In Touch

Sunday Herald Sun, 09 Jan 2011. Pages92 - 93

2011-01-12T21:03:00.001-08:00

cool page!!!

Sunday Herald Sun
09 Jan 2011

The Hutt News, 20 Apr 2010. Pages 24 - 25

2010-04-19T16:42:00.001-07:00

The Hutt News
20 Apr 2010

Change Management

2009-12-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass.

It's about learning to dance in the rain" (Anon).

The Hutt News, 22 Sep 2009. Pages 32 - 33

2009-10-21T16:33:00.001-07:00

The Hutt News
22 Sep 2009

Go New Zealand!

2009-07-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

Pleased to see that Aoteoroa tops among the most peaceful countries of the World!

http://http//www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=aoNepMc8lPyE&refer=australia

Sachin at the Basin

2009-07-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

It is a pleasure to watch Sachin batting - even in the nets!

It seems he comes with a plan as he starts his session. He misses one or two; pushes himself to focus more. Requests the net-bowler to pitch em up more on the off.

Asks the bowler what his field is. Then he taps away his singles and twos and keeps a mental score.

Sachin - we'll miss you at the Basin.

As a nice sidelight of the 2009 India tour, read this story:

http://sriramble.blogspot.com/2009/03/sachinesh_02.html

Keeping up with the Joneses

2009-04-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

We all read from time to time about happiness and money. A few of us also understand that having money does not necessarily equate to being happy.

This new Harvard research is a real eye-opener.The research posed two basic sceanrios to the qualified students. Would they take a $100,000 job without being told what their friends/peers earn or would they take a $50,000 job if they knew their peers would earn half their salary.

Surprise Surprise - the particpants chose the 50k pay instead of $100k.

What it shows is we are primarly motivated by comparing ourself with our peers/people known to us/relatives and push ourselves to be the best among this almost negligible percentage of the world's population.

Comparison indeed breeds acquisitiveness.

Who is a father?

2009-03-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

A father is someone who carries pictures where his money used to be.

Our Kolu of 2008

2008-10-25T12:12:00.000-07:00

Pics by GaeJaa

Some Quotes that got my attention

2008-08-31T03:15:00.000-07:00

1. An optimist sees the World as a beautiful place...

While

A pessimist fears it might be true!

2. To be creative you need to be allowed the freedom to go

with your gut feeling and express it - James Laverty

3. I bear no grudges. I have a mind that retains nothing - Bette Milder

Did they sleep or didn't they?

2008-06-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, we know that teens go to bed late and wake up late.

But what about Air India pilots? Did they sleep while in flight and miss the landing as the newspaper reports say?

Research shows that the average hours of sleep in the 21st century has come down to 6.9 hours from around 9 hours in the 1900s.

Has technology contributed to these late nights? Perhaps!

How many restless souls browse the net at unearthly hours? how many watch a game of cricket played at the other end of their world when one should be blissfully sleeping? and how many depressed and sleep-deprived people who can't wait for the next day to be stressed even further contribute to this statistics?

Txting like a teen

2008-05-17T04:46:00.000-07:00

There are many who lament that Txt spk is damaging the English language. Two Canadian researchers http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2216746/texting-does-harm-language
have analysed over a million words of instant messages and more than quarter of a million spoken words and concluded that the ascendancy of txt speak is not damaging to the language. Rather the language is enriched by the process.

So, on to some txt spk now:
BOC: But of course
BBL: Be back later
TTYL: Talk to you later
OMG: Oh My God
IMO: In my opinion
PSOS: Parent standing over shoulder
CMIIW: Correct me if I am wrong
SLAP: Sounds like a plan
TMTH: Too much to handle
HOAS: Hold on a second
WOMBAT: Waste of money, brains and time

CUL8R
Tks to Dom Post

Harmone Seyyum Kalakam Thaanada!

2008-04-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Teenage kids are the hardest to wake up early in the morning.

We know that some adults are basically morning people while some are night owls. But what's with the teenagers? Why are most of them late nighters and late risers?

Parents usually scold them for sleeping in till late, perhaps without understanding the culprit called 'Melatonin'.

