Coorg The Land of Warriors and Martyrs alike.

Too little to type to summarise this land but; A lot to link to.

http://www.orangecounty.in/coorg/coorg-kodavas-culture.php

http://www.coorg.com/history.php

http://anthrocivitas.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7774

MultiTouch: The Next Generation of Gaming

MultiTouch: The Next Generation of Gaming

This is the next generation - Say goodbye to keyboards and paper with these type of technology people now have a whole new universe expanding where next generation computing will be as cool as having a computer as a paper film.

Changes in brain circuitry play role in moral sensitivity as people grow up | UChicago News

Image: Courtesy of Jean Decety / U Chicargo News.

Changes in brain circuitry play role in moral sensitivity as people grow up | UChicago News

" The different responses correlate with the various stages of development, Decety said, as the brain becomes better equipped to make reasoned judgments and integrate an understanding of the mental states of others with the outcome of their actions. Negative emotions alert people to the moral nature of a situation by bringing on discomfort that can precede moral judgment, and such an emotional response is stronger in young children, he explained."

Truth lies in the eyes.

Age changes response in areas of the brain.

Deus Bali: The Cafe Scorpio

Deus Bali: The Cafe Scorpio: "Amidst the hustle of opening our new shop ' Deus Warung of Simple Pleasures ' Oberoi in less than 3 days, something quite understated made i..." Awesome Bike, Check IT

http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy232/deusbali8/180south/GunMetal/GunMetal10.jpg

Life Views

Always work from what you know/have to the unknown not vice versa.

Good Night Phone :D

Business Executives are nowadays more and more getting addicted to their handsets, It is time now that we must say goodnight phone. Read the article @ Economist

In Penang George town!

Hot Summer, In April Here’s a pic of me In Georgetown Eatery ! I BACK IN 2011 LOL!

 

Cheers!

WE are like this only a worth while read, on the Deccan Herald 

We are like this only

Monideepa Sahu

We need to complain. And we love that. About the way the country is run. About the corruption and ineptitude of our leaders. We are contemptuous of politics and virulent about politicians. But, who will take the politician’s place? Not us, thank you... Monideepa Sahu takes an unflinching look at our addiction to complaining and our apathy towards politics.

Journey to Malaysia–PART I

 

Yahoo!! I’m of too Malaysia! To study, at the CEDEC based in  Universiti Sains Malaysia. So this is my first in many series to come as to how life is going to turn out for me, an Indian on a mission overseas, So let me tell you my story and also details about procedures and bureaucracy one may encounter on a study trip to Malaysia.

So without much delay let me start of..

The first process like any other, academic institution is to get admission to the university. This is the normal procedure; the university website will provide necessary information regarding this, in my case It took me 2 months to get shortlisted.

The next thing to do, is wait; You will receive an offer letter from the University stating the necessary details of admission. So, I received mine near mid November. Together with the letter you will receive a manual,fee details and an University Brochure- Complete with forms for further applications.

It’s interesting to note that the mail normally takes  9-10 days by ordinary post. The University responds by ordinary post, however me and my pals send the documents from here via Blue Dart / DHL; expensive but fast plus you can track the status of the parcel. The important thing to know is that you must  ensure you send the mail via University Mail, for this you can use your previous institute’s name as the sender, this allows you to avail concession on the postage.

So all that done, you now have to take a medical check-up, a routine one with all normal tests and also the best part you get to know you are fit and healthy. Once this is done you need to now send the acceptance letter, the medical report forms and also copies of your passport to the University. The University will then on your behalf apply for a “Student Pass” over there in Malaysia. This is your visa it normally takes 1 – 2 months to process. So be prepared for the long wait. You can however go to Malaysia on a Tourist Visa, But you cannot register at the university in case you were wondering if you could register/ stay there and then wait for the Student pass to come over there, and thus, then continue on with your studies with the student pass. This is not possible.

The student pass endorsement/visa is given to you only in Malaysia at your University. However once you are cleared for immigration by the Malaysian Immigration Department then you will receive a ‘Immigration Approval Letter’ Using this letter you need to contact the Malaysian Consulate at Chennai ( nearest to you ) and get  your passports endorsed for journey to malaysia – Will post further developments.

Well right now I’m still waiting for my Student Pass to come I expect it to come by the end of this month.

Raid! Central Market, Mangalore– Or Was IT?

 

Well we all know the wonderful central market; only the other day i was there with my mom, it was a nice sunny Sunday morning with all the usual fill of hawkers, and buyers busy bustling about.

The thing about any Indian Market, and especially if it is the main market in the centre of the city you can be sure of one thing  it’s going to be damn well crowded and the streets filled with  hawkers selling their wares and simultaneously encroaching the streets. 

