A Snapshot of me

We need to tone down the drama - urgently!

2012-01-05T10:14:00.001+05:30

Kill the doc – the most insane form of …(?)grievance !?!? « Meri Bakbak

A lot of crazy things happen daily and if we keep reacting to all there is no end to it. But what happened recently - where a doctor was murdered on the claim of negligence - really pushes it, because it has far reaching implications.

The link above is a level headed post written by a doctor himself. A few important notes of what happened:

There is no proof of negligence. The patient passed away enroute to another hospital. In fact what happened seems to be the opposite of negligence. It is just that the patient's husband couldn't stomach the outcome.
The cruelty of the incident is actually that the doctor got murdered trying to save the patient pretending to have a heart attack. It was a direct breach of trust.

When patients go to doctors, there is implied trust. Doctors should use this trust with utmost responsibility [in scenarios, even a slight lapse of alertness can turn critical and can be called "negligence" depending on the situation]. Patients must understand - especially in serious ailments - that despite the best effort of doctors - what they hear will not be what they expect.

But if we keep resorting to meaningless violence - especially against a fraternity whose job is so fundamental to our existence - they will eventually have to resort to means which ensure they are protected - legally and otherwise - during every step of the treatment process. In other words, it will degenerate from service to strictly transactional.

In those lines, I fully support this one-day strike. With our emotional outbursts, we are pushing things too far. And journalism that is not level headed only amplifies the drama instead of bringing balance to the situation.

2011 - My Retrospective

2012-01-02T20:06:00.001+05:30

One pivotal change!

Two mega programs

Successfully stayed clear of "kolaveri di"

Passed the transition from 2011 to 2012 just like another moment

Summary: Life is definitely on fast forward but there is some inner resistance (ok, a lot!)

Pros: Surrounded by loving and caring people* and one humongous support-structure

Cons: No complaints - no misery - no sadness - but a wonderment of why I am not 'just joyful'

My wish list for 2012

Just a general wonderment among masses if 7B is too much

An Indian Government that will just consider the option of "listening"

Make felling of trees illegal

Still do not have a "mass" substitute for gasoline / oil - some breakthrough!

One magnificent planet - a little less abuse if not gratitude

To self: Drop inner resistance

To self: To be able to 'just do it'

* - Who lose it once in a while - self included

November ends, December begins

2011-11-30T12:09:00.001+05:30

Tired but exciting phase!

For once I can relate to what Sadhguru has written in this week's spot!

Celebrating Diversity...

2011-11-17T19:36:00.001+05:30

Instead of fighting it.

This is from a real life example - cricket at that, involving cricketer Hashim Amla.

Read here. While the open mindedness and willingness to accept that he erred earlier earns credit for the writer, Hashim's tenacity in sticking with what means to him so much is touching (I understand it cost him his match fees for some time).

Tweetposts, 21st Oct 2011, Friday

2011-10-21T09:48:00.000+05:30

Mumbai Meri Jaan
Got to visit Mumbai. If I discount an earlier visit of traveling from the domestic to the international airport, this is the first time. There was not much sight seeing and my first experience was that of daze - of suddenly being put into a buzz world of activity where both the terrain and language were new. It's a city of sky scrapers - well, Chennai standards - which for years boasted with LIC, 14 storeys, as being the tallest building. Here, 20 to 25 storeys are very normal, more so - multiple stacks of these towers within a housing unit. Strangely, landmarks in Mumbai are housing colonies - auto drivers are very familiar with these names. Speaking of autos, drivers always use the meter and it is sometimes very difficult to find an empty auto. I guess Chennai, Coimbatore are spoiled cities. No proper enforcement of standard policies.
Mumbai is a vast city - I am guessing 3-4 times that of Chennai. So the 2 million population which earlier sounded like a big deal is not so much now.
So why the loving ode to Mumbai? Its the people I get to meet. A group of people who put themselves as secondary - and a continuous stream of them!
By no way I know what Mumbai is about - but even with what I have seen I can say it is very unique!

Take 3 toasted wheat bread slices. Between B1 and B2, apply peanut butter. Between B2 and B3 apply mixed fruit jam. Club the 3 slices. It is pure evil!

Gadiffi killed, Sachin is scared of Shoaib - so many crazy things are happening in the world. Thankfully insulated from all these to an extent.

Tweetposts - 3rd June 2011, Friday

2011-06-03T13:43:00.000+05:30

Does it make sense publicly asking someone accused of corruption - "Did you do this corrupt act?". Of course, he is going to deny it. Our judicial setup will ensure status quo for next 10-15 years. But one new method seems to be disruptive pressure being applied on the Government through protests and fasts. There is no point arguing if it will work or not, it is just a way to apply some pressure.
Given the political history of India and the nature of politicians - we can follow one thumb rule explicitly - 'TRUST NO ONE' until proven otherwise, of course.

I am wondering about the following:
- How is it that no cellphone has spam protection for SMS'es? (something like we have in GMail or Yahoo!). Why can't I mark a sender as spam so that I never have to see an SMS from them again?
- How is it that despite both Coke and Pepsi being fierce competitors, they sell for the same price?
Without saying, anywhere - money comes first for businesses.

