The latest addition on WhatsApp.

What is this new blue circle that has appeared on What'sApp, Facebook and Instagram? In the past few days, a blue circle has been seen on these platforms but many people are unaware of what it means.

Actually, this blue circle indicates Meta AI, the smart assistant launched by Meta. This AI assistant can be used for free by users in India and it has been available for use since the day before yesterday. Meta AI was launched two months ago but it was only available in a few countries. Now, it has been made available in India as well.

Meta AI is a very advanced AI model that can answer questions, create content and even translate languages. It can also help with tasks like writing emails and creating content. This AI model is based on the LLaMA 3 model which is one of the most advanced language models in the world.

The best part about Meta AI is that it can be used directly from the Facebook and Instagram feeds. For example, if you see a post on Facebook and want to know more about it, you can ask Meta AI directly from the post. Additionally, Meta AI has a feature called Imagine which can create images based on the text you type. This means you can create images in your preferred style and even animate them.

Overall, this blue circle is a big surprise that has taken Facebook and Instagram to a whole new level.

Check out - it's working in India.

Tailpiece.

Got up leisurely, being a Sunday. 

Went to the Foundation on Chambu's scooter. Rajan was waiting there since a half past 1, poor fellow.

To Poojappura at Muthachchan's statue. Conducted the "Amma Malayalam" by Dr Usha Rani. What a great presentation it was!

A quiet evening thereafter.

India is champs!

At the T 20 World Cup. A victory at long last!

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

A quiet day. Lunch at the Rest House cafeteria.

The “Kaviyum Kavithayum” (Poet and the poems)was very nice.

A new piece of information.

Dateline 28 Jun

I never knew that in the early days, black slaves could only play the piano with black keys and not white keys and I didn't know that "Amazing Grace" was composed with black keys....

Inside Carnegie Hall, gospel singer Whitney Phipps delivers perhaps the most moving "Amazing 

Grace" ever recorded.

He said, "Many people don't realise that almost  all black spirituals are written on the black notes of the piano because slaves were not allowed to use the white keys.

Perhaps the most famous of this slave work is by John Newton. Produced and wrote "Amazing Grace".

After sharing the famous history of the song, Mr Phipps delivers an exciting performance making the audience stand up and applaud....!!

Tailpiece.

Got up around 3, the chores and was ready by a half past 8. Off to Thiruvallam, since Poorooruttaathi was only till half past 7 this morning, we did not offer the 'bali tharpanam' as to day is Muthachchan's remembrance day by the Malayalam calendar.

The evening's event on "Senior Citizens : their problems and solutions" by Vijayakumaran Nair was nice with 100% participation from the audience.

 

 

Top of the world.

Such a feelin’s comin’ over me

There is wonder in most everything I see

Not a cloud in the sky,

Got the sun in my eyes 

And I won’t be surprised if it’s a dream

Everything I want the world to be

Is now comin’ true especially for me

And the reason is clear, it’s because you are here

You’re the nearest thing to heaven that I’ve seen.

I’m on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation 

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I’ve found, ever since you’ve

been around

Your love’s put me at the top of the world.

Something in the wind has learnt my name

And it’s telling me that things are not the same

In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze

There’s a pleasant sense of happiness for me.

There’s only one wish on my mind

When the day is through I hope I will find

That tomorrow will be, just the same for you and me

All I need will be mine if you are here,

I’m on the top of the world lookin’ down on creation 

And the only explanation I can find

Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around

Your love’s put me at the top of the world.

My take

Karen Carpenter at her best and an all time favourite!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 3, the chores and was ready by a half past 5. Anto had driven me to the railway station. Lekhs is gonna be there, alone, for a couple of days when Rema, Padmakumar and Mini would join her during the weekend.

Got the passenger train that left Guruvayur by 0640 hrs.  Spent an hour in the a/c comfort room, at Thrissur, before my train, the Jan Shatabdi left for Tvpm by a 13 mts past 8.

Reached the Foundation by 2. Had lunch given by Lekha soon after and at 4, I’d gone across to Poojappura for the evening’s function at Muthachhan’s feet. Today, it was the Narayaneeyam paaraayanam by Indirakkutty's Vanamali group. It was nice!

An early evening at Maman's place and it was yakkitiyak!

Leave small fights for small fighters.

Of all the wise quips and proverbs that circulate, this little piece is one of the favourites. The author is not known but the content is reproduced by most motivational speakers. If you want to rise above the scraggle and the scrum of this crazy life, to the dizzy heights of happiness and success, you must learn to choose your battles. Here we go :-

I once asked a very successful person to share her secret with me. She smiled and said, 

"I started succeeding when I started leaving small fights for 

small fighters.

I stopped fighting those who gossiped about me.

I stopped fighting for a cheating partner.

I stopped fighting for attention.

I stopped fighting to meet public

expectation of me.

I left such fights for those who

have nothing else to fight and I 

started fighting for my vision, my

dreams, my ideas and my destiny.

The day I gave up on small fights

was the day I started becoming 

successful.....some fights are not

worth your time. Choose what

you fight for, wisely".

My take

Think big; never think small.

