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Sanjay Goel

2008-Sep-02 22:48 UTC

Issue with JSON gem

Hi,
I am using json-1.1.3 for parsing json output from google reader api.
Its seems like some of the rss feeds have illegal characters and when
google reader api returns those, the parse method throws a
JSON::ParserError (unexpected token) error.
Has anybody faced the same issue? I would want to ignore these
characters instead of getting a ParserError.

Here''s the exact error:
JSON::ParserError (unexpected token at ''{"title":"Why
Save the
turtles?","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/04/
14/why-save-the-turtles/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon,
14 Apr 2008 00:48:22 -0700","contentSnippet":"I f
ound this page on the greenpeace site, and throught it is important
for readers here to notice.\n\n            \n
     \n  ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI found \u003ca
href\u003d
\"http://www.greenpeace.org/india/turtles/why-save-turtl
es\"\u003ethis page on the greenpeace site\u003c/a):
    /vendor/plugins/json-1.1.3/lib/json/common.rb:122:in `parse''
    /vendor/plugins/json-1.1.3/lib/json/common.rb:122:in `parse''
    /app/controllers/city_controller.rb:5271:in `google_read_rss''

Here''s the raw json output:

{"responseData": {"feed":{"title":"Footprints
on the
Mountainside","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog","author":"","
description":"Wide Aware moments that stay with us for
life","type":"rss20","entries":[{"title":"Train
the Outdoor Train
er","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/08/30/train-the-
outdoor-trainer/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate"
:"Sat, 30 Aug 2008 09:14:21 -0700","contentSnippet":"As
I had
mentioned earlier, we are doing a Training the Trainer Pro
gramme for facilitators in the┬á outdoors.\nAdd value to
your ...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs I had
\u003
ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/08/13/outdoor-
management-training-with-roger-greenaway/\"\u003ementio
ned earlier\u003c/a\u003e, we are doing a Training the Trainer
Programme for facilitators in the┬á outdoors.\u003c/p\u00
3e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-
family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eAdd value to y
our outdoor  programmes with these skills and tools for facilitating
active learning.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u0
03c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-
family:Times New Roman\"\u003eEmpower Activity Ca
mps and  Wide Aware invite you to participate in a three day trainer-
training  programme designed especially for provide
rs of outdoor training.\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c/span
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp align\u003d\"center\"\u
003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:medium;font-family:Arial\"\u003e
\u003cstrong\u003eFacilitation Skills  for Outdoor
 Trainers\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
align\u003d\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"
font-size:medium;font-family:Arial\"\u003epresented by Dr. Roger
Greenaway\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp alig
n\u003d\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan
style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-
family:Arial\"\u003eEMPOWER ACTIVITY CAMPS,  KOLAD\u
003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp align\u003d\"center\"\u003e
\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Ar
ial\"\u003e14 ΓÇô 16 Oct 2008\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-
family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThis three day
residential  programme\u003c/strong\u003e with Roger Gree
naway will enable you to\u003cstrong\u003e:\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/
span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\
u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New
Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRefresh\u003c/strong\u
003e and    sharpen your facilitation skills\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font
-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong
\u003eRevisit\u003c/strong\u003e the    fundamentals of facil
itating learning and development\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;
font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDevelop\u003c/
strong\u003e your    skills in facilitating discussio
ns arising from experiential activities.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-siz
e:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExtend
\u003c/strong\u003e your    training tool kit with re
viewing methods that motivate participants\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-s
ize:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn
\u003c/strong\u003e to    match reviewing methods to
 activities and to stages in a programme\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-siz
e:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDevelop
\u003c/strong\u003e strategies    and techniques tha
t will increase the transfer of learning\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style
\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New
Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong
\u003eThe skills and methods\u003c/strong\u003e y
ou will explore in this programme are suitable for:\u003c/span\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003c
span style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman
\"\u003efacilitating a range    of programmes: personal dev
elopment, team building, leadership training,    management
development.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e
\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman
\"\u003eworking with a wide    age range: youth and a
dult\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style
\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\
"\u003elearning from any    activities: outdoor, challenge, group,
problem-solving, creative, simulation    and work act
ivities\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-fami
ly:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout the presenter\u003c/
strong\u003e:  Roger began working in Outdoor Mana
gement Development in 1981. He received  a doctorate in 1995 for a
study of the experiences of managers during  such pro
grammes. Roger also has an extensive background in working with
disadvantaged youth and in training others to do so in
his 4 years with  Save the Children. Roger now provides reviewing
skills training to a  wide range of clients in the UK
and around the world. Their testimonials  are published on RogerΓÇÖs
website - providing evidence of transfer at  many l
evels. You will discover that Roger practises what he preaches  -
using experience-based training methods to learn about
 experience-based  training.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-f
amily:Times New Roman\"\u003e \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font
-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResources\u003c/strong
\u003e: The programme  will be supported by a cou
rse manual and by relevant extracts from RogerΓÇÖs  books and
articles. Both as preparation and follow-up you are recomm
ended  to browse RogerΓÇÖs highly acclaimed ΓÇÿGuide to Active
ReviewingΓÇÖ at: \u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"htt
p://reviewing.co.uk/\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-
size:small;font-family:Times New Roman;color:#000080\"\u003e\u0
03cspan style\u003d\"text-decoration:underline\"\u003ehttp://
reviewing.co.uk\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u
003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-
size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong
\u003eContent will include\u003c/strong\u003e:  tools for starting a
programme; tools for developing communication skill
s;  tools focusing on learning objectives; tools related to popular
training  activities; tools for personal feedback; t
ools for reviewing issues  in the workplace.\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c/
strong\u003eHow to design a debriefing strategy fo
r a whole  programme. Maximising the transfer of learning.\u003cstrong
\u003e \u003c/strong\u003e Practical transfer stra
tegies based on the work of leading writers on  this topic. Naturally,
you will also be encouraged to apply these strate
gies  to the transfer of your own learning.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-si
ze:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVenue
\u003c/strong\u003e. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\
n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-
family:Times New Roman\"\u003eEmpower Activity Camps, Sutarwa
di,  Off KOLAD on Mumbai Goa Highway. (See route map on our website
\u003c/span\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.empo
wercamp.com/\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-
family:Times New Roman;color:#000080\"\u003e\u003cspan
style\u003d\"text-decoration:underline\"\u003ewww.empowercamp.com
\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cs
pan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e)
\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003
cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e
\u003cstrong\u003eDates\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/s
pan\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-
size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e 0800 h
ours 14 Oct to   14 hours 16 Oct 2008.  Participants are expected to
arrive by 8.00  pm on 13 Oct 2008\u003c/span\u003e\
u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-
size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003
eYour Investment\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small
;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003eCabins (twin sharing) ΓÇô Rs
35000/- (plus 12.36% service tax)\u003c/span\u003e\u00
3c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;font-
family:Times New Roman\"\u003eSwiss Cottage Tents
(triple  sharing) ΓÇô Rs 30000/- (plus 12.36% service tax)\u003c/span
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style
\u003d\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e\u003cem
\u003eCost includes boarding,  lodging, training, cer
tificates, caps and stationery. It does \u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong
\u003enot\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e include t
ransport. If collective transport is required,  that can be organized
at additional cost, as applicable.\u003c/em\u003e\
u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d
\"font-size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e
Limited vacancies. Please register  early to avoid disappointment.
Last date for registration 15 Sep 2008. \u003c/span\u
003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-
size:small;font-family:Times New Roman\"\u003eFor registra
tion / queries,  please contact\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-size:small;fon
t-family:Times New Roman\"\u003e09423093607\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","categories":["Development
 Methods","Experiential learning","HR","Outdoor
professionals","Team
News","Training and Development","adventure trainin
g","corporate training","experiential
learning","facilitation","group
methodology","management","outdoor management trai
ning","Personal Development","professional
development","training
program"]},{"title":"Why in the Outdoor
World?","link"
:"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/08/15/why-
outdoor/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Fri, 15 Aug 2008
08:52
:02 -0700","contentSnippet":"In a mood for mischief. Was
looking
around at various sites and blogs. The Mumbai Hikers Bl
og, Lonely Planet, wikitravel.org,
...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e
\u003cp\u003eIn a mood for mischief. Was looking aroun
d at various sites and blogs. The \u003ca title\u003d\"Mumbai Hikers\"
href\u003d\"http://mumbaihikers.blogspot.com\"\u0
03eMumbai Hikers Blog\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca title\u003d\"Lonely Planet
\" href\u003d\"www.lonelyplanet.com\"\u003eLonely
 Planet\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://wikitravel.org
\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewikitravel.org\u003c/span\u003e\
u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://trekshitiz.com/\"\u003e
\u003cspan\u003eTrekshitiz\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u00
3e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.treksnrapids.com\"\u003eTreks N
Rapids\u003c/a\u003eΓÇª. and I was wondering what do
I write on my blog. This is what came up - my intense need to know.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is it in the outdoo
rs and adventure travel that calls to people? Honestly there is mud,
mosquitoes, snakes and other creeps. There are no e
asy lifts and clean beds. Food and cooking is primitive. We exhaust
ourselves climbing a mountain and risk life and limb
 to come down again. So why?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy is the
world so passionate about (to quote some inquiry ema
ils I get) weekend gateways, hicking, treasure hunt riddles clues,
rapling, climbhing and so many other things that they
 donΓÇÖt even know how to spell? What about those things tempts them?
What makes them leave their warm and cozy homes in
 pursuit of strange hardships with even stranger people?\u003cspan
\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf
 I were to live a comfortable life, I wouldnΓÇÖt want to sleep one
more night in a damp cave with water dripping down it
s sides and garbage from a previous crowd catching a stray breeze that
comes inΓÇª. I certainly wouldnΓÇÖt want to have
monkeys steal my food and a scorpion bite my friend. I wouldnΓÇÖt have
to deal with enthusiastic groups that sing to bri
ng the sky down and drown out any sounds of the night.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eHereΓÇÖs a list of some of the strang
est un-want-to-repeatable experiences I have had in the outdoors or
related with going to the outdoors:\u003c/p\u003e\n\
u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://wide-aware.com/
community/Article9.htm\"\u003eA snake coiled arou
nd a rat fell from the roof\u003c/a\u003e of an ancient temple we were
staying right next to a sleeping friend.\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2006/04/21/rant/\"\u003eOverprotective parents\
u003c/a\u003e who think their kids canΓÇÖt really survive this world.
There is a difference between mothering and smothe
ring.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA diabetic patient who lost his
medicine kit while crossing a stream on a trek. Need
less to say, trek cancelled and we returned back at double speed.
\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http
://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/15/love-the-outdoors-to-death/
\"\u003eGroups who ΓÇ£loveΓÇ¥ the environment\u003c/a\u
003e. YouΓÇÖve seen one, youΓÇÖve seen them all, and they arenΓÇÖt fun.
\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClients who want y
ou to work for them for free.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/1
2/really-safe-dangerous-adventures/\"\u003eReally safe dangerous
adventures\u003c/a\u003e. This post talks about a clien
t request, but in the outdoors, there are many clients who donΓÇÖt
want to sit peacefully and stare at the world. They w
ant you to rig up something dangerous and exciting, but it should be
safeΓÇª. what ever that means. Last year, a man wan
ted his team to climb a difficult rock face without assistance from
adventure professionals as a team challenge. They wa
nted my team to ensure no accidents happened. And how do we do that
without going near the clients or telling them anyth
ing at all?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eI have slept in wet clothes
under the sky all night waiting for a raging strea
m to lose its power in the nightΓÇª.. in Spiti\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eWalked for 72km non stop and on reaching se
t up camp, cooked, took the horses out for grazingΓÇª\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003eWalked a lazy fatso for 3km in 2.5 h
oursΓÇª. without losing my serenity\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eAnd there are more. Some days I just w
onder why I keep coming back for more.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAny
clue guys?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","cate
gories":["Adventure as
usual","Environment","Hikes","State of
matters","Thoughts","adventure","insights","mountain","out
doors","travel"]},{"title":"Corporate Outdoor
Management Development
with Roger Greenaway","link":"http://www.wide-aware
.com/blog/2008/08/14/corporate-outdoor-management-development-with-
roger-greenaway/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDa
te":"Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:07:25
-0700","contentSnippet":"Empower
presents a unique  management development opportunity \u
0026#8230;\n\nLEADERSHIP IN  ACTION\nA Powerful Learning
Experience
...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cs
pan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:medium\"\u003e
\u003cem\u003eEmpower presents a unique  management
 development opportunity ΓÇª\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp align\u003d\"center\
"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-
size:small\"\u003eLEADERSHIP IN  ACTION\u003c/span\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp align\u003d\"center\"\u003e\u003cspan style
\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:medium\
"\u003eA Powerful Learning  Experience for Senior Executives\u003cbr
\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u00
3e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:small
\"\u003eEMPOWER  is proud to offer  you a three day
 \u003cstrong\u003eresidential\u003c/strong\u003e programme presented
by \u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-f
amily:Times New Roman;color:#1f497d;font-size:small\"\u003e\u003cstrong
\u003eDr. Roger Greenaway\u003c/strong\u003e\u003
c/span\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-
size:small\"\u003e ΓÇô a widely experienced trainin
g  consultant from the UK who specialises in experience-based
learning.  RogerΓÇÖs doctorate was a study of \u003cstrong
\u003eΓÇÿPowerful Learning Experiences in  Management Learning and
DevelopmentΓÇÖ\u003c/strong\u003e but this is no acad
emic programme  that we are offering to you. This is an \u003cem
\u003eexperience-based\u003c/em\u003e programme  that re
cognises that managers are already talented at \u003cem\u003elearning
from  experience\u003c/em\u003e and it builds on t
hose talents.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe
programme works at 3 levels: \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u00
3e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New
Roman;font-size:small\"\u003eEnabling you to    learn fr
om team and leadership experiences during the programme. \u003c/span
\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan styl
e\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:small\"\u003eProviding
opportunities    for peer learning through sharing
 workplace experiences in novel ways. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e
\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-famil
y:Times New Roman;font-size:small\"\u003eDeveloping insights,
skills and techniques that you can take back to the wor
kplace for further    learning about leadership and teamwork ΓÇô for
yourself and your colleagues \u003c/span\u003e\u003
c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-
family:Times New Roman;font-size:small\"\u003ePow
erful learning experiences  will include: \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan styl
e\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:small
\"\u003eExperiencing a variety    of team activities and team roles
including team leadership. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New
 Roman;font-size:small\"\u003eExperiencing simple    yet empowering
ways of giving and receiving feedback. \u003c/span\u
003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-
family:Times New Roman;font-size:small\"\u003eExperienci
ng learning    with and from your peers using a range of versatile
reviewing techniques. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003
e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-
family:Times New Roman;font-size:small\"\u003eAs a result
of participating  in this programme you will be better able to: \u003c/
span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cl
i\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-
size:small\"\u003ePlay an influential    role as a team
leader or manager ΓÇô in your own style. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-fa
mily:Times New Roman;font-size:small\"\u003eBring innovative
learning processes into team meetings - to make them mor
e effective. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e
\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-si
ze:small\"\u003eCreate useful learning    from experiences in the
workplace ΓÇô for yourself and others \u003c/span\u003
e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d
\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:small\"\u0
03eOn this programme you will \u003cem\u003e not\u003c/em\u003e be
presented with theories of leadership or models of te
amwork:  you will be \u003cem\u003eexperiencing\u003c/em\u003e
teamwork and you will be \u003cem\u003eexperiencing\u003c
/em\u003e leadership. And through the guidance and facilitation of
Roger Greenaway,  you will be able to maximise your l
earning from these experiences and  return to the workplace with the
tools and the understanding that will  make you a b
etter \u003cem\u003eteam player\u003c/em\u003e, a better \u003cem
\u003eleader\u003c/em\u003e, a better \u003cem\u003e le
arner \u003c/em\u003eand a better \u003cem\u003efacilitator of learning
\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-
size:small\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVenue\u003c/st
rong\u003e. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan
style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:
small\"\u003eEmpower Activity Camps, Sutarwadi,  Off KOLAD on Mumbai
Goa Highway. (See route map on our website \u003c/s
pan\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.empowercamp.com/\"\u003e
\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font
-size:small\"\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"text-decoration:underline
\"\u003ewww.empowercamp.com\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/s
pan\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New
Roman;font-size:small\"\u003e)\u003c/span\u003e\u00
3c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New
Roman;font-size:small\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDa
tes\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;
font-size:small\"\u003e 0800 hours Sat 18 Oct to┬á  14 hours Mon 20
Oct 2008. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u
003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:small
\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eYour Investment\u003c/s
trong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan
style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:s
mall\"\u003eCabins (twin sharing) ΓÇô Rs  35000/- (plus 12.36% service
tax)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003
e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:small
\"\u003eSwiss Cottage Tents (triple  sharing) ΓÇô Rs
 30000/- (plus 12.36% service tax)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Time
s New Roman;font-size:small\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eCost includes
boarding,  lodging, training, certificates, caps and stat
ionery. It does \u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003enot\u003c/strong
\u003e\u003cem\u003e include transport. If collective
transport  is required, that can be organized at additional cost, as
applicable.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New
Roman;font-size:small\"\u003eLimited vacancies. Pleas
e register  early to avoid disappointment. Last date for registration
15 Sep 2008. \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u00
3cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;font-
size:small\"\u003eFor registration / queries,  please
contact\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca name\u003d
\"0.4_graphic04\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u00
3e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca name\u003d\"0.4_graphic05\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca name\u003d\
"0.4_graphic06\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
\u003cspan style\u003d\"font-family:Times New Roman;fon
t-size:small\"\u003e09423093607\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/
div\u003e","categories":["Experiential learning"]
},{"title":"Outdoor Management Training with Roger
Greenaway","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/08/13/outdoor-
management-training-with-roger-greenaway/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 13 Aug 2008 05:09:29
-0700","con
tentSnippet":"Roger Greenaway is an outdoor facilitator and the person
behind the immensely useful site on the subject -
 reviewing.co.uk - a
...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eRoger
Greenaway is an outdoor facilitator and the perso
n behind the immensely useful site on the subject - \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.reviewing.co.uk\"\u003ereviewing.co.u
k\u003c/a\u003e - a man whose writings I have read on and off for the
last three years, and emailed a few times with app
reciation and link exchange requests, etc.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eImagine my surprise this morning to receive an em
ail from him saying that he was planning to come to India for the
first time in October to conduct an \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/corporate-programmes/omdp.htm
\"\u003eoutdoor management training program\u003c/a\u003e at \u
003ca href\u003d\"http://www.empowercamp.com/\"\u003eEmpower Camps
\u003c/a\u003e. Sushil Bhasin, one of the owners is so
meone I have known for years and we are in fact currently in a
dialogue about doing some training programs together.\u00
3c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI promptly called up Sushil to gossip about
this new coincidence. As we caught up with current
stuff, I discovered that Sushil had set a goal for himself - that of
being the first outdoor training organization in In
dia to do work with international facilitators!!! How absolutely
amazing.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn our busy lives,
 we are so fixated with creating our own images, and glorifying
ourselves, it is rare to look for resources and opportun
ities to widen our experience, quality of work and talent sets. Not
only did Sushil have this in mind, he actually pulle
d it through. This programme is tentatively scheduled for October.