Blood Diamond

2011-02-03T23:25:00.001+05:30

The impact of this movie is still lingering long after. It introduced a new term, 'conflict diamonds', where civil war rages in Sierra Leone, and presumably similar countries, because of rich diamond mines. The warring factions fight to take control of these mines and the Government is weak and/or corrupt. People are used forcefully to work in the mines and in the process have their families ripped off*.

Large diamond corporations, though not directly responsible for the situation, make use of this opportunity to get diamonds cheaply, create artificial scarcity and are indirectly involved in a pipeline that provides arms to these groups which creates a cycle.

The movie depicts a gross greed that causes people of the same nation to hurt each other in very incisive ways. The lead character Djimon Hounsou painfully observes in one moment - "We're doing this to each other."

Later, a diamond association comprising members from many countries agrees to stop importing "conflict diamonds" (where that glittering piece of stone might have caused someone in Africa to lose his limbs - literally). Eventually, the final burden is on the consumer, to ensure his or her diamond is conflict free. Actually, another character in the movie says that diamonds from Africa mined these way are exported to places like India and mixed with legitimately mined ones to eliminate all possibilities of verification.

My thoughts go back to several years back (ten years ago, when I was in the US), exactly during the time frame where this movie's story might have been contemporary, where I got a diamond for my mother. But coincidence or whatever, it was never used for many reasons and is still safely locked up. I looked up that provider and they state their diamonds are conflict free [but honestly, I had zero clue at the time - it could have been either way] . Read this as well.

So - one more item to add to the list! It is true - human greed poisons everything it touches.

Update: Speaking of Africa, a big big thumbs up to the people of Egypt. We are a far far way away from unified world Governance and it is important that democracy is installed everywhere, at least on paper, as a precursor. This is quite unique as it involves the entire nation and not a set of opposition leaders doing it for vested interests! There is very little that can be compared to the power of the will of millions of people operating as one.

* - The current state might be different

India versus US

2011-01-29T10:58:00.001+05:30

Can't argue with any of this. It captures the good and the bad. But it leaves out the best (culture/spirituality) and the worst (apathy/lethargy/politics/corruption)!

More details here:

Traffic penalties in India

2011-01-21T13:32:00.003+05:30

Got this as a forward. Some of these are eye openers.
Did you know playing music when driving was an offense?
Actually, it appears you can be fined for just about anything!
Also, the law years mention the late 1980s when mobile phones in India where non existent. I am wondering if they were amended recently to include the latest developments.

1. OFFENCES RELATED TO DOCUMENTS
S.No	OFFENCES	MAXIMUM PENALTY	SECTION
1.1	Driving without a Valid License	Rs. 500/- and /or imprisonment ( 3 months)	3 or/we 181 MOA
1.2	Allowing vehicle to be driven by a person who does not possess a Valid License.	Rs. 1000/- and/or imprisonment ( 3 months)	5 or/we 180 MOA
1.3	Not carrying documents as required.	Rs. 100/-	130(3) or/we 177 MOA
1.4	Driving without Valid Insurance.	Rs. 1000/- and/or imprisonment ( 3 months)	130 or/we 177 MOA
1.5	Driving without Valid Permit.	Rs. 5000/- ( not less than Rs. 2000/-)	130 or/we 177 MOA
1.6	Driving without Valid Fitness.	Rs. 5000/- ( not less than Rs. 2000/-)	130 or/we 177 MOA
1.7	Vehicle without OR.C.	Rs 2000/-	39 or/w192 MOA

