I don't have a six pack...so?

Every Tom Dick and Harry wants to have a six pack these days. I mean its kind of become a craze lately. I see loads of people sweating on tread mills when I walk back home. I pity them. Why? What's wrong if one wants to sport a six pack? Nothing wrong if one wants to look skinny / slim / fit. But I don't see a point when people don't understand the importance of fat, body structure, metabolism but want to shed weight or want a six pack.

Now I have browsed through several articles to understand how fat gets built up, how it is used and when it becomes dangerous. I shall try and restrict my self to 2 paragraphs and will provide sources at the bottom so that readers who are interested can get more information.

If you're under the assumption that our ancestors used to work really hard and we aren't. Its a MYTH. In fact, we are working more than they did or at least the same. So, where is the problem? Early man used to hunt and food wasn't plenty back then. More so till the invention of pesticides. In the recent times, I had never heard about a famine in India or most countries except some nations in Africa. Countries like North Korea (1995-99) and Sudan (1998) had famines after 1990. (Amn't talking about poverty here. Am talking about availability of food and most parts of Africa is still under famine. Its an eye opener to read this wiki article  and this BBC article). We have abundant food available more than what our ancestors had. The intake is more than the expenditure. Over a period of time when energy (measured in calories) intake is more than expenditure, it gets deposited in the form of fat and further deposits can lead to obesity.

1 pound of fat stores a little more than 3500 calories. This is what helped early man to survive when there was no food. Nature has helped humans in storing fat at certain places in body. Thus helping in mating too. Fat helps you to keep yourself warm, acts like a cushion. Now there are two types of fat. Visceral and Subcutaneous. The former in excessive amounts is dangerous and is a risk to your life. So if you have more of Visceral fat burn it. But fat burns in an order too. The fat in the face gets burnt first, then arms and legs, thighs and hips then comes abdominal fat. So, its absolutely of no use if you just keep working only on abs.

Anyway am not suggesting any diet recommendations here. Point is having a small paunch is ok. As long as you're healthy don't feel bad that you don't have a six pack. Walk more often. Drink plenty of water. Reduce in take of alcohol and that will reduce the urge to binge junk food. Now you could also consider donating some money and help: Famine in East Africa How you can help

Sources:

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_pound.php

http://www.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/fat-cell1.htm

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/30641.php

http://greatist.com/health/belly-fat-worst-kind/#

http://www.ieham.org/html/docs/Famine%20in%20the%20Twentieth%20Century%20Devereaux.pdf

http://www.mikementzer.com/bodyfat.html

Note: Please donate using your discretion. 

Dress well to do well...a myth!

Well how many of us throw a dirty look at a guy who wears "slippers" to office? Many. Well I was debating with my colleague the other day, "Does dressing really matter?" I do not yet have directs but he is a manager. He said ,"Yes".

I asked, "What about work? I could care less as long as the guy is wearing a dress which doesn't make others uncomfortable. Its work that we should be bothered about. Not his slippers, beard or jeans! " 

My colleague said,  "I wouldn't even consider such candidates. Work is secondary for me. He has to dress formally to office"

"What do you mean? You will ignore a candidate who is an excellent performer just because he wears floaters to office? You're in a halo effect. Wake up."

"I will. I will prefer a candidate who wears office wear over an Einstein. They are meant to work in labs, not offices."

With that we stopped the conversation. Both of us knew we will not reach to a conclusion. To my surprise most of my colleagues were supporting him.

In the field of management, which is a mixture of science and art, there is no one "right" way of doing things. But his debate got me thinking. While I fully agree that since we live in a society there are occasions where one has to dress aptly. For example, say a funeral..I don't want to see a woman attending the mourning in a bikini however sexy she is. Though am a hindu, if I were to visit a mosque, I will wear an Imama (cap). If I were conducting an interview I wouldn't mind a candidate coming in a simple trouser and shirt (presentable).

