"Okay, I didn't WIN 2011 the way I intended to but it was not a failed year too. But what a learning experience it was! I'll practice another approach and then try again."


2011 was one helluva year!

Uncertainty is the only Certainty. - adasia 2011

Nothing will grow forever... a good article

A superb article, worth reading and giving it a thought...










"NOTHING GROWS FOREVER. . ., WHY DO WE KEEP THINKING THE ECONOMY 


WILL?" 

Angadi Theru - Tamil movie review. . .

Director Vasantha Balan has dared to venture where no other director has until date dared to. The raw and sometimes brutal side of the ever popular shopping malls is showcased.

A very bold script with realistic scenes that is very close or just like real life situations. The movie is shot in Ranganathan Street of T-nagar, Chennai with large departmental stores with the likes of saravana Stores and others.

The reality behind the script is worrying for many. The realization that the ever popular One-stop shops in Ranganathan street,  that attract thousands of shoppers and spin the wheels of commerce are actually woven by the sweaty and sleep-deprived hungry youth of Tamil Nadu villagers. The exploitation  of these desperate young boys and girls with jobs that allow them to send home desperately-needed money, their working conditions are pathetic. But the young sweat it out, despite lacking fundamental rights and comforts, including the freedom to fall in love, let alone dignity of labor or even the basis consideration that they are humans.

The story unfolds through the lives of newcomer Mahes and his close friend Pandi who are brought to Chennai from their humble homes. The harsh working atmosphere and the rude Managers is by itself difficult to digest.

The heroin’s role is done by Anjali who gives a very strong performance in this movie.

While the first half races past, the second gets entangled in unnecessary sub-plots, but overall it does bring about the strong emotions and compulsions behind every person working in the store. However, all the actors have pulled off convincing performances.

The music by Vijay Antony and GV Prakash is worthy too and is of the right blend and is very much tiein with the theme and spirits of the movie.

The next time you visit a shopping mall, vignettes from the film will pop up, like spam mail, in your memory.


Check out these videos:

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A haunting song;

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"Engeyum Eppodhum" review. - A must watch!

Is a movie from a debutant director M Saravanan and produced by A R Murugadoss and Fox Star Studios India.

The movie conveys a strong yet simple message “Speed kills” and deals with the value of life.

As for the story, it is kept simple:  two separate romantic tales, one set in Chennai, the other in Tiruchy, intersect at one point, and then some heart touching scenes which people working abroad can relate to, especially from the Middle East.

Clever story writing, simple dialogues, powerful and engaging acting and sound effects make this movie a must watch.

The two main stories First being between Ananya and Sharvanand, set against the back drop of Chennai is very refreshing with some subtle emotions.

The next story is just a contrast to the first one. Jai and Anjali (Angadi theru fame) is set against the back drop of Trichy. This story is very well shaped. The love-track easily becomes the more interesting of the two, as the "lovers" progress through a most intriguing form of courtship.

While Ananya, Sharvanand and Jai have all done well, it's Anjali who clearly walks away with the honors. She plays the role of a Nurse who is aggressive and she practically leads her lover (Jai) by the nose, but the extent of her feelings emerges only at the end, and carries you away.

Another noteworthy performance from Anjali…

Music of the film is engaging and blends well with the movie. The special effects sounds and back ground score form a key part in this movie.

This movie too has its minus sides --  too much focus on the bus as the movie starts breaks the suspense and felt a bit dragging, a few dialogues seem quite out of place and context the scenes but the overall product is what matters and the director has achieved this.

Engeyum Eppodhum is a genuinely heart-warming story, not just about romance, but about the fabric of life itself.

Trailer of Engeyum Eppodhum

May the divine light spread into your Life peace, prosperity,
happiness and good health!

Fear! .

From childhood, it’s the Fear element that dominates our lessons; parents and elders at home, teachers in school use this sense of fear to instill discipline - “do this or else”….its always threats with a fear of punishment… not knowing better and more effective ways to win over the young minds.