\u003cspan\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eAs we talked, we spoke of another thing we can collaborate on.
Training the trainers. The scene in India is larg
ely that of silos. Outdoor adventure training with corporates is
mostly discounted as a ΓÇ£perkΓÇ¥ for the employees and
 rarely appreciated for its learning and training potential. Some of
the responsibility is ours, as trainers when we cho
ose to compromise training to retain clients, the rest is that of
people who prefer to opt for keeping employees happy u
nder training budgets.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a scenario like
this, it is a difficult decision to make to announ
ce such programmes and profit from them. The opportunity part of this
is that each programme is going to have limited se
ats - I hope the ones truly committed to learning register quickly
before the opportunity is gone (no the programme hasn
ΓÇÖt been announced yet. YouΓÇÖll come to know when it is)\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut its done, and its an absolute
ly awesome step to take. My cheers to Roger and Sushil!!! May you
reach higher and higher heights.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c
/div\u003e","categories":["Children\u0026#39;s
Programmes","Experiential learning","Outdoor
professionals","Team
News","
Training and Development","facilitation","group
methodology","initiatives","outdoor management
training","outdoors","tra
ining program"]},{"title":"Customer Service in action or
inaction","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/08/11/cus
tomer-service-in-action-or-inaction/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 11 Aug 2008 03:35:36
-0700","contentS
nippet":"I read this post Work Happy Now! ┬╗ Give Employees the Power
to Impress Customers and compared it with a really
 bad experience
...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eI read
this post \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.workhappynow
.com/2008/08/03/give-employees-the-power-to-impress-customers/
\"\u003eWork Happy Now! ┬╗ Give Employees the Power to Imp
ress Customers\u003c/a\u003e and compared it with a really bad
experience at a local coffee shop last month. Gauri, Ashi
sh, Asha and I (friends from ISABS) went out for a coffee after one of
our regular meetings. Should have been an unevent
ful situation, yet, it wasnΓÇÖt a good service experience.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c/span\u003e
This place, a Barista was reasonably empty as we had arrived early in
the evening. A young man came to take our orders.
As we told him what we wanted, he suggested options and one of the
menu items was not available. In short, not a single
item was written down straight as requested. After a while, it got
really frustrating, and Gauri lost her cool (as much
as she does - sheΓÇÖs wonderfully composed, unlike me) and simply
asked the man to bring us what we had asked for unless
 he didnΓÇÖt have it. He left.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe spent
some time talking about this mysterious behaviour. W
e investigated the menu, and the items he had suggested in the place
of the ones we wanted werenΓÇÖt priced particularly
 higher or lower, or newly launched, or anything. There was no pattern
that we could see, and no particular reason we we
re given to opt for them rather than our original choices.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTime passed, and we got tired of
analyzing the manΓÇÖs behaviour (for a bunch of behavioural scientists
fresh from a meeting on the subject, this is a LO
T of time). People trickled in, places near us filled, Gauri met
several people she knew, I met a friend I knowΓÇª.. No
coffeesΓÇª. a reminder or two had been made when we thought of itΓÇª
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe were in no particula
r hurry, as we were enjoying our conversation, catching up, making
plans and all, but we would have enjoyed it more over
 our respective coffees. Finally, I rudely called the chap as he was
passing by and asked him if he intended to serve us
 ΓÇ£todayΓÇ¥. At the scene, some action seemed to have happened, and
with Gauri taking things further with some very dir
ect statements to ΓÇ£get coffee-NOWΓÇ¥ we finally got it.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eNeedless to say, I havenΓÇÖt been
to the place since. What I remember is that they didnΓÇÖt want to
serve me what I wanted, then they didnΓÇÖt have what I
 wanted and when they took orders, they didnΓÇÖt act on them. (I felt
like asking them to burn the menus and simply tell
 customers what they wanted to serve). Bottom line was it felt like
they didnΓÇÖt want me to have coffee there. So I did
nΓÇÖt after that.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eComparing that with
YaroΓÇÖs Starbucks experience, it is clear to see how
it is not just the goof ups that drive customers away, but
insensitivity. The waiter offering him a free beverage vouche
r when alerted to a delay made Yaro feel special and acknowledged. The
inconvenience wasnΓÇÖt that big a deal when compa
red with the sensitivity showed toward it, and a treat - it was a step
to create a special memory for a customer. Why wo
uldnΓÇÖt he go there again? He knows he is appreciated there, and
immediate action is taken about inconveniences to him.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI bet he went there more often after this.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","categories":["
Experiential learning","Training and
Development","business","customer","customer
experience","customer
service","experi
ence","marketing","people","sales"]},{"title":"Business
Instinct","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/08/09/busi
ness-instinct/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 09 Aug
2008 10:37:35 -0700","contentSnippet":"Recently, I h
elped conduct a training programme aimed at looking at existing
entrepreneurship and building on it in a team of ...","c
ontent":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eRecently, I helped conduct a
training programme aimed at looking at existing entrep
reneurship and building on it in a team of managers in a leading bank.
What struck me was the extreme efficiency of the
team. They were performing at peak, yet there was little excitement in
the group.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the pro
gramme evolved, and we looked at different ways of understanding the
preferences and choices of the team, it became incr
easingly clear that there were dreams and highly charged emotions
bottled up in the group. Their perception of their wor
king boundaries was of one that didnΓÇÖt allow for mistakes, and their
mode of operations was SAFE. While thier high eff
iciency ensured sustained performance, the monotony was literally
strangling the life-giving forces in this vertical.\u0
03c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn incredible point in this programme came
toward the end, where one of their seniors visited
briefly, and during one of his conversations with the group, put it
bluntly - ΓÇ£business is about going with your gut.
There arenΓÇÖt always logical explanations and guarantees. Sometimes
you do things because you want to do them.ΓÇ¥\u003c
/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking at this guy as he spoke was an
experience of freshness, lightness and excitement about th
e work. There was none of the heavy air of confinement and no second-
guesses about results. Just a happy acceptance of s
heer temptation of certain exciting possibilities and a willingness to
invest image and effort into making them work.\u0
03c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnsaid at that time, I registered what I
found different about this happy man who actually had
 far more responsibilities than the others - this was a businessman,
not a manager.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI extend
 this philosophy to all I do in my life - if it doesnΓÇÖt excite me,
my investment of effort is not going to satisfy me,
 no matter what it is. Some things I may do out of necessity, but it
is important not to lose track of priorities - it i
s the excitement where my focus needs to be.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhen I work with small businesses, it is one of
 the greatest challenges to find such engagement. The fear of failure
suffocates and overcomes all the charm of getting
into it in the first place. The key is to know that failure will
happen, but it is the opportunity that we need to keep
our sights on.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOwnership isnΓÇÖt only
about owning responsibility and protecting. Ownership
is also the commitment to take things ahead because it is the
ownerΓÇÖs dream.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","categor
ies":["HR","Training and Development","corporate
training","insights","self-improvement-journey"]},{"title":"Creating
we
bsites for
businesses","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/08/09/creating-websites-for-sites/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 09 Aug 2008 09:32:39
-0700","contentSnippet":"These days, more and more of my
friends seem
t
o turn to me for guidance and help with websites. Not just friends,
even places I ...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp
\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cspan name\u003d\"KonaFilter\"\u003eThese
days, more and more of my friends seem to turn to m
e for guidance and help with websites. Not just friends, even places I
work for. For example, ihave recently joined Reso
nate Consulting on a parttime basis, and they are unhappy with their
current web hosting providers and wish to move. The
y are some of the most talented Organization Development Consultants
in India, and their site looks nice, but has little
 functionality and costs a bomb. We are still struggling to see how we
can add simple things like a blog.\u003c/span\u00
3e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow, at the risk of sounding really
obvious, it is easier to take some time and research
and choose a good hosting provider. Really, there IS no excuse. It is
far more inconvenient after having a site somewher
e to shift hosting providers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are
plenty of service providers out there that are very
good, and websites that can provide comparisons, tips and reviews on
the different \u003ca href\u003d\"http://webhosting
geeks.com\"\u003eweb hosting\u003c/a\u003e available. This site can
prove a good resource in gaining information and rev
iews about the different hosting providers out there and the kind of
services and budgets you can expect. For example, w
hat is the best choice for blog hosting, or if you are on a budget, or
for heavy traffic, and so on. You wouldnΓÇÖt buy
a dress without checking it out, would you? So do you really want to
buy the platform for your image without research? \
u003cimg src\u003d\"http://tinyurl.com/5rv6lc\"
alt\u003d\"\"\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","categories":["Expe
riential learning","tips","website
deveoplment"]},{"title":"New
England Ropes recalls Climbing Ropes","link":"http://www
.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/07/30/new-england-ropes-recalles-climbing-
ropes/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Wed,
 30 Jul 2008 02:00:31 -0700","contentSnippet":"Outdoor Ed -
News
Article\nRead article\nIt is rare to find such informat
ion in India, where the selling of products takes
such ...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"h
ttp://www.outdoored.com/anm/templates/template1.aspx?articleid\u003d3749\u0026amp;zoneid\u003d4\"\u003eOutdoor
Ed - News
 Article\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead article\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is rare to find such info
rmation in India, where the selling of products takes such priority
that unwelcome news is rarely circulated beyond a ΓÇ
£bad reputationΓÇ¥ and discouraging people from the product.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI admire this step from New Eng
land Ropes. Two of their ropes - Maxim Apogee 9.1mm and Maxim Pinnacle
9.5mm have been found to have risk of breaking on
 impact posing serious danger to climbers at a moment when security is
a must.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople who ow
n these ropes have been invited to return them for a free replacement.
Do use this opportunity to get them changed if yo
u own
them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","categories":["Adventure
news","adventure","climbing equipment","climbing r
opes","equipment","interesting
products"]},{"title":"Canyoneing
(Waterfall Rappelling) at Kondana Caves","link":"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/07/30/canyoneing-water-at-kondana-caves/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 30 J
ul 2008 01:06:12 -0700","contentSnippet":"Ram and Kishore,
who work
with the authorized dealer for Petzel in India had i
nvited me to join them for this programme. I
was ...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eRam and
Kishore, who
work w
ith the authorized dealer for Petzel in India had invited me to join
them for this programme. I was working officially w
ith them for the first time, and hence excited. The plan was for
canyoning, which is basically ΓÇ£waterfall rappellingΓÇ
¥ when done at Kondana.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖd been doing
corporate training programs for a long time by now,
 and I was extremely energized by this opportunity - change in work
being rest and all. Really, it doesnΓÇÖt take much t
o be tempted to the outdoors in this weather. The beginning of the
monsoon, and being paid to get wet and do what I enjo
y. What more did I want? Work is a fun way of life in any case.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlan was to leave Mumbai lat
e in the evening and stay at the location, but traffic, rain and other
events conspired to delay us till we reached the
location at 2:30am.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7 instructors and a
driver, a trunk full of equipment was the staff load
. We were expecting about 80 participants. We slept immediately, and
woke up almost immediately (it seemed)\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eA quick breakfast later, we had distributed the
equipment load for the long haul to the Caves. We were e
xpecting the group to reach at the rappelling location by 10am, so we
had taken along some biscuits to keep us going thr
ough the day (it was going to be long) till a late lunch.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eIt had been raining in torrents si
nce noon. The drizzle had been there all day, but really, after noon,
it poured with a vengeance right until evening. Ou
r plan was to rappel from the top of the Kondana Caves, and we were
standing facing the valley.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u
003eSeen the rain many times, got wet many times, but this time, we
stood at the edge of the valley and could see the ra
in in the valley, while we stood clear. And then, the wind shifted,
and the sheet of rain raced to us, and we raced for
cover. Half the day was spent in fun like that, as you can see from
the photos.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSam and I we
re working together after 4-5 years, so it was a superb time for us.
