tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32708530235286441152024-03-18T10:28:50.994+03:00Tid Bit from My DiaryLife is a Great big canvas and you should throw all the paint on it you can. (Danny kaye)Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.comBlogger277125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-64701340977088622242024-01-21T21:09:00.000+03:002024-01-21T21:09:16.523+03:00indomitableness<p><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">An ode to the desert trees of Bahrain. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2xRjHmPFV5ByGWhzIPRDgypVCtDk82wXNRJkiIg9tp6eNkaOaAdjmWMxtoUYufcTArD_hqc8O_Lv8wNBnwzqUNdClvIdn3RFx6FWVqvJZTf5thnjn0fITe384Z4Lp3tr6xlEqGUqakXIvMxH07aaoTWwTZiVTo6ujYq3QTDMCMitHGMCkENV5cYxt7sS/s4032/IMG_1080.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2xRjHmPFV5ByGWhzIPRDgypVCtDk82wXNRJkiIg9tp6eNkaOaAdjmWMxtoUYufcTArD_hqc8O_Lv8wNBnwzqUNdClvIdn3RFx6FWVqvJZTf5thnjn0fITe384Z4Lp3tr6xlEqGUqakXIvMxH07aaoTWwTZiVTo6ujYq3QTDMCMitHGMCkENV5cYxt7sS/s320/IMG_1080.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">In the parched realms, it seldom rains,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">Life is sparse, yet the hardiest reins,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">In those barren lands to nature’s dare,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">Trees stand resolute but few and rare.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">Adversities turn to occasion for brilliance, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">Not soil sweet, strong winds built resilience,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">In the arid silence, their roots entwine, </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">With each storm, their strengths redefine.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">Twisted but resolved, the sentinels of hope,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">Throughout time, they persist, they cope,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">Silhouetted, against the expanse of sand,</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: courier; font-size: medium;">testament to the enduring spirit of this land.</span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></p></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2MxvTHlx09jKzw6wT43I_ZA3AQ0jKZo1_wXyQoQigWWjqv5SYS1IEuq5TyTonixkcCUUC1sGz5FU3ozoE0cMlXh0Ev7rCKP1UIZ5X64S2AsZyFsQrX0tf6ci8-bdRowqe8Sfx1919EMxT-U30JjYcYzIEXZvEyuBHHgRSYCh2EndxUixRSFz8tGLDnZg/s4032/IMG_1082.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2MxvTHlx09jKzw6wT43I_ZA3AQ0jKZo1_wXyQoQigWWjqv5SYS1IEuq5TyTonixkcCUUC1sGz5FU3ozoE0cMlXh0Ev7rCKP1UIZ5X64S2AsZyFsQrX0tf6ci8-bdRowqe8Sfx1919EMxT-U30JjYcYzIEXZvEyuBHHgRSYCh2EndxUixRSFz8tGLDnZg/s320/IMG_1082.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></p>Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-31025038805075240822024-01-05T11:22:00.007+03:002024-01-05T22:49:04.537+03:00 That old boat<p><img height="468" src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/uuQXyZfA2eP6YVhcvFTCCUNvKfB2rZ4DzYCkQPDPAt_2jeN7nJ8VZV-zVnBObIvyN5-B4YVk4C0kSj6AElxZ5CzWz2bM4sOPmNJh1hgNHPqWJIYXmaagbZhNVtVYVsBiNrOXRQDcjIQDDRvdSHVykeU" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;" width="624" /></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-f4b74ba3-7fff-00cf-f844-268c6df826d9"><div><span>When I looked at the boat, I got a bit emotional and reflected on the life in general.....</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><b>The Old Boat</b></span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Towering </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">waves, I twirled with grace, </span></i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Each fierce storm, a fleeting embrace,</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Sang melody to the gulls, carefree, </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Flirted along fishes silver and glee.</i></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>To wind’s might, my sails aligned,</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Salt and Sun in journey intertwined,</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Forces then I braved, as a child’s play,</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Those memories now softly sway.</i></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><br /></i></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Old and abandoned is today’s reality,</i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Time is relentless in its truth or cruelty, </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>To kings and paupers, its march unkind, </i></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="color: #374151; font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>In its silent hands, all destinies entwined.</i></span></p></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-71877634348750190222023-12-05T20:11:00.004+03:002023-12-06T13:29:53.321+03:00<p> </p><div style="border-bottom: solid #4472C4 1.0pt; border-color: rgb(68, 114, 196) currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: none; border-style: solid none; border-top: solid #4472C4 1.0pt; border-width: 1pt medium; margin-left: 0.6in; margin-right: 0.6in; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid #4472C4 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-top-alt: solid #4472C4 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 10pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoIntenseQuote" style="margin: 0.25in 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">At
the piano<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw1u8G8unMBbMwbn5722BEzXLDYXcQ7FdIqYoqBRzN0MhR8jTu3anU4lCFUJx1SgQqsGACJ7L3Jkj8YHqALNo_Yl3au785NT-znB-ViVCs6HSVkmtd6r3FdavKXBLdJh0oDh9Wx57hnBL8OX5yiFqpopPs9WW_BA_TCS9OO3yWXlo9yzT9QXH8NMLtQf-/s1600/At%20the%20piano.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpw1u8G8unMBbMwbn5722BEzXLDYXcQ7FdIqYoqBRzN0MhR8jTu3anU4lCFUJx1SgQqsGACJ7L3Jkj8YHqALNo_Yl3au785NT-znB-ViVCs6HSVkmtd6r3FdavKXBLdJh0oDh9Wx57hnBL8OX5yiFqpopPs9WW_BA_TCS9OO3yWXlo9yzT9QXH8NMLtQf-/s320/At%20the%20piano.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">“I have never been in a haunted house,” said Anita to her
friends. The girls were having a sleepover at her place, and the theme for the
night was paranormal experiences. “But my aunt was in one such
situation in her teens.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“Sean
had lived there with his parents since childhood. When the siblings grew up,
they moved out of their parents' home to start their families but never left
the locality. He moved to a house down the street from my aunt’s home and as he
was married to her uncle’s sister, she used to call him uncle Sean.” </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“One
night, their daughter, who was 7 at the time, complained about a terrible
headache and the doctors failed to save her from a rare cardiovascular ailment”.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“I am
keeping my fingers crossed that it won't be another of those creepypasta,' one
of the girls quipped. These young horror story enthusiasts were not prepared to
settle for just any story. Hannah’s yawning was a signal that they could get
bored rather fast.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“My aunt learnt much later that this was one of those
places where many households observed strange things at odd hours. If rumors
were to be believed, the deceased souls found it difficult to depart if they
died here,” Anita added to keep the interest. “It should come as no surprise
that many visitors report strange happenings.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15pt;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“The family was devastated, and a sense of Guilt constantly
gnawed at their heart, questioning if they could have prevented the tragedy, if
they had missed a red flag, a silent sign maybe. Yet, woven through the sorrow was a fierce
love, a refusal to let go. They clung to memories by putting up large, framed
photos on the outside and feeling her laughter echoing through the inside.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“They
went away temporarily to another city after the funeral, leaving the house in
the care of her close relatives. Sean's wife, a musician, opted for music as
her therapy and solitude as the vehicle to get her out of this grief” Anita
continued.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My
aunt’s family often visited the house to ensure it was not falling into
disrepair and one afternoon they took my aunt along. She was very excited to
find a grand piano in the living room and could not resist the desire to try
it. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“You
go check the house while I check out the piano” she told her father. Letting
her try the piano, her father and uncle went to check out a few things in the
house. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">As she
played the piano, she felt something soft brush against her ankles. “It must be
my dress”, she thought, dismissing the sensation, and continued playing. Trying
to pull her dress up, she realized that she was only wearing a short dress.
“Maybe it was one of the neighborhood cats, who strayed in finding the lights
on” she assumed. But then, she felt it again.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 15.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Fear
gripped her heart as she peered under the piano, searching for the source of
the touch. But there was nothing there. She resumed playing, her fingers
trembling over the keys, her mind racing with a mix of curiosity and dread.
