Friday 30 March 2012

SWINE FLU PRECAUTIONS

Something has come to Pune city more irritable and harmful than the jackpot winning spam mails we all receive. Now that we are going crazy over it and suddenly life seems like standing at a cliff's edge, let's look at what can we do:

THE MASK
As the H1N1 (another dreadful serious name) virus is transmitted through air, it is advisable to wear the green medical masks available at the chemist while moving outdoors. The recommended mask to wear is the N95, buy them from reliable, authorized sources. Again, the masks are no guarantee that you will be 100% safe. So just avoid the crowd for the time being.  

KEEP DRINKING WATER
Drinking eight to ten large glasses of water acts as a flush for the body toxins. So drink water at regular intervals.

WASH YOUR HANDS
Wash your hands frequently (Once every two hours probably), and always before eating.

SLEEP DEEP AND LONG
Ensure that you get your eight hours of peaceful slumber. It's good for your immunity.


A STRONG BODY
Eat your green vegetables, whole grains and vitamin rich foods. Exercise can be a crucial factor as it builds resistance to counter any illness.

NO ALCOHOL, NO SMOKING!
Alcohol consumption can actually reduce your resistance levels, so here is another good reason to abandon the habit. Ditto for smoking.


STAY AWAY FROM CROWDS
Avoid mingling in huge crowds. If any person is sick, maintain a safe distance, preferably ten feet.


BEWARE OF  SUDDEN PERSISTENT COUGH OR HIGH FEVER
If you suffer from any of the symptoms, do consult a doctor and take the prescribed treatment.

Tuesday 27 March 2012

A Cosy January

 wispy brightness / miniature sun / clasped yet free in the fist

another story / another tangle / of broken bones / unbolted doors


step not on my tail please / those injections are more costly now






Monday 26 March 2012

one bird, many

at the edge of things / a view complete / yet infinite  
homeward / direction cuts / a body navigation

Friday 9 March 2012

Published Poetry: 'Bhang Diary' & 'Road Naming Ceremony'



The Bangalore based literary magazine Reading Hour has published my poem 'Bhang Diary' in the Mar-Apr 2012 issue. The poem chronicles the effects of the herbal drink on the day of holi. Another poem 'Road Naming Ceremony' is featured in the same magazine's blog page. You can read the poem at the following link: Road Naming Ceremony.

Friday 2 March 2012

Carbon Footprint & Technology

I would like to start by extolling the virtues of the software that goes by the name of WordWeb. How, with instant promptness, the synonyms of any particular word shows up. Why, I do not have to paste the text into an particular box. Just the action of copying the text, ensures that the word appears in its assigned box with the synonyms and web references, all ready. In fact, WordWeb had achieved the impossible, replaced my tangible, bulky Oxford 'pocket' dictionary (To fit a very big pocket).

So, yesterday was another day before the computer, all was well, when a message popped up over the WordWeb box, stating: How many times have you flew this year so far?

Below this message were two options:
  • Not more than two times
  • Three times and more  
Truthfully, as my present employer had send us to Jaipur for the literature festival, I chose the second message and clicked the OK button. Instantly, came up the following message, and my vocabulary crutches came crashing down. For the message said:
The WordWeb software services on this computer has been discontinued for you have been flying far beyond the average carbon footprint a person can use....

Thus ended another virtual friendship. So much for technology...