Know your history through History.com

Most of us have seen the History Channel in our cable channels and probably dismissed it in treating along with Discovery and National Geographic genre.

I came across History.com, the online edition of the channel and its a wonderful resource!

Especially, this day in history page lists and details what happened on this day on different years. Here is what I thought various ways to leverage this resource:

a) What Happened On Your Birthday:  Click on the link "What Happened on Your Birthday" and learn how 'special' you are!

b) Here is an idea to make others feel special. You may also want to use the Birthday feature to compile the list of events happened on somebody's birthday or anniversary. May be offline, we can create a personal greetings card / write a note highlighting these events.

c) Remembering somebody's birthday!  We can mentally link somebody's birthdate and the events, so that its easy to remember.

d) Talk to your children about these events on everyday basis.

e) Peek in advance for a week or a month and compile the list of events and look forward the date. Plan some activity based on that event in the weekends. For example, if you are a teacher, learn in advance what happened in August; every week talk about how Independence Day was declared, or  Anne Frank was captured or Death of Genghis Khan.

f) If you are like me, blog about the events!

History text books are so dry since our days and its time that we kindle and rekindle the interests in history through one such resource!

Please share your thoughts.

Teachers' Bad Behavior Impact Children

Today morning, there was a news (link) in the media where a Hindi teacher insisted the girls sit on his lap. The brave girl students have complained to the parents and the teacher is now absconding as the police is in search of him.

Here is what the child psychologist and counsellor Swarnalatha Iyer recommend -
Many a time child wouldn't know if what's happening to her is good or bad. Such behaviour by a teacher can leave a negative impact on child's mind. Also, there's a chance that a child would grow up thinking there is nothing wrong if a teacher behaves like this and may learn something which is not appropriate for the society. Parents play an important role in teaching a child about a good touch and a bad touch. Child should be told that only parents can touch her body, no one else.

Teachers are the architects of the society. Their behaviours impact the society multitude!

Teachers' Behavior Impact Children

Today morning, there was a news (link) in the media where a Hindi teacher insisted the girls sit on his lap. The brave girl students have complained to the parents and the teacher is now absconding as the police is in search of him.

Here is what the child psychologist and counsellor Swarnalatha Iyer recommend -
Many a time child wouldn't know if what's happening to her is good or bad. Such behaviour by a teacher can leave a negative impact on child's mind. Also, there's a chance that a child would grow up thinking there is nothing wrong if a teacher behaves like this and may learn something which is not appropriate for the society. Parents play an important role in teaching a child about a good touch and a bad touch. Child should be told that only parents can touch her body, no one else.

Teachers are the architects of the society. Their behaviours impact the society multitude!

Essence of being congruent

A salesman knocks at your door to sell a product.  Even if the product is good and a needy one, sometimes you feel the salesman is not 'genuine' ; and you do not buy the product.  This is a sign of salesman being incongruent.
Congruency is what we are when we are completely "integrated" with our mind, speech, body language, "be the one" and "not trying to be one".
Congruency comes when you have a strong conviction.
If you are a Hindu, you do not pretend to be one - you are one; you do one what a Hindu supposed to do and you are completely in the mindset.
If you are a Keralite, you talk the marvels of the brown rice and you go on and convince your friends to go for it.
When someone is incongruent, you sense their eyes lie; even if you are not an expert in analyzing the body language, you know someone that 'something is wrong with this guy'.
To be congruent, one needs to be more of it. Believe more, do more and pull the evidences being so. Practice every single opportunity till the person and practice becomes inseparable; a natural thing.
All of us are congruent in several things and incongruent in several other.
Have you ever wondered why you were not chosen in the interview  inspite of answering all the questions?  Because to the panel, you did not appear congruent.
Relationships fail when one of the partners fail to be congruent.
Focusing everyday to build on what we would like to become, will make us congruent.

GIrls need protection in public places

Here is an another story of molestation to a young tailor - a girl working in a garment factory.  She wast not just molested but also thrown out of the train. She managed to stay alive with some severe injuries but is our law strong enough to prevent such incidents recurring. The culprits have been identified; but they may be let of few hundreds and thousands after several days of dragging the case. If there are enough evidences, they should be put under rigorous punishment serving as a lesson for others.

