Bajrangi Bhaijaan: Don't think anybody would miss.

Come Eid, come Salman. This has become  the norm since the last few years. Unchallenged till date, our Bhaijaan has almost always ruled the Box Office. Eid 2016, however promises to be a different game with the Badshaah  threatening to tread into Salman's territory. 

Pawan Kumar Chaturvedi fondly called Bajrangi, as his name suggests is a true Hanuman devotee. He happens to stumble upon a 6 year old mute girl who seems to have separated from her parents and is unable to trace back her residence. His love, Rasika, is his motivation to help the girl reunite with her parents in Pakistan. 

Once Pawan decides that he has to take her across the border, there is no stopping him. Chand Nawaz, a media reporter,  is his only support in the foreign country. Will our Bhai succeed in his mission? 

Pawan Kumar as played by our Sallu endears straight away to our hearts. He doesn't get to showcase his Salmanisms here but he gets us high on the emotional quotient. His lady love played by Kareena Kapoor Khan has a significant role in the first half of the movie but is replaced by  Nawazzuddin Siddiqui, the reporter in the second half. 

Harshaali Malhotra, as the Pakistani girl is superb. 

The music is good for a few numbers including the "Selfie le le" and the Adnan Sami song. 

The script has numerous flaws but all said and done, a year is not complete without watching a Salman starrer. 

Just go for it!!

Save our Souls: The Quake Aftermath

Whenever an earthquake or tsunami takes thousands of innocent lives, a shocked world talks of little else. 

In the wake of the massive disaster wreaked by nature on our Mother Earth, let us unearth a controversy that has probably skipped our attention. 

With Nepal and its surrounding cities, still reeling under the aftershocks of the 7.9 richter quake, let's start preparing ourselves as to what are the best ways to escape injury and death in case a similar fury strikes us. 

"Drop, cover, and hold under a table or desk" has been the gold standard recommendation, according to the American Red Cross. 

Mr. Doug Copp, the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of American Rescue Team International (a private company not affiliated with the U.S. Government or other agency), has however challenged this dictum.

In his article, "Triangle of Life", he clearly states, that when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes them. However, it leaves a space or void next to them - NOT under them. This space is what is called the 'triangle of life'. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. 

1. Everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' under objects like desks, beds, sofas or cars when buildings collapse are crushed to death. The safest bet would be to lie next to these objects, not under them.

2.Curl up in a fetal position since chances of survival are more in a smaller void. 

3. If you are in bed when earthquake strikes, just roll off the bed and lie down on the floor next to it. 

4. Stay away from the doorways and avoid taking the stairs. 

The American Red Cross has strongly refuted these observations made by Doug. 

"These recommendations are inaccurate for application in the United States and inconsistent with information developed through earthquake research. Mr. Copp based his statements on observations of damage to buildings after an earthquake in Turkey", they have retorted. "Building construction standards, techniques, engineering principles, and construction materials in Turkey and the United States are incomparable", they further say.

In fact the Red Cross advises against moving out of bed for fear of causing damage to oneself by the debris on the floor. Also, trying to escape during the shaking of earthquake could be far more dangerous especially if the distance is long since there is always a risk of tripping and getting injured by broken floors, walls and objects in the path of escape. 

The debate could rage on and on. However, it would be wise to conclude it on this note that since very few buildings collapse or "pancake" in the U.S. as they might do in other countries, the Red Cross recommendation - "Drop, Cover, and Hold On"; are best suited for the developed nations whose infrastructure is similar to the U.S. and the "Triangle of Life" may indeed be the best thing to teach in other lesser developed countries where the risk of building collapse, even in moderate earthquakes, is great.

A famous English author once quoted, "I got quite annoyed after the Haiti earthquake. A baby was taken from the wreckage and people said it was a miracle. It would have been a miracle had God stopped the earthquake. More wonderful was that a load of evolved monkeys got together to save the life of a child that wasn't theirs."

Travails of the Common Man

At the outset, I would like to clarify that I am a non political, non bureaucratic and non religious person. I am just a Common Man. 

A middle class citizen of India who has for long been driven by other outside forces. I have been living in a country where religious tolerance has always been questioned. As a top U.S. Leader very recently quipped, " India will succeed so long as it is not splintered on religious lines.”

