tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-240356522024-03-07T13:43:32.376+05:30Horizons - Filled with HopeHope. For a better future - For India; and for The World. Patriotism and International Humanity form the pillars of this blog.Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.comBlogger167125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-67618887368532866822021-06-12T20:15:00.000+05:302021-06-13T12:51:23.120+05:30My Covid experience in Karnataka<p>I had to travel from EU to my home town in Karnataka in April of 2021. This was the time when the Covid-19 situation in India was at its scariest. The second wave was about to peak, and the media was full of doomsday images (people dying on the streets for lack of oxygen cylinders, no beds in hospitals etc).</p><p>And, then, 3 people in my family tested positive for Covid-19. This post is about our experience with the virus and how Karnataka's healthcare system helped us deal with it.</p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Severity</h2><div style="text-align: left;">I should start off by mentioning that I had very mild symptoms. The only real noticeable symptom was the loss of smell (not loss of taste, mind you; only smell).</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Only our 2 year old had any noticeable symptoms (including fever)<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Testing</h2><div style="text-align: left;">Since there are no labs in the town that I hail from, our only option was to go to the Government General Hospital to get the RT-PCR tests. We were concerned about the hygiene at the testing location but all our fears were unfounded.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It took 5 minutes to get ourselves tested</li><li>The staff were efficient and professional</li><li>The tests were <u><b>free</b></u>.</li><li>We got the results in less than <u><b>48 hours</b></u>.</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Post-Positive procedures</h2></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once our results were out, and it was known that we tested positive, the Standard Operating Procedure machinery kicked in. We received the SMS around 5 a.m., and then:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>By 9 a.m., an ASHA healthcare workers team came to <u><b>our doorstep</b></u> to deliver medication for a course of 5 days. <u><b>For Free</b></u>. We were advised home quarantine for 14 days.</li><li>The medication was also age-appropriate. For our 2 year old they provided syrups instead of tablets. We were also recommended to take the advise of the pediatrician before administering the child doses.<br /></li><li>By 11 a.m., another team from ASHA came to our doorstep, this time to collect the samples for other people in the household.</li><li>Meanwhile, I got a call from yet another team, to ensure that we are in quarantine. They actually come to your doorstep and take photos as proof.</li><li>For the first 2 days we got follow up calls from the ASHA team enquiring about our symptoms.</li><li>From day 3, there was an automated IVR system to check on our symptoms.</li></ol><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conclusion</h2></div><div style="text-align: left;">In conclusion, our experience was vastly different from the narrative that had been presented to us all these months. However, our own experience was that</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The testing process was crisp and the results were quick</li><li>Once we tested positive, the procedures were followed to the dot</li><li>Medications and tests for primary contacts were done at home and free of cost<br /></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;">Admittedly, things might have taken a turn for the worse had any of us required hospitalization. But all in all, my take away was:</div><blockquote><div style="text-align: left;">If you do get Covid-19, don't panic. Don't believe everything media tells you (in fact don't believe <u><i>anything</i></u> media tells you). Have faith in the system and follow the protocol<br /></div></blockquote></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-6445297318951594782015-05-24T18:09:00.001+05:302015-05-25T20:42:55.140+05:30Book Review: Witch at the Pond by Sheshagiri Hegde<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHv-Z7xiOteGUgmMifAihLWplrSd0cyXvG8L0wy2gXchjUDiHVi05UezpHWpWymCFn57h4k2bMqF9RfvXGGGzp3eTFLyIBx44hK0B_70QhI5n6S2i0LmwVXjDbEML95RKaQLBUg/s1600/witch-at-the-pond-400x400-imae5ayzkzbguhzy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHv-Z7xiOteGUgmMifAihLWplrSd0cyXvG8L0wy2gXchjUDiHVi05UezpHWpWymCFn57h4k2bMqF9RfvXGGGzp3eTFLyIBx44hK0B_70QhI5n6S2i0LmwVXjDbEML95RKaQLBUg/s320/witch-at-the-pond-400x400-imae5ayzkzbguhzy.jpeg" width="224" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-0357ea93-85ec-5e5e-ef76-6190d556217e" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Witch at the Pond</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is a collection of short stories - with each story being based on real life incidents. After reading the book, you would be surprised to know that it has been written by a first-time author.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What I absolutely loved about the book is that each story attempts to convey a message, but it does so very subtly. So subtle, in fact, that each reader might perceive it in a different way. This, I believe was intentional and I know for a fact that it is extremely difficult to achieve.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Then there are the descriptions! Few of the stories are set in a village where I hail from. While reading the descriptions of the places, festivals, countryside, temples, houses, I could almost see them in front of my eyes. The author transported me right to my village. The surprising part is that even for a person who might never have visited the place, the descriptions hold an equal amount of interest. The author sort of immerses you in all that attention to detail.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is not to say that the book is only limited to rural life. Nope. There are stories from the corporate world, board meetings, bus journeys, business schools and everything in between. The point, here, is that each incident reflects a different aspect of the author's life and experience.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I particularly enjoyed the humor in some of the stories. I found myself grinning like an idiot while reading the book in a bus, eliciting strange stares from co-passengers.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">All in all, </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Witch at the Pond</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span> reminded me of my favorite short stories book -</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><a href="http://blogsarovar.blogspot.in/2007/03/wise-and-otherwise-by-sudha-murthy-book.html" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">Wise and Otherwise</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> by Sudha Murthy. Now that is saying a lot!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">At the price point that it sells, this book is absolutely a steal. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Witch at the Pond</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is a must-read</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-64480475106790933312013-04-17T22:23:00.001+05:302013-04-17T22:23:09.699+05:30And Then, We Expect ... <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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"Naah. Voting is such a headache. Not only is the process of enrolling myself such a pain, deciding who to vote for is a bigger hassle. I'd rather not vote."</div>
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"Oh come on now. If I don't bend a few traffic rules now and then, I'll spend my entire life on the road."</div>