2. OFFENCES RELATED TO DRIVING
S.NO	OFFENCES	MAXIMUM PENALTY	SECTION
2.1.1	Driving by Minor .	Rs. 500/-	4 or/we 181 MOA
2.1.2	Allowing Unauthorized person to drive .	Rs. 1000/-	5 or/we 180 MOA
2.1.3	Driving without Helmet.	Rs. 100/-	129 or/w177 MOA
2.1.4	Seat Belts not fastened.	Rs. 100/-	138(3) COMER 177 MOA
2.1.5	Rough/Rash/Negligen t Driving .	Rs. 1000/-	184 MOA
2.1.6	Dangerous or hasty Driving.	Rs.1000/- and/or imprisonment ( 6 months)	112-183 MOA
2.1.7	Not Driving in Proper Lane.	Court Challan	66 or/we 192 MOA
2.1.8	Driving in the center and not to left side.	Rs.100/-	2 ERR or/we 177 MOA
2.1.9	Driving against One Way.	Rs.100/-	17 (i) ERR 177 MOA
2.1.10	Reversing without due care and attention.	Rs. 100/-	MOVER 233 177 MOA
2.1.11	Taking "UP" turn during outlawed hours.	Rs.100/-	12 ERR 177 MOA
2.1.12	Failing to take precaution while taking a "Turn".	Rs.100/-	3 ERR 177 MOA
2.1.13	Failing to decelerate at intersection.	Rs.100/-	8 ERR 177 MOA
2.1.14	Failing to carry on left of traffic island.	Rs.100/-	2 ERR 177 MOA
2.1.15	Carrying persons on Footboard.	Rs.100/-	123-177 MOA
2.1.16	Carrying persons causing hindrance to the driver.	Rs.100/-	125-177 MOA
2.1.17	Tripling.	Rs. 100/-	128/177 MOA
2.1.18	Driving on Footpath.	Rs.100/-	ERR 177 MOA
2.1.19	Stopping at pedestrian crossing or crossing a Stop Line.	Rs.100/-	ERR 177 MOA
2.2	Road Marking Related Offences
2.2.1	Violation of Yellow Line.	Rs. 100/-	119/177 MOA
2.2	Violation of Stop Line.	Rs. 100/-	113(1)/177 DEMUR
2.2.3	Violation of Mandatory Signs .	Rs. 100/-	119/177 MOA
2.3	Number Plate Related Offences
2.3.1	Use of Offensive Number Plate for vehicle used in driving.	Rs.100/-	COMER 105 (2) (ii) 177 MOA
2.3.2	Displaying 'Applied For'.	Rs. 4500/-	39/192 MOA
2.4	Vehicle Light Related Offences
2.4.1	Improper use of headlights/tail light for vehicle used in driving.	Rs.100/-	COMER 105 (2) (ii) 177 MOA
2.4.2	Using High Beam where not required.	Rs. 100/-	112(G) A DEMUR 177 MOA
2.5	Horn Related Offences
2.5.1	Driving without Horn.	Rs. 100/-	119(1)/177 COMER
2.5.2	Improper horn usage while driving.	Rs.100/-	COMER 105 (2) (ii) 177 MOA
2.6	Traffic Police Related Offences
2.6.1	Disobeying Traffic Police Officer in uniform.	Rs. 100/-	119 MOA 22(a) ERR 177 MOA
2.6.2	Driving against Police Signal.	Rs. 100/-	119 or/we 177 MOA
2.6.3	Disobeying manual Traffic Signal.	Rs. 100/-	239 MOVER 22(a) ERR 177 MOA
2.7	Traffic Signal Related Offences
2.7.1	Disobeying Traffic signal / Sign Board.	Rs. 100/-	22(b) ERR 239 MOVER 177 MOA
2.7.2	Failing to give Signal.	Rs. 100/-	121 ERR 177 MOA
2.7.3	Jumping Signal.	Rs.100/-	119/177 MOA
2.8	Speed and Overtake Related Offences
2.8.1	Exceeding the prescribed Speed Limits.	Up to Rs.1000/-	112-183 MOA
2.8.2	Abetment for Over Speeding .	Rs.300/-	112/183(2) MOA
2.8.3	Overtaking perilously.	Rs.100/-	6 (a) ERR or/we 177 MOA
2.8.4	Failing to confer way to sanction Overtaking.	Rs.100/-	7 ERR 177 MOA
2.8.5	Overtaking from Wrong Side .	Rs. 100/-	ERR 6/1/177 MOA
2.9	Other Offences
2.9.1	Disobeying Lawful Directions.	Rs. 500/-	132/179 MOA
2.9.2	Driving under influence of Alcohol / Drugs.	Rs.2000/- and/or imprisonment ( 6 months)	185 MOA
2.9.3	Using Mobile Phone while Driving.	Up to 1000/-	184 MOA
2.9.4	Leaving vehicle in unoccupied engine.	Rs.100/-	126-177 MOA
2.9.5	Leaving vehicle in unsafe position.	Rs.100/-	122 177 MOA
2.9.6	In case of a minor Accident.	Rs. 1000/-	184 MOA
2.9.7	Playing music while Driving.	Rs. 100/-	102/177 MOA
2.9.8	Driving without Silencer.	Rs. 100/-	120/190(2)/177CMVR
2.9.9	Driving when mentally or physically unfit.	Court Challan	186 MOA

3. OFFENCES RELATED TO TOWING OF VEHICLES
S.NO	OFFENCES	MAXIMUM PENALTY	SECTION
3.1	Two Wheeler.	Rs.100/-	ERR 177 MOA
3.2	Car , Jeep, Taxi, Auto Rickshaw.	Rs.200/-	ERR 177 MOA
3.3	Truck, Tanker, Trailer.	Rs.600/-	ERR 177 MOA

4. OFFENCES RELATED TO POLLUTION
S.NO	OFFENCES	MAXIMUM PENALTY	SECTION
4.1	Smoking in Public Transport.	Rs. 100/-	86(1)(5)/177 DEMUR
4.2	Pollution Not Under Control.	Rs. 100/-	99(1)(a)/177 DEMUR
4.3	Fixing multi-toned/ shrill horn.	Rs.500/-	119 COMER 190(2) MOA
4.4	Blowing Pressure Horn.	Rs. 100/-	96(1)/177 DEMUR
4.5	Silencer/muffler making noise.	Rs.500/-	COMER 120 190(2) MOA
4.6	Smoky Exhaust.	Rs.500/-	115 COMER 190(2) MOA
4.7	Using horn in Silence Zone.	Rs.100/-	21(ii) ERR 177 MOA

