What the hell is happening in Kerala?

Have been wondering as to what Kerala is up to.

Let's consider these two events - one by the Kerala government and the other at a rally at Kozhikode where a guy - who shouldn't have been there - was made to inaugurate the meeting.

A few days back, the union government had passed an order that India was soon to be substituted by ''Bharat''. The Kerala government had immediately used the media to state that it would not carry it out. The state's education minister even sent a letter to the union government saying the same.

The Communists have been doing quite a few things before, too, and I shall just name three :-

      * Diluted the Governor's role as Chancellor of the universities and have positioned people - some

         even without having the requisite qualifications.

      * Passed a resolution in the state's Assembly saying that it will not implement the CAA. (This is but

         persona-non-grata for the state as CAA doesn't come into play in Kerala being a non-border state).

      * And now, saying that it will not use the word "Bharath" as this nation's name.

And the Solidarity Youth Movement, the youth wing of the Jamaat-e-Islami, in Malappuram had Hamas leader Khaled Mashal's virtual participation at a pro-Palestine event.

My take

Why are we doing this? Aren't we part of Bharat? You may have different political ideologies but you can't work against the federal structure of governance of our country. This trend needs to be rectified at the earliest. These need to be taken note of and remedial action taken forthwith.

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by 10.

Washing machinex of bed linen was carried out.

A quiet Sunday.

Will be off this forum for the next ten days as I go under the surgeon's knife for the cataract surgery of my left eye, tomorrow at 11 AM, by Dr Rani Menon at her hospital at Ayyanthole.

 

Drawing tools of AI in 2023.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the creative quotient to a new level altogether. Apart from writing exceptional poetry and prose, AI now has the ability to produce and create spectacular pieces of art. Let's take a look at 10 Artificial Intelligence (AI) drawing tools of 2023.

1. DALL-E2 

An impressive AI drawing tool, it is known for its ability to generate realistic and creative images from text descriptions. DALLE-E2 is still under development but it has already been used to create some stunning works of art.

2. WOMBO DREAM

It is a mobile AI drawing tool that is easy to use and produces high quality results. It has a wide range of features, including the ability to generate different art styles, control the level of detail in the images and even add special effects.

3. JASPER ART

A powerful AI drawing tool that can generate high-quality images from text descriptions. It has a wide range of features, including the ability to generate different art styles, control the level of detail in the images and even add special effects.

4. NIGHTCAFE

An AI drawing tool that is known for its ability to generate surreal and dreamlike images from text descriptions. It has a wide range of features, including the ability to generate different art styles, control the level of detail in the images and even add special effects.

5. MIDJOURNEY

A relatively new AI drawing tool. Midjourney has quickly risen to popularity. It is known for for its ability to generate dreamy and atmospheric images from text descriptions. Midjourney is still in beta testing but it is already being used by artists and designers around the world.

6. AUTODRAW

It is a simple and easy-to-use AI drawing tool suitable for beginners. It takes your rough sketches and converts them into polished illustrations. Autodraw is a great way to learn the basics of drawing or to generate ideas for your projects.

7. CF SPARK

An AI drawing tool that is known for its ability to generate realistic and detailed pieces of art just from text descriptions. It has a number of features that make it easy to use interface and it has a variety of pre-made templates.

8. ARTBREEDER

An AI drawing tool known for its ability to generate creative and unique images from text descriptions. It has a number of features that make it easy to experiment with different ideas, such as the ability to blend different images together and generate images in different art styles.

9. OPENART

An AI drawing tool that is open-source and free-to-use. It has a number of features that make it a powerful tool for artists and designers, such as the ability to generate different art styles, control the level of detail in the images and even add special effects.

10. DESIGNS.AI

It is a powerful AI design tool that can be used to create different types of creative content, including logos, social media graphics and presentations. It also has a number of features that can be used to generate drawings such as the ability to create vector illustrations and to convert text to drawings.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a 10' to 6, the chores.

Rajish and his understudy had come in to collect my blood samples for test. The readings are pretty good.

Seena had come by to do pedicure for Lekha.

Went across to the nearby Rani Menon's clinic to collect a medicine for me.  

Ban of books in US prisons.

Tens of thousands of books are banned from US prisons, a report said, including a primer on drawing, a book about tying knots and textbooks teaching inmates foreign languages.

Security Fears

Prison authorities across the country cite vague "security" fears or worries over sexual content for their bans which prevent America's 1.2 million inmates from reading often inocuous-sounding texts sent by friends, campaigners, publishers or bookstores.

Report by Pen America

A study by PEN America, a literacy advocacy group, found differing and inconsistently enforced policy resulted in a "staggering" number of books never passing a prison mailroom. Around half of America's 50 states keep a centralised list of banned books, with many others implementing ad-hoc systems often at a prison  mailroom level, the group says.

23,000

Titles are banned in Florida, thus, being an enthusiastic censor. Texas was second with around 10,000.

Victims of the censorship

* The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo.