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"Of course - I simply <i>had</i> to ride on the footpath that time. Everyone else was doing so."</div>
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"Yep - I bribed that policeman once; and this other time I bribed a Govt official. How else does one get any work done?"</div>
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"They're getting ahead of us? No, we shouldn't allow that to happen. We <i>must</i> pull them down somehow"</div>
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<b>"WHAT? Another terror attack? WHATARETHEAUTHORITIESDOING? HOWCOULDTHEYALLOWTHISTOOCCUR?"</b></div>
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So, basically we don't want to vote, we don't want to maintain integrity in our daily lives, we are okay if we bribe our way through, we don't want to set aside petty differences and unite for the larger good; but we somehow expect the "whomsoever it may concern" to just magically put an end to this terror nonsense?</div>
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Wow! My hypocrisy meter just burnt and reduced to ashes.</div>
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Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-11014573868445643722013-01-07T11:26:00.000+05:302013-01-07T11:26:00.250+05:30We're Proud<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I found this post among my Blogger drafts. It was supposed to have been published right after the London Olympics 2012. It is now six months too late. Still, the emotions in this post are not out-dated. If anything, posting this now proves a point or two! Which is why, I have decided to go ahead and publish it nevertheless.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>****************</b></div>
<br />
This post is addressed to each and every person who represented India at the Olympics. To those that won medals. To those that didn't. To those that came tantalisingly close. To those that didn't. To their coaches. Families. Support staff.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>We Are Proud.</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You carried on your shoulders, the expectations of a billion-plus people. Sometimes reasonable, but mostly unreasonable. For that, we're proud.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You probably knew that you would be under intense media scrutiny. That you would be hailed a hero one moment; and labelled a nothing the very next. Yet, you competed. For that we're proud.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many of you were aware that the country had never heard of you before the Olympics; and that they'd probably forget you soon after. Yet, you gave your best. For that, we're proud.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many of you trained under appalling circumstances. Several of you didn't have any support staff to speak of. Few of you didn't even have enough money to buy equipment. Yet, you gave the country a shot at a medal. For that, we're proud.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You didn't excel because of the system, you did <i>in spite of the system</i>. For that, we're proud.<br />
<br />
<b>We Are Proud.</b> </div>
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-52317729501439964692012-05-29T10:00:00.000+05:302012-05-29T10:00:02.923+05:30In the Thriver's Seat<p>Is innovation is overrated? I mean, come on now - why waste time innovating when one can run a thriving business without any of it? Just think about it. Innovation sure is a strong selling point - but its a lot of work and the audience is really a niche. The vast majority couldn't care less.</p>
<p>If you really want your business to thrive, you should be exploiting the following aspects of human behaviour:</p>
<ul>
<li>Fear</li>
<li>Ego </li>
<li>Stupidity</li>
<li>Insecurity</li>
</ul>
<p>Come to think of it - the businesses which bank on these are the more successful ones. Consider this sampling:<br />
</p>
<h4>Insurance:</h4>
<p>This is a business which makes its living based on fear and insecurity of others. "If you don't do this you are gonna die". Take fear out of the equation and insurance industry ceases to exist.<br />
</p>
<h4>Beauty Industry:</h4>
<p>Again - this industry survives on insecurity and ego. "If I am not fair-skinned, I will remain single forever." OR "Why is everyone looking at <em>her</em> and not at <em>me</em>? ".</p>
<p>Of course, they do have dumbness as a side-dish every now and then. Need I elaborate?<br />
</p>
<h4>Education</h4>
<p>Education has now grown into a multi-gazillion rupee industry in India mainly fuelled by parents' ego. The line between "I want to give my kids the best" and "I want to show others that I have given my kids the best" has blurred. In fact, the entire definition of a "good education" rests on the amount one spends for providing that education. It doesn't matter if the kid has no exposure to real life beyond the school compound. What matters is the parent spent lakhs for the donation - therefore it is the exclusive, high quality variety.<br />
</p>
<h4>Entertainment</h4>
<p>Most daily soaps, many reality shows, quite a lot of the movies, even a sizeable chunk of <strong><em>news</em></strong> - all feed on acute stupidity of viewers. Try coming up with an entertainment program that, to get anywhere, counts on the intelligence of the viewer. Then see what degree of success this program meets with.</p>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Intelligence, here, does not refer to Q&A reality shows which have mind-numbingly difficult questions like "How many eyes does a normal human being have?"<br />
</p>
<p>This is just a sampling of course. There are several more (including medicine, law ... ) which exploit one or more of the above factors. So, which one are you going to pick in order to flourish?</p>
<p>What? You haven't picked any? Didn't I tell you that this is <em>essential</em> for the very existence of your business? If you don't adopt a strategy to exploit one of these points, then you will not be able to survive. Your business will die a slow, horrifying death and you will left to fend for yourself. So, please get back to the drawing board and include one of these in your next exploitation plan.</p>
<p><i>(See what I did there? :D)</i></p>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-42317665269970697102012-04-17T22:48:00.000+05:302012-04-17T22:49:17.658+05:3055er: Missed Opportunities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><b>This summer's first raindrops appeared on the windscreen when I was half-way home. <br />Much as I longed to get wet, soak it up; I rolled up the windows, planning to enjoy it all after reaching home. Sadly, by then it stopped raining.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>****************</b></i></div>
<br />
<i><b>The opportunities we miss in life; letting go when we have the chance!</b></i><br />
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<br /></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-87971859695847922022011-09-01T07:30:00.000+05:302011-09-01T17:37:23.494+05:30Privilege<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Dear
Parliament of the Union of Suparlia,</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">If
you don't mind, may I ask you a question? Wouldn't it do the nation
and the people of Suparlia a whole lot of good if you concentrated on
making laws (for instance, discussing and debating the provisions of
a recently agreed-upon bill) rather than wasting time bringing in
privilege motions against some poor souls who just vented their
frustration?</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">OOPS
… Oh no … Uh oh .. wait .. I'm extremely sorry. I profusely
apologize for insulting your <i>holy institution</i> – the
Parliament, by asking this question. I am so very very really really
SORRY. I shouldn't have uttered these words .. they are blasphemous.