Here is the narration from the victim -
I am a tailor at the Hinduja Garments factory in Bangalore. I was going to my home town, Mysore. When the train was approaching Maddur station, four youths began teasing me and sexually harassing me. They passed lewd remarks and tried to molest me. When I protested and threatened that I would inform police about their misbehaviour, they pushed me out of the moving train. I fell on the rocky ground and lost consciousness. When I regained my consciousness, I was under medical care. I was in acute pain and there was blood all over my body.

Read more on TOI page: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Girl-molested-thrown-out-of-train-in-Karnataka/articleshow/15133349.cms



Also, the railways should ensure adequate police force travelling to protect the passengers in train. Not just police, even medical emergency system also should be available. I recall the TV newsreader and actor Varadharajan submitted a request to the then President Dr.APJ highlighting the need for medical emergency in trains when his family member had an emergency during travel.

Girls need protection in public places

Here is an another story of molestation to a young tailor - a girl working in a garment factory.  She wast not just molested but also thrown out of the train. She managed to stay alive with some severe injuries but is our law strong enough to prevent such incidents recurring. The culprits have been identified; but they may be let of few hundreds and thousands after several days of dragging the case. If there are enough evidences, they should be put under rigorous punishment serving as a lesson for others.

Here is the narration from the victim -
I am a tailor at the Hinduja Garments factory in Bangalore. I was going to my home town, Mysore. When the train was approaching Maddur station, four youths began teasing me and sexually harassing me. They passed lewd remarks and tried to molest me. When I protested and threatened that I would inform police about their misbehaviour, they pushed me out of the moving train. I fell on the rocky ground and lost consciousness. When I regained my consciousness, I was under medical care. I was in acute pain and there was blood all over my body.

Read more on TOI page: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Girl-molested-thrown-out-of-train-in-Karnataka/articleshow/15133349.cms



Also, the railways should ensure adequate police force travelling to protect the passengers in train. Not just police, even medical emergency system also should be available. I recall the TV newsreader and actor Varadharajan submitted a request to the then President Dr.APJ highlighting the need for medical emergency in trains when his family member had an emergency during travel.

1001 events that shaped the world

Here is a little secrete of mine. During my schooling, I scored 98 in social studies.  (until my friend quips in to say that he scored 101; yes the total marks were for 200; and I just scored 49%).   History and Geography books used to be very dry accounts of people, place, and events and I always wondered why all these happened.  Be it the printing of the book, or the context of the text, lack of pictures (most of them were hand drawing or black and white faded images) and appeared more like a law book.  There was no sufficient material for me to think that I am proud of this country's history.

These days, having been exposed to a lot of new age books and popular historian authors, History is really a fascinating subject for me.  It made me pick several books on history accounts and I really did read them all.

The recent pick being 1001 events that shaped the world. A voluminous, encyclopedia kind of book, it has sequence of events narrated starting with BC and until recent '80s.  With a One Page - One Event concept, its really easy reading and a great compilation. Unlike other history books, there is nothing to memorize here. Almost every page has a suitable picture. Where photographs are not available, the oil paintings and art pictures are presented. But mind you, most of the oil pictures had nudity, violence, massacres, murders - not really disturbing but unless you make up your mind that this is our history and this was how the pictures were drawn.  One odd finding was that Gandhi's death was in colour photo - I am wondering if it was taken from the movie. The Index that appears at the beginning of the book is another wonderful listing countrywise.

I recommend this book to nourish your general knowledge. Its expensive. But its not just a coffee table kind; it truly has the essentials.

Tags: Books, History

Spare some lung space in Bangalore

Everone knows how bad Bangalore is swelling with traffic, record breaking apartments, and several concrete buildings within the city. The only lungspace I know of is Lalbagh; but often there are often news that come and go that part of Lalbagh will be taken for expanding the roads.

Bannerghatta Road is known for its overflowing traffic and drainages always under construction. Of several junctions, GD Mara bus stop junction(Mandovi Motors) is a connector to different parts of the city.  Just behind the stop, there was a slum; which is now being eaten up a upcoming 7 star Taj Hotel.

Why dont the businessmen, corporators think before they would plan something of a big structure at a congested junction like GD Mara.

Its time to approve such projects only outside the city.

Tags: General

Beggary Poster

Beggary Poster (c) GCoffee

When you share your last crust of bread with a beggar, you mustn't behave as if you were throwing a bone to a dog. You must give humbly, and thank him for allowing you to have a part in his hunger. - Giovanni Guareschi

Why This Blog?