Melatonin production in teenagers is slow during the evening. Melatonin is the sleep inducer and as it is produced at a slower rate in the teen aged kids, they sleep late and rise later than others.

The squirt of melatonin occurs at around 9.30 for adolescents and adults while it happens at around 10.30 to the teens.

But in cases of teens who do not watch TV in the evenings an hour before bedtime, Melatonin production is faster.

So, ideal time for a teenager to push that red button on the remote is around 8.30.

Middle age blues

2008-02-02T14:26:00.000-08:00

Here is one more survey on happiness!

Researchers from Uni of Warwick and Dartmouth in the U.S interviewed close to 2 million people and came out with the following results:

People are happy when they are young and again in their final years. It is the middle bit that is problematic

Our sense of wellbeing follows a U shaped curve through our lives

In the U.S, the time of least happiness happens at age 40 for women and 50 for men

By the time one reaches 70, if one is physically fit, their happiness is similar to that of a 20 year-old.

The theories that explain these (Prof. Andrew Oswald) are:

Youngsters have high aspirations and in the middle ages they have to learn to quell them

People who are happier live longer. So, if the unhappy people have died younger, then those who remain are happier

You learn to count your blessing when you are older and when we see bad things happen, are just happy to be alive

Reading this and seeing people all around, the research appears to be on target.

The ancient Indians however, had a great structure and formula for living well called "Purushartha" (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha).

This stated the purpose of living as attaining 'Moksha'. For people who lived a life as dictated by the sastras, there would be no emptiness or loneliness.

Sometimes I wonder : Have we veered away from this, lost touch with scriptures and trying to reinvent the wheel by reading western researches that merely scratch the surface?

For this some would protest "But the scriptures are in Sanskrit and we don't understand".

This is a lame explanation and an ignorant one too, for one has to merely look at the number of resources available in the internet and the also the number of teachers who talk our language (English or whatever) and are trying to remove our ignorance.

Srimad Baghavatham

2008-01-25T01:21:00.000-08:00

We missed the first three days (the Introduction and two days) of the
Katha as we had to be out of Wellington.

We came in on the third day and every day, starting from the first
invocatory sloka we were spellbound through to the end of the day's
discourse. Premaji weaved her magical spell and put J.K Rowling to shame
with the invisible (w)hand of Lord Krishna.

Here was a discourse on Divnity at its best.

Premaji's eloquence, her perfect blend of the Kirtans with the story
telling, her bhAvas and mudras (as she rightly referred to danseuse
Padma Subramaniam's tribute to her), her choice of heavy and vibrant
Sanskrit slokas immediately followed by soothingly light and lilting
Bhajans and her sense of humour were joys to behold.

The fact that even the kids stayed put for around 3 hours every day is
proof of her excellence in story telling.

Gulls at Lake Whakatipu, Queenstown

2008-01-04T16:59:00.000-08:00

GOING...

GONE!!!

Was reminded of the old TMS number: Pull (grass) anAlum Pazhamudircholaiyil PullAven

...Gull anAlum Queenstownil Naan Gull AvEn!

A week at Queenstown

2007-12-31T13:07:00.000-08:00

This will easily rank as one of the best holidays we have ever had.

A week at the beautiful Queenstown.

The view from our cottage of the mountains called 'Remarkables' (very aptly named...we thought) every morning took our breath away...and so did many other places in and around QT.

We had taken our little Indian coffee-filter, so made our own little cuppa. Sipping the Mysore Indian brew while watching the remarkables waking up to its snow-capped glory as the sun rose has left an indescribable and indelible impression in us.

This thought of ours found endorsement by an umpire who stood in the one-dayer on the 31st between NZ and Bangaladesh. He preferred to stand with his back to the mountains lest he get distracted by the captivating beauty of the remarkables and err in his decisions.

A great morning walk around the lake Wakatipu refreshed the soul and the place was so quiet and tranquil that sometimes I thought even speaking at a slightly higher volume would be considered rude by God.

Be Happy and Get Rich

2007-12-08T00:57:00.000-08:00

The search for the holy grail of investment that can make hopeless investors to financial whiz kids led Arun Abey, an Aussie investment Guru to come up with these nuggets of wisdom:

THE WISDOM OF ABEY

1. Money alone will not make you happy. Living an "authentic life" will. People have more money today than 50 years ago, yet are no more happy.