Talking, flashbacks, catching up with what was curr
ent in each otherΓÇÖs livesΓÇª and he was leaving to the US in a few
weeks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, the g
roup came late. By then we were wishing that weΓÇÖd had lunch and
comeΓÇª.. The group reached the rappelling location by
 2:30pm, we began the activity late, and we ended the day late. 60
participants of the 80 had done rappelling. Whoever w
anted to do the rappel, got their moment of glory. In spite of
starting late, we had somehow managed to work hard and fa
st enough to not refuse anyone out of a lack of time. And thus, this
rappelling session was finally concluded.\u003c/p\u
003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn my experience, the group comes for adventure,
but they take the whole experience lightly, and have
 no concern for the reality of the situation. In their excitement,
they had no concern for the delay and danger in the d
ark. The stream was swollen from the days rain, and the group was
unused to the terrain. This was when they realized tha
t it was no longer the trickle they had jumped across on their way in
the afternoon and finally realized why we had been
 asking them to hurry.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur human caravan
slipped and stumbled through the thigh deep water a
nd shivered across to the other side. The road from here on is muddy,
but pretty straightforward.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eIn the beginning, I had been considered the villain when they
tried to rush me, and this is the point where they r
ealized that I had been talking out of concern for them, and not
myself, and I found myself happy to suddenly be the muc
h appreciated hero.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the way down, one
of the newer instructors asked me, ΓÇ£Sir, IΓÇÖve g
ot a dilemmaΓÇ¥. I asked him what he meant. ΓÇ£Do we go down and have
lunch or dinner?ΓÇ¥ he asked with a laugh.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI pondered for a bit and shared what I was
certain of, ΓÇ£No matter what we call it, IΓÇÖm going to
 eat like a starving elephant.ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat
should have been done in daylight by 4pm ended at 8pm
 as the group stumbled and groped their way back in the dark.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn reaching down, we decided t
o pack up the equipment and wind up the logistics of the programme
before freshening up and eating, knowing that it woul
d be twice as hard once the adrenaline levels went down and our bodies
figured out that we were tired. FinallyΓÇªΓÇª we
sat down to eat misal paav. It was a long time before anyone wondered
if the traditional snack was lunch or dinner.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","adventure","canyoning","caves","experience","monsoon
","outdoors","photos","rappelling","waterfall","weather"]},
{"title":"The Siddh Nagar
Meeting","link":"http://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/2008/07/30/the-siddh-nagar-meeting/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:39:33 -070
0","contentSnippet":"I am currently involved with an
organization -
Satark Nagrik Sangathan that works with awareness of
 social issues and rights in
...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp
\u003eI am currently involved with an organization -
Satark Nagrik Sangathan that works with awareness of social issues and
rights in the eyes of the law. My role is that of
 a facilitator and working with the people rather than the content of
the issues they work with. The idea is to empower
the people to believe in themselves and their right to have things
well in their world and ask for attention as they nee
d it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVinita, who leads this effort is a
strong and passionate lady with a strong belief in
all people having a platform for their concerns to be heard. She has
invested a great deal of herself into this effort t
o make things possible for these groups.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eThe first meeting I went to was at Siddh Nagar on t
he 28th of June 2008. This group is mostly women who have come
together to collectively figure out ways of dealing with
the difficulties they face in their lives.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eThis meeting was unlike their earlier meetings wh
at with me and a friend Shridhar, from the Navnirman Samaj Vikas
Kendra bringing in elements of personal sharing and exp
eriences and emotions. Our objective was for the women to relate with
each other and experience their co-members as peop
le with concerns live in them, like themselves. To see that each of
them had her own strenghts and talents and that coll
ectively, they held powerful resources that they could choose to merge
in the interests of the well being of the entire
group.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe meeting began informally with
members trickling in, and curiosity about Shridhar
and myself as new people Vinita had brought in. We simply went ahead
with it and it led to a group sharing of the one ti
me each member in the group had done something that was very difficult
for them which led them to recognize unnoticed st
rengths in them. The instances varied from challenges in personal
objectives to standing in front of a rioting mob attac
king the family and brought into stark recognition the kind of courage
and values that were alive in the group and the t
remendous amount of commitment we were capable of as a group toward
something we believed in.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u00
3eTo talk of statisticsΓÇª. Vinita had some legal information she
wanted to share with the group, but the impact of the
sharing was so intense that she went with the flow and simply allowed
it the time it needed, including overshooting the
time of the meeting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI felt an instant
connection with the group and I feel committed to it.
 I will be working more with them in the future and will share here
our journey toward empowerment as a group as it unfo
lds.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","categories":["Satark
Nagarik
Sangathan","emotions","experience","group
methodolog
y","initiatives","journey","people"]},{"title":"Vista
Print Free Stuff
- promote your business","link":"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/07/29/vista-print-free-stuff-promote-your-
business/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Tue, 29
 Jul 2008 02:32:16 -0700","contentSnippet":"Just discovered
this site.
What an absolutely brilliant way to promote a bus
iness while offering value to visitors.\nThis
Free
...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n
\u003cspa
n\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"width:
310px\"\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/vistaprint.jpg\"\u003e
\u003cimg title\u003d\"Vista Print FREE custon T-Shirts\"
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/
vistaprint-300x233.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Free custom pri
nted T-shirts, business cards and holders and other stuff\" width\u003d
\"300\" height\u003d\"233\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u
003cp\u003eFree custom printed T-shirts, business cards and holders
and other stuff\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust discovered this site. What
an absolutely brilliant way to promote a business w
hile offering value to visitors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Free
opportunity - for T-shirts from \u003ca rel\u003d
\"nofollow\"
href\u003d\"http://socialspark.com/metrics/click/post?
slot_id\u003d14638\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww
.vistaprint.com%2Fvp%2Fgateway.aspx%3FS%3D7929033272\"\u003eSpecial
Sale\u003c/a\u003e captured my imagination. Basicall
y, you select a design for a T-shirt and its size and colour and they
print it out and sent it to you. Its free as long
as you select a white T-shirt with their standard designs. Black T-
shirts, or your own logos, etc cost you more, but its
 not exhorbitant.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou pay for the shipping
for your T-shirt to be sent to you and that is al
l there is to it. Sit back and wait for your T-shirt to arrive.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖm booking one design I a
lways wanted for my company and had been too lazy to work on. Now its
simple - I just design it and its mine. From the l
ook of the images, it seems to be quality I would wear with delight.
So I am now waiting for the T-shirt to arrive.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMe with my stingy ways has opted for the slow
delivery so it will take about 21 days or so. Stay
 tuned to see how I find it. IΓÇÖll put up a pic of me wearing it when
IΓÇÖm get it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis si
te has many such printed products for free that will serve as
interesting ideas as well as a good source to buy trial si
zes from to see how they look like in real life. If it works out, I
might as well let them do the whole thing for me and
 print in bulk.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel\u003d\"nofollow
\" href\u003d\"http://socialspark.com/metrics/cli
ck/disclosure?slot_id\u003d14638\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp%3A%2F
%2Fwww.vistaprint.com%2Fvp%2Fgateway.aspx%3FS%3D7929033272\
"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://socialspark.com/metrics/view/post?
slot_id\u003d14638\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp%3A%2F%2Fs
ocialspark.com%2Fuploads%2Fsocialspark%2Fpublic%2Fimages
%2Fdisclosure_badges%2F13533%2Fgray_disclosure_badge.jpg\" alt\u
003d\"Sponsored by VistaPrint\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003c/div\u003e","categories":["Paid
reviews","gear"
,"business","free stuff","interesting
products"]},{"title":"The
Training and Development Blog Carnival - People","link":
"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/07/17/the-training-and-
development-blog-carnival-people-2/","author":"Vidyut
Kale",
"publishedDate":"Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:54:08
-0700","contentSnippet":"Wide Aware is happy to announce its
first
training a
nd development blog carnival. This is intended to be an ongoing effort
to ...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eWi
de Aware is happy to announce its first training and development blog
carnival. This is intended to be an ongoing effort
 to engage in an exploration of different perspectives and insights
related with training and development.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eWe are inviting entries for this edition of the
carnival. The theme is the people in an organization, rel
ating, team buidingΓÇª. the people side of places and what can be done
to make them happier and more effective.\u003c/p\
u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCome on, join this celebration of learning and
development. \u003ca href\u003d\"http://blogcarnival.
com/bc/submit_4713.html\"\u003eSend in your article now\u003c/a\u003e.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe last date for sen
ding the entries is the 10th of august. The carnival will be
celebrated in our \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware
.com/community\"\u003earticles section \u003c/a\u003eon the 15th.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e","categories":["Blog C
arnival","Experiential
learning","business","communication","innovation","management","marketing","motivation","Success"
,"Training and Development","training
program"]},{"title":"The
Training and Development Blog Carnival - People","link":"
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~3/338107781/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Thu, 17 Jul 2008 0
7:30:35 -0700","contentSnippet":"Wide Aware is happy to
announce its
first training and development blog carnival. This
is intended to be an ongoing effort to
...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e
\u003cp\u003eWide Aware is happy to announce its f
irst training and development blog carnival. This is intended to be an
ongoing effort to engage in an exploration of dif
ferent perspectives and insights related with training and development.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first edition of
 the carnival is on, and you can read about it here.\u003cbr\u003e\n
\u003cdiv\u003e  \n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"float:righ
t\"\u003e  \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e  \n\u003cp\u003e Welcome to
the August 15, 2008 edition of training and devel
opment. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e    \n\u003cp\u003eThat concludes
this edition.  Submit your blog article to the ne
xt edition of \u003cb\u003etraining and development\u003c/b\u003e
using our \u003ca title\u003d\"Submit an entry to ΓÇ£t
raining and developmentΓÇ¥\" href\u003d\"http://blogcarnival.com/bc/
submit_4713.html\"\u003ecarnival submission form\u00
3c/a\u003e. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our \u003ca
title\u003d\"Blog Carnival index for ΓÇ£training and
 developmentΓÇ¥\" href\u003d\"http://blogcarnival.com/bc/
cprof_4713.html\"\u003e blog carnival index page\u003c/a\u003e.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Technorati tags:   \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://technorati.com/tag/training+and+development\
" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etraining and development\u003c/a\u003e,
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://technorati.com/tag/blog+carni
val\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eblog carnival\u003c/a\u003e.
\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cdiv style\u003d\"clear:right\"\u003e\u003
c/div\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/p
\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u
003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?a
\u003d6nRta8\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.c
om/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003d6nRta8\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ca href\u
003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dPdUhLJ
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.c
om/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dPdUhLJ\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.
com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dGPpiej\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dG
Ppiej\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003d
wqYy2J\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-
aware/RmtA?i\u003dwqYy2J\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003
e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/
wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dUu518J\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u0
03d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dUu518J\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u
003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dE7nU4j
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.c
om/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dE7nU4j\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.
com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dKD4lGj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dK
D4lGj\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-
aware/RmtA/~4/338107781\" height\u003d\"1\" width\u003d
\"1\"\u003e","categories":["Development
Methods","Wide Aware","bl
og","carnival","index","page","technorati","tags","carnival","submission","form","past","posts","and","future","hosts","
training","and","development","blog","carnival","edition","the","carnival","concludes","edition","submit","2008","editio
n","the","edition","training","and","development"]},
{"title":"Adventure Education and
Resilience","link":"http://feeds.f
eedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~3/336258637/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Tue, 15 Jul 2008 10:12:40 -0700"
,"contentSnippet":"Children naturally enjoy the outdoors. Apart
from
exercise, and health, adventure education helps chi
ldren develop natural ...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp
\u003eChildren naturally enjoy the outdoors. Apart from exer
cise, and health, adventure education helps children develop natural
resilience from experience. Learning through experi
ence is a natural state of being for a child, and while imparting
information and training is necessary, it is important
 that a child gets to explore the world on his or her own terms,
learning to cope with consequences or celebrate them fr
om personal experience.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA young girl on
one of my camps was rapt with attention during the i
ntroductory rappelling session. She came up with this exact question ΓÇ
£Do soldiers use these same tactical rappelling t
echniques?ΓÇ¥ Tactical rappelling techniques!!! I had never considered
this term before.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAno
ther child from the same session asked ΓÇ£Why do we call abseiling
rappelling?ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe questi
ons in themselves are not particularly significant. No particular
knowledge is involved, and knowing those particular an
swers is not going to change anyoneΓÇÖs life.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhat I found satisfying about them was that ΓÇ
£my kidsΓÇ¥ had stopped simply swallowing information, and were now
exploring it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u0
03cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-
aware/RmtA?a\u003dYMcmKF\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"h
ttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dYMcmKF\" border
\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cd
iv\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-
aware/RmtA?a\u003dOypjVJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"h
ttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dOypjVJ\" border
\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dzZH4Sj\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/
wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dzZH4Sj\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f
/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dr2FpkJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dr2FpkJ\
" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dE8ssMJ
\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/
RmtA?i\u003dE8ssMJ\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003
c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-
aware/RmtA?a\u003duWroRj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"h
ttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003duWroRj\" border
\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dnjQWSj\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/
wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dnjQWSj\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n
\u003c/div\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds
.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~4/336258637\"
height\u003d\"1\"
width\u003d\"1\"\u003e","categories":["Adventure
as
usual","Children\u0026#39;s Programmes","Experiential
learning","adventure","education","helps","children","develop","na
tural","resilience","soldiers","tactical","rappelling","techniques","tactical","rappelling","techniques","the","introduc
tory","rappelling","session","celebrate","personal","experience
a","young","girl","considered","term","before
another","
child","children","naturally","enjoy","the","outdoors","abseiling","rappelling"]},
{"title":"Celebrating Karjat","link":"
http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~3/334132805/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sun, 13 Jul 2008 0
1:55:05 -0700","contentSnippet":"The whole Karjat, Neral
area is so
lush green and totally enchanting this time. I just
spent a weekend there. I\u0026#8217;d gone to
...","content":"\u003cdiv
\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe whole Karjat, Neral area i
s so lush green and totally enchanting this time. I just spent a
weekend there. IΓÇÖd gone to Dr. ModiΓÇÖs Health Resort
 to attend the ISABS Umang Party and generally get in touch with the
community, and then Raka and I took off to a friend
ΓÇÖs bungalow in Neral.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDriving around the
place, I realized how far it has come from the ti
me I had begun trekking in this region. New resorts in Karjat seem to
have sprung up every where and this area and Neral
 and Matheran seem to have become the most popular picnic spot near
Mumbai. Crowds of tourists that look like friends, f
amilies and even corporate groups can be seen in the waterfalls around
Karjat, generally having a great time.\u003c/p\u0
03e\n\u003cp\u003eIts a loooong way from how we guys were considered
odd because we wanted to head out to this region in
 the monsoons. Of course, our world was mostly roughing it out, hikes,
staying in cavesΓÇª..\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003
eAs ΓÇ£Mumbai picnic spotsΓÇ¥ go, it is a whole new world. Nature
resorts near Mumbai are a growing trend, both in avail
ability as well as demand. Quick, clean service, lovely ambiance and a
whole new attitude of ΓÇ£back to natureΓÇ¥ is a f
ar cry from the rural mentality of pride in simplicity and basic
accommodation with few facilities. While I miss the goo
d old days and the charm of life in the mountains, I see this as an
evolution in the mindsets of the Mumbai crowd, where
 pleasure in the outdoors is becoming more and more accessible,
inviting and desired for the less adventurous.\u003c/p\u
003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce more, it was Raka, me and our trusted bike,
out in the mountains wandering to our hearts content
, remembering the good old days and welcoming the change.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u
003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dM9XRGq
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.c
om/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dM9XRGq\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ca href\u
003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dseHhLJ
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.c
om/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dseHhLJ\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.
com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dexHxtj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003de
xHxtj\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003d
4r6sdJ\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-
aware/RmtA?i\u003d4r6sdJ\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003
e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/
wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dza6RQJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u0
03d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dza6RQJ\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u
003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dDBeOjj
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.c
om/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dDBeOjj\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.
com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dRB9EJj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dR
B9EJj\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-
aware/RmtA/~4/334132805\" height\u003d\"1\" width\u003d
\"1\"\u003e","categories":["Adventure as
usual","Thoughts","atten
d","the","isabs","umang","party","and","generally","bungalow","neral
driving","caves    
as","mumbai","picnic","spots","
karjat","generally","and","area","and","neral","and","matheran","karjat","sprung","lush","green","and","totally","enchan
ting","the","popular","picnic","spot"]},{"title":"Disturbing
trends in
outbound training","link":"http://feeds.feedburne
r.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~3/321176600/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:58:30
-0700","conten
tSnippet":"There seems to be an impression floating around in
companies that serious training happens indoors, and outbo
unds are for
...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eThere seems
to be an impression floating around in companies th
at serious training happens indoors, and outbounds are for having fun.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile ther┬áis nothin
g wrong with having fun in the┬áoutdoors, I find it disturbing to see
such programmes called training┬áprogrammes.\u003c
/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSomewhere, I find that this reinforces an
unconscious desire in participants to resist change and
 is harmful for the overall learning environment
of┬áthe┬áorganization. Most of the outbound training enquiries I get
fo
cus on the ΓÇ£activitiesΓÇ¥. The more exciting, the better, the more
exotic, the more adventurous, the moreΓÇª. somethin
g-or-the-other. Pursuit of adventure is fabulous. I make money from
it. But why wrap it up as a self-development program
me or management training?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom a
very┬ásimple angle, you get┬áto save money from the traine
rΓÇÖs fees as well as training session time to invest fully into the
desired adventure experience. From a deeper angle,
there is no pretense - there is a certain honesty to going after what
is really desired.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI s
uspect some of this┬áis┬áabout ΓÇ£We┬áhave a training budgetΓÇª.ΓÇ¥ as
an HR professional had candidly explained┬áto me.
