The self styled King Khan aka, Shahrukh Khan also has FiM syndrome (FiM - Foot in Mouth). The sad part is that media is hungry for news that they will lap up anything. No matter how crappy the topic.
Shahrukh made such a big noise for a delay at Newark Airport. Ask other Indians (without the Khan on their name) who have no contacts with the Shuklajis of the world and hence cannot call up or afford to create a ruckus with the immigration staff. They have at some point gone through the security scanner (could be due to profiling) and frankly no one minds although it is a hassle. This is a security principle and it does not matter if you are a Khan or a Tripathy or a Powel.
The security staff did their job. I remember even our Ex President Dr. Kalam being frisked in India and he never complained. What's wrong with Shahrukh? You are no real king? And even if you are, when it comes to security, you better stop dreaming and be a commoner.
In one of my flights from Boston to Miami, I was asked to go through the same procedure and my name does not have a Khan. My friend who is an American Citizen and has a last name of Balmer (he is not Steve) had to go through the same procedure upon arrival at Toronto. This is regular work for the security staff. I think one should appreciate it rather than complaining about it.
You know, when I was speaking to a friend on this, she had two possible explanations for Shahrukh Khan's behavior.
01. His show in the US was not sold out, hence he wanted to get some media hype so that he and the promoters can make money
02. This is one of the poorest or campaigns for this forthcoming movie ...my name is Khan...
FiM Syndrome catches on fast!!!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Help yourself from H1N1
Swine Flu!!! H1N1 Virus!!! Media has blown it out of proportions. Politicians are playing their cards - to be politically correct. Everybody blames the Government as we always do - 'no rains? Yeah the govt. is responsible for that as well!!!' What we do not see is passing out the right information, mobilizing testing for H1N1,
I found an interesting forward today and thought it would be of help all those who are worried about Swine Flu and the H1N1 virus. Here are some tips for prevention from an AIMS doctor. I am quoting the forward:
"Thanks to media hype about H1N1, several people who trust me have either approached or called me to advise. The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general protection against H1N1 can't be deplored enough. Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words. Hence this short email to friends whom I have advised recently (and others whom I haven't yet). Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.
"Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.
"Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
"While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps - not fully highlighted in most official communications - can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
4. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
5. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
6. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
7. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
"All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals. "
Happy Breathing!!!
I found an interesting forward today and thought it would be of help all those who are worried about Swine Flu and the H1N1 virus. Here are some tips for prevention from an AIMS doctor. I am quoting the forward:
"Thanks to media hype about H1N1, several people who trust me have either approached or called me to advise. The hype in media about the utility of face masks and N95 respirators as a tool for general protection against H1N1 can't be deplored enough. Yesterday, a friend who listened wanted me to write down briefly what I advised so that he could tell others in similar words. Hence this short email to friends whom I have advised recently (and others whom I haven't yet). Please realize that this is not an official advice, especially the one about face masks or N95.
"Most N95 respirators are designed to filter 95% particulates of 0.3µ, while the size of H1N1 virus is about 0.1µ. Hence, dependence on N95 to protect against H1N1 is like protecting against rain with an umbrella made of mosquito net.
"Tamiflu does not kill but prevents H1N1 from further proliferation till the virus limits itself in about 1-2 weeks (its natural cycle). H1N1, like other Influenza A viruses, only infects the upper respiratory tract and proliferates (only) there. The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/ throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
"While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps - not fully highlighted in most official communications - can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).
3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
4. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
5. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.
6. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
7. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
"All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside public hospitals. "
Happy Breathing!!!
How much are we ready to pay for Azmal Qasab?
This one beats me. Quasab wants meat, biriyani, and a Rakhi. All these is food for media who keeps making it sound like its funny. We have a whole host of police, security
and courts involved in a hearing - we have to go by the rule book! Today you will find it difficult to drive across the jail road in Bombay as it can cause a security lapse for
Qasab - that what someone told me.
Who is paying for all this? Why is my tax money being used? Who is accountable for this?
