772. When lies become Moral lessons

Finally the truth is out. When my friend Bragadeesh clicked a picture of an old man, little did he know that a great truth will finally be revealed by that old man. The picture says it all

- Chronicwriter

771. Frooti and my childhood

The Frooti pack image that is added here is a new version of Frooti. When it hit the markeet inthe late 80s / early 90s, the drink came in a green pack.

The song "Mango Frooti! Fresh and Juicy" is still fresh in my memory. Watching that ad in the old Bush TV in our house in Doordarshan brings me some great memories of those days.

The Frooti pack was priced at Rs 3 at that time and it was a costly drink. My sister was a big fan of frooti. She would always buy frooti. Me, being a boy always opted for Gold spot.

I treated Frooti like a girls drink and I would consider that only boys were capable of drinking aerated drink. Yes I was against gender equality.

I would try to drink Gold spot in one gulp, but always failed to do that. Holding the goldspot bottle in one hand and drinking it was supposed to be a cool act back in the late 80s. Those who have done that will understand what I am talking about.

Though I did not like Frooti, I always collected the pack after my sister completed drinking it. I would then inflate the pack by blowing through the hole in the pack, keep the pack on the floor and jump on it and it would explode with a loud noise. How many of you have done this? The fun with frooti is not in drinking it; the actual fun lies in bursting the pack.

This morning I read the news about rebranding of Frooti. The news pulled me back to my childhood days. Do you have such memories with Frooti?

- Chronicwriter

770. Throwback to examination hall

Ten things that happen in every exam halls

1) Exams make people get closer to God. The five minutes before receiving the question paper and the one minute after receiving the question paper in hand, is the period during which fervent prayers are offered to God. People who have not touched the book also become spiritual hoping God to do a miracle

2) If you write a lot of gas for Instrumentation papers (BE) you will get good marks. I am an Instrumentation engineer from Madras University (1999 batch)

3) If you happen to sit behind a studious student, you automatically get an inspiration.

4) The hand writing in the first two pages resembles a neatly written record book. I the last 30 minutes of the exam, everyone becomes a doctor. (My doctor friends all have bad hand writings. So I take the liberty to make this statement. Doctors, who have good handwriting, please excuse me. Don't file a defamation case against me. I have a weak body. Adi thaanga maatein)

5) A student who helps you during exam time by passing chits, showing you the right answer is a FRIEND

6) A student who does not help you during exam time is a terrorist and such a person should be immediately sent to Pakistan.

7) The first person to leave the hall after finishing the exam is seen as the hero of the class. When he goes out, he waits at the entrance and makes sure some body else joins him. So he encourages the others from outside showing hand gestures to come out soon.

8) People who teach us sure-shot questions right before we enter the exam hall are the spiritual gurujis of the class.

9) People who use scientific calculators in the exam are scientists. Most of the time, I just press random buttons on the scientific calculator (especially when the invigilator is in close proximity)

10) I forgot the 10th point. This always happens with me. For a ten point answer, I would always forget one point. But I would not just leave it blank. I would fill that point with some answer as I have done here.

Click this link [ Examination Blues - Those School days] to know about my school day exam time memories.

-Chronicwriter

769. Amma saves Tamil Nadu from flood

The social media and anti Puratchi thalaivi gang is spreading false propoganda against our Puratchi Thalaivi Dr. Maanbumigu Amma J. Jayalalitha. It pains my heart to see people trying to defame our Amma. The opposition parties are in full swing trying to add a blackmark in the pure dove heart of our Chief minister.

I could not keep quiet any longer. This post is my defense with solid proofs on how Amma has single handedly saved TamilNadu from floods. Here are six reasons why Amma and no one else is responsible for rescuing, rehabilitating and providing safe environment for people who were affected by the flood.

Reason 1 : Amma brought unity in diversity by ordering rains to hit Tamil Nadu.

Salem Collector made an announcement that the rains hit Tamil Nadu because of Amma's orders. Going by his verified statement, it is very clear that because of the rains, the whole world turned its eyes towards TamilNadu. If Amma had not done this, lot of people would not have joined hands for the rescue effort. An RJ Balaji, actor Siddharth, TamilNadu weather man, Shailender Babu would have been just ordinary entertainers and civil servants if not for Amma's order.

Reason 2: Amma sticker fiasco

There were rumors that AIADMK party workers forced relief workers to affix Amma stickers on relief materials. These rumors were spread by opposition party members and their TV channels. The opposition party evil forces wore AIADMK party worker masks and tried to tarnish Amma's image. But truth cannot be hidden. Their evil deeds did not stand a chance against the true heart of Puratchi Thalaivi. Social media jokers even made fun of ADMK party workers by creating memes like the one below

Even if the AIADMK workers had behaved like that, what is wrong in that? Why should not Amma get the credit? If Amma gets the credit, why are social media hate groups not liking that? Isn't she our honorable CM?