* The Art of War

* Anyone can draw : Create Sensational Artwork in Easy Steps

My take

Crazy!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

The maid was at work.

Went across to my bank and got my Digital Life Certificate uploaded. Jishnu had helped me with it.

Qatar needs to respect other nations' citizens.

Today, court in Qatar, sentenced eight Indians to death. All the personnel are Indian Naval veterans from and they are :-

       

       (a) Captain Navtej Singh Gill

       (b) Captain Saurabh Vashisht

       (c) Commander Purnendu Tiwari

       (d) Captain Birendra Kumar Verma

       (e) Commander Sugunakar Pakala

       (f) Commander Sanjiv Gupta

       (g) Commander Amit Nagpal and

       (h) Ragesh - a naval sailor.

All of them were working in Al Dara, a prominent leader in agribusiness; specialising in cultivation, production and trading of animal feed and essential human food commodities such as rice, flour, fruits and vegetables. The company has witnessed unmatched growth fuelled by an active foreign investment strategy, establishing various acquisitions and joint ventures with specialised feed and food producers worldwide.

The Indian Naval personnel were training the Qatar Army and were known as Instructors. They have been accused of passing sensitive information to outsiders.

My take

This is a fallout of India's support to Israel when the Hamas terrorists had carried out the deadly attack on Israel, killing many and raping women and young children.

The sad part is that just like many of the Muslim nations who are supporting the Hamas terrorist network, the opposition parties in India like the Congress, the Communists, the TMC and Owaisi have been making calls in support of Palestinians - without speaking against Hamas. They are being called - hold your breath - ''freedom fighters"

With the impending elections in five state Assemblies and the General Elections in May 2024, they will try to take maximum mileage of exploiting the situation to discredit Prime Minister Modi for supporting Israel on their war on terror. Shameless and anti-national, if one were to ask me! I'm pretty sure that Modi and Jaishankar will come up trumps because ours is a principled stand!! 

The hapless mariners will be brought home safely.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

A quiet Thursday.

Women strike in Iceland for equal pay.

Iceland's PM and women across the volcanic island nation went on strike yesterday to push for an end to unequal pay and gender-based violence.

Shutdown across nation

Icelanders awoke to all-male newscaster teams announcing shutdowns across the island nation : schools closed, public  transport delayed, hospitals understaffed, hotel rooms uncleaned.

PM Katrin Jokobsdottir said that she would stay home as part of the women's strike - "Kvennaverkfal" in Icelandic - and expected other women in her cabinet would do the same.

Gender-equal country

Iceland, an island of 3,80,000 people has been ranked as the world's most  gender-equal country 14 years in a row by the World Economic Forum.

No country has achieved full equality and there remains a gender pay gap in Iceland.

Schools and health systems affected

Iceland's trade unions, the main organisers of the strike, called on women and nonbinary people to refuse both paid and unpaid work, including household chores, for the day. About 90% of Icelandic workers belong to a union.

Schools and the health system, which have female-dominated workforces, said they would be affected by the walkout. National broadcaster RUV said it was reducing television and radio broadcasts for the day.

Biggest since 1975

Tuesday's walkout, which lasts from midnight to midnight, is being billed as the biggest since Iceland's first such event on 24 Oct 1975, when 90% of women refused to work, clean or look after children, to voice anger at discrimination in the workplace.

In 1976, Iceland passed a law guaranteeing equal rights irrespective of gender.

Since then there have been several partial-day strikes, most recently in 2018, with women walking off the job in the early afternoon, symbolising the time of day when women, on average, stop earning compared to men.

"We have not yet reached our goals of full gender equality and we are still tackling the gender-based wage gap, which is unacceptable in 2023. We are still tackling gender-based violence, which has been a priority for my government to tackle".

                          - Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4, washed up and recited my prayers. Lekha was up and about by a half past 5. Was ready by 8, when Vincent had come by and we set off, soon after.

Reached the DPD Office, was 5th in the queue and it took 11/2 hrs for Ashokan to sort out my problems with Sparsh. Now, will have to wait five days for the endorsements of my Aadhaar amendments. Lekha's date of birth was provided the proof. Returned by 12 and will after 10 days, have my digital life certificate uploaded.

A quiet evening.

Falsehoods being tossed around.

Five state Assembly elections are to take place over the next three weeks. Political parties are trying all the tricks of the trade to gain an upper hand. Towards this end, a lot many falsehoods are being spread around and those of us who keep our ears on the ground, to the details of news, feel aghast.

Falsehood No.1

Every idiot, now, wants a caste census. The political parties of every hue are demanding one and promises to do it in the event of them coming to power. What a shame? Those who advocate it are the least bothered

about the well being of the nation - what they don't say is that it will take the country back, bringing about mistrust and divisions among the people.

One has still not forgotten what that idiot, VP Singh, had done by trying to force the Mandal Commission upon us. By doing so, he wanted to have an assured vote bank so as to cling on to power and we all know as to what happened to him - his tenure as the PM was short lived. 