Besides such instilled fear, there is this natural fear…. fear of monsters, fear of Ghosts….. Well, what is true, is not the existence of a monster out there to catch you, or ghosts out there to scare you, but the sense of Fear…. monsters may not be real, but the fear IS real.

Similarly small minded people use religion to scare and instill fear; bordering on “religious pornography”; Why should a person be God Fearing?? Why can’t one be “God Loving”? Why can’t the religion teach the followers to ‘love’ God rather than ‘fear’ God?? We often attribute acts of nature to God….God is Loving…. but Nature is Blind….

received this as part of shared thoughts from Mr. Mohandas K P

Fear!

Fear is greatest cause of misery in the world.

It is the greatest of all superstitions.

It is the cause of all our woes.

The moment you fear, you are nobody.

ende bakshanam!

I just love food and so I thought of making a blog with recipes of food that I like or tasted. My wife is also contributing to this cause...


Check it out on:   http://endebakshanam.wordpress.com/


Do not waste food as it is a SIN...

My new blog on wordpress. Check it out on http://myextension.wordpress.com/

Yet to get a proper feel of the new site, and I gotta make modifications and changes, which I would be doing so shortly...

Shared Thoughts 30.7.2011

as received by mail from my uncle Mr. Mohandas K P. make a wonderful read.

Human values, humility, care for others, sharing, fellowship, respect for elders, respect for society is somethings we have taken for granted. We talk so much about our culture, civilization and what not; but the point is how much we take and follow from our rich heritage... Very very few, that too only what suits us and what we need to impress others.

I know I am bad at words, so not taking the pain to elaborate... read and try to then let us genuinely take an effort to be a better person...

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SHARED THOUGHTS...........30.07.2011 ===================================

Quality of a society is shown in the character of its people. The character of a man of today or a child of yesterday, is as a result of upbringing & inculcating of quality values taught at home, in school and from elders in other walks of life. If values that are noble, are available from these sources, then, it can be inferred that those passing on these values have in turn, imbibed them from similar sources in their childhood .. and so on and so forth, going back to generations… and this in short, is Culture of a Society.

Here is a story of a Japanese boy exhibiting a rare lesson in sacrifice.. coming natural to him as a result of noble values taught to him, but incredible and inconceivable to others from the rest of the world.

This story was conveyed through a letter, by an immigrant policeman Ha Minh Thanh working in Fukushima to a friend in Vietnam, posted in New America Media on March 19^th, 2011.

It is a testimony to the strength of the Japanese spirit, and an interesting slice of life near the epicenter of Japan's crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. It was translated by NAM editor Andrew Lam, author of "East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres."

Shanghai Daily condensed it.

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Brother,

How are you and your family? These last few days, everything was in chaos. When I close my eyes, I see dead bodies. When I open my eyes, I also see dead bodies. Each one of us must work 20 hours a day, yet I wish there were 48 hours in the day, so that we could continue helping and rescuing folks. We are without water and electricity, and food rations are near zero. We barely manage to move refugees before there are new orders to move them elsewhere.I am currently in Fukushima, about 25 kilometers away from the nuclear power plant. I have so much to tell you that if I could write it all down, it would surely turn into a novel about human relationships and behaviors during times of crisis.People here remained calm - their sense of dignity and proper behavior are very good - so things aren't as bad as they could be. But given another week, I can't guarantee that things won't get to a point where we can no longer provide proper protection and order. They are humans after all, and when hunger and thirst override dignity, well, they will do whatever they have to do. The government is trying to provide supplies by air, bringing in food and medicine, but it's like dropping a little salt into the ocean.Brother, there was a really moving incident. It involves a little Japanese boy who taught an adult like me a lesson on how to behave like a human being.Last night, I was sent to a little grammar school to help a charity organization distribute food to the refugees. It was a long line that snaked this way and that and I saw a little boy around 9 years old. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts.It was getting very cold and the boy was at the very end of the line. I was worried that by the time his turn came there wouldn't be any food left. So I spoke to him. He said he was at school when the earthquake happened. His father worked nearby and was driving to the school. The boy was on the third floor balcony when he saw the tsunami sweep his father's car away. I asked him about his mother. He said his house is right by the beach and that his mother and little sister probably didn't make it. He turned his head and wiped his tears when I asked about his relatives.The boy was shivering so I took off my police jacket and put it on him. That's when my bag of food ration fell out. I picked it up and gave it to him. "When it comes to your turn, they might run out of food. So here's my portion. I already ate. Why don't you eat it?"The boy took my food and bowed. I thought he would eat it right away, but he didn't. He took the bag of food, went up to where the line ended and put it where all the food was waiting to be distributed. I was shocked. I asked him why he didn't eat it and instead added it to the food pile. He answered: "Because I see a lot more people hungrier than I am. If I put it there, then they will distribute the food equally."When I heard that I turned away so that people wouldn't see me cry. A society that can produce a 9-year-old who understands the concept of sacrifice for the greater good must be a great society, a great people. Ha Minh Thanh