How dare I, an ordinary citizen, ask such a question of you, the very
<i>reigning deities</i> of our great country? </span>
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">This
is equivalent to insulting Suparlia herself. In fact, this act is
more shameful than insulting the Suparlia flag, insulting the
Suparlia national anthem, and looting, plundering and raping the
entire nation – all put together. I once again repeat – I tender
an unconditional apology for bringing your <i>virtuous shrine</i> to
disrepute.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">To
prove just how deep my remorse is regarding my outburst against you,
I shall:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Start
a campaign to educate the people of the country about the <i>sanctity</i>
of the Parliament and Parliamentarians.</span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Call
for the entire monsoon session of Parliament to only look for cases
across the country where the <i>righteousness</i> of the Parliament
has been brought into question, and to act on each of them in turn. </span>
</div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">Lobby
for bringing in a bill that makes it mandatory for the Parliament to
set aside an hour <b>every day</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
to bask in its own glory.</span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mobilise
the public to such an extent that they demand setting aside 5% of
the annual Union Budget just to bring to book, anyone who dares to
challenge the </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">supremacy</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
of the Parliament.</span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Whatever
you do, please please pretty please spare me. I beg you to not bring
a privilege motion against me. I am just an ordinary citizen and I
did not mean whatever I said. I should never have asked that
question. I withdraw my question in word and spirit. I consider it my
</span><i><b>privilege</b></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"> to
prostrate myself in front of the </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">supra-consecrated</span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Parliament of Suparlia.</span></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><i><b>Yours
Sincerely,</b></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">A
meek, </span><b>unprivileged</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Citizen of Suparlia.</span></i></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-75505317577001063632011-07-04T09:00:00.003+05:302011-07-04T09:00:00.847+05:30Book Review: "Annexed" by Sharon Dogar<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So, we've all heard and read about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Frank" target="_blank">Anne Frank</a>, who is arguably the most famous victim of the Nazi-perpetrated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust" target="_blank">WW II holocaust</a>. Anne Frank has been made immortal through her diary "Kitty", which is now a book "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl". We have read about what went through the early teenager's mind, body and life as she was holed up in a warehouse somewhere in Amsterdam trying to escape arrest by the Nazis; for two years. We have also all read about her crush on Peter van-Daan, the boy two years older than her, whose family was also in hiding along with the Franks in the same house.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Now, can you imagine the entire incident from Peter's point of view? Had he maintained a diary too, what might he have written in it? Would he see it differently from Anne? Anne was a proud Jew and she wanted to get back to her roots once the war was over. Peter, on the other hand, just wanted to be him – Peter van-Pels (in Anne's diary he is mentioned as van-Daan) – without any racial or religious tags. Are these two opinions really as mutually exclusive as they seem?</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41iQPUp2xFL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41iQPUp2xFL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Sharon Dogar, in her book <i><b>"Annexed"</b></i> writes up an imaginary diary – one that Peter might have penned. Anne's diary abruptly stops at the date when the 2 families were finally arrested and sent out on the last train to Auschwitz camp. However, in <i><b>"Annexed"</b></i>, Sharon goes beyond the arrest and into the concentration camps, the gas chambers, the lives which are worse than death, the death marches.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">What struck me about this book is the depth of Sharon's imagination. She has gone deep into Peter's soul and understood his character in mind-boggling detail. You would be forgiven for thinking that this actually <i>is </i><span style="font-style: normal;">Peter's diary!</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The other aspect of </span><i><b>"Annexed"</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"> is how it makes you feel for the residents of the hide-out, for Peter, for Anne, for the victims of the holocaust. It reminds you that the simple things in life that you take for granted – are not really so. Peter keeps talking about "outside" in his diary. Can you imagine being indoors for 2 years straight, without ever stepping out, and yearning with all your being just to be outside for a few minutes?</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">The closing chapters describe the conditions in the concentration camps in detail – and leave you horrified. How is it possible for one human to nurse so much hatred against other? How can Anne's father Otto Frank stay focused and advocate against "an eye for an eye" even in the face of such impending doom?</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">All in all, I would highly recommend </span><i><b>"Annexed"</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;">. If you have read The Diary of Anne Frank, then this book is a great read to make you appreciate the sometimes contradicting, sometimes agreeing views from Peter's point of view. Even if you haven't read Anne Frank, </span><i><b>"Annexed"</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"> is still a recommended read (although I also suggest you read Anne Frank first!).</span><br />
<br />
</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-57387013138910895782011-06-08T09:35:00.000+05:302011-06-08T09:35:18.906+05:3055er: Child Next Door<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>This child in the slum next door? Her constant smile puzzles the observer.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Her drunkard father beats her.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Mornings she's a maid at a dozen households.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>School occupies her afternoons. </b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Evening she cooks and cleans.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b><br />