Suddenly, she felt tiny hands clasp her legs tightly, pulling them upwards. A
scream caught in her throat as she struggled against the unseen force. She
leapt from the piano bench and rushed to the basement door, her heart pounding
in her chest. She looked up at the wall to notice the picture was missing from
the frame.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in; margin: 0.25in 0in 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">"Uncle! Dad!" she exclaimed, her voice quivering
with fear. Hurriedly, her uncle and father emerged from the basement, their
expressions etched with deep concern. "What happened?" uncle
inquired, his voice tinged with worry. With her breath still catching, my aunt
began to recount the harrowing encounter she had just endured. As she spoke,
her uncle's complexion grew visibly pale, and he whispered in a hushed tone,
almost inaudible, "It's her."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in; margin: 0.25in 0in 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt;">The girls were now closer to each
other and looking at Anita with curiosity mixed with fear.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">“My sister, a talented pianist, used to play this game with
her daughter," he said, his voice filled with sadness. "In the
evenings, she played the piano, the daughter would crawl underneath, grab her
ankles, and push her feet up and down on the pedals.”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt; margin: 15pt 0in 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"> A collective shiver coursed through the spines as the
girls envisioned an ethereal presence in the house. Not as a mere ghost, but
embodiment of a young girl's playful spirit. The home where she spent all her
life has transcended the boundary of life and death to become a sanctuary for
her, a place where she could continue to play around her beloved piano, even in
death.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: repeat white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in; margin: 0.25in 0in 0in;"><span style="color: #374151; font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Just then, they all turned towards Anita’s piano in unison,
did they just hear it playing!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-37615035337082241162023-11-03T11:11:00.003+03:002023-11-03T11:11:52.017+03:00The pink Diamond<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrojv8CAXOVfVAFnVOHRMsdNoZCAgAoL953J88NrYESJvZ5Z07EWTpfWZZW29x-5GzXobK37sOR6uxlqvWPVBMkvwv6V3dikTR1xskbdhDUQrTqcj11PK0fecMsp6rWrFN6XvvM6wqzemybCyDVKXfKO_1tuaNdZBBHgpJWSnIDOIrTdCj216b4h48vB9/s1340/IMG_1F42BED22EA8-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="1170" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrojv8CAXOVfVAFnVOHRMsdNoZCAgAoL953J88NrYESJvZ5Z07EWTpfWZZW29x-5GzXobK37sOR6uxlqvWPVBMkvwv6V3dikTR1xskbdhDUQrTqcj11PK0fecMsp6rWrFN6XvvM6wqzemybCyDVKXfKO_1tuaNdZBBHgpJWSnIDOIrTdCj216b4h48vB9/w279-h320/IMG_1F42BED22EA8-1.jpeg" title="Image credit Nadi Lindsay at Pixels" width="279" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Many million years ago, when humanity as we know it had yet to evolve, the world was a vastly different place. A place of primal beauty, where creatures roamed the Earth with no knowledge of language or civilization. Amidst this ancient world, there lived two lovers named Ron and Ana, their names unspoken but their bond unbreakable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ron and Ana were inseparable, their connection transcending the primitive boundaries of their time. Their love was wordless, expressed through their actions, their eyes, and the warmth of their touch. They shared a unique connection, a deep and unspoken understanding of each other.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">One fateful day, a natural disaster struck their land. The earth trembled, and the skies rained fire and ash. Ron and Ana, like many others, perished in the cataclysmic event. Ron's body was reduced to dust, mingling with the winds, and becoming one with the elements. But Ana's fate was different.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As the disaster unfolded, Ana's body was thrust deep beneath the Earth's surface. Thousands of miles below, under immense heat and pressure, carbon atoms began to crystallize, forming a precious gemstone. Ana's essence, her very being, slowly transformed into a radiant diamond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Time marched on, and life on Earth evolved in countless forms and shapes. Souls wandered the world, reincarnating into new bodies and experiencing life in its various dimensions. Yet, even in these new incarnations, Ron's soul remained restless, an undying ember of love that continued to seek out its counterpart.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Then, one day, something extraordinary happened. Ron's soul, in its eternal quest to find Ana, encountered a breath-taking sight. In a bustling city of the new world, he spotted the most beautiful lady he had ever seen. Her eyes sparkled with the same depth of understanding he had shared with Ana, and her presence held an inexplicable familiarity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">But it was not her beauty alone that captivated him. Around her neck hung a pendant—a magnificent pink diamond, a rare gem that glowed with an inner light, much like the love that had bound him and Ana together in that primordial era.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">That night, as Ron drifted into a dream, he found himself in a realm beyond time and space. In the dream, he stood beside Ana, their essence transcending physical forms. Ana spoke to him, her voice a harmonious whisper carried by the winds of eternity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">"Ron," she began, her words echoing through the timeless void, "I have waited for you through countless ages. Deep beneath the Earth's surface, I endured unbearable pressure, my essence slowly transforming into this beautiful pink diamond. I've watched over you, as you continued your journey through time, seeking me."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Tears welled in Ron's dreamlike eyes, and he reached out to touch the diamond pendant around the neck of the lady who resembled his long-lost love.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Ana's voice continued, "Our love is eternal, Ron. It has endured through the ages, and now, we have found each other again. The diamond that you see is my heart, crystallized but still pulsating with the love we once shared."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In that timeless realm, Ron and Ana embraced, their love transcending the boundaries of time, space, and form. Even though they had evolved into new bodies and the world had transformed, their love remained a constant, an unbreakable bond that not even the passage of millions of years could erode.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">As Ron awoke from his dream, he knew that he had finally found Ana. Their love, symbolized by the beautiful pink diamond, was a testament to the enduring power of love, a love that had traveled through time itself to reunite two souls, bound by a connection that not even the Earth's deepest depths could sever.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-71778300630109456382023-08-18T17:25:00.000+03:002023-08-18T17:25:11.474+03:00Ruminating<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0ffIk-ZkAkvkzIrCV9Yv6IeNw6L1yZWR7_w3n8yv2bnSgGW-NirHLRFFTx1jLuCOPLfFDhpEXKoGgOCPUe3MSE_nwn1snMlerGsk4-_59-Gcn3VMf2ad777aYAHca4-YFUhiV08BaXMS7WSxZsY1ITAweNhGL_BaeZXTnLfDTig3cK0pWaTNiNEyhw65u" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi0ffIk-ZkAkvkzIrCV9Yv6IeNw6L1yZWR7_w3n8yv2bnSgGW-NirHLRFFTx1jLuCOPLfFDhpEXKoGgOCPUe3MSE_nwn1snMlerGsk4-_59-Gcn3VMf2ad777aYAHca4-YFUhiV08BaXMS7WSxZsY1ITAweNhGL_BaeZXTnLfDTig3cK0pWaTNiNEyhw65u" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There is one thing in common among young hostel boarders and particularly those from engineering colleges. All have spent hours debating, arguing and fighting on topics ranging from anything to everything on their tryst to establish a point or two. Walls of our hostel rooms have been exposed to countless ideas, arguments and logical interpretations fueled by gallons of coloured liquids be it tea, coffee or any other fermented variety. There were some who built their arguments on a solid foundation of references and statistics while others relied on the strength of their vocal cords. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-ce2c7d3f-7fff-8825-b1b6-ba89fb0c0f15"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My way of life was more like Winnie, finding more</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> fun to talk with someone who doesn't use long, difficult words but rather short, easy words like "What about lunch?” ( </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/81466.A_A_Milne" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A.A. Milne</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1225592" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winnie-the-Pooh</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">).</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One live issue had been India’s post independence growth and development alibi our successive government’s inability to alleviate the conditions of the poor. My point of view has always been that it is not so much the politicians who failed us as much our bureaucrats and technocrats did. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Country’s fascination with engineering or medical professionals has deprived us of the much needed social thinkers and planners. This resulted in partial if not complete failure in achieving what we ought to have achieved through our five year plans. I acknowledge that we needed to achieve a lot and had to reach out to all corners of this vast country. Retrospectively we ought to have asked ourselves “how do you eat an elephant?” No offence meant to the elephant and planned accordingly.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have miserably failed to connect our villages to the cities, creating opportunities for those middlemen who take advantage of the producers. When we build highways, we let our government run public works departments to design, build and maintain them, leading to another round of corruption for lack of appropriate checks and balances. A prudent way could have been to let the private entities build and maintain our highways while PWD monitors those, thus having two parties accountable for this rather than none. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately 77 years down the road, we still struggle to connect our people and bypass the unscrupulous brokers.</span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not all that will agree with my opinion, they never did and some might ask me to shut up but I will end this by reminding what a young girl had once said. “People can tell you to keep your mouth shut, but that doesn't stop you from having your own opinion.” </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3720.Anne_Frank" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anne Frank</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/3532896" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Diary of a Young Girl</span></a></span></p><br /></span>Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-4527000029540566012020-10-07T17:17:00.000+03:002020-10-07T17:17:39.684+03:00A Fishing Port by the Night<p> Today, I remembered that I do have an active blog but the reality is that I am a bit lazy to write. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-St6zxN6fO0g/X33LnK6ac1I/AAAAAAAAEaM/xq2n4uqM6_YxyGenln3M_K2SVVXUKR7PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Fishing%2BPort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-St6zxN6fO0g/X33LnK6ac1I/AAAAAAAAEaM/xq2n4uqM6_YxyGenln3M_K2SVVXUKR7PgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Fishing%2BPort.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Here is a picture of a fishing port in Arad, Bahrain from last weekend</p>Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-1725768501660410002020-05-14T13:17:00.001+03:002020-05-15T09:36:38.366+03:00COVID-19 – Journey from Normal to the New Normal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqyBQO0Bxhk/Xr0YfWtUZKI/AAAAAAAAEWc/m8-5Xc-Kz9MordBNMsrzkLlprIJRoRaVACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/8657432375_d61734c45c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="288" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xqyBQO0Bxhk/Xr0YfWtUZKI/AAAAAAAAEWc/m8-5Xc-Kz9MordBNMsrzkLlprIJRoRaVACLcBGAsYHQ/s200/8657432375_d61734c45c_z.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
<br />
Sooner we accept the reality that COVID-19 will not go away soon,
the better equipped we shall be to endure it. Moreover, when it does go, it won’t
be a definitive ending like a project completion, It would fade away rather slowly
with only statistics to confirm its departure.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our history syllabus although designed for a broad grasp of
major historical developments, missed out on the pandemics of the past
centuries. Absence of these from our collective subconscious left us out of depths
when COVID struck. Microbes were the invisible enemy then as now and the
survivors will be left behind licking the wounds like the in the past.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bubonic plague, which also originated in the East Asia continued
for 5 years from 1347 claiming an estimated 75 to 200 million scalps. The
Spanish flu of 1918 is more recent and continued for over a year claiming 17
to 50 million human lives. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If history is to be believed, a recession with unprecedented
impact on the global economy is inevitable. The jagged rocks will surface as
the tide recedes but we should use this crisis as an opportunity to rethink our
priorities. Undoubtedly, one of the biggest lessons is the necessity of private
and public investment in the health system.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The need for social distancing have shaken the foundation of
the very first pillar of civilization, the construction industry. With lockdown
in every other city, we suddenly found ourselves at the mercy of the new
estate, the digital estate. Not able to reach the offices, the A-E firms finally
jumped, albeit clumsily into the world of “work- from-home”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another equally old profession, teaching too witnessed similar
paradigm shift. After a brief pause, schools restarted classes using available technologies
as students got the taste of “Learn-from-home”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the coming days this clumsiness will disappear as the
change become more pervasive and the technology further augmented. Before we realize
the full implication of the changes, we will transition into the world where
these will be “new normal”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lean business models and where the employer does not pay
the utility bills or travel allowances is not expected to face resistance from the
business leaders. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s visualize together what could be the “new normal”, looking
beyond face mask, 20 seconds’ hand wash, sanitizer and “work- from-home”:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>With more people working from home, the demand for office
spaces will decline.</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>As people get used to shopping online, the demand of malls
too will also see a downward trend.</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>When we spend more time at our homes, demand for spacious residences
are bound to increase. This might very well set a trend of people moving away
from the overcrowded cities.</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Freed up real-estate of the cities will require new
functions and new visionaries will arrive at the scenes to redefine the
societal priorities.</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>A journey of trial & error will begin leading to innovation
and trend setting. </b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Multifunctional areas that support work & leisure together
will evolve as people reinvent spaces for social interactions.</b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>The geographical boundaries and physical distance will become
even more irrelevant as students in the remote countryside will access superstar
instructors in megalopolis. </b></i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #0b5394;"><i><b>Reduction of the carbon footprints at individual levels is bound to bring the clean air & starry nights to our cities.</b></i></span></li>
</ul>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>History will salutes the ones who embraces the chaos and opt
for a seamless transition into the world of “new normal”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /></div>
Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-85084708548864391452019-11-01T09:14:00.003+03:002019-11-01T09:14:51.498+03:00Magic Moments<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The last Friday, I was there to welcome the Sun and bid him goodbye.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPqQ9v3_fB4/XbvMe5vyScI/AAAAAAAAESU/b6NDVJNBQnAoKNKwpE7ZvbQD-JKPmqhKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sunrise%2Blast%2BFriday.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPqQ9v3_fB4/XbvMe5vyScI/AAAAAAAAESU/b6NDVJNBQnAoKNKwpE7ZvbQD-JKPmqhKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Sunrise%2Blast%2BFriday.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The Sun was rising but the moon stayed back. As if hanging around to bid goodbye before leaving to the other side of the planet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8ab4fFBbkA/XbvM4sdzuWI/AAAAAAAAESc/PGHu25XVyt0t762bRNqrWlO2GgMw7ASEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Sunset%2Blast%2BFriday.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I8ab4fFBbkA/XbvM4sdzuWI/AAAAAAAAESc/PGHu25XVyt0t762bRNqrWlO2GgMw7ASEQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Sunset%2Blast%2BFriday.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Sometime we need to pause and look around. There are so much beauty in our everyday life.</div>
Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-21138896232641166862019-06-04T23:16:00.001+03:002023-08-09T17:58:18.609+03:00What does your brain say!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b><span style="color: blue;">This post is not about bio science although you might have
such a feeling and that's a disclaimer.</span></b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sMnbmDt_vhI/XPbH__Bcz1I/AAAAAAAAENc/LG-QOLKbb_0D2oPF_vgR6Vtqf1Ps8Ua9gCLcBGAs/s1600/What%2Bit%2Bappear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="806" height="175" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sMnbmDt_vhI/XPbH__Bcz1I/AAAAAAAAENc/LG-QOLKbb_0D2oPF_vgR6Vtqf1Ps8Ua9gCLcBGAs/s400/What%2Bit%2Bappear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>he brain which is the command center for our nervous system
is the most complex object in the universe and the good news is that we all possess
one inside our skulls. 100 billion neurons link to one another in a complex but
a unique pattern within the lump of fats and proteins. <b>The scientists and
neurologists are still at the beginning of unraveling the incredible power of
the human brain.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The brain has the power to learn new languages, perceive
beauty and remember tens of thousands of individual bits of information. Human
brains can also achieve amazing results by easily joining the dots even if
there are some dots missing<i><b><span style="color: blue;">. Our brains can make out the objects, a person’s
face or a sentence in a language of our average proficiency. <o:p></o:p></span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s take the sentence above as an example. <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i><b>How many of us
would not be able to decipher it meaningfully!</b></i></span> But this is just a simple one
sentence, whereas you have come across entire paragraph in the past with
misspelled words and still managed to read it on the fly...without pausing for
a moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is because we have given total autonomy to the brain
and it determines the entire sentence based on the limited information based on
past experience. <b><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Habituation is what brain does when it sees the same old thing
day after day.</span></i></b> In such situation the brain economizes on the attention and this
is the strength of humankind.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But the challenge is to make proper use of the power of the
brain as uncontrolled use could also turn out to be its greatest weakness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are <b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">usu</span><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">ally prejudiced based on a few visible traits or characteristics.