I was just on the main road (not shown here) busy idling away  – As always ! When from the other end a rumour begins to spread down the road  that there was going to be a raid, as a few folks saw a Large empty Truck with constables in it. The weird part, within a matter of minutes, all the hawkers were busy clearing their respective wares and running out from the bottom exit. Of the road, I wish you could have witnessed it!

One of the hawkers who was positioned right before me  was selling home made knives and hacksaws; the minute he realized a raid is going to take place he began to stuff all his wares into an auto rickshaw, and I say it was kind of interesting to witness all sort of blades and pointed knives prodding out of the vehicle.

Well, this was not just the scene, all the hawkers scurrying away with their goods and merchandise and making a run for it at the bottom exit.

The gossip was also interesting; in the shop, in which i was placed the salesgirls came out ( as they had no other work – No customers )  and began to look with excitement at the scurrying hawkers and gossiping- about, whether  the cops are catching anyone, anyone got hit, which department is carrying out the raid and also giggling at the hawkers and people running about. Well the scene of a bustling jam-packed roadway; within minutes was turned into a empty avenue – barring the people of course.

The irony of the raid!- The truck simply turned into a side road midway on the street and disappeared! Words can’t express the reaction on the faces of the many people – Including mine! There was no raid, and as always within 20 min the hawkers were back and it was business as usual!

My inference from all this  -  The bureaucratic system in India is placed such that whenever – if ever! the government begins to carry out some form of operation and the citizens witness it, it is more of a show, a movie in real time action, a feeling of being one with the system suddenly seems to swell up within the people’s ego and they seem to carry out a critical observation of the event and then what follows is their criticism on what happened. But if an official asks them to stand as witness to the event  - Hmmm, no one is going to come forward .

Cheers

Shopping in a Mall on Sunday!!

The Grave of the mannequins:
i was busy looking for a jeans set and guess what I found hidden away at the very back of the Men’s Apparel Section -  A grave of plastic!! A Maniac has been chopping away mannequins, Reminds me of the Midnight Meat Train or more like the “Daylight Plastic Grave” I found this interesting What would you have thought?


Sliced Cucumbers:
Well I've heard of cucumber being sold in malls, But never have I seen a sliced cucumber being sold that too weighed in grams, call me ignorant, but i fail to see the point of having sliced cucumber sold like this- 

You know what I feel, it is just a marketing technique to dispose of externally damaged vegetables. Don’t you just feel that these veggies will get spoilt? and, i say this because it was not in a freezer/chiller unit it was on the racks just like that Just like that .
At least the cucumber got a bar code. And maybe they are vacuum packed.Well that’s my interesting observations or more like uninteresting idleness.

GET this Offer!!
Buy Wheat 5kg’s for Rs.175 and get Rs.11 Cookies free!

What is the point in offering cookies for a Bag of Wheat !! I felt this was really  a weird offer Why! look at it cookies and wheat is like buy 5kg iron ore and get  100g stainless steel free! Wonders as to what retail ideas are put up! The only reason any one would buy this offer is if they really need the Wheat.

You know honestly what i feel they wanted us to carry the Wheat and if it was heavy and we needed a break; we could snack on the cookies.

Store Cleanliness!
Here I got a close look at what it means to be an employee of a corporate retail giant.  I was wonderstruck at the amount of they put in too maintain the store in a top condition, here I managed to get a sneak shot at the employee instructions on store cleanliness!

Forgive me for the Resolution. i had to make sure no one spotted me!

Wikipedia Anniversary Celebrations Mangalore, India

Welcome, all interested, can contact me via the contact page below, we are planning to have a small get together at Tagore Park. Just a meeting – Nothing Hi fi as we would like to honour    free information and knowledge got by Wikipedia to us, the various times we have used it and shared it. Please contact me if your interested by clicking the message / letter button on the taskbar below. Cheers.

The Waiting !!!

 

I’m going to My. Will Update this.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Malignant experimentations with benign humor. Unnecessary unearthing of latent talent.

Well check this blog and I'm sure it'll be a witty Read! Not for the weak hearted and Narrow Minded.

Electronics Weekly in 1960- It's Cool check this.

So what was an Electronic Newsletter carrying in 1960 - THIS

 Well Click it and read more, It was COOL.

Articles Posted :

Articles Posted :

 

1. Corruption? or Cowardice–You be the Judge!

Corruption? or Cowardice–You be the Judge!

Well we all know it exists on all levels of society, and we all do contribute silently and passively towards it, although some do it actively , and all of us keep quiet when it happens to take advantage of the system _ At least, the majority of us.