Courtesy. What'sApp

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 3, the chores and we kicked off for Mallan's Dental clinic at a quarter to 6. Had breakfast of idlis, chutney and sambar at the Aryaas, short of Edappalli, at about a half past 7.

Reached the clinic 5' after a half past 9. The doc had taken some time for telling Lekha as to what he was gonna do and to make small talk with us. The whole procedure took about a half an hour.

We returned to Guruvayur soon after and had lunch at the Gokula Nandana off Angamali, around 1.

Reached The Quarterdeck by a half past 3.

A quiet evening thereafter, trying to tie up all the loose ends!

Unless you've been a soldier.

Unless you've been a soldier,

You just won't understand

The things that we have seen

and done,

In the service of our land.

We were trained to live in

combat,

And to deal with awful sights,

That shouldn't be seen by

anyone

And keep you awake at nights.

We don't discuss the wounds we

have,

To the body or the mind

We just put our hurts behind us,

And turn our memories blind.

We are proud we served our

country,

But remember those we lost.

For the freedom that you have

today,

They paid the awful cost.

Then the second one

I have been a soldier

I have lived through wars and

crimes.

I have served in many countries,

And in many different climes.

I have laughed with other

soldiers,

And maybe wept sometimes.

I can tell you lots of stories,

By word of mouth or mimes.

But I prefer to tell my tales,

As simple little rhymes.

For the years I was a soldier,

Were the very best of times.

Tailpiece.

After a restful night at Rema's house, had got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter past 9. Drove through the rain with Padmakumar showing us the way out of the labyrinthine byroads.

Dropped Rema at Shenoy Care for her review and then went off to Satish Bhat. Returned to Shenoy Care by a half past 12. Cast off from there at a half past 2.

Reached Guruvayur by 6, after buying fruits. Unpacked and settled down at our usual time.

Tomorrow is a long day! 

Collective noun for group of doctors….

* a mop of surgeons

* a spasm of anaesthesiologists

* a clot of cardiologists

* an orbit of ophthalmologists

* a joint of orthopaedicians

* a flap of plastic surgeons

* a gut of gastroenterologists

* a culture of microbiologists

* a synapse of neurologists

* a rouleau of haematologists

* a hound of paediatricians

* a rash of dermatologists

* a consolidation of of pulmonologists 

* a stream of urologists

* a pile of proctologists 

* a mass of oncologists

* a block of pathologists

* a brace of dentists

* a cohort of epidemiologists

* a beam of radiologists

* a period of gynaecologists

* a conception of obstetricians 

* a voice of laryngologists

* a parliament of physicians 

* a parody of psychiatrists 

* a dose of pharmacologists 

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4, the chores and was ready by a half past 6. Sanju had taken me to the DDRC laboratory at Randalummoodu for drawing my blood at fasting. Returned home, had breakfast of puttu, loaded the Chevy and once Padmakumar and Rema had come by, we kicked off on our journey.

The blood for post prandial reading was drawn at a half past 8, before that I’d visited the Nagaraja kshetram for a small prayer. And we, finally, kicked off around a quarter past 9.

Topped up the Chevy with fuel and checked tyre pressure at our regular pump at Kottarakkara. Encountered rain at Changanasserry, Kottayam and Ernakulam. Reached Rema’s place at Thrippunithura around a half past 1.

A quiet day, thereafter. 

Reading Month (Day 5).

It was a nice program this evening, around a half past 4, at the Sanmaarga Sandaayini Library at Nadutheri, my village in Kollam district. There were three events that were clubbed as per the notice :-

       * Unveiling of PN Panicker’s photograph

       * Presenting mementos to outstanding students 

          who’d performed well in +1, +2 exams

       *  Honouring KG Shaji, the ward member in

           contributing to the upliftment of the library 

Since Shaji’s younger brother had passed away, last night, the third event was struck off for a later day.

I’d unveiled Muthachhan’s photograph to a lot of enthusiastic applause from the audience. Went briefly through the Library and Literacy Movements, that the great man had pioneered. His slogan, “Read and grow, Think and attain wisdom” continues to inspire the people.

Had also touched upon the events leading to the setting up of the “Sanmaarga Sandaayini Library. NK Panicker (my paternal grandfather) getting to know PN Panicker and finally, got his eldest son, KK Nair to marry Chandramathykutty Amma, the eldest daughter of the latter. The couple eventually got married on 16 Jan ‘54, at Guruvayur, blessed by both the families.

Exhorted the award winners to do well through hard work. Rajashree, my niece, was one of the students who were felicitated.

Tailpiece.

We had gone to the Kottarakkara Maha Ganapathi kshetram where Lekha had unknowingly dropped my wallet. On coming to know of the loss, we’d lodged a complaint with the temple authorities - the wallet had my credit card, ATM card and Rs.1,500/-

Lekha’s sister called up her friends at the temple and using the cctv, retrieved the wallet minus the money. Thank god for minor mercies!

Success feels empty at times!

Success is not just about achieving material goals but also inner fulfilment. 

Most of us see success as creating wealth, power and status. We become so focused on the material aspects of life, that, we often ignore our spiritual needs. So, even when we accomplish our goals, we never feel satisfied.