Falsehood No.2

Israel has been branded the aggressor in the ongoing fight against the terror outfit, Hamas. This terror outfit converts truth to lies and bandies their lies to truths. The Israelis have brought them out through some deft moves otherwise, the beasts were showing the bombardment of the hospital in Gaza as Israel's mistake when they had done it themselves.

Israel has rightly said that its military offensive will end only after the last Hamas terrorist is brought to book and after all the Israeli prisoners are returned.

Falsehood No.3

The so-called secular(?) political parties of the INDI alliance have been organising street protests, harping on Palestine being attacked by Israel without naming the Hamas. How do these guys get to be taught about this deadly terror network?

The sad part is that the paid media is spreading these falsehoods unashamedly.

My take

I appeal to all well meaning people not to get carried away by these falsehoods.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by 9.

We'd carried out the 'pujayeduppu' by reading the Navagraha sthothram, Ramayanam and the Mahabhagavatham.

Met Dr. Rani Menon who said that my right eye was healing perfectly and has fixed 30 Oct as the date on which my left eye will undergo surgery for cataract. . 

Globe trotting Malayalees with a difference.

Till very recently, working Malayalees used to collect their TA/DA entitlements and put them in the bank to lavish on their children's requirements. However, these days, with the children striving on educational loans from banks seem to not require their parents' financial help to study in countries abroad, of their choice. The consequences had to be reflected in some way or the other!

A large number of Keralites in their 60s, 70s and a few, even over 80s have taken to an itinerant lifestyle, constantly travelling the globe and the country, as if to make up for lost time.

Make no mistake, this new tribe of globe trotting Malayalees are veering away from the well-worn pilgrim paths, associated with senior citizens, say travel operators.

Asha Saraswathy, who retired in 2009 as head of the department of English at Thiruvananthapuram University College has so far covered 60 countries and most Indian states. "You have just one life and you have been placed by some unknown power on the only inhabited place in the solar system, so it becomes your duty to explore each and every place on the planet. You should meet people and learn about different cultures and traditions" says the 70-year-old, whose husband passed away in 2014 and her two daughters have done well with their lives.

It's a post-2021, post-Covid situation!

Courtesy. Adapted from Anu Kuruvilla in the NIE

My take

Let more and more people embark on such journeys, thereby living life to the hilt! Their attitudes will change.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Lekha had gone to the Mammiyoor Siva kshetram.

It was a quiet Mahanavami.

The evening chores. 

Dilbert's lessons.

Dilbert is an American comic strip and his one liners are famous. here are some :-

  1. I say no to alcohol, it just doesn't listen.

  2. Marriage is one of the chief causes of divorce.  

  3. Work is fine if it doesn't take too much of your time.

  4. When everything comes in your way you're in the wrong lane.

  5. The light at the end of the tunnel may be an incoming train....

  6. Born free, taxed to death.

  7. Everyone has a photographic memory, some just don't have film.

  8. Life is unsure; always eat your dessert first.

  9. Smile, it makes people wonder what you are thinking.

10. If you keep your firmly on the ground, you'll have trouble putting on your pants.

11. It's not hard to meet expenses, they are everywhere.

12. I love being a writer....what I can't stand is the paperwork.

13. A printer consists of three main parts : the case, the jammed paper tray and the blinking red light.

14. The guy who invented the first wheel was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three, he was the

      genius.

15. The trouble with being punctual is that no one is here to appreciate it.

16. In a country of free speech, why are there phone bills?

17. If you cannot change your mind, are you sure you have one?

18. Beat the 5 o'clock rush, leave work at noon!

19. If you can't convince them, confuse them.

20. It's not the fall that kills you. It's the sudden stop at the end.

21. I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.

22. Hot glass looks same as cold glass - Cunino's Law of Burnt Fingers.

23. The cigarette does the smoking you are just the sucker.

24. Some day is not a day of the week.

25. Whenever I find the key to success, someone changes the lock.

26. To err is human, to forgive is not a company policy.

27. The road to success....Is always under construction.

28. Alcohol doesn't solve any problem, but if you think again, neither does milk.

29. In order to get a loan, you first need to prove that you don't need it.

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Didn't feel that it was a Sunday because the maid had come for work.

The backlog of work has been sorted out.

What a fall!

I'd begun to like the fact-speaking, comely Mahua Moitra, the TMC MP, for her fiery speeches in Parliament. However, what bothered me was that she was constantly spewing venom at the PM, through her allegations about Adani. I'd noticed one dichotomy, however, in her. During a discussion about the 'poor',  the Vuitton bag beside her seemed to be totally out of place! And now, especially, after coming to know that they were the gifts of her boy friend, she's ugh!

No, I ain't being prude. If political leaders - since they've exalted positions - are finger pointing at others, they need to keep themselves above board. One can't afford to throw caution to the winds and be subjected to pressures from others.

