Giving in India

This is a different kind of blog post. I am posting this for the twestival which is on for the benefit of NGOs. The money generated will be donated to a charity which one chooses. So, friends if you feel strongly that you can do something, please be that and do.

        Much has been written about the giving in print and bandied about in the e-media. But, considering the close to 120crore population of our country, it is never enough and never sufficient. the least each of who can think, and feel for the under previleged, is to do something that is practical and do able than preach about the same. Its like this, by writing this blog, i will be spending my 10 minutes, the thoughts go around the people, who dont have shelters, who dont have a square meal a day, can't afford schools, but will benefit from the large hearted efforts of common people like u and me by those ngos which are nurturing them. If you can't donate money, no issue. Please donate ur time, talent and any other thing which you feel, will make life better for those, who dont have those.

I would like the amount generated from this blog be donated to India Literacy Project.

ಹಳ್ಳಿಯಿಂದ: ಬೆಂಬಲ ವಾಹನದೊಂದಿಗೆ ೧೩೫ ಕಿಮಿ ಸವಾರಿ

Shri Nelyadi govinda Bhat had an adventurous trip of around 135 km in his recumbent bike recently. the  link will lead to that post.


ಹಳ್ಳಿಯಿಂದ: ಬೆಂಬಲ ವಾಹನದೊಂದಿಗೆ ೧೩೫ ಕಿಮಿ ಸವಾರಿ

BLACK EAGLE'S DAY OUT ON JAN 16 2011

5th Bangalore Bird Race was scheduled on 16 Jan. Probably the largest in terms of team members 7 in total, and diverse in its composition, the Black Eagles set from IISc campus in the wee hours. Ably lead by Dr Gururaja KV and supported with occasional  glares and looks by the wise captain ((c) guru) Priti Gururaja. Bringing human touch with identifiying and pointing with avanyaru nodi, ivan ivanallava... was Dr Harish Bhat with constant ribbing on sarathi of the trip. I wonder where Dr HS Sudhira stores that inexhaustible source of energy in his 5o kg fragile frame? Its definitely not easy manoevering the bangalore traffic. He knows best being the man who gaveus urban sprawl! But his driving skill, we will explore in instalments. His passion for bird watching, was evident in the way he was excitedly pointing out the (at least to me difficult to spot even with binocs) lone rangers in distances. Dr Raghu Hedge, had come with his full trek kit, awe inspiring camera in tote, water bottle hitched to the everpresent backpack. How can I not mention my pick up and drop, cousin Dr NA Aravind, who with his keen ears and sight could come to identifying conclusion in a jiffy.(the one he dilly dallied did cost the eagle's their 15 seconds on the ramp PS also as Harish rightly said, who wanted a three way tie to the bird of the day???? sharing 2/3 of nice calenders!!)

       As the team assembled at the CES parking lot, as is the tradition, (BTW, I am going to bird watching after a gap of a few decades??) and started off in royal style to wards the silver jubilee pond. If you are looking for all the birds we spotted on the way, I will link it later. The sight of almost empty and barren pond bought tears to the eyes of team members whose fond memories were ignited in a unique way. the highpoint of this leg was the spotting of only the second sight till date of orange breasted green pigeon (link). the oohs and aahs of the team members were heard by the obgp but still he managed  to strike a stoic pose knowing fully well the fans and load of appreciation ahead. 

        The end of this leg culminated in the Nesara with steaming idli vadas bathing in sambar and hot coffee. Team left for the Hebbal lake, which unfortunately resembled the hampi ruins. The numbers and variety of winter visitors were meagre and not worth the stopover. But an interesting point here was a keen kid in his pre-teens, evincing interest to join the eagles on their expedition. He was sporting a pretty high tech camera, aiming and shooting any thing coming in the way. The kid was given some key pointers on birding and id by our Sudhira in his inimical style. 

       Surprisingly, traffic on the bellary road didnot test Sudhirs prowess. At puttenahalli lake (I don't know why it is still called so, because I could neither spot lake or water) which is covered mostly by hyacinth(?) few waterbirds were noticed and after a brief chat with the guards on duty, we left. A surprising feature by the side of the entrance is the CNR bar and resturant (renovated) evoking strong memories of the former director of IISc.