Every day, the news daily is not without a coverage on child abuse.  As someone said, ‘every time a child is abused, we add it to the stat’. 

I happened to pick a book titled “Bitter Chocolate” by  . Its such a “bitter” book that it is full of stories but the same time guidance on what we can do about it.  Honestly, the stories were very disturbing and I could not read them. I skimmed through the pages only to read the information part.

But, reading this book became a threshold for me – it sounded to be a biggest problem to be addressed. Somewhere in the comforts of our society, we have not put checks and balance to prevent this crime.

The person who does this crime is a psycho and makes the victim physically and psychologically wounded finally. Normal looking people, trusted people do this to their dear ones; its like the fence grazing the grass. The fences are failing and we need to mend them. Failing Fences is a blog as a result, focusing on what needs to be done to mend these fences; how do we address the society’s curse?

This is going to be my focus and will blog and certainly do something about it.

Failing Fences - Foucs on child abuse

Every day, the news daily is not without a coverage on child abuse.  As someone said, ‘every time a child is abused, we add it to the stat’. 

I happened to pick a book titled “Bitter Chocolate” by  . Its such a “bitter” book that it is full of stories but the same time guidance on what we can do about it.  Honestly, the stories were very disturbing and I could not read them. I skimmed through the pages only to read the information part.

But, reading this book became a threshold for me – it sounded to be a biggest problem to be addressed. Somewhere in the comforts of our society, we have not put checks and balance to prevent this crime.

The person who does this crime is a psycho and makes the victim physically and psychologically wounded finally. Normal looking people, trusted people do this to their dear ones; its like the fence grazing the grass. The fences are failing and we need to mend them. Failing Fences is a blog as a result, focusing on what needs to be done to mend these fences; how do we address the society’s curse?

This is going to be my focus and will blog and certainly do something about it.

Fading bills

Fading bill

You bought items a couple of months back and also were issued bills.  You preserved it. You thought it you can use it as a reference some time in future.  Pull out any of your old bills, and like a magic you may probably see a blank paper.

The issue with thermal printing in several counters, petrol bunks, electronics purchase and all that we buy - they fade. I often wonder what is the point in taking our signature on the slip for credit card purchases; only our sign would remain and rest of the slip is just a faded one.

The very purpose of a bill is an acknowledgement that we purchased an item through a legal transaction.  Its the right of the consumer to have a valid bill throughout. A bill is supposed to be reproduced as a legal reference when in need.

But for the past few years, all the shops big and small issue bills whose content would fade soon.

I first spoken about this issue to the Croma electronics shop people two years back. Later they introduced a concept of emailing the receipt to our email at the time of billing.  This e-bill serve as an evidence.

I do not know who active is our consumer forums on this issue. But I thought a consumer this is what can be done -

a) Decide the bill is significant or not.

b) If the product is costly and the bill is significant, scan a copy of it and archive it.

c) If you own a PSC (Print, Scanner, Copier),  you may want to keep a xerox copy of it.

d) You may also want to maintain a register of transactions - Product Name, Bill No, Vendor Name, Location and Date.  (If this can be made in an excel, you can also analyze your expense trend.)

e) Where possible, see if you also can expect an ebill.



Any better thoughts, let us know.

Derek Sivers

Ben Dunlap talks about a passionate life

(Why) Do men cry?

Do men cry?  My uncle did.  My aged called my dad and I spoke to him. He is hearing my voice after a long time. He started weeping uncontrollably. I brought him back by saying "If you want to hear my voice, I can sing a song for you"; he went on saying "he is affected by nervous problems, and coping with various other old age issues; and that he is turning 61".

Emotions!

Emotions is what something that make us human. I don't think Hitler would have wept after killing people.

I recall several incidents where I have seen grown up (men) crying. Among the celebrities, Yuvraj Singh, Vinod Kambli, and Sreesanth crying.  I was surprised to read that even Dhoni wept after the World Cup win (read here)











When we bring up boys, its very common for parents to tell the crying boys "dont cry like girls". May be we should reframe our words into something else.  Crying is okay. Crying certainly has a purpose.



Some more reading on this topic: http://artofmanliness.com/2008/06/19/when-is-it-okay-for-a-man-to-cry/

Begging questions

Known fact that poverty and unemployment breeds beggars.