To live a fulfilled life, you need to satisfy your soul. Connect with yourself, be true, help others, do good deeds and be a good human.

You will find pleasure even in little achievements.

Tailpiece.

A quiet Saturday!

Reading Month (Day 3).

Had got around a 10’ to 6, the chores and got ready leisurely. The early morning cuppa in the dining hall, which has one of its doors opening into the compound, is heavenly stuff. 

There are very many fond memories of serious conversations as well as light hearted banter when all eight of us - dad and mom, me and Lekha, Padmakumar and Rema, Sanil and Mini conglomerated on the table. Achu-Karthika and Mithun-Ammu are the additions after dad and mom have passed into the mist of time - sat for a meal.

Drove to Thalavoor UPS to be on time for the program at a half past 10. The smiling countenance of Mr S Sarma, the Headmaster of the institution received me. Shaji, Thalavoor’s ward member, Madavoor Krishnankutty, a man of letters and Atul, a member of the teaching staff shared space with me on the dais.

It was great to interact with the students, teachers and the parents and as usual, after delivering my speech I’d asked the audience to ask me questions. And the children asked quite a few meaningful ones. Giving two of them :-

(a) Can you describe the most memorable moment with                your grandfather. 

(b) How did you begin to enjoy reading?

We’d lunch together which was part of the noon meal for the children and staff. It was simple and nice with rice, vegetable curry and nutrella nuggets.

As I was moving past, kids came to shake hands with me adding, “You must come again, sir”.

Tailpiece.

As there was a break in the rain, put all the wet clothes on the clothesline outside.

There was a steady stream of visitors all through the evening with my cousin, Soman giving me ripe bananas from his compound when he came by. Damn sweet of him!

Reading month (Day 2).

Had got up around 3, washed up and recited a part of my prayers. Turned off to sleep yet again and got up by a quarter past 6. The chores and was ready by a quarter past 8.

There was massive traffic on almost all the roads that we’d traversed and consequently reached the Foundation by a half past 10. Got on with the work at hand. Meanwhile, Lekha had left Ayoor and reached Raj Nivas to keep her personal effects. Her lunch was with her sister, Letha.

Had lunch at the Rest House canteen and took Chambu, Hussein along with me. Maman and I took an unsuccessful trip to meet PJ Kurien because the road to Raj Bhavan was closed because of an agitation.

Went for the “sarga saayaahnam”(the evening cultural festival) and initiated it. Today’s was “the evening with the poets”. Parvathy antharjanam started it all with a lovely Christian song. She has acted in stage shows and movies with even Sathyan, Prem Nazir, Jayan etc.

It was a real treat!

Rajan dropped me at the bus stand. The super fast, a/c bus fetched me up at Kottarakkara by a half past 8. Reached Raj Nivas by a 5’ to 9.

Letha had made our dinner!

The Reading Day 2024.

Had got up around 4, recited my prayers and turned off to sleep yet again. Got up at a half past 5, went about my chores and was ready by a quarter to 8.

We’re off to Poojappura soon after and was at Muthachhan’s statue by 8. The floral offerings were led by Pannian Raveendran with the family joining in.

Work at the Foundation regarding the inaugural program today, calls from our district co-ordinators reporting the activities in their respective areas of influence.

We left for the St Joseph’s School by a quarter past 2. Started about 15’ late. The chief minister came soon after but the education minister and the finance minister did not fetch up.

The program went off well. Padmakumar, Rema, Mini and Lekha came together and joined us for lunch at the Foundation, left soon after.

 

We were beside Muthachchan’s statue by a quarter past 4 and kicked off the month-long “sarga saayaahnam” with Professor Udayakala, HoD Malayalam of the All Saints College, delivering an informative and interesting lecture on “Women Empowerment and literature”. A thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Then Maman and I’d gone across to the Peyad Grandhasala for an interaction with them. It was a nice exchange of ideas.

Went across to the myG showroom, at Panavila junction, to pick up a charger for my cellphone. My original charger was in Lekha’s handbag which I’d h/o at the morning’s inaugural.

A comparatively early evening!

Getting ready.

A day prior to the great day. It was a day for quiet slogging in preparation for the Vaayana Dinam tomorrow. Went through the check off lists, many times over, to ensure that everything went off smoothly tomorrow.

Motivated our team to put in their best efforts.

Muthachhan’s statue has been spruced up and the illumination lights were switched on after sunset.

Tomorrow is an early day and a long one at that!

At Thiruvananthapuram.

Our day started at 4 AM, went through our chores and were ready by a quarter to 7. It was a warm sunny morning and we took off at about a quarter to 7. Did my bank work enroute and set off on our long drive. The potholes on the road to Thrissur were avoided to a great extent but there were a few into which I'd driven the Chevy thanks to my driving prowess! 

We'd our breakfast around a quarter past 8 at the Saravana Bhavan near the Paliyekkara toll. The steaming idlis, sambar and the accompanying chutneys made the fair interesting!

Picked up Rema and Padmakumar from near their house at Thrippunithura and the journey became more talkative and interesting. Since it was Eid Al Adha, it was a holiday for the Malayalees and the roads were comparatively empty.

