Postcards From J

With the Feast of the Epiphany last Sunday, the Christmas season is over. The Feast marks the visit of the Magi (also referred to as the Three Wise Men or Three Kings) who brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for Baby Jesus. Speaking of gifts, I've never grown up with the concept of "gifts" for Christmas. Except for having a new dress stitched for the festival, we pretty much didn't really receive any presents. Guess it was always a western thing. Much like having a (plastic) Christmas tree. However, in the last few years, my brother and I have bought presents for the children in the family. Mostly for younger cousins during Christmas. While it's fun to give and receive them, we always make sure they aren't extravagant. And that we remember it's the thought that counts. Cliched, I know. But very relevant. Personally, I prefer buying books and educational toys for children. I never buy clothes for anyone else. This time around, I was very su...

What the world wide web threw up today: Creative use of Facebook Timeline: https://www.facebook.com/Antidrugstimeline This one is for social media enthusiasts and for anyone looking to design an innovative campaign for a cause. 7 Things Highly Productive People Do (Inc.com): http://blog.deskaway.com/7-things-highly-productive-people-do-inccom Nothing really radical in this one. But I like the way it's drafted. All of the 7 things mentioned are doable. 20 New Year’s Resolutions For 20-Somethings: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/20-new-years-resolutions-for-20-somethings/ Even if you're not 20-something, these are resolutions most of us could use. And of course, the bigger picture is just screaming to tell us to spend more time on people and things that matter, and less time on being 'connected' via Facebook etc. Just thought of sharing what I managed to read today. Hope you find them interesting.

No, that's not a typo in the title.  Last year was not the best by any stretch of the imagination. Except for the Indian cricket team winning the World Cup (which didn't really excite me), most of the time we were plagued by rising inflation, rude rickshaw drivers, and an apathetic government. On the personal front, I've had a tough year too - coming to terms with a new role, taking on a crazy project, learning and unlearning so much, an injured ankle (which bothers me even now), still dealing with questions of age and marriage while everyone around is getting hitched and making babies. (But I'm more grateful for the tough times. Those are the experiences that enrich me.) Sadly, we also lost many notable legends who made immense contributions in their respective fields. The names that spring to mind: MF Hussain, Shammi Kapoor, Jagjit Singh, Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, Dev Anand, Jehangir Sabavala, Bhupen Hazarika, Mario Miranda, and internationally, Peter Roebuc...