 Stated almost directly in that conversation was the objective that
they wish to utilize the training budget so that┬áit
 doesnΓÇÖt get cut down, but┬áthey really donΓÇÖt┬áhave any training
in mind at the moment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
What I find telling in this is┬áthe inability to see beyond fixed
concepts. This is a rigidity in┬áperspective that is o
nly manifesting itself with me in this way in┬áthe first fifteen
minutes of conversation. What is┬áthis rigidity doing e
veryday, to the person, to the people who are influenced by their
choices and to the organization?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c
p\u003eHow┬ádo I see this rigidity? I see it when an entire document
about training is read and┬áthe important issues fo
r discussion are about travel, accommodation, activities and food. I
see it when outbound training┬ábecomes a way of org
anizing an┬áouting under training budgets. I see it when there
isnΓÇÖt┬áthe┬áleast curiosity about if an┬áoutbound train
ing programme is a new service called thus to provide that utility of
training budget, or if it really has any value to
deliver.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf┬ácourse, not all┬ácompanies
are┬álike that. I┬áhave conducted programmes where p
articipants on the┬áoutbound actually┬áneeded to┬ábe told┬áto┬álighten
up and go with the flow,┬ábecause┬áthey were so f
ocussed on learning, that┬áthey were almost unable to ΓÇ£beΓÇ¥.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd I┬áhave found┬áthe┬áperf
ect participants as well - people who had arrived with full knowledge
that they were┬áout on training, and knew┬áthat th
ey would┬ábe spending time in the┬áoutdoors and were fine with seeing
what┬áhappened with the flow.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eWhy do I call these┬áthe perfect participants? Because┬áthey
are utilizing their value┬áfor money, because┬áthey
 are investing their time actively and┬ábecause it brings me a glow of
pride in being able to work with them, to see the
ir transformations and celebrate being a┬ápart┬áof┬áit. It brings me a
high to see┬áthe changes┬ábeing wrought still ali
ve in┬áparticipants when I meet┬áthem on┬ásome future┬áprogrammeΓÇª.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt brings me the joy of
 having companions along on a journey of discovery, and I find few
things that are headier than that.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u0
03c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dAZSB5Y\"\u003e\u
003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i
\u003dAZSB5Y\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\
u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003d8aPReJ\"\u003e\u
003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i
\u003d8aPReJ\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a
\u003dNvlPHj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feed
s.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dNvlPHj\" border\u003d
\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://fee
ds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dRkmQtJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware
/RmtA?i\u003dRkmQtJ\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-awar
e/RmtA?a\u003dm01A2J\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dm01A2J\" border\u
003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dSbuOxj\"\u003e\u
003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i
\u003dSbuOxj\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a
\u003d3JAxhj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feed
s.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003d3JAxhj\" border\u003d
\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~4/321176600\"
height\u003d\"1\" width\u003d\"1\"\u003e","categor
ies":["Experiential
learning","HR","adventure","Environment","experience","learnings"]},
{"title":"Kalindikhal Trek Permi
ssions","link":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/
~3/321176601/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Th
u, 26 Jun 2008 09:22:06 -0700","contentSnippet":"I have
heard news
that treks to the Kalindikhal now have new permission
 rules. This is unverified information from
Ramesh ...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eI have
heard news
that tr
eks to the Kalindikhal now have new permission rules. This is
unverified information from Ramesh Rawat, who handles our
treks in the region, but the scene seems to be:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll trekking groups must ca
rry a satellite phone with them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eParticipants must go through a fitness test\u003c/li\u003
e\n\u003cli\u003ePorterage rates have been hiked\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003eHorses arenΓÇÖt going on the route\u003c/
li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis makes life difficult, as
we have a group heading there in July, and these n
ew developments havenΓÇÖt been budgeted for. While I was not able to
find any announcements on the net, the news seems p
retty certain, as the one source we have has been reiable.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe horses bit┬áprobably┬ácomes f
rom the waist deep snow at the pass, and might change┬áwhen┬áthe┬ápass
opens completely for┬áthe summer. At┬áthe moment,
┬áour guideΓÇÖs assessment is that it would be okay┬áfor us to go, but
not┬áclients. Unfortunately, its┬áthe clients wit
h┬áthe plans.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe do know┬áthat one group
has returned from the route successfully, but with
an extremely difficult experience.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo here
┬áI am wondering if my group will go to Kalindikh
al, or Damdhar kandi, or somewhere else completely. Time is running
short, and there are decisions to make.\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eIf, by any chance, you have been to Kalindikhal
recently, or know of the exact┬ánew┬ápermissions in plac
e, do drop me┬áa┬áline in the┬ácomments. Any information┬áyou
could┬áprovide┬áwould be helpful.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u
003eIf you┬áhave arrived┬áhere looking for information, stay tuned. I
am in┬áthe┬áprocess┬áof communicating┬áwith author
ities, and will┬ábe┬áposting updates as I find┬áthem┬áhere.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dyK94wQ
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner
.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dyK94wQ\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003doe0UIJ
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner
.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003doe0UIJ\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburne
r.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dt7i5Oj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003
dt7i5Oj\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca
href\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u00
3dI1nDrJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/
wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dI1nDrJ\" border\u003d\"0\"\u0
03e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/
wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003d3jlXoJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src\
u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003d3jlXoJ\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003datNYLj
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner
.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003datNYLj\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburne
r.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dFCjAUj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003
dFCjAUj\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wid
e-aware/RmtA/~4/321176601\" height\u003d\"1\" width\u003d
\"1\"\u003e","categories":["Himalayan
Tours","clients","experie
nce","news","trekking"]},{"title":"Adventure
Tourism in India?
WhatΓÇÖs that?","link":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wi
de-aware/RmtA/~3/317558173/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sun, 22 Jun 2008 10:50:35
-0700","contentSnippet":"
The Tourism ministry insists that they want to promote adventure
tourism in India. Like cultural tourism, etc. Basically
 what ...","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe
Tourism ministry
insists that they want to promote adventure touri
sm in India. Like cultural tourism, etc. Basically what they want is
more tourists.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere ar
e fancy initiatives and Incredible India and what-nots. Yet, how much
attention is paid to actually facilitating tourism
? How much attention is paid to ensure that┬áthe tourists┬ácome? Sure,
tourists come. India┬áhas been a hotspot┬áfor tra
vellers┬áfor thousands of years. But, if we want more, what do we┬ádo
to ensure that┬áthe people┬áwho we invite are able
 to┬ácome┬áand┬áhave a good experience?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhat we┬áhave in the name of tourism is fancy packag
es. Sure. That is one element┬áof tourism. Yet, somewhere down
the┬áline, we forget that we are actually inviting people
 to experience┬áthe country. We┬áhave invited them. They are┬áour
guests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2123/18071452\"\u003eSeth
Godin┬áshared an experience in a visa office\u003c/a\u003
e and talks about several, really easy to manage things that┬ácould
make the experience more inviting. Not just inviting
, it could translate into better revenue from more tourists,
convenient airline bookings, welcoming interactionΓÇª. I ca
n empathise with this post so much. How many of us really enjoy
conversing with a person behind thick glass, waiting in
a place with inadequate seating that is in disrepairΓÇªΓÇª. would we
want to do business with such people? PerhapsΓÇª. i
f we needed the product. But tourism is not a need. It is a dream we
are selling. Could selling dreams become more inter
esting in a condusive environment that says we are interested in you?
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen I set up \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com\" title\u003d\"Adventures
in
India\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u003d\"
external\"\u003eWide Aware\u003c/a\u003e, I┬áhad a talk with my CA,
who needed┬áto know┬áthe┬ánature of business┬áfor fi
guring┬áout tax and things. It was a rude awakening to know┬áthat the
Tourism MinistryΓÇÖs invite for people┬áto provide
 adventure services hasnΓÇÖt┬ámade it to the Tax Office. There IS no
category for adventure services. It was a pain figu
ring out ΓÇ£what we wereΓÇ¥. We are not travel agents, we do training,
but we are not consultants - we do outbound train
ing and fun programmes as well, We┬ádo┬áoutdoor education, but we are
not an educational institutionΓÇªΓÇª.. If┬áthe mem
o had made the journey┬áto the┬á┬áTax office, it would be┬áa simple
matter of ΓÇ£adventure servicesΓÇ¥. So, we want to┬á
promote adventure tourism, but of┬ácourse, there┬áis no adventure
service┬áprovider in India. Really! Please┬ábring your
 own rafting guide with you. We┬áhave the rivers. And yeah, travel
agents conduct \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aw
are.com/Wildlife/wild-life.htm\" title\u003d\"Wildlife tours to
sanctuaries and animal reserves in India\" style\u003d\"
padding-right:13px\"
rel\u003d\"external\"\u003ewildlife\u003c/a\u003e
tours.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRafting remind
s meΓÇª. the \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/adventure-
sports/rafting.htm\"\u003eriver rafting┬áthat we do
 uses water from the dam at Bhire for the rapids\u003c/a\u003e.
There┬áhave┬ábeen numerous attempts over┬áthe┬áyears to
try and bring some kind of predictability to it, so that the adventure
tourism that┬áthe tourism ministry wants can happ
en. Nah! The dam officials┬ádonΓÇÖt work in the tourism ministry,
therefore it is not their problem. Thus, there is no w
ay of knowing if water will be available, or you refund your bookings
until the rafting run starts. Granted, the water┬á
is released almost everyday, but try explaining to a tourist waiting
with gear ready that ΓÇ£oops! You get a refund - re
member┬áthe cancellation clause┬áthat refers to events┬ábeyond┬áour
control?ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLast year, \
u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.sangeetaoak.com/2007/06/travel/
brightlands-hotel-resort-matheran-review-article.html#comme
nt-483\"\u003eAmita wrote about a similar problem she had with
Brightlands resort in Matheran\u003c/a\u003e. The hotel h
ad overbooked, and she didnΓÇÖt get the room she had booked. She took
a refund, and when she called up the hotel owner,
he told her that refunds were against their policy!!! There needs to
be some kind of a regulation for this. I am not spe
aking of consumer courts, but enough issues in consumer courts
reflecting in your licence.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eT
here are tourists, there are locations, there are┬áproviders. What
needs to be done┬áis making┬áthat confluence easy and
 enjoyable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-awar
e/RmtA?a\u003d13yfhE\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003d13yfhE\" border\u
003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-awar
e/RmtA?a\u003dKBV52J\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dKBV52J\" border\u
003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dYv79yj\"\u003e\u
003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i
\u003dYv79yj\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a
\u003dhKOs7J\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feed
s.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dhKOs7J\" border\u003d
\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://fee
ds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dOPFoIJ\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware
/RmtA?i\u003dOPFoIJ\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-awar
e/RmtA?a\u003dI8DpQj\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dI8DpQj\" border\u
003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dw2iMwj\"\u003e\u
003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~f/wide-aware/RmtA?i
\u003dw2iMwj\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\
n\u003c/div\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/
wide-aware/RmtA/~4/317558173\" height\u003d\"1\" wi
dth\u003d\"1\"\u003e","categories":["Adventure
news","Outdoor
professionals","adventure","adventure-professionals","tour
ism","travel","travel-services","trekking","Wildlife
Tours","tourists","fancy","initiatives","and","incredible","india",
"and","what
nots","you","the","rivers","rafting","reminds","me","the","river","rafting","oops","a","refund","remember","
the","cancellation","clause","the","tourism","ministry","insists","tourists","convenient","airline","bookings","issues",
"consumer","courts","reflecting","bookings","the","rafting","run","starts","granted","guests","seth","godin","shared","a
n","experience"]},{"title":"Boss, wait!!! Why are
you hitting
him?","link":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/Rm
tA/~3/316990712/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 21 Jun
2008 10:32:56 -0700","contentSnippet":"I don\u0026
#8217;t know if this can really be called road rage, but something
happened today, that got me concerned about how we ..