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To add to this story …of values that are rare for others like me…. Here are some brief notes from my real life experience in Japan, from late 70’s.

1) A pedestrian crossing the road, at midnight, no traffic on either side of the road, waiting patiently for the zebra crossing to turn green.. I was watching this man, from the window of my hotel room in Ginza.

- 2) A taxi ride to a movie .. I paid the fare and rushed in as the movie may have already started.. several minutes later, the theatre guard spotted me among the audience and flashing the torchlight asked me to come out.. Sensing something must have gone wrong, I followed him in fear, only to discover the taxi driver waiting outside, was adamant that I take the change, because I paid him more than the meter fare.

- 3) A railway porter, carrying our baggage from the parking lot to the carriage, with great physical effort managed to stow all the pieces safely in the cargo bay of the carriage…. Only to hear thru the PA system, that this particular train was not going and instead another one from a far off platform. The same process of baggage shifting and finally in the right coach. I thought I paid him generously for all the strain.. …he said something which made feel, he was asking for more than I gave him….he was declining that too,…I added more, he blatantly refused that offer also…and was soon enough yelling at me… ok to hell with him, I thought, and added more….all this happened even as a crowd was gathering around us….it was all the more embarrassing for me, as they were all laughing at me… soon enough a policeman came by .. whose help I sought in frustration…. Only to see him also bursting out in laughter… on enquiry .. he said, sir, he was all along refusing to accept anything, since he is paid by the railways to do this job… and you are insulting him by giving more and more….ha ha.!!

- 4) Waiting for bus … I join the queue…. Shortly after the person in front looks back, sees me and ushers me to go forward in front of him…soon enough the next person in front, sees me.. and urges me to go forward.. and so on… and soon enough, I am the first person.. wondering why this courtesy… on enquiry, was told, I am from the land of Buddha..and worthy of respect. !!

- 5) A late night train halts at the Kobe terminal, the final destination. An elderly passenger couple, seemed oblivious of the near empty coach… as I alighted, I nudged them to indicate we are now at the final stop… only to see the rail hostess bringing a stitch kit to them.. what I saw then, was incredible… I watched them sew a tear on the seat cover..!! the job finished, they alighted with a smile and a big bow to the hostess.…!

- 6) A train journey got delayed due to snow…on reaching the destination, I was in a hurry to exit.. only to be turned back….I was told, I must take the mandatory refund of ticket (pro-rata) to exit from platform…only the refund voucher could open the electronic gate !!

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These incidents left a lasting impression, never to be forgotten. The values of culture handed over thru centuries make such a society rich.

Not the symbols of civilization – tall towers, boulevards, wide roads, jazzy cars and unabashed display of wealth, revealing a nature of arrogance and indifference in behavior towards others…this is the hallmark of modern society in many parts of the world…especially in the Gulf.. and we call this a rich modern state… how primitive..!!

