I need more sleep!!

Given below is a test...take it. Link to the site and a more legible format is given below:

http://epworthsleepinessscale.com/1997-version-ess/

A score of 0-9 in the above test says that you are getting normal sleep. Above that it means you need more sleep.

I took the test with all honesty. The result (13) said I needed more sleep. Showing tremendous agility for a sleep deprived mind, the following thoughts rushed through.

• I am sleep deprived
• My home time is optimally allocated and I cannot reduce my awake time at home
• In other words, I am sleeping as much as I could at home, but it is not enough
• I need to get some sleep while not at home i.e at work.
• To be healthy and productive I need to start sleeping in office
  

And to those of you who are snickering and saying that I maybe doing that already, well….even if that were true, I am certainly not doing it enough.

The above is not to trivialise a serious issue. But for many of us, even a thirty-minute shut-eye in office can do wonders for our productivity and health.

But then any proposal to allow slumber time in office will mostlikely not be taken seriously. Can someone/some organisation please take the lead?

Call it Rejuvenation Time (or some such fancy term) and let employees sleep off at work ....flexi timing to ensure the whole floor is not snoring at the same time....we do not want the short power-nap to be disturbed.

India to Maharashtra

Well …for a couple of days I was getting pretty irritated with our media competing with each other in a tail wagging competition around Sachin Tendulkar completing 20 years in International Cricket. In my own blinkered view, I find cricket a highly overrated game and other than the T20 version, a major waste of time. T20 version is good only as a form of entertainment, not sport.

While Sachin has crossed several milestones in the last 20 years and done his country proud, I would like to know where Indian cricket has travelled in the last 20 years. Not much if you ask me….except for the T20 World Cup (not exactly a connoisseur’s delight).

If the goal of a national player is bring accolades to the team, or make it capable to achieve such objectives, I do not think Sachin stacks up very well.
So as I was trying to keep my cool with this media hoopla, even as celebrities of all hue and colour fell over each other to sing paeans to Sachin we have the sudden messianic appearance of the great Balasaheb.

This man takes the cake….or vada pao (Jai Maharashtra!!!) if you please. He surpasses all levels of irritation and invites a tremendous sense of disgust.

Comrade Balasaheb took serious umbrage to Sachin speaking words to the effect that he is an Indian first and Maharashtrian later. Howzzat!!!

This same man in the past cried foul when members of the minority community said “We are Muslims first and Indian later”.

Dream on

For sometime there are emails going around that inform you:-
1. You won a lottery
2. You need to pretend to be a Mr So & So to help someone claim an inheritance Etc

All of the above would come with promises of big money $800,000 or Pounds are Euro. Of late I have been receiving SMS' on my mobile in the same vein.

Today morning I received an SMS to the effect of having won GBP 200,000 in the “2009 Coca-Cola U.K World Wide Mobile Award”.

Since I have been receiving such SMS’ for sometime (Nigerian, Iraqi inheritance, Yahoo Lottery etc) I decided to actually send a mail to the id given in the text.

An internet search told me pretty much what to expect.

But I will not deny that somewhere in the far corners of my mind there was a lurking optimism....what if this is not fake...what if this is the real McCoy....what if this is that one magic moment in your life (as in the movies) that with change everything forever!!

The reponse came within 4 hours!!!

Reproduced below is the mail I received….consider this a forewarning….do not respond to any such mails/SMS asking for your personal details.

But dream on...you never know....maybe, for once, it will actually be like the movies!!!

======================================================================
Dear Beneficiary,

We are in receipt of your e-mail with the required Name and Pin No we wish to thank you for your Co-operation. Your winning fund of (£200,000.00 GB Pounds) is deposited with our Affiliate Bank here in United Kingdom in a temporary Account and shall be sent to you on the Approval of your payment. You will receive this fund by Telegraphic Transfer [Bank Wire] or Diplomatic system of payment to your Country.However, the 2009 Coca-Cola U.K World Wide Mobile Award is no doubt, a momentous achievement in the chequered history of this Corporation. On behalf of the entire staff of this Company, I wish to congratulate all non-Governmental Organizations who have in no little way contributed immensely towards the success of this draw as well as taking concrete steps towards it's actualization. All participants were selected randomly from World Wide Mobile Directories. This Coca-Cola promotion is part of the financial empowerment program of the COCA-COLA Company of England in it's struggle to alleviate poverty.While basking in the euphoria of this achievement, I wish to seize this opportunity to acquaint you with guidelines as you must follow in order to complete your claims. On our part, we have a mandate to see you through. We will work assiduously to realize this mandate as we respect your views, opinions and most importantly protect your Privacy. You are advised to complete the below form and send with the fund release Application Letter to NatWest Bank Foreign Remittance Department by give e-mail: n.wbplcuk@live.com to enable them start the process of release your winning fund to you. Full name.......................................
Address.......................................... Age................................................ Sex................................................ Nationality..................................... Home Telephone #.......................... Mobile Telephone #......................... E-mail address................................. Marital Status.................................. Occupation......................................