2. Have a financial plan for you, not your money. Those with a financial plan report greater satisfaction with life than those who do not.

3. Your plan should be based on your goals, not goals someone else says you should have. Those selling dreams are probably trying to sell you something else.

4. Understand "The Prize". Over the long term, cash makes a real return of 0%-1%, bonds 1%-3%, property (without leverage) 3%-5% and shares 5%-8%.

5. Understand the "enemy within". You are wired to make bad investment decisions, and your financial plan needs to defeat that.

6. Beware false accounting. An investment you bought for $100 five years ago, and sold for $150 yesterday, but cost you $4 to buy, $10 in finance interest costs, and $11 to maintain and insure, made a 25%, not a 50% return.

7. Drip-feed money into the markets so you do not worry about short-term ups and downs. You'll be buying in both.

8. Do not attempt to chase fads, or time the market. You will fail, unless you are lucky. Very few people are consistently lucky.

9. Do not watch your investments constantly. Review annually.

10. Have a financial planner. Make sure he or she is not a commission salesman.

Diwali 2007

2007-10-26T03:54:00.001-07:00

Colourful, great crowd, food and shows!

Olive Riley Returns to Broken Hill

2007-10-18T02:22:00.001-07:00

Watch the amazing 108 year old blogger

Navaratri Kolu 2007

2007-10-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

Happy Navaratri

May Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswathi's blessings be on all of us.

Gandhi comes to Wellington

2007-10-04T18:18:00.000-07:00

October 2nd saw the first Gandhi statue being installed in New Zealand, thanks to the Governor General Anand Satyanand's efforts.

The location was carefully considered and decided to be the front of Wellington Railway station (you can see the station at the background, covered for some renovation work). The choice was made based on the fact that the Mahatma was a great user of the train.

Needless to say many Indian office-goers' hearts will feel a moment of pride and honour when we pass the landmark every working day.

I took this photo yesterday.

Perfect Friday

2007-09-21T02:53:00.000-07:00

Beat this!

It was a perfect Friday.

Waking up at 4.30 and watching Indians run over the choking South Africa in the 20-20 super 8.

Sweeter was Indians' success in that they let the nervously waiting New
Zealand into semi-finals by restricting SA to under 125.

Freshly brewed filter coffee providing the gentle kickstart; a little
bit of Yoga (though distracted by the marauding Indians on the telly) to
nourish the tired muscles and bones.

MS' Suprabatham and Sahasranamam on the ipod on the way to work, shorter than usual weekly meeting, sunny afternoon without the absence of the notorious Wellington wind.

Expectations for a relaxing weekend - today being the last day of the
school term before holidays - meaning no sport during the weekend for
kids - meaning no driving around to deadlines.

Someone informs next week is bad weather. Next week may be different.
India could win; New Zealand could win. One or both might disappoint.
Next week is next week.

Let me make the most of this perfect Friday. Hard to beat one like this!

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi (click on picture to enlarge)

2007-09-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Krishna Jayanthi

2007-09-03T12:54:00.000-07:00

Krishna attracts. AkarshaNAt Krishna.

Krishna ploughs our hearts and removes weeds, like a farmer, Krushi.

Ghatam (musical pot), Vikadam (mimicry) and Vadam (as in Sanskrit)

2007-08-31T12:25:00.001-07:00

Great fun this one.

Cus(h)toms India

2007-08-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

(*In Tamil Kashtam means trouble)

The visions of my home town floated below like a delightful dream. Motherland beckoned me as the flight touched down at the Chennai Airport.

We came out of the plane, pleasantly surprised the way the Airport looked. It was getting better and better as we have observed over our biennial jaunts. More efficient in the way the immigration officials handle the travellers. Flashier cafes and polished floors.

We descended the escalators and stood to receive our baggage on the carousel, once again stunned by the crowd (having got used to the uncrowded Wellington).

A couple of Customs officers (in their crisp white uniforms, well oiled hair and vibhuti and kumkum) came near us and as we were identifying our bags, jumped close to the carousel and picked a suitcase, put it on the trolley. Thus they helped us with all the four suitcases and I couldn’t believe my eyes!