.","content":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp\u003eI donΓÇÖt know if
this can
really be called road rage, but something happened
today, that got me concerned about how we actΓÇª.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eI was travelling to Powai from Borivli in┬
á┬árickshaw for a session by Sankar on learning styles (thatΓÇÖs
another┬ápost). I enjoy interacting with┬ádifferent peo
ple, and I was chatting┬áhappily with the rickshaw driver, when a
motorcycle zipped┬ápast and overtook us from┬áthe wron
g side. As the car in front of us slowed (for reasons unknown), the
driver braked in panic,  and┬áthis┬ápoor motorcycle
guy was hit by our rickshaw.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI am not
aware┬áof the exact sequence┬áof┬áhappenings, but it w
as abundantly clear that┬áthe┬águy lying flat on the road was
suffering the┬áconsequences┬áof his own ΓÇ£reckless drivin
gΓÇ¥. The rickshaw driver and I got┬áout of┬áthe rick as┬áthe guy
struggled to disentangle himself from┬áthe bike. Thank
s to the crawling┬ápace┬áof MumbaiΓÇÖs traffic and┬áthe additional
braking spree that┬áhappened just┬ábefore he was hit,
 he was relatively unhurt except for a very bad scrape that
was┬ábellding quite┬áheavily on his left forearm and ┬áthe m
atching side of his trousers damaged beyond repair. IΓÇÖd call it
getting off scot free compared with what could have ha
ppened.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeeing┬áthe guy bleeding, I
stepped forward to see if I could help, but my driver re
ached┬áhim first, and it was then I realized┬áthat┬áthe two of us had
come┬áout for different reasons. The driver collar
ed┬áthis biker and hauled him to his feet and was just about to beat
him up, when I interrupted┬áhim.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u0
03cp\u003eΓÇ£Boss  roko!!! Ise maar kyun rahe ho?ΓÇ¥ I asked -
\u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#888888\"\u003e\u003cem\u00
3eBoss, wait!!! Why are you hitting him?\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/span
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eΓÇ£Madam, aapne dek
ha nahi, kaisi gaadi chala raha tha? Accident kota to?ΓÇ¥ he replied┬á-
┬á\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#88
8888\"\u003emadam, didnΓÇÖt you see how┬áhe was driving? What if there
had been an accident?\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/em\u
003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eΓÇ£Accident to hua. Galati uski thi,
par bhugat bhi wohi raha hai. AAP use kyon maar ra
he ho? Use pehlehi chot lagi hai.ΓÇ¥ I said - \u003cspan style\u003d
\"color:#888888\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe accident di
d happen. It was his fault, and he is suffering the consequences. You
or your vehicle or passenger suffered no damage. W
hy are you hitting him? He is already injured.ΓÇ¥\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/
span\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe driver
 stared at┬áme in amazement. It was clear from his expression that he
honestly┬áhad no clue why he was hitting┬áthe guy
beyond that that ΓÇ£it was what was supposed to happenΓÇ¥ - in Mumbai,
mobs  sometimes bash up the offender when reckles
s driving endangers┬álives. Worse, my tone with him was also not that
of angerΓÇª which was the standard tone of the inn
ocent party after an accidentΓÇª. I was sounding merely curious. He
had no clue how to proceed in such a situation.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cowering biker who was mumbling ΓÇ
£sorryΓÇª. sorryΓÇ¥ looked at me in equal amazement. It di
dnΓÇÖt really fit his framework of ΓÇ£public behaviourΓÇ¥ to┬ábe shown
concern when┬áhe had caused┬áan accident. His ent
ire body language spoke of the acceptance that he was going to be
beaten up.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI stood there,
wondering what was wrong with this world, if people┬ádonΓÇÖt┬áeven
need to have a reason to hit a┬áperson who is already
 injured. I could see how shaken the poor chap was, and didnΓÇÖt see
the point moving his attention from the magnitude o
f his consequences toward being defensive in some conflict. Plus, how
would hitting him add any value to what was happen
ing? He had experienced the consequences of rash driving first hand,
and I doubt if he needed anything explained at that
 point. What he did need was first-aid.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eSuch incidents┬áhappen in┬áour┬álives daily. Be it a
ggressive people in buses, or riots after taking offense. I really see
no meaning to this behaviour, except a declaratio
n of a total┬álack of caring for the┬ápeople around us.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eOnce, I got into a train to get off
at Borivli. It was a Virar train. For those unfamiliar with Mumbai,
Virar is further than Borivli,┬áhas fewer trains whi
ch are invariably crowded, and their passengers  tend to be hostile to
passengers who could┬áuse more frequent trains┬áu
sing these unnecessarily. It┬ábeing a holiday and all, I thought it
wouldnΓÇÖt┬ámatter, and the train seemed to have spa
ce. This is the ladies compartment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs I
neared┬áthe door when Borivli came closer, one of t
he women grabbed my arm and pulled me back roughly. I asked her to let
go, and she returned abuse. Her point was that I
need to be punished for using that train. Standard punishment is that
the person is not allowed to get off the train unt
il Borivli is crossed, which gives the offender an experience of the
inconvenience of the train frequency and a fear/und
erstanding of the situation for further reference.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eI do respect and fully appreciate the dif
ficulties these people go through, but I didnΓÇÖt see how this
mattered in a train with plenty of space on┬áit (by Mumba
i standards). When this woman tried to manhandle me, I broke out of
her hold, and simply pushed her away from me. I look
 deceptively tiny, and this woman was a heavy weight, but I have a
whole load of pushing experience from 7 years of groo
ming and working with horses. She was lighter than a horse, she moved
very easily, which put her off getting physical wi
th me, and she satisfied her ΓÇ£outrageΓÇ¥ by screaming abuse at me
for the next 5 minutes till I got off.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eOther women around rolled their eyes and made faces -
all regulars on the same train. This woman stood th
ere sweating and looking so unreasonably angry that┬áshe looked
insane. She refused to respond to anything I or the othe
r women said and just spewed┬áhatred. ThatΓÇÖs how I remember┬áher as
the train pulled┬áout┬áof┬áthe stationΓÇªΓÇª sweat
ing, red in the face, screaming abuse, and dressed┬álike a middle
class┬áconservative womanΓÇª. I just wondered how frus
trating her life must┬ábe, if she needed strangers to┬ávent onΓÇª.
travelling for about 3-4 hours everyday just to reach
 work and┬ábackΓÇªΓÇª I couldnΓÇÖt find anger in┬áme for herΓÇª. I
was┬áconcerned.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere doe
s┬áthis anger come from? Why do we care so little about the┬ápeople
in┬áout world?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u00
3cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003eAdd to your favourites\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://del.icio.us/post?
url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/21/all-this-rage/
\u0026amp;title\u003dBoss%2C+wait%21%21%21+Why+are+you+
hitting+him%3F\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Boss, wait!!! Why are you
hitting him?\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003
cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/
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d\"Add \u0026#39;Boss, wait!!! Why are you hitting him?\u0026#39; to
Del.icio.us\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Boss, wait!!
! Why are you hitting him?\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://digg.com/submit?phas
e\u003d2\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/21/
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21%21+Why+are+you+hitting+him%3F\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Boss,
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\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/21/all-this-rage/\" title
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tting him?\u0026#39; to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
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wait!!! Why are you hitting him?\u0026#39; to Newsvin
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ref\u003d\"http://ma.gnolia.com/bookmarklet/add?url\u003dhttp://
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\u0026amp;description\u003dBoss%2C+wait%21%21%21+Why+are+y
ou+hitting+him%3F\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Boss, wait!!! Why are
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Upon\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http:
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%21%21%21+Why+are+you+hitting+him%3F\" title\u003d\"Add \u00
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ware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/google.png
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re you hitting him?\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\" alt\u003d\"Add
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ide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/21/all-this-rage/\" title\u003d\"Add
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9; to FaceBook\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded
/facebook.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Boss, wait!!! Why are you
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www.myspace.com/Modules/PostTo/Pages/?t\u003dBoss%2C+wait%21%21%21+Why+are+you+hitting+him%3F\u0026amp;c\u003dhttp://www
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#39; to MySpace\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
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d/myspace.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Boss, wait!!! Why are you
hitting him?\u0026#39; to MySpace\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Boss, wait!!! Why are you hitting him?\u0026#39; to MySpace
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u
003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?
a\u003dNYzYEx\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dNYzYEx\" border\u003d
\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~4/316990712\"
height\u003d\"1\" width\u003d\"1\"\u003e","categor
ies":["Adventure as usual","Experiential
learning","Social
Awareness","State of
matters","Thoughts","aggression","anger
management","behaviours","conflict
management","experience","people","travel"]},{"title":"5
Ultimate
Monsoon Getaways ne
ar
Mumbai","link":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/
~3/316329409/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":
"Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:18:38
-0700","contentSnippet":"This is the
monsoon - the best time of the year to head into the out
doors near Mumbai! Before you lose that temptation
striking ...","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg
title\u003d\"monsoon-
masti\" src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/
2008/06/monsoon-masti.jpg\" alt\u003d\"\" width\u00
3d\"300\" height\u003d\"200\"\u003eThis is the monsoon - the
best time
of the year to head into the outdoors near Mumbai
! Before you lose that temptation striking your mind, let me give you
ideas to put into action!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\
u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGo to Kanheri Caves\u003c/strong
\u003e \u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#993366\"\u0
03e(a couple of hours)\u003c/span\u003e: No, I donΓÇÖt mean to visit
the ancient Buddhist Caves, though that can be a si
de interest. What you are to do is really look at the road as you
drive through the National Park, keep an eye out for t
he numerous streams on the way and find a fun spot for a picnic. Get
into the stream, splash all you like, and then go o
n to Kanheri Caves. Post links to your pics in the comments for all to
see. Or tey any of the many picnic spots near Mum
bai, like Manori beach, Aarey Milk colony, Elephanta CavesΓÇª the rain
is not enough to stop boats yet. THIS is the time
!\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGo to \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://wide-aware.com/community/Article29.ht
m\"\u003eKondana\u003c/a\u003e Caves\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cspan
style\u003d\"color:#993366\"\u003e(full day)\u003c/sp
an\u003e: Drive to Kondivde village in Karjat, do the short hike to
the caves, and have a bath in the curtain of a water
fall across the mouth of the Cave. Hike back and tell us about it.
\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cimg title\u003d\"
rafting-masti\" src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
uploads/2008/06/rafting-masti.jpg\" alt\u003d\"\" w
idth\u003d\"300\"
height\u003d\"200\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGo
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/adventure-
sports/rafting.htm\"\u003eWhite Water Rafting\u003c/a\u003e \u003c/
strong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#993366\"\u
003e(one day, or overnight)\u003c/span\u003e: While you can do this
round the year, the water levels in the monsoon make
 the rapids on the Kundalika a specially thrilling experience.\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGo to Mat
heran\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cspan style\u003d
\"color:#993366\"\u003e(weekend)\u003c/span\u003e: The monsoon being
the
off-season, you are never going to find Matheran like this, misty,
cool, dreamy and utterly charming. Travel around on h
orses, stay in a fancy resort an dget drunkΓÇª.. do all the whimsical
things your sanity doesnΓÇÖt allow in the city and
 in dry weather.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGo
and stay on a historical fort in some caves\u003c/st
rong\u003e \u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#993366\"\u003e(overnight or
more)\u003c/span\u003e: Try \u003ca href\u003d\"ht
tp://wide-aware.com/community/Article41.htm\"\u003eLohagad\u003c/a\u003e,
Rajmachi, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://wide-awar
e.com/community/Article30.htm\"\u003eNaneghat\u003c/a\u003eΓÇªΓÇª.
Pack clothes and food in plastic bags, and just go ah
ead!\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt least go out,
splash in some puddles, drink hot tea on a roadside
stall and have steaming pakodas with it!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e
\u003cem\u003eAdd to your favourites\u003c/em\u00
3e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://del.icio.us/post?url
\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/20/5-ultimat
e-monsoon-getaways-near-mumbai/\u0026amp;title\u003d5+Ultimate+Monsoon
+Getaways+near+Mumbai\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39
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\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/20/5-ultimate
-monsoon-getaways-near-mumbai/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;5 Ultimate
Monsoon Getaways near Mumbai\u0026#39; to FaceBoo
k\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/facebook.png
\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;5 Ultimate Monsoon Getaways near Mumbai
\u0026#39; to FaceBook\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;5
 Ultimate Monsoon Getaways near Mumbai\u0026#39; to FaceBook\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.myspace
.com/Modules/PostTo/Pages/?t\u003d5+Ultimate+Monsoon+Getaways+near
+Mumbai\u0026amp;c\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog
/2008/06/20/5-ultimate-monsoon-getaways-near-mumbai/\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;5 Ultimate Monsoon Getaways near Mumba
i\u0026#39; to MySpace\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-
reloaded/myspace.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;5 Ultimate Monsoon
Getaways near Mumbai\u0026#39; to MySpace\" alt\u00
3d\"Add \u0026#39;5 Ultimate Monsoon Getaways near Mumbai\u0026#39; to
MySpace\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\n
\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-
aware/RmtA?a\u003dMcfVeU\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003dMcfVeU\"
border
\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u00
3cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/
~4/316329409\" height\u003d\"1\"
width\u003d\"1\"\u003e"
,"categories":["Adventure as
usual","Hikes","Monsoons","Outdoor How
To","Places","caves","experience","monsoon","outdoor
s","rafting","travel","waterfall","weather"]},{"title":"I
signed up
for PPP!!!","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2
008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/","author":"Raka","publishedDate":"Tue,
17 Jun 2008 05:17:57 -0700","contentSnippet":"As u
sual, ready for something new!\nI had heard about PayPerPost a while
ago, but their \u0026#8220;regular posting requirem
ents had ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eAs usual, ready for
something
new!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI had heard about \
u003ca href\u003d\"http://posties.payperpost.com/\"\u003ePayPerPost
\u003c/a\u003e a while ago, but their ΓÇ£regular post
ing requirements had me stumped, as until recently, I was caught up in
so many things that I rarely had time to post reg
ularly here.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a blog to be selected
with them, it must have 20 posts in the previous 90 d
aysΓÇª.. which I finally have, huh? This is a celebration for me,
because it means that I am now able to live up to the
commitment of keeping bringing in something new for you readersΓÇª
that IΓÇÖd been promising for a long time now.\u003c/
p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo what is PayPerPost? As the name suggests, its
a site which offers reviews for other sites and p
roducts. Advertizers who want to create a buzz about their product can
pay for bloggers to review them, bloggers earn mo
neyΓÇª. for me, the reason is something different.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eMoney, yes. Who doesnΓÇÖt like money? But
 if I know myself, I will not be able to write about things I donΓÇÖt
care about. This is, actually a good opportunity f
or me to discover different kinds of sites and services that I
otherwise would never have known about. If I like it, gre
at. If I learn from it, still better and if I earn from itΓÇª. what
more do I want?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut, if
you think this is going to change the ΓÇ£feel of the blogΓÇ¥ΓÇª. I
donΓÇÖt think so. IΓÇÖm too much in love with this pl
ace to let its charm go. What I am planning to do, is look at the
different sites that are promoting something, and see
if I can bring it here for you. In short, IΓÇÖm going to go on an
exploring spree!!!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI invit
e you to fasten your seat-belts and join me. And yes, if you find
something interesting to shareΓÇª. money or not, letΓÇ
Ös go for it!\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://tinyurl.com/4ql5wk\"\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http
://www.payperpost.com/?utm_source\u003dopportunity\u0026amp;utm_medium
\u003ddisclosure%2Bbadge\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003
d\"http://tinyurl.com/2er3eu\"
border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003eAdd to
your favourites\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
del.icio.us/post?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.c
om/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u003dI+signed+up
+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I
signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plug
ins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/delicious.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Del.icio.
us\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to
Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"h
ttp://digg.com/submit?phase\u003d2\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u002
6amp;title\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to digg\"\u00
3e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/digg.png\" title\u0
03d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to digg\"
alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39;
to digg\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://furl.net/
storeIt.jsp?t\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\u0026am
p;u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/
\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP
!!!\u0026#39; to FURL\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-r
eloaded/furl.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!
\u0026#39; to FURL\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I sign
ed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to FURL\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://blinklist.com/index.php?Action\u003dB
link/addblink.php\u0026amp;Name\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP
%21%21%21\u0026amp;Description\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21
\u0026amp;Url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-
up-for-ppp/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed
up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to blinklist\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/socia
l-bookmarking-reloaded/blinklist.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I
signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to blinklist\" alt\u0
03d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to blinklist
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://reddit.
com/submit?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-
up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u003dI+signed+up+for+P
PP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!
\u0026#39; to reddit\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://w
ww.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/
reddit.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed u
p for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to reddit\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed
up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to reddit\"\u003e\u003c/a\u
003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feedmelinks.com/categorize?from
\u003dtoolbar\u0026amp;op\u003dsubmit\u0026amp;name\u003dI
+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;ve
rsion\u003d0.7\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!
\u0026#39; to Feed Me Links\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-
reloaded/feedmelinks.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u002
6#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Feed Me Links\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Fe
ed Me Links\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.technorati.com/faves?add\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I
signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Technorati\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/
social-bookmarking-reloaded/technorati.png\" titl
e\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Technorati
\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\
u0026#39; to Technorati\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://myweb2.search.yahoo.com/myresults/bookmarklet?u\
u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/
\u0026amp;t\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware
.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/
yahoo_myweb.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PP
P!!!\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up
for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\"\u003e\u003c
/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.newsvine.com/_wine/save?u
\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed
-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;h\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39;
to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/ne
wsvine.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!