The other day I read on paper that Pakistan has accepted that some of the perpetrators who were killed during the Mumbai attacks were citizens of Pak. However, they are
not ready to take their bodies back!!! We bore the cost of them being alive and now we bear the cost of them dead!!! Why?
Why are we being so naive? This is not Gandhigiri, this is pure foolishness.
Should we have to wait for another 5 or 10 years to get a sentence given to Qasab and work to his whims and fancies? He is clearly seeing this as an advantage for him?
And he is playing to the stands.
We in turn are spending our hard earned tax monies to help him play his game. I understand this is a small fee for showing Pak in bad light to the international community. But as recent history has it,
what if we have to hand over this guy to the terrorists in exchange for a favor? Where do we stand?
How long are we ready to spend? What is our budget for the spend?
Do we have answers or is it a black hole?
and courts involved in a hearing - we have to go by the rule book! Today you will find it difficult to drive across the jail road in Bombay as it can cause a security lapse for
Qasab - that what someone told me.
Who is paying for all this? Why is my tax money being used? Who is accountable for this?
The other day I read on paper that Pakistan has accepted that some of the perpetrators who were killed during the Mumbai attacks were citizens of Pak. However, they are
not ready to take their bodies back!!! We bore the cost of them being alive and now we bear the cost of them dead!!! Why?
Why are we being so naive? This is not Gandhigiri, this is pure foolishness.
Should we have to wait for another 5 or 10 years to get a sentence given to Qasab and work to his whims and fancies? He is clearly seeing this as an advantage for him?
And he is playing to the stands.
We in turn are spending our hard earned tax monies to help him play his game. I understand this is a small fee for showing Pak in bad light to the international community. But as recent history has it,
what if we have to hand over this guy to the terrorists in exchange for a favor? Where do we stand?
How long are we ready to spend? What is our budget for the spend?
Do we have answers or is it a black hole?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Reaching Masses for Education
Am trying to focus on one of the points of my earlier blogs (http://citizenvoiceindia.blogspot.com/2009/07/combining-technology-and-education.html) about using technology to reach aspiring students.
Let’s put some statistics upfront on electronic reach. Today India has Cable and Satellite penetration of over 70 million households (35% of population), cellular phone penetration of over 350 million (30% of population) and internet penetration is over 12%. This means, over 56% of India is connected in some way or the other. This does not include the non-electronic reach.
The marketers are reaching out to each segment of this population. Using technology and innovations to tap the potential market. Isn’t it time for educationists to realize the dream of an educated India (or at least, a literate India)? Yes, there is also a commercial angle to this, for all those educationists who are not not-for-profit organizations.
If a two-minutes-noodle can change the way 15% of the country have their breakfast using TV as a medium, what stops 15% Indians to plant a tree in their neighborhood? Or to convert used news papers into paper bags? You have not only taught a way of earning a livelihood, you have also created the largest company of paper bag producers (will this not reduce the consumption of low grade plastic bags?).
You may say, ‘this is vocational education’!!! Let’s talk about primary education. Almost every village either has or can acquire a Television set. What stops us from broadcasting primary education with a live teacher teaching it and local coordinators handling 1st level questions of teachers or even using mobiles to handle questions through a call center?
This is equally applicable for rural and urban India. This is applicable for vocational, primary, secondary as well as higher studies.
If a marketer can reach the masses in India’s every nook and corner, so can education.
What we need is a ‘willingness’ to get the country educated and have an education that can earn them a living. Hope Mr. Sibal is listening!!!
Let’s put some statistics upfront on electronic reach. Today India has Cable and Satellite penetration of over 70 million households (35% of population), cellular phone penetration of over 350 million (30% of population) and internet penetration is over 12%. This means, over 56% of India is connected in some way or the other. This does not include the non-electronic reach.
The marketers are reaching out to each segment of this population. Using technology and innovations to tap the potential market. Isn’t it time for educationists to realize the dream of an educated India (or at least, a literate India)? Yes, there is also a commercial angle to this, for all those educationists who are not not-for-profit organizations.