5. OFFENCES RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLES
S.No	OFFENCES	MAXIMUM PENALTY	SECTION
5.1	Using Vehicle in Unsafe Conditions.	Court Challan	192 MOA
5.2	When motor vehicle is out of state for more than 12 months.	Rs.100/-	47-177 MOA
5.3	Particulars to be printed on transport vehicles.	Rs.100/-	84(G)-177 MOA
5.4	Without Wiper	Rs.100/-	COMER 101 5,12 177 MOA
5.4	Without Side Mirror.	Rs.100/-	5, 7/177 MOA
5.5	Defective tires.	Rs.100/-	COMER 94
5.6	No indication board on left hand drive vehicle.	Rs.100/-	120, 177 MOA
5.7	Sale of motor vehicle/alteration of motor vehicle in contravention of Act.	Rs.300/-	52/191 MOA, 32/192.66/192 MV Act
5.8	Vehicles fitted with dark glasses/sun films.	Rs.100/-	100 COMER 177 MOA
5.9	Driving without proper number plate/ illuminating rear number plate.	Rs.100/-	236 MOVER 177 MOA
5.10	Failing to display public carrier board.	Rs.100/-	116 MOVER 177 MOA
5.11	Using private vehicle for commercial purposes.	Rs. 5000/- ( not less than Rs. 2000/-)	-
5.12	Any sort of misconduct with passengers, not wearing uniform/not displaying badge.	Rs.100/-	MOVER 21(18) 177 MOA
5.13	Overloading a goods vehicle.	Rs. 2000/-plus Rs. 1000/- for every additional ton.	MOVER 93(up)(i) 177 MOA
5.14	Carrying goods in a dangerous or hazardous manner.	Imprisonment and/or fine of Rs. 3000/-	29 ERR 177 MOA
5.15	Infringement of permit conditions.	Imprisonment and/or fine of Rs. 5000/-( not less than Rs. 2000/-)	-
5.16	Use of Colored light on Vehicle	Rs. 100/-	97(2)/177 DEMUR

6. OFFENCES RELATED TO COMMERCIAL VEHICLES
S.No	OFFENCES	MAXIMUM PENALTY	SECTION
6.1	Plying in 'NO ENTRY' Time	Upton 2000/-	115/194 MOA
6.	Violation of Time Table	Court Challan	11/177, 2/177, 66/192 MOA
6.2	High and Long / Load in Vehicles	Rs. 100/-	29 ERR/177 MOA
6.3	Carrying animals in goods vehicles in contravention of rules.	Rs.100/-	MOVER 83 177 MOA
6.4	Carrying persons dangerously or carrying persons in goods vehicles.	Rs.100/-	MOVER 108 177 MOA
6.5	Goods in Passenger Vehicles	-	-
6.6	Dangerous projection of goods.	Rs.100/-	229 MOVER 29 ERR 177 MOA
6.7	Carrying goods unsecured.	Rs.100/-	MOVER 202 177 MOA
6.	Carrying goods more than 11 feet high.	Rs.100/-	MOVER 93(up) (i) 177 MOA
6.	Limit Of weight and limitation on Use.	Court Challan	113/194(1) MOA
6.	Driver refuses to weigh vehicle.	Court Challan	114/194(2) MOA
6.9	Load on Tail Board.	Rs.100/-	MOVER 202 177 MOA
6.10	Misbehavior by Taxi/TSAR Driver.	Rs. 100/-	11(3)/177 DEMUR
6.11	Over Charging by Taxi/TSAR Driver.	Rs. 100/-	11(8)/177 DEMUR
6.12	Charging without Meter.	Rs. 100/-	11(8)/177 DEMUR
6.13	Refusal by Taxi/TSAR Driver.	Rs. 100/-	11(9)/177 DEMUR
6.14	Driver without Uniform.	Rs. 100/-	7/177 DEMUR
6.14	Driver without Badge.	Rs. 100/-	22(1)/177 DEMUR
6.15	Conductor without Uniform.	Rs. 100/-	23(1)/177 DEMUR
6.16	Conductor without Badge.	Rs. 100/-	22(1)/177 DEMUR
6.17	Stopping without Bus stop	Court Challan	66/192 MOA
6.18	Power to detain Vehicle used in contravention of section 3.4,39 or 66(1) MV Act.	Court Challan	207(1) MOA

7. OFFENCES RELATED TO PARKING
S.NO	OFFENCES	MAXIMUM PENALTY	SECTION
7.1	Parking in the direction of flow of traffic.	Rs.100/-	22(a) ERR 177 MOA
7.2	Parking away from footpath towards road.	Rs.100/-	15(2) ERR 177 MOA
7.3	Parking against flow of traffic.	Rs.100/-	15(2) ERR 177 MOA
7.4	Parking causing Obstruction.	Rs. 100/-	15(2) ERR 177 MOA
7.5	Parking on a Taxi Stand.	Rs. 100/-	15(2) ERR 177 MOA
7.6	Parking in not any prescribed manner.	Rs. 100/-	15(1) ERR 177 MOA
7.7	Parking at any Corner.	Rs. 100/-	15(i) ERR 177 MOA
7.8	Parking within 15 meters on either side of Bus Stop.	Rs. 100/-	15(2) ERR 177 MOA
7.9	Parking on Bridge.	Rs. 100/-	15(2) (i) ERR 177 MOA
7.10	Parking at Traffic Island.	Rs. 100/-	15(i) ERR 177 MOA
7.11	Parking in "No" Parking Area.	Rs. 100/-	15(2) ERR 177 MOA
7.12	Parked on Pedestrian Crossing.	Rs. 100/-	15(2)(iii) ERR 177 MOA
7.13	Parking on Footpath.	Rs. 100/-	15(2)(ii) ERR 177 MOA
7.14	Parking in front of a gate.	Rs. 100/-	15(2)(viii) ERR 177 MOA
7.15	Parking causing obstruction.	Rs. 100/-	15(1) ERR 177 MOA