Had lunch at the Padma Cafe in Adoor, dropped Padmakumar and Rema at Vetteelazhikom and reached Raj Nivas by a half past 2. After shifting our luggage into the house and parking Crazy in the courtyard, we set off on Kunjumon's autorickshaw to our respective destinations. I got off at the Kottarakkara KSRTC bus stand and Lekha had, then, proceeded to Anjanam where Mini and Mithun were available.

Visited my parents' gravesite and spoke to them about our program.

I got a low floor a/c bus about an hour later to Thiruvananthapuram but not before I'd a snack and tea from one of the stalls at the Bus stand. Reached Tvpm by a half past 6 and Rakesh, Gopu had picked me up from there.

Got a debrief of the present situation from Maman, Gopu and Chambu. We, then, secured, from the Foundation and reached Ammayi by about a half past 9.

Interesting discussions!

Tailpiece.

A long and interesting day.   

Do you know.....

  1. A pig's orgasm lasts 30 mts (OMG!).

  2. A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death (Creepy...I ain't still over

      the pig).

  3. The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body...the female initiates

      sex by ripping the male's head off....(Honey, I'm home....What the.....?).

  4. The flea can jump 350 times its body length....It's like a human being jumping the length of a                  football field).

  5. The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds....(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)

  6. Some lions mate over 50 times a day.

  7. Butterflies taste with their feet (Something that I always wanted to know)

  8. Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.

  9. A cat's urine glows in black light.

10. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

11. Starfish have no brains.

12. Polar bears are left-handed....(Talk about a southpaw)

13. Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure...(What about the pig?)

Courtesy. What'sApp

My take

Crazy facts!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 4 and sleep took time to return. Finally got up at a 10' to 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Finished up a few pending work.

Shut down The Quarterdeck systematically after teatime.

Vipin, LG serviceman, came by and completed his job. damn sweet of him to work on a Sunday.

  

The Power of Focus.

10 lessons from the book "The Power of Focus" by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen.

  1. Focus on your goals. What do you want to achieve in life? Once you know what you want, you can 

      start to focus your energy on achieving it.

  2. Eliminate distractions. This means turning off your phone, closing your email and finding a quiet

      place to work. It also means removing any other distractions from your environment, such as clutter

      or noise.

  3. Set priorities. Not all tasks are created equal. Some tasks are more important and urgent than                  others. It is important to set priorities so that you are working on the most important tasks first.

  4. Break down large tasks into smaller ones. Large tasks can be daunting and overwhelming. 

      Breaking them down into smaller, more manageable tasks make them seem less daunting and more        achievable.

  5. Take breaks. It is important to take breaks throughout the day to avoid burnout. Get up and move 

      around or take a few minutes to relax and clear your head.

  6. Delegate tasks. If you have the ability to delegate tasks, do it! This will free up your time so that            you focus on the most important tasks. 

  7. Say no. It is okay to say no to requests, especially if you are already feeling overwhelmed. Learning

      to say no will help you to protect your time and focus on your priorities.

  8. Reward yourself. When you achieve a goal, reward yourself! This will help you to stay motivated

      and focused on your next goal.

  9. Visualise your success. Take some time each day to visualise yourself achieving your goals. This 

      will help you to stay focused and motivated.

10. Never give up. There will be times when you feel like giving up. But it is important to persevere.

      Keep your focus on your goals and never give up on your dreams.

My take

Stay focused on the task at hand and achieve your dreams.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a 10' to 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

The maid was at work.

Had taken our Chevy to the Rajah Petrol pump for topping up with fuel and checking tyre pressure. On my return, Lekha had gone across to the Rani Menon clinic to collect our spectacles and to collect our dues from the ration stand.

A quiet evening.

  

The 29th Reading Day/Reading Month Celebrations.

Here's an important announcement from the desk of the PN Panicker Foundation.

The 29th National Reading Day/Reading Month celebrations will kickstart on 19 Jun, commemorating PN Panicker's 29th Remembrance day across 28 states, 9 Union Territories and in countries abroad where the CBSE Schools exist. 

The month-long set of activities will be inaugurated by the chief minister at St Joseph's School, Thiruvananthapuram at 1030 hrs and the Education Minister will preside over the function.

It's going to be an action-packed month with a variety of programs all through.

Tailpiece.

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

The new dishwasher was delivered just before we'd kicked off for the Rani Menon Eye Hospital for Lekha's new tests by the retina specialist. 

Returned by a half past 6 this evening. 

Puns and more puns.

  1. I once dated a girl who broke up with me because I only have 9 toes. Yes, she was lack-toes intolerant.

  2. I've started telling everyone about the benefits of eating dried grapes. It's all about raisin awareness.

  3. I've started investing in stocks : beef, vegetable and chicken. One day I hope to be a bouillianaire.

  4. If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughing stock. Now that's humerus.

  5. I accidentally rubbed ketchup in my eyes. Now I have Heinzsight.

  6. Did you know muffins spelt backwards are what you do to them when you take them out of the              oven?

  7. Scientifically, a raven has 17 primary wing feathers. The big ones at the end of the wing are called

      pinion feathers. A crow has 16.. So, the difference between a raven and a crow is only a matter of

      pinion.