Battle of the exes, pet and house access

Mahua Moitra's case is getting more and more curious. She got into trouble after her ex-partner, Jai Anant Dehadrai alleged she let an industrialist use her parliamentary privilege to go after the Adani group so as to target the PM.

 

* Dehadrai alleged she gave LS portal access to Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of the Hiranandani group, to post parliamentary questions on her behalf against the Adani group.

* Dehadrai gave his complaint to the CBI and a copy to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who forwarded it to the Speaker and sought probe by the ethics panel. 

* Hiranandani's affidavit admits he had access to Moitra's LS username and password, adding he had paid her huge sums to maintain her lifestyle.

* Caught in the crossfire is Henry, their pet Rottweiler. When Dehadrai took their pet away after 

   separation, Moitra filed police complaints to retrieve Henry. Dehadrai later gave away the pet to her.

* Dehadrai now claims Moitra is offering to return Henry to buy peace.

Courtesy. The NIE

My take

What a fall!

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Praveen of BSNL had come by to increase the speed of my net. Now, it has become a pleasure to work on my laptop!

Saw Leela Samson's dance recital at Madras, last evening. 

KIA (Killed in action)

As the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) publishes names of KIA in Hamas assault, IDF losses are clearer.

Something for people in India especially the urban educated and those in power to appreciate and understand.

IDF Signals Intelligence losses in the first 24 hrs was nothing short of catastrophic. Unit 414, The Nesher (Vulture) Battalion, a pivotal piece of the IDF Combat Intelligence Collection Corps, lost 19 personnel KIA and its base infrastructure was heavily damaged during the Hamas assault on Camp Urim.

Gaza Division Signals Battalion Commander was KIA at Camp Re'im, along with the Multi-dimensioned "Ghost'' Unit Commander.

Perhaps even more dramatic were the heavy losses of IDF special forces. All SOF (Special Operations Forces) units which responded to the attacks suffered heavy casualties, both to ambushes prepared by Hamas and also during clearing operations of the Hamas-occupied bases and kibbuzim (Civilians had to be rescued, despite casualties).

Israel's premier SOF unit Sayaret Matkal suffered 11 KIA, which is 5-10% of its total number of operators. Shayetat 13 Naval Special Forces (another tier 1 unit) lost its Unit Commander. The airborne Shaldag Special Operations lost 5 KIA and at least as many heavily injured in multiple engagements.

Other losses. 933rd Nahal Infantry Brigade suffered 23 KIA at Karem Shalom checkpoint, including the Brigade Commander and the Commander of the Brigade Reconnaisance Battalion and his deputy. More or less the entire Nahal Brigade Command Cell suffered very heavy losses.

Overall it is clear why IDF is very, very annoyed and not just because of the civilian casualties. The combat losses it suffered on 07 Oct including from among its most elite units, represent a humiliating defeat for the IDF. Under the pressure of the assault and especially the loss of its HQ at Re'im, IDF Southern Command's Gaza Division collapsed. SOF units were unable to compensate and were hammered badly. SIGINT personnel and infrastructure were destroyed, key unit commanders were killed. It was a mess.

A country only gets to know the role/importance of its Armed Forces when the military fails.

Ordinarily, we just take our safety for granted and wonder - why have Armed Forces? It is such a huge burden on the economy, there's been no war.

The role of Armed Forces is to project National Power and prevent war. Wars happen only when your military is perceived "weak" by your enemies and when your enemies are convinced that there is adequate disparity in military capabilities and there is a fair chance of winning a military engagement.

My take

Peace prevails when your Military is powerful and deters the enemies from trying any adventure. 

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

My laptop gives me enormous problems; sorted it out to a certain extent.

A quiet evening.

Dengue dread.

As India continues fighting against dengue, a survey has found that one in four families has fallen ill in the last three years due to mosquito-borne diseases and depends on mosquito repellants as civic bodies have been failing to conduct fogging.

* Seven of 10 surveyed say municipalities haven't conducted any fogging recently and they rely on 

   repellant sprays, creams and machines.

* 21% people say civil bodies conducted fogging once in the last 45 days.

* Delhi and Bombay are among cities taking anti-dengue measures actively.

* 4% people say fogging was conducted several times in the last 45 days.

 For prevention

* 54% people using mosquito repellant liquids or sprays

* 52% people opting for battery-operated mosquito rackets

* 28% people using anti-mosquito creams

* 26% people burning mosquito coils

* 4% using patches

Countrywide

* Till 17 Oct, India reported 94,198 dengue cases and 91 deaths. Kerala highest - 9,770 cases and 37         deaths

* Indians spend $900 million a year on anti-mosquito products

* 43% of families spend Rs.200 or more per month on mosquito control measures.

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

The maid was at work today. Rejith had come and fixed the dry washed curtains.

A quiet Thursday.

China and Hamas.

The conjectures are based on facts - in a way : a forward logical continuance of disconnected dots.

