Yesterday, while riding my scooter, I overtook another scooter guy. While I was almost crossing him, he just threw a big steam of water from his mouth. My feet narrowly escaped his spit. It was not just a spit, a whole mouth full of water. As a person who usually avoids any kind of confrontation, I just went forward, not ever looking at the bugger who had done it.
This incident and many other similar sights on our roads made me think of our attitude towards cleanliness. Anyone sees such a sight finds nothing unuual, b’cos we are used to seeing all sorts of spitting.
I then thought from the point of view of people who spit- do they get an automatic tendency to spit out which they can’t hold – just like a sneeze?
Or spitting has become an involuntary reaction that they have to spit every 5 minutes?
Whatever it’s, I guess we Indians are poor clean masters. Somewhere we lost the lessons to keep our drains, road sides are cluttered with bottles and waste. Wonder if we will ever learn – unless, we are fined. Probably, each state should now recruit cleaning Marshals who will give spot fine on those who spit or litter.
From the TedX talk by Ugly Indian here are theory which makes our public spaces more dirty:
Broken window Syndrome
Tragedy of the Commons
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Garyvee Blog
Once you listen to this Gary Vaynerchuk guy, you’ll know he’s a turbo charge guy. Probably you will like his approach to marketing or you’ll hate his explitive ridden usages. Whatever, he appears to be a go-getter even from his Wine Library days.
One of the stuff he does often and on is buying random stuff from garage sale and selling it on Ebay. Sounds weird for a guy who’s running a million dollar marketing agency.
What’s should be our take on it?
When online started catching up, I had plans of selling antique keys on ebay. I bought many keys from different antique shops, from roadside akiri stores and grew my collection. And then I stopped with it. I didn’t take the next step of creating an ebay account or uploading pics on any estores for selling it. Along with antique keys, I thought of books. Even these book gathered dust in different shelf in my house. Wasted Chance!
I didn’t take the crucial step. I just stopped at the first step! Damn it. Now I feel, I should have tried at least posting one pic and seen the feedback. Without attempting, how can I judge the market and customers.
So, if you are reading this, there only one lessons – find channels to make money. It could be by selling your craft or buying a unique items and selling it to a selective audience. Whatever, Internet makes it possible. As said by Thomas L. Friedman -The World Is Flat. Means this – there’s opportunity for everyone to connect and the possibilities are endless.
Learning from Learningaday Blog
At one stage of my life, I was a big blog evangelist. Meaning, whenever I get an opportunity, I would preach the benefits of blog and why every individual or business owner should write a story. But, all those activism years are gone! Now, I ‘m just a mere shadow of that era.
But, the spirit to blog is still as fresh as it used to be. Now after a gap for many months, I have started this blog to pen my thoughts. I hope to sustain the pace of posting.
What kind of blogs do you read?
My reading list is mostly marketing related, often venturing to read from longreads.com or Vice or Hbrblog, etc.
Why Ask Better Questions?
Focus on asking the Right Question – Think and ask the question!
Prabhakara
Corona Virus in Asterix
Corona Virus is sweeping havoc, misery and death in China. This epidemic also has spawned a steady stream of memes of every nature. Few of them are directed towards Corona beer, some towards China, partly blaming them of their virus factories. However, the most unusual coincidence of this name appearing in Asterix Comic – Asterix and the Chariot Race. And who did the gauls fight against. It was villainous charioteer – Corona Virus with the mask.
What do you call such uncanny prophecy or a mere coincidence?
Feel Good Thai Massage – Explained for Travelers
Clicked on this Vlog on YouTube during one of the casual browsing session. It was about Thai Massage and the Malayalee guy who made this, explained all aspects of Thai massage – good enough to clear the dubious and twisted thoughts we Keralites think about a massage in Thailand.
It’s true that Thailand and massage are now talked in the same breath. Also, most holiday seekers from Kerala are going to Thailand with only one intention – a happy ending massage or something on those lines. After all, we need a place to download all the \ repressed or suppressed or bottled emotions or even closeted thoughts. Where else, but to these freedom lands of the east.
I have never been to Thailand, but I have been to Thai Massage. My first experience was in Bombay when my Boss took all of us for a feel good leg massage. After this massage experience in B’day I got inducted to the relaxing world of getting a massage.
Sucker for Massage
I know many who are not the massage type. They said they get ticklish when someone touches their body or they are not comfortable when someone touches their body.