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Have a safe weekend and week ahead.

MOHANDAS. KP.

PARAPROSDOKIANS

Got this via E-mail:

What is Paraprosdokian? Here is the definition:

"A figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation."

e.g. "Where there's a will, I want to be in it," is a type of paraprosdokian.

Ok, so now enjoy!

1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on my list.

3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.

5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

6. War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

8. Evening news is where they begin with 'Good Evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.

12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, 'In case of emergency, notify:' I put 'DOCTOR.'

13. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

19. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

20. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

21. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so sure.

22. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

24. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

25. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

26. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.

28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.

29. I always take life with a grain of salt. Plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.

30. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

Words of Wisdom from Jon Hammond

"The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."

My family...

My adorable and sweet wife Premi with our cute lil girlo Urvi.

Taken while we were watching the WC finals at Madhuettan's house.

Focus on yourself. . .

Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our expectations; we are so concerned about what others are doing that we don't do anything ourselves.

Its not so important what others are up to; compared to what you are doing.

Focus on what you do, your work; Not on others.

How you look at Things. . .

Everything in this world can be seen as you wish to.

Good or Bad; Simple or Complicated; Easy or Difficult.

Its not how things are; its about how you look up to them.

...and how you look up to them is all up to you.

India visit (12th to 22nd January 2011)

Premi, Urvi and I had undertaken a sudden trip to India for 10 days, arriving into Chennai on 12th morning. During this trip, we visited Chennai, Covai, Ottapalam, Kochi, Trissur and Guruvayoor.

Had the opportunity to drive around 980kms this time around. Approximately 800kms in Zen Estillo and 180 in Toyota Corolla. I had enjoyed the drive in both cars. Enjoyed the company of Premi in these long drives as we talked a lot covering almost all topics and enjoying good music. Looking forward to more such trips.

15th - Covai to Ottapalam in Estillo (around 90kms)

16th - Ottapalam to Kochi and back in Estillo (around 280 kms)

17th - Ottapalam to Trissur and back in Toyota Corolla (around 130 kms)

17th - Ottapalam to Covai in Estillo (around 90kms)

19th - Covai to Ottapalam in Estillo (around 90kms)

20th - Ottapalam to Aata thara to Guruvayoor in Toyota Corolla (around 89kms)

21st - Guruvayoor to Ottapalam in Toyota Corolla (around 85kms)

21st - Ottapalam to Covai in Estillo (around 90kms)

+ miscellaneous driving in Covai and Ottapalam.

on 21st Jan'11, we celebrated URVI's 2nd Birthday @ Puthoor house, Ottapalam. A grand sadhya was organised by Ammamma at Puthoor with about 45 guests for lunch.

Another highlight was the good darshan of Guruvayoorapan. Premi, Urvi and I had stayed over for the night (20th Jan'11 night) @ Gokulam Hotel - Vanamaala.

We had not been able to take Urvi inside Guruvayoor since her birth due to many reasons, but only prayed from the outside, However this time to compensate, we decided to stay there overnight and we managed to get her 1 darshan on 20th and another on her birthday 21st Jan'11.

What's pending is syenaprashnam, that I prayed to perform. Hopefully I will be able to satisfy this during my next visit.

Ps. We selected Gokulam Hotel - Vanamaala, coz we both stayed here in separate rooms before our wedding on 7th Jan'07. The hotel room is very clean, coffee was served hot. The a/c was very effective and hot water too was available with satellite tv.

Wishing everyone a very Happy, prosperous, Healthy & Blessed

New Year 2011

(L-R) Premi, Urvi and Arun @ Dubai Mall.

With my mother in law, grandmother in law, Premi & Urvi

(L-R) Pramod (brother in law), Mother in law and grandmother in law @ Chillis resturantm Festival City Promonade

with my brother in law (Pramod Menon)

(L-R) Grandmother in law, Mother in law, Premi and Urvi @ Festival City Promonade