</span></i></b>He looks like this therefore he will behave like that or she is dressed that
way hence she is of that particular type. We ourselves have experienced similar situations in
the past or often heard our friends and colleagues making such comments. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is where we need to be rational with our thoughts. <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b><i>Life
is full of wonders and wonderful things will happen whenever we keep our mind
open and pay attention to what happens around us. </i></b></span>We will have
better understanding of our world, make new friends and probably develop new
lasting relationships. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We have to remember that there is nothing in a caterpillar
that tells us that it will become a butterfly. <span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>The sentence on the top could well be this without our prejudice.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGtfVZmU1g4/XPbIZAd-0uI/AAAAAAAAENs/eWnNFw-lvtQ8LmKLuOzRarlC_bAJ0ATAQCLcBGAs/s1600/What%2Bit%2Bis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="354" data-original-width="806" height="139" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cGtfVZmU1g4/XPbIZAd-0uI/AAAAAAAAENs/eWnNFw-lvtQ8LmKLuOzRarlC_bAJ0ATAQCLcBGAs/w320-h139/What%2Bit%2Bis.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/what-does-your-brain-say" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-33101931863493712332019-05-29T22:59:00.000+03:002019-05-30T08:42:55.025+03:00Jammikunta... a daily pause for a cause<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>O</b></span>ur motherland is as diverse in its customs and practices as
it is with individual and collective social values. <i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Some people despise others’
patriotic or nationalistic fervor.</b></span></i> Despite staying outside for two decades, I
am on that side of the fence where people cherish these values and naturally the news
about Jammikunta gave me a pleasant feeling.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Jammikunta is situated in Karimnagar district, about 140 km
from Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana.<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i> Life comes to a halt every day at 8
a.m. as people pause for a minute to sing the national anthem.</i></span> This has become
a daily routine of the people in this sleepy town since 15 August 2017, following
an initiative by a local police inspector.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After many centuries of subjugation by foreign invading forces,
I strongly feel there is a need for a nationalistic approach to reclaim our lost
identity. Without a strong identity, I am afraid there will be no <b>we</b> tomorrow
but for our shadows.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At this point someone might bring the statement made by the
great English writer Samuel Johnson’s statement to the table as a counter
argument.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel."</b></span></blockquote>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The context of this comment is unknown so we don't really
know for sure what was on Johnson's mind at the time. <b><i>His friend and biographer,
James Boswell however, assures that when Johnson made this famous pronouncement,
he referred only to false patriotism.</i></b> As for Boswell’s credentials, his
biography of Samuel Johnson, is commonly said to be the greatest biography
written in the English language.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">I am optimistic that as respect grows, we shall evolve as a stronger as individuals as well as civic societies. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MF5JWSsAMUM/XO7jGU1bTBI/AAAAAAAAENA/Meg2SagZlsEfaUqp5WcvSyFnzYWpTjI3gCLcBGAs/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="932" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MF5JWSsAMUM/XO7jGU1bTBI/AAAAAAAAENA/Meg2SagZlsEfaUqp5WcvSyFnzYWpTjI3gCLcBGAs/s320/1.JPG" width="186" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/telangana-town-pauses-every-day-for-national-anthem-119052800840_1.html" target="_blank">Jammikunta, showing the way</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/jammikunta-a-daily-pause-for-a-cause" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
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</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<br />Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-15756240736001614742019-05-27T23:50:00.001+03:002019-05-29T11:36:17.189+03:00There I am...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-JdqUg5GAI/XOxITmg4T9I/AAAAAAAAEMk/yUyEELIixOgEBl6f0hzgafnv7fFoaT5SQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_6273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d-JdqUg5GAI/XOxITmg4T9I/AAAAAAAAEMk/yUyEELIixOgEBl6f0hzgafnv7fFoaT5SQCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_6273.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Today we were strolling on a park as the Sun was leaving for the day. My wife's phone camera came handy to capture this magic moment as I left mine inside the car. There I am ready to feed my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sumandebray/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> account after a very long gap.<br />
<br />
I thought it is a good idea to introduce myself through my various social media existence. My <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sumandebray/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> account is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sumandebray/" target="_blank">sumandebray</a> and I post photos taken exclusively with my phone's camera. It will be a pleasure if friends from my blogsphere comes along and joins me, I shall be a follower too. I not particularly interested in individuals who have thousands of followers while they follow a handful....in other words, I stay away from the celebrities.<br />
<br />
My Twitter handle is @Sumandr and I am already connected to some of you.<br />
<br />
Then there is the professional social media that I am part of as well. This is the linkedIn and you may find me <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/suman-deb-ray-msc-mciob-870b502" target="_blank">here</a>. You are invited to come and be part of my network.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VkWPg9JYtE/XOxNULQKg4I/AAAAAAAAEMw/mWclAt-bVgs05jp424uYlEiNGZZVt992gCLcBGAs/s1600/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2019-05-27%2Bat%2B23.42.34.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="644" data-original-width="1600" height="128" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VkWPg9JYtE/XOxNULQKg4I/AAAAAAAAEMw/mWclAt-bVgs05jp424uYlEiNGZZVt992gCLcBGAs/s320/WhatsApp%2BImage%2B2019-05-27%2Bat%2B23.42.34.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
A few screenshots from Instagram page.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/there-i-am" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
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</div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-72736869575177182542019-05-25T23:53:00.004+03:002019-05-28T09:47:54.232+03:00Our World’s Toothpaste Moment<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9T8ev0sV6Co/XOmq7PfjGnI/AAAAAAAAEMQ/oajXDTJjhvks0oL2Wep-ET0V99nqVAcIwCLcBGAs/s1600/toothpaste%2Bpakaging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1341" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9T8ev0sV6Co/XOmq7PfjGnI/AAAAAAAAEMQ/oajXDTJjhvks0oL2Wep-ET0V99nqVAcIwCLcBGAs/s320/toothpaste%2Bpakaging.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">T</span>here was a campaign to convince the companies that cardboard
packaging for toothpastes were a complete waste. Being one of the most common household
product in everybody’s life Toothpaste have a huge multiplier. After all this
product used at the least once a day by old, young and everyone in-between. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few days back we bought a promotional pack of three
toothpaste and it’s unfortunate that we were given 3 cardboard boxes while we
desired none. It’s a fact of life that most of us will discard the boxes into
the bin without a second looks. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are no doubts that by changing this habit, a substantial
amount of burden on our world will be reduced.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Don’t get me wrong, I very well understand the significance
of packaging and am not advocating to deprive consumer of this experience. I shall
never forget remember my experience of unpacking my Tissot watch. Back in then,
it was a luxury product for me long before I learnt later that it doesn’t
qualify to be one. The velvet lined wooden box had the central chamber for the
watch, a drawer in the lower part housed the user manual, while an independent slot
was allocated for the warranty card.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;">There are other products for which the unpacking experience has
got high intrinsic values. Some of the toys for children, particularly those
for girls, values a lot for packaging. My daughter typically loves to unpack
her toy in front of the camera and post them in her YouTube channel.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But these are not everyday products like a toothpaste or a
shaving cream. I do not believe anyone has the time to enjoy the unpacking experience
of these basic necessities. <b><i><span style="color: red;">Why do we need them in that case?</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I propose to start a campaign to leave the box of toothpaste
and saving creams at the super market after the checkout. A message to the
manufacturer that we do not need those.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Are you going to join me!</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/our-world-s-toothpaste-moment" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
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<br />Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-59250177623757341352019-05-24T22:45:00.000+03:002019-05-26T11:08:29.898+03:00 fair trade & modern day slavery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">T</span>he other day I took my daughter for her choir practice
where they meet two or three times every week to rehearse for an hour. I was
strolling in the school corridor looking at various displays, notices and
bulletin boards while they were busy inside.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fourth graders of this Swiss school had prepared a
bulletin board based on their self-research and it was very impressive. I am
glad that I stood there for few minutes as it made feel more about the plight of
the farm workers. Being enlightened early in life about “Fair Trade Practices”,
I am optimistic that these children will grow up to be a more socially responsible
generation. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZwEoD_5J2w/XOhEwuuIAFI/AAAAAAAAEME/RCNSDOnchSA-otWg6fZEFlFKYVXWssKkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Banana%2BSplit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="508" data-original-width="864" height="188" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ZwEoD_5J2w/XOhEwuuIAFI/AAAAAAAAEME/RCNSDOnchSA-otWg6fZEFlFKYVXWssKkwCLcBGAs/s320/Banana%2BSplit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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They have noted down the following for the banana plantation
workers who gets the lowest reward for their efforts as per the banana split.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Work for 14 hours a day in harsh weather conditions</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Have poor working condition</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Spray fertilizers and pesticides</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Cut down the bananas</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Carry heavy loads of bananas for washing</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Wash the bananas</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Cannot usually join a union</span></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Banana Plantation is only an example but disparity exist in
all types of export oriented trade, be it farming or manufacturing. The
incident of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Dhaka_garment_factory_collapse" target="_blank">Rana</a> plaza in Bangladesh in 2013, had shocked the
entire world but there are still thousands of other businesses where workers continue to endure hardship to maximize profits. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked up on the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_trade" target="_blank">W</a>ikipedia for information about Fair trade. <span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Fair
trade is an institutional arrangement designed to help producers in developing
countries achieve better trading conditions. </span>The philosophy and the core principles are very good. However, what is
