TRAPPED IN ‘NET’

Sometime back I was searching for some flash games in net for my nephew’s.While surfing I happened to see this game and I was surprised and shocked when I came to know what type of game it was. I heard about toon sex and all a lot, But never thought even in my wildest dream it will present\available in a kids site (later I found that there was not one but many which initially looked harmless but very nasty which is good enough to pollute\damage those innocent minds). I just don’t understand what traffic, what income they need by polluting and exploiting these innocent minds. My nephews (9 and 6 years old) often surf Google for games but the very thought of this – just one click can take them to most explicit site which is beyond imaginable scared me.

Now day’s kids are fast and they easily grasp things. But unfortunately same can’t be told, when it comes identifying what is right or what is wrong. And also can’t blame them for that because they don’t know that is bad and they are innocent or not big enough to identify good\bad. Unfortunately if we failed to find it out or notice it, probably they will consider it as not a big deal and also it will adversely affect or say damage their personality, finally the aftereffects will be disastrous I guess(they will believe what they see or their friends, more than there parents or other elders).
It is not only kids who are vulnerable but unfortunately our teenagers too. There are countless pages \ groups in social networking sites like Face book, my space, orkut which serve forbidden fruit ,that is easily accessible to anyone at anytime. And we don’t need the help of any surveys to guess that how many teenagers\minors visit, join all these (Common Interest – Sexuality) kinda groups. Another dangerous thing is chat rooms. There are lots of psychos (pedophiles) who are looking especially for minors for exploiting those (few years back a school girl is seduced by a group of guys through orkut in Delhi and killed by the same later is one example.). If they fall for them once, it will affect them mentally or make them feel guilty about it and finally it may result in serious consequences. Then another one is web cam, which is good enough to make anyone porn star in seconds or strong enough to make you regret for a lifetime for making a small mistake.
I’m not trying to say all the technologies, everything is bad or something likes that. If we take some small care or safety measures it will be wonderful things that will enhance the quality of life. If you follow the points mentioned below, I think that is more than enough to keep your kid\little brothers\sisters from trapped in ‘net’ (to a big extend).

• Always keep your computer in common room like master bedroom or main hall. And no laptops for juniors (especially with webcam).It is known fact that even engineering \ management students(almost 90 %) use there pc\laptop for watching movies, playing games, IM or surfing unless during study holidays ,exams or project time(for studying purpose). I don’t think school kids has to do anything more than that
• Install a good firewall\filter like net dog (one of the best software to block porn websites) or Trusted filtering etc. Also recommended to use – Safe eyes (let you track your kids instant messaging and social networking)
• Teach them that never share their(or there parents) personal information or pictures in the web(plenty of cheap software’s are available in net which can easily manipulate pics)
• Make them aware about traps in net (don’t wait until they become victim). When I was in school, every year they used conduct awareness program\workshops\plays about the ill effects of using drugs, alcohol, smoking. Now it is high time to add cyber issues also along with them.
• Before you gift your kid (school kid) a cell phone, just think for a second that, is that really necessary for him\her. If it is necessary ,it is recommended to use software’s from websafety or safekids (which block them from sending receiving inappropriate messages\pictures\videos).But remember that it will give protection from cyber traps only not from psychos in real world.
• Last but not least, try to be in the friend list of your kid’s social networking sites. So that at least you can monitor them, with whom all they are communicating and what they are doing.

All the parents believe there kids are best and they can’t be\won’t be bad. But that doesn’t mean we can give\guide them license\opportunity\show the way to be bad

P.S : Many of the young parents are technology-illiterate to there kids .But it doesn’t mean they can outsmart you, i.e. always try to be smarter than them .

Kurbaan : Review

When it come entertainers Dharma productions never disappointed us. Many movies deals with terrorism came in Bollywood in past few years. But I will say majority are half baked or love stories. What make kurbaan different from rest of the movies of similar genre is, probably this is the first Bollywood (or Indian) movie which dealt with Global terrorism and other thing is rather than others of similar genre, the story progress with the point of view of terrorists (not portraying them as either baddies or goodies, just express there emotions and psyche) as well as moderate peoples and also movie portrays pain of helpless spectator who lost his loved one in one of the attack. The movie concentrates on its core theme rather than distracting sub plots and songs.

Plot
Avantika, a lecture at a university in Delhi fall in love with Ehsaan a professor from similar university and soon they get married and relocate to New York. But soon they find out that things are not cool as it seems and no one can be trusted. I don’t want to tell anything further and spoil the fun of watching a thriller

My take
A good story with style and substance is rare thing in Bollywood. Kurbaan is one of those kinds. It has a tight script and fast paced screenplay. The performances of lead actors are commendable .I have never seen Kiron Kher in such a powerful role. Never thought Vivek Oberoi knows anything other than over acting But he is too good in this movie. Cinematography and Background score is excellent. I’m sure this movie will take Indian movie to next level. Guess we have got another Abbas-Mustaan. Kudos to Rensil D’Silva and his team. Really smart one. Yeah Some Love Stories have Blood on them.