I have been working  in a country where rules are made to be broken. Where if a law is made, also made are tens of ways to safely bypass that law. I am in a country where the highest national awards

are bestowed upon Godmen and politicians responsible for creating communal rifts. I have received my education here where our books abound with sacrifice stories of freedom fighters. That has instilled a sense of patriotism and love for my nation. This has always deterred me from exploring avenues abroad. Over a period of time, this feeling seems to be dwindling. A sense of frustration now seems to be creeping in. Corruption, lawlessness, lack of education, religious disharmony and poor etiquettes have all become so deeply embedded in our systems that it has become virtually impossible to get rid of them. 
In the modern-day world, where time is premium and battle for subsistence is unimaginably tough, the hapless common man simply gives in and pays the bribe just to get on with life. He has lost hope and seems all but buried. He has been driving himself at the behest of others, striving to make ends meet, and following a religion which his ancestors have been following. 
He has now decided enough is enough. He has only two options left. Either he begins a revolutionary movement or he gives up his life as a coward.

Suddenly, things seemed to be improving. The grass looked greener on this side. The clouds had reduced their gloom over the sky. The birds were chirping much more than before. The common man had won the general elections in the capital city of this country. It was a victory of the masses. A victory of the people. It had been a coup of sorts where the ruling party was overthrown and a single person had emerged a winner in this bout - the Common Man. The locals were out on the streets celebrating.

The champagne was uncorked,  and the ale was flowing. And why not. Every Indian at this juncture wished to be a part of the celebration, a part of this movement. Everyone hoped that this victory would replicate itself in their state and city." Was this the beginning of the revolution that we had been long waiting for? " The question seemed to cross every Indian's mind. It was a sort of déjà vu for the oldies. They were reminded yet again of the freedom struggle that they had witnessed against the Britishers. This conquest had now given a ray of hope to every Indian that all was not lost.  

The media was abuzz the next day with reports as to how the fort was conquered, whether a recipe for success could ever be charted or not and how the common man's woes would be over soon. Amid all this, the ruling party was working overtime to provide explanations for its dismal show. It had failed to anticipate a defeat of this magnitude.

Then came the turnaround. The next few hours saw a plethora of newsfeeds making a mockery of the triumph. While some said that the election results were fixed, some dubbed it as a deliberate walkover given by the ruling party to shift the media attention away from its inadequacies.

So? What is the truth? Nobody will ever be able to tell. But what everyone knows for sure is that the one to suffer yet again is the Common Man. The promises abound. But will they deliver? Or will the Common Man have to continue his endless wait? Life has to move on for him....

"God must love the common man. He made so many of them."

'Honge kaamyaab, honge kaamyaab

hum honge kaamyaab ek din.

ho ho mann main hai vishwas

poora hai vishwas

hum honge kaamyaab ek din.'

Cough Etiquette: Does that exist?

It’s winter and the respiratory ailments are here again. 
Colds and flu have the ability to spread easily via the transmission of the germs through the air, carried on droplets.

If dispersal of these droplets can be prevented then infection transmission can be reduced. Cough etiquette can help to contain infectious respiratory droplets at the source.

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  
  A cloth handkerchief can act as a breeding ground for the germs that are causing the infection. Carrying a used handkerchief around when you are sick may spread your germs.

• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
  
  
  

• Turn away from other people when coughing/sneezing.

• Put your used tissue in a waste basket.
  
  
  
• Try to keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth.
  
  
  
• Remember to wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after coughing or sneezing.

• Help to prevent spread of infection by using face masks when sick.

• Keep safe distance of at least 3 feet from others when sitting in common public areas.

Love and a cough cannot be hid. 

Hangover: Alcohol or FOOD?

In the midst of the marriage season, it is not uncommon to encounter upset tummies the day after the big fat wedding. All fingers are pointed towards the catering staff and their lack of proper hygiene. But are they the ones to blame?

It is a well known fact that when we point a finger at others, four fingers point back towards us. So, let's introspect and unearth some revelations.

That gets us to this concept of Food Hangover. We have always heard of an alcohol hangover and logically the former too would indicate an overindulgence in food or simply put - overeating.

"Eat to your heart's content".  But more often than not, that would surpass your gut's content.

A fatty, spicy, salty, or sugary meal or a meal too big for the body to handle, especially a dinner would very likely cause a hangover the next morning.