lacking is its implementation on ground. Licensing unfortunately doesn't help the farmers much, although it provides significant marketing advantage for the business owners. </div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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Fair trade is grounded in three core beliefs:<o:p></o:p></div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i>Producers have the power to express unity with consumers. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i>The world trade practices that currently exist promote the
unequal distribution of wealth between nations. </i></span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i>Buying products from producers in developing countries at a
fair price is a more efficient way of promoting sustainable development than
traditional charity and aid.</i></span></li>
</ol>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Being a part of the CIOB, we take sustainable construction development very seriously. Construction is by far the largest industry in this world and we ensure that the supply chain selection process is rigorous. The message to the manufacturers is clear and unambiguous. Exploitation of their workforce will not be tolerated.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Will you be joining hands to stop this modern day slavery! </b></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/fair-trade-modern-day-slavery" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
<img alt="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers" border="0" height="96" src="https://cdn.indiblogger.in/badges/235x96_top-indivine-post.png" width="235" /><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
</div>
</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<br />Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-26389779461934019072019-05-23T16:39:00.002+03:002019-05-24T10:25:37.939+03:00Lives that Inspire us through books<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week Indi-blogger inspires us to ponder whether “<b><span style="color: red;">we think inspiration books are really useful</span></b>?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I need to get the ambiguity out of my way and therefore the first question I ask myself is “<i><b>How do we define the genre Inspirational Books in this context”?</b></i> Let me adopt the simplistic path and consider those to be a subsection of wide variety of inspirational literature that are promoted aggressively by the marketers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let me start with the books that made their authors not only very famous but rich as well. This genre include books like following along with their prequels and sequels.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Chicken Soup for the Soul</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Rich Dad Poor Dad</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Think and Grow Rich</span></i></li>
<li><i><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">You Can Win</span></i></li>
</ul>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I believe those became bestsellers for a reason and that being marketed differently. People have either fallen for celebrity endorsement, followed their peers or impulsively got motivated to buy it. <i><span style="color: blue;">As we understand sales make books a best seller while reading those doesn’t. Reading would have got them "<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Man Booker Prizes"</span> or something similar!</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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I am quite sure we will be shocked if know how many proud owners of these, actually managed to travel cover to cover or for that matter crossed the halfway mark.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>My repeated attempts of motivating myself to foray into the depth of those, whether thick or thin has failed and story of my peers were not too different. </b></i><span style="color: blue;"><i><b>Me and my friends by the virtue of being average people with ordinary brought-ups, occupy the mid region of the bell curve of population’s standard statistical distribution.</b></i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The exceptional occupy the spaces in the fringes and they managed to derive great mileage by competing the books. They shinned brighter than we average souls while others excelled and went on to create more of such inspirational books. The picture is captured well in the info-graphic.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orXHe4X64gw/XOZynk10q0I/AAAAAAAAELs/QaaUrIb_YH07-L9Rh6PrEXw0gmD790DUwCLcBGAs/s1600/Bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1600" height="224" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-orXHe4X64gw/XOZynk10q0I/AAAAAAAAELs/QaaUrIb_YH07-L9Rh6PrEXw0gmD790DUwCLcBGAs/s320/Bell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Info-graphic </div>
Maybe the question is <span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><i>“if books that inspire people are really
useful?</i></b></span>” The would be a thumping YEAS.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Books that narrates stories of real men and women with lot
of empathy, really inspires us. The story of<b> Robert Bruce and the spider</b>, I can
vouch has inspired generations to keep trying and never to give up till we
succeed. It’s the book on <b>Gandhi’s life</b> that taught every human being to be the
change that they want to see. (<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Really! It Did?</i></span>)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The life of <b>Nelson Mandela</b> taught us that “t<b><i>he greatest
glory in living lies not in falling, but in rising every time we fall</i></b>” and when
we are faced with an uphill task, we hear the whisper “<b><i>it always seems
impossible until it’s done</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
During his lifetime, <b>Steve Jobs</b> has been a phenomenon of
innovation and endurance which we knew without reading his biography. In his
end, Jobs inspired us not to fear death with his final words <b><span style="color: red;">“OH WOW. OH WOW.
OH WOW.”</span></b> Which in my view is quite similar to <b><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">Om Shanti. Om Shanti. Om Shanti.</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>P.S</i></span>. <i><b>there are many souls that inspires us and built our
characters. There are no particular reason why I selected some over other
although there is a definite reason why I did not mention the holy books or
religious scriptures. </b></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><b>It’s true that stories within every religion inspires their practitioners
like no other but I did not want my argument to be constricted by personal
beliefs</b></i>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>And finally please do not pay much attention to my
info-graphics, it’s made up to drive the message home.</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/lives-that-inspire-us-through-books" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
<img alt="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers" border="0" height="96" src="https://cdn.indiblogger.in/badges/235x96_top-indivine-post.png" width="235" /><br />
</div>
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<br />Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-91412846533039617302019-05-22T23:55:00.000+03:002019-05-23T09:25:33.191+03:00We Walked Along<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_OR3eDRs1w/XOWjZB7wQgI/AAAAAAAAELg/r-gBV8eapwYXRqGRQVfGSyC0xhO8BThXACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1402" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M_OR3eDRs1w/XOWjZB7wQgI/AAAAAAAAELg/r-gBV8eapwYXRqGRQVfGSyC0xhO8BThXACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3256.JPG" width="280" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Through the barren meadows, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Hand in hand, we walked along!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>With birds shunning our trees, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Undeterred still, we sang along!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Trees around were shades of grey,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Your laughter, brought color along!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A sight to cherish it is today,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thousand birds, came along!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Flowers sprayed resplendent hues,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Colors the leaves too, brought along!<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>With trust we walked unknown paths,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Love always stayed along!</i></span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/we-walked-along" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
<img alt="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers" border="0" height="96" src="https://cdn.indiblogger.in/badges/235x96_top-indivine-post.png" width="235" /><br />
</div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-63547666381202691422019-05-21T22:49:00.001+03:002019-05-22T08:40:30.209+03:00The day I told her that I was leaving Google search<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Hpamdr7hek/XORUEQ9Tg4I/AAAAAAAAELI/n5aAkb7Csw4NgzF7LNwvw0gBzwr7mOXHwCLcBGAs/s1600/DuckDuckGo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1578" height="151" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Hpamdr7hek/XORUEQ9Tg4I/AAAAAAAAELI/n5aAkb7Csw4NgzF7LNwvw0gBzwr7mOXHwCLcBGAs/s320/DuckDuckGo%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Two weeks back, once I switched on the laptop in the evening, I made an important announcement at home. My daughter could not believe
her ears when she heard, I was not going to use Google any more.<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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“<b><i><span style="color: blue;">What do you mean?</span></i></b>” <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“<b><i><span style="color: purple;">Henceforth I shall not use the Google search engine</span></i></b>”.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<b><i><span style="color: blue;">But you are still using Google</span></i></b>” a bit perplexed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<b><i><span style="color: purple;">I shall abandon only the search engine, while I shall continue
to use chrome, Blogger, YouTube as usual</span></i></b>”, I clarified. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<span style="color: blue;"><b><i>Aren’t both chrome and the search same!</i></b></span>” still
confused.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“<b><i><span style="color: purple;">They are not the same although it is designed to have that
look and feel</span></i></b>.” I told her and further explained, <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<span style="color: purple;"><b>Chrome is a web browser similar to Internet explorer, Mozilla
Firefox or Safari while Google Search is a search engine that could be used
with any of the browsers. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: purple;"><b>There are other search engines available such as Yahoo
search, Bing search, <a href="https://duckduckgo.com/?t=hj" target="_blank">DuckDuckgo</a> search, <a href="https://swisscows.com/" target="_blank">SwissCows</a> search, <a href="https://www.dogpile.com/" target="_blank">DogPile</a> search etc</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: purple;">“I have started to use DuckDuckGo</span>”, I declared .<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“<b><i><span style="color: blue;">The name is so funny and doesn’t sound rea</span></i></b>l” she commented.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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“<b><i><span style="color: purple;">Google too didn’t make any sense as a name when it started</span></i></b>”
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally she asked “<i><span style="color: blue;"><b>Why
are you changing?</b></span></i>”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
"<b><i><span style="color: purple;">Google was less of a search company and more of an
advertising company</span></i></b>"<br />
<br />
I told her that anything that we search are mined by Google and sold to
the advertisers. Then the advertisers follow us all over the internet and those annoying banner ads keeps popping into our eyes. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If we search for pens for example, we will be bombarded with
advertisements from pen companies. I reminded her how we have been followed by
hotels, airlines etc. before we went for vacation. We feel that we are being followed,
watched and monitored on our life in the internet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red;">DuckDuckGo promises us freedom from the prying eyes and let us search with privacy.