\u0026#39; to Newsvine\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed
 up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://ekstreme.com/socializer/?url\u003dh
ttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\"
title\u
003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Socializer
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/socializer.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\
u0026#39; to Socializer\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for
PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Socializer\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\
u003ca href\u003d\"http://ma.gnolia.com/bookmarklet/add?url
\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-f
or-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP
%21%21%21\u0026amp;description\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\"
title\
u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/magnolia.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0
026#39; to Ma.gnolia\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!
\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003
ca href\u003d\"http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/
\u0026amp;title\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Stumb
le Upon\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/stumbl
eupon.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!
\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I sig
ned up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.google.com/bookmarks/mar
k?op\u003dedit\u0026amp;output\u003dpopup\u0026amp;bkmk\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-p
pp/\u0026amp;title\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Go
ogle Bookmarks\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded
/google.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!
\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39
;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.
squidoo.com/lensmaster/bookmark?http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026
#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Squidoo\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/pl
ugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/squidoo.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Squidoo\"
 alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Squidoo
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://ww
w.spurl.net/spurl.php?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u003dI+sign
ed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\u0026amp;v\u003d3\u0026amp;blocked\u003dI+signed
+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39
;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Spurl\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins
/social-bookmarking-reloaded/spurl.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I
signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Spurl\" alt\u003
d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Spurl\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://blinkbits.com
/bookmarklets/save.php?v\u003d1\u0026amp;source_url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\
u0026amp;title\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to BlinkB
its\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/blinkbits.
png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to
BlinkBits\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up fo
r PPP!!!\u0026#39; to BlinkBits\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://blogmarks.net/my/new.php?mini\u003d1\u00
26amp;simple\u003d1\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u003
dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up
for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Blogmarks\"\u003e\u003cim
g src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/bmarks.png\" title\u003d\"Add
 \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Blogmarks\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to
Blogmarks\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.bloglines.com/sub/http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/1
7/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for
PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Bloglines\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u
003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/bloglines.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0
026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Bloglines\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Blog
lines\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.netscape.com/
submit/?U\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/200
8/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;T\u003dI+signed+up+for+PPP
%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for P
PP!!!\u0026#39; to Netscape\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmar
king-reloaded/netscape.gif\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up
for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Netscape\" alt\u003d\"Add \u
0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Netscape\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.bookmark.it/boo
kmark.php?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-
up-for-ppp/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed
up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/soc
ial-bookmarking-reloaded/bookmark.gif\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I
signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\" alt
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://sm
arking.com/editbookmark/?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u003dI+s
igned+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for
PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Smarking\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/smarking.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u
0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Smarking\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Smar
king\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.linkagogo.com/
go/AddNoPopup?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u003dI+signed+up
+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I sig
ned up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Linkagogo\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/s
ocial-bookmarking-reloaded/linkagogo.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Linkagogo\" al
t\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Linkagogo
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"https://fa
vorites.live.com/quickadd.aspx?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\u0026amp;title\u0
03dI+signed+up+for+PPP%21%21%21\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed
up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Live-MSN\"\u003e\u003ci
mg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/live.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Live-MSN\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to Li
ve-MSN\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.facebook.com/share.php?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/17/i-signed-up-for-ppp/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed
up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to FaceBook\"\u003e\u003ci
mg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/facebook.png\" title\u003d\"
Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to FaceBook\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; t
o FaceBook\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.myspace.com/Modules/PostTo/Pages/?t\u003dI+signed+up+for+
PPP%21%21%21\u0026amp;c\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/17/
i-signed-up-for-ppp/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39
;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to MySpace\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
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t\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;I signed up for PPP!!!\u0026#39; to MySpace
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n","categories"
:["Adventure as
usual","sidenotes","blogging","buzz","learnings","money","writing","usual","ready"]},
{"title":"Canyoning
 (waterfall rappelling) at Kondana Caves","link":"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~3/313333788/","author"
:"Raka","publishedDate":"Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:35:02
-0700","contentSnippet":"Ram and Kishore, who work with the
authorize
d dealer for Petzel in India had invited me to join them for this
programme on the ...","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca
rel\u003d\"lightbox\"
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/uploads/2008/06/dsc01157.jpg\"\u003e\u003cim
g style\u003d\"border:1px solid black;margin:5px;float:left\" title
\u003d\"Kondana Caves\" src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/dsc01157-300x225.jpg\" alt
\u003d\"View of the Caves from the Rappelling location
\" width\u003d\"300\"
height\u003d\"225\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eRam and
Kishore, who work with the authorized dealer for Pe
tzel in India had invited me to join them for this programme on the
14th July. I was working officially with them for th
e first time, and hence excited. The plan was for canyoning, which is
basically ΓÇ£waterfall rappellingΓÇ¥ when done at
Kondana.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖd been doing \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/corporate-programmes
/omdp.htm\" title\u003d\"Experiential Learning through teambuilding
activities\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u
003d\"external\"\u003ecorporate\u003c/a\u003e training programs for a
long time by now, and I was extremely energized by
 this opportunity - change in work being rest and all. Really, it
doesnΓÇÖt take much to be tempted to the outdoors in t
his weather. The beginning of the monsoon, and being paid to get wet
and do what I enjoy. What more did I want? Work is
a fun way of life in any case.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlan was to
leave Mumbai late in the evening and stay near th
e location, but traffic, rain and other events conspired to delay us
till we reached the location at 2:30am.\u003cimg st
yle\u003d\"border:1px solid black;margin:5px;float:right\" title\u003d
\"Setting up the activity\" src\u003d\"http://www.
wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/dsc01154-300x225.jpg\"
alt\u003d\"Setting up the activity\" width\u003d\"
300\" height\u003d\"225\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e7
instructors and a driver, a trunk full of equipment was th
e staff load. We were expecting about 80 participants. We slept
immediately, and woke up almost immediately (it seemed)
at 7am.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA quick breakfast later, we had
distributed the equipment load for the hour long hau
l to the top of the Caves. We were expecting the group to reach at the
rappelling location by 10am, so we had taken alon
g some biscuits to keep us going through the day (it was going to be
long) till a late lunch.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u00
3eOur plan was to rappel from the top of the Kondana Caves, and we
were standing facing the valley.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eSeen the rain many times, got wet many times, but this time,
we stood at the edge of the valley and could see th
e rain in the valley, while we stood clear. And then, the wind
shifted, and the sheet of rain raced to us, and we raced
for cover. Half the day was spent in fun like that, as you canΓÇÖt see
from the photos. I had to put the camera in - the
re was no way to protect it. Pit. The pics would have been fantastic.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca rel\u003d\"lig
htbox\" href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/
2008/06/dsc01162.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg style\u003d\
"border:1px solid black;margin:5px;float:left\" title\u003d\"Sam
and me
\" src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-c
ontent/uploads/2008/06/dsc01162-225x300.jpg\" alt\u003d\"This is Sam -
an old friend of mine\" width\u003d\"225\" height
\u003d\"300\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eSam (another instructor - not a typo
for Ram) and I were working together after 4-5 yea
rs, so it was a superb time for us. Talking, flashbacks, catching up
with what was current in each otherΓÇÖs livesΓÇª an
d he was leaving to the US in a few weeks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eIt had been raining in torrents since noon. The d
rizzle had been there all day, but really, after noon, it poured with
a vengeance right until evening.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u
003cp\u003eOf course, the group came late. By then we were wishing
that weΓÇÖd had lunch and comeΓÇª.. The group reached
 the rappelling location by 2:30pm, we began the activity late, and we
ended the day late. The activity itself was much
enjoyed, though we instructors were literally running against time to
get the group completed. For the participants, the
 view of the valley spread at their feet, the dramatic weather, and
the experience of rappelling right through the water
 was incredible. ΓÇ£Absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime experienceΓÇ¥ as a
participant put it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e6
0 participants of the 80 had done rappelling. Whoever wanted to do the
rappel, got their moment of glory. In spite of st
arting late, we had somehow managed to work hard and fast enough to
not refuse anyone out of a lack of time. And thus, t
his rappelling session was finally concluded and we hurried the group
back to the road head as fast as we could.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn my experience, the group comes for adventure,
but they take the whole experience lightly, and ha
ve no concern for the reality of the situation. In their excitement,
they had no concern for the delay and danger in the
 dark. The stream was swollen from the days rain, and the group was
unused to the terrain. This was when they realized t
hat it was no longer the trickle they had jumped across on their way
in the afternoon and finally realized why we had be
en asking them to hurry.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOur human caravan
slipped and stumbled through the thigh deep water
 and shivered across to the other side. The road from here on is
muddy, but pretty straightforward.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eIn the beginning, I had been considered the villain when I
tried to rush them along, and this is the point where
 they realized that I had been talking out of concern for them, and
not myself, and I found myself happy to suddenly be
the much appreciated hero.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the way
down, one of the newer instructors said, ΓÇ£Sir, IΓÇÖv
e got a dilemmaΓÇ¥. I asked him what he meant. ΓÇ£Do we go down and
have lunch or dinner?ΓÇ¥ he asked with a laugh.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI pondered for a bit and shared what I was
certain of, ΓÇ£No matter what we call it, IΓÇÖm going
 to eat like a starving elephant.ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat
should have been done in daylight by 4pm ended at
8pm as the group stumbled and groped their way back in the dark.\u003c/
p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn reaching down, we decide
d to pack up the equipment and wind up the logistics of the programme
before freshening up and eating, knowing that it w
ould be twice as hard once the adrenaline levels went down and our
bodies figured out that we were tired. FinallyΓÇªΓÇª
we sat down to eat misal paav. It was a long time before anyone
wondered if the traditional snack was lunch or dinner.\u
003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003eAdd to your favourites
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to MySpace\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide
-aware/RmtA?a\u003d4CGRal\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i\u003d4CGRal\" bor
der\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~4/3
13333788\" height\u003d\"1\"
width\u003d\"1\"\u003e","categories":
["Adventure as usual","Outdoor professionals","Team Ne
ws","adventure","canyoning","caves","drizzle","experience","monsoon","outdoors","rain
in the valley","rappelling","water
fall","way of
life","weather","lunch","and","come","the","group","reached","the","rappelling","location","and","standing
","facing","the","valley    
seen","the","rain","hurry
our","human","caravan","slipped","and","stumbled","jumped","t
he","afternoon","and","finally","realized","delay","reached","the","location","reach","the","rappelling","location","lon
g","a","late","lunch    
it","and","ended","the","day","late
60","participants"]},{"title":"Power of Positive
Thought","
link":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/
~3/312563578/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sun, 15 Jun
 2008 11:36:45 -0700","contentSnippet":"APJ Kalam never
fails to amaze
me with the depth of his understanding, insights,
 and the caring that comes through so clearly
...","content":"\u003cp
\u003eAPJ Kalam never fails to amaze me with the de
pth of his understanding, insights, and the caring that comes through
so clearly in his words. This article from him is
something I truly respect and hold close to my heart, rather than in
high esteem. Esteem is cerebral, this truly touches
 me, and inspires me to see things in a more meaningful way.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓ
ÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇöΓÇö\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
\u003ca rel\u003d\"lightbox\" href\u003d\"http://w
ww.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/apjk.jpg\"\u003e
\u003cimg style\u003d\"float:right\" title\u003d\"A P
J Kalam\"
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/
2008/06/apjk.jpg\" alt\u003d\"An incredible human
\" width\u003d\"233\"
height\u003d\"346\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003eI
remember my dad teaching me the power of language at a ve
ry young age. Not only did my dad understand that specific words
affect our mental pictures, but he understood words are
 a powerful programming factor in lifelong success.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eOne particularly interesting event occur
red when I was eight. As a kid, I was always climbing trees, poles,
and literally hanging around upside down from the ra
fters of our lake house. So, it came to no surprise for my dad to find
me at the top of a 30-foot tree swinging back and
 forth. My little eight-year-old brain didnΓÇÖt realize the tree could
break or I could get hurt. I just thought it was
fun to be up so high.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy older cousin,
Tammy, was also in the same tree. She was hanging on
the first big limb, about ten feet below me. TammyΓÇÖs mother also
noticed us at the exact time my dad did. About that t
ime a huge gust of wind came over the tree. I could hear the leaves
start to rattle and the tree begin to sway. I rememb
er my dadΓÇÖs voice over the wind yell, ΓÇ£Bart, Hold on tightly.ΓÇ¥
So I did. The next thing I know, I heard Tammy scre
aming at the top of her lungs, laying flat on the ground. She had
fallen out of the tree.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI
scampered down the tree to safety. My dad later told me why she fell
and I did not. Apparently, when TammyΓÇÖs mother fe
lt the gust of wind, she yelled out, ΓÇ£Tammy, donΓÇÖt fall!ΓÇ¥ And
Tammy didΓÇª fall.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy da
d then explained to me that the mind has a very difficult time
processing a negative image. In fact, people who rely on
internal pictures cannot see a negative at all. In order for Tammy to
process the command of not falling, her nine-year-
old brain had to first imagine falling, then try to tell the brain not
to do what it just imagined. Whereas, my eight-ye
ar-old brain instantly had an internal image of me hanging on tightly.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis concept is espec
ially useful when you are attempting to break a habit or set a goal.
You canΓÇÖt visualize not doing something. The only
 way to properly visualize not doing something is to actually find a
word for what you want to do and visualize that. Fo
r example, when I was thirteen years old, I played for my junior high
school football team. I tried so hard to be good,
but I just couldnΓÇÖt get it together at that age. I remember hearing
the words run through my head as I was running out
 for a pass, ΓÇ£DonΓÇÖt drop it!ΓÇ¥ Naturally, I dropped the ball.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy coaches were not skill
ed enough to teach us proper ΓÇ£self-talk.ΓÇ¥ They just thought some
kids could catch and others couldnΓÇÖt. IΓÇÖll neve
r make it pro, but IΓÇÖm now a pretty good Sunday afternoon football
player, because all my internal dialogue is positiv
e and encourages me to win. I wish my dad had coached me playing
football instead of just climbing trees. I might have h
ad a longer football career.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere is a
very easy demonstration to teach your kids and your f
riends the power of a toxic vocabulary. Ask them to hold a pen or
pencil. Hand it to them. Now, follow my instructions c
arefully. Say to them, ΓÇ£Okay, try to drop the pencil.ΓÇ¥ Observe
what they do.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost people
 release their hands and watch the pencil hit the floor. You respond,
ΓÇ£You werenΓÇÖt paying attention. I said TRY to d
rop the pencil. Now please do it again.ΓÇ¥ Most people then pick up
the pencil and pretend to be in excruciating pain wh
ile their hand tries but fails to drop the pencil.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eThe point is made.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eIf you tell your brain you will ΓÇ£give it a try,ΓÇ¥ you are
actually telling your brain to fail. I have a ΓÇ£no t
ryΓÇ¥ rule in my house and with everyone I interact with. Either
people will do it or they wonΓÇÖt. Either they will be
at the party or they wonΓÇÖt. IΓÇÖm brutal when people attempt to lie
to me by using the word try. Do they think I donΓÇ
Öt know they are really telegraphing to the world they have no
intention of doing it but they want me to give them brown
ie points for pretended effort? You will never hear the words ΓÇ
£IΓÇÖll tryΓÇ¥ come out of my mouth unless IΓÇÖm teachin
g this concept in a seminar.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you ΓÇ
£tryΓÇ¥ and do something, your unconscious mind has pe
rmission not to succeed. If I truly canΓÇÖt make a decision I will
tell the truth. ΓÇ£Sorry John. IΓÇÖm not sure if I wi
ll be at your party or not. IΓÇÖve got an outstanding commitment. If
that falls through, I will be here. Otherwise, I wi
ll not. Thanks for the invite.ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople
respect honesty. So remove the word ΓÇ£tryΓÇ¥ from
your vocabulary.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy dad also told me that
psychologists claim it takes seventeen positive st
atements to offset one negative statement. I have no idea if it is
true, but the logic holds true. It might take up to s
eventeen compliments to offset the emotional damage of one harsh
criticism.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are concep
ts that are especially useful when raising \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/schools-colleges/student-teache
r.htm\" title\u003d\"outdoor adventure for children\" style\u003d
\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u003d\"external\"\u003echild
ren\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAsk yourself how many
compliments you give yourself daily versus how many
 criticisms. Heck, I know you are talking to yourself all day long. We
all have internal voices that give us direction.\
u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, are you giving yourself the 17:1 ratio
or are you shortchanging yourself with toxic self
-talk like, ΓÇ¥ IΓÇÖm fat. Nobody will like me. IΓÇÖll try this diet.