Here are some Government servants, really rendering efficient customer service. I sincerely thanked them and was beginning to delight in the thought that much has changed in my India!

The customs officers accepted my thanks and I thought that these two Samaritans will move over to assist a number of other travellers who were having their anxious wait. But they did not move.

My Chennai-bred caution quickly replaced the momentary ecstasy of gloating over my Motherland’s progress.

One of the uniformed guys came close to me and very politely whispered ‘American dollars iruntha konjam thaanga sir (If you have some U.S dollars please give).

I said sorry…"I don’t have greenbacks. Only the humble Kiwi and some Singapore".

“Paravaillai Singapore thaanga…oru 20 or 30 kudunga pothum”. (It’s Ok give us Singapore dollars say 20 or 30).

I shelled out twenty dollars and geared myself up for yet another exciting stay in my hometown.

A Funny Quote

2007-08-06T02:59:00.000-07:00

Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry - Bill Cosby.

Guru Purnima

2007-07-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

What is Guru Purnima?
Just as the moon shines by reflecting the light of the sun, and glorifies it, all disciples can dazzle like the moon by gaining from their Gurus, their masters and their teachers. The history of this day is that it is sacred to the memory of the great sage Vyasa who edited the four Vedas, wrote the 18 Puranas, the Mahabharata and the Srimad Bhagavata. Vyasa even taught Dattatreya, who is regarded as the Guru of Gurus.

What is a Guru? The sanskrit root"Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness, therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. This is a day to give thanks to all our teachers and those who have enlightened us whoever they may be.

"Often what is universal is not personal and what is personal does not belong to everyone. What is "mine" and what is "universal" is completely opposite. This is the cause of fear, greed, jealousy and lack of contentment. On this Guru Purnima wake up and realise that the Lord of the Universe is very personal to you. Your personal guru is the guru of the whole world. The guru is your very Self and your Self is the very life in every being. Make the universal personal, it makes you richer, wiser, stronger. Make the personal universal; you will find freedom, compassion and love".
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ~ Guru Purnima ~ 1997 Tahoe City

Commute or Electrocute

2007-07-22T01:41:00.000-07:00

A blogger's article on fascinating Mumbai train travel prompted me to write this post.

(1996-1998)

Yes, the Mumbai travel is a great experience, though not a very pleasant one. It is a great leveller. The sights and sounds assault you and make you breathless. You are literally breathless at the end of your daily commute - that's a different story.

I remember a few things vividly about my two years of Mumbai life and daily commute in the Harbour and the Western lines.

While the train left Vasai Road, it will be amusing to watch a few groups in action. One group will start playing cards at 7 am...with the meticulousness and solemnity of morning prayers. Another group will start singing bhajans with their God's photo and some percussion instruments.

Within a few seconds I will be drenched in sweat, the freshness of a bath (in water scare Vasai) vanishing before the train reaches Dahisar.

Enter a guy nicknamed 'Sumo'...who with a mighty shove will send a few passengers fighting for their balance. But the crowd support will ensure one does not tumble. 'Sumo' will be greeted by our Card group and he will nonchalantly make his way into the compartment as if the bunch of people were non-existent. A push this side, a shove and and elbow to the other and Sumo is safely home with the players.

Amidst all this enters a blind beggar who sings in a melancholic voice...in perfect tune and rhythm 'Tum Tho Tehre Pardesi'.

The train arrives at Andheri and I am gasping for some fresh Oxygen. My briefcase is held at an awkward angle, like Sehwag's bat when he jump-cuts Brett Lee on the off-side.

My neck and face are totally in another direction...and I position myself towards the exit.

The crowd does the rest. I hurtle outside...my briefcase following with a swoosh and my glasses are tilted at an odd angle. I am happy to be alive and running...to queue up for the auto rickshaw.

A similar encore in the evening and I am pleased to be with my family, In One Whole Piece.

All this in a First Class Compartment. Pity the ones that travel in the Second class.

What would haunts me for many days was the beggar's melody.

NOW

Contrast this to Wellington. See the train above (it's a Choppu or Toy train compared to our Indian giants). In my last few years of living here...on very few occasions has my 'Private Space' been invaded in the Welly trains. In peak times the trains will have a few more compartments. Otherwise, they are real 'Choppus'.