  8. I was walking in the jungle and saw a lizard on his hind legs telling jokes. I turned to a local tribal 

      leader and said, "That lizard is really funny!" The leader replied, "That's not a lizard. He's a standup

      chameleon".

  9. I tried to come up with a carpentry pun that woodwork. I thought I nailed it but nobody saw it.

10. Just spoke with Bill Withers and told him, "Ain't no Sunshine", is bad grammar. He said, "I know, I 

      know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know".

11. Singing in the shower is fine until you get soap in your mouth. Then it's a soap opera.

12. The Black-Eyed Peas can sing us a song but the chick peas can only hummus one.

13. Then there was the time Fruit of the Loom took Hanes to court....it was brief case.

14. How much does a chimney cost? Nothing, it's on the house.

15. I was struggling to understand how lightning works and then it struck me.

16. I went to the paint store to get thinner. It didn't work.

Tailpiece.

Reached last night at a half past 12. The auto rickshaw guy fleeced me of Rs.200/-

Got up at 10' to 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Lekha and I went to Rani Menon's hospital at Ayyanthole for her annual field trials to check as to whether her peripheral vision has reduced due to the regular intake of HCQS 300 mg. She has told Lekha to meet her after getting checked by a retina specialist, tomorrow.

Returned by a half past 6. Vincent was our sa'arthi, after a long time!

 

To Kollam and back.

Today's Lekha's birthday by the Malayalam calendar.

The day began at 4, rang up the autorickshaw boy, Sukesan but to no avail. Recited my prayers and woke up Lekha at a half past 4. The chores and was ready by a quarter past 5, Sukesan fetched up and off we went to the railway station.

The train left Guruvayur on time and maintained its timing throughout, so much so that I reached Kollam by a half past 11. To my utter horror, I found that the old air-conditioned waiting room had been ripped apart and an ordinary waiting room now awaits us. And our government was to encourage tourism!

Gopu had come by about 2, he went to the bank to verify and returned finally by a quarter past 3. We walked toward the Savithri Hall of the Kollam Public Library. The meeting was steered with 12 members and the core team was formed. The landmarks of the Vaayana Maasaacharanam were spelt out for the team.

Left for the railway station by 6. The train was on time. The boredom of journey was totally broken when I’d befriended Annaporani, the Director Finance of the Kochi Metro. She was chirpy and good company..

By midnight the Thiruvananthapuram - Guruvayur Intercity was on its last lap from Thrissur to Guruvayur.

'Do the positives in negatives' truly count?

A young woman was sitting at her dining table, worried about taxes to be paid, housework to be done, to get well well again and to top it all, her family was coming over for Thanksgiving the next day. She was not feeling very thankful at that time.

As she turned her gaze sideways, she noticed her young daughter scribbling furiously into her notebook. "My teacher asked us to write a paragraph on negative thanksgiving for homework today", said the daughter.

"She asked us to write down the things that makes us feel not so good in the beginning but turn out to be good after all".

With curiosity, the mother peeked into the book. This is what her daughter wrote :

"I'm thankful for Final Exams because that means school is almost over.

I'm thankful for bad-tasting medicine because it helps me feel better.

I'm thankful for waking up to alarm clocks because it means I'm still alive".

It then dawned on the mother that she had a lot of things to be thankful for!

She thought again...

This is what she wrote in her mind.

* She had to pay taxes but that meant she was fortunate to be employed.

* She had housework to do but that meant she had her own home to live in.

* She had to cook for her family for Thanksgiving but that meant she had a family with whom she could celebrate.

Moral.

We generally complain about the negative things in life but we fail to look at the positive side of it. What is the positive in your negatives?

Look at the better part of your life today and make every day ahead a great day!

Tailpiece.

Got up at a 20' to 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

The maid was at work.

After lunch, Lekha took Aswathy to the ophthalmologist nearby to get her eyes tested and prescribe glasses. She took up an appointment with Rani Menon, for Thursday afternoon, to have the 'field trials' done on her eyes. She'd also placed an order for another pair of spectacles for me since I'd misplaced the earlier one during the last trip.

Subsequently, she'd made a quick visit to Harisree Department Store for sundries.  

Operation Summer Seeds.

One of the most complicated hostage rescue missions in history. Four hostages released on 08 Jun 2024.

The operation to rescue the hostages from Nusayrat was named "Summer Seeds" and is defined by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) as one of the most complex ever for hostage rescue.

The hostages were held in a heavily civilian populated area, above ground, in buildings of 3-4 storeys.

The forces stormed the two separate targets where the hostages were held, with Noa held on the first floor and Andrey, Shlomi and Almog on the third floor of another building, hundreds of meters apart.

Hamas moved the four hostages from apartment to apartment and the concern was that if the forces only stormed one building, the terrorists would escape with the hostages in the second building.

The Air Force gathered intelligence from the air in the last few days and the IDF and Shin Bet created conditions to reach the targets without the terrorists shooting the hostages first which was key to the operation's success.