1. Hamas uses Huawei mobiles. There is a discussion among SIGINT professionals that China helped

    in actively masking the calls that even spoofed Israel's vaunted Unit 8200 and even Unit 81.

2. Hamas uses steel for its rockets from Laiyang Steel Pipe Factory, Shandong, China. Now Chinese               firm

    is saying its pipes are given to a gas company for laying gas pipes - so if it reaches Hamas, it needs to

    contact the gas company. But metallurgical evaluation reveals that these so called "gas pipes" were

    built for rockets/missiles and not for gas pipes.

3. It will mean China would have access to the conversations of Hamas operatives and knew from before

    what would transpire. One can lay the signal intelligence of Hamas ops to China - perhaps even raw

    materials for rockets.

4. Which brings in the next factor - the training and execution. That was done either by Pakistan and/or 

    Iran - this part needs to be found. Even though Washington Post squarely blamed Iran - I am not so 

    sure, it's just Iran.

5. Why China? I think there are many reasons but one that comes out - China wanted to thin out US 

    presence from Ukraine to Israel and deplete its weapons even more. That way China will be freer to 

    act on Taiwan or whatever else it is planning (perhaps together with Pakistan) - equally spectacular 

    attacks on India maybe?

If it is what I think it is, expect WW III sooner than later. No one will blame China now. They will

gather proof and try to save Israel at the expense of Ukraine. But post that.....

Courtesy. WhatsApp

Tailpiece.

Got up at a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

A quiet Tuesday.

History of Palestine.

  1. Before Israel, there was a British mandate, not a Palestinian state.

  2. Before the British Mandate, there was the Ottoman Empire, not a Palestian state.

  3. Before the Ottoman Empire, there was the Islamic state of the Mamluks of Egypt, not a Palestinian

      state.

  4. Before the Islamic state of the Mamluks of Egypt, there was the Ayubid Arab-Kurdish empire, not a

      Palestinian state.

  5. Before the Ayubid Empire, there was the Frankish and Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem, not a

      Palestinian state.

  6. Before the kingdom of Jerusalem, there was the Umayyad and Fatimid empires, not a Palestinian            state.

  7. Before the Umayyad and Fatimid empires, there was the Byzantine empire, not Palestinian state.

  8. Before the Byzantine Empire, there were Sassanids, not a Palestinian state.

  9. Before the Sassanid Empire, there was the Byzantine Empire, not a Palestinian state.

10. Before the Byzantine Empire, there was the Roman Empire, not a Palestinian state.

11. Before the Roman Empire, there was the Hasmonean state, not a Palestinian state.

12. Before the Hasmonean state, there was the Seleucid, not a Palestinian state.

13. Before the Seleucid Empire, there was the empire of Alexander the Great, not a Palestinian state.

14. Before the empire of Alexander the Great, there was the Persian empire, not Palestinian state.

15. Before the Persian Empire, there was the Babylonian Empire, not a Palestinianstate.

16. Before the Babylonian Empire, there were the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, not a Palestinian state.

17. Before the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah, there was the Kingdom of Israel, not a Palestinianstate.

18. Before the Kingdom of Israel, there was the theocracy of the twelve tribes of Israel, not a                        Palestinian state.

19. Before the theocracy of the twelve tribes of Israel, there was an agglomeration of independent                Canaanite city-kingdoms, not a Palestinian state.

20. Actually, in this piece of land there has been everything, except a Palestinian state.

A little more history for those wanting to 'restore Palestine'.

In 132 AD the Emperor Hadrian resolved to stamp the Jews and their religion out of existence. He sold all Jewish prisoners into slavery after the revolt of Bar Kikhba, forbade the teaching of the Torah, renamed the province Syria Palestina and changed Jerusalem's name Aelia Capitolina. He renamed Israel to wipe out the national identity of Israel and the Jews .

So, if you are looking to 'restore Palestine to the Palestinians', you need to give it back to the Jews .

My take

The truth and nothing but the truth!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 9. Spoke to Maman; he has a hairline fracture on one of his lower ribs. Corrective action is on. 

To  Dr (Mrs) Sodhi for Lekha's review. Gives new medicines .

A phase of the electric supply was off. 

 

Excerpts from the Bible.

The Bible Chapter 2, Verses 4 to 7.

4. No one will be left in Gaza. Ashkelon will be deserted. The people of Ashdod will be driven out in half 

    a day and the people of Ekron will be driven from their city.

5. You Philistines are doomed, you people who live along the coast. The Lord has passed sentence on you.

    He will destroy you, and not one of you will be left.

6. Your land by the sea will become open fields with  shepherds' huts and sheep pens.

7. The people of Judah who survive will occupy your land. They will pasture their flocks there and sleep 

    in the houses of Ashkelon. The Lord their God will be with them and make them prosper again.

My take

Prophetic, in the present context in West Asia.

Tailpiece.

Got up a trifle before 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

To the banks to complete pending work.

Pradeep comes by in the evening to get my laptop in order.