Scene to watch out: A bullet wound surgery,climax

Pros: Screen play, climax, back ground score, art direction and cinematography, saif-Kareena chemistry, fewer songs (but good ones), no item numbers, tough and dark one.
Cons: First half an hour (a bit drag), Too hot for kids (don’t take kids with you for this movie), not for masses.

THE MONK WHO SOLD HIS FERRARI By Robin Sharma

‘The Monk who sold his Ferrari’ one of the best books I have ever read in my life. If I say this post is a review about this book, then it will be a blasphemy.

PLOT\ SYNOPSIS
Well the books tell the story of a professionally successful lawyer (Julian), who was a failure in his personal life. In search of the true happiness, he moves to Himalayas and there he meets legendary saints and they teach him art of living and how to live life fullest. The story is told from the point of view of Julian’s colleague John. The story progresses by, Julian sharing the secret behind his new vigor to john. The story is explained in seven ‘virtues’ like Master your mind, Follow your purpose, practice kaizen, live with discipline, respect your time, selflessly serve others, and embrace the present.

My take
It is good to read motivating books occasionally. That will create some positive energy in our lives. The book is a must read(and must have) for all the professionals, youngsters,(2 say recommend to everyone.) .This book teach us how to live the life fullest and also deals with work-life pressure, self realization, self improvement, spirituality ,charity , time management etc .It is not a book for casual read. Take your time to read it and benefit it.

Not Another ‘Ragging’ Story

In my college ragging used to start only in second year (just harmless ragging)).And when second years(juniors) came to my department, I become highly popular among all juniors. Mainly because the way I rag. I used to send them to girls of my batch and asked them to get there all details or ask them to do something interesting (off course something that require interaction with senior girls).That were the reason. While ragging one of the junior like this, he told me about this arrogant girl from his class and requested me to teach her a lesson. Though I already ‘covered’ all the ‘popular junior mallu girls’ from my department, I never heard about this girl. And also I was thrilled to get a tough arrogant girl to rag .When I came back to class I told my best friend MG about the same

Me: dude I’m gonna a rag a girl from second year. Heard she is very arrogant.
MG: Ohh really…..This time I also wanna come with U
Me: deyy monee kuttapayi!!!!!!! I’m gonna rag her not to propose her or flirt with her, got it and also apart from getting 8+ CGPA (MG was the class topper at that time) and getting into the good books of everyone what else you know. Please don’t tell jokes like this again.
MG: deyy, u has seen only my one face …..I have some innovative ideas to rag juniors.
Me: okay then come with me, but listen carefully .You should not laugh like this when we go there, should be tough, shouldn’t laugh\smile. Totally we should give her a kalipuu look.
He nodded his head to everything I have told him.

Finally the much awaited moment came and we headed towards second year class and we asked one of our junior (same guy who told me about her) to call her .When she came out, We acted like as if we are the most toughest guys in our university and started ragging her (In our batch we both were known to be soft spoken guys and also the one who never used to get angry. Though even while ragging other juniors I had a tough time controlling my smile and always used to pretend to be very serious and angry) .

Me: enthadiii ninte peru (what is your name)
She: Miss SM (She were talking to us as if she is the most calm and sweet girl in her batch. we couldn’t believe she were that arrogant, ruthless girl that we were told)
After few minutes of talk I asked her “heard you are very arrogant and you will never listen to others”
She: ayyo achacha(bhaiya), who told you guys like that. I’m the calmest girl in my batch. I can explain why they told you about me like that. Though I’m a mallu,I born and brought up outside kerala and also I’m not that fluent in Malayalam. So in fact that is why they are not talking to me. That is the fact, please believe me.

We both were fallen for that (achahachan(bhaiya))…MG whispered to me
“Dude did you hear what she called us….such a sweet girl…..she reminds me my younger sister…U are so hard hearted anish ,how can you rag such a sweet girl”)
Even I felt the same, so I called the junior guy who told about her to us. I pretended to be very angry and asked him “dey what kinda guy you are…how can you talk such a sweet girl……. Between why you guys are not talking to her”
He stared at us clueless, poor guy got confused what to tell us .Finally he told us “she is not a mallu”
So??????????? We three asked at the same time.
MG warned all his gang members to behave with her properly. He already adopted her as his sister and they started talking as if they know each other for ages. While we were talking, one of the guys (Tony) from my class (notorious for ruthless ragging) came toward us and had a few words with her but as if we both were talking to her like her close relative\friend, he left her
We invited her to canteen for a coffee and MG was behaving like as if his “bride seeing ceremony” were going on.
Everything went really well. We both were happy to get such a nice friend.
After some time tony came and asked us how come we know her and we told him everything happened .he told us like “ohh guys …u guys missed the opportunity, when you were talking I thought she were you guys relative or something. You know something she is the most arrogant girl of her batch. We all are noted her from first year itself and were looking for a chance to teach her a lesson properly..”. We couldn’t believe what he told us about her.

