DesertWind » Misc

Boobs or Heart?

Riyaz Usman — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 10:15:57 +0000

Yesterday’s Times of India carries this news item on it’s front page. It talks about how the new body scanner system to be installed on New Delhi airport will point out all the surgical implants (like ortho metal plates, pacemakers, artificial valves etc.,). The headline of the article reads as follows.

Delhi airport scanners will find your ‘assets’ explosive

Article on the Front Page

So, silicon implants are more important than pacemakers. Or do ToI have more readers with asset enhancements than Ortho metal plates?

Page 7 does contain same article with a better reporting language and headline. What’s the point of having the masala version of the same news on the front page then?

News on Page 7

Is it just that ToI finds ‘Scanner to point out all surgical implants‘ too boring and Hinduish for a front page article?

Disturbing, Indeed.

KCirlce_2010_04_10_Mithun.ppt

Hyderabad Indiblogger Meet 2010

Riyaz Usman — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 20:10:03 +0000

It seems that Indiblogger team is conducting a blogger’s meet in Hyderabad after two years. (The twitter hashtag is #indihyd) Though I’m quite unsure what a infrequent blogger like me do in a large bloggers meet, I’ve decided to give it a try. So if you are a micro/macro blogger from Hyd or in Hyd, you can try attending too.

When & Where?

Sunday, April 11, 2010 – 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM, at Fortune Select Manohar, Begumpet Airport Exit Road, Begumpet, Hyderabad.

Agenda and more info is available at the Indiblogger event page. You an register for the event there.

So what? See you there. Let me see if you can recognize me. Do you think it’s a good idea for me to run a small quiz there. Probably around blogging?

Ishaan – You live in our hearts

Riyaz Usman — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 09:25:27 +0000

Ishaan is son of my friend Venu in Infosys. I’ve never seen Ishaan. Nor I’ll be able to now.

Eighteen months old Ishaan died yesterday, while undergoing treatment for a rare type of brain tumor. But Ishaan will still see the world with his eyes. He still will live his life. He saved a life, and gave sight to two.

Despite of the enormous grief and toughest time in their life, Venu and his wife Swati decided to donate his eyes and kidneys, marking a must-followed example for all. It really would have been a tough decision for them, but they wanted to make his short life meaningful.

Venu, Please allow me to join you in your grief. My prayers are always with you. I’m proud to say that I’m your friend. What you’ve done is an unmatched act of compassion.

I realy couldn’t resist what Venu has told me about this.

The idea was to spread awareness about organ donation. We were inspired by Master Shourya’s case (he was the youngest organ donor – same age as Ishaan.). We hope many others get inspired by Ishaan’s story.

It was painful to recount our experience but we had to do it for the cause of organ donation.

News Report on The Hindu