</b></i> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Such turmoil at this tender age, yet she manages that perennial smile?</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Is there something to be learnt from her?</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-25850656223640168972011-05-26T07:55:00.001+05:302011-05-26T09:41:54.874+05:30An Open Letter to Mainstream Media<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Dear Indian Mainstream Media,</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">So, the cat is out of the bag. David Headley has <a href="http://ibnlive.in.com/news/let-handlers-guided-2611-attackers-watching-tv/154315-3.html" target="_blank">reaffirmed what we already knew</a>. But YOU heard it straight from the demon's mouth. LeT did make use of YOUR live coverage of 26/11 to guide the attackers, alter instructions and make the attack more effective.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">What strikes me about this matter is the way YOU played right into LeT's hands. LeT knew YOUR greed in such matters, and knew that YOU would even pimp yourself for a chance to get those exclusive visuals. I guess that using the live coverage as a tool to adapt the attacks – that was a key part of the plan. They <b>knew </b>YOU would cover it live. In short, the LeT <b>used</b> YOU in a manipulative way, without YOU even realizing it (although practically everyone else did!). Even LeT deserves credit for this shrewdness.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">So, can YOU finally come round and issue a collective acknowledgement that YOU were wrong? That YOU were irresponsible in YOUR coverage that day? An apology, and a commitment that YOU will be more responsible in the future? Just so that We The People are reassured that there is at least an iota of ethics retained in YOUR highly esteemed self?</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Or, do I ask for too much?</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Yours Truly,</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i>Just one Among “We, the People”.</i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;"><i> </i>************************</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: left;"><b> Previous Posts on this Topic:</b></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> <a href="http://www.hopehorizons.in/2009/01/short-story-hypocrite-radar-empty-tv.html">EmpTy TV and Parkha Strutt</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hopehorizons.in/2009/08/indian-media-pigeons-and-terror.html">Indian Media, Pigeons and Terror</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hopehorizons.in/2009/02/book-review-frontline-pakistan-by-zahid.html">Book Review: Frontline Pakistan by Zahid Hussain</a></li>
</ul></div><br />
</div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-15453641893169703392011-05-16T09:37:00.000+05:302011-05-16T09:37:29.638+05:30Book Review: Worth Every Gasp<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>What's it About?</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5274ARXFNI_44Mm1DgNRYrKoh_VJ39-yEKO2anQgaXtfuTpGAQl88oxJh0sfDyQk6aAHwnUS2v-13DTXpncwwuhFAW_RHHvm_RET42VK6xZkj5gC-np_aXnAJhPhAp0810Xv8pA/s1600/WorthEveryGasp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5274ARXFNI_44Mm1DgNRYrKoh_VJ39-yEKO2anQgaXtfuTpGAQl88oxJh0sfDyQk6aAHwnUS2v-13DTXpncwwuhFAW_RHHvm_RET42VK6xZkj5gC-np_aXnAJhPhAp0810Xv8pA/s1600/WorthEveryGasp.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image source: Flipkart page for this book.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Meet Anamika Mukherjee. While on a trek in <a href="http://wikitravel.org/en/Markha_Valley_Trek" target="_blank">Markha Valley</a> in Ladakh with her husband and friends, she suffered from pulmonary oedema, and had to abort the trek mid-way. She returned to Leh for rest and recuperation.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Ok, that's just he beginning of the story. What happened <i>after</i> that is the real thing. While her husband returned home having completed the trek, Anamika stayed back. And, after she had recovered enough, set her sights on completing the trek that she had left unfinished!</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
This journey is what the book <b>“Worth Every Gasp – A Lone Woman's Journey In the Himalayas”</b> is all about. Anamika was joined by an acquaintance Ballu, who had in the past accompanied them as a guide on a few treks in Uttaranchal. Yes – you read that right. A lone woman, trekking in the Himalayas with a man who is not her husband!</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
Anamika spent a few months trekking in the Himalayas. She started in and around the “lower altitude” (ya, right!) Manali . This was to get a feel for her readiness for the higher altitude treks in Ladakh. Once she was reasonably sure she could pull through, she got back to Ladakh, where she completed, among others, the Markha valley trek which had been her nemesis last time round. That accomplished, she also spent a few weeks back in Himachal Pradesh, rounding off her adventures with the trek to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandra_Taal" target="_blank">Chandertaal</a>, and then one final visit to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valley_of_Flowers_National_Park" target="_blank">Valley of Flowers</a> in Uttaranchal.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Salient points?</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">For one, the adventure itself is extraordinary. I mean, can you even begin to imagine the adventure quotient of this trip? In addition, the writing style is so endearing and alluring, I almost packed my bags and left for Ladakh while reading this book.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
The language, the wit and humor. You would be pleasantly surprised at the number of philosophical questions that are put forth in the book, disguised as anecdotes.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Then, the writing is also very candid. It is full of matters which we all think about but never say out loud.</div><ul><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">“What? A married woman sleeping in the same tent as a guide?”</div></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">How does one cope with toilet issues on journeys like these?</div></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">How does a woman cope with unwanted attention, especially if she's a solitary traveler?</div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">But, most of all, the thing that made me absolutely riveted to the book is the author's description of the places. Believe me when I say that describing natural beauty is a gift. And the author is gifted. I found myself repeatedly doing a Google image search for the places she mentions, and quite often finding that the image she drew for me very closely matches the image on screen.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Verdict</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">All in all, if you are a travel enthusiast, a trekker, a nature lover or a Ladakh-addict, then this book is for you. I guarantee you – you will not be disappointed.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-33204984620654245242011-04-06T09:30:00.003+05:302011-04-06T09:30:04.022+05:30Desh Raag<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Meet me. I am the modern, 21<sup>st</sup> century, Indian youth. I have a deep mine of knowledge about anything and everything in the world. </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Forget about the Indian map, I even know the Polynesian, Scandinavian and Baltic maps by heart. When it comes to USA, I speak in terms of <b>states</b> and their capitals.