But, what it takes to be a beggar? What does she think day long?  Is she a beggar throughout her life? We have seen young beggars, and old beggars. Has this city grown in front of their eyes?  What transport means to them - may be they travel a lot in trains, but I am certain I do not see them any more in buses.  At Temples and Traffic signals, do they need to use their persuasion techniques to get their daily bread.  Are they someone who transcended ego? Are they someone who does not have a need to feel special?  Are they someone who transcended time?  What do they fear and what do they pray?  In the eyes of society, when do they have actually gone bad?  What if they do not get their food at all for the day - steal, rob, take advantage of something?  What is their future - through their own eyes?  What do they dream?  What do they think day along? What my ten rupees mean to her - a hundred?



Is that we all are blessed? 

Lettuce Bouquet

Bought by Dad;

Shot by GCoffee

It is a very common thing to share a flower bouquet on special occasions. In the bakeries and retail shops, we have seen cookies bouquets, and candy bouquets - probably we do not buy because it is expensive. May be when we visit  someone next time, its a good idea to make our own bouquets with home made sweets and a combination of small gifts, cookies and candies.



How about a lettuce bouquet?  I saw my dad got this from his morning walk and kept on the table and appeared to me like a bouquet.  Just by adding a heart shaped bouquet post it and a personal note can be a "healthy nutritious" gift. How often do we gift something to our neighbour?  Good idea?

Turn your laptop into an educational kit

Many of us do not have an IPad;  But I would like to assure, Google Chrome's appstore is something that will give you the IPad experience (of course, except for the touch screen).



Here I explain, how you can leverage Google Chrome's app store as an educational kit.



1. Install Google Chrome from this link.

https://www.google.com/intl/en/chrome/browser/



2. Once you finish installing the Google Chrome browser,  visit this link https://chrome.google.com/webstore .  You may be asked to login with your Gmail account.  (See the tip mentioned below). You are taken to the Chrome Store.

3. Now goto any category and select your apps.  Since its for your kids, you may want to select Education category.  If you like an app, click the button, "Add to Chrome"

4. In order to access these apps, click on New Tab or Ctrl-T  and you will see a similar arrangement.

Step 2.  Chrome Store

You may want to take a note of the following tips:

• To have all these apps, you need to have Google Chrome.


• You may want to have an exclusive Gmail account for this purpose.  You can leave this Gmail account signed in, so that anybody in your home can use it.  (You can simultaneously use your personal Gmail account in other browsers like Firefox, IE.  Recently I installed Opera in my Netbook, its lightning fast!)








Step 4. Chrome Apps added by you



• As with any apps, please ensure appropriate parental control.

Happy Learning !

The friendly scavenger

Photo was taken near Jayanagar 4th block

Crows as the scavengers is part of the eco system.  We often see the crows eating the dead rats on the road side. Have we seen enough crows inside the city? I wonder.



And then, I recall in our school Tamil classes, crows were referred to as aagaaya thotti (flying scanvers) - ஆகாய  தோட்டி.  Some how, I could not find any tamil reference of this tamil phrase on Internet.

Photo (not the rat) shot by Ganesh

Meanwhile, read this article "Keep the crows flying to save the environment".

Flipkart's customer friendly service

Image: Namas Bhojani for Forbes India

I always find Flipkart to be very customer friendly.  All my online purchases have been through Flipkart for the past few years.



Some recent positive experiences:



a) I ordered a 16 GB sd card along with a mobile as a gift for my family.  However, upon receiving the Kingston sd card was bent. Since it was a gift, I did not have the bill and order no. handy.  I called up Flipkart Helpline and asked for SD card replacement.  After understanding my problem thoroughly, they agreed to replace.

b) If we  have ordered a book to your office address and if the delivery date falls on Saturday, they call up to check if we are available at Saturday. Obviously you dont :-).  SMS your house address, you get your order delivered at home.

c) This is the big highlight - I had ordered a gift for my daughter whose birthday falls on 4th July.  The committed delivery timeline was 7th July.  I requested Flipkart to consider delivering on 4th July - they really did the magic - the gift was delivered at 9 am!



There are few news I hear recently from my known circles - a colleague got a product over priced than MRP;  another friend got to know his order cancelled without intimation; another said an empty box was delivered.  And a very loud mouthed open letter to Flipkart's CEO on poor services.  I am only wondering its just happening after Junglee's entry.

Underachieving India

India is probably reaching a threshold. Ask any children to talk on "What he or she would if be comes a one-day Prime Minister"?  (Note:  the question is not "what if you become Prime Minister one day..").   