If a two-minutes-noodle can change the way 15% of the country have their breakfast using TV as a medium, what stops 15% Indians to plant a tree in their neighborhood? Or to convert used news papers into paper bags? You have not only taught a way of earning a livelihood, you have also created the largest company of paper bag producers (will this not reduce the consumption of low grade plastic bags?).
You may say, ‘this is vocational education’!!! Let’s talk about primary education. Almost every village either has or can acquire a Television set. What stops us from broadcasting primary education with a live teacher teaching it and local coordinators handling 1st level questions of teachers or even using mobiles to handle questions through a call center?
This is equally applicable for rural and urban India. This is applicable for vocational, primary, secondary as well as higher studies.
If a marketer can reach the masses in India’s every nook and corner, so can education.
What we need is a ‘willingness’ to get the country educated and have an education that can earn them a living. Hope Mr. Sibal is listening!!!
Combining technology and education
A friend of mine asked me yesterday evening as to how technology can help education. Actually an interesting piece of thought. I started to think of multiple areas where technologies can really kick-start education or make it smoother.
All my thoughts gravitated to three aspects
a) How do you reach a larger number of people who have the basic infrastructure like connectivity (internet, cable TV, satellite TV, mobile phone etc.) and bring education into their fold?
b) Why is ‘Ice Age-3’ more memorable compared to the fact that Alexander invaded India in 326 BC?
c) How much of what we study today in our schools and collages is relevant to our jobs?
Using technology to reach (distribution of education), sink in (making education interesting and experiential), work for (getting students industry ready) is essential as it can change the face of education, face of students and the face of an economy.
But a bit of caution here. Technology will not solve any of these issues independently. One needs to have a ‘learner centric’ or ‘knowledge centric’ thinking and intent to create a knowledge economy. Technology can only be an enabler for making it happen. A second caution is that it is practically impossible to replace the teacher.
You know what surprised me the most? This question came in from a friend who is not an educationist. I am surprised, that our educationists, the education boards and the private training outfits are fighting for their piece of the economy and are not actually bothered thinking about growth of the knowledge economy!!!
I am dead sure technology cannot help change their mindset.
All my thoughts gravitated to three aspects
a) How do you reach a larger number of people who have the basic infrastructure like connectivity (internet, cable TV, satellite TV, mobile phone etc.) and bring education into their fold?
b) Why is ‘Ice Age-3’ more memorable compared to the fact that Alexander invaded India in 326 BC?
c) How much of what we study today in our schools and collages is relevant to our jobs?
Using technology to reach (distribution of education), sink in (making education interesting and experiential), work for (getting students industry ready) is essential as it can change the face of education, face of students and the face of an economy.
But a bit of caution here. Technology will not solve any of these issues independently. One needs to have a ‘learner centric’ or ‘knowledge centric’ thinking and intent to create a knowledge economy. Technology can only be an enabler for making it happen. A second caution is that it is practically impossible to replace the teacher.
You know what surprised me the most? This question came in from a friend who is not an educationist. I am surprised, that our educationists, the education boards and the private training outfits are fighting for their piece of the economy and are not actually bothered thinking about growth of the knowledge economy!!!
I am dead sure technology cannot help change their mindset.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Politics of rape
Searching the net today to see reactions of Rita Bahuguna’s derogatory speech, I felt ashamed as every news channel that are worth their salt in India and abroad covered it in their websites. When will this FiM (foot in mouth) syndrome of politicians be cured?
They is being extremely lackadaisical about what they say in public and more so, of what they think of their competitors. Bad mental state and still worst, lack of understanding of peoples’ feelings.
After a long time, Congress has had a foothold in Uttar Pradesh. They selected a politician who could represent them and this is what she does.
On the other hand, Mayawati, is using this situation to gain political mileage. Another example of poor leadership in UP. She has conveniently forgotten her equally derogatory speech a year or so back. That time it was directed to female relatives of Mulayam Singh. That speech was no different from this although her party men confidently talk of different situations that both the speeches were made!!! Audacity!!!
In both these cases, the two ladies used rape and money given to rape victims as issues to go ahead in politics. I am sure politicians will never understand realities of life – actually any reality. These ladies confirm it.