Corruption is a rampant socio Economic situation that plagues any system be it  Bureaucratic  or  a Corporate structure. And as long as mankind is human it will exist. What we can do is but control the extent of it.

Yes we comment and curse and, crib behind the back of the ‘system’ as I would like to call it  and as  most people do call it. But when it comes to dealing with the system then we all give right in like meek mice. Not all, mind you there are among us the brave and outspoken who tend to question the system, often their work. Well often encountering delays and hassles in the process! Corrupts are not Sahibs, Sir, Ma'am;  they deserve boot of the masses.- However it must be Intelligently and tactfully administered.

In the wide network of systems, forms and attributes of corruption are well  researched and thoroughly studied and solutions formed.

What I would like to share with you is not about the ways it exists, where it exists or how deep it is rooted in any system, as there are many countless, eminent and respected, authorities on the subject who have dedicated their lives and livelihood to bring out awareness and help lives. You can go to the References down below and check them. Instead, I wish to share with you the ways we can outsmart the system that by default takes advantage of the pacifist nature in us. Let’s be frank we are mostly cowards, well  most of us – I mean mostly passive; we don’t realize it, but we fear!

 There are many legal ways and official protocols one can follow to rid the system of corruption. BUT! frankly, who has the time !

Let us see the root cause of corruption Necessity of Money- I say GREED. But it makes ample sense, if you see the big picture, low salary coupled with a system wherein already  money = power, brings about a need to make money unofficially. Clerks, lower ring official assistants …etc. All want to give their families the best of life, education, comfort and the works.  Now who does not want too. Call me a hypocrite but I feel  you’ll agree to the point. So what I suggest is if the Bureaucracy wants money we’ll give it. But Officially. HOW? by making small changes in our lifestyle. As listed below:

1. Ask for Bills! Why? I ask you Why Not? If it is a petty/small shop or a market stall selling vegetables it’s ok you can forget it – I hope you are a reasonable judge of the establishment. But if it’s a Bakery, a posh one charging you a lot of dear pennies for a cake piece or a, samosa priced exorbitantly high per piece then Ask the Bill! It is practical, neither does the baker give you a discount on the perishable product nor does he pay taxes to the government. Is there any sense in you purchasing the goods tax free, but paying for the tax!! Imagine! on a large scale and  with respect to India’s Massive population!  Imagine!!

Do you Purchase fuel! why do you feel, that the government has stopped subsidising fuel it is because of all those visits to the petrol bunk where the petrol was filled and taxed for but there was no billing to prove it was purchased! But we, sincerely, like passive lab rats paid the tax to the coffers of the petrol bunk owner.

Does the doctor, engineer charge you exorbitantly? Or an XRAY… etc. All these are services are to be billed.

Everywhere you see this is the thing, Medical shops, Stores, Contractors, Fittings, Services …etc. What I suggest as a rule of thumb is simple – IF the business establishment gives you a discount of the counter you need not insist on a tax receipt, as it is more of a win win situation! If not go right ahead it is your Consumer Right.

2. GET Internet !! Why? Information at your fingertips, It’s well known Knowledge is power! But I would like to rephrase Practical Knowledge Is Bliss! Do you need to get a service from the system/govt. but scared about bribery, deceit and delays  well then there’s nothing like knowing what you will be in for prior to the event taking place. Like i mentioned earlier there are many ways you can learn about any official process; all you need to bust is a computer system / mobile and an  monthly Internet plan. What more you will as you surf the net get to know many other people who faced similar hassles. Gone are the days where you need to go and talk physically to a person and get to know what you need to do! sit at home spend an hour or so and you would know the entire system and better yet a better and more optimised way to get your work done.

3. Speech Best Offence and Strength the Best Defence – Ok, let me take a more practical approach to the idealistic point above. Well if you have the gift of the gab then your work will get done smoothly if not you better develop it. Ok now what I see is never give the Bureaucrat the upper hand. You speak in the local language then he has the upper hand, if the Bureaucrat  knows English, Hindi, any language you have excellent command over then I suggest you speak in that language - Of course be reasonable. So the result you have made him feel insecure and now you command the chair. Merits of this is his ego will immediately be shaken and his ability to demand bribe is significantly hampered. Now why strength is the best defence? Anyone will think twice before trying to mishandle/dupe a more fit and stronger person. Why? because we Indians always want to avoid the heat    For the gents, it make sense to have a reasonable build. For the ladies take advantage of being a lady and thus  have the ability to speak in a loud high pitch voice , Immediately, the person on the other side most of the cases is a gent will be embarrassed – Highly probable. But there is nothing like knowing the superiors and the vigilance unit/cell officer/s names of that particular dept. at your fingertips. Why>? Scare tactics. Of course to resort to this method you need to be reasonably able to defend yourself physically in case things get out of hand – Be brave BE healthy!