The models built by Yamam (Israel's counter-terrorism unit) reminded senior military officials of the models established for the Entebbe operation with buildings, streets and small areas for practice.

The main problem was in the apartment where Andrey, Almog and Shlomi were held and where Yamam fighter Arnon Zamora was killed.

The rescue took place under heavy fire and during the disengagement, dozens of terrorists with RPGs and machine guns ran through the alleys towards the targets.

As a result, uninvolved Gazan civilians were also killed in the dense fire exchange. The military said, "The difference between success and failure in such an operation is a hair's breadth and we relied on exceptional technology from the Intelligence and Shin Bet. Without ground activity and maneuvering in the Gazan area, it would not have been possible to succeed in such operations".

The IDF also noted that the rescue was made possible by Commander Zamora's heroism. "Shin Bet and Intelligence Directorate fighters entered the lion's den in the refugee camp and dismantled  houses in areas where we hadn't maneuvered", they said. "This is bravery on the level of Judah Maccabee. The operation was planned for weeks with drills, rescue plans and fires executed, alongside scenarios of cases and responses".

The forces simultaneously broke into the two houses with special weapons developed for the operation. Immediately after extracting the hostages, the forces began to withdraw while fighting dozens of terrorists but a vehicle with the three hostages got stuck and came under heavy fire. Division 98 forces jumped in to assist in the vehicle rescue battle and rescue helicopters entered deep into the strip in daylight.

Three brigades participated in the rescue battle during which Zamora was also evacuated to the hospital : Brigade 7, Paratroopers and Kfir with Flotilla 13, along with other special forces. "The fire plan that was executed was focused but extremely powerful", the IDF added. "The cooperation with Shin Bet and Yamam rose to several levels into a single operating system, under the direction of the Shin Bet chief and the Chief of Staff. Four keys to the operation : description, surprise, determination and power".

Only a handful of commanders were exposed to the operation at various levels. These forces were positioned at the correct launch points without revealing the secret.

During the operation, soldiers also lightly injured, mainly from shrapnel.

It was a textbook enactment of Entebbe ops by IDF at the recent Hostage Rescue Ops in Gaza.

Tailpiece.

Got up at a quarter past 5, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

Washing machinex of bed linen.

Commenced writing about myself toward Vasan's efforts.

Adieu Ramoji Rao!

Veteran media personality and Ramoji group chairman, Ramoji Rao passed into the mist of time, at a 50' past 4 yesterday morning. He was 88. He was admitted to a hospital following respiratory ailments.

He had created a sensation in the media industry, in undivided Andhra Pradesh, with the Eenadu newspaper and ETV group of channels as he set new standards in innovation and excellence in the media and entertainment world.

The Ramoji Rao Film City in Hyderabad bears testimony to his vision and farsightedness.

Adieu Ramoji Rao! You shall be remembered, always, for your tremendous contributions! My heartfelt condolences to the family.

Tailpiece.

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

A quiet Sunday.

Monish, the mechanic, brought in our Chevy after repairs by evening. 

History in the making.

NASA's Sunita Williams and her colleague Butch Wilmore have successfully docked Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) after overcoming new issues that cropped up enroute to the orbiting laboratory.

Williams, 58, flew to space for the third time along with Wilmore, 61, scripting history as the first members aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft to the ISS. The former is the pilot for the flight test while the latter is the commander of the mission.

The spacecraft had taken off on Wednesday and successfully docked at the ISS on Thursday, about 26 hours after launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

On the way to the ISS, the crew completed a series of tests including manually flying Starliner for the first time in space. The two of them are joining seven others currently living on the station.

Courtesy. From Houston in the NIE

Tailpiece.

Got up around a half past 5, the chores and was ready by 10. The maid was at work.

Got my PSA result; nothing to worry about!

A rainy day, all through. 

This is what a teacher should be!

An old man meets a young man 

who asks him :

"Do you remember me?"

And the old man says no.

The young man tells him he was

his student and the teacher asks :

"What do you do, what do you

do in life?"

The young man answers : 

"Well, I became a teacher".

"Ah, how good, like me?" Asks

the old man. 

"Well, yes.

In fact, I became a teacher

because you inspired me to be

like you".

The old man, curious, asks the

young man at what time he 

decided to become a teacher.

And the young man tells him the

following story :

"One day, a friend of mine, also a

student, came in with a nice new

watch and I decided I wanted it.

I stole it, I took it out of his 

pocket.

Shortly after, my friend noticed 

that his watch was missing and 

immediately complained to our

teacher, who was you.

Then you addressed the class

saying, "This student's watch

was stolen during classes today.

Whoever stole it, please return

it".

I didn't give it back because I

didn't want to.

You closed the door of the 

classroom and told us all to

stand up and form a circle.

You were going to search our

pockets one by one until the

watch was found.

However, you told us to close our

eyes because you would only

look for his watch if we all had

our eyes closed.

We did as instructed.

You went from pocket to pocket

and when you went through my 

pocket, you found the watch and

took it. You kept searching

everyone's pockets and when

you were done you said "Open

your eyes. We have the watch".

You didn't tell on me and you

never mentioned the episode.