There are tons of articles, videos and papers explaining the importance of 'power dressing' and how it can build and shape your career. Possible. But is power dressing required every day just to impress your boss to do well at office? If yes, the boss should fire the management first thing (even if its late night!). Most companies boldly state they recognise 'talent' and groom it. If a guy is uncomfortable wearing shoes, why pressurise him? Instead you could focus on his positives and develop his competencies than with holding his promotion because of a certain halo effect / stereotype you have.

A few years from now millenials will join the workforce at full swing. Wonder if we could dare ask them to come dressed to office the way we want. I bet if they'll stay long. Forget about retaining them with old school of thought.

The days are long gone if one thinks a guy who dresses smartly can kick ass every one. If you are one of those who fall in such traps, high time you realise this and come out of it. Don't ignore talent because he didn't walk into the interview room 'suited up'. A true teacher / leader is one who sees the innate hidden potential but not the present qualities. Just by looking at a seed, you can't imagine, what magnificent tree is inside it. 

Short films..what I look for?

In recent times, I have seen a lot of my friends mention about, act or direct a short film. I have seen a lot of them. Most of the times, I was thoroughly disappointed and at times surprised and mesmerised by their creativity. Now, just because one has the money to purchase a camera and got few blokes around him / her to act in a nonsensical exchange of dialogues doesn't make them good directors or actors. Same holds true the other way round, those who have a blog or express their opinion freely and think they are critiquing a work of art are equally ludicrous. 

My attempt here isn't to write the art of critiquing or acting. It is only to let enthusiastic / aspirant directors / actors know what I, an ordinary human look for in a short film.

1.Theme: To have a theme according to me is utmost important. We are being flooded by small movies all round the world. According to CBFC 15 million people watch movies every day  in India in some or the other format. Now that's a market with tremendous potential. Imagine the number of films which gets released in 13,000 theaters across India. Movies of all sorts are already ushered on to audience. Now I don't want to watch the same movies in a shorter format as well. 

2.Story line: It is must to have a story. Care must be taken that characters are woven around it. Vice versa doesn't work all the time. 

3.Editing: A poorly edited film is like food cooked without salt in it. It shows laziness on part of the film maker. I want to see a neatly edited film with not some junk thrown at me.

4.Actors: You may be making the film. Please for god sake if you can't act. Don't. Period. Please choose actors who fit the story appropriately. 

5.Lighting: Ensure that your movie is visible unless you want to keep the audience guessing.

I personally have no suggestions about how to do all these things. It is completely up to the director of a film. But if you keep the above points in mind, chances are that, audience will get interested about the movie.

Begging - What about it? Is it a crime?

It's a common sight in India, that you find beggars on streets. There are all sorts. Children, old men and women, eunuchs, crippled and at times fit men and women. If we keep aside, whether people should  and who should beg, whether its legal or not. In the recent past, I have been pestered a lot by kids and eunuchs and they wouldn't leave you till you give away money.

The other day at a temple, I had given a 2 Rs coin to a old woman who had asked for it. To my horror, she started demanding more. When I refused to give any more, she started abusing me for giving me just 2 Rs. One of my friend was telling me the other day, that, a eunuch used to come to his house daily. They would eventually give up because s/he wouldn't leave. They used to give away 1 or 2 Rs coins daily just to get rid off him/her. An year later the eunuch was demanding 10 Rs note. This exactly was what s/he said it seems, "How do you expect me to live on your 1 or 2 Rs? Don't you know about inflation? I need 10 Rs."

All these incidents made me curious. Before jumping to conclusions and making statements such as, begging is a crime, its heinous, ban begging and all. Lets analyse certain points.

What does religion say? Alms giving is an age old practice preached and followed by most religions today.  Though the seeker / receiver of the alms may not be beggars (literally). In Mahabharata, Indra has reached out to Karna in disguise of a brahmin for his armor and ear rings.  zakat, or the giving of alms, is the third of the five pillars of Islam. On one side common man, god fearing who wants to attain heaven after his death or for his ancestors' comforts in heaven is more than willing to donate. So it has been in Indian psyche to give 'something' in some or the other form.