Sleeping Beast.

Chronotypes decide the body's natural preference for rising from bed and sleeping hours. Every individual has a different chronotype influenced by genetic make up and circadian rhythm. There are four of them.

1. The Lion

    6 AM                        Wake up

    7 AM to 12 Noon     Time for sleep focus

    12 Noon to 3 PM      Rest and recover

    3 PM to 7 PM           Lighter tasks

    7 PM to 10 PM         Rest, unwind

    10 PM                       Sleep

General temperament. Consistent and disciplined, make for good leaders.

2. The Dolphin

    8 AM                          Wake up

    8 AM to 9 AM            Mundane chores

    9 AM to 12 Noon       Tend to challenging tasks

   12 Noon                       Nap

   1230 PM to 2 PM        Easy tasks

   2 PM to 4 PM              Rest and relax

   4 PM to 7 PM              High Intensity Work

   7 PM to 1130 PM        Easy tasks

   1130 PM to 1230 AM  Practise active relaxation

   1230 AM                      Sleep

General temperament. Sharp minded, known for their sporadic bursts of productivity, easily

                                     distracted due to sleep anxiety. 

3. The Bear

    6 AM                            Wake up

    0630 AM to 0930 AM  Focus on deep work

    0930 AM to 1030 AM  Rest

    1030 AM to12 Noon    Tend to difficult tasks

    12 Noon to 4 PM          Take a nap/get exercise

    4 PM to 7 PM               Light tasks

    7 PM to 10 PM             Unwind

    10 PM                           Sleep

General temperament. Outgoing, enthusiastic, a strong preference for consistent routines.

4. The Wolf

    0930 AM                       Wake up

    1030 AM to 12 Noon    Light tasks

    3 PM to 5 PM                Less intense tasks

    5 PM to 9 PM                Tend to demanding tasks

    9 PM to 12 AM              Unwind, relax

    1230 AM                        Sleep

General temperament. Insightful, non-conformist, risk takers.

My take

Understanding your chronotype can transform productivity, efficiency and well-being.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

The maid had come for work. 

A quiet Sunday.

Who is with whom?

Dateline 14 Oct

In West Asia, it's all about self interest. Gives us an understanding of why International Relations is a popular subject (It doesn't matter that the name ought to be changed to International onflict).

* Are Russians and Ukranians fighting over religion?

   - No, both are Orthodox Christians.

   - The Ukranians are supported by America and the Russians by China...

   - That's right.

   - The Chinese are atheists?

   - Yes.

   - And America?

   - There are some Protestants, Catholics, Mormons and atheists in America....

   - And Israel?

   - What are they?

   - They are of the Jewish faith.

   - And the Palestinians?

   - Palestinians are Muslims. Sunnis.

   - Who supports the Palestinians?

   - Iran.

   - Are Iranians Muslims too?

   - They are but Shiite Muslims. Who normally don't agree with the Sunnis but if they have to choose 

     between them and the Jews, then they are with the Sunnis.

   - Yup.

   - And the Albanians?

   - Albanians are for Jews.

   - But they are Muslims?

   - They are but they are with America and America is with Israel.

   - Okay. Then the Serbs from Bosnia are certainly against Israel.

   - Nope, they are for Israel.

   - Okay, and if Muslims from Albania are for Israel, then Muslims from Bosnia are also for Israel.

   - No, they are for Palestine.

   - Okay....And the Croats from Bosnia, they are in the Federation with the Muslims, so they are also

     for Palestine?

   - No, Croats from Bosnia support Israel...

   - And Serbs from Serbia are surely for Palestine, which did not recognize Kosovo and against Israel,

     which recognized it?

   - Nope, Serbs from Serbia are also for Israel.

   - And the Ukranians?

   - For Israel.

   - Then the Serbs are surely for Ukraine when they are also for Israel.

   - No, most Serbs support Russia.

   - Aw shucks, I felt like hitting something....

   - Try it.

   - And the Croats?

   - For Israel.

   - Then the Croats are also for Russia?

   - No, they support Ukraine.

   - Russians support Israel, right?

   - No, the Russians are for Palestine because Iran is with them and Iran is Russia's ally.

   - Okay, then surely Muslims from Bosnia are for Russia because Iranian Muslims are with Russia,

      which is for Palestine and Ukraine is for Israel. Right?

   - No, Muslims from Bosnia are for Ukraine and against Russia because Serbs from Bosnia are for

     for Russia.

   - Now nothing is clear to me anymore.....And the Turks?

   - What Turks?

   - Turks are Muslims, so they are for the Palestinians?

   - Well, not really, the Palestinians drove the Turks out of Palestine together with the British, so they

     don't like each other too much.

   - Are the Palestinians enemies of the Turks?

   - No, the enemies of the Turks are the Kurds.

   - What are the Kurds doing now?

   - Kurds are atheists.

   - Yes, the Kurds are surely with the Chinese because they are also atheists.

