Private Vehicle Dumping School Children

Here is a private vehicle spotted on Bannerghatta Road (near the area where tiles and marbles are sold). Its not really justified to dump the school children like flocks of sheep in the van.  The van was also not in good condition.
Vehicle No. KA 04 M 8852.

BESCOM Helpdesk is professional!

If you ever complained of BESCOM in the past, you would have noticed a lot has been improving in the BESCOM.  I would like to highlight my experiences with BESCOM customer support.  Anytime the power goes, I immediately call 080-22873333 which is a 24 x 7 customer care support. Someone always picks up - they take all the details like the time power went, address, contact details and provide the complaint number.  Once the power is restored, they call back and ensure we are satisfied.

Today, I had to call due to a power cut. I also gave feedback that while I am happy that the complaints are immediately attended to, the short power cuts have been happening very frequently in our area.  The executive (yes, she is one!)  suggested that I write to bescomconsumer@gmail.com so that all the complaints are reviewed by the senior officers.

This is really professional and I am very glad to write about this in August Minds.

Hearty Appreciations to BESCOM HelpDesk.

She is still around

She is still around.
I try to avoid...
Not sure how I can eliminate beggary...
Undecided if I have to support her !
She keeps appearing on the signals...
Reminding us in contrast of ATMs and Fashions around !
What do I explain to my kid?

Here is a call to change Bangalore city - iChangeMyCity

Many of us often complaint - not to the respective departments, but among ourselves - on various civic issues in Bangalore.  Here is an e-initiatve from the Janaagrahaa called IChangeMyCity (link) where everyone can log their complaints online.

ichangemycity

Here is what you need to do:

a) Create an account for yourself
b) Then post a complaint on the issue that you would like to address -
  1. You select the location from the embedded Google Map
  2. You describe the complaint
  3. If you have a photo or so, you can post one

c) You select the type of the problem (traffic, garbage etc) so that the complaint can be accordingly routed through.
d) You can also view others complaints and vote "I am affected"
e) You can also create a group so that many of us can collectively fight a common issue

The issue gets assigned to the ward corporator or any respective authority.  You also accumulate points for creating issues (I am not sure what it means to have points; but it could be for some motivation).

The authority acknowledges and also provides the contact number, or take action.  Once the action taken, you can change the status to "resolved".

You may say 'there are several such initiatives in the past but nothing happened'; but this is different:  The entire Bangalore city's problems are plotted on a map. It is visible where the problem lies.

If you agree with me, please take action now.  Visit the IChangeMyCity (link); spread a word on this initiative to other friends; if you are a blogger, blog about this. If you are employed, post this info in your billboard.

Be the change, before you expect the change!

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!

Its been a while!

Its been a while since I logged in to post my thoughts.



There was a hot summer days with guests and kids around; had some fun.



Bought new books like Personal MBA, Mathematics minus fear, Pursuit of Happyness, Flipside of Everything, The Last Man who knew everything.



I also have been experiencing a lot of coincidences happening back to back - not sure if I should and think if I have to make some solid interpretations - or just let the magic unwind itslef whenever it wanted to.



Also went through a stupid - really stupid activities like removing the sun control film from the car because "terrorists" may be in. What a nonsense rule to impose when the authorities have more than enough things do for the society.



The monsoon is setting in and if there is one reason anyone staying back in Bangalore, its for this weather.



Catch you, soon!

Urgent and Important Matrix

I advocate Urgent and Important Matrix (link: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_91.htm)



We often distract ourselves with useless activities.



Or we end up doing everything in a hurry either with a false sense of urgency or yielding to other demands.



What is really needed is doing important things the right time.  Every one has roles and tasks cut out on earth. If we do the right thing at the right time, we will lead a satisfied life for sure.

Blogging from Ipad

Does not seem to be easy. I wish i have an app to write free.

Best Moments of Life

I am going through best moments of life now.  Having picked the book "The Buddha's Brain",  I simply adopting three things for me:  Happiness, Love and Wisdom as my life priorities. Apart from this, I am adding Character also to this list.



When I say best moments, you may wonder, what exactly has happened.  My short answer is nothing.  I did not say 'nothing is happening'; I just meant 'nothing needs to happen'.



Those best moments are not happening outside; They are happening inside.



To experience Happiness, be happy, and give happiness

To experienec Love,  be lovable, and love.

To experience wisdom, just be wise.



And all these, without comprising on the Character.

Incidents and Coincidence

Incident #1 Today morning, before leaving bed, looking at deep sleep Diya, I was telling myself “I should never be tough with Diya for her mischiefs;  because children are not from us, they are through us”.  I read this quote several months back.

Incident #2  Yesterday and day before, I was in Hyderabad and was closely following Swami’s health report in media. I was having few questions in my mind.

This morning, I picked Dr.Wayne Dyer’s book “Change your thoughts; change your Life” which reflects Tao principles. An excellent book.

Coincidence#1   One of the random pages that  I opened talked about the quote “children are not from us; they are through us”.  I was stunned because that was the quote I told myself hardly 10 min back. And I was reading that quote several months back in some other book.

Coincidence #2  In the same book, this has been mentioned:  One of Swami’s devotee Ms.Radhika Kinger had written a letter to Dr.Wayne Dyer on Sai Baba.  That was the time Swami was confined to wheel chair.  She had asked Swami why He could not cure himself.  For which Baba responded “My Life is My Message. Pain is a natural phenomenon. But suffering is a choice. I do not suffer as I am not the body”.     A relevant message coming to me through this book in current Baba’s health context.

More malls on Bannerghatta Road

Bangalore gulps every landscape available to it. Two more malls are coming up on the Bannerghatta Road.



One is Gopalan Innovation Mall near to Jayadeva junction. Another one is Royal Meenakshi Mall opposite to Meenakshi Amman Temple.




View Larger Map




View Larger Map

New Year 2011 - Heads Up #1

This year, I have two choice to pick my character traits. One is what Benjamin Franklin practiced. Another set is what Brian Klemmer preaches.  I love them both.



Benjamin Franklin Virtues

•  TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.

•  SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.

•  ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.

•  RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.

•  FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.

•  INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.

•  SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

•  JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

•  MODERATION. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

•  CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no un-cleanliness in body, cloths, or habitation.

•  TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

•  CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

•  HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates.



Read more: http://artofmanliness.com/2008/02/24/lessons-in-manliness-benjamin-franklins-pursuit-of-the-virtuous-life/#ixzz18upmiO39  (this Read more link appeared automatically when I copied from their site J I am just retaining it giving them the credit )



Character Traits of Compassionate Samurai

The character traits of Compassionate Samurai are Commitment, Personal responsibility, Contribution, Focus, Honesty, Honour, Trust, Abundance, Boldness and Knowledge.  I have already ordered the book from Flipkart and expecting the delivery in a couple of days. It’s a new year for myself. 



Tony Robbins Value System and Rules

As a NLP practitioner, I see value in values and defining my own rules to have unlimited power. 



What is my finally approach then?

•         My theme for 2011 is to live the life of “Compassionate Samurai”

•         My Value system for 2011 will be that of Compassionate Samurai

•         My rules will be defined according to those values

•         My tracking system will be similar to that of Benjamin Franklin

This is my sharing for all my beloved ones.