ERR: Rules of Road Regulations
1989

MOA: Motor Vehicles Act 1988

COMER: Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989

Besides these provisions,
it is mandatory for every driver driving, to carry the following
documents while driving:

S.No	Documents
1	Valid driving license.
2	Vehicle Registration Certificate.
3	Road Tax Token.
4	Pollution under Control Certificate.
5	Current Insurance Certificate.

Any driver can be held from his driving license if falls in line with any
of the given criteria:

S.No	Criterion
1	Driving is dangerous to the public.
2	Under the age of 18 yrs.
3	Drunk or addicted to dugs.
4	Illegal driving license.
5	Driving a vehicle with a objectionable history.

India: Keep your number and switch mobile provider!

2011-01-07T21:34:00.001+05:30

Over the past few weeks, I noticed that customer service from Aircel was improving.
I wanted to blog about it, and today I found the reason for it! See title! Additional details!

It kind of leaves a tinge of disappointment as I assumed it was because of leadership direction.

Mostly, necessity drives things in India – and in that context, I am wondering why this TRAI change too so long to implement! This is something that has always been available for western countries.

Some things Aircel did in this period – and I am sure in this context, it would have been the case with other providers:
1) This new year / Christmas, they did not send an SMS stating “All SMSes for 25th Dec / 31st Dec will be charged at 50 paise. FYI in case you’re enjoying some special benefit”
2) They took a survey asking if I was satisfied with their services. I replied with “No”
3) They sent an SMS giving me a one step way to opt for an ebill. Radha was trying to get this done through umpteen calls with customer service!

For corporations, money is king! Customer comes second!

With the elections approaching...

2011-01-03T20:10:00.000+05:30

I think it is very important that people who want to make balanced decisions not to go for the popular TV outlets. This is a time of radical emotional swaying to happen. With every major party holding its own mouthpiece (and eyepiece), and with that coming straight into living rooms*, it is very vital to not become emotional about the contents. And we can rest assured no one is going to tell the truth. By truth, we mean unadulterated facts.

I think all of us need to pick one unbiased (or the least biased!) TV channel, english daily and a regional daily and stick to them till the elections are over!

Sadly though - there is no ideal candidate or party. Just the least evil one - and under the circumstances, we need to choose whoever that is.

* - Major parties hold both TV channels and news papers!

Chak De India

2010-12-21T23:04:00.000+05:30

Don't know why I was sitting on this movie for this long.

I loved that they took up hockey as the subject instead of the clichéd cricket subject again. Again, more than the focus of winning, the movie rightly brings about the focus on "passion" and "spirit" of playing for the nation. It is important that we do this for the rest of the languishing sports. Cricket is at its peak in India because of that pivotal moment in 1983. If we did that for the other sports? Also, those pre-match discussions they have in this movie would have been amusing if not for the fact they are utterly real! If we have to pinpoint just one disease that is spread thick over this nation - it is "lethargy"!

And the music - so beautiful. The theme conveys the zest nicely and the other one - "Maula mere" - I didn't understand the words but the pain and the emotion behind it are palpable. Its very hard to put it in words - but pains!

I also noticed that this movie was the inspiration of another movie I watched thrice and loved. The tamil "vennila kabadi kuzhu". Again, that movie picked "kabaddi" as its subject and intertwined it with the sweat and culture of the tamil soil.

If these movies help revive these sports which have taken a back seat, bring more of them on. We have all the crowd and the money to bring them on their feet and then take wings! We need "passion". Seriously!

Tony Jaa

2010-12-20T22:37:00.000+05:30

When you come across "Faster than Bruce Lee..." as an ad for someone, it is hard to ignore. My connection with Bruce Lee is too strong! I wanted to check Tony Jaa out. So I watched both Ong Bak and Ong Bak 2!
He is exceptionally skilled. He does all of his stunts himself. And these are not ordinary stunts (they are incredible-incredible by any standards). The fact that the Thai movies repeat the stunt footage multiple times in different angles show that these were real without CGI.

Again, the tendency to compare with Bruce Lee is also strong. I don't want to take sides, but I can say Bruce Lee was waay fast! Sadly, we won't be seeing any more of him. Tony Jaa again is from more humble backgrounds and this humility is well reflected on his face. In fact, the movie was so extremely stereotyped - that to get him to fight, there is an american badass who bad mouths Thai culture. Another aspect I notice is that Bruce Lee was very graceful. Saying Tony Jaa is not graceful would be incorrect, but he comes across as "earthy" and "raw" in his strength.

I am happy to have discovered him. I love martial arts and people who perfect and develop this ought to prosper*. I hope he makes many more movies. I also hope that he gets a PR side to groom him in the story, screenplay area.

