simone, Sr.

Well, I am getting a little restless these days and a change is in order now. I'm "staying the course" (to use a Bushism) for now and working towards that change....Hoping that things look up in time for the new year. There are some photographs waiting to be posted, which I'll do once I'm back on track. Wish me luck! :)

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B'Day thoughts

Someone has said it better..

The Passing Years
Life passes by so fast, Lord, I know I'm sure to miss A vital part unless you keep Reminding me of this. There's so much that I want to do, A lot I've left undone, So many plans discarded, And a few I've not begun. Life passes by so fast, Lord, How often I've been told, It always does around the time That we are growing old. For everything a season Is wise as well as just, But I had rather wear me out, Than fall apart with rust.	Life passes by so fast, Lord, The days, the months, the years, Lord keep a smile upon my lips, And blot away the tears. Teach me to lean upon Your arm, When pain and sickness strike, To tell the facts from fancies, That sometimes look alike. Life passes by so fast, Lord, And yet how kind You are, In granting me the precious years, That I have had so far. So let the days grow shorter, The darkest shadows part, But put the wrinkles on my face, ...And never on my heart
(By Grace E. Easley)

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Thoughts on a Sunday night...

It's been a fine day today with lot of sunshine. But the forecast for the next week is not all that encouraging. Also, we turned our clocks back by 1 hour as we switched back to GMT from BST today. Although I certainly didn't mind the extra hour of sleep as a result, it was a strange thing..to find your routine adjusted by an hour!

It has started getting dark earlier and the "gloom and doom" of winter is definitely upon us. With less and less of sun being seen, it is not surprising that up to one in every 20 people suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during the UK's long winter nights.

But for now, scary things are on display in the shops for Halloween (although I feel some of the guys and gals I regularly meet on the streets would do perfectly well without any of these external aids). Also, some shops have already started decking up for Christmas. After checking out the stores and town centre yesterday, it was mostly indoors today. Saritha and her folks are in Guruvayoor for Adarsh's "chorooN" tomorrow.

Some cooking and "Classmates", the Malayalam movie, saw me through today. It is playing "Cast Away" on telly now with Tom Hanks battling the elements. Feeling a bit like a cast away myself.
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Picture: A 2001 public service announcement for the upcoming turning back of the clocks | Courtesy of: US Department of Defense

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