ನಿದ್ರಾ ಭಂಗ

ಮೊನ್ನೆ ಇದ್ದಕ್ಕಿದ್ದ ಹಾಗೆ ನಡು ನಿದ್ದೆಯಿಂದ ಎಚ್ಚರ ಆಯಿತು. ವಿಶೇಷ ಏನು ಅಂತ ಕೇಳ್ತೀರ? ಬಲ ಕಿವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಒಂದು ಸೊಳ್ಳೆ ಹೊಕ್ಕಿತ್ತು. ಪಾಪ ಅಂಕು ಡೊಂಕು ಒಣ ಬಾವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಕ್ಕಿ ಬಿದ್ದು ಹಿಂದು ಬರಲಾಗದೆ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೋಗಲಾಗದೆ ಫಜೀತಿ ಪಡುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ನನಗೋ ನಿದ್ದೆ ಹೋಗಿದ್ದೊಂದು ಕಡೆ, ಈಗ ಸೊಳ್ಳೆ ಏನಾದ್ರು ಕಿವಿ ಒಲವೆ ಕಚ್ಚಿ ಬಿಟ್ರೆ ಏನ್ ಮಾಡೋದು ಅನ್ನೋ ಯೋಚನೆ ಇನ್ನೊಂದ್ಕಡೆ. ಸರಿ, ಒಳ ಕಿವಿಯ ತಮ್ಮಟೆ ಹತ್ರ ಹೋಗ್ತಾ ಇದ್ದ ಹಾಗೆ, ನಗಾರಿ ಬಾರಿಸಿದ ಸದ್ದು, ಕರ ಕರ ಪರ ಪರ ಅಂತ ರಾತ್ರಿಯ ನೀರವ, ನನ್ನ ಯೋಚನೆ ಎರಡನ್ನೂ ಕದಿಯುವ ಸೊಳ್ಳೆ. ಮಗ್ಗುಲು ಬದಲಿಸಿದರೆ ಹೊರ ಹೋಗಬಹುದು ಅನ್ನೋ ಯೋಚನೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದೆ, ಮಗ್ಗುಲು ಬದಲಿಸಿದೆ. ಊಹೂನ್ ಸೊಳ್ಳೆ ಜಪ್ಪಯ್ಯ ಅನ್ನಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮತ್ತೆ ಕರ ಪರ, ಯಾವ ಎಮೆರ್ಜೆನ್ಸಿ ಹಿಂಸೆಗೂ ಕಮ್ಮಿ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಕರ್ಣ ವೇದನ. ಅಯ್ಯೋ ದೇವರೇ ಈ ನಡು ರಾತ್ರಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವ ಕಿವಿ ಡಾಕ್ಟರ ಹುಡುಕಲಿಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗಲಿ ಅಂಬೋ ಸಂಕಟ ಬೇರೆ. ಅಮ್ಮವರನ್ನು ಏಳಿಸೋಕ್ಕೆ ಭಯ (ಆಮೇಲೆ ಸುರುವಾಗೋ ಹಿಂಸೆಗಿಂತ ಕಿವಿ ನೋವ ವಾಸಿ) ಬೇರೆ. ಇದರ ಮಧ್ಯೆ  ಕಿವಿಗೆ ಹೊಕ್ಕೊಂಡ ಅರಳೆ ಯಾಕಪ್ಪ ಮಲಗೋ ಮೊದಲು ತಗಿ ಬೇಕಿತ್ತು ಅಂತ ನನ್ನನ್ನೇ ಜರೆಯುತ್ತಾ ಅತ್ತಿತ್ತ ಮಗ್ಗುಲ ಬದಲಿಸೋ ಕೆಲಸ ಸುರು ಮಾಡಿದೆ. ಇಸ್ತರೊಳಗೆ ಪಾಪ ಸೊಳ್ಳೆ, ಯಾವ ಕಾಲದಿಂದ ಕಲೆ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದ ಗುಗ್ಗೆ ರಾಶಿ ಒಳಗೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿ ಸುಮ್ಮನಾಯ್ತು. ಅಯ್ಯಬ್ಬ ಬದಿಕಿದೆ ದೇವರೇ ಅಂತ ಮಲಗೋ ಮೊದ್ಲು ನೆನಪಾಗಿದ್ದು ಅಪ್ಪ ನನ್ನ ಬಾಲ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಾಲ ಮೇಲೆ ಮಲಗಿಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಪ್ರತಿ ವಾರ ಕಿವಿ ಸ್ವಚ್ಚ ಮಾಡ್ತಿದ್ದ ಸೀನು. ಭಾನುವಾರ ಮಧ್ಯಾನ ಸ್ನಾನದ ನಂತರದ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಅದೇ. ಒಂದು ಸಣ್ಣ ಸೈಕಲ್ ಸ್ಪೋಕೆ ತುದಿಗೆ ಅರಳೆ ಸುತ್ತಿ, ಹಗೂರಕ್ಕೆ ಕಿವಿಯಾಗೆ ಸುತ್ತಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ, ಸಣ್ಣಕ್ಕೆ ಅಮಲು ಏರ್ಕೊತಿತ್ತು. ನಿಜ ಹೇಳ್ಬೇಕು ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಅದ್ನ ಅನುಭವಿಸ್ಬೋದಷ್ಟೇ. ಬರ್ಯೋಕೆ ಖಂಡಿತ ಆಗಲ್ಲ. ಈ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ಕಿವಿಗೂ ಮುಗಿತು ಅಂದ್ರೆ ನಾವ್ ರೆಡಿ. ಸಣ್ಣದಾಗಿ ಹೇಳ್ಬೇಕಂದ್ರೆ ಪ್ರತಿ ವಾರ ನಾನು ಕಾಯ್ತಿದ್ದ ವಿಶೇಷ ಕಾರ್ಯ ಇದು. ಅಪ್ಪ ಏನಾದ್ರೂ ಕಿವಿ ಕ್ಲೀನ್ ಮಾಡಿ ಇಟ್ಟಿದ್ರೆ, ಸೊಳ್ಳೆ ನನ್ನ ಕಿವಿ ಧಂ ಅನ್ನಿಸ್ಬಿತ್ತಿರೋದೇನೋ? 

