Countdown to 1 1 11

Wow... what a year it has been... a perfect 10 !

Looking back, it could have been a lot better. But no complaints, at all.

Few thougthts...To start with PARENTING, one of my favourite topics.

When we were kids, everything was linked to 'studies' and of course marks. ( Our folks were exposed to 'nishkama karma' much later :) !) But the restriction was more to the amount of time for playing! Much later, kids were restricted to the amount of time on TV !
According to a recent report, parents have started linking to amount of time on internet ....

On the historical necessity of WikiLeaks - Arab News

A good write up on the wikileaks...by an academician & ME expert

On the historical necessity of WikiLeaks - Arab News

Stolen plates being used to dodge Saher’s eye - Arab News

Saher in KSA is one of the great things to happen on ME roads

Just sharing this news item...just to be careful of the risk, as the chances are very low

Stolen plates being used to dodge Saher’s eye - Arab News

Adult content TV program after 11 PM

Adult content should be shifted to late night.
The move by I & B is correct.
Such broad directive is better instead of micro-managing & corruption thereof.

I am on a short vacation, spiritual... At a leading restaurant, they are playing cricket !
Ads in between on Neo Sports are for condoms !!!
Sports channels like Neo also should be more responsible !

BAD 2011

Theme for 2011 is WATER !

For over a billion people, water is a 'luxury' :(

Water bodies across the world are being 'destroyed' by us. We just need to wake up to this big threat...

Eco Friendly Festival

One aspect of Ganesh Chaturthi stuck me...the mandals were playing filmi songs and organising programes, mostly filmi ! Not quite religious or spiritual, I felt.

Ganesh visarjan is a period when Mumbai's coastal line is most polluted. Another thing I fail to understand...Spirituality, if without in tune with  Nature, is just not spiritual !

Many people and organisations have taken the initiative to spread awareness...to drive home, among the literate masses of the magapolis. But majority are just 'too busy' to care ! ... at their ( our) own peril...

DNA's effort was great. Happened to catch a glimpse at Oberoi mall ( Goregaon)...As I & my son stepped out after a brief shopping, I took a snap and wrote a request to 'go green....'. I pray, we have the discrimination to protect our environment.

Ganesh Chaturti @ Mumbai

It was great to catch one big festival, during vacation...Missed Janmashtami, but Ganesh Chaturthi, in its full glory @ Mumbai. Mumbai & Pune are the two cities where we can see this festival celeberated in full splendor and grandeur. Of course, some credit goes to freedom leader, Tilak.

Mumbaikar knows how to celebrate...all the drums, dance and high-decibel levels. Torrential rains did not affect them at all.

Year after year, monsoon comes with varying intensity. This year was one of the best monsoons...With same regularity, our roads 'disappear among the potholes, with rain-water' ! This year, the patch work (repair!!!) was not done, before Ganesh festival. People were threatening to go to court, complaining the poor road conditions and how it will affect the logistics of Ganesha statues!!

Mumbaikar, who makes substantial contri to the national kitty, continue to be at the mercy of an admin, not bothered about the basic commuting comfort...

gulfnews : Organic farming only way to avoid debt

Very inspiring...!!

Must read for all who is concerned about debt-burden, condition of farmers in India ( even after 60 yrs of independence), organic farming, etc.

Pls share too

gulfnews : Organic farming only way to avoid debt

Mumbai

After continuous rains over last few days, got a sunny day ! Many a Mumbaikar celebrated an extended week-end by moving out with family. The traffic was bearable.

It has been almost continuously raining, day & night. While it is tough to move around during the day, even with an umbrella, not so during night. Rain drop falling on the window pane was not distracting at all. But I was disturbed when I thought of the plight of thousands of slum-dwellers in Mumbai. For them, at the end of a tough day, a rainy night could be tougher to manage. . . It is sad, we have so many of them struggling to meet both ends, while making valuable contribution to economy and quality of life of the rich and middle class segments of the society ! Affordable housing is so critical for this group, at the bottom of pyramid.

Traffic has been unbearable. The travelling time has gone up by three to four times, thanks to pathetic condition of roads, poor traffic sense/management  & infrastructure constraint to handle more vehicles! More malls and residential complexes are sprouting across the city, with total neglect on the need to provide sufficient & quality road-connectivity. All logic of urban planning thrown to winds...It is collective responsibility of common man and his leadership. Pls wake up...