PAYMENT OPTION.

Prefered Mode Of Payment.

1. Bank Telegraphic Wire Treansfer.
2. Diplomatic System Of Payment.
State Your Selected Mode Here:.................. For Option 1. (Bank Telegraphic Wire Transfer), Provide Your Banking details below:................................................................................................................................................... For Option 2. (Diplomatic System of Payment), Provide Your full Home/Office address below.Receiver Name::................................................Address:.............................................................Postal Code:.....................................................City:...............................................................State/Province:..................................................Country:...........................................................

NOTE: The following Reference Numbers has been assigned to you and you are required to quote it in every mail that you send to us: (COCA-2009111)
FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT NATWEST BANK PLC.FOREIGN REMITTANCE DEPARTMENT104 LONDON ROADGB - LIVERPOOL L3 5NL
FAX NO: +44 870 495 2837E-MAIL: n.wbplcuk@live.com


Dear Sir/Madam, APPLICATION FOR FUND RELEASE [COCA-2009111] I write to apply for the release of my winning fund with regards to the winning notification that was received on my Mobile from Coca-Cola Company of England. I was made to believe that this sum (£ 200,000.00 GB Pounds) is deposited in a temporary Account in your Bank. I hereby request that the above mentioned sum be remitted to me at the earliest. on the mention Mode Of Payment above.

Yours Faithfully(Your Full Name)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ We are still processing your certificate of award and it shall be sent to you when we are done. Do not hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any difficulties in understanding the process as I will always be here to help you. Let me know when the Bank contacts you.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Randy
Phone:
(Prize Administrator)

More of the same

Well...here I am again.....for the second time in two months....travelling to Mel. What used to be an 'annual pilgrimage' is turning out a little more frequent....too frequent if you ask me....

Saw a Gucci watch for almost INR 300k....what the ..... I was actually planning to buy a watch!!
Well, i know if i service my old watch and put a new strap it will look as good as new...and will probably cost INR 500.

Very few people (probably 1 in 50) are wearing masks in the airport....H1N1....seems like the initial scare if over...like in other countries, we'll also start treating is like any other flu.
And like SARS, maybe we'll develop some kind of immunity.

More later.....

Amir Khan at IIM - Bangalore

A colleague of mine informed me that Aamir Khan was playing badminton at IIM(B). Big deal!!! But then I thought, it is less than a couple of minute's drive away...and let's face it...Amir Khan is a bigdeal!!

I have been reading in the newspapers that the Super Star and some of the cast and crew of Three Idiots were camping at IIM(B). So here was my chance.

I grabbed my camera and started off. True to its reputation, the couple of minute's drive on Banerghata Road proved a lot more than that with heavy traffic on Saturday night. Infact it was a big night at IIM(B) otherwise as well as there fest is going on.

Using my contact, and showing adequate at outrage at the poor security guard manning the side gate for trying to stop a Professor.... (my act of outrage actually provoked a stifled laughter from my colleague) I reached the badminton court and clicked away many a photographs and a few short videos.

Obviously, now I feel to bashful to show it around to my colleagues and friends....so here it is....on my blog!!!

You'll find the Ghajini star and also Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Raju Hirani and Prakash Padukone in the photographs.....

Btw...I found Amir K a pretty good player honestly, you was thorughly enjoying the game, partnered with Prakash Padukone. Even with so many people watching him and cameras clicking away (without Flash) you kept up a constant banter with his partner and cheered every good shot.

Petronas Towers

Here are a couple of pictures I recently got the opportunity to click....the majestic Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lampur.

The advantage with this structure is, however you take a picture, it always comes out good ....something like photographing....Aishwarya? ... I would not know, but I guess it is something like that :-)

A man throwing a boomerang...and catching it back!!

During my recent travel, I visited a bird sanctuary. And for the first time I actually saw a man throwing a Boomerang.....and catching it on the way back. Enjoy the video!!