Warrier's Collage on Thursday August 18, 2022

Welcome To Warrier's COLLAGE On Thursday August 18, 2022 1) Memories : Conon Grey https://youtu.be/2lSyHZLzNYA 2) Memories lyrics : https://genius.com/Conan-gray-memories-lyrics Good Morning 🙏 Collage may not be keeping usual time schedule for few days. Nice Day M G Warrier Senior Citizens Day, August 21, 2022 : Franklin Misquith Senior Citizens Day We are very happy that after a long gap we are all together today, Most of us are still up and about each and every day. We are still able to wake up each morn with the lark, And after sprucing up we take off to the park, as brightly and sprightly as a spark. In life so far we have all made our mark, Some have built a barge as spacious and sturdy as Noah's Ark. But our short voyage on this planet will come to an end sooner or later, Whether we have risen high in life or worked as a humble waiter. We have all done our little bit, And many a heart like a candle lit. Soon the time will come to lay down our arms, Say goodbye to aches and pains and soothing ourselves with pills and balms. Till then let's keep smiling and accept His Blessings with open arms. A Messages/Responses 1) S R Badrinarayanan Is not Vishu New Year in Kerala? How then Simha masam that commences from today(August 17) is reckoned as New Year in Malayalam!? Collage response : There is a Malayalam Calendar followed by Malayalees for different purposes including "Panchangam". According to the Calendar August 17, 2022 is First Day of the First Month Chingam, Malayalam Era 1198. Vishu falls on Medam 1 (Mid April) A related link copied below : https://www.latestly.com/lifestyle/festivals-events/chingam-1-or-malayalam-new-year-2022-date-know-significance-and-celebrations-related-to-new-year-in-kerala-as-per-kolla-varsham-4088785.html Happy New Year to all following the Malayalam Calendar -M G Warrier 2) C V Subbaraman Speaking on flattery (the ever versatile Babusenan Column) : There is a Samskrt Subhaashitam> उष्टराणाम् विवाहेषु गीतम गायन्ती गर्दभाहा परस्परम प्रशंसाणती आहो रूपं आहो ध्वनि: In the marriage of camels, the donkeys sing; they praise each other: What beauty (the camels), What melodious voice (the donkeys) In the olden days most of the kings, even the humble ones, had a lot of courtiers and vidwans in their courts and songs in praise of the King were richly rewarded. We have heard that the King Sarabhoji of Thanjavur invited the great composer Thyaagaraaja to his court and sing in praise of the King. The latter declined but composed the famous keertana, "Nidhi saala sukhama....." In the Mahaabhaaratha, King Yudhishtira says, the abundance of yes-men - सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन् O King, abundant are yes-men, always pleasant spoken, Rare are the speakers and listeners of the unpleasant but medicinal (truth). सुलभाः पुरुषा राजन्, सततं प्रियवादिनः । अप्रियस्य तु पथ्यस्य, वक्ता श्रोता च दुर्लभः ॥ sulabhAH puruShA rAjan, satataM priyavAdinaH | apriyasya tu pathyasya, vaktA shrotA cha durlabhaH || Yes-men are great! They make you feel more better, when you are feeling good. Similarly, when you are feeling down, they will take you even further down :) For they will simply say what you want to hear, not what you should hear! It is like yelling in an echo well! Or watching yourselves in the mirror. In corporates and administration, if you get yes-men, they are not even your eyes - to see the current or the future. It is like glasses on the eyes of a blind man. But flattery (hyperbole praises) is so dangerous that even those who hate flattery succumb to it. See what Shakespeare wrote: "But when I tell him he hates flatters, he says he does, being then most flattered"!! Some quotes on flattery are: 1. Flattery gets friends, Truth gets enemies. 2. Flattery is like chewing gum, enjoy it, but do not swallow it. 3. Don't be afraid of enemies who attack you, but beware of friends who flatter you. 4. Flattery is like wolf in the garb of a pet dog. Subbaraman (Collage added a related link : https://www.xn--31ba3bfb4bfp3ce1hph6oee.com/2021/09/blog-post.html?m=1) 3) M G Warrier Mumbai Shared a link : http://ax.sayahna.org/ulloor/ulloor-3-38.html Those interested in old Malayalam literature may try this link. Looks, there's a translation option* also at the website 🙏-Warrier *Like : Kunchannambiar (Ramapanivadan) "Vanpianna Madamatu Marandam is bowing down to Tullalanekam Chamachachoru Kunchan Nambiar who is a poet."