   - No, the Kurds are with the Americans.

   - Then the Turks are against the Americans if the Americans are with the Kurds?

   - Ultimately, the Turks are in the NATO, American allies.

   - What the hell, what about those Armenians?

   - What about them?

   - What are they?

   - They are Christians.

   - Are they with the Russians?

   - No, with the Americans.

   - But those Azerbaijanis expelled them them from Nagorno-Karabakh?

   - They did.

   - Are those Azerbaijanis for Muslims from Palestine?

   - No, they are for Israel.

   - Then surely they are also against Iran because Iran is for Palestine?

   - Azerbaijan is with Iran.

   - And these Syrians are Muslims?

   - They are.

   - Then they are with the Turks?

   - No, Turks and Syrians bomb each other all the time.

   - The Turks are against the Kurds, so surely the Syrians are with the Kurds?

   - No, the Kurds and the Syrians also bomb each other.

   - Well, then Syrians must support Israel?

   - No way, Syria is with Palestine 100%.

   - Crazy. And the Montenegrins?

   - What about them?

   - Who are the Montenegrins with?

   - Before they fought against Japan when there was the Russo-Japanese war in 1905 and now they

     are allied with it through America and NATO.

My take

Isn't it mind-boggling and crazy? This is the true story on the ground!

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9 but not before Sajish had given me

a haircut.

The PCI guy had come by to carry out the quarterly services. Lekha had gone across to the ration stand to get our monthly dues. 

Selvam came by and pressed the clothes and all of them were stowed back into their places. Johnson dropped by to hand over Lekha's medicine. Damn sweet of him.

The laptop did give me quite a few problems. A massive power failure prevented me from writing this blog. It was heavy rains accompanied by thunder and lightning!    

 

 

  

  

Kannur Squad.

Got up on the dot at 6, the chores and was ready by 10. Lekha had gone across to the ration stand but had to return empty handed as the proprietor had taken her daughter to the doctor.

Selvam comes soon after and the clothes that were washed - post our trip to Egypt - were pressed were put into the shelves. He was given lunch by Lekha which was a nice gesture.

After lunch, we went for the matinee show of 'Kannur Squad'. A taut and nicely made movie, where Mammooty has given a stellar performance. Its story is based on a true police case diary and the Kannur Squad was a team formed to round up criminals. How the team accomplishes its aim is the essential gist. Lekha and I liked it tremendously.

On return, we found Kittu and Chakki waiting for us, for their food!

A quiet evening.

Tailpiece.

Meanwhile, history is in the making at the International Vizhinjam Seaport. The first ship, Zhen Hua 15, came to anchor with huge gantry cranes for the seaport - that had left Shanghai on 31 Aug went straight to Mundra Port and returned to Kochi. It was given the customary water salute by the tugs, in attendance.

    

A quiet day.

It was a quiet Thursday to begin with. Aswathy, the maid, had come by earlier than usual to do her work. As part of the unpacking, soiled clothes were sorted - the ones for the washing machine and the ones for dry cleaning. The latter was collected by Rejith.

Earlier, we'd gone across to Dr (Mrs Sodhi) for advice on Lekha's cough and cold. I'd also carried my laptop's charger for replacement as it had gone duff last evening and it was purely my fault!

Towards the afternoon, things were put in order, with the empty luggage carriers back in their normal positions in the loft. Sorted out things that needed my personal indulgences including payment of bills!

Could work on my laptop only after getting the charging cable around a half past 5, in the evening.      

Winding down.

Our flight touched down at Thiruvananthapuram at 0225 hrs. We'd settled down at my friend, Laxman and Sindhu's place. Got up at 5, the chores and was ready well in time.

Kannan reached us by 7 and we set off for Guruvayur soon after, but prior to beginning our journey, I'd gone to Krishnan kovil (the Krishna temple that I used to frequent as a kid, when we stayed at 'Kalpar' on the Easwara Vilasom Road).

Got my work done at both the banks and we reached The Quarterdeck by a half past 6.

Unpacking and opening up of the house done. Slept earlier than the last eight days! 

Tailpiece.

Lekha is in bad shape with a persistent cough. Must meet up with Dr (Mrs Sodhi) tomorrow morning.

    

Back in Thiruvananthapuram.

Dateline 10 Oct

Had got up at 5, in the morning, the chores and was ready on time. Had our breakfast and then, went to Hamed's store to help Lekha buy an item that she'd wanted to buy. But the conversion of currency was not done and we ended up aborting the proposed purchase!

The luggage was put into our transport and we headed for the airport at a half past 10. The things went off smoothly and soon we were off to Doha, from Cairo.

At Doha, the wheelchair handler acted truant and he was put back into the right perspective. The wheelchair handlers are a tough group and you can get technical against such negative toxics.

Return to Cairo.

Dateline 09 Oct

Got up at 5, the chores and was ready well in time. Checked out and had our suitcase out in the lobby.