DO'S AND DONT'S FOR A PLATELET DONATION

Minimum requirements to qualify:
This may change from time to time
* Weight should be at least 60 kgs ( as against 45 kg in whole blood donation)
* Hb count between 13 and 15 ( same for blood donation)
* Should have normal platelet count ( 2 to 5 lakh/dl)
* should not be under medication especially blood thinning ones like aspirin etc.
* should not have donated whole blood in the past 3 months.
* rest of the conditions similar to that of blood donation
* platelet donation campaigns can't be organised for the reason of low shelf life.
* not all blood banks are equipped with platelet pheresis machines.
Some key factors about platelet are
* fresh platelets cannot be stored for more than 4 days
* As the shelf life is so low, there will always be demand for platelets
* in chronic bleeding cases, requriement will be huge
* in dengue season, platelet which is one of the vital life saver, the shortage of which kills many needy patients.
* a donor can donate platelets once in every fortnight. He cannot donate whole blood though for the next three months.
* it is advised to carry some books or mp3 players as you are lying in bed for close to 1.5 hours.
* THOUGH THIS INFORMATION IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE IT GIVES U THE BASICS.
For a list of donors and other info contact the links below
www.lionsbloodline.com
www.bloodbook.com
www.redcross.org
Still feel in doubt contact me on email      kvca65@gmail.com
or mobile      9448872651            or 080 23432464

Prices of Onions and Tomatoes

you might have just noticed that the name onion and tomato brings tear to the eyes of common man. No I am saying cutting onion makes you cry. no thinking about it makes you cry. people will now add the legend that probably onion is the only vegetable which makes people cry not only in its raw physical form but metaphysical form as well. worst part of the whole episode is, production of onion has actually gone up and not down as the jokers in the ministry suggested. its a pity nobody, punishes hoarders. well, sharad bhai is too busy to attend to chunnu issues like onion jacking up to 80Rs a kilo etc. He is busy organising the world cricket. noble man!!! sad part in this whole episode is neither the grower nor the consumer are happy!! only the middlemen or shall I call them sharadbhai's cronies who are the beneficiaries of this whole game. next time around, you will have virtual onion salads on your plate. you can savour virtually and cry !!!

Minor complications which may deter a neo-donor during blood/platelet donations

Well, its been a long time since my last blog. To continue with the platelet donation process also called platelet pheresis...

  Please remember not all donors can give platelets. The donor suitability is checked for platelet count and other blood parameters, the suitability of vein for the donation and general health conditions. So, please dont feel disappointed if you are turned back from a donation temporarily. You may re-coup the parameters in normal course and try again after say a month. Now, consider you are found eligible also for platelet donation. Please ensure that you have at least 2 hours spare time for the completion of donation (approx). Unlike normal blood donation, platelet pheresis takes about 90-110 minutes for donation and 30 minute for prel checks.

   If all goes well, no issue. But there may be a likely hood of machine malfunctioning. In that case, the worst that happens is the operator switches off the machine. collects whatever has been donated and thats the end of the story. Some times, they may try to restart the machine, ask to press vigorosly the ball in hand etc. which may not help the machine any end. so, that extra blood pumped out after the restart will go as hysteris waste. it s neither processed nor returned back to the donor. (this incidnentally happened to me during oct 25th 2010 platelet donation at MSR hospital, unfortunately, the technician was not competent to tell me about what had happened. And MSR hospital never bothered to reply to my e-mail query)

  And dont be discouraged by such minor hiccups, because this has happened only first time in my 37 blood donations(platelets included) so far. Still, it is always good to know what to expect. If you have any doubt, ask the attending doctor to explain exactly what had happened.