Ganesha idol installed in our compound, with a grand procession & the group dispersed...


As I type the post, it just started drizzling...!

Avatar 3D

Watched the 3D version of this great film, in a theater @ Mumbai, with my son. 

Great experience, inspiring storyline, relevant message, superb execution.... Nothing great about 3D, as few times we 'ducked' to avoid getting hit by a flying stuff. It talks about our insensitive aggression & complex/attitude... we continue to mindlessly destroy our environment.

Must see... children will love it... If elders don't love it, bad luck for them - you are not a child at heart any more!

Cheeni Kum....Old Age

Watched the second half of 'Chini Kam' ! Yet again, like Bhagban, was spared of the first half.... But nice film, good performance by all lead actors. 
While I am 'old fashioned' in terms of value system ( traditional may be more appropriate!), Amitabh's verbal-attack on a fasting Paresh, was interesting...
He gives interesting facets of 'being old' ! Amitji is the best person to talk about it... At his age, he must be the role model for all, in his generation.
He says,Jealousy is a key factor... But then, it is so at all age-groups, child-hood to old age :)

Got an interesting PPT mail-forward , AGING MOMENTS :

• it is time for harvest . . . earlier it used to be believed, Law of Karma would catch up in subsequent births...But it is joked now, karma would catch up in this life itself! 
• so long as we continue to be 'AMAZED', we do not grow old
• we are never too old to LEARN.... 

Betting in Cricket

Sadly the monster is back with renewed vigor ! Just when Pakistan is struggling to recover from the nature's fury, this man-made fury. According to reports, the victims of the catastrophe is denied urgent help as the donors world over are not sure the help would reach the needy...Corruption ! ! ! These cricketers had donated one-day pay for the flood victims.
Reacting to the expose, one of the 'respectable' former cricketer from England mentioned, 'with the ICC moving from West to East, this was bound to happen'. BBC correspondent spoke about corruption in Indian sub-continent.
While the Pak cricketers are caught in this, others' role can not be ruled out, East or West !
Sadly, even in this century, corruption is getting increasingly institutionalized, more in Indian sub continent, but also world over.
You can always blame it on credit crunch or 'Kali Yuga'. But, ethics in personal & public life is hitting a new low... Tiger Woods is a sad example on 'personal' values. Common 'wealth' games related corruption allegation  in India...

A friend shared...his son, in his tweens, is just getting hooked on to cricket! But every now and then, watching any cricket telecast, he would ask,' dad, is this game fixed?' And my friend would invariably say, emphatically, 'Not at all' !!! (He can't do that any more.) Even before he picked up the nuances of the game, he is aware of match-fixing and highly suspicious, feels father !


And, Cricket used to be a gentleman's game....


PS : Peter_eigen_how_to_expose_the_corrupt check out 

More Movies

Decided to watch it, as I thought it will be something about cars ( 'Cadillac'). With a younger Robin Williams, I thought it could be at least watch-able ! Though he plays the role of a car salesman, nothing more...At the end of it, it was not about cars, salesman- funda, funny nor any where near ' Negotiator'!!! Waste of time...

Next attempt was Daddy Day Care..the 2003 film about two guys who lose jobs ( perhaps more relevant today, after 7 yrs!) and decide to start a day care for kids! Simple comedy, but watchable, thanks to Eddie Murphy and kids...A message for people losing jobs? Bloomberg reported skilled labour such as plumber/carpenter etc are in great demand, but people are reluctant to enter such fields...There is enough opportunity for the innovative lots...

Watched second part of hindi hit movie, 'BAGHBAN', starring superstars, Amitabh and Hema Malini. Would recommend only second part of the usual, long hindi movie, just to get into the plot. The veterans come up with brilliant performance, supported by dependable Paresh Rawail and Lillette Dubey, etc. Too much of
drama, but the theme is universally relevant. As life expectancy improves, the elders are not being taken care. It is universal duty or Dharma to take care of elders. Must watch... 