I still have to get used to not using Google search Apps on my phones too.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Will you be joining me?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S5QE8Y90vAE/XORWuZUEPBI/AAAAAAAAELU/2MEoWxjvq7Q1lLchvF09ngzzilFfBetrwCLcBGAs/s1600/DuckDuckGo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1569" height="154" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S5QE8Y90vAE/XORWuZUEPBI/AAAAAAAAELU/2MEoWxjvq7Q1lLchvF09ngzzilFfBetrwCLcBGAs/s320/DuckDuckGo%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/the-day-i-told-her-that-i-was-leaving-google-search" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
<img alt="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers" border="0" height="96" src="https://cdn.indiblogger.in/badges/235x96_top-indivine-post.png" width="235" /><br />
</div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-11215868975241948602019-05-20T23:52:00.000+03:002019-05-21T08:32:38.314+03:00My Gmailophobia <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PqTuDNkfraQ/XOMSJh2VApI/AAAAAAAAEK8/yO3CTJybuRgEenkWc9fBbJ0Mv1_1gLMIgCLcBGAs/s1600/Capture.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="654" height="313" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PqTuDNkfraQ/XOMSJh2VApI/AAAAAAAAEK8/yO3CTJybuRgEenkWc9fBbJ0Mv1_1gLMIgCLcBGAs/s320/Capture.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-gmail-purchasing-history-list-what-you-buy-2019-5" target="_blank">Business Insider</a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">G</span>oogle mail started on 01 April 2004 and along with other
early adopters, this time #metoo started using this. In those early days an account
could only be registered via invitation and I was so much impressed by the
service and progressively increasing storage space that by 2006, Gmail became my
principle email address.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">By launching Gmail on the 1<sup>st</sup> of April</span><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">, Google have
their conscience clear!</span> It was poor me who missed the cryptic message. I ought
to have realized the fact that if something is too good to be true then most
probably it’s not! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today, all my important emails are stored within the limited
storage space of 15 GB available in the Google’s mail server. The good news is
that there is an option to purchase additional storage space although I am not
sure who benefit more from this option. Moreover the storage space is available
till one putting up the rental fees and there is nothing tangible that one can
take home.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am having a fear that is growing in strength with each
passing day my intuition warns me that the day is not far when the user will be
asked to pay a fees for using Google’s email service. Until that time, instead
of paying the levied fees, the mail users have to be prepared to pay the price.
Yesterday’s news headline is a good example of such price. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><i>“Google is scanning your Gmail inbox to keep a detailed list
of your purchases, and there’s no easy way to erase it”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today they are scanning for purchases and soon it may expand
to banking, finance and everything else. The trouble is that are we in a
position to move out of Gmail….. <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">We are already too vulnerable even to think
about that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Google ka kya kare!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.indiblogger.in/post/my-gmailophobia" title="Top post on IndiBlogger, the biggest community of Indian Bloggers"></a><br />
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-83075506730259450662019-05-19T22:50:00.001+03:002019-05-20T08:52:20.038+03:00Window Shopping Online<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>W</b></span>indow shopping is one common colorful thread that ties
human being across the cultures. The internet has made this pleasurable
experience even more fun.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">What is that one odd stuff that you looked up recently
at the eBay or another online shopping portal? Something that you searched for,
with absolutely no intention to make a purchase.</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;"><b>I request you to share your experience via a blogpost and let
the fun flow though the blogosphere! If you decide to make the post then please
link your post to this one.</b></span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The queerest thing that I had searched at the eBay store happens
to my spookiest one too. I looked for a “haunted mirror”, not for buying though but to verify
if such items were offered for sale.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One variety available are <b>“black glass mirrors</b>” that witches
use for ritualistic spell or scrying. With the correct incantation these mirror
would be the medium to connect with the dead or the Satan himself....at-least, so they claim!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was looking for another variety of haunted mirrors which unfortunately nobody was selling on that particular day. Those are
the mirrors that has association with spirits, mostly evil. We have heard of many
peculiar experiences that people had while looking at the mirror.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>A woman once gazed at one such mirror and saw her corpse. </i></span><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;">There was another mirror that freaked out a woman who stood in front. </i><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;">Believe
it or not, her reflection would move despite her standing still. </i><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;">Many people has
seen eyes in the mirror and those eyes didn’t belong to them. Sometimes the
eyes look directly at the soul and sometimes it appears they cannot see. </i><br />
<i style="font-size: x-large;">I once
read of a woman who saw the face of an ugly old man staring back at her and was haunted for more
than a year.</i><br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="color: blue;">One theory is that something awful happened in front of the
mirrors and the negative energy got absorbed in those mirrors. Some researchers
think that the spirits try to torment people as causing distress releases
emotional energies from us and they feed on this.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">I am not sure, I would be willing to hang one of those in
our bedroom!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-muV0-lhPEOU/XOGyc6B86II/AAAAAAAAEKw/BeAZ5KbIWzwDtcQJyJYx1d-8dGJinObkwCLcBGAs/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1434" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-muV0-lhPEOU/XOGyc6B86II/AAAAAAAAEKw/BeAZ5KbIWzwDtcQJyJYx1d-8dGJinObkwCLcBGAs/s320/1.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-28665759389463310542019-05-18T23:38:00.001+03:002019-05-19T08:35:46.636+03:00Newspapers – When going gets tough<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>D</b></span><span style="color: blue;"><b>uring our school days internet did not exist in the form
that we know it today. Newspapers and Radio was the only two source of news and
views in addition to Chinese whispers.</b></span> While the radio was predominantly the governments’
mouthpiece, newspapers were free to side either with the party in power or the
opposition. Most of us kept a tab on both the perspectives. A breath of fresh
air was however the programs aired by BBC and VOA.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Newspapers had the freedom of opinions, although it wasn’t free
of costs for the readers. For the price paid the papers were a great source of inspiration
for the English language proficiency, writing style and trove of new words.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: blue;">As we approached the new millennium, the internet gained in
popularity forcing the newspapers to go online.</span></b> The digital version was an
additional feature while to the printed version was their mainstay. It was a
welcome move as they had their eye fixated on a slice of the online advertising
pie while the printed ones remained unchanged. Unfortunately for them, the good
times did not last as sales of printed version dwindled.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue;"><b><i>We then inadvertently ushered in an era of instant news as readers
took over the responsibilities for breaking as well as distributing all types
of news over the social media. The consumers got lost in the labyrinth of fake
news, breaking news and news that are utterly stupid. </i></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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Majority of the erstwhile readers went on to devour the
analysis that came via WhatsApp and based on those formed their opinions on
issues ranging from current affairs to world history. The editorials and
feature articles that we grew up reading lost its importance to a great extent.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The newspapers that were not state sponsored propaganda
outlet or a tabloid feared extinction. <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i>One major newspaper dared to challenge
the status quo in 2002 by instituting a paywall.</i></span> By doing that the <b>Financial Times</b>
made a reversal of fortune. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The FT had faith in their high-quality work and made the audacious
decision to charge the consumer who valued quality of contents and recently
crossed a million paying subscribers. The New York Times, Washington Post, USA
Today, The Wall Street Journal and many more followed suit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Now my question to you is should newspapers charge for
content online?</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A poll in the US indicated that 86% of the participants are
against it. Paying for news might be a new concept for the population growing
up in the era of free internet, <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i>but for us who has subscribed to printed newspapers
ever since it’s a different view point.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-62540920072119112752019-05-17T23:59:00.001+03:002019-05-18T12:21:39.033+03:00The Legend Never Dies<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLd2mSVuPbY/XN8lfRZ5JSI/AAAAAAAAEKA/0RDC631gWzwenEVAkMaXN_ptJBgvgv7VgCLcBGAs/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MLd2mSVuPbY/XN8lfRZ5JSI/AAAAAAAAEKA/0RDC631gWzwenEVAkMaXN_ptJBgvgv7VgCLcBGAs/s320/1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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The world, today is a different place. An era without IM Pei, the internationally recognized and one of the most celebrated architect of our times
has begun. He died on Thursday May 16th at the age of 102.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Ieoh Ming Pei was born in Canton (now Guangzhou) on April