4. Are you in a mall / exhibition / fair – Buying sweet corn in a mall? or something above 30/- and you know you are being charged through your nose then ASK the BILL! s else I suggest you to forego the occasional product and inform the owner that he better get a billing apparatus installed or you will file a complaint online to the CVC/ Consumer Reprisal - this normally scares them, or you can ask a discount. what have you got to lose- except be prepared to defend yourself, but if many people do the same throughout India just imagine. In an exhibition buying products costing above 100/- and not being discounted then ask the bill or a discount.  Are you in a store some employee behaving rudely, indifferently, speak to the store manager and report him- be reasonable again. Are people cutting lines in front of you ! Don’t let them! you will be surprised how easy it is to threaten a civilian who is caught in the act of misconduct- Of course be reasonable and polite, and definitely check if you can defend yourself in case the person looks like a gang member

5. REPORT – It’s Easy. If an organization is not following protocol threaten them that you will report the incident to the Central Vigilance Commission. And with all the crime busting that is going on, murders and killings are no longer hot news, Its like the media is  marketing corruption to the masses and are always searching for more unique and innovative HOT selling ideas. So what have you got to loose log online and send a mail  to the media. They take it or forget it, It all depends on them. But if You spread the word then it all will be because of YOU!!

6. Keep In touch with a Good Advocate – Don’t run after him at the last moment when you are in trouble be a friend to him and he will be to you, for if you want to fight the system legally you need to know the lop holes in it and the weapons too. Seriously develop a good friend who has studied law.

7. SUBSCRIBE – It’s Easy. Subscribe to consumer  magazines that promote consumer awareness like take for example the “Common Cause” P.S. I am not promoting any organization. But I honestly, came across their newsletter on my granddad's desk and my granddad's over 95yrs and he still reads it regularly, and I was just amazed as to the services and broad in depth knowledge it contained, not only they educate but they also have helped many to seek justice. I for one have personally subscribed to this. There are many other organizations, governmental and NGO’s check the CVC website.

                                                                

Make it a New Year Resolution. Pass the word – 2011 Try Our Best to End grass root Corruption. If the roots of the tree are killed slowly and effectively/ then the tree will die else it will only gradually grow new branches. SO poison the tree and how? Spread the awareness and spread it regularly in Facebook, twitter, Google, anything; but share it and write,speak, practice, discuss with all walks of life and in maybe we can couple this with  vision 2020.

Well, this is my humble effort to share with you a small and insignificant points on how we can  fight corruption and be healthy along the way but all this requires firstly awareness and discussion. My humble request to you is to please post your ideas in the comment box below, so that others who read this article are also benefitted, Please we need all the help we can get . And use what we are known for Our population and our intelligence and share your ideas, share this too, if and only if you found it useful to your friends maybe on any of the networking sites, promote awareness through the net and help others. Imagine if we all asked bills at petrol bunks and establishments India will become Hell of a lot richer that in the long run will only affect our lives, petrol will suddenly become cheaper or at least we will be able to contain corruption only to the very high levels – The scams and what Not !

I sincerely request you to go to the links below it has tremendous power to empower you with information that will make any Corrupt individual  at the grass root level shudder.

Thank You for spending your valuable time reading the above article, i hope it has been a pleasant read.

References:

Central Vigilance Commission

Initiatives taken by the Commission Above

Corruption In India . Org

National Consumer Disputes  Redressal Commission

Common Cause

http://www.aapssindia.org/articles/vp4/vp4a.html

Tim's Portal has a New Look now - Check it out.

Tims Portal.

Ok Cockroaches !! roaming in a Jewellery Establishment ?

 

Ok, I’ve heard cockroaches are the emperors of survival, but it never crossed my mind that they would be interested in Gold!

Only the other day I was at this reputed jewellers in Mangalore and to my wonders I see a Cockroach scooting over the Wall. And this is not just a small tiny one it was a huge One!! Seriously.

Well at least  i feel it was a she – roach, you know Why. Or maybe a high flying socialite. All that I can infer is Gold has a weird appeal.

Okay so what have I got On my Memo?

Well i thought about it and came to conclusion to find out what are the suitable adjectives to describe a gentleman,

1. Educated.

2. Cosmopolitan.

3. Civil.

4. Punctual

5. Generous.

6. Capable.

7. Polished.

8. Chivalrous.

9. Confident.

10. Humble.

Well so this is the list I carry on my cell memo, so that if at all I'm in a fix i can check my emotions and stay within ethics.