You never said who stole the 

watch either.

That day you saved my dignity

forever.

It was the most shameful day of 

my life.

But this is also the day I decided

not to become a thief, a bad

person, etc. You never said

anything, nor did you even scold

me or take me aside to give me a

moral lesson.

I received your message clearly.

Thanks to you, I understood

what a real educator needs to 

do.

Do you remember this episode,

professor?

The old professor answered,

"Yes, I remember the situation

with the stolen watch, which I 

was looking for in everyone's

pocket.

I don't remember you, because I

also closed my eyes while looking".

This is the essence of teaching :

"If to correct you must humiliate;

you don't know how to teach".

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by 10. Earlier, the lab team had come by to collect blood samples of mine for the PSA check.

Our maid had taken the day off as there was a death in her family.

To the town at 10, to do the following :-

    * drop the credit card owings' cheque at the drop box of the ICICI bank

    * buy herb (Raamacham) for boiling drinking water

    * buy sundries from Harisree Department Store.

An early lunch at a half past 12, followed by siesta. Went to the Rajah Hospital to get my USG (Abdomen) done, as directed by my doc, Satish Bhat.

Retuned after two hours.

A quiet evening.

 

The value of a man in uniform!

In Sep 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a history teacher at Robinson High School im in Little Rock, USA, did something not to be forgotten.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks in her classroom.

When the kids entered the room in the first period, they discovered that there were no desks.

"Ms Cothren, where are our desks?" the Children asked.

She replied, "You can't have a desk until you tell me how you earn the right to sit at a desk".

They thought, "Well! maybe it's our grades".

"No", she said.

"Maybe it's our behaviour".

She told them, "No, it's not even your behaviour".

And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

Kids called their parents to tell them what was happening and by early afternoon, television news crews had started gathering at the school to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room.

The final period of the day came and the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom.

Martha Cothren said, "Throughout the day, no one has been able to tell me just what he or she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you!"

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it.

Twenty seven US Veterans, all in uniform, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall.

By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, "You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did did it for you. They went halfway around the world, giving up their education and interrupting their careers and families so you could have the freedom you have. They by their sacrifice and efforts, placed the desks here for you. 

Now, it is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. So that you have the capability to sit in them.

They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it!"

By the way, this is a true story. This teacher was awarded Veterans of Foreign Wars Teacher of The Year for State of Arkansas in 2006.

She's the daughter of a World War II POW.

Don't forget that the freedom we have in this great country was earned by our veterans!

Let us always remember the men and women of our military and the rights they have won for us.

Tailpiece.

Got up around a half past 5, the chores and was ready by 10.

Power interruption for the entire day - from a half past 8 to to a half past 5 - because of HT line maintenance.

The evening chores.

Protesting tractors on EU streets.

The far-right Flemish Interest party had set up the demonstration in the picture-pretty rolling fields south of Brussels, ahead of the four-day European Union election starting Thursday.

The goal was clear : Decrying how farmers would lose fertile land to what they see as overbearing environmentalists trying to turn it into a chain of woods, killing off a traditional way of life. It was also another show of how agriculture has been instrumentalised by the populist and hard right groups throughout the 27-nation bloc.

In a final push on Tuesday, militant agricultural groups from more than a half dozen nations were converging on Brussels in a show of force that they hoped would sweep the progressive Green Deal climate pact off the table and give farmers the leeway they had for so long in deciding how how to fill the land. 

There too, the impact of the far right was clear; with representatives from several EU nations attending the protest that drew hundreds of tractors. At last week's small protest south of the capital, a farmer growled, "As a farmer, you have just been turned into a number".

Of the 60 hectares (148 acres) he used to farm for wheat, corn and potatoes, he said he was forced to sell a quarter of it - including his farmhouse - to help make a string of distinct woods around Brussels to become one continuous nature zone to improve biodiversity and fight pollution.

Similar stories of discontent, centering on limited use of manure and pesticides to forcing parts of farmland to be kept for pristine nature zones for the benefit of birds and bees - and eventually for the population at large - have driven this influential electoral base of Christian Democrats further to the fringes of the right.

Over the past year, scientific arguments have taken a second seat to the rumble of the street.

Courtesy. Beersel, Belgium in the NIE

My take

It's a pre-poll drama ahead of the four-day European Union elections starting Thursday. 

Tailpiece.

Got up at a half past 5, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Carried out the Wednesday 'aarathi' of the house and braced up for the power interruption for the day!

The maid was at work.

The NDA has met and the preliminaries have been drawn. The leaders will meet the President of India, on Friday, regarding the swearing in of the new government.

Modi 3.0

All that you hear on the TV about the loss of face of the BJP is for various reasons like caste, SC, ST etc is just loose talk.

If Modi has scraped through it is because of his support from a huge middle class in all states where the party candidates have won.

Money pumped in from the US pharma industry, military hardware manufacturers, NGOs like Ford Foundation and drug cartels like Soros (because Rs.86/- to every dollar is peanuts) has managed to buy off the lower class, a fortnight before the ballot @ Rs.15,000/- per family or maybe more.