26, 1917 to Tsuyee Pei, one of China’s leading bankers and moved to Hong Kong when
he was an infant. He recalled that as child of 9, he was fascinated by the
construction and knew he wanted to build. At the age of 17, Pei moved to the US
of America and in 1940, he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from
MIT.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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Tributes have been pouring in from all over the world,
remembering him for a lifetime of designing iconic structures worldwide. In his
career stretching more than 70 years, he have amassed an impressive portfolio
and the iconic glass pyramid of the louvre in Paris is the poster boy of his
legacy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My favorite masterpiece of this great Master is the Museum
of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar which was completed in 2008. At the ripe age of
91, he came back from his retirement and delved in to history of Islamic
Architecture to create one of his most famous cultural landmarks. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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A masterpiece positioned on a man-made island and covering a
vast area of 45,000 m2. We have been fortunate to spend hours in this vastness and
experience the simplicity in the grandeur of the Museum of Islamic Arts. A realization
of the magic that simple forms could create when stacked together in the right
proportion. The interior spaces and the landscape compliments the Architecture to
leave behind his legacy that will continue to inspire generations.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are plenty of photos of the museum available throughout
the internet, I leave a few of my own as well. I also share a video of MIA Park
that my daughter had made a few years back.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VHdu0DTHkN8/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VHdu0DTHkN8?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdIvB2pjYn8/XN8lt77M0xI/AAAAAAAAEKM/iMXx7fur9bgKUFoEYQzyyUOgP_-9XdmdwCLcBGAs/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hdIvB2pjYn8/XN8lt77M0xI/AAAAAAAAEKM/iMXx7fur9bgKUFoEYQzyyUOgP_-9XdmdwCLcBGAs/s320/2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0QGDpQDk1Bs/XN8lt0kKJ1I/AAAAAAAAEKE/GcCbq8vlwqsVQr4wtLimbIG8wpFk6M--gCLcBGAs/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0QGDpQDk1Bs/XN8lt0kKJ1I/AAAAAAAAEKE/GcCbq8vlwqsVQr4wtLimbIG8wpFk6M--gCLcBGAs/s320/3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpsRuyk4QcA/XN8lvnPqDvI/AAAAAAAAEKY/2-x0jsojT8gmCfoZ5y0yzc2nPT_DQ5w1gCLcBGAs/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EpsRuyk4QcA/XN8lvnPqDvI/AAAAAAAAEKY/2-x0jsojT8gmCfoZ5y0yzc2nPT_DQ5w1gCLcBGAs/s320/6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULrvJf-DYzA/XN8lvDv8OxI/AAAAAAAAEKU/SKg_qgt1tW40wC720AxSJHGN5jB909YHgCLcBGAs/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ULrvJf-DYzA/XN8lvDv8OxI/AAAAAAAAEKU/SKg_qgt1tW40wC720AxSJHGN5jB909YHgCLcBGAs/s320/5.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-50710148856336043342019-05-16T19:14:00.002+03:002019-05-17T15:48:54.796+03:00Let’s Save Our Kids - together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;">A</span> <i><b><span style="color: blue;">picture is worth a thousand words and hence I let them do the talking. I trust these two visuals will highlight the human face of a global crisis
created by today's Social (</span><span style="color: red;">read evil</span><span style="color: blue;">) Medias.</span></b></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9R2Bv0mxBE/XN110e_egsI/AAAAAAAAEJs/JY7pJfgvW8gAtjkUorNCOZ9ZkU-fcK7vgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1101" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R9R2Bv0mxBE/XN110e_egsI/AAAAAAAAEJs/JY7pJfgvW8gAtjkUorNCOZ9ZkU-fcK7vgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_3442.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<i style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;">"I<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/malaysia-suicide/malaysian-teen-who-reportedly-jumped-to-death-after-instagram-poll-sparks-calls-for-probe-media-idUSL4N22R1FO" target="_blank">nstagra</a>m extended its sympathies to the teenager’s family,
and said the company had a responsibility to make its users feel safe and
supported."</i><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Remind yourself that you were not “<b><span style="color: blue;">self-born</span></b>”! You have been brought into this world with lots of love. You do not have to seek others’ approval to boost your self-esteem, seek inner peace instead. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2CUZVCMmz20/XN12Jt6wo3I/AAAAAAAAEJ0/0gJ8bLhSWek16dKkQPQCb-WzwGIw9_W9ACLcBGAs/s1600/Selfie%2BDeaths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="1160" height="235" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2CUZVCMmz20/XN12Jt6wo3I/AAAAAAAAEJ0/0gJ8bLhSWek16dKkQPQCb-WzwGIw9_W9ACLcBGAs/s400/Selfie%2BDeaths.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Go surround yourself with the
best people you can find live life to the fullest. A few points to ponder..........</div>
<br />
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</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Will the Social Media corporations do anything?</b></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Are our children & youth safe?</b></span></li>
<li><span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Who shall coach the vulnerable? </b></span></li>
</ul>
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<div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-61954928370320328202019-05-15T22:49:00.002+03:002023-12-13T20:45:04.521+03:00Rethink your Weekend<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iIjJyrAuDZE/XNxsm_p0EpI/AAAAAAAAEJg/z1Jrf34v_hI4azP3XboshRLJteKxAphegCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1791.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iIjJyrAuDZE/XNxsm_p0EpI/AAAAAAAAEJg/z1Jrf34v_hI4azP3XboshRLJteKxAphegCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1791.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span>ou only live twice they say, once before the dream vacation and
once afterwards!</i></span></b> Who wouldn’t love to take one, but it remains unfulfilled for most and the culprit are
the obvious ones - some times its <b>lack of time or money, while most of the times its </b>both. What they endure is continuation instead of a vacation let alone the dream one. </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: medium;">With a different thinking
and right approach, we might succeed in circumventing both the obstacles and reap all the benefits that comes from a vacation. </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Improve mental power by healing</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Improve productivity & focus</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Rejuvenate body & mind</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Improve physical health</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Improve relationship with people & work</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Improve sleep quality</span></li>
<li><span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">Strike the right work-life balance</span></li></ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Research has shown that vacation is an antidote to chronic stress that builds
within us slowly and destroys our body’s ability to protect itself. <span style="color: magenta; font-size: medium;"><i>There are no reasons why we shouldn’t reap the rewards that a successful holiday has to offer utilising the opportunities available at hand.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: black; font-size: medium;">We can gain the advantages of a vacation through invocation of the “placebo effect”! t</span></span>he remarkable phenomenon that harnesses the power of human brain to cure our body. It may be a form of deceit but that’s how powerful human brain is.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color: blue;">The beneficial effect comes from the expectations concerning
the vacation rather than the vacation itself.</span></i></div>
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Another tool that can be used complementary or
independently to achieve the effect is “<b>self-talk</b>”. We can self-talk to our
brain and program it to align with the above but the obvious perquisite for
success being our willingness to <b>self-listen</b>. <i><span style="color: blue;">Self-listening is also known as self-awareness</span></i>.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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The concept I am advocating is to use these two tools to
make our minds rethink weekends as mini vacation. Not every weekend but the one
we would simulate to be a vacation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i>We shall plan weeks in advance, book a hotel for stay-cation
and gradually built up the tempo. Once the vacation start there will be no
limit to the indulgence as we will be waking up late, spend time at the pool, have late morning brunch, visit a local attraction we have been postponing, go for shopping and the whole nine yards.</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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After the weekend we shall return home, having enjoyed a well-deserved
vacation albeit mini, fully rejuvenated nevertheless with plenty of photos in
our camera and memories in our minds! <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Everyone need a vacation once in a while and everyone can settle
for one!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-60011161278708942422019-05-14T20:39:00.000+03:002019-05-15T08:48:59.980+03:00And some adjusted their sails – episode three<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3aX-KU2TwF0/XNK9aYQEv8I/AAAAAAAAEH8/mCRI9oD9NW4dgAOPcqjxO9hxRlw4of9cgCLcBGAs/s1600/Western%2BUnion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="303" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3aX-KU2TwF0/XNK9aYQEv8I/AAAAAAAAEH8/mCRI9oD9NW4dgAOPcqjxO9hxRlw4of9cgCLcBGAs/s200/Western%2BUnion.JPG" width="89" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Union">Western Union</a></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: black;">T</b></span>his story starts in the year 1851 with the formation of a
financial and Communication Company by a group of businessmen, notable among
them Hiram Siley named “<i><b>The New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph
Company</b></i>”.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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During the first five years of existence, the company went
aggressively acquiring other competitors. On 8 April 1856, the name of the
company was changed to “<span style="color: yellow; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: black;">The Western Union Telegraph Company</b></span>” to signify the
union of “Western” telegraph lines under one system.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>During the American civil war <span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">Hiram Siley</span> took the challenge
