First Vaccine Shot and Lessons

~ bjcharles ~ Leave a comment

waiting after taking the anti-body prick.

And here I’m in the ante room where I wait for 30 minutes before heading home. This private hospital where I visited for the vaccine took inordinate time to give us the shot. It’s evident that some process was amiss. As a fella, I waited outside their door, waiting for their call. Finally, we had to push the door and get ourselves inside the registration room to get our names called.

After the vaccine the nurse gave a short lecture on what tablets to take in case of body pain or fever like symptoms. As I heard her repetitive narration, I thought of the wasted opportunity for the hospital. Here’s how they could have made this interaction better.

1. When the patient is under observation, it’s the time for the hospital to send a short SMS, with post vaccine care
2. SMS can include a link to the hospital website, where an illustrated image about the possible side-effects and what kind of medicines are suitable. Along with it, include the scenario when its advisable to call emergency.

Why a SMS with a Short Link to the Site is a Better form of Engagement for the Hospital?

When a SMS is sent to the person, nurse can remind them to go through it. Also, she can repeat the points on the SMS. She can suggest people to visit the site to find more about Corona symptoms, treatment plans and how to do home care when infected with the virus.

I wonder if such a system is followed in any hospitals in Trivandrum.

Are we living our best life?

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Are we what’s seen outside?
How do we reconcile between what you in the outside and the turmoil or the feeling that’s inside?

These two question came up on the James Jarvis podcast, in which the author of “Stop Living on Autopilot“, Antonio Neves speaks about his book and what it took to write this book.

History Haters

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History Lesson

I was just thinking of what to write and that’s when I saw this poster on Whatsapp.

This picture resonates with the kind of forward and opinion seen on Whatsapp. These days it’s a trend to become very critical of the historical events. And so, there are online warriors who come with a new version of history, trying to give a new meaning, color to old events. This is a very disturbing. I think this kind of activity is nothing new but now it has gathered more velocity. One manifestation of it is the way we Indians renamed the cities. Another more sinister is the way notes are rewritten according to their agenda.

What can you do to stop this twisting of historical facts?

Start Again Block by Block

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These two blogs ( alearningaday and seth’sblog) are written everyday by the blog owners. Often, I too feel the urge to get into the habit of daily writing. I must admit that I have failed many times. But, does that mean, I should shop trying.

This line from Frozen 2 was quoted on alerningaday.

“But a tiny voice whispers in my mind
You are lost, hope is gone
But you must go on
And do the next right thing” | Anna in Frozen 2

Shall we start again, that half-read book, that call which you were supposed to call, or the letter which you to reply, a project which was unfinished, or passion/pastime left in the cold.

Break the Negative Chain

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2020 March was the month when we faced a lockdown of unprecedented nature. That was the time when we learned new words such as quarantine, lock-down, social distancing and break the chain. In a way, Kerala spearheaded the campaign of break the chain, with images, public discussions, public health campaigns. Though we partially succeeded in break the chain moment to contain viral spread, we have miserably failed to spread of misinformation and message of hate. To me, this is more sinister, and insidious than Covid.

Break the Chain?
When Free data plan from Jio network started, I could never think it would have another side. The shower of good morning messages on Whatsapp was one of the first think Indians invented and nurtured. Next was the spread of messages which was mostly fake or half-truths.

We are now gotten used to seeing early morning Whatsapp messages filled with negative thoughts coming from people who belong to two different camps – one is from die-hard Modi fans ( bakths) and so called liberal or secular tribe. Here each camp trying to win over the other, making up some make-believe stats, reports, and quotes.

Well as you can assume, it’s the Modi’s camp is successful in spawning a string of messages which either glorifies their stand, or demeans the acts of others with highly critical words or graphics.

Well, I don’t have anything with neither of these two believers or supporters, but I don’t like the fact that they are spending their good life to share useless thoughts. This is unacceptable in a society where we share the same ration shop, values, freedom and space.

Why be part of the Negative Message Forward system?

Is there a way to break the chain which blindly forwards any message which support a group or philosophy? Have you stopped for a second and asked if it’s true, or if it’s beneficial or useful or it’s just to demean the other side.

At this point, it’s good to think and practice the 4 way test of the Rotary. ( Source: https://rotary5630.org/history-of-the-four-way-test/ )

Is it the truth?
Is it fair to all concerned?
Will it build good will and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Cut the Crap in the Age of Digital Excess

Hey, you’re in this world for a better reason, not to just spread hatred or discontent. You were bought to share your love to your kin, your sibling and to the community. Then why did you all feel the need to shout out half-truth or thought that are only fulfilling some notion.

Educating Young People to Reduce Whatsapp Shares

There’s one way to bring some education and control on the way such thoughts are shared. That’s why we need to stem these from the bud itself. For that, it’s important to educate high-school kids on the morality of sharing Whatsapp or Facebook forwards. Apart from the normal lesson and curriculum, the moral class needs to include new age topics such as Cyber bullying, How to set privacy of social media, What are the netiquettes of forwarding Whatsapp messages, etc.

Adding a blog passage from Seth Godin – 8/3/21

And we’re now realizing that we have the power (and perhaps the obligation) to use shared knowledge to make better, more thoughtful decisions. And to intentionally edit out the manipulations and falsehoods that are designed to spread, not to improve our lives.