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">I know the names of coaches of all football teams in the EPL. I even know the amount for which player X moved from club A to club B.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">I have in-depth knowledge of the tug-of-war going on in Silicon Valley; about the cut-throat competition between Apple and Google to gain control of the mobile market.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">I can rattle off the engine specifications of German, Japanese and Korean cars to astonishing detail; heck I can even give you a crash course on <b>fighter jets</b>.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">In spite of all this, when I watch Desh Raag on TV after a long long time, I discover that I cannot even name all the <i><b>instruments</b></i> used in it – let alone the names of the <i><b>artistes</b></i> playing those instruments!</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">And I write this blog post, in shame. Directed at my own self and nothing else.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-3476652055974225642011-03-28T09:00:00.000+05:302011-03-28T09:00:00.346+05:3055er: Agony<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>The law could not help her.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Ethics were mute spectators.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Intellectuals debated her fate.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>And she suffered silently, incapable of expressing herself.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>No-one, but no one understood what she was going through; what was going through her.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>How could she tell them that Euthanasia or not, all she wanted was release from this endless misery?</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-4156303453252395962011-03-21T08:30:00.003+05:302011-03-21T08:30:01.687+05:30Book Review: Children of a Better God by Susmita Bagchi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Children of a Better God</b></i> is a novel by Oriya writer Susmita Bagchi. It was written originally in Oriya (<i><b>Deba Shishu</b></i>) and has been translated into other languages, including English.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">This is one novel which first by-passes the brain and proceeds straight to the heart. However, it eventually asks several questions of the reader.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The story is about Anupurba, who has just returned from the US with her husband and two sons. Anupurba was an art teacher in the US, but she doesn't find any suitable job for herself back in Bangalore. She ends up volunteering to teach art at Asha Jyothi, a school for spastic children.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">This experience turns out to be a life-changing one for Purba. The story takes the reader through Purba's journey, which begins with the realization that she had very wrong notions about cerebral palsy. Her initial apprehensions are found to be unfounded. She ends up being emotionally attached and also succeeds in making a difference, even guiding the children to an art exhibition.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Children of a Better God</b></i> is more than a story. It attempts to give people a glimpse into the lives of children who suffer from cerebral palsy, to remove misconceptions, to answer several questions, to pose others.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Spastic children may have physical deformities, but they are often shunned by society because of misgivings.</i></li>
<li><i>Dealing with children requires lot of patience, dealing with spastic children even more so. For example, the book has one character, Uma, who has almost no legs, has a very bad temper. So, how does one deal with such children? Ignore their excesses? Or strike a balance by being strict with them?</i></li>
<li><i>What such children lack in anatomy, they make up for in something else. They are brilliant in art or poetry or academics - something or the other. By no means are they to be dismissed.</i></li>
<li><i>What is the future for spastic children? What happens when they are at the threshold of adulthood? Do they crave for romantic and sexual fulfillment?</i></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Above all, the book reinforces the point that has been made about special children time and again: <b>They do not need your sympathy. It is the understanding and support that they seek from this society.</b></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">I would definitely recommend this book. Apart from educating me about spastic children, it has sent me on a soul-searching mission. It has also increased my respect for the countless nameless teachers, volunteers, ayahs and other staff who work selflessly and tirelessly to give hope to special children.</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-16902945115488825572011-03-17T08:30:00.000+05:302011-03-17T08:30:03.243+05:30Landmark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I just completed 1000 days serving as the President of FakesLand. And Phew! What a busy time it has been. I've been up to my neck in work. All the time. It isn't easy running a nation of 50 million people, is it?</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">What's that snicker for? You don't believe me, do you? Ok, here's my list of achievements</div><ul><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I completed 1000 days in office. You have no idea how big an achievement that is in itself.</div></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I presided over 100 celebrations (completion of 100 days, completion of 200 days, acquittal in a case of corruption, onset of monsoon, my birthday, departure of monsoon, castration of a donkey, ... and so on and so forth)</div></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I conducted roughly 200 <i>bandh</i>'s in protest against everything from the big bang to solar flares to my neighbor's cat peeing on the road-side at the exact spot where my dog is supposed to pee. “Wait a minute”, I hear you say. “If you were ruling, then who were the protests against”, you ask? Well, I don't consider it necessary to answer <b>that</b> question.</div></li>
<li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I set the world record for the number, magnitude and frequency of disruptions caused to the lives of the general public in my capital city. Considering the immense competition in this field, and the unquestionable talent and capability of my counterparts from other nations in this respect, I hold this accomplishment of mine in highest regard.</div></li>