Reason 3: Amma not utilizing the disaster relief money immediately

There were complaints in Amma not releasing the disaster relief money immediately. If Amma had released that money immediately, the whole of TamilNadu would not have come together to help the victims. Once people started helping the victims, Amma made the announcement of how she will use the money to help the people. This was in fact a strategic move by Amma in helping the people of the state. Party workers paid their respect by pouring milk on Amma's posters. Now critics will say that milk was wasted for this act. Such critics will keep on barking like that. I don't give a damn for them

She bore all the insults and still she came forward to help the people in distress. If she does not get Nobel Prize for this selfless deed, Mother Teresa's Nobel Prize should be revoked. 

Reason 4 : Amma brought Modi to TamilNadu

The Prime Minister of India who is made fun of as the NRI PM of India was brought to Chennai by Amma. He brought the centre's attention towards Tamil Nadu. On seeing Amma, Modi immediately allocated flood relief funds to Tamil Nadu.

Reason 5: Amma being the CM

If Amma had been in jail, she could not have done this amazing act of saving TamilNadu from the floods. She had to come out at the right time. Judge Kumarasamy's calculator did the trick at the right time. Kalaignar TV is using some broken violin to add BGM to their Anti-Amma campaign in their channels. Still nothing can deter our love and affection for our AMMA, because we know that she was the reason behind this unity in diversity.

Note : This is not a satire post. This is written with utmost respect for our PuratchiThalaivi Amma. 

Additional Note : If you are searching for the 6th reason, please remember that I used the same calculator used by Judge Kumarasamy.

- Chronicwriter

768. Entrepreneurial tips from Minu Marie Mathew

Minu is the founder, owner and CEO of ART-ery. She has succeeded in taking the entrepreneurial plunge. There are thousands of souls who have the thirst to become entrepreneurs; but with a fear of taking the first step forward.

This post might be an inspiration for those who decide to follow their passion. I had a one on one chat time with Minu to understand her thought process for ART-ery. When I started having the one on one conversation with Minu, I had the option of donning the KRK mask/ Arnab mask and ask questions. Finally I settled for my own mask.

1) Why did you start ART-ery in the first place?

I wanted to do something on my own. I wanted the brand message to be clear. We do not do sizes. It should be "One size fits all" . Hence zeroed down on Fashion Accessories. Something before I turned 30 was also a secret motive

Mindvoice : Ahhh! She is not yet 30 ;)

2) As in Minu - How did u land up here in the first place?

I studied fashion for 5 years and worked in Various companies for 6 years.I felt restrictive working for someone. Here I could take a leap is what I felt

3) Growth plans?

I am a nomadic person. Never wanted to be in a store pinned to one place. So I would see myself only being places online.But expansion would be increasing categories. Home Decor is on my mind.I would like to create a Home decor line for ART-ery

3) Investment pattern ( I know this is a private question.)

Set up cost was close to Nil. I function out of a small studio in Trivandrum Just reworked to accommodate inventory, a small work station with a Laptop and good Internet was basically all my investment.Plus 70% of my investments are in Inventory and rest in Marketing as I do a lot of exhibitions

4) What has been your most memorable sale?

Memorable Sale is when celebrities buy something or else when kids cry outside your stall saying they want to buy it

 5) Which marketing channel best works for ART-ery ( so far) ?

Surprisingly Facebook. Spreads like wildfire [link]

6) Have you encountered any negative feedback on social media for ART-ery?

So far NO. Touch wood. Customer care has been taken care of as priority number one. I worked in Luxury Retail where we are trained to handle that very well

7) What was the first product you sold? Tell me about the experience!

My grandmother was the first one to buy. It was a headband and a scarf.

8) What was the product for which lot of time and energy was spent on?

Handcrafted range as always. They are necklaces. also best performing so no complaints. I source most of my collection from Wholesalers. I am more of a curator. It is handpicked in India and Internationally (most of it). We also get imported beads and other raw materials those are made in house by my mother. She is technically the master mind behind ART-ery's signature handcrafted range

9) Any movie star who has worn ARTery products?

Parvathy Menon. Check that ring :)

 10) Greatest lesson learnt in this ART-ery journey so far?

There are no timings when it is your own business. The more you do the more you get. One excuse I give;it reflects in my sale. Have to be at it all the time.. Helps me be more creative looking at new avenues to expand and be different. Hard work pays! This is the greatest lesson I have learnt.

- Chronicwriter