Airtel Super Singer Junior – with Chief Guest as MS Viswanathan

Though I have not been a regular viewer of this program, I always had great respect for the professional approach and the quality of the judges especially Mano and Chitra who are in my favourite list of singers.

The program does the setting and outlook according to the theme of the week.
On April 28th, for a person of stature of MSV, I found the program abysmally low in every aspect. Except for the hair-style and song selection (to suit the songs composed by MSV), the girls who rendered the song had bright eye-lashes, artificial flashy smile and needless jumping around or ‘abhinayam’ for the songs. It was just too much of make-up. They should observe singers like P.Susheela or S.Janaki on the composure while rendering the song.

To top that, the ladies who does the co-ordination part didn’t even attempt to speak sentences fully in Tamiz (at least for MSV), but were comfortable in using maximum English words. The organizers and importantly, the judges better watch out for these nuances. They should remember that HUMILITY and HUMBLENESS are important aspect to be maintained (at least to some extent) when a legend like MSV is around. Pampering around, needless style and flashy words will not help the singer.

Panel proposes Rs.30 per hour minimum wage for house work

I read an article in today’s “The Hindu” about fixing minimum daily wage for domestic servant / maids / workers at http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/26/stories/2010042659260300.htm

Though I agree that they should not let themselves be exploited, there are few nuances to note.
1. Does this apply to the agencies who supply maids to houses or offices?
2. The rules for houses and offices must be kept separately. The same rate cannot be applied as the work nature is different.
3. If it is domestic, then we have to see the nature of job. Most houses employ for cleaning (sweeping and mopping the floors and cleaning the bathroom floor approx twice in a week) (or) cleaning the windows, doors and tiles (or) washing utensils (or) washing clothes (or) taking care of the baby from 9 to 5 or full time depending on the family needs (or) all of them.
4. Assuming that a wage per hour needs to be paid – how do we ensure that the maid completes the work in stipulated hour? If the sweeping and mopping of floor usually takes only one hour, and if the maid deliberately delays it and demands the next hour’s wage, who will settle the dispute?
5. Most of the so-called domestic maids come to work because of their family circumstances and to earn an additional income. Only few of them are cultured and the rest speak the language of slum which is typical of Chennai. Should families take the headache of listening to such filthy language and shouting of words and whom they should go for settling?

It is quite unfortunate to read that a wage of Rs. 30 per hour being suggested. The system of fixing wage is a flawed one. May be, it can be made applicable for agencies who supply work force to companies or corporate.

Natural MAN Made Disaster!!

I was stunned when I came across Chennai City Traffic Police website - http://www.chennaitrafficpolice.in which has a link named "Natural Man Made Disaster" !!!

It was as puzzling as how cops have big tummy (or) how cops don't catch the thief (for small robbery) even though they know who would have committed that crime in that area (or) collecting bribe even from small petty shops on the road side.

Well, I think they must have intend to mention 'Natural OR Man made disasters". Not sure as the website seem to be completely outdated

Here is the picture of that page. Notice the link just above the traffic signal picture

IPL – Black Market of Cricket

Shashi Tharoor – Turned out to be whistle blower without the intention of being such one in the recent IPL fiasco. What would have made Shashi Tharoor do this – he is naïve to Indian politics and haven’t got deeply corrupted unlike many others who know how things can be made to work for them without their name coming out (popularly known as Binami account or hawala case) . Unknowingly, he has led IT department to IPL

I have had long running suspicion that some of the matches definitely seem to be fixed – either by the way bowlers feed the batsman (or ) batsman getting out in unnecessary situation (or) fielders dropping catches. The last of them is least likely option as it depends on various parameters. One need not fix all the playing 11; just the captain and couple of crucial players are enough.

I am waiting eagerly to hear some tainted remarks about IPL, possible match-fixing that can get proved and corrupt face of Modi presented to the nation. Now,

1. Who was Modi before IPL
2. Whom does he report to? Surely, he must be having a boss – if not anyone, at least Manmohan Singh must be there
3. Who controls or monitors the IPL apart from Modi?

Apparently, Modi has served 2 years of prison service in US for possessing drugs (source: Wiki), with charges of assault and kidnapping. And we are all applauding him for creating a brand called “IPL” and getting India a “Proud” status with all these heavy weight business man buying teams with their black money and suspicious stakeholders thus fooling people around.

Totally Rubbish …

A day at Vandalur Zoo - People's etiquette!

Many of the youths (appear to visit purely for a pastime) jump inside the first level fence (the enclosures where the birds or fowls are kept) and stand close and take pictures. There were no authorities to instruct them. Few would poke their hands and fingers as though they are trying to play with the monkeys or peacocks. Even if I turn a blind face to those unruly young fellows, it was more disgusting to see families doing the same asking their kids to stand inside the first level fence and shoot a picture

The places where the instruction board reads "Do not sit on the lawns or walk over" is comfortably ignored as I could see even educated families sit there having lunch or chatting around or resting in an inclined pose (like Swami Ranganatha or Srirangam). I got irritated at first on seeing these, but then decided not to get my tension up and instead could only wish for a better and improved etiquette from our people. Post independence, we have gone from rags to riches in few departments, but basic discipline, cleanliness is far from standards. Hope we mimic these from Western countries than the needless ones