What is the good word?

This morning I heard David Bouchier talk about blog, his blog on WSHU Public Radio and how he finds the word blog ugly. He asks whether there is a better word for it? I can't think of any, but I don't even know whether one needs another word.

I remember how different the word Google sounded when I first came to know about it 5 years ago. Now we even have the verb, google. Some day, web historians will answer the question that David Bouchier asked today.

Kannathil Muthamittal

Hearing this story on NPR reminded me of that poingnant movie by Manirathnam, `Kannathil Muthamittal'. I consider KM one of his best movies along with Anjali and of course Mouna Ragam (thanks Magesh).

Recalling the Leap Into Motherhood

Just this morning while driving to work heard this poignant story on NPR and it reassured my belief in human hope. It is not just an hyperbolic statement. Many times in our lives we take decisions based on just our beliefs and what we see as 'right' at that moment. Later many years down the line when we look back, we realise how thankful we are to ourselves to have made that decision. It brings big lump in to your throat. It is due to the overwhelming joy.

Nay Sayer

I have always been a Nay Sayer for most of the things. When I was young, I always used to say "Mudiyathu", " Maataen", all meaning 'NO' whenever I was asked to go on an errand, be it any thing. It was another matter I eventually did do the job, but always had this tendency of saying No. After I got married, a Sher told to me by my wife(not considered a great sher) that she learnt when she was young, seemed to aptly state my tendency and how it must have been for people who had to hear it from me. Here it is:

Nahin nahin mat karo sitamgar
Nahin nahin ka nahin hai mauka

Tere bas is nahin nahin ne
Mujhko chhoda kahin nahin ka

Needless to say, this tendency has reduced considerably.

Snakes of India

I must have been 6 years old when I first visited the Snake Park in Guindy, Madras. During those days, Park meant only the ones where people can go and relax. Used to wonder what is a Snake Park. I should admit that at the time when I visited the Snake Park, I wasn't much pleased about it. Years later, when I first went to the Aniketh, a canteen in Pune University campus, did i think of snakes in a different perspective. In that canteen, there is a sticker which says "Don't Kill Snakes". I was really taken aback. It is another matter that I never worried about it later.

There is a review of a book on Snakes, Snakes of India: The Field Guide by S. THEODORE BASKARAN in Frontline. I didn't know that it was Whitaker who founded the Snake Park.

First Word

Finally decided to start a blog on September 5, 2005, celebrated as Teacher's Day in India.