But I’m not that type. I feel good when I get a good head scrub or a feet massage. However, in Trivandrum or other places in Kerala, massage are not seen in good light. Especially when a lady does the massage.
Also, all the Ayurveda places in Kerala doesn’t offer cross massage. Why can’t the traditional Ayurveda places offer a choice? If a lady likes to get a Abhyanga or Shiro abhyanga or Marma therapy from a trained man, then give her an option. But, we know most men, given a chance would divert from massage to something else. Well, NOT ALL! We can train masseurs to be professional and the customers too should keep their word, unless it’s okay for both!
What’s the big deal! After all, we are descendants who are from the land of Kamasutra and Tantra and all those pleasurable Apsaras. Forget about our old civilization – we are neither here nor there! Completely screwed with our own version of morality, culture and values.
Shine On
For a long time she like to buy and keep building her collection. I too got the same trait from her. However, it was not close to what my Mom did. She was in her extremes. The empty plastic containers often get collected in one corner, adding to the existing pile of junk in the house. I think, the feel who like to hoard don’t like the idea of disposing it.
The more it adds, the better they fell good about it. Any thought of throwing away of such stuffs brings some kind of agony to them. At home when I try to remove the plastic containers, she would say that it would be required or she will give it away.
Scrub, Clean and Shine
Today in the morning, I started a round of cleaning. First mission is to clean the greasy table top where oil cans were kept. Before I started using a scrubber, I removed an empty plastic bottle and arranged few others.
My problem is that I’m lazy fart – good at doing things half-done. This is my Achilles heal . Most task are either aborted half-way or it’s it’s never begun. This year I hope to better on this part
. Why didn’t I start the job in a decent way? First I should have removed all the bottles from the table and then started the job. However, I only wiped the area till the bottle and left the rest. What a suckup job did I do?
Marie Kondo and the art of Declutter
Someone I knew suggested me to watch the shows by Marie Kondo, a Japanese lady who’s become a sensation on the task of de-clutter. I had just watched one YouTube video in which she says how to keep clothes in a space – how to fold it, howto use , how to love it, and finally how to arrange it in the given space.
When you tidy your clothing, you’re letting go of items that don’t serve you – and expressing gratitude. ( Marie Kondo)
Indian Avatar of Marie Kondo
We Indians needs someone who’s a real Marie Kondo. Swatch Bharath was a kicker project, but that pet-project lost steam. It’s now just a catch-phrase with no master to push and tow it. looks like the focus of the nation is many other things, than just on the talk of cleaning!
Imagine if there’s someone like Marie Kondo in every state, city or community – someone who can inspire us to clean our space, clean our roads, clean our cupboard, wardrobe. We need You, if you have the genuine interest towards keeping things in orders ( not OCD cases) or the Ikigai towards the art of cleaning and tidying spaces.
Amen to a Clutter Free Home!
20 Summers Ago
Today evening I was returning home to be with my mom and stay back. Then I thought of my present day routine – how I’ve become more home-centric person. What has happened to my previous life – when I was mostly away from home.
That was many summers ago, when I was busy in my little word, meeting friends, doing errands and sitting on projects which was supposed to be long done.
Time Turns Tables
I don’t believe in the above line. However, it has come almost true for me. Though not by chance, but more by fate, I am now living a boring, sedentary life. Boring is not an apt word, but that sums it all.
Love of Sardines ( Mathi Meen)
I been a sea food lover for a long long time. Probably, I got this trait from my dad, who too was much fond of fish. I remember seeing him eating a piece of fish curry before he leaves to his office, after his afternoon siesta.
It’s strange how taste, habits, behaviors gets carried to the next generation and so on.
Coming to the topic of fish, I also have a habit of taking pic of food, especially if the fish is fresh and well prepared. Often times, fish is deep fried or it’s over cooked. The sight of over cooked fish really pisses me off as I find it as a mark of carelessness or lack of respect towards the fish.
These days I often complaint a lot when the fish curry made by the chechi is cooked beyond a certain time. One mistake people or hotel folks make is that they make the gravy and then put it in high flame. Man, that a bloody mistake. Also, the fish fry from most hotel is like a piece of charcoal. The meat gets burned and there’s nothing to munch from the fish. This is mostly true when it comes to sardines. I wonder why they make this mistake or a habit.
I guess it’s time for me to start a hotel which is exclusive about fish and different preparation.
Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views 