(Great Coithampuran) A Ramapanivadan lived in Kollam in the early 10th century, the author of many beautiful Sanskrit texts. We know that a Ramapanivadan who was the author of several vernacular works including a few rasanishyandi kilipats also graced that period. That is also the life time of Kunchannambiar who blessed Keralites by composing innumerable short stories. The first thing that confronts us in nature is the difficult question whether these three poets are different or not. In any case, let us first consider the written documents we have so far. See B- Babusenan's Column 4) TNC Rangarajan Shared a link : https://ugearsmodels.in/contest-from-ugears.html https://ugearsmodels.in/catalogue/mechanical-models/ UGEARS has developed a Mechanical Wooden Construction/Puzzle Kits to help people to understand the principles of mechanics through the self-assembly of motion models. Each of UGEARS Educational Toys models carries its own idea and concept & it doesn’t require a glue, battery & power of electricity. It’s a natural, made of high quality ecologically clean plywood. B Babusenan's Column : Kunchan Nambiar To call a spade a spade needs a lot of courage, especially when one is expected to flatter. Kunchan Nambiar, the 18th century Malayalam poet and Ottan Thullal exponent, had this rare quality in abundance, but he had his own way of doing it. The Maharaja of Travancore ,who dedicated his royal sword to Lord Padmanabha and ruled as the latter's representative, was Nambiar's patron. Like any other king, he was surrounded by 'yes' men and he too was not free from the princely foible of enjoying flattery. Though a powerful monarch, he used to take food along with his advisers. Nambiar also was in the honoured list. If the Maharaja said that a certain curry was good, those sitting close on either side would repeat that and ask for more of it. One day he thought of enjoying at the expense of these 'yes 'men. When the milk pudding was served, he tasted it and stood up saying : "This tastes bitter." In fact, it was very tasty on that day. All others stopped eating and stood up making the same comment. The Maharaja thoroughly enjoyed the situation, but when he looked closely, he found one person continuing his meal unperturbed. He went up to him. It was Nambiar. "Don't you feel that the pudding is bitter, Nambiar? "asked the king. Without even lifting his head, Nambiar replied : "Yes, your majesty, it is bitter, but I immensely like its bitterness. Server, bring your bowl of the pudding. I want another helping." Another day, all courtiers, including Nambiar, gathered in the Padmanabhaswami temple. The Maharaja was going to dedicate a big, wonderfully engraved, traditional bell-metal lamp to the deity. After the ceremony, one by one praised the beauty of the lamp, in prose and poetry, except Nambiar who did not move from his seat. The Maharaja who was enjoying the speeches all along asked him : "Nambiar, haven't you anything to say?" Nambiar slowly stood up and sang : "Deepastambham Mahaatscharyam Namukkum kittanam Panam." (The lamp is very wonderful, no doubt, but I too must get money) Bonus : Nostalgia : Life Magazine https://www.life.com/ Excerpts : On the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, the novel that began an unparalleled and as-yet-unending fantasy phenomenon, LIFE celebrates the extraordinary world of Harry Potter. This deluxe collector's edition delves into how the worldwide best-selling books about a young wizard made the leap from page to screen, going in-depth on all eight of the blockbuster movies that launched the careers of Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry, aka the Boy Who Lived), Emma Watson (as Hermione Granger) and Rupert Grint (as Ron Weasley). Glorious full-color photographs deliver all of the Hogwarts favorites, including Dumbledore, Hagrid, Severeus Snape, Professor McGonagall, and the baddie everyone loves to hate, Voldemort. In addition, readers get an insider's look at the Fantastic Beasts film series, starring Eddie Redmayne as Newt Scamander, and at the Broadway and West End stage smash Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Bonus : Revealing behind-the-scenes photos, captured during filming, featuring the cast, crew, and mythical creatures, as well as a striking round-up of Potter book covers from editions around the world. It’s the perfect gift for literature fans, wizarding buffs, and lovers of all things fantastical. C Current Affairs 1) Longer