Even in the peak times, one can get a seat on most of the days. No pushing, no shoving, no Sumos...no Cards...bhajans or beggars.

In twenty minutes time I arrive at my destination. No dramas no delays.

Do I miss the drama and the colours?

I don't know.

But I have this strong feeling that it was Mumbai which might have given me the ultimate push to a much quieter and less populous city at the bottom of the world.

25/7/07

In today's NZ Herlad there was a story on Mumbai trains. The stats quoted were shocking. Every year 4,000 people die due to falling from the trains, electrocuted while sitting on top of the trains etc. In 2007 a new record is in the making - already 1,200 have died in the first 4 months.

Flattering to Deceive & Tilton

2007-04-25T02:29:00.001-07:00

Yet another World Cup disappointment.

Last time it was India who flattered to deceive in the finals. This time, it is our own Kiwis (our bond to our adopted country had grown stronger) who let us down in the semis.

Our entire family woke up at 2 am NZ time and stayed glued to the TV. Me and my wife drank a few cups of filter cofee and even had breakfast at that unearthly 3 am. By 7 am we were having doubts if the Kiwis could make it. By 9 all seemed lost.

As Fleming lost the plot, Bond's mission was aborted. Malinga was Chuck(l)ing and Murali weaved a web of unorthodox magic (another chuck(l)ing Lankan?).

Weary, a little bit teary and bleary eyed, we pulled ourselves up, feeling bad for the nice Kiwi team.

"Well", I thought, "Even This Shall Pass Away" as Tilton says in this Vedantic poem.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Once in Persia reigned a king,
Who upon his signet ring
Graved a maxim true and wise,
Which, if held before his eyes,
Gave him counsel at a glance
Fit for every change and chance.
Solemn words, and these are they;
"Even this shall pass away."

Trains of camels through the sand
Brought him gems from Samarkand;
Fleets of galleys through the seas
Brought him pearls to match with these;
But he counted not his gain
Treasures of the mine or main;
"What is wealth?" the king would say;
"Even this shall pass away."

'Mid the revels of his court,
At the zenith of his sport,
When the palms of all his guest
Burned with clapping at his jest,
He, amid his figs and wine,
Cried, "O loving friends of mine;
Pleasures come, but not to stay;
'Even this shall pass away."

Lady, fairest ever seen,
Was the bride he crowned his queen.
Pillowed on his marriage bed,
Softly to his soul he said:
"Though no bridegroom ever pressed
Fairer bosom to his breast,
Mortal flesh must come to clay-
Even this shall pass away."

Fighting on a furious field,
Once a javelin pierced his shield;
Soldiers, with a loud lament,
Bore him bleeding to his tent.
Groaning from his tortured side,
"Pain is hard to bear, " he cried;
"But with patience, day by day,
Even this shall pass away."

Towering in the public square,
Twenty cubits in the air,
Rose his statue, carved in stone.
Then the king, disguised, unknown,
Stood before his sculptured name,
Musing meekly: "What is fame?
Fame is but a slow decay;
Even this shall pass away."

Struck with palsy, sore and old,
Waiting at the Gates of Gold,
Said he with his dying breath,
"Life is done, but what is Death?"
Then, in answer to the king,
Fell a sunbeam on his ring,
Showing by a heavenly ray,
"Even this shall pass away."

-THEODORE TILTON

The Present

2007-03-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Train to Work, with a newspaper

Brilliant Sea shimmering through the window
Office goers immersed
in yesterday's disasters

World Cup Time - Sledging

2007-03-09T01:27:00.000-08:00

Cricket won't be cricket without sledging.

Here are a couple of (in)famous ones: *******************************************************************************

South African Daryll Cullinan was on his way to the wicket when our Shame (deliberately spelt)Warne (see pic taken by me in the Basin Reserve) told him he had been waiting two years for another chance to humiliate him.

Shot back Cullinan "Looks like you spent it eating".

************************************************************************************

The ever mishievous Miandad (Javed) called Merv Hughes a fat bus conductor. A few balls later Hughes dismissed the Pakistan star. "Tickets Please" Hughes said as he ran past the departing Javed.