to connect the 2000 miles of telegraph lines to the far west.</i></b> <b><i>He succeeded in
accomplishing a task that<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;"> president Abraham Lincoln</span> termed as “<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">next to
impossible</span>”</i></b>. By 1884, they had monopoly across the nation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As other methods of telecommunications gained popularity
over telegraphy, Western Union diversified its operation. It managed to retain
the position of market leader during the 1960s and ‘70s with the <span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">Telex and TWX
</span>systems.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Later in the century, the advent of high-speed digital data
transmission and modern fax machines supplanted some of the company’s most
important services, notably telegrams, TWX, and Telex. <span style="font-size: large;"><i>In the face of these rapid
technological changes, Western Union Telegraph Co. was reorganized as “</i><b><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">Western
Union Corp</span></b><i>” in 1988 to handle money transfer and related services.</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b><i>As the telegrams sent dropped to 20,000 a year, the
telegraph services for Western Union ended in February 2006 after </i><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow;">155 years of
continuous service</span></b>. iTelegram, bought this business and continues to provide
telegram, mail-gram and telex service to 49 countries (as of March 2019).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-size: large;">Western Union Corporation </span>continue to be in the list of
Fortune 500 companies with around 11,500 employees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With more than 515,000 agent location in 200
countries, their revenue is over $4 billion. Western Union allow anyone with
sufficient identification to send money around the world almost instantaneously.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Is this not a spectacular story of continuous innovating and evolving?</b></span></div>
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<br />Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-16542273746313298042019-05-13T21:32:00.000+03:002019-05-14T08:43:35.837+03:00Go reclaim your readers says Ruski<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hwjp4Xxror8/XNm1C7f4HtI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/3yeIclDjDo0x9PUINzMV3IxXMDxwU5EkwCLcBGAs/s1600/Ruskin%2BBond.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="944" data-original-width="566" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hwjp4Xxror8/XNm1C7f4HtI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/3yeIclDjDo0x9PUINzMV3IxXMDxwU5EkwCLcBGAs/s320/Ruskin%2BBond.PNG" width="191" /></a></div>
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Wikipedia</div>
<b>Ruskin Bond</b> said in an interview, <span style="color: purple;"><b><i>“India
could soon be facing a predicament of having more writers than readers”.</i></b></span><br />
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The use of “Predicament” tells us the Padma Bhushan awardee foresees a difficult, unpleasant or embarrassing situation for the publishing
industry which may impact the book sales. Watching him talk would have provided the opportunity to factor in his tonality along with the non-verbal cues to make <i><b><span style="color: blue;">a comprehensive sense of what the iconic writer meant when
he said what he said.</span></b></i></div>
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This post is not so much about agreeing or disagreeing with his statement, as it is about my interpretation of the “Why” and “What” of the entire interview.
<b><i><span style="color: blue;">Being the grand old man of Indian literature, he is at a vantage point to review the Indian literary scenario and hence not many will share the same perspective.</span></i></b></div>
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As hinted, I will not consider this comment in isolation but review it in conjunction with others from the same interview. He also stated "<span style="color: purple;"><b><i>Publishing has
come of age and more and more writers are making a good living out of it...
But, I think with so many people writing now, there is a danger of having more
writers than readers."</i></b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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It is a legitimate concern directed towards the publishing houses with a clear advice that <b><i><span style="color: blue;">if they do not take the responsibility for quality of
books they publish, they are at the danger of losing out on the readers.</span></i></b> Do not just let
anyone be a writer just because publishing is easy, do it based on the literary merits of the writers. </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">Go reclaim your readers is the message!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I am not implying that Indian writers should not get the
opportunity to publish their works but promote only those who meets the criteria.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is a phenomenon in Bollywood where a super-duper hit movie is turned into a multi-million dollar franchise business. <span style="color: blue;"><b><i>Every now and then, a complete
nonsensical movie makes it big at the box office and we see them churning out even more nonsensical versions of the same.</i></b></span> I wouldn’t care much if movie
lovers knowingly sacrifice their valuable time watching those or a few young
directors try to replicate such successes. All who think they can fly their cars or jump over a few blocks of buildings - <b><span style="color: magenta;">Good luck to them!</span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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However, the implications are radically different when
writers with poor literary skills churn out one lousy novel after the other. This
has negative impact on the society from every perspective. If someone get inspired by works, they have selected the wrong example and if they try
to emulate their success… <b><span style="color: magenta;">it is a bigger disaster! </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>It is Lose-Lose Situation for everyone.</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I am not the only lone who resents this, there many more who share
the feeling. I suggest that you follow this link to “<a href="https://www.quora.com/Why-are-novels-by-best-selling-Indian-authors-so-horrible" target="_blank">Quora</a>”, to review their reaction to the question <b><span style="color: magenta;">“Why are novels by bestselling Indian authors
so horrible?” </span></b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">You will be amazed!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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I am quite certain the same question arose in the mind of
Mr. Bond many a times which lead to his advice, <span style="color: purple;"><b><i>"Confidence in the
language is a must. You should have something to say and be able to research on
it well. Clarity is key." <o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
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The publishing house should take the responsibility to uphold the quality and look beyond earnings. If this is not checked now, we
will be mere spectators as the reading habits of younger generations spiral southwards to oblivion. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><i>…….and then there will be no readers!</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3270853023528644115.post-92162176552324955442019-05-12T22:12:00.000+03:002019-05-13T11:45:22.813+03:00The inspiring story of a Rural Woman<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: x-large;"><b>T</b></span>his story started at the local hair dressing salon last weekend where I went for my haircut. The person in charge was a man in his fifties and it was a one man show. After initial pleasantries I
asked him, “Where are you from as you speak the <b><span style="color: blue;">Ganga kinare bhasha</span></b>?” (The
dialect associated with the banks of Ganges). I told him that the mithaas
“sweetness” that Bhojpuri language has makes it standout from all other.</div>
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“I belong to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh” he announced and suggested I should listen to the dialect of Jaunpur to get a taste of real mithaas. The conversation went and so did the scissors, while I was
in the quiet end of both. </div>
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Learning I was from Kolkata, he revealed that during his younger days folks from his village traveled to Kolkata in search of fortune and some of
his relative continue to live there after they made it real big. He then pondered “How is Kolkata it now?” Sensing my discomfort, he confessed that people no longer head that way in search of their dreams. </div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i>Though we both left for foreign shores in search of greener pastures, he believed there is no dearth of opportunities back home if one is
willing to toil hard. </i></span>He narrated few success stories of ordinary men and women from
Uttar Pradesh. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><i>I have found the story of Smt. Krishna Yadav extremely inspiring</i></b></span>.
The success of this illiterate rural women is breathtaking and also proves there are ample of opportunities in our country for those who try.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was awestruck
by the humility of a person who have managed to establish a successful
business starting from scratch. A rural couple from Bulandshahr arrives at Delhi looking for a
livelihood after the husband loses his job. They take to farming on other’s land, finding
no other viable option. But when time came to sell their produce, the price was
not good and stock remained unsold.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><i><b>She embarked on the journey of making pickles with the
leftover vegetables after getting trained by relevant agencies.</b></i></span> With
her hard work and vision she has established "Krishna pickle factory" which generate
income for her family and employment for many rural women. They now produce Pickles, Jam, juices and whole lot of other products and she has evolved as true leader.<br />
<br />
Aspee Foundation
awarded L.M.Patel Farmer Award to Smt. Krishna Yadav. I suggest that you listen to the story in her own words in this video. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Df6JphQNGec/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Df6JphQNGec?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">But hers' is not an one off case, there are many such success stories across India and with strong will you too can add yours to this list!</b></div>
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Sumandebrayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02586879310421521711noreply@blogger.com3