Google

Needs no mentioning of source :D

I'm pretty sure this post needs no introduction, rather this post itself is not necessary, when I talk about Google. But I thought of posting about one of my best friend and hence I carry on.

Google is serving more than a mere search engine. When I use the word 'mere', I mean that a lot more can be done in the Internet than searching for stuffs. And Google does a lot more than that.

The first purpose which it serves for me is that, it shows me whether my system is connected to the net or not. Well, the 'Network' icon on the tool bar (+ modem lights) is supposed to be used for this purpose, but i'd prefer Google.

The most commonly used functionality is of course to search for info, which is done readily and perfectly most of the times. 

My fascination for Google starts with its simple and bright homepage. The Wikipedia says that Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin were not much experienced in HTML and hence they developed a simple UI for the homepage. I'd say that this UI is far better than the ones which are designed by good HTMLers.

In addition, the occasional Doodles are really awesome! The wait to see the Doodle on a festive day seems like waiting for a present. Certain Doodles come as a surprise as we might have not known any occasion  which falls on that particular day.

An image which circulates in FB displays a b/w image of the Google logo and asks us to tell its colors. Honestly, it was at that moment I realized that, though I stare at the logo everyday for several moments, several times, the colors don't stick to my mind and i'm still to by heart the colors. Anyway the consolation was many had the same problem (is it a problem anyway?)

I'd be committing a grave crime if I say that I conclude my post on Google at this juncture, and that's because there's much more that needs to be posted about Google. It's not a simple one though.

And Google - 2 comes soon in bloG de KaushiK. So keep reading and do kind.

God Bless

medi'A'ilment

Just now saw a newshour debate in NDTV 24/7 on the topic, whether the media is being used as a platform for fringe groups. One among the participant was N.Ram, the chief editor of The Hindu.

In the past recent and in the distant past too, there were several instances where many unknown groups became popular overnight by petty issues, which were overblown by the media. And I felt good that NDTV, had taken up such a topic to be discussed live.

There are so many incidents which come to our memory when we start this topic - women barred from going to pubs, Valentine's Day issues, dikats, protest against films citing reasons that some scenes 'degrade' or 'insult' their religion/community/state/blah/blah, protest against exhibitions/novels/paintings/interviews and the list never seems to end!

Now starting to analyze the reason for these kind of confusions, freedom of speech is of course guaranteed to one and all, but it comes with responsibilities and moral ethics. Just for the sake, one cannot talk or come out with any stupid work and people do have a right to protest against those. The same with the 'artistic freedom' claimed by some. Your artistic freedom does not guarantee or provide you any right to ridicule or degrade a particular person or group.

Coming to the protesting groups, i'm reminded of a story which I wish to narrate it here.

M.S.Subbulakshmi, the spring time singing bird needs no introduction here. While honoring her with the prestigious Bharat Ratna, there were some who were against it saying that she was poor in Sahityam (for those who don't have much of knowledge in Carnatic, Sahityam means lyrics) and I don't want to continue it further, as I don't intend to make a joke at this juncture :)

If you wonder in what context this story is narrated, people will criticize and ridicule us if they want to, no matter how cheap they go. The sun doesn't stop shining just because a dog barks at it.

If this becomes the attitude of the people and they being really genuine, why should they get offended at the simplest or harmless stuffs? Is it any kind of hidden guilt, hidden in their minds? 

And the media (not entirely) do get a chance to prowl upon every single issue to increase their TRP ratings (which God alone can understand with clarity) ad try to blow them out of proportions. 'Pen is mightier than the sword' proves well here, where TV+internet is today's pen.

Earlier the nib of this pen was not that strong as it was today and several issues burned down without causing any blister. But today these nibs have multiplied and with infinite source of ink, the pen is staining the social fabric.

The role of media is to be responsible and take the news as it is to the general public, rather than conducting useless surveys, debates, opinion polls et al. This kind of media can (will) do more harm than good to the nation, in general.

P.S 1 - Reg the stupid critisism on M.S - No one bothered to protest on it, as everyone were too busy listening and enjoying the mesmeric voice of her - I read this in an article in the archieves of a newpaper and I'm not aware of the genuineness of it.

P.S 2 - I forgot to include a scenario - Paid Media, on which I'd post in near future

P.S 3 - I'm waiting for the slightest provocation, to get offended and raise my voice against something and protest!! but nothing seems to cross my way!! :P :P

God Bless

Mall-function

Being bored going the same way, I decided to take a long different to reach my office today and I had to pass through the newly opened Phoenix Mall in Velachery. Though I had some plans of giving it a visit the earlier week, couldn't make it. So I was thinking (and also making plans) of visiting it. Then from no where certain thoughts hit me.

Phoenix Mall @ Velachery
Image Courtesy - The Hindu

Chennai has already got quite a few malls inc the good old Spencer Plaza, cozy Citi Center, adorable Ampa, enormous EA, Alsa, Abirami et al. And now a new mall; now the question arises, WHY?