*************************************************************************************

VisAlAkshi at Bangalore - Absolute Serenity

2007-01-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

One of the few beautiful buildings I saw during my recent visit to India. Visalakshi, in the shape of a lotus has a few tiers, with many meditation halls, named (aptly) Buddha, Mahavira etc.

Chennai Rocks

2006-12-12T18:28:00.000-08:00

Literally, Chennai autos rock you. The city never ceases to take you by storm...every time we visit (which is once in two years) we see more and more shops encroaching the little road space that is available. Two, three and four wheelers move in a totally random Brownian motion and an aerial shot would be fascinating, I think. The auto drivers have completely stopped using the auto meters and the customers have stopped asking them about the meters. They drive the vehicles with a nonchalance as if they were born with a Bajaj...cellphones held between their left shoulder and the ear, conversing happily between the screeches and toots of fellow-drivers.

Despite all this crowd, dust, stench and chaos there is this inexplicable undercurrent of spirituality which makes the city what it is - spicy as a Masala Dosa.

Money and Happiness

2006-11-15T00:44:00.000-08:00

Why do we want to have more money?

To make ourselves more comfortable and thereby be Happy. Some smart guys in the investment industry have started to describe themselves as being in the happiness industry.

Latest research by Dresdner Kleinwort indicates that three major components determine the levels of happiness.

They are 1) Genetically inheritied (around 50%) (2) Circumstances, money etc. and (3) Intentional acivity (such as exercising regularly, being kind to others, socialising, trying to see the best, pausing to count how lucky one actually is.

While the first cannot be changed and with the second - people quickly adapt to present conditions/income changes and then take it as 'normal', any hope for being happy on a long term seems to be only with the third factor: i.e., Intentional Activity.

So, folks, get rich, nothing wrong with that. But that won't make your much happier.

Manual on Child Rearing

2006-11-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

A comprehensive manual on Child-rearing if we may call it so, by Khalil Gibran.
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, "Speak to us of Children."
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Heartbeat Captivates

2006-10-22T23:37:00.000-07:00

29/10/06
A small group of music lovers in Wellington was treated to the scintillating music of Ghatam Karthic's ensemble - The Heartbeat. It took the hundred odd people through various Ragas as Gambhira NAtai,Vanaspathi,SallApam, MAyA MAlava Gowlam,ChArukesi and culminated in a Western-Indian Medley encompassing pieces as diverse as Fur Elise, Raminchuva and VandE Matharam.

Karthick stole the show with his humour and efforts to connect with the audience. He made some witty remarks such as SriRam (on stage) uses the flute while Kannan (the violinist) uses a Bow (in contrast to their AvatAric counterparts).

One more of his witticism: Difference between himself and SriRam was he (Karthick) uses a Lap POT while SriRam uses a LapTOP (for looping and mixing the music).

A very different and enjoyable concert.

Diwali 2006

2006-10-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

Around 40,000 people braved the wet and cold weather to enjoy the warmth of the Indian culture - food, art, Bollywood dancing and all at the Civic Square in Wellington. The highlights were: the song and dance by the Uttar Pradesh group in the beautiful Braj Bhasha - singing the glory of Krishna and Radha. Made us wonder if Krishna (of Mathura) would have really looked like the dancer - with his great smile and twinkling eyes; A show on different types of Saris from around India - their historical roots and specialities; Diyas (lamps) on show and of course the yummy food.

Navrathri 2006

2006-10-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

Navarathri Kolu 2006

2006-10-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

Help Charities (the easy way?)

2006-09-27T13:03:00.000-07:00

Check this link out - seems interesting

http://www.goodtree.com/

Do you love your job?

2006-09-27T12:57:00.000-07:00

A couple of nice quotes:

1) "No matter what the problem is, it's always a people problem" - Jerry Weinberg

2) "Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar." - Drew Carey

On Call Centre Boom

2006-09-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

Saw a story about the Boom (and impending bust) of call centres in India, on the National Geographic Channel. Though the confidence and the command over English of people coming from small towns (having moved over to Mumbai) was heartening, the crass materialism and the Westernisation of these kids were a little disconcerting. For all the brave talk they gave, I could sense a feeling of hollowness in the way they came through.