To the Valley of Kings. The trudge into the tombs of Ramses I and Ramses IV was a good exercise. Lekha was safely placed at an enclosure next to the entry point. Our next destination was the Hatshepsut Temple. The lady, Hatshepsut governed the country for 27 long years, when art and culture got their rightful due.

From the west of the River Nile, we went across to the east of the River Nile. Saw the Karnak temple and rounded off our visit at the Luxor temple. The river used to be at the Karnak and from there, the deity was taken to the Luxor temple by boats and the festivities continued for 11 days, every year.

Collected our suitcase from the boat, off to the airport but not before having dinner at an Indian restaurant which surprised me with no pickles!

At the airport, where things went off smoothly. Our flight was delayed because of VIP movement.

Hit the sack past midnight! At the Hotel Pyramid Park.

At Aswan (3).

Got up at 4, the chores and was out of the boat by 5. Went on a horse-drawn carriage to the Edphu temple, again of the vintage of 265 BC. The gold deities have all been taken away and the temple bears a mute testimony of the vandalism carried out by the marauders!

Our horseman was Mustafa and the horse, Rhambo.

On return, it was leisure time. Caught my 40 winks and got up by a half past 5, when we went for a walk at Luxor.

A quiet evening which had the highlight of Sophie’s belly dancing for us and wasn’t she graceful in her moves?

At Aswan (2).

 Dateline 07 Oct

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 8. Went for a stroll, had ice creams on the river front. Cast off at a half past 3, reached the Kim Ombo temple and tied up alongside. The temple depicted the good and the bad and how the good prevailed upon the evil. 

Mummification of crocodiles was carried out during those times though it used to be a sign of evil.

The temple was of 264 BC vintage.

Tailpiece.

A quiet evening.

Cairo to Aswan.

Got up at 3, the chores, segregated the luggage and our takeaway luggage was restricted to the small suitcase. We were off to the airport by 5.

Our Nile Air flight took off at 0800 hrs and we reached Aswan an hour and a half later. We fetched up at our yacht by 1400 hrs. Shifted into our cabin and had lunch.

A good, afternoon snooze.

The evening was spent in yakkittiyakking.

Tailpiece.

Our cabin number on the 'Royal Ruby' yacht was 319 (My friend Allan Burby's roll number at school!)

At Cairo (3).

Got up at 5, the chores and was ready by 20’ past 7. A light breakfast and we were off to Alexandria. Three hours of travel with a mid-journey halt for using the wash room brought us to our destination.

Was seeing the dark blue Mediterranean Sea for the first time. 

Saw the catacomb of burial heads - used by the Romans and perhaps even the Greeks to bury their dead, the memorial tower followed by a lovely lunch at Fish Market.

Then we’d gone across to the amphitheater that was excavated during the 19th century for another purpose.

On the return leg, we had a cup of coffee at the City Center Mall. Reached our hotel Pyramid’s Park by a half past 8. 

Packing was completed and we hit the sack by 10 PM.

At Cairo (2).

It was a visit to the pyramids that was the major schedule on our day’s program. Got up at 5, the chores and was out of the hotel by a half past 7.          

Reached the spot after a drive for almost two hours. Mohammed, our guide gave us a detailed cover and Lekha and I enjoyed every bit of our time with Honey, the handler and Cappuccino, the horse of the carriage which we'd used to traverse close to the pyramids. While Honey was trying to help the other horse driver with his animal, I handled the rein fairly well. Cappuccino must have realised that I wasn’t to be trifled with and therefore, she did behave.

Both of us had ‘falafel’ for lunch.          

Saw the Cairo museum. Lekha went through the rigmarole as she didn’t want to miss a single sight. 

While returning, she’d a fall. Will know it’s nastiness only by tomorrow morning.

Went for the son-et-lumiare of the pyramids. Had a late night dinner.  

Tailpiece.

Hope Lekha's fall doesn't become a dampener!                               

At Cairo.

Went to the international terminal, at midnight, to board the Qatar Airways Flight 507 bound for Doha. Srinivasan, provided the wheelchair assistance for Lekha. A cheerful fella!

Got off at Doha by a half past 8. The onward flight to Cairo took off at a half past 10.

At the Hotel Pyramids Park by tea time

Dinner at Pyramids Inn. Sayeed is our tour guide.

Tailpiece.

The day went along fine.

Egyptian time is 21/2 hours behind IST.

Limbering up

Dateline 02 Oct.

Got up leisurely. The chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Yedu and Raji had fetched up.

Went to Krishnan kovil in the evening and reminisced the good ‘ole days.

Hit the sack for about an hour before midnight, ready for take off!

At Thiruvananthapuram.

Got up at 4, the chores and kicked off for Thiruvananthapuram by 7. Kannan was with us behind the wheel. 

Thankfully, the weather wasn't bad as predicted by the met department yesterday.

At a half past 5, we arrived at my friend, Suresh Laxman's house, soon after which, I'd despatched Kannan back to Guruvayur.