Source: Seth Godin blog

Today when I read his blog post, the last paragraph resonate with the thought I had in mind. I think, he’s also seeing how messages are getting manipulated to spread falsehood. But, each of us has the right to stop these messages from spreading beyond you.

Hiroshima Lessons

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After a long space of time and will, I’m back with a post. This time, it’s snaps of pages of national Geographic magazine, about an article on Hiroshima. It’s just magnificent the way to recovery and stupendous growth of a city. And, so from the rubble incinerated by the atomic B, people build it from ground zero.

The question remains, how did they find the strength? It’s similar to how Germany rebuild itself after the world war. What was the collective thought behind the building of a nation? What was the priority? Was it guided by someone or it was an effort of unison.

When I look at my own life, as of now… drifting around without much of a goal or a task, i wonder what i can take from such a rebuilding effort. Or for that matter, it could be anyone who wishes to take the task of a changeover!

Out of the ashes has arisen a fully modern city with an unwavering sense of destiny.

Reborn from rubble and ash, the city is an advocate of global peace.

Today’s sighting

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View by the road

What do you notice today? what did you specifically think? was it just another day of your life – without any remarkable, different thought?

I went to East Fort side and there in one of the old building wall has now a colorful mural painting?

Each city, town, locality should be having a person who can tell the age-old story! Story of how things were, and how it has changed – good or bad.

Every community, family should have an historian who will collate and share the journey of people and family!

Post COVID Small Business Start-up Ideas 1

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I’ve been away from my blog for many a weeks. Now, a new gusto of ideas are coming on an important topic – i.e how to revive the economy. What business ideas should work and how the policy makers and government facilitate avenues for people and business to grow.

In this thought, I’m sharing one idea each on this blog so that I would get to share all the flurry ideas I get beached with.

It’s about Sports Bar in Kerala!

I haven’t seen any Bar in Trivandrum which has some options for customers to play some kind of sports. It could be a dart board, or snooker, ping pong, or some board games. Why haven’t this idea not explored in Kerala? Answer is out there!

What I feel about bars in Kerala is the rigid and atrocious licence fees levied by the government. One excuse the govt must be saying about having very expensive licence fee is this – to restrict or reduce the number of bars and thereby reducing the options for drinkers.

But, this doesn’t hold water! I feel that the more some restrictions are in place, the more people tend to break it or feel the need to have it.

Instead, Government should come with options for small business owners to open pubs with sports options for a lesser fees. Maybe, it can be given to entrepreneurs who open micro-brewery pubs or to pubs, which are near travel spots, etc.

In Bangalore, I’ve been to places like Extreme Sports Bar. One, they show Live sports in a big screen which brings young crowd in groups to come and watch a match or so.

If you are an existing bar owner, you can use some additional space to keep a pool table or space for customers to use Xbox and play a streaming game. Options are endless and I guess, you can pick what suits you!

What makes you Wanted and Special?

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I often have the recurring thought on how to lead a socially connected life. How to be wanted, not just by people in your home, but others around in your extended family, friends and society.

This thought of being wanted stems from the fact that I’m leading more or less a life of a hermit. It has aggravated more after Covid as socially isolation has cemented itself.

One more thing, I have been thinking is the loneliness of seniors who are living alone, especially when kids are settled outside.

Moving on a different topic on rewards and recognition, I’m sharing a line from this blog ( https://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/)




Being good at something doesn’t promise rewards. It doesn’t even promise a compliment. What’s rewarded in the world is scarcity, so what matters is what you can do that other people are bad at.

Collaborativefund.com

How to use Ration Shop for Local Employment

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It’s Covid times in every city, locality and State and Nation. I mean Covid times to mean the spread of Corona virus, causing all sorts of disruptions. When it comes to disruptions, the loss of livelihood, especially for blue daily wage earners like maids, laborers, semi-skilled workers, etc.

Now the Big Question for all of us is how to get the economy back in track, once we find a way to overcome the virus.

And when it comes to local employment, there is a serious information gap between job seekers and employers. I mean to say, how can these needs be fulfilled? How to create a forum where people in each locality can post job requirement and also view the profile of workers who are willing to work?

While there are many online portals currently available, it’s far from adequate for the group of people who dont have computer literacy, let alone have a mobile phone. So, what’s the next way to address this gap. What if I say Ration Shop could offers a solution for this?

Recently in Kerala, Government announced free and subsidized ration for card holders. And, thus ration shops got more foot holds than any shops in the area. From early morning to late evening, people of all walks stood in the line to buy grains and other items from the shop. And this got me thinking…. What if there’s a notice board which listed the local jobs, and contact details of people willing to work?

This would be an interesting project to try out? I wish I knew a ration shop ower so that I can place a board and ask

Who will manage the notice board?
Who will verify the credentials of the each job seeker and giver?
Who will ensure that its fair deal?
What’s the minimum wages?

This will be helpful for people like Viyayamma, a maid who used to come for work or one Mr Vinod, a hard-working man who’s looking for a job near Nedumangadu and many others…including me. What if I could spare 1 hour of my time to do some services like gardening or making a home-visit to teach bread making, etc.

I guess there’s a neighborhood app on smartphone, but we need to do something to reach out to people who are off-the Internet grid.