Secure that Lipstick!

Security concerns notwithstanding, separating a woman from her lipstick and migraine medicine is an open invitation for trouble!

Just when you think you have understood all the security norms, and have packed away all potentially hazardous material, something new comes up (BTW, I am curious to see how you terrorize an airplane with a tube of toothpaste or lipstick…threaten to brush your teeth mid-aisle, or smear lipstick on the pilot’s collar?!) …

“Madam, you have something in your hand baggage” said the wise old man on the security mountain.

I smiled at him, sagely, and shook my head “No, I have packed away all liquids / gels / creams / sharp objects in my suitcase”

“No” he insisted “there is something in your bag…please check it again”

What the…?!

I dug through the bag, holding up everything in it for his scrutiny.

“No, not that…not that…no…no…all that is ok…keep checking” he intoned.

I kept digging…papers, books, pens, visiting cards, keys, laptop (minus charger), mobile phone (also minus charger!), and tissues…what else was there?! I had even shifted my lipstick tube to my suitcase at the suggestion of the lady at the check-in counter (although the chappies at Bangalore let me bring it!)

“There is nothing else in the bag…only my tablets” I showed him the little case with my migraine medicine and emergency Digene.

Him bristling “Not allowed!”

Me incredulous “What?! I brought this with me through Bangalore security!”

“That was Bangalore…here it is different. Do you have a prescription with you?”

Now, when was the last time YOU carried a prescription for Digene!?

Me subdued “No”

“Then please pack it away” To his credit, he did not smirk at his little victory.

**Sigh**
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Just so this is clear, I have no issues with the whole concept of heightened security, or the associated restrictions. I understand the reasons and agree that the public should cooperate, in our own interest. My grievance is with the inconsistency of security norms...make up your collective, official, minds people!

Tag Heu? 'Er!

It looks like I have been tagged by Dents (No, not SRK, despite the title of this post! But Hope lives on!)...and poked as well, just in case I forgot that I was tagged! So here goes:

1) Say who tagged you - The One, The Only..The Doctor Denty!

2) Say eight things about yourself - Hmmm...do you think you ready to know eight things about me? Oh very well, if you insist....
I travel a lot.
I try to write about my traveling, but don't always get around to it.
As a result of all this traveling, I tend to buy a lot of books at the airport.
So, now, I have a lot of books.
I take said books and then read late into the night (which is often why I don't do the write I mentioned before!).
Thanks to the reading, I invariably wake up late in the morning.
This is also because I MUST get my daily 8 hours. Or 10. Or 12.
And these 8 / 10 / 12 are in addition to whatever sleep I get when I am on board the 'plane / us / train.

3) Tag 6 people -
The Tag-Master hisself (add this to your self-tag, Dents...go Nuts!), Sujatha, Amreena, Mr.Vee, DiTtY & Axe (you shudn't have dissed the Dents!)

Lemmings?

Once upon a time, India was a secular democracy. Apparently that changed, due to popular demand, but some of us missed getting that memo. So pardon me if I stare at you blankly when you prod me in the ribs, snarling "Sing! Or Else!"...Sholayesque as that may be, I have no need to prove my patriotism any more than the next person:

"The HRD Minister's remarks that there will be no compulsion to sing 'Vande Mataram' is a sign of abject surrender to fundamentalists and anti-nationals who should rather have been told to leave India if they do not want to recite the national song," Malhotra told reporters here.

The BJP leader said the Prime Minister should intervene to ensure singing of the national song became compulsory in schools.

"Also, those who are refusing to sing 'Vande Mataram' should be booked for treason," Malhotra remarked. (Who died and made you King?)

Once upon a time, thinking was the rule, not the exception...apparently that has also changed! "Err...I did not think about that" states the rather befuddled-looking MD of the newly opened Hitler's Cross café, on National Television, when pointed towards the fact that some people would find the connection offensive, hurtful even!:

"I will not change the name. We are not promoting Hitler. My decor or products don't promote Hitler. It's just for the sake of the name " owner Punit Sablok claims.(This, with a rather large portrait, of the mustachioed Fuhrer himself , dominating the background!)

Why do I get this nagging feeling that the migration of the lemmings is underway?

BlogBang : Project Akshara Foundation

During November of last year, a group of bloggers from Bangalore came together to see how we could help the Akshara Foundation on a Reading Movement project they were undertaking with the Karnataka State Education Department.

Recently the Deccan Herald did a story on the 'BlogBang' involvement with the project...though they did manage to get my occupation all wrong!

There were more than 35 volunteers who were a part of the project, including Sujatha, Mandar, Akash, Surjo , Bhaskar, Pradeep, Anwin, Kelly & Shrabonti.

Hats off to Sujatha for getting this going!

Vande Mataram!

Vande Mataram...Happy Indepedence Day!