To top it, the vandalism that followed of destroying the house of a politician. Where is the law and order in that state? Who is responsible for this? It was good that Rita was arrested. When are they planning arrest Mayawati and her vandals.
Politicians can never be cured from the FiM syndrome. Can we citizens realize the situation and react. I hope we vote out both the ladies who do not have a basic sense of understanding of life and compassion for other citizens.
They is being extremely lackadaisical about what they say in public and more so, of what they think of their competitors. Bad mental state and still worst, lack of understanding of peoples’ feelings.
After a long time, Congress has had a foothold in Uttar Pradesh. They selected a politician who could represent them and this is what she does.
On the other hand, Mayawati, is using this situation to gain political mileage. Another example of poor leadership in UP. She has conveniently forgotten her equally derogatory speech a year or so back. That time it was directed to female relatives of Mulayam Singh. That speech was no different from this although her party men confidently talk of different situations that both the speeches were made!!! Audacity!!!
In both these cases, the two ladies used rape and money given to rape victims as issues to go ahead in politics. I am sure politicians will never understand realities of life – actually any reality. These ladies confirm it.
To top it, the vandalism that followed of destroying the house of a politician. Where is the law and order in that state? Who is responsible for this? It was good that Rita was arrested. When are they planning arrest Mayawati and her vandals.
Politicians can never be cured from the FiM syndrome. Can we citizens realize the situation and react. I hope we vote out both the ladies who do not have a basic sense of understanding of life and compassion for other citizens.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Top Science Institutes want market driven streams scrapped
In one my earlier blogs (27/06/09), I had suggested the following to be introduced:
01. Getting students industry-ready
02. Making education boards agile to change patterns, content and education modes to drive employability of students
Yesterday, three of the leading Science Institutes have suggested scrapping of market-driven streams in BSc. These specialized courses like any other graduation courses have their limitations, but were certainly a step towards increasing employability of students.
However, with the onus of the students’ success slowly moving to the institutes and the faculties, reality has struck. It is difficult for our institutes to provide growth of a student to meet the industry, hence, the best option for them is to scrap the course.
Yes, if you can’t dance, there is something wrong with the dance floor. Break it down!!!
How about, making the courses more laser focused? How about getting industry involvement in developing students and giving them a career? How about driving a real world learning that represents the industry of today and tomorrow? Shouldn’t we be looking for these solutions?
I think the need of the hour is scrapping the institutes rather than the courses. Introducing new-age, quasi government institutes that can give a real feel of the industry and give students a pathway to jobs.
And this is only training/education that am talking about!
To convert students’ passion into a livelihood, there are three aspects other than just training:
01. Real industry Introduction
02. Talent marketing
03. Preparing a platform to succeed
Instead of thinking of generating we are thinking of degenerating. And this is the state of education in India.
No wonder the top 3 Science Institutes want market driven streams scrapped!!!
01. Getting students industry-ready
02. Making education boards agile to change patterns, content and education modes to drive employability of students
Yesterday, three of the leading Science Institutes have suggested scrapping of market-driven streams in BSc. These specialized courses like any other graduation courses have their limitations, but were certainly a step towards increasing employability of students.
However, with the onus of the students’ success slowly moving to the institutes and the faculties, reality has struck. It is difficult for our institutes to provide growth of a student to meet the industry, hence, the best option for them is to scrap the course.
Yes, if you can’t dance, there is something wrong with the dance floor. Break it down!!!
How about, making the courses more laser focused? How about getting industry involvement in developing students and giving them a career? How about driving a real world learning that represents the industry of today and tomorrow? Shouldn’t we be looking for these solutions?
I think the need of the hour is scrapping the institutes rather than the courses. Introducing new-age, quasi government institutes that can give a real feel of the industry and give students a pathway to jobs.
And this is only training/education that am talking about!
To convert students’ passion into a livelihood, there are three aspects other than just training:
01. Real industry Introduction
02. Talent marketing
03. Preparing a platform to succeed
Instead of thinking of generating we are thinking of degenerating. And this is the state of education in India.
No wonder the top 3 Science Institutes want market driven streams scrapped!!!
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