Whether you think you can or you think you can't, either way you are right
- Henry Ford

Help BEST survey traffic patterns across Mumbai

Tired of waiting for that BEST bus every morning as you start for work? Wish there was a better transport service to major business hubs across Mumbai? Then take this survey and tell BEST about it. Who knows? Maybe you will get to board a bus at a stop next to your home.

Janusz Korczak

I didn't know about Janusz Korczak. But an article mentioned that he had directed children from an orphanage to perform Rabindranath Tagore's play The Post Office in a concentration camp. Ever since I read that, the reference to Janusz Korczak was sitting in my cell phone's Notes section. I came across it again while clearing the section today. Here's what Wikipedia has to say about him.

36 Hours in Hyderabad

I must confess that despite spending an entire year in the city of the Nizams, I didn't know about many of the places mentioned in '36 Hours in Hyderabad'. Especially, I wish I knew about the Antiques market. Would have had such a great time there weekend after weekend. Looks like I need to visit again - for no other reason than shopping for pearls, having a plateful of spicy biryani and haggle over (though God knows I am not good at it!) an antique piece or two. :-)

Today’s pay slip has more deductions than a Sherlock Holmes novel
- Author Raymond Cvikota

Hear That Book

'What a waste of time' I must have exclaimed a thousand times on my journey to and back from office - every day. Though sheltered in a cocoon of the AC bus, there is precious little that you can do as you stare out the window at the familiar landscape. It is not advisable to read a newspaper - except when the bus stops at the traffic lights - for fear of damaging the eyesight. I can hardly stand the senseless chatter of the RJs (Sadly, Purani Jeans is not aired before 9pm) and repeat telecast of new Hindi movie songs. And I haven't got time to change the tracks loaded on my walkman. :-(

Just when I was thinking about some audio books, I came across this article in Mint - Hear That Book. Now I wonder if God does listen to our prayers sometimes :-)

The currency of ‘jugaad’

Food for thought:

Education is when you read the fine print
Experience is what you get when you don't

'Yes, auntiji, how are you?' the early morning calm inside the AC bus was shattered with these words. Those taking a power nap to catch up with the unfinished quota of their sleep and those trying to make sense of the Indian economy behind their business newspapers craned their necks to gauge the source of such commotion. But the man in question was oblivious to his surroundings. He went on to talk to the wife of his maternal uncle. He inquired whether she had had breakfast yet. Then playfully admonished her for being strict with his uncle. At one point he also asked to speak to his nephew. I guess there is strength in collective prayer because from the conversation this side of the mobile it seemed like the nephew was fast asleep. Thank heavens for small mercies!

You could almost hear a collective sigh of relief as the man got off the bus at the next stop and peace reigned supreme once again.

Flicking through the TV channels, you come across titles that seem so strange that they almost make you find out about the programs. The other day, I was surfing to set reminder for a program when I came across the title 'Last Woman Standing'. Quite a catchy one, don't you agree? Does it have something to do with feminism or maybe a tough woman cop - I wondered. Maybe I will come across the program some day or maybe I will never find out. Then it will remain one of the mysteries of life :-)

Bone Marrow Donor Registry

Bone Marrow Donor Registry - http://mdrindia.org/

Must say that the Goonj people have done an excellent job with their ad. It drives the message home succinctly and precisely. I also like the new Oreo ad. In a country that is obsessed with a mother's love for her children (Nirupa Roy, Gajar ka Halwa and Mooli ke Parathe style!), they stand out with their ads featuring a dad and his daughter. You can't help but smile at the latest one. Great job guys!

If you are a salad fan, check this out - Elevate your salad to a main course

Aqua 2012

'Is this queue for Aqua 2012' I asked a lady waiting patiently and she nodded. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was after noon on a Saturday morning. I was at Matunga's Ruia college to check out the exhibition of rare fish. But when I reached there it was so crowded that the organizers had to close down the main doors of the college to keep the people out for some time. I turned back in disappointment.

Despite it being a Sunday, we reached the venue by 10am the next day. My calculation was spot on. There were hardly 4-5 early risers so the place looked practically deserted. The newspaper ad had said that on entry every visitor will be given a booklet containing information of exotic fish (entry fee was Rs 40 per person). But when I inquired about the same, the person at the booth handed over a 2 page pamphlet. I was certain I had seen some of yesterday's crowd carrying away a much bigger booklet. Maybe the organizers hadn't anticipated so many visitors and had run through their quota in the initial days.

The exhibition itself was well worth the 2 trips. Colors on some of the fish were so amazing that you couldn't help wonder who must have thought of them. The tanks looked clean and there was no 'fishy' smell that you usually come to associate with a fish enclosure. While we were there, a man came to feed the fish and it was delighting to see the tiny things gobble up food.

It was also heartening to see so many parents with kids in tow who waited patiently on both days to have a glimpse of the marine life. I just wish the organizers had done a much better job of crowd management. Hope to see many such exhibitions in the city in future.