A 'ganna juice' vendor has inadvertently disclosed this. Modi should have taken Rs.500/- currency notes out of circulation in Dec last year and put an additional lakh sleuths in the RBI to trace source of foreign transfers into the country with strict laws  for tracing FE.

This apart from plenty of money from the CIA operatives clandestinely poured into the hands of the lower class electorate @ almost $200 per family.

Print and visual media payout is separate.

Mind boggling figures can be worked out 40 crore families adding half of that to media houses.

That's the kind of desperation the West was in to break Bharat into subservience. These 40 crores have the potential to be converted to any religion and become slaves for life.

Better reading of economy and ballot required than mere idealistic governance....in the next five years.

And an epilogue to this :-

When dad sets a target for the child to get 99% and the child scores 90%....this is a similar situation. 

The third term of any government has to fight strong anti incumbency. The public is the ultimate and they have given their verdict.

Many foreign governments were not keen that Modi came back to power with a strong mandate. They must have played their games too. But it is a reality in elections anywhere in the world. 

So, now we may have an NDA government with a sobered down BJP.

Courtesy. What'sApp

My take

The doubts about the ECI (Election Commission of India) and the EVMs have curiously vanished!

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

Got Gireesh to recharge the TATAPLAY accounts in the morning itself.

Was happy that Suresh Gopi has won here! And also happy to note that Modi 3.0 is here!

Couldn't watch Mammootty's ''Turbo" as planned. Sob, sob! 

All about politics and politicians.

Tomorrow is the day of the election results of the General Elections 2024 in India. As we wait with bated breath for the results, lets try to find out as to what politics and politicians are all about! 

"Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other".

- Oscar Ameringer, "the Mark Twain of American socialism". 

"I offered my opponents a deal: if they stop telling lies about me, I will stop telling the truth about them".

- Adlai Stevenson, campaign speech, 1952.

"A politician is a fellow who will lay down your life for his country".

- Texas Guinan, 19th century American businessman.

"I have come to the conclusion that politics is too serious a matter to be left to the politicians".

- Charles de Gaulle, French General and politician.

"Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks".

- Doug Larson (English middle-distance runner who won gold in 1924 Paris Olympics).

Tomorrow is the election result day of General Elections 2024 in India. As we wait, let's go through the definitions of politics and politicians.

"We hang petty thieves and appoint the bigger thieves to public office".

-Aesop, Greek slave and fable writer.

"Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber".

- Plato, ancient Greek philosopher.

"Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river".

- Nikita Krushchev, Soviet Russian politician.

"When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become president; I'm beginning to believe it".

- 'Clarence Darrow for the Defence' by Irving Stone.

"Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more    tunnels".

- John Quinton, American actor/writer.

What happens if a politician drowns in a river?

That is pollution......

What happens if all of them drown?

Now that is a solution.....! 

Tailpiece.

Got up rather groggily, the chores and was ready by a half past 9.

A day of frequent power interruptions!

Lekha had gone to town to do sundry purchases.

International Plakat Miru Competition.

Dateline 02 Jun

A drawing by Anja Rozen, a 13 year old primary school student in Slovenia was chosen from among 600,000 children around the world to create a piece of art to show what peace looks like. She's the winner of the International Plakat Miru competition.

"My drawing represents the land that binds us and unites us. Humans are woven together. If someone gives up, others fall. We are all connected to our planet and to each other but unfortunately we are little aware of it. We are woven together. Other people weave alongside me, my own story; and I weave theirs", said the young designer.

Courtesy. Fatima Anfig

Tailpiece.

Got up at my usual time, the chores and was ready, leisurely by 8. A quick breakfast and we were off to the Foundation where Gopu was also vectored in.

We talked about changing the Foundation's organisational structure especially with respect to Kollam district. Have told Gopu to scout; will talk to Padmakumar, Rema.

Clambered on to the 1 PM low-floor bus headed for Kozhikode and fetched up at Kunnamkulam by a quarter past 11. 

Consequently, a late night!

 

At Thiruvananthapuram!

Our day started at 5 AM, this morning. Went over the chores and was ready well in time. Sukesan was at the gate, on the dot at 7 and we went across to the KSRTC bus stand.

Today there was a trail of bad decisions on my part. Firstly, I’d clambered on to the bus to Cherthala for going to the Vyttila hub (Usually, I took the bus to Kattakkada which was very much there at that time).

Secondly, when our bus had reached Thrissur, there was a low floor bus to Thiruvananthapuram and should have forgotten about the fare that I’d paid for going to Vyttila. However, I’d decided to board it once I reached the hub.

The bus had taken a circuitous route via Kakkanad and it’s engine had stalled while negotiating an upward gradient! Got off the bus, took an auto rickshaw and reached the hub around a half past 11. Should have taken the next low floor a/c bus at a half past 12’

Got a Kollam FP and got caught in most of the traffic snarls of the day! 

Reached Thampanoor by a half past 8. Maman and Chambu had come to pick me up. The former looks old and sick, has stopped the steroids unilaterally! Poor thing, he’d suffered a lot of pain over the last four months. Even Ammayi seems to be not keeping well.

Hope both of them recover fast!