When the Worst is the Best

2006-07-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

A contest named after Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, who became infamous for his 1830 novel 'Paul Clifford', honours bad writing.

The recent winner, Jim Guigli of California demonstrates why he won.

Read this:
"Detective Bart Lasiter was in his office studying the light from his one small window falling on his super burrito when the door swung open to reveal a woman whose body said you've had your last burrito for a while, whose face said angels did exist, and whose eyes said she could make you dig your own grave and lick the shovel clean".

On quotes and Cafe's

2006-06-14T00:14:00.000-07:00

Some cafe's in Wellington have this nice habit of writing some quotes on their ad boards to attract customers. One such that caught my eye was:

"A dry crust of bread served in peace is better than a steak served with an argument".

The accompanying photo though was taken in Christchurch.

I will be posting more such quotes in future.

Good intentions - Bad use of time

2006-04-21T20:54:00.000-07:00

From time to time we receive some emails as these. About some child suffering from terminal illness. The mails come from trusty, responsible friends. Action requested being merely to forward the mail. For every mail forwarded, some kind-hearted organisation offers 5 cents. This way, the cost of the operation or medical treatment is proposed to be covered. Basically, some organisation is so full of love that without knowing the money it will be committed to pay, it agrees to pay something for every mail - Similar to signing away a blank cheque.

Usually I delete these mails (albeit with a slight trace of guilt). Last time I decided to get more pro-active. I Googled with some key words of one such mail. It showed the organisation mentioned as the first result. The website of the organisation had a different story to tell. It cautioned against such mails and said that they waste a lot of time responding to queries generated by these kind of mails. They also stated that if one wished to help the children (not the ones metioned in the mails - for they were all false names in hoax mails) they could do so by donating directly.

Another such mail that has been doing the rounds for the last few years has been one regarding Microsoft and AOL merger and that Bill Gates has so much of greenback in his wallet that he has pledged so share a few thousands of dollars with spammers for merely forwarding emails.

So people, if you simple delete these mails, it could save a few thousands of people-hours spent in reading and forwarding the stuff.

India - An economic giant?

2006-03-16T23:28:00.000-08:00

We read from time to time that India is progressing at a rapid pace. It's economy is ticking at a nice rate (around 7%). We also witness the changes that have taken place in the attitude and lifestyle of the Urban Indians when we (NRIs) visit India. From time to time we receive emails and attachments about our achievement in various fields such as better infrastructure (modern roading), more satellite channels etc. and that the number of rich people in India has grown exponentially.

Bush visits India and is shown India's pretty face. We also think all is spectacular with India except a few problems such as corruption and bureaucracy.

Are we aware that around 70% of the population still lives with a wage of under $2 per day? (Courtesy - The Time Magazine). This growth rate of around 7% would translate into a couple of hundreds of rupees per month for the poor people of India. And it is these people who are the real face of India.

So...the real question is 'have we progressed economically?' Or are we cheating ourselves and the world?

It is said that when Nehru visited the Rural India (before he became the P.M?) he was moved to tears seing the plight of the Rural India. Have we moved forward from that position or have we merely created an illusion of progress?

Who doesn't want to be a millionaire?

2006-03-06T01:33:00.000-08:00

Everyone wants to be a millionaire. A million bucks in whatever major currency is big money. We envy the lotto winners pocketing megabucks. Though the smart ones among us know that these big money winners seldom live happily ever after, we still feel that a million bucks will somehow set us free.

How many of us know the eighth wonder of the world - "Compound Interest". Even if we know, how many of us have the character to apply the basic rules of investing and compunding a sum of money from an early age - so that we become millionaire a few decades thence?

Yes, there is a wait period but the certainty that we will eventually become a millionaire is a heartening feeling.

Warren Buffett follwed his path to riches by making the eighth wonder his fast friend.

$10,000 invested at 15% compound interest for 35 years will make the coveted million. A little more added to it every year will result in a million more.

So, the challenge is to keep the money invested for the whole period. A tougher challenge will be to earn 15% average compound interest over the period.

Have you found a formula for investing which yields 15% p.a, or have you come across a fund that pays the same return?

If your answer is yes - then you are certainly on your way to the millionaires club.