* - Martial arts is fighting for arts sake and using it as a part of spiritual growth. The adversary is only a context for the art. As opposed to having winning as a goal, developing oneself is the goal. I think this priority being set within is a necessary condition for an artist to transcend his/her limitations. Bruce lee got it, and it is very clear Tony Jaa gets it too! Unfortunately, when it is transported to movies, the movie has to resort to all sort of tricks to get the hero to "show off" the skills.

Way to tell the truth...

2010-12-16T21:11:00.000+05:30

Was browsing through feedback for Firefox 4, which is still in beta. See the screenshot below. To have a better view, visit the link. You can see there is more negative feedback than positive feedback most of the time. Actually, the page just hooks up to the live data feed - there is no curating at all.
This is the way to tell the truth! Give an easy way for public to access live, unadulterated facts - may be presented clearly. This is the kind of truth telling that is missing today!

Today you... Tomorrow me

2010-12-14T16:27:00.000+05:30

Two great real life stories. Read it inspite of the cussing - they're very inspiring. I wrote two pretty depressing tales earlier - these two are on the other side.
I guess it is upto us to remove this paranoia about helping total strangers. Cutting through all the divisions and media hype, we are all people who want to help and be helped at times of need.

The downward spiral...

2010-12-10T16:42:00.002+05:30

Another one on a related note I got as a forward. This is a true
incident and is first hand information. The downward spiral
referred to earlier is in more stark display here. I guess I am scared
- not just for being the victim but for being part of the society that
watches all of this happen! I don't want to be the victim or
the mute spectator, but don't know where to start!

Hi Friends,
This is the incident that happened to me last night(7th Dec 2010)
around 10:30 -11:00 pm.
I left my office at around 10:15 pm and was going alone in my car,
some 2 persons were following me without my knowledge. I reached near
Jain College at Thoraipakam Junction and heading towards toll plaza,
suddenly I heard a big sound like somebody scratched my car or dashed
my car.
I came down from the car to see that there was a big scratch, I was
about to enter into my car suddenly 2 people came and stabbed me on
the back of my head. I didn’t understand what’s going on.
One guy started hitting me badly on my face with his fist. The other
guy took a big professional knife(which I saw only bad guys using in
Movies) and wanted to stab me in my abdomen but I resisted him and
held his hand. I was scared that he might not stab me with that knife.
In this mean time another guy came and snatched my bracelet and my
Bluetooth from my shirt pocket. He was about to take my Mobile phone
from my trousers then I found a wooden stick with which I beat him
very badly that it broke.
In this mean time a person coming in a Santro car knowingly or
unknowingly about to dash the 2 guys with his car then those 3 people
left me and ran off on their bike with no number plate to my surprise.
I lost my Bracelet and Bluetooth, I got several scratches on my face,
hand and abdomen. My shirt was torn.
The one thing that amazed me is there were some 20 people near to me
all watching what’s going on and none of them came to help me or at
least didn’t asked me what happened. None of them were bothered.
My friends let me tell you something to avoid these kind of situations
that happened to me.
1)Don’t work in your office till late night, if it’s inevitable then
better book a cab and go safely.
2)If you are going in your private vehicle and especially car, don’t
stop it and most importantly don’t get down from the car in dark
places.
3)If you find anything happening in front of you just try to help them
in whatever way possible.
Today it happened to me, tomorrow it may happen to you, so be cautious.

To care or not to care?

2010-12-02T16:31:00.001+05:30

Got this as a forward and not sure how true this is. But very plausible. But what was striking was that the scheme exploits the people's natural instinct for concern. After the first few victims, word will naturally spread like it has now and will put a cap on this concern. It will then cause a downward spiral until people are fiercely "each one unto himself or herself". Can we truly blame them under the circumstances?

The worst disease that can inflict a society!

Sad, especially if you are inclined to 'help' people...

While driving on a rural end of the roadway on Thursday morning, I saw an

infant car seat on the side of the road with a blanket draped over it.

For whatever reason, I did not stop, even though I had all kinds of

thoughts running through my head. But when I got to my destination, I

called the Police and they were going to check it out. But, this is what

the Police advised even before they went out there to check....

"There are several things to be aware of ... gangs and thieves are now

plotting different ways to get a person (mostly women)to stop their

vehicle and get out of the car.

"There is a gang initiation reported by the local Police where gangs are

placing a car seat by the road...with a fake baby in

it...waiting for a woman, of course, to stop and check on the abandoned

baby.

"Note that the location of this car seat is usually beside a wooded or

grassy (field) area and the person -- woman -- will be dragged into the

woods, beaten and raped, and usually left for dead. If it's a man,

they're usually beaten and robbed and maybe left for dead, too.

Do not stop for any reason!!!

Dial 9-9-9/Police and report what you saw, but don't even slow down.

"if you are driving at night and eggs are thrown at your windscreen, do

not stop to check the car, do not operate the wiper and do not spray any

water because eggs mixed with water become milky and

block your vision up to 92.5%, and you are then forced to stop beside

the road and become a victim of these criminals.

This is a new technique used by gangs, so please inform your friends and

relatives.