Every child will talk about every issue that is of concern. All the topics have become a subject of mockery and everyone talks about it. If anyone believes India is progressing, its out of pure luck and some good policies here and there. I often wonder why do all the retied people crowd the Nation's corridors and impede the growth of a beautiful nation?

• 
  Corruption - Something we have "taken" for granted
  
  


• Economy - we pay more than what we earn


• Infrastructure - Malls cannot be the only growth signs.  Why do many in village still travel on camels and buffaloes?


• Education - Is knowledge affordable?


• 
  Energy - Are we tapping all the right resources?
  
  


• Lives - It was disheartening to read farmers suicide in India on one side and innocent people getting killed in flash floods another side.  Drought and Floods - two sides of the same coin.  What stops us from linking the rivers?  Read yourself to the alarming stats on how many farmers commit suicide in India.


• Nasty politics - As of writing this, Karnataka gets its 3rd CM in 4 years of BJP rule.  What a dirty politics by people like Yeddiyurappa to place his own men on power corridor!  We also saw the drama of choosing the President.  We also know how "silent" our Prime Minister despite all.

Its timely the world recognizes it all and TIME's Asia Edition has a cover story on our Prime Minister. I am waiting for Wiki Leaks to list publicly the Swiss bank account holders from India.



And I picked Edward Luce's "Inspite of the Gods" from Just Books last week. Fascinating reading.

The burning tree

JP Nagar 2nd Phase, 9th Cross, Near the Ladies Hostel.

Corporator Incharge: Chandrasekar Raju

City, Publicity

 Here are some poster boys for you.  They need all the publicity to get noticed - at every part of the city. What an eyesore!

My 7 am Arivu

I am suffering from a very bad eye lid boil. Once in a while, I look into the mirror to see myself as a 7am Arivu logo.

Its a coincidence that its 07/07

The boil could have been because of body heat.

Or some microbes in the eyelid

I hoped my dad would have some naamakatti  (white power block used by Iyengaras to wear the naamam).  Its a wonderful home remedy - applying paste of it before going to bed would have dried up the boil next morning.

I also tried applying hot water so that the infection area gets cleaned.

What Gates reads this summer...

Bill Gates has posted his current summer reading. Please visit this link: http://www.thegatesnotes.com/Personal/Great-Summer-Reading?WT.mc_id=7_5_2012_summerreading_tw&WT.tsrc=Twitter



Also, its a wow feeling to see what he reads: 

http://www.thegatesnotes.com/All?search=Books&view=preview

Monday Malware Issue!

There is a news on the internet that on Monday, many of the Internet users will not be able to access the Interenet due to a malware. The details are here:http://www.firstpost.com/tech/malware-threat-how-not-to-lose-internet-access-on-monday-369517.html




Please click on the following link to check if your computer is infected: http://dns-ok.us/



If you see a bright, flashy green - then you are alright!



If not, you need to take some action.

Treasures to leave behind

I was talking to some friend and discussion centered around what we leave behind as treasures for our children. I was able to quickly list the first three, as I have been inspired the words of Jim Rohn (visit this link)

• Journals: Our writings, our recordings, perceptions, on everything that we could record.


• Pictures: Kids grow and there are several special moments every day. Click a lot of pictures. It will a good idea to develop the pictures too, instead of just leaving them behind as digital content.


• Books: Needless to say, build a library for your children. Also, make them familiarize with the great authors of our time.

 I went on to add the following:

• Music and Movies: Kids anyway, get exposed to every day filmy music. But they eventually miss the music by legends, and also good world music. How many of the kids know the richness of our Indian music? And how many know the world music, beyond the pop and MTV hits? World Cinema is another. There are several great world cinema - introduce them to good ones and talk about the ‘behind the scenes’ information about these movies. My friend Paramesh introduced me to this new age music called www.cokestudio.com.pk/


• Travel: I just do not mean a family picnic; I also meant anything you would ‘go, see and experience’. I have been reading off and on Evolve Your Brain by Dr. Joe Dispenza. His message is our brain goes through neurological changes under two circumstances: (a) when we learn some thing new (b) when we undergo some new experience.


• Right People: The teens believe their Facebook friends count makes them popular. Its our responsibilities to connect with them good mentors, well wishers, and also Mr.Clean leaders for them to follow.

Please comment, if there is a "treasure" to leave behind!