Mankind

Its my constant crib that the problem of the universe is yours truly - the human being. Imagine a world without that one species - can guarantee there would be now problems at all - No pollution, no population growth, no resource crunch, no inflation, employment, unemployment, nukes, global warming, absolutely no issues at all. It would have been perfect. We human beings are the only type that causes problems and then take pride in solving them. Hurrah.

Baby Food

Its often frightening to see how quick things change in this world. New things every minute; every day. The good thing is we pick up things instinctively - like we've known this kind of stuff all our lives - this is the way our generation is going or should I say went. Should I say thanks to Neslac - I know for sure chimps don't have that and thence the difference. Now they say you ought to have Pediasure too.

Mind mind

I'm beginning to understand that the best that can happen to on in life is to understand the mind. That is beginning to look like the end of life - to gain understanding of the mind. I may be late to this stage of my life but better late than never.

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.” – THE BUDDHA - this is a line I picked up somewhere but have come to live by. Nothing has hit me stronger.

The mind is everything. Once we gain full understanding of it; total, unfailing awareness - then we are set. THE MIND IS EVERYTHING.

PS. Thats one reason the Buddists talks of staying free of intoxicants - so as not to loose control / awareness of the mind - but till I get there, Cheers to Life. :) :(

Occupations of Today

I see a lot of the youth of Kerala getting themselves a yellow board and sitting around chatting and whiling away time. I think driving has become one of the preferred occupations of the younger generation and I really dont see the lot productively occupied. Now this is a hunch so I apologize in advance should I be off the mark.

Another stream I have seen is Real Estate. Something I have seen in Bangalore, Delhi and Kerala too; that every third shop / person is a real estate agent by profession. While it has been incredibly difficult to deal with the lot in Bangalore I see similar trends elsewhere too. Most just sit around the whole day not actively engaged and survive on one or two deals a month where they typically make a killing - murder of the buyer and the seller is most likely. Its difficult to get real information, clear communication or any definite commitments in most cases. One would argue that they do not have a lot in their control but being seen as making an effort would help in the least. This is the same case as the drivers where we see prices go up merely because they are occupied so little that they have to make up for their costs in that little time. The supply exceeds demand considerably.

Now the worst is when you experience this yourself. I am here to sell a flat leaving a lot of the stuff I have back home pending - most likely exactly where they were when I left. I came to the capital in the hope of freezing on either of a couple of prospects I had but the price didn't work out. So here I am stuck without anything to do but read and watch movies - and think of making a career of writing reviews of those I watch. I've posted the property online and now I think I will go back home and try coordinating it from there. While I was quite hopeful as the last time I had made the postings I had received quite a few responses. But that is not happening this time round - looks like the market died or something. Maybe they think I was playing them for a fool by posting such a good deal today - the 1st of April :)

I guess I will return home. There doesn't seem to be much to do but wait or as a friend suggested; walk around with placards hanging around my neck - front and back to boot.

Cheers! :)

Bad Company

Sorrow, Sadness, my long lost friends,

Wherefrom you come, where did you go?

Missed you I have not; longed for you, no;

But here you are now, right by my side, why?

Joy, Happiness, where have you been?

With me for a while but now not to be seen;

Yonder I search longing for you

Nay do I find in the slightest hue.

Raping the Nation - I

One of the things I am particular about, especially when I am in Bangalore is to ensure my bus conductor gives me a proper ticket for small point travel I use the BMTC for. I have seen a lot of conductors who love to discount you (~25%) on small trips and pocket the money without issuing a ticket.

I figure it is much better to pay the BMTC the full fare so they will continue to be profitable as they are and the conductor in question will have his job and therefore a fully monthly income longer. That is definitely far better than pocketing pennies now.

This narrow mindedness is a rampant problem in India pervading many areas of our society especially governance.

One of those programs I like to lean on is the NREGS scheme that has been adding to our budget deficit for two years now - and looks like its gonna be around a while longer - unless the Congress and its cronies are thrown out of office. Here, they dole out public money to what is at best their targeted vote bank - the famous AAM ADMI. Besides this being a blatant democratic violation of a country's franchise rights; this policy in turn carves out a lethargic people. Besides this what about inflation. When you flood the economy with money it is but natural that inflation gets pushed up and that is what we are seeing here (besides supply side constraints). And there is a shortage of human resources - farm hands - for the private sector because anyone who works in caught up with the NREGS where you report and spend the time chatting away with friends. This in-turn pushes private sector labour costs up contributing further to inflation.

Then there was this big load write -off which benefited a lot of non-deserving people and created a people who borrow and then wait for the government to write off rather than pay back. While you are at it, keep in mind that the culture of paying back was one nurtured by our banks with a lot of effort. And how these guys come into office and write off thousands of crores (a lot from those who could have paid back) - why? All for a vote, for love of power, for love for the chair these guys warm - nothing else. And at what incredible cost.

UPA II has been on a "raping the nation" journey from the day the came to power. Woe to us for thinking the likes of the Prime Minister had his good sense about him anymore. The agenda of the government is horrifying and I fear the more we let them continue the more they will rape this poor nation which would otherwise have been on its way to true growth, international recognition and success.

Can these guys please stand up, accept they can't manage this anymore, step down and force a new election? That would indeed be the best they can do.

Hi. Hello

Hi.

I'm back online / on line.

Now I come with one doubt - when Mr. Bell invented the telephone, he didn't say "Hello, Hello" first, right, did he? Then why is it that we almost invariably do that now. Of course I have some emancipated friends who use their names but lets say 8 in 10 say "Hello". Count me first.

Then there are some who take their voices to be so recognizable with that one word that they expect you to be able to identify who they are with those two syllables. Now, I must remind you that I live in a world where Caller ID is not yet taken for granted and was still charged for till recently. And these amazing callers congratulate themselves on being able to identify who picked up the phone - now come on man, you call home and the probability of the male voice answering the phone is 1 against my wondering who the caller is - where my chances of identifying are 1 in 7 Bn. (by Nov. 2011) - now I know I am not that famous but at least give me 1 in a 1000 for a little respect.

That is what the simple "Hello" thinks of itself.

Anyways, after the little lashing I had to vent out, here is a simple HELLO - I'm back Online