These are desperate times and these are unsavoury individuals who will

take desperate measures to get what they want."

please talk to your loved ones about this. This is a new tactic used.

Please be safe.

Has Wikileaks gone too far?

2010-11-29T21:57:00.000+05:30

I am not saying it has - but I am wondering.

For good or bad, whatever they have disclosed thus for hasn't been surprising to me. I sort of expected this from US albeit in a slightly toned down fashion. But this last disclosure is more like icing on the cake with no consequential relevance. Putin isn't going to be impressed, but in a closed setting people are normally more open in stating what they really feel. Unless there are stark lies in what has been disclosed, we should let it pass. To me, it is just another reinforcement of US arrogance.

The other question to consider is - has Wikileaks gone too far? How far is too far? Should everything be disclosed just because it is available and can be disclosed? Right now, for the most part, the receiving end has been the US. It may be just that tomorrow other nations might be - depending on who is blowing the whistle. What if nations get together and shutdown Wikileaks? Australia has already offered its support to the US.

Wikileaks is serving a need. It is taking an extreme standpoint, almost suggesting a stand off, but the truth is that all the deviousness and cruelty under the guise of "classification" wouldn't have come to light if not for those disclosures. Nothing much has changed as a result of these disclosures save shedding light on the true color of certain things going on under covers. The sad truth will be that if Wikileaks goes away, there is nothing to take its place.

But mainly - I think it is a great demonstration of what a great flattener the Internet is. Something like this would have never been possible two or three decades ago. I really wish people take this as a call to transparency - especially with Governments. With these disclosures rubbing off in the wrong way, that should be the last thing to expect!

Downfall - Hitler's outburst

2010-11-26T22:36:00.001+05:30

Downfall is a German movie that depicts the final period of Hitler's regime, when his failure in WWII became inevitable. There is one awesome tense scene (the only one I have watched in the movie) that ironically became the funniest one. The context is different because this scene got picked for parodies.

I actually got introduced to this scene when one employee of a large MNC made a video mocking its policies. Eventually, the video became so popular that it was removed from YouTube [management intervention I suppose]. It appears to be back now. Don't be surprised if you don't see it though!

There are other parodies of it too. One where Hitler reacts to iPad not supporting Flash. And the most classic twist of all? It is one where Hitler comes to know about the Downfall parodies themselves!

Here is the entire suite of the parodies!

I find it really amusing that this very well enacted scene about a terror-maker is generating so much laughs! God's final joke!

The one with the 1000th post

2010-11-16T23:40:00.000+05:30

I don't exactly recall when I started loving writing. I used to store a lot of what I used to write in a word document and share it with just a select set of folks. Once I discovered blogging, I realized that it naturally fit with what I was doing. This was Dec 2004 I think.

This post is the 1000th post in the ED "blog umbrella". One quote which fascinates me a lot is "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". Even when I read it, without realizing the stature of the person who mentioned it, I knew it was a divinely inspired quote. I never had 1000 posts as a goal but here now it is because it was "one post at a time". If anything, I probably should use it to remind me that patience yields returns.

Over this period, there were few posts for which I spent an inordinate amount of time because the post required it. There were some posts that happened because of a burst of inspiration. Some posts were an intersection of both. I have marked them as "passionate". Duh!

Though I did not target 1000 posts, I do not know what to do from here. Some one reminded me today that my posts are full of "opinions". I can't disagree. I also read some time back that opinion directly translates to self importance. In some way, I think blogging in itself is narcissistic in nature. See - another opinion! There are always exceptions - people who have something genuinely valuable to share. I don't think I fall into that category!

I can't stop writing yet, but I want to pause and think - "What is the point of all this anyway?". It is a good "opinion" checkpoint!

[Ironically, I remember talking to another blogger a long time ago and telling that person - "What a highly opinionated blog you have!". LOL]

Tweetposts - 16th Nov 2010, Tuesday

2010-11-16T18:47:00.003+05:30

I find it amusing that there has been no major uproar against the new TSA policy – invasive scanners (which take naked pictures through x-ray) and/or “enhanced pat downs” (euphemism for groping!). Security is a concern alright – but at what cost? Before it gets implemented at rest of the world I hope the public uproar there in US would set a precedent. I am also (selfishly) happy that I am not at the US at this time. In any case, I would have preferred to drive under the circumstances! The larger question is, why is it difficult to come up with a sensible solution to the problem of security? Can we go to any length in the name of security?

Considering deleting my face book account. I don’t like their sense of entitlement towards users’ data. Only thing is FB is really useful in some aspects. I couldn’t have gotten in touch with some of my old friends if not for it. Also looking at some pictures of friends who wouldn’t email them “to you” otherwise! Things just “show up” automatically and its really nice! It’s a question of benefit vs untrustworthiness of the site. Want an example? You have X friends on face book. You know their email addresses – if not you can go to their profile and look that up [your friends are willingly sharing it with you]. But you cannot download their email addresses in bulk. FB’s reason is that you don’t own their data. But Yahoo and Microsoft are allowed access to your friends’ email addresses through your profile (in bulk after you authorize). More than policy, it just appears it is just equivocation for convenience!
Note: Seen "The Social Network"? It adds an interesting perspective to the personality of the owner in light of whats going on now. Other thing is the Google vs FB standoff! Interesting times :)

Born Free

2010-11-11T09:15:00.000+05:30

Many years ago, I was watching a documentary on Tarantulas. One expert (my term for someone who spent a lot of time with them) mentioned that they knew "familiar" hands. So when then crawled on those hands, they did not bite. A new hand will receive a painful, though non poisonous bite!