But later only, we came to know about the secret behind everything. The girls of my batch trained the junior girls, how to handle each of us and they also gave a clear picture about all the guys of my class. Seems they categorized us as soft, medium, hard and tough and also trained them how to tackle each group.
Anyways whenever news about ragging and all popup in the TV or newspaper, this incident used to come in my mind first

Some random Shopping tales

“Dude, if you are not in a hurry, can you gimme a lift to health and glow and then to my apartment”. One of my friend called me and told, when I was about to leave from office. I’m a bit ‘allergic’ to this shop. The sales girls\guys in this shop are ‘trained’ to tempt you for buying all the needed\unwanted stuff (*from the experience of yours truly and his friends).Few years back, after doing some shopping to attend my cousin’s marriage, I headed to this shop to buy a sunscreen and hair gel (that was the first time in my life I went there).
The sales girls asked me what I want and I answered her. But she convinced me to buy another brand to my preferred one. Then another sales girl approached me and asked

S.G: Sir, you have got lot of open pores on your face, just look at this mirror.
after doing some close examination I felt that she is right (though I have never noticed it before) .
Me: yeah I can see a few. But what is the problem in that?
S.G: Sir it doesn’t looks good. It looks awkward; you have to tighten those pores.
I was thinking there, that why she is concerned about me so much
Before I told anything, she brought some skin toner and told me
S.G: Use this product .With in one month you will see the result
Me: I don’t think it is necessary for me, will you bill these products fast

Then she gave me a lecture about the nature of my skin and how good that product for my skin for next few minutes.i became tired of her lecture, so finally she won the battle and I brought it (one reason 4 that is I wanna look best at my family function ).
While moving towards the bill counter another sales girl approached me and asked me whether I have hair loss problem or not and I told no and moved away. she told me like

S.G 2: Sir just 1 min listen 2 me ,use this hair oil, so that in future, you won’t be suffering from any hair lose problem and also it has good cooling effect.

I couldn’t stop laughing to that, first time I heard about some product (and approached by someone) to prevent hair loss in future. Anyways I didn’t let her to proceed and promptly avoided her and moved to billing counter. When I was about to pay this bill another sales girl approached me (hmm it was not that bad, been the center of attraction of this much girls )

S.G 3: Sir you are lucky to have normal skin type. Use this face pack once in a week. It is very necessary for this climate and also if you are sitting in air conditioned room for a long time. Use this product and see the result after a week. It will make your skin glow like anything

(They all were talking to me as if I’m the only person who don’t have self –awareness in that area ) I felt like telling her, till I came here I (my skin) was perfectly fine. So will u please leave me alone
I just thanked her, paid the money and immediately left the space, before someone else caught me. After this incident,I always used to be very careful with that shop.

Though, it happened few years back. When my friend called me, I recalled this incident first. But as also I have to buy a deo and hair oil I agreed to drop her there. I asked my friend to pick up a deo for me and I moved to hair oil stack .As expected one sales girl approached me and asked me “whath dho you whaanth” in her fake British accent. Though I have a regular hair care products brand I just asked her can u suggest good non sticky hair oil. She took the product of an international renowned brand and started explaining its benefits. I told her that, that product is not good and then took my favorite brand .Though there was a big queue in the cash counter, I gave my pick to my friend and waited at cash counter. I was curious about, why there is such a big crowd in a personal care and cosmetic shop. So I just peeped at others basket (just for time pass). It was a bit funny. One young foreign lady who were standing in the end of the queue, by holding a 10 rupee mini tissue pack (no comments about it….I was struggling there to control my laugh) Another lady was holding a small packet of ‘ladies only stuff’ and a tooth brush, waiting for her turn in that long queue (was wondering there, now a days medical shops and super markets are not stocking these stuff or what). When I told about the same to my friend, she told me like, “It is something like an addiction, a form of shopaholism. They experience some kind of satisfaction, when they spend some time or purchase something (though it is useful or not) in those particular places” .Anyways when we were about to leave the space old sales girl came running towards us and asked me

S.G: Sir Can I ask you something me: yeah sure
S.G: y did you say, that hair oil is not good. me: what happened, why did you ask?
S.G: (in a panicked tone) I’m using it for past 1 month; please tell me what is wrong with that product.
We couldn’t stop laughing at her question and at her panicked expression.My friend answered her that “it contains silicon, so as per doctors advise it is not recommended for daily use(though it make your hair shine instantly but later on it may cause serious drawbacks like frizzy hair, hair fall and also problems for scalp etc”(always chose hair care products that does not contain silicon).She thanked us and left(her facial expression was priceless , and anyways it was payback time for us).

Anyways after a tiring week in office that short shopping was a perfect fun experience for us.

P.S: I didn’t mean to insult anyone (any characters mentioned here) in this post. @ H & G – It is a very good shop, were we can purchase all the local\international brands of our choice. Only thing is you have to be a bit careful with the sales persons.

Trivia: Saw this movie on last week – A Walk on the Moon . Loved it (good performance from lead actors and very good BG music) .Grab the DVD and watch it if you like unconventional movies)