On the flip side, why will anyone want to beg? And I have stumbled upon sources, which now treat, begging as an Industry!! According to TOI in 2006, Mumbai's beggars earn Rs 180 crore a year. Rediff in 2008 claims it to be Rs.1.8 Billion industry. Sure looks lucrative. 

Let's look at some stats. The literacy rate in India improved from 18.33% (both rural and urban) in 1951 to 69% (rural) and 85% (Urban) in 2011. That shows we still have a long way to go. We have gradually moved from Agrarian based economy to service sector based economy. The split across sectors is,
Agriculture - 17.2%
Industry - 26.4%
Services - 56.4% (Source Indexmundi)
If not for services sector, what would have been the rate of Indian unemployment? God has to answer.

There are lot of definitions for the term 'BPL' (Below Poverty Line) but according to me if a person can't eat at least one meal a day is below poverty line. In India the figure is 29.8% (Source CIA) which can easily be translated to 30 crores or more. Unemployment rate in India is no better either it stands at an estimated rate of 9.8% ( Source CIA).

So there is definitely a lot to be done not just by government but by youth in terms of employment generation. I am more than happy to notice a lot of budding entrepreneurs. Just realise we are yet to reach that point when we can treat criminals and beggars alike. Next time you see a beggar if possible donate. Else blame country's youth. But if you see someone who is completely capable of working, begging deny. Next time you find someone abusing you because you have given them JUST 2 Rs. Coolly walk up to them. Take back your money. Go to a grocery shop buy a chewing gum. You're helping the economy grow by buying goods!! 

Use and Usability of Research

I was at Hyderabad for New Year's eve. I was pulled by my friend this morning to visit a temple, which was some distance from my home. We were travelling by bike. I had traveled by the same road couple of nights earlier. Its a high way and was in a pathetic condition.To my surprise, the road was freshly relaid. I was happy for a while. But one could see the Asphalt wearing off. One heavy lash of rain, the road will be in a sorry state. It made me curious. I currently live in Bangalore and roads aren't great in Bangalore as well.  When I was a student, my college once organised a seminar on the amount of research and quality of research papers in India. Most of them were mentioning and comparing the work at par with colleges of international repute. (Hmmm!!)

Now, one can argue for hours that it is true. My intention is not to contest against it either. But I  was always asked to read / prepare for the class from foreign journals very rarely Indian. I wonder what happens to all the research that happens? I know a couple full time profs who publish, rubbish (oh absolute crap) because they have to have SOME publication with in a time frame. Do we and can we apply our own such research in India? We compare ourselves with China all the time. Fact is we are inferior to China.This is what our PM Dr.Singh had to say in 2012(An article by Nitin Sethi, in Times of India, China ahead of India in scientific research, Says PM Manmohan Singh). The situation remains as-is. I don't think so, it would have changed in an year and will change in next 10 -12 years.

In times where Social media has become the oxygen for a body called, economy. I hardly see any IIM / IIT Profs tweeting or any Indian institutes completely utilising social media tools. May be they could learn a thing or two from HBR. Why can't local governments be helped by educational institutions? After all some colleges receive huge funding. It's tax payers money. Quality of life in India can be bettered a lot if the research could be channelised properly. Any company before approaching a college for any consulting / research work should look at college's, 'local impact' i.e what could a college / educational institution do in order to improve local living conditions? How useful is the research being done locally useful? How well is the institute able to market itself? (Everyone wants to go viral these days) I believe if one can understand local needs successfully he will be in a position to estimate global needs with fair amount of accuracy.

I only hope we utilise our resources and research properly to better develop our communities. If it needs funds, government should be willing to spend and prevent brain drain. If the best of brains are forced to leave the country, it is nothing but, 'Succession Slaughter'.  Prevent it!