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2018 Movies to watch and those to avoid
I had watched about 135 movies last year, they include Tamil, English, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi and other language films. From that I have picked the following two categories – Movies to Watch and those to avoid. Please remember, this list is by no means comprehensive or representative of the quality of pictures that came last year. These are purely my personal rating – take them with a pinch of salt! Venkatarangan Movies to Watch: Ratsasan (2018) – Tamil 96 (2018) – Tamil Pariyerum Perumal (2018) – Tamil Merku Thodarchi Malai (2018) – Tamil Kadaikutty Singam (2018) – Tamil Irumbu Thirai (2018) – Tamil Geetha Govindam (2018) – Telugu Awe (2018)…
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Celebrate illness by G. Nammalvar
இந்த ஆண்டுச் சென்னைப் புத்தகக் காட்சியில் வாங்கிய புத்தகம் – திரு கோ. நம்மாழ்வார் அவர்கள் எழுதிய “நோயினைக் கொண்டாடுவோம்“. இந்தப் புத்தகம், சற்றே வித்தியாசமானது, இருப்பத்திநாலே பக்கங்கள், வெறும் இருபது ரூபாய் தான், அதுவும் குக்கூ என்ற அமைப்பிற்கு நன்கொடையாகத் தான் கேட்கிறார்கள். திரு கோ. நம்மாழ்வார் தமிழ்நாட்டில் பிரபலமானவர், இயற்கை விவசாயி, ஆர்வலர் மற்றும் எழுத்தாளர். அவரின் இந்தப் புத்தகம் பல கருத்துக்களைச் சொல்லிச்செல்கிறது, அவற்றில் பல தெரிந்த நல்ல விஷயங்கள் தான், சில தகவல்கள் எனக்கு எதிர்மறையாகத் தோன்றுகிறது. சொல்லியுள்ள எதற்கும் அவர் இந்தப் புத்தகத்தில் ஆதாரம் எதுவும் தரவில்லை, அவரின் மற்ற புத்தகங்களில் அவை இருக்கலாம். புத்தகத்தில் இருந்து சில குறிப்புகள் சுருக்கமாகக் கீழே: “கருவும் உருவும் இரண்டு என்பார் அறிவிலார்” – திருமந்திரம் நோய் வேறு சிகிச்சை வேறு அல்ல. இரண்டும் ஒன்றே! உடல் நலமாக இருக்கும் போதும் நோய் வாய்ப்படும் போதும் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் பராமரிப்பு முறையே ‘இயற்கை மருத்துவம்‘. அகிம்சை என்பது இதன் அடிப்படைக் கொள்கை. அளவறிந்து…
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Destress by colouring books
Sometime back a friend, Mr Kiruba Shankar, had written about using “Adult” Colouring Books to #Destress. While he recommended using Paper n Pencil, I went with the easier way – should I say ecofriendly way – downloaded “free” apps in Microsoft Store for Windows. My drawing skills are limited to a straight line with a ruler and a circle with a compass, but here it is just clicking and filling colours – I can combine any number of #colors and use any amount of them without caring about aesthetics or wastage :-) These apps are available for #Windows, #MacOS, #Android & #iPhone, aplenty. Try them out! Take a bit of…
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The perfect chair I got for myself
On a typical day, I do spend a lot of time sitting in front of my computer and I am particular about the ergonomics in my workplace – it should be comfortable for my long working hours. In all the office spaces I got furnished, I ensure the ergonomic aspects were given adequate attention to the extent possible – for example, I will instruct the interior designer to have the keyboard tray be at the same height from the ground to the armrest of the chair that’s going to be used, to ensure your elbow is resting firmly in the armrest and the wrist is placed (not hanging) in the…
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Biodegradable garbage bags
The black colour “garbage” plastic bags have become ubiquitous in all houses & offices. It is true, that its use is bad for the environment – plastic bags take anywhere between 20 to 1000 years to decay and they also prevent the organic materials like food waste inside them from getting recycled – but there is no denying that these bags are super convenient and a must, to keep our places clean and prevent infections. Every time I see these black bags I feel guilty and think for next few minutes on alternatives, paper or cloth bags won’t work as they don’t retain water. Last week, it suddenly dawned on…
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The cricket world’s best
The other day, while visiting his office, my friend Jonah Stephen, surprised me with a gift to cherish. It was a limited edition replica of a painting showing two of cricket world’s legends – Sir Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar. Painted to depict the meeting that between the two on 27th August 1998, on the occasion of Sir Donald’s 90th birthday. The two great men who have set the bar high enough for generations to aspire and one day best. Every day when I see this picture of these two legends, it is sure to motivate me to achieve more in my own life. Thank You, Jonah
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Why my teenage son got a mechanical wrist watch
The other day my teenage son came to me asking whether I can get him a wristwatch that he can wear regularly to his school, something lightweight and compact he added. I offered to get him one of the regular Quartz watches from Titan or Fastrack that retail for ₹1000-1500. Instead, he wanted a mechanical watch that is to be hand wound – I guess he wanted to stand out from his peers in the school, he didn’t reply to me directly. I suggested watches made by HMT, a Government of India enterprise that shuttered a few years ago. He said Yes, and we found many were listed on eBay…
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Craft Bazaar – works of Tamil Nadu Artisans
Tamil Nadu Handicrafts Development Corporation Ltd. through its brand Poompuhar has been promoting artisans around Tamil Nadu state and showcasing their works for sale. In cooperation with Ministry of Textiles, they are conducting an exhibition and sale, called Craft Bazaar. The exhibition is open until 15th March at Kalaivanar Arangam, Wallajah Road, Chepauk. Handicrafts and cotton textiles made by artisans are on display. Today I went to the exhibition with my wife – the items were so attractive and beautiful, that we bought over a dozen items. Don’t miss it, encourage our artisans. தவறாமல் சென்று பாருங்கள் – சென்னை கலைவாணர் அரங்கத்தில் வரும் 15ஆம் தேதி வரை கைவினைப் பொருட்கள், கைத்தறி/பருத்தி துணி வகைகள் கண்காட்சி மற்றும் விற்பனை.…