I was thinking that this is a rudimentary form of reptiles/insects responding to love [in this case, it is in the gross physical level]. As species evolve, I think they all respond to love. Dogs are a classic example.

Here it is a lion. It is an extraordinary true story! A couple adopt three lion cubs owing to circumstance and nurture them to their adulthood. They see that once their age is such that they cannot be had at home, send two to a zoo while the third one they continue to keep - because the lady is so strongly attached to Elsa. Eventually, how the nurture her and let her into the wild because she was "born free" forms the story. Later, an year later, they come in search of her, only to find Elsa come back in search of them with her three cubs!

This can be a good story - but I like to think that love moves everything on this planet! May be, if we humans responded from that place together, a lot of things happening on this planet will not happen!

The story of electronics

2010-11-10T19:27:00.000+05:30

The lady doesn't fail to impress. It takes a lot of courage to keep pressing on relentlessly like this. I dare say, if she was fighting Indian politics and policymakers, she'd be dead by now!

I am one of the guilty ones when it comes to electronics. It's a direct callback to how I drool at new gizmos. I still use my (10y+ old) 4MP camera though! Should every single thing that is tempting be either bad for the environment or for another set of people at a different part of the globe? Anything we touch seems to be screwed up!

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the independent modules that make up electronic components - chargers, batteries, heck memory cards!! are all different - not just across company products, but across different versions of the same company's products. The attractive packaging blurs the obvious - and these "modules" are part of a larger glossily furnished product. For instance, how hard would it be to make a processor a removable component? So later, when a new [faster] one comes across, just detach and reattach! Its surprising not one company has done this. Coincidence?

Our collective will at fighting back against these practices is still very weak!

Tweetposts - 10th Nov 2010, Wednesday

2010-11-10T07:46:00.000+05:30

Trust has become scarce material today. Actually, if we look at all the problems we have today facing us, we can tie this back to the list of "lies" - gross and subtle that are lurking underneath. The reason is that, without these lies, the problems will not be alive for long. The situation is such that, with anyone speaking on anything - instead of trusting them by default, we will need to distrust them by default. Only people who have worked long and hard to establish this trust have any sort of credibility like that. So, on a mass scale, how many people can we actually count on today?

I recently wrote about the difference in perspectives [read:inclusion] of people. Read this for example. I am paraphrasing (I may also be misquoting the numbers, figures etc - but the message is clear). The context is whether ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) should be opened up for oil drilling. Reading this, you can imagine what that would do to the ecosystem. Or will it?

Someone representing US congress: We absolutely should open up ANWR for drilling. Of 20 million acres, we will just be taking up 2000 acres. (Other supporting talk)

A professor (sorry, don't remember name): Opening up ANWR for oil drilling will not be a criminal act. It is the closest thing you can do to come near performing a criminal act.

My take: How can you even begin considering something like this when you have no knowledge (yes, not an iota of it) or care (yes, not an iota of it) of the complexities of disrupting an ecosystem like that? Insensitive people shouldn't be sitting on the Government. But the way democracies are setup [cut throat rise to top!], only that kind comes to power!

A Time to Kill

2010-11-09T16:26:00.000+05:30

Whenever a movie attempts to deal with some kind of disharmony or a divide – be it racial tension, violence, internal strife, it is beneficial only if it ends up blurring the disharmony or the divide it attempted to portray in the first place.

In that sense, this movie succeeds very well. All the cards are laid out in the first 30 minutes. So it is only a matter of watching the drama unfold to its conclusion. I agree, skin color is a very strong and instinctive discriminator, mainly because it is literally in-the-face! I think it is time we as a society move forward beyond this. Enough has happened with this aspect!

On a side note [actually not, it ties directly to the movie’s story] – I think child molesters have no place in the society. All nations probably should enact a no trial policy and execute them instantly [provided it is clear they perpetrated the act in the first place]. No, I am not advocating their torture, punishment nor do I want them to go through pain to make them realize what they did was wrong etc etc. We can finish them swiftly and painlessly. It is just a way of sending a message to the rest of us that something at that level has no place in society. I remember how the word “rape” caused me to twitch uncomfortably a decade ago. Now that term has a normal place in news. Child molestation is now starting to become common place [a recent painful incident comes to mind in my city]. In places like India, trials are painfully slow. The person committing the crime sits in jail, even worse buys himself out on bail, for five-ten years till the sentence is pronounced. In countries like India, parents place their children above everything. They put their lives aside for their children’s well being. In addition to watching their child go through that dehumanizing experience, there is this added pain of watching the perpetrator walking scot free. It is a democratic country alright. But draw a line somewhere for humanity’s sake! No excuses, no leniency, no second thoughts [if someone comes and shows the perpetrators aging parents’ photograph, ask them where these parents where in his mind when he was committing the crime] – end their existence swiftly. They can come back another cycle if one exists.