trains* South East Central Railway (SECR) has test run its longest freight train Super Vasuki on 15 August as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebration. The 3.5 km long train with 295 loaded wagons and powered by five locos carried total trailing load of about 27,000 tonne of coal, the highest fuel transportation ever carried by the Indian Railway in a single train arrangement. The amount of coal carried by Super Vasuki is enough to fire 3000 MW of power plant for one full day. This is more than thrice the capacity of existing railway rakes (90 cars with 100 tonne in each) that carries about 9,000 tonne of coal in one journey. The Super Vasuki train ran from Bhilai to Korba in Chhattisgarh. The Railways has run long freight trains last year too, under the names Vasuki and Trishul. But those arrangements were smaller than Super Vasuki as the length of earlier trains extended up to 2.8 km nothing like 3.5 km in the latest version. The train was formed by amalgamating five rakes of goods trains as one unit. Railways plans to use this arrangement (longer freight trains) more frequently, especially to transport coal in peak demand season to prevent fuel shortages of power stations. Coal shortages had pushed the country into a severe power crisis earlier this year. *Shared by T J Kurup Thiruvananthapuram 2) Media Response : M G Warrier August 17, 2022 EPFO's Woes This refers to the editorial "Fund of troubles " (August 17). The real problems faced by government bodies and public sector organisations, generally, do not get much attention from the public and the media. It's heartening to find that Business Line does some homework before coming out with harsh criticism of such institutions. Sure, institutions like LIC, EPFO, PSBs and PFRDA being directly under the control of central government get a set of advantages not available for similarly placed organisations in the private sector. But they are more than set off, by the back seat management by the denial of opportunity for these institutions to act professionally in management of their resources including human resources. Solution lies in government keeping arm's length distance from their statutorily assigned roles including funds management. If government wants to continue to use them as catchment area for fund-raising, it should be done on transparent market-related terms, without affecting their right to professional functioning. If this is further delayed, the history of erstwhile UTI can repeat in the case of any of these successful institutions. M G Warrier Mumbai D Collage Books : Memoirs https://www.forewordreviews.com/reviews/genres/nonfiction/autobiography-and-memoir/ Excerpts : Soul of a Professor is an inspiring memoir about a lengthy search for a higher calling. Lisa A. Pruitt's calibrated memoir Soul of a Professor concerns how work once undermined her sense of self-worth. Pruitt grew up in New England with an MIT-educated engineer father whom she admired and adored. When her sister died at the age of two, Pruitt began to wonder if the wrong daughter had survived. Her feelings of unworthiness led to an eating disorder and alcohol abuse, though she remained determined to win her father's approval and pride via academic successes. Her efforts paid off with early admittance to college, a scholarship, and research opportunities. Read on... E Collage Cover Story : Vathsala Jayaraman Krishna, the teacher Today is Ashtami Rohini -Krishna Jayanti 🙏. We are celebrating the birth day of the world's best teacher. Happy Janmashtami. We find that Krishna alone accepts the whole of life. And he accepts it not in any selected dimension but in all its dimensions. Krishna is against repression. He accepts life unconditionally. He does not shun love; being a man, he does not run away from women. As one who has known and experienced God, he alone does not turn his face from war. He is full of love and compassion, and yet he has the courage to accept and fight a war. Continued at H F Leisure Tea Time Tasty Thoughts : Shared by S Venugopal Chennai Enjoy these One-liners As I said before, I never repeat myself. A conscience does not prevent sin. It only prevents you from enjoying it! Living on Earth may be expensive but it includes an annual free trip around the Sun. Best way to prevent hangover is to stay drunk. Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected become the expected? A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where train stops. On my desk, I have a work station. What more can I say! If it's true that we are here to help others, then, what exactly are the others here for? How come _abbreviated_ is such a long word? Sometimes I need what only you can provide : your absence. Your future depends on your dreams. So go to sleep !! Can you do anything that other people can't? Sure.. I can read my handwriting. I'm a nobody, Nobody is perfect, and therefore I'm perfect. I've got to sit down to figure out where I stand. If I save time, when do I get it back..??? I am free .... of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally. Take my advice, I don't use it anyway. Statement below is true. Statement above is false. I’m still scratching my head on the last one. G Quotes on memory https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/memory-quotes Like : It's great to reminisce about good memories of my past. It was enjoyable when it was today. So, learning to enjoy today has two benefits: it gives me happiness right now, and it becomes a good memory later. George Foreman George Edward Foreman is an American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister and author. In boxing, he was nicknamed "Big George" and competed between 1967 and 1997. He is a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. As an entrepreneur, he is known for the George Foreman Grill. H Continued from E His heart is utterly non-violent, yet he plunges into the fire and fury of violence when it becomes unavoidable. He accepts the nectar, and yet he is not afraid of the poison. There is no such point in the cosmos where nature ends and God begins. It is nature itself that, through a subtle process of dissolution, turns into God, and it is God Himself Who, through a subtle process of manifestation, turns into nature. Nature is manifest God, and God is manifest nature and that is what Advaita means,. We can understand Krishna only if we clearly understand this concept of Advaitham, that only One is. There are basic principles which one must learn from teachings of Bhagavad Gita to get, if one wants, to the right state of mental and physical strength. 1. The 1st principle is listen, listen and listen. In the first chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Krishna only listened to Arjuna. One must learn to listen to others. Out of 18 counselling sessions which Krishna took with Arjuna, one full session was devoted only to listening to Arjuna. Fifty percent of the emotion of a person is out once he has spoken to the Healer about his or her problems. 2. 2nd principle is to remain non-judgmental while listening. This is beautifully described in Chapter 2 shloka 10. While listening, Krishna did not show any signs of anger to Arjuna even at those extremely difficult moments. On the contrary, Krishna kept on smiling and listened patiently. This is another avenue where most of the healthcare workers fail in their relationship with the patients. We (doctors) sometimes become annoyed with the patients because they narrate unrelated details of their health problems. We need to understand and appreciate their predicaments. 3. 3rd principle is that every answer should be validated by reasoning. Throughout 18 counselling sessions between Arjuna and Krishna incorporating 700 question and answers, Arjuna was given proper reasoning, either experiential or based on sound logic. Krishna never forced Arjuna to believe in what He was saying without getting convinced about it. 4. 4th principle is that of reassurance. Krishna re-assures Arjuna on two occasions. Firstly, when he said that “I’ll appear whenever there is adharma” meaning thereby that whenever there is injustice someone will come and set it right. In terms of a Healer the doctor should convincingly say that wherever there is a disease I will be there”. Again in Chapter 18 shloka 65, Krishna says that anyone who takes conscious decision and interprets things with full devotion, there is no reason why he or she should not become happy or healthy. He again assures Arjuna that he is going to be successful. 5. 5th principle is depicted in the last shloka of Gita (18.78) which summarizes the importance of a good doctor-patient (teacher-student) relationship where Sanjay says to Dhriharashtra that when there is a Healer like Krishna and a patient like Arjuna, there is no reason why there will not be a victory..There cannot be a better teacher than Krishna : Krishnam Vande Jagath Gurum