Mozhi-tamil movie

Almost a year ago, heard the songs from tamil movie, MOZHI. Liked the songs...would have heard them over, many times...while driving esp & singing along :) ...Katrin mozhi by both male & female and also other songs were very melodius, meaningful and hummable...When another friend, a trained carnatic musician and hence better informed about music, shared similar thought about the songs, I realized I was not alone in admiration. He in fact downloaded all songs sung by the male singer ! Vidyasagar just superb.

Another friend, who shares similar tastes when it comes to movies, confirmed the movie was very good. Watched the movie last evening...( official CD, not pirated !)

Lovely musical film...simple comedy, typical tamil movie comedy...Prakash Raj rocks, his laughter is contagious! Prithviraj, one of the top malayalam actors does justice to the role... Support actors such as the CA-secretary do a good job. The professor comes up with a great performance. Jyothica was brilliant... She got a dream role and she lives the role...

The world of the deaf/dumb, blind is so different from that of ours. We can't even visualise it.

We will appreciate the movie more if we have/know of people who have gone thru such experiences...I know of a couple...lady lost hearing much after their wedding. But the way husband takes care and the way they communicate...I admire the family. Now grand parents, God has since then showered His blessings profusely on the family...

DO watch it...with family. Official CD's are out now ! You will laugh, you will almost cry, you will sing...and, you will not feel guilty of wasting time !

Back from Vacation

Back form vacation....India just got a bit more 'Incredible', I feel !

Mumbai got torrential rains. That meant, I ventured out less. But, thanks to rain-Gods, all lakes were overflowing.

My heart goes out to all those affected by the floods in Pakistan. It is time, the world woke up to this and extend maximum possible help.

Talking of natural disasters, it was shocking to see the extend of devastation in Leh.

As natural disasters are becoming a regular affair, we become less sensitive...nature has its own way of 'reacting'! And, we still debate on climate change. I pray for our children, future generations...hope they will forgive us for the damage we do to 'their' environment, which we have just borrowed from them.

With no family yet here, internet 'immobile' at home, Indian cricket just not worth-following/hence not re-connected TV.... checked out TED ( thanks to IPhone, it works even without internet!)

From creativity, Shekhar Kapur led his 'TED' to 'Water'...how rich waste, as clean water gets increasingly scarce... check out
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/shekhar_kapur_we_are_the_stories_we_tell_ourselves.html

While the rich ( in Malabar hill, et al) will spend extra time washing himself, for the poor in slums water is a mirage...As a child, I dreamt of having a grand bath tub at home. Now, as I stay in some of best hotels, I don't use bath tub, as I want to minimise wastage. May be when I am in Kerala, would try out ponds...

I finished washing clothes, this eve. For records, I do not use the rinse option at all.  One of the ways I try to save water. Need to do more...

Friendship Day with a difference -Shekhar Sen's 'Kabeer'

Courtesy - www.shekharsen.com

I have been seeing the ads of Sri Shekhar Sen's musical, mono act plays. Never heard anyone in my friends' circle mentioning about same, unlike film-previews! Have been planning to go for the show, for a long time. But, last couple of vacations, could not get suitable schedule. As such, this time when I saw the ad on ToI, I went ahead to call & book tickets. On the friendship day, after catching up with two friends' families, we proceeded to ISKCON for the 8 pm show....Kabeer. A quick Darshan @ ISKCON and we entered the hall 10 minutes before time.

Sri Sen has selected three characters from recent history - Kabeer, Vivekananda and Tulsidas. They all have contributed immensely to Indian ethos and culture, by challenging the status quo and inspiring people to move ahead, SSSpiritually. They were true heroes..

Time management was perfect, starting at 8 sharp, exactly 10 minutes 'interval'!

The performance was truly mesmerizing. The simple stage/setting, superb light & sound effect and great performance by Sri Sen. Kabir had over 40 songs, and over 40 ragas. He would effortlessly switch from the role of a weeping mother, assertive young Kabir, kind wife, smart children and other roles, including the king ! The message was very thought provoking just as the life of Sant Kabeer.

The auditorium was packed. We were in the inspiring company of some professional artistes themselves.

The whole experience was truly SSSpiritual !