IΓÇÖm not good enough. IΓÇÖm so stupid. IΓÇÖm brok
e, etc. etc.ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf our parents can set a
lifetime of programming with one wrong statement, i
magine the kind of programming you are doing on a daily basis with
your own internal dialogue. Here is a list of Toxic V
ocabulary words.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNotice when you or other
people use them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e├ÿ \u
003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan
style\u003d\"color:#993300\"\u003eBut\u003c/
span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e: Negates any words
that are stated before it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e├ÿ \u003cspan
style\u003d\"color:#993300\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003
eTry\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e: Presupposes failure.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e├ÿ \u003cstrong\u003e\u003csp
an style\u003d\"color:#993300\"\u003eIf\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong
\u003e: Presupposes that you may not.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003e├ÿ \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d
\"color:#993300\"\u003eMight\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u00
3e: It does nothing definite. It leaves options for your listener.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e├ÿ \u003cstrong\u003e\u00
3cspan style\u003d\"color:#993300\"\u003eWould Have\u003c/span\u003e
\u003c/strong\u003e: Past tense that draws attention
 to things that didnΓÇÖt actually happen.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003e├ÿ \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color
:#993300\"\u003eShould Have\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e: Past
tense that draws attention to things that didnΓÇÖt
 actually happen (and implies guilt.)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e├ÿ
\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#99
3300\"\u003eCould Have\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e: Past tense
that draws attention to things that didnΓÇÖt actu
ally happen but the person tries to take credit as if it did happen.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e├ÿ\u003cstrong\u003e\u0
03cspan style\u003d\"color:#993300\"\u003e CanΓÇÖt/DonΓÇÖt\u003c/span
\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e: These words force the li
stener to focus on exactly the opposite of what you want. This is a
classic mistake that parents and coaches make withou
t knowing the damage of this linguistic error.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"tex
t-decoration:underline\"\u003eExamples:\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong
\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u00
3e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#ff0000\"\u003eToxic phrase\u003c/span
\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e: ΓÇ£DonΓÇÖt drop the bal
l!ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d
\"color:#999999\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLikely result\u003c/str
ong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e: Drops the ball\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
\u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#339966\"\u003e\u00
3cstrong\u003eBetter language\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e: ΓÇ
£Catch the ball!ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0
03cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#ff0000\"\u003eToxic
phrase\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e: ΓÇ£You sho
uldnΓÇÖt watch so much television.ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style\u003d\"color:#99999
9\"\u003eLikely result\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e: Watches
more television.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cs
pan style\u003d\"color:#339966\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBetter
language
\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/span\u003e: ΓÇ£I read t
oo much television makes people stupid. You might find yourself
turning that TV off and picking up one of those books mo
re often!ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExercise: Take a moment to
write down all the phrases you use on a daily basis
or any Toxic self-talk that you have noticed yourself using. Write
these phrases down so you will begin to catch yoursel
f as they occur and change them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy  A P J
KALAM\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003
eAdd to your favourites\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://del.icio.us/post?url\u003dhttp://www.wide
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\u003c/div\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?a\u003dNE5wih\"\u003
e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~a/wide-aware/RmtA?i
\u003dNE5wih\" border\u003d\"0\"\u003e\u003c/a\u00
3e\u003c/p\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/
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th\u003d\"1\"\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","Social
Awareness","Thoughts","APJ
Kalam","emotions","insight
s","inspiration","people","writing"]},{"title":"HR
Professionals and
their masses","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blo
g/2008/06/15/hr-professionals-and-their-masses/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 14 Jun 2008 22:29:43 -0700
","contentSnippet":"I came across a discussion on how to
\u0026#8220;deal with\u0026#8221; a woman who wears revealing c
lothes in an office with no stated
...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI came
across a \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.citehr.co
m/105081-female-employee-wearing-sensational-clothes-
office-24.html#post420167\"\u003ediscussion\u003c/a\u003e on how to
 ΓÇ£deal withΓÇ¥ a woman who wears revealing clothes in an office with
no stated dress code.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003
eThe discussion runs into some 24 pages with not a single HR
professional seeing the woman as anything less than a probl
em to be dealt with and lengthy ways of dealing with it ranging from
firing her to emailing a dress code to all staff, e
tc.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat I see happening, is that the
entire community needs to immediately get this woman i
nto the ΓÇ£acceptableΓÇ¥ (for them) one way or the other. Few people
bothered to ask if this woman is indeed productive,
 collaborative and otherwise functional.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eNot a single person expressed acceptance for this g
irl.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf this is the state of HR, how to we
expect employees to respect women beyond their lo
oks?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI see an unconscious process in this
community, which I suspect is also happening in ou
r society. People just canΓÇÖt get over their own jealousies or lust
when faced with an attractive person to see the per
son as a whole. Somehow, they need to drag that person to an ΓÇ
£ordinaryΓÇ¥ level. What that person feels doesnΓÇÖt matt
er, because they are not even looking at her feelings here.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhatever happened to HR being av
ailable for all employees and not just the ones they choose to
support? If the position is to be used as ammunition to d
efend what we like and attack what we donΓÇÖt, it is no surprise that
one of the members stated ΓÇ£\u003ci\u003eBut some
 time HR have to be rude , thats a reason why 75 % employee are\u003cbr
\u003e\nnot happy with their HR [ Because we forc
e them to behave in a\u003cbr\u003e\nparticular way ].\u003c/i\u003eΓÇ£
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike I posted there,
 no one HAS TO be rude. Rudeness happens on its own, when we stop
caring about and respecting the person we are speaking
 with.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople are not idiots. They can
sense when a person doesnΓÇÖt care about them, but st
ill disapproves of them and has rules they should obey. Really, do you
like people who donΓÇÖt care about you, but know
what is right for you?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sad part of
this is that it seems to be an accepted part of being
 HR. How can an HR department be functional, if the H of it doesnΓÇÖt
like them? Yet, advice seems to be that to not wor
ry about being rude and ΓÇ£just deal with the womanΓÇ¥.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖd like to share my posts there o
ver here:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003eHi,\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven though your organizatio
n has no stated norms about clothes, from\u003cbr\u003e\nyour post,
there seems to be an unsaid norm about the same, or
you (and\u003cbr\u003e\nothers) wouldnΓÇÖt be bothered by what she
wears. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo one in the off
ice (including that girl) is fool enough to believe\u003cbr\u003e
\nthat an email sent to all on this subject really appl
ies to all, if\u003cbr\u003e\nthat new girl is such a sensation, and
it would only serve as a public\u003cbr\u003e\nrepr
imand that came out of the blue, and thus humiliating for her.\u003cbr
\u003e\nPlus, if you mean it for her, why pretend
its for all?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf I were in your place, I
would go about things like thus.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u00
3cp\u003eFirst, I would meet with the girl privately. I would explain
the dilemma I was caught in. On one hand, \u003cb\
u003eI respect her individuality and choice to wear whatever she
thinks she should\u003c/b\u003e. On the other hand, as
a person in HR, facilitating an atmosphere thatΓÇÖs conducive to
harmony is my responsibility.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u0
03eI would explain how I see the impact of her attire (without
allocating ANY blame ANYWHERE):\u003cbr\u003e \n\u003cul\
u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWomen\u003cbr\u003e\nstaff show discomfort in her
presence - this could and probably IS\u003cbr\u00
3e\nleading to her being looked upon with envy or disapproval, and will
\u003cbr\u003e\nimpact her working relationships
in the office and impact productivity\u003cbr\u003e\nnegatively.\u003c/
li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMen seem to be attracted.
 This could have an\u003cbr\u003e\nimpact in terms of being seen as
too inviting by the opposite gender\u003cbr\u003e\na
nd thus not taken seriously, which would again impact performance when
\u003cbr\u003e\nit came to the value of her contri
butions - would men be considering\u003cbr\u003e\nher capability
(would they even notice it amid the decoration)?\u003c/
li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis\u003cbr\u003e\nwould lead
to working interactions based on a stereotype of
her that\u003cbr\u003e\nhas nothing to do with how she actually works.
That troubles me, both\u003cbr\u003e\nfor her, as
 well as the \u003cb\u003ewell being of us as a group\u003c/b\u003e.
On a\u003cbr\u003e\npersonal level, I have little e
xperience, and thus comfort with such\u003cbr\u003e\nclothes, and I
find it a little awkward (feel shy) and canΓÇÖt get
over\u003cbr\u003e\nthem to see her, as a whole person, which I would
like to.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI would ask h
er for help on this matter, as I would prefer it for\u003cbr\u003e
\nmyself, for her and the group if personal clothing w
ouldnΓÇÖt be a matter\u003cbr\u003e\nfor an official rule to be laid
down.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThen, if she agre
es to help, I would simply trust her, and see what\u003cbr\u003e
\nhappens for the next week or so. If she doesnΓÇÖt agre
e, OR if she\u003cbr\u003e\ndoesnΓÇÖt present herself suitably, I
would call a staff meeting and\u003cbr\u003e\nshare th
at I had observed that there was an unsaid norm about clothes,\u003cbr
\u003e\nthough there was none officially, and woul
d explain how I see the\u003cbr\u003e\nsituation currently.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI would explain my bottom line t
hat we keep the norm, or it goes, I\u003cbr\u003e\ncouldnΓÇÖt care
less, but we make it clear what happens to it. So eit
her\u003cbr\u003e\nwe throw away the norm, in which case I expect the
members of the staff\u003cbr\u003e\nto \u003cb\u00
3equit flaunting either their disapproval, or their drooling\u003c/b
\u003e, or we could state it clearly and \u003cb\u00
3edefine what constituted appropriate clothing\u003c/b\u003e which
everyone would be expected to follow.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eThey KEY DIFFICULTY in this issue is not dealing with the
girl, but\u003cbr\u003e\nkeeping our own value ju
dgments away from our facilitation of the\u003cbr\u003e\nsituation.
\u003cu\u003e\u003cb\u003eAs an authority role, we a
re expected to be available to all, not just the ones on whose ΓÇ
£sideΓÇ¥ we are\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/u\u003e. I say this
 specifically, because I sensed you being on the ΓÇ£sideΓÇ¥ of the
women.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe clothes are th
e womanΓÇÖs responsibility, but the responses and reactions belong to
all and not just her.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u00
3eI am very concerned at the state of HR in\u003cbr\u003e\nour
community, where judgments are passed so easily, and ther
e is no\u003cbr\u003e\nsensitivity for the girl.\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/
p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI believe that as HR, we ar
e available to all people and not just the ones we choose to support
and attack the ones we donΓÇÖt.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u00
3cp\u003eWith recommendations of:\u003cbr\u003e \n\u003cul\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003eΓÇ£Shock\u003cbr\u003e\ntreatmentΓÇ¥ - a
re we not laying a role model for women to be looked as\u003cbr\u003e
\nobjects in a derogatory manner? And why shouldnΓÇ
Öt the girl sue you for\u003cbr\u003e\nthose comments - just because
youΓÇÖre in the mood to play Freud?\u003c/li\u003e\
n\u003cli\u003eBy\u003cbr\u003e\nlaying down rules for the entire
staff, are we not imposing our sense\u003cbr\u003e\nof
 ΓÇ£right and wrongΓÇ¥ on them? What makes us so certain that everyone
\u003cbr\u003e\nindeed has an issue with what we s
ee an issue with?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow many\u003cbr\u003e
\npeople here have exhibited understanding and ena
bling support for the\u003cbr\u003e\ngirl? Is she not a member of the
staff that you provide an HR function\u003cbr\u003
e\nto?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSensitivity and
caring seems to be a value long lost\u003cbr\u003e\
namong members in their superiority and judgments on who is right and
\u003cbr\u003e\nwrong and power plays on how they s
hould be ΓÇ£dealt withΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome pages back
Shaival hit the nail on the head, without really u
nderstanding what she said ΓÇ£\u003ci\u003eBut\u003cbr\u003e\nsome
time HR have to be rude , thats a reason why 75 % emp
loyee are not\u003cbr\u003e\nhappy with their HR [ Because we force
them to behave in a particular\u003cbr\u003e\nway ]\
u003c/i\u003e.ΓÇ¥\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo one has to be rude.
We become rude when we stop caring about the\u003cb
r\u003e\nperson we are speaking with. Even if employees canΓÇÖt state
it as\u003cbr\u003e\nclearly as this, they can sen
se it, and really, who likes someone who\u003cbr\u003e\ndoesnΓÇÖt
respect them? Do you? Do you like someone who doesnΓÇÖ
t really\u003cbr\u003e\ncare about you, but claims to know what is
best for you and then goes\u003cbr\u003e\nahead and i
mposes it on you? If 75% employees are not happy with their\u003cbr
\u003e\nHR, isnΓÇÖt it high time HR used this feedbac
k to re-create themselves to\u003cbr\u003e\nbe more functional?\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖm sorry to say that I am
 utterly disgusted.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p
\u003e\u003c/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u00
3cem\u003eAdd to your favourites\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://del.icio.us/post?url\u003dhttp:/
/www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/15/hr-professionals-and-their-masses/
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sses\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR Professionals and their masses
\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\
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9;HR Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\" alt
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR Professionals and their masse
s\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://digg.com/submit?phase\u003d2\u0026amp;url\u00
3dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/15/hr-professionals-and-their-
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their+masses\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR Professionals and their
masses\u0026#39; to digg\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
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g/2008/06/15/hr-professionals-and-their-masses/\" title\u003d\"Add
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their masses\u0026#39; to Technorati\" alt\u003d\"Add
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newsvine.com/_wine/save?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/15/hr-professionals-and-their-masses/\u0026amp;h\u
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Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to Newsvi
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\u0026#39; to Newsvine\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR Pro
fessionals and their masses\u0026#39; to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://ma.gnolia.com/bookmark
let/add?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/15/hr-
professionals-and-their-masses/\u0026amp;title\u003dHR+Pro
fessionals+and+their+masses\u0026amp;description\u003dHR+Professionals
+and+their+masses\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR
Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e\u003cimg
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their masses\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e\u003c/a\u
003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.stumbleupon.com/
submit?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/
15/hr-professionals-and-their-masses/\u0026amp;title\u003dHR
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asses\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR
Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon\"
\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.google.com/
bookmarks/mark?op\u003dedit\u0026amp;output\u003dpopup\u00
26amp;bkmk\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/15/hr-
professionals-and-their-masses/\u0026amp;title\u003dHR+Prof
essionals+and+their+masses\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR
Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\
"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/google.png\" t
itle\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR Professionals and their masses\u0026#39;
to Google Bookmarks\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR
Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.faceboo
k.com/share.php?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/15/hr-
professionals-and-their-masses/\" title\u003d\"Add \
u0026#39;HR Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to FaceBook
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/b
log/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/facebook.png\" title
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR Professionals and their
masses\u0026#39; to FaceBook\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR
Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to FaceBook\"\u003e\
u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.myspace.com/Modules/PostTo/
Pages/?t\u003dHR+Professionals+and+their+masses\u
0026amp;c\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/15/hr-
professionals-and-their-masses/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39
;HR Professionals and their masses\u0026#39; to MySpace\"\u003e
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ntent/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/myspace.png\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;HR Professionals and their masses\u00
26#39; to MySpace\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;HR Professionals and
their masses\u0026#39; to MySpace\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003
e\u003c/div\u003e\n","categories":["HR","State of
matters","functional
not","a","single","person","expressed","acceptanc
e","stated","dress","code
the","discussion","runs","observed","an","unsaid","norm","the","office","and","impact","produc
tivity negatively
men","firing","emailing","a","dress","code","wears","revealing","clothes","rude","caring","blame","wom
en staff"]},{"title":"10 important changes to transform your
life","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/10-
important-changes-to-transform-your-life/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 14 Jun 2008 08:22:50
-0700","con
tentSnippet":"This post could be considered the ultimate guide to
professional excellence, or any relationship for that
matter. Why do I call ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis post
could be
considered the ultimate guide to professional exce
llence, or any relationship for that matter. Why do I call
professional excellence a relationship? Because it is. What y
ou do, is important, but it is how people see it that matters -
thatΓÇÖs how it is about relationship.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u
003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGet over your obsession with presenting
perfection already. For one, it is too open to inter
pretation, and thus too vague in terms of what needs to be done.
