Curious Connections

  Screen grab from Banff Website                                        ( Banff & Lake Louise Tourism | Official Destination Website                                                              https://www.banfflakelouise.com/ This is the first time I'm coming across a place called Banff. A person whom I know is on vacation in this place in Canada. Well, I haven't travelled outside India, so I don't know how to rate such places, especially the large expanse of snow covered wilderness.  Apart from the scenic beauty of this place, I was so interested in the website of this place, which had covered all aspects of this place.  Here are few key points which could be used in promoting our tourist spots.  1. Work I...

Friends Circle - Depleting after 40's  This is a problem with me and many others of my age. I have fewer friends, fewer calls or msgs to my phone. What's wrong? My circle of friends has shrunk? And, I'm the culprit? Who else can I blame it for?  I am mostly at home, doing a bit of gardening, cleaning, sweeping, watering plants, punching on my keyword, scrolling Insta for something catchy and my days are just wasted.  Wish or I should have gone out met people, shared my number, had more useful conversation and that could be the way to meet new people, hopefully out of that met someone that falls on my league.  Well, that's the way I know of how to make friends! Probably, I should start doing things what I know!

Screenshot of Wellness Series by The Hindu   I've been thinking of writing about this for quite long time. So, when I saw the poster about Wellness Series conducted by English daily, The Hindu, I thought it's time to pitch my plan into ChatGPT and get a detailed answer.  Well, I'm not happy with the answer it has provided. Somehow, I feel that these days ChaptGPT is holding back many potential points to non-subscribed users. Anyways, the answer it has given has the basic sketch of my plan. The plan is a suggestion to newspaper publishing houses to diversify into real estate biz, esp into developing Senior Living Homes !  Newspapers at the Peak of their Influence One thing for sure - most newspaper biz houses at their peak of circulation and influence had failed to realize the potential of real estate biz as a way to diversify their portfolio. And, now that portfolio is somewhat late to enter this space as this arena is populated with big players and money mongers....

Image Source: airbnb   I just went the need to write a post after seeing this beautiful airy house made with wood. The whole concept such a house embrace open space, nature, natural light, etc.  After seeing this picture, I was thinking of this - wouldn't it be possible for our local carpenters, architects, designers, etc to come together to make similar model houses which can be lifted and placed in picturesque spots of kerala.  What about such a house that could be close to a beach, where visitors can enjoy the full beauty of the location, yet give them modern amenities.  Well, making this does involve costs but it could be kept low with low-cost materials, wood, etc.  Now, imagine such a house by these locations: - near St Andrews beach or Kapil beach in Trivandrum. - At Bon Accord ( listed on airbnb site). The income from rentals could be used by tea estate workers in that location - by Neyyar dam site  - at a forest location inside Brimore area ne...

  Nanma Connect  "It was a simple, ordinary moment. I recently started the habit of taking hot rice water — kanji — something which used to be common in South India. As I sipped it, feeling the warmth and mild starch settle in my stomach, a thought struck me. This nourishing drink, full of energy and comfort, is something thousands of households in cities like Trivandrum throw away every day — down the drain, without a second thought. ( same in our households till last week when I started to drink it) And that’s when it hit me. What if this ‘waste’ could become a life-giving meal for someone who doesn’t know where their next food is coming from? What if we could connect kitchens, communities, and compassion through one forgotten resource — kanji? That moment became the seed of an idea — a voluntary food-sharing project where households contribute their leftover rice water, which is then collected, tracked through an app, and distributed to people in need at clean, community sp...

  SUT Hospital Canteen To The Hospital Administration, SUT Pattom Hospital, Trivandrum. Subject: Feedback and Suggestions Regarding the Hospital Canteen Facilities Dear Sir/Madam, I am a regular visitor to SUT Pattom and have always appreciated the care offered at your facility. During my recent visit for a blood test, I stopped by the hospital canteen for a cup of coffee, as I often do. While I’ve previously noticed a few discomforts, this time I felt compelled to write to you, as some of these issues are becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. Below are some observations and suggestions that I hope you will consider to improve the overall comfort and experience for patients, visitors, and staff who use the canteen: Seating and Furniture: Uncomfortable Chairs: The current chairs in the canteen have flat wooden bases. While they are polished and compact, they are not ergonomically suited for comfortable seating, especially for those who may already be under physical stress. I ...

 I live close to the home and clinic of a well-known psychiatrist. Every day, I watch a steady stream of people coming and going from his consultation. A few wear visible signs of distress — furrowed brows, anxious body language, restless pacing. But most blend into the crowd, their struggles tucked behind calm expressions — much like you or me on any ordinary day. The psychiatrist himself is a senior practitioner, managing his entire clinic alone. It often makes me wonder: how does he engage with each patient? How does he listen, diagnose, and decide on treatment — whether it’s medication, therapy, or simple reassurance? As a layperson with growing curiosity, I started thinking about the types of mental health conditions he might be treating. Anxiety? Depression? OCD? ADHD? SEXUAL - Arousal disorders, Relationship stress, Drug Abuse? The list could be long and diverse. But does he maintain any data? Does he track patterns over time? Given that he works independently, I imagine he ...