When Parents Text - Review

Author - Sophia Fraioli and Lauren Kaelin
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/When-Parents-Text-Said-So-Understood/dp/0761166041

Have you ever read a book that makes you laugh so hard that you end up crying? "When Parents Text: So much said, So little Understood" is one such hilarious, addictive and side splitting read.

Aimed at people like us, the recent graduates who are well conversant with technology and whose parents have learnt messaging, facebook, internet etc in a bid to keep in touch with us (or maybe keep tabs on us?!), the book is a collection of funny and awkward text messages exchanged between parents and their kids.

A few excerpts from the book:
Grandmom: Do I need to switch on the computer to be able to skype?
Me: ...

=================================

Mom: dig up some tadpoles on ur way homo.
Me: ummm, what?
Mom: It autocorrected me. I mean to say dig up some tadpoles on ur way homo.
(4 minutes later)
Mom: PICK UP SOME TAMPONS ON YOUR WAY HOME.

Apart from being crazily funny and spookily true, what I really like about the book is that you don't have to read all of it at one go and can enjoy it over a long period of time. It acts as a immediate mood enhancer when you are feeling low. So keep it by your bedside, and enjoy. Gift it to your parents and see them laugh and roll over, all while feeling proud that they aren't the only ones who have sent silly messages and made technological faux pas'.
And if you want to read more such funny messages, go to their website http://whenparentstext.com/

PS: For people who are not exactly "message savvy", like me.. there is a "emoticon glossary", so that we can save ourselves from further embarrassments :P

Facebook Display of Affection

This post is inspired by some very interesting FDA activity. Not aware of what FDA is? Well u better become acquainted with it fast.. it is going to invade your minds and computers soon.

The full form is - Facebook Display of Affection and believe me it can be much worse than PDA sometimes since there is a lot left to imagination! Don't get me wrong, I love Facebook.. and I love the fact that I can connect with long lost friends (and family too :P). I enjoy seeing photos and the status updates.. even if they may be as stupid as "Going to sleep"!?!

However, I think there is a limit to how much I want to know (or is there!). Is there some virtual ettiquette book that I am not aware of? How is one supposed to react when u see two "lovers" coochie-cooing on each others walls? And seriously, why are they doing it on your wall?!? And is it just me who is laughing? Do you really think the world is interested in knowing that u are in a "complicated relationship" and why?

A recent FDA example, "I love you my hubby, U are my everything."If this came from a married couple, I would have probably overlooked it but pls note that this couple is not yet married and not even engaged!

Secondly, even if they were married, they should be declaring their love to each other instead of announcing it on the world wide web! Btw, if they are loyal fans of FB and just have to communicate via FB.. I just want to let them know that FB has a "message" option.. and it is meant to be used!
I once indirectly told this person to abstain from FDA. Needless to say, not only did I fail miserably but I was also accused of being "Jealous"!?! Umm.. jealous I dunno.. but I am incredibly thankful to this person for providing me with a reason to laugh this evening and curing my year long writers block!

Do you people have any interesting FDA instances to share? What are your views? Lemme know..


PS: A big thank you to the loyal followers of my blog who have been pestering me to update. Thank you for your patience :)

Judicial reforms are the need of the hour

The world is indeed a strange place... And why do I say that? Read on..

Mr Akmal Shaikh, a British national, accused of smuggling drugs into China has been executed in the far western Chinese region of Xinjiang. China has very strict laws on drugs and almost on every thing. There are 68 crimes in China that are punishable by death, including non-violent offences such as fraud, bribery and drugs charges.
In recent years, people in China have been executed for tax fraud, stealing VAT receipts, damaging electric power facilities, selling counterfeit medicine, embezzlement, accepting bribes and drugs offences. Statistics indicate that 5000 people were executed in China during the year 2009!!

In India on the other hand, molesting a girl isn't considered a big crime and the maximum punishment is 2 years!! Here, life imprisonment means 14 years... and if in the rarest of the rare cases if some one is awarded a death penalty... like in the case of Dhananjay Chatterjee... we have the human right activists out on the streets , protesting!!

We need Judicial Reforms and quick. Having a democratic country is a good thing but letting that democracy, that freedom, interfere with the judicial system... can do good to no one.

Whatever said and done, atleast now we know how and why China is way ahead of India :)

A citizen speaks

Crime No I - Ex DGP, SPS Rathore molests a 14 year old girl, harasses her family, throws her out of school, leads her to commit suicide, impedes the judicial process for 19 years.

The Penalty - A fine of Rs 1000 and 6 months imprisonment ( RI, if that makes it any better !!)

Crime No. II - Habib Hussain pays Rs 2 Lakhs to a dubious agent who promises him a job in UAE, he goes abroad only to find there are no jobs, he works as a cleaner for an airline company who impounds his passport, Working for 13 hours a day and getting paid peanuts, he hides in the toilet of the aircraft and comes back to India. ( The crime here is that, he didn't buy a ticket, and of course he left his passport back there !!)

Penalty - He could face up to 5 years in jail. (Under the Passport (Entry to India) Act)

As an Indian citizen I have tremendous faith in our judicial system but it starts weakening when criminals come out of the court with a smile on their face because of the sheer power of money and their clout. SPS Rathore was smiling as though mocking us and saying, " Ha, You have faith in THIS system?? The one which has let a molestor go scot free? " I felt ashamed at seeing him smile... ashamed that the Indian Judicial system had failed to deliver justice, yet again. He has been fined Rs 1000.. Is this the punishment for playing with a young girls psyche and forcing her to commit suicide?? Can any amount of fine compensate for the trauma that Ruchika and her family have gone through?? Is it safe for your sisters and daughters to have maniacs like him still out in the open??

Sometimes, staying quiet is a crime by itself and SPS Rathore we, the people of India have stayed quiet long enough. Not anymore... So get ready to pay for your sins. When Mr Habib Hussain faces 5 years in jail... there is no way that you should get away with anything less than life imprisonment.

We, the citizens of India, demand justice... not the kinds which will make a mockery of the system, set the accused free and punish the victim instead... If we want to advance as a nation, we must first ensure that our country is not a safe haven for criminals and politicians. We must ensure that there are no more cases like Ruchika or Jessica Lal. I still have faith in our system... Do You?

Watercolour Tulips

There is nothing as calming as painting watercolour Tulips :) My first try at painting florals, but am quite pleased with the results :)