</ul><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">There – does that suffice? Now wipe that smirk off your face and scoot. I have business to attend to. I am planning to hold a massive rally to commemorate the 100<sup>th</sup> case of corruption registered against me. So, if you will be so kind as to excuse me …</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-39965899350326614342011-03-07T12:41:00.000+05:302011-03-07T12:41:00.224+05:30Books: Good. TV: Bad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Reading is generally considered a good hobby. Watching TV, on the other hand, is supposed to be a waste of time. Ok, who am I kidding with this third person narration? I've been guilty of making this distinction myself. But now that I think of it, what is the basis? </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Is it because TV has “objectionable content”? But then, so do books. Remember, books don't go through a censorship process, are more easily accessible and are more “private” compared TV viewing. So books are guiltier than TV of corrupting minds with such content.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Is it because TV is not good for one's eyesight? But books don't score very well on that count either (especially if you are like me – reading in moving vehicles, in less-then-ideal lighting conditions … and .. you get the point).</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Is it because TV “distracts” people, particularly children? Books do too, don't they? I remember reading Alfred Hitchcock's “Three Investigators” series even during exam season in my pre-high school days.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">So, why the prejudice against TV? </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">I have come to the conclusion that TV can be not only an entertainer, it can also be a great quencher of the thirst for knowledge. It can be as effective a companion for the inquisitive soul as books. It is all a matter of what one chooses to watch; just as it is a matter of what one opts to read.</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-2305755585092422202011-03-03T08:30:00.000+05:302011-03-03T08:30:01.647+05:3055er: Enemy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>The enemy soldier lay lifeless in his trench. </b></i> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>He bent over the body, systematically looking for belongings.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>He found a letter in the shirt pocket. </b></i> </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>On reading it, he broke down, wondering about futility of war; of sacrifice for reasons unbeknownst.</b></i></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><b>For, the letter was from the deceased's wife, with a photo of their newborn.</b></i></div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-30009821862681139002011-02-27T09:08:00.001+05:302011-02-27T09:08:46.715+05:30Abble iStink<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Abble Computers</b> today announced the release of its latest earth-shattering, life-changing product – the <b>iStink.</b> The iStink is the latest gadget from this company which has been a pioneer in the space of mouth-watering products. This follows the release of the hugely successful <b>iFad</b> last year, and the run-away successes, the <b>iDrone</b> and the <b>iSod</b> the year before that.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">Showcasing the product in a press conference, Abble founder and CEO, <b>Jeev Snobs</b>, said that the iStink experience will seamlessly integrate with that of previous Abble products. For example, users can purchase “craps” for the iStink from the Abble <b>CrappStore</b>. The iStink is powered by Abble's flagship, critically acclaimed OS – the <b>iOhShit</b>. Snobs said that iStink will feature version 6.1 of the legendary OS, and that it has been fine-tuned specifically for this product.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">How the iStink is received by consumers remains to be seen, but it is widely expected to emulate the stupendous success of its predecessors. Watch this space for further updates on this, and other products from Abble.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-26444159371331077132011-02-24T23:38:00.000+05:302011-02-24T23:38:28.087+05:3055er: Full Circle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br />
<i><b>As a student: </b></i><br />
<i><b>Neighbourhood stand-and-eat self-services (Darshinis et. al.)</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>As an intern: </b></i><br />
<i><b>Upgradation to A/C halls of the Sagars</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Early days of employment: </b></i><br />
<i><b>Graduation to CCDs and restaurants serving impressive sounding cuisines</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>That's when reality dawns; The concept of "savings" beginning to make a non-negligible impression.</b></i><br />
<br />
<i><b>Soon, back it is to the neighbourhood stand-and-eat self-services.</b></i><br />
<br />
</div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-49064581398150057832011-01-20T09:02:00.000+05:302011-01-20T09:02:45.173+05:30Who's the Patriot?<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><b>Exhibit A:</b></u> A politician, businessman or celebrity. Twice a year, he hoists the flag and sings the national anthem, his chest swelling with pride at those two occasions.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><b>Exhibit B:</b></u> A Defence personnel, a security guard, a policeman, a fire-fighter. They dedicate their lives for the country. They are the first breed that come to mind when we think “patriotism”. </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><b>Exhibit C:</b></u> A driver, municipal sweeper, house-maid, toilet cleaner, daily wage labourer, coolie, primary school teacher. Most of these people are probably illiterate; chances are that they don't know what a “flag” is and have never heard of something called a “national anthem”. But these are the people that keep the nation running.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">So, who among these should be counted among true patriots? In other words, what place does tokenism and symbolism have in patriotism and nation-building?</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-44118311425286583802010-12-14T22:05:00.000+05:302010-12-14T22:05:54.090+05:30Five Faces of WikiLeaks<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">A lot has been said about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikileaks" target="_blank">WikiLeaks</a> saga already. There's nothing that I could possibly add. Instead, I'll <i>summarize</i>! I'll take the five “actors” in this drama, and state my opinion on each of them in turn.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><b>WikiLeaks:</b></u></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">What the site is doing is, supposedly, illegal. I don't see how speaking the truth out can be considered illegal. Sure, the documents it is leaking are “classified”. But then, one shouldn't use such a channel to insult senior foreign leaders, should one?</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">If I were WikiLeaks, I would hold my head high today.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Verdict:</b></i> Illegal, but undoubtedly ethical.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><b>Julian Assange:</b></u></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">It takes guts to do what <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_assange" target="_blank">this man</a> did – taking on the biggest bunch of hypocrites in this world isn't exactly my idea of a “challenging job”. Having said that, the other, unrelated track (the one for which he has been projected into the limelight for the wrong reasons) merits mention here too. </div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Charges of sexual offences have been levelled against Julian. <span style="font-style: normal;">He is not exactly charged with rape – it has more to do with engaging in </span><i>unprotected</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> sex with a sex worker in Sweden, where the law forbids it.