This can have several answers. Approachability - Most of the malls are situated in the central / central-northern parts of Chennai and the people residing down need their own ones. Fine. Real Estate - These kind of centers surely do uplift the surroundings and increase the value of the land surrounding them, giving a good time to the real estate promoters and the kind. Good. Brand - The shopping malls and the brands associated with them surely do uplift the soul and image of the city. Great.

While pondering over the other side of the coin, we get certain other valid points too. Our state..we'll localize to our city, is already reeling over several issues - power deficit, traffic snarls, diversions due to the construction of the metro rail, bad roads at places, conditions of roads during the rainy days (not to mention the condition of Velachery during the rainy times :P; only a Chennaite would know that :D), the congested locality and few more that I may not be aware of.

Thus saying I leave my case here open.

I'm not against any kind of 'good' development. As and when a new mall is opened we almost abandon the older ones. Spencer is rotting due to lack of maintenance (this is attributed to the loss of patronage) and the Citi Center is awaiting a similar fate. And in future the others may be heading there as new ones pop up. The real need of the hour is to revamp the existing landmarks, put them into proper and regular maintenance and enhance their reachability, rather than opting for new ones.

P.S: While typing this post, alongway I planned my visit to the Phoenix Mall along with my friends, and my review about the mall coming soon ;)

Ref :
Malls can play a crucial role in urban development
Netizens speak

tHE lAW oF tHE gARBAGE tRUCK

Of late, there is some change within myself which I regret a lot, though I lost that feeling of regret once I started reading this book. I have not yet finished this book, while typing this post, though it has brought about a great change in my life and the way I think.

Though I was pretty normal all these days, all of a sudden some sort of changes occurred due to the arise of some strange thoughts in my mind. All of a sudden I got a thought as if I’m the last person on earth and the others have perished leaving me all alone here. I myself don’t know the exact reason for this sort of solitary feeling. Though I always loved being myself and being alone, for a few days I got this sort of thoughts. And ‘coz of this, I even stooped doing my favorite jobs – reading and writing. Rather I just sat alone and thought of some stupid stuffs.

It was then that one day I just went to the library in my neighborhood and my hands lay on this book. I thought it might be interesting and got it issued.

On reaching home, the book was laid to rest for a period of 4 days, when I just lost my memory that I had taken a book and I’ve got to read it.

Then one fine morning I opened the book to read it…

…

WHAT IF YOU COULD TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE WITH ONE DECISION?

   You can.

   I wrote this book to show you how.

…

Image Courtesy - Amazon

These were the only lines written by the author, David J.Pollay in the first page of the book and it really got me into it. By the way I forgot to mention the caption that appears on the cover page ( image above )

..How to Respond to People Who Dump on You, and How to Stop Dumping on Others…

I suppose I need not say more about the what this book might contain. The message is very much clear in the cover page and the first page. What exists in the 244 other pages is just the expansion of these lines. And I don’t consider myself, to be that intelligent and or in possession of any such trait and I began my journey through the book. I’m nearing halfway and hope I finish it by today night.

As I said earlier, just by reading the beginning half, I understood the truth of life and got a clearer view around me.

God Bless

Romance on Facebook

Well well..this post isn't about any romantic encounters that I might have had in FB :P, but my opinion about a book which has the name.

Image Courtesy - Flipcart

As a FB addict and also familiar with many such 'incidents', I quite had an interest on seeing the title. The story started to be as this one - a woman from Mumbai, finds her teenage crush in FB, after 19 years. Now she is happily married and the guy is also married and settled in the U.S (I don't remember his state and its not of relevance here too) And she initiates the 'romance' by sending him a friend request along with a message and he also recognizes her. And slowly they start chatting over FB. 

Now I had mentioned that both of them are married and a special 'happily married' for Geethi, our heroine. Yeah, it forms a crucial part of the storyline. Now the question arises, where the hell is the romance between a 'happily married Indian woman' and some guy whom she last met 19 yrs back, that too settled in the U.S currently..?!

Our hero Sid aka Siddartha is a nothing short of a playboy who has had many casual + serious relationships until he was steady to settle down with Anu, his wife. Geethi's hubby Ravi is a perfect gentleman, by the Indian, as well as, the International standards. 

The introduction goes great and so does the story. Sid and Geethi start sharing their lives through messages through messages, and slowly each realize that they had a mutual crush while in Cuttack, 19 years ago while they were neighbors, but dared not to express it, given that it was way back in the 1980s, both of them were from conservative families and that Geethi was brought up in the orthodox Indian mindset. They were later separated coz of many reasons and they had no reason to worry as Geethi completed her higher studies and got married to Ravi(the best person in the novel, infact) and Sid had many encounters with women in the U.S.

As they kept sharing their lives, I got bored and decided to skip some pages and still they were doing the same business. I really lost my interest here, and at this juncture Sid indirectly hints on intimate physical relationship, which sends a bolt of lightening though the spine of Geethi. And Geethi stops her messaging with Sid (Missed out an earlier point - Sid asks for Geethi's phone number in their very first chat and she gently refuses - this story continues time and again)

Wait, the story doesn't end here, but rekindles the interest in the novel again. So grab a copy and give a read. It is worth reading the beginning and the ending.

God Bless