Abdominal bloating, heartburn, indigestion and nausea are commonly experienced the next day. The body feels lethargic and may lead to inactivity.

The best way to prevent a food hangover is to plan the meals properly and avoid starving, which almost always leads to overeating. Avoid a heavy meal at night to allow the body to digest the food before bedtime. Avoid alcohol, aerated drinks and caffeine since these can cause dehydration and aggravate the issue.

However, the symptoms can be ameliorated by drinking lots of water, chewing gum which aids digestion by increasing the saliva formation, or by taking a walk in the park.

One should eat to live, not live to eat. 

Speed breakers or Life breakers - II

The drive was undertaken as reported in my previous post. http://docbaldiknowhow.blogspot.in/2014/12/speed-breakers-or-life-breakers.html

It seems to have had its effects on the Corporation. Within a week of reporting the sorry state of speedbreakers in our locality, the BMC has woken up and done a touch up job on few of these humps. 

The ones that were in dire straits were reconstructed as per the specifications. But what about the rest?

 Does this translate as a victory for us? Or do we still have a long way to go before we celebrate!!

"The woods are lovely dark and deep. But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep...."

Speed breakers or Life breakers?

Speed breakers are raised areas of pavement designed to slow down drivers. Although they can improve safety, they have many drawbacks. The process of slowing and diverting traffic is often called traffic calming.

Speed Humps

Speed humps differ from speed bumps.

Speed Bumps

Speed bumps are 3-4 inches high and 1-3 feet long and have typically been used in parking lots and on private roads. To pass over speed bumps without doing damage to the vehicle or causing discomfort, the driver must slow down almost to a complete stop. The effects of speed bumps are diminished by passing over them at excessive speeds in a vehicle with loose suspension.

Speed humps are 3-4 inches high and 12-22 feet long. They are found on residential roadways. To avoid driver discomfort, the driver slows to a speed of 15-20 mph. Unlike speed bumps, at excessive speeds, the effects of speed humps are increased to the point of jolting both the driver and their cargo.

The procedure for installation begins with the residents’ request and continues with traffic engineering studies to determine the need for speed humps. These studies include but are not limited to: safe sight distance, pedestrian studies, vehicle classification, traffic count, and average speed. Current land use, school routes, "as built" plans, other control devices, and stop sign compliance should also be examined.

If it is determined that speed humps are the best solution for a roadway, then the installation can begin. The humps installed should follow the design criteria, have accompanying warning signs and be painted with a pattern that makes them visible to drivers and provide a safe and reasonable sight distance.

If designed, installed, and maintained properly, speed humps can be a safe, effective method of reducing vehicle speeds through residential areas.

To be effective along a section of roadway, speed humps should be placed in series at 200-600 feet intervals when considering the geometries of the roadway.

As per the Indian Road Congress (IRC) specifications, the central height of humps should be 10-12 cm. Their shape should be a parabola and should have 3.5 metres in width and length should be the same as the road width.

The list of drawbacks could go on and on if the breakers are not made with the correct specifications.

To name a few drawbacks......

• If improperly lit, they could potentially cause fatalities.
• They are damaging to the spine, to say the least.
• The constant wear and tear of vehicles could be another big disadvantage.

A very interesting use of these breakers that hasn't been well utilized is:

"ELECTRICITY GENERATION FROM SPEED BREAKER"

A large amount of energy is generated at the speed breakers through friction, every time a vehicle passes over it.

This Mechanical energy is then converted to Electrical which can be used for charging batteries and to light up the streets, etc.

The existing source of energy such as coal, oil, etc may not be adequate to meet the ever increasing energy demands. These conventional sources of energy are also depleting and may be exhausted.
This project is a step to the path of exploring the possibilities of energy from several non- conventional energy sources.

Motivated by the activities undertaken by our leading dailies, I decided to chart one such myself. I travelled the highly congested stretch starting from Mazgaon circle upto JJ Hospital signal, via Noor Baug. It is a distance of a mere 1.3 km but the number, shapes and distances between speed breakers installed on this stretch is appalling.

Within 100 mts

100 mts

300 mts

400 mts

450 mts

500 mts

600 mts

900 mts

1000 mts

1050 mts

1100 mts

This may be a similar plight on many other roads but it is upto the local authorities to take up these tasks and ensure corrective action before we witness any casualties.


"Yes Officer, I did see the 'speed limit' sign, I just didn't see you."