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">I think while making a martyr out of Julian, this track needs to be kept separate. Lets face it – Julian Assange apparently violated the law in Sweden, and he needs to be punished for it.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Verdict:</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Illegal and Unethical</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><b><span style="font-style: normal;">US:</span></b></u></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">US has been trying to pull every string to try and stop the leaks. This puzzles me no end. US is the biggest champion of free speech. If they are hell bent on making a terrorist out of Julian Assange (as Sarah Palin <a href="http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/it-business/3251386/sarah-palin-says-target-wikileaks-julian-assange-like-the-taliban/" target="_blank">reportedly demanded</a>), doesn't that render hollow everything that the US has ever stood for? Where does that leave the Afghan war? The US stand on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aung_San_Suu_Kyi" target="_blank">Aung San Suu Kyi</a>? That on Tibet? How does that make Julian any different from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Xiaobo" target="_blank">Liu Xiaobo</a>?</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Verdict:</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Unethical to the core. Dont know (and dont care) whether the methods they are employing to silence WikiLeaks are legal or not.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><b><span style="font-style: normal;">Service Providers and Other Companies:</span></b></u></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Amazon kicked out WikiLeaks citing illegal activities. MasterCard, PayPal, twitter, Facebook – all followed suit by “censoring” WikiLeaks or its sympathizers in one way or other. Ironically, some of these companies depend on freedom of speech for their very existence.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">It has been argued that these companies might have taken the step of evicting WikiLeaks under pressure from the US Govt. That is hard to digest – given that these companies operate out of US – not North Korea for Gods' Sake!</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Verdict:</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Unethical. Full Stop.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><u><b><span style="font-style: normal;">Operation Payback:</span></b></u></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">This is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Payback" target="_blank">attempt by a group of hackers</a> to get back at those companies which pulled the rug from under WikiLeaks at the opportune moment. They are trying to do this by means of launching DDoS attacks on the wesbites of the service providers in question. Carrying out such kind of attacks is illegal in several countries. In my opinion, this shouldn't have been done. There </span><i>must</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> be other ways of supporting WikiLeaks.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><i><b>Verdict:</b></i><span style="font-style: normal;"> Bordering on the unethical, outright illegal.</span></div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">So there you are. That's where I stand as far as WikiLeaks is concerned. I view the antics of the US govt in its desperate attempt to plug the leaks, as an assault on democracy and freedom of speech. Not sure where this showdown is headed though. Will have to wait and watch.</span><br />
<br />
</div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-68338772926811842712010-11-25T09:30:00.007+05:302010-11-25T09:30:01.397+05:3055er: Versus<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Good against bad.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Success versus failure.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">All or Nothing.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Concrete takes on Abstract.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Courage over Fear.<br />
<br />
<br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">It all boils down to this: <b>What I Understand</b> - up against - <b>What I Know Not Much Of</b>.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Which is why, once I take the trouble to understand the other side, the distinction between positive and negative blurs.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-54463884370295722732010-11-18T09:00:00.000+05:302010-11-18T09:00:00.566+05:3055er: What He Means, What She Thinks<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">It was their first anniversary. She had planned to cook a grand dinner for him.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">However, just before leaving for office, he said "Let's dine out this evening"</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">His intention: "Let me spare her the trouble of having to cook at least for a day"</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Her interpretation: "He's bored of my cooking already. So insensitive".</div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-30791434678901108172010-11-11T09:45:00.000+05:302010-11-11T09:45:01.121+05:307 things I'd like to Photograph Before I Die<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Presenting the list of seven things I'd really like to photograph in this lifetime. The fact that this quest would take me far and wide across several continents is a pure coincidence.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><ol><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>The magnificence of an erupting volcano.</b></div></li>
</ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Just imagine – A dark sky. An ominous looking mountain. Lava spewing out from the top. Yellow, red and every other shade in between. And me being there to witness the destructive, yet awe-inspiring phenomenon. I think this'd be as close to moksha as I'll ever get. The picture I have in mind is this</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0OhBhrlG-8EvE07lvL9C2nnxVhRjTBEaDk_duasQ1JfbqVRLiQk7gcfBEDksNeYu_L0YiPjpC7O1EHJijFPL-CFzFGX_ruycuuXsKQE6pE4nFzhrxzk3jAGwyUoxZAWbeKKDEg/s1600/Pacaya_Volcano_Guatemala_1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0OhBhrlG-8EvE07lvL9C2nnxVhRjTBEaDk_duasQ1JfbqVRLiQk7gcfBEDksNeYu_L0YiPjpC7O1EHJijFPL-CFzFGX_ruycuuXsKQE6pE4nFzhrxzk3jAGwyUoxZAWbeKKDEg/s320/Pacaya_Volcano_Guatemala_1024x768.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;">[This photograph of Pacaya volcano in Guatemala is sourced from <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wallpaperweb.org/wallpaper/nature/pacaya-volcano-guatemala_1024x768_17501.htm&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFhW7iedtE8F8vCP1QpUrolsrLlQg" target="_blank">wallpaperweb.org</a>]</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<br />
</div><ol start="2"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>The impossible colour riot of a coral reef ecosystem</b></div></li>
</ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">Innumerable species and countless variety of life. Fish. Mammals. Plants. Un-categorizable life forms. Colours that can never be captured in lens. Now wouldn't that be one hell of a visual treat?</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYMXaWFPmJ8Q0xg1fqEEaSKGKqQaLrKt0PgRC-TAScaXMo5S2teWlHv4qjP7Gtx299p2V6dnVVxGoVNJlBMkHclr2iqKcbmjeVfPq8nmwF4WKpLGcbSiVgYHCWMFUHD0AUAEx0g/s1600/209668-1366x768-coral-reef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYMXaWFPmJ8Q0xg1fqEEaSKGKqQaLrKt0PgRC-TAScaXMo5S2teWlHv4qjP7Gtx299p2V6dnVVxGoVNJlBMkHclr2iqKcbmjeVfPq8nmwF4WKpLGcbSiVgYHCWMFUHD0AUAEx0g/s320/209668-1366x768-coral-reef.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;">[Image Source: <a href="http://nature.desktopnexus.com/get/209668">http://nature.desktopnexus.com/get/209668</a>]</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
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</div><ol start="3"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Migration of Wildebeest</b></div></li>
</ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">This is the largest migration spectacle seen on earth. I would love to get a shot from above – where all you can see are wildebeest (not even an inch of the land visible). And of course, the dust that they kick up! More details about this migration at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serengeti#Great_Migration" target="_blank">wikipedia</a>. Or just tune in to Discovery/Animal Planet :)</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7cIISecw0NOubZpvRVFTE2dxaDg8u4YkoElcogfen64RHfelQkDJR0sgNG4jyguC_2ID_MHm060GdUTNsi1PprtEdjPRfccREjeHFIQKbloyEFuS05fM0GF66ngf7whJIQmtKA/s1600/serengeti_river_crossing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7cIISecw0NOubZpvRVFTE2dxaDg8u4YkoElcogfen64RHfelQkDJR0sgNG4jyguC_2ID_MHm060GdUTNsi1PprtEdjPRfccREjeHFIQKbloyEFuS05fM0GF66ngf7whJIQmtKA/s320/serengeti_river_crossing.jpg" width="212" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;">[Image courtesy <a href="http://www.burrard-lucas.com/photo/tanzania/serengeti_river_crossing.html#gallery.82899C9BE05E4D67A653F" target="_blank">Burrard Lucas Photography</a>]</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
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</div><ol start="4"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Northern Lights</b></div></li>
</ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">This is yet another spell-binding natural phenomenon. I don't know whether my camera (or any camera) would be able to capture the real beauty of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurorae" target="_blank">aurorae</a>, but it's worth a try.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY7bTI1Z-8_4VulkxwyS2g65GF4v99Oe79QygL9071pYo26YI2Fk5j3FrMUvkUbP10p2-6q5-Eh7ke6lidkGjbcbEwGaPXnVLFR4ZH77hR-SP4ZlnLdaSW0a-jDQKBozblBQtWg/s1600/churchill-aurora_9338_990x742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWY7bTI1Z-8_4VulkxwyS2g65GF4v99Oe79QygL9071pYo26YI2Fk5j3FrMUvkUbP10p2-6q5-Eh7ke6lidkGjbcbEwGaPXnVLFR4ZH77hR-SP4ZlnLdaSW0a-jDQKBozblBQtWg/s320/churchill-aurora_9338_990x742.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;">[Image source: <a href="http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/wallpaper/photography/photos/patterns-aurorae/churchill-aurora/" target="_blank">NGC photography</a>]</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
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</div><ol start="5"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>The Emperor Penguin Huddle</b></div></li>
</ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">During the peak of the Antarctic winter, thousands of emperor penguins huddle together to beat the brutal blizzards. This huddling generates heat that keeps them going. The birds take turns being on the perimeter of the group. What a sight that'd make!</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.arkive.org/emperor-penguin/aptenodytes-forsteri/image-G53729.html#src=portletV3web" title="ARKive image - Emperor penguin colony, backlit by sun"><img alt="ARKive image - Emperor penguin colony, backlit by sun" border="0" src="http://cdn1.arkive.org/media/4D/4DD8EA70-2EE1-486C-B444-C14145D5260B/Presentation.Portlet/Emperor-penguin-colony-backlit-by-sun.jpg" title="ARKive image - Emperor penguin colony, backlit by sun" /></a></div><br />
</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
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</div><ol start="6"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>Aerial view of the Pantanal</b></div></li>
</ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantanal" target="_blank">Pantanal</a> is the largest swamp in the world. It is part of the Amazon basin. The marsh is home to thousands of species of wildlife – including the famous anaconda. I'd trade a kidney for the chance to get a shot of Pantanal from the air. Who knows, I might even get a snap of an anaconda while at it.</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobZUp_uJw4Zvjw2KRUJsXvDOGpHedSOxzwzPXSuKCTmT19es1NThp_h8qw7y6Hh3Y0608aGFfON75taHxphQZ-WFtlgPSBzPZKxaR2QcpdcBknjFpGoE6-9XhROILFqQ_LKikGA/s1600/verdant-lagoons_6650_600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobZUp_uJw4Zvjw2KRUJsXvDOGpHedSOxzwzPXSuKCTmT19es1NThp_h8qw7y6Hh3Y0608aGFfON75taHxphQZ-WFtlgPSBzPZKxaR2QcpdcBknjFpGoE6-9XhROILFqQ_LKikGA/s320/verdant-lagoons_6650_600x450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;">[Photo sourced from <a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/brazil-photos/#/verdant-lagoons_6650_600x450.jpg" target="_blank">NGC travel</a>]</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
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</div><ol start="7"><li><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><b>A wild animal nursing its newborn – in the wild</b></div></li>
</ol><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">That bond between mother and child – nature's biggest gift of life. I hope to capture that one moment that portrays several emotions. Something like this:</div><div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXrnmVRuTRZ7Kwoq8wh0phHXj87aYwmFQkkq9RBdgEFgUUYckkswYAmpr8RNPdpBnyKOKv4jSrJ3w1Eu73stuY-l6hUrjHgSCn2LFuMvkwF99kusVAqHzEyAgB0_6s3pcRbFffA/s1600/1375273738_3947a951a5_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXXrnmVRuTRZ7Kwoq8wh0phHXj87aYwmFQkkq9RBdgEFgUUYckkswYAmpr8RNPdpBnyKOKv4jSrJ3w1Eu73stuY-l6hUrjHgSCn2LFuMvkwF99kusVAqHzEyAgB0_6s3pcRbFffA/s320/1375273738_3947a951a5_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in; text-align: center;">[Photo courtesy: <a href="http://thebigfoto.com/giraffes" target="_blank">The Big Photo</a>]<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">So, what's on your list?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24035652.post-12007472644335784342010-10-28T09:00:00.000+05:302010-10-28T09:00:00.642+05:3055er: Business As Usual<div align="justify" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">The senior management was regretful. The incident shouldn't have occurred. Lives were lost.</div><div align="justify" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">But, the show had to go on. A handful of deaths didn't justify an additional safety budget. Or the ensuing cut in profits</div><div align="justify" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;">So, it was back to business as usual; the potentially fatal flaw un-rectified. After all, it's a capitalist world. </div><div align="justify" style="margin-bottom: 0.04in; margin-top: 0.04in;"><br />
</div>Kiranhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01127226413109512324noreply@blogger.com2