Would strongly recommend all my friends, esp those living in Mumbai, 'Must See' rating. One play is worth over 100 bollywood movies

Sri Sen's website :http://www.shekharsen.com/kabeer.htm

An interview: http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/interviews/28_interview_shekhar_sen.asp

Friendship Day

Dearest Friend,

Blogging is a new hobby for me. Now I am at a milestone - to post my 300th post!

Sachin, when asked about his 300 runs milestone, he said,'it will come if it has to' ! I am not being so dispassionate about this achievement. I was fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming a writer, thru my blog. God-willing, I will graduate to the level of an author of a book.

God has been very kind me, I have lived in so many different places. Every where I got a set of great friends. Indeed, life would have been incomplete without all those friends.

A big thanks to you for being there, in past, present and future too. May God bless you, hey friend. If God had given more people, more friends like you, this world would have been better place to live in...

Count your age with friends but not with years - Anonymous

Let us spread the Spirit of True Friendship

A Short Trip to Kuwait, Officially

clicked while driving past this popular
structure @ Kuwait -IPhone !

Made a short, official trip to Kuwait, early this month. I am not fond of travelling, really. But once I reach the destination, I love it, for the new experience.. Kuwait was no exception. Enjoyed the week-long stay!

Kuwait was hotter, and also humid, unlike my karmabhoomi. Humidity was attributed to Indian monsoon though :)
Loved the place for its sheer variety and limited-openness ( better vis-a-vis Dubai, which is 'too open'!) The sheer variety of cars on roads.... wow! Saw many driving my fav car, Porche Cayenne.
Kuwait can definitely boast of a high proportion of women drivers.
A friend made an interesting observation, 'most mallus drive Pajero'. Perhaps one of the mallu-super-stars (mammotty/mohanlal/suresh gopi) may be driving a Pajero, with folded dhoti/mundu ! :)

In spite of high temperature during the day, I went to the Udupi restaurant ( veggie only!), for lunch, not once but for three consecutive days!
A friend took me to the Japanese restaurant. Great location, but not a veggie's delight !

Hotel Marina seen from Marina Mall

Was unable to check out Asha's, supposed to be one of the best Indian restaurants, owned by Asha Bhonsle, at Marina Mall.
(Ashaji has joined the bandwagon demanding a Bharat Ratna for Sachin Tendulkar!! No comments !!)
Stayed at Hotel Marina, one of the best places I have stayed in recent past. Great location, fantastic sea-view, great people & service. I was pleasantly surprised when the GM, who was at the lobby, passed by to greet and exchange pleasantries. But, veg-option in menu was a disappointment and the chef did not bother to help either, when requested. But hope to come back with family...

The term, Success, always fascinated me. Like so many other things in our lives, 'Success' means different things to different people. One of the parameters of success I consider is the number of self-less friends we can count on. God has been very kind to me,  on this front too. Kuwait visit was memorable, thanks to some old friends and new friends through them...

Vacation 2010 @ Incredible India!

Middle East hit consistently 50 degrees plus. Friends confirm this is hottest summer, and we are just peaking! So, the timing of my vacation turned out to be almost perfect. 'Almost' because, it is raining cats & dogs in amchi Mumbai ! ( Hence the new blog design-template with monsoon-touch. Pls let me have your feedback)

A short pilgrimage to PSN. Back filled with peace and tranquility. Still counting my blessings....

Thanks to good monsoon all over, even the drought prone areas are green...Was part of the alumni-group to plant a few saplings...My usual lip-service to Green campaign ( I earn my bread from car finance!)
We need to do so much more to sustain the environment. We can not forget our environmental responsibility...Our children deserve a greener earth!

Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavanthu, I pray fervently. . .

Vacation 2010 @ Incredible India!

Sachin hit a double! I am a die-hard fan of the cricketer and the person. We have mortals to look up to. . .
Loved the article on ToI, which indicated why Sachin is so successful, for so many years. (Chk out link : Sachin's 300 )

• Discipline  ( he went to bed on wed @ 830 pm, was up early, etc!)
• 300 runs..'will come, if it has to': that is practical SSSpirituality!
• He played like the debutant at other end, Suresh Raina - 'every day is a new day in the life of a great artist'!

Inspiring stuff!

PS : While batsmen from both sides happily accumulated runs, test cricket hit a new low....:( Test cricket needs better pitches. ICC needs to step in. Sharad Pawar can start from home...