Instead, get obsessed with initiative. Attempts to be p
erfect block most of our initiative and leave us anxious. Learn to
accept that you are doing what you think is best, and
 if it doesnΓÇÖt turn out to be so, you then know that for sure,
rather than imagining consequences and fearing them. \u
0026lt;ΓÇö this is not as easy as it sounds.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eEmbrace the goals you have committed to. This
 means, donΓÇÖt take the lazy manΓÇÖs way just because what seems best
looks tough. DoesnΓÇÖt matter if it is finding th
e strength to run an extra mile for your weight loss goal, or doing
extra research to bring in thought provoking perspec
tives for that \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/corporate-
programmes/omdp.htm\" title\u003d\"Experiential L
earning through teambuilding activities\" style\u003d\"padding-right:
13px\" rel\u003d\"external\"\u003ecorporate\u003c/a
\u003e presentation. It is about adopting the goal in your heart, and
making the effort to stand by it through tough ter
rain.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDonΓÇÖt panic. It is those who try
who fail, or succeed. Know that you have tried, a
nd respect yourself for it, even if things fail, because failures when
accepted and learned from bring great strength an
d sure knowledge of what to avoid.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eAcknowledge the people you are with. This doesnΓÇÖt mea
n mindless agreement. It is simply acknowledging that they see things
in a certain way, or feel strongly about certain t
hings, regardless of whether you agree or donΓÇÖt. Accept that they
have their own stands which are as valid for them, a
s they are for you.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThrow those
approvals and disapprovals out. They do more harm than goo
d, because you end up constantly judging people rather than
understanding them.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStanding u
p in the face of all for what you believe in takes courage, but is
counter-productive, if it means that you end up decid
ing for everyone (or attempting to). It helps to present your stand on
it, and your feelings about it. ΓÇ£Let us throw a
way the current policy on tea breaks - people are getting lazyΓÇ¥ may
not be as effective as ΓÇ£I see the tea breaks dis
rupting our schedule, and few of us seem to want tea at that time. Can
we re-look at them and see if we can come up with
 something that suits us better? I suggestΓÇª.ΓÇ¥\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003eContribute, donΓÇÖt dictate.\u003c/li\u0
03e\n\u003cli\u003eDonΓÇÖt just agree, act. Agreement is passivity.
Action is what causes positive change.\u003c/li\u003
e\n\u003cli\u003eTry and be sensitive to the state of being of the
person you are with. A colleague who looks harassed h
as a concern you could perhaps help him with, rather than as him to
review your latest invention.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c
li\u003eBlame alienates and frustrates - even blaming yourself. Learn
to see the person as a whole that is much more tha
n a specific action.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot
as simple as it looks.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u
003e\u003cem\u003eAdd to your favourites\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://del.icio.us/post?url\u00
3dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/10-important-changes-to-
transform-your-life/\u0026amp;title\u003d10+importan
t+changes+to+transform+your+life\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10
important changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to D
el.icio.us\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/del
icious.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important changes to
transform your life\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;10 important changes to transform your life\u0026#39;
to Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u
003d\"http://digg.com/submit?phase\u003d2\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/10-important-chang
es-to-transform-your-life/\u0026amp;title\u003d10+important+changes+to
+transform+your+life\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;
10 important changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to digg\"\u003e
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your life\u0026#39; to digg\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important
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add\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14
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0026#39; to Technorati\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
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changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to Technorati
\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important changes to transform your
life
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03ca href\u003d\"http://www.newsvine.com/_wine/save?u\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/10-important-change
s-to-transform-your-life/\u0026amp;h\u003d10+important+changes+to
+transform+your+life\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 im
portant changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to Newsvine\"\u003e
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rm your life\u0026#39; to Newsvine\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10
important changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to N
ewsvine\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://ma.gnolia.com/
bookmarklet/add?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/2008/06/14/10-important-changes-to-transform-your-life/
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+life\u0026amp;description\u003d10+important+changes+to+transform+your
+life\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important ch
anges to transform your life\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e\u003cimg
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ife\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important
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www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware
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important changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.g
oogle.com/bookmarks/mark?op\u003dedit\u0026amp;output\u003dpopup
\u0026amp;bkmk\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/
06/14/10-important-changes-to-transform-your-life/\u0026amp;title
\u003d10+important+changes+to+transform+your+life\" tit
le\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important changes to transform your life
\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u
003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
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#39;10 important changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to Google
Bookmarks\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important ch
anges to transform your life\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\"\u003e
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com/share.php?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/10-
important-changes-to-transform-your-life/\" title\u003
d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important changes to transform your life\u0026#39;
to FaceBook\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://ww
w.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/
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ant changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to FaceBook\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;10 important changes to transform yo
ur life\u0026#39; to FaceBook\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.myspace.com/Modules/PostTo/Pages/?t\u0
03d10+important+changes+to+transform+your+life\u0026amp;c\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/10-important-ch
anges-to-transform-your-life/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10
important changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to MySp
ace\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
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g\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;10 important changes to transform your
life\u0026#39; to MySpace\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#
39;10 important changes to transform your life\u0026#39; to MySpace
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n","categories
":["Development Methods","Experiential
learning","review","latest","invention
blame","alienates","and","frustrates","pro
fessional","excellence","a","relationship","bring","thought","provoking","perspectives","turn","imagining","consequences
","and","fearing","them","lt","you
throw","approvals","and","disapprovals","out","strongly","perspectives","obsessed","i
nitiative","attempts","counter
productive","means"]},{"title":"Wide
Aware is growing","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:13:41
-0700","conten
tSnippet":"I see interest in our activities from all kinds of people -
corporates, schools and other educational institu
tions, adult ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI see interest in
our
activities from all kinds of people - corporates, school
s and other educational institutions, adult organizations and clubs,
individual people in search of adventure, people wh
o wish for counseling for their \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/schools-colleges/student-teacher.htm\" tit
le\u003d\"outdoor adventure for children\"
style\u003d\"padding-right:
13px\" rel\u003d\"external\"\u003echildren\u003c/a
\u003e/familiesΓÇª..\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts just me, and a
whole new array of directions for growth, for making
 a meaningful difference in peopleΓÇÖs lives. Its a heady feeling. It
also scares me on some level, as I donΓÇÖt really
know if I can do all this justice. If I can live up to the belief that
people have invested in me.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c
p\u003eThank you everyone for your continuing support and being there
with your suggestions as well as walking with me a
s we venture together into exciting new terrain. This spirit of
adventure in you, in me, is what makes this whole thing
worthwhile.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003eAdd to your
favourites\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\
u003d\"http://del.icio.us/post?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;title\
u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is
growing\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/delicious.png\" title\u003d\"Ad
d \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
 Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://digg.com/
submit?phase\u003d2\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.w
ide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;title
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#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to digg\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
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s/social-bookmarking-reloaded/digg.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to digg\" alt\u003d\
"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to digg\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://furl.net/storeIt.
jsp?t\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\u0026amp;u\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\" titl
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o FURL\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
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//blinklist.com/index.php?Action\u003dBlink/addblink.php\u0026amp;Name
\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\u0026amp;Description\u
003dWide+Aware+is+growing\u0026amp;Url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\" title\u00
3d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to blinklist\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blo
g/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/blinklist.png\" title
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#
39; to blinklist\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing
\u0026#39; to blinklist\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca hr
ef\u003d\"http://reddit.com/submit?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;ti
tle\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware
is growing\u0026#39; to reddit\"\u003e\u003cimg s
rc\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/reddit.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u
0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to reddit\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to reddit\"
\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://feedmelinks.com/
categorize?from\u003dtoolbar\u0026amp;op\u003dsubmit\u002
6amp;name\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\
u0026amp;version\u003d0.7\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is
growing\u0026#39; to Feed Me Links\"\u003e\u003cimg
 src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/feedmelinks.png\" title\u003d\
"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Feed Me Links\" alt
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#3
9; to Feed Me Links\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.technorati.com/faves?add\u003dhttp://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Technorat
i\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/technorati.p
ng\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
Technorati\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is g
rowing\u0026#39; to Technorati\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://myweb2.search.yahoo.com/myresults/bookmar
klet?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-
growing/\u0026amp;t\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" tit
le\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-awar
e.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/
yahoo_myweb.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is gro
wing\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware
is growing\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\"\u003e\u003c/
a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.newsvine.com/_wine/save?u
\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-awar
e-is-growing/\u0026amp;h\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to News
vine\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/newsvine.
png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
Newsvine\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is gr
owing\u0026#39; to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://ekstreme.com/socializer/?url\u003dhttp://www
.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;title
\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add \u00
26#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Socializer\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-conten
t/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/socializer.png\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Soc
ializer\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
Socializer\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://ma.gnolia.com/bookmarklet/add?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026am
p;title\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\u0026amp;description\u003dWide+Aware
+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Awa
re is growing\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/socia
l-bookmarking-reloaded/magnolia.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide
Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\" alt\u003
d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.stumbl
eupon.com/submit?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/
wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;title\u003dWide+Awar
e+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing
\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"ht
tp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/stumbleupon.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39
;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Stumble U
pon\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.google.com/
bookmarks/mark?op\u003dedit\u0026amp;output\u003dpopu
p\u0026amp;bkmk\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-
aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;title\u003dWide+Aware+is+
growing\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39;
to Google Bookmarks\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"htt
p://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/google.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide
Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\" alt\u003d\"Add
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marks\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/bookmark?http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Squidoo
\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/squidoo.png\"
 title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Squidoo
\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\
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www.spurl.net/spurl.php?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;title\u003dWide
+Aware+is+growing\u0026amp;v\u003d3\u0026amp;bloc
ked\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware
is growing\u0026#39; to Spurl\"\u003e\u003cimg sr
c\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/spurl.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u00
26#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Spurl\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Spurl\"\u00
3e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://blinkbits.com/bookmarklets/
save.php?v\u003d1\u0026amp;source_url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;title\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\"
title\u003d\"Add \
u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to BlinkBits\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-cont
ent/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/blinkbits.png\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Bl
inkBits\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
BlinkBits\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\
"http://blogmarks.net/my/new.php?mini\u003d1\u0026amp;simple
\u003d1\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/200
8/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u0026amp;title\u003dWide+Aware+is
+growing\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is grow
ing\u0026#39; to Blogmarks\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmark
ing-reloaded/bmarks.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is
growing\u0026#39; to Blogmarks\" alt\u003d\"Add \u002
6#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Blogmarks\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.bloglines.com/sub/
http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u002
6#39; to Bloglines\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-relo
aded/bloglines.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing
\u0026#39; to Bloglines\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;
Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Bloglines\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.netscape.com/submit/?U\
u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/
\u0026amp;T\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003
d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Netscape\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/netscape.gif\" title
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39;
 to Netscape\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing
\u0026#39; to Netscape\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u0
03d\"http://www.bookmark.it/bookmark.php?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\" tit
le\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware
.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/bookmark.gif
\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing
\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is
growing\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003
e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://smarking.com/editbookmark/?url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-
growing/\u0026amp;title\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add
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ing\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/smarking.p
ng\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
Smarking\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is gro
wing\u0026#39; to Smarking\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.linkagogo.com/go/AddNoPopup?url\u003dhttp
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\u0026amp;title\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Ad
d \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Linkagogo\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-c
ontent/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/linkagogo.png\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
 Linkagogo\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39;
to Linkagogo\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u00
3d\"https://favorites.live.com/quickadd.aspx?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\u
0026amp;title\u003dWide+Aware+is+growing\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Live-MSN\"\u003
e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/live.png\" title\u00
3d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to Live-MSN\" alt
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39;
 to Live-MSN\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.facebook.com/share.php?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/2008/06/14/wide-aware-is-growing/\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to FaceBook\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/
social-bookmarking-reloaded/facebook.png\" title\
u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to FaceBook\" alt
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#
39; to FaceBook\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.myspace.com/Modules/PostTo/Pages/?t\u003dWide+Aware+
is+growing\u0026amp;c\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/14/
wide-aware-is-growing/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39
;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to MySpace\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugin
s/social-bookmarking-reloaded/myspace.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to MySpace\" alt\
u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Wide Aware is growing\u0026#39; to
MySpace\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n","categories":["
Adventure as usual","Team News","Thoughts","Wide
Aware","adventure","children","education","news","people"]},
{"title":"T
he earth
celebrates","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/
the-earth-celebrates/","author":"Vidyut Kale","pu
blishedDate":"Sun, 08 Jun 2008 05:31:00
-0700","contentSnippet":"I
\u0026#8217;m turning into a poet. After the scorching
, humid summer months, I have heavy rain outside my window as I sit to
write ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖm turning
into a poet. After the scorching, humid summer months, I have heavy
rain outside my window as I sit to write this. The w
ind is strong and brings in a spray of refreshing droplets of this
celebration. I can smell the wet earth and see hardly
 anything outside the window beyond my jamun tree that literally
touches the window, the rain is that strong.\u003c/p\u0
03e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tree seems to be very happy though. Its leaves
are fresh and green and wet. It sways in the strong
 wind. Blurry beyond it is the road and the people and vehicles on it,
getting a thorough washing after months of dirt a
nd pollution. As the rain stops, I see a fresh world becoming visible.
Gone is the weary drag of everything. The air is
crisp, everything looks fresh. Its time to welcome the monsoon again.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem\u003eAdd to
 your favourites\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://del.icio.us/post?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.
com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth
+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The eart
h celebrates\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/soci
al-bookmarking-reloaded/delicious.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The
earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us\" alt\u
003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Del.icio.us
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://digg.c
om/submit?phase\u003d2\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;title\
u003dThe+earth+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to digg\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-
reloaded/digg.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Th
e earth celebrates\u0026#39; to digg\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The
earth celebrates\u0026#39; to digg\"\u003e\u003c/a\u
003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://furl.net/storeIt.jsp?t\u003dThe+earth
+celebrates\u0026amp;u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.co
m/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to FURL\"\u003e\u003
cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/
social-bookmarking-reloaded/furl.png\" title\u003d\"Ad
d \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to FURL\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to FURL\"\u
003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://blinklist.com/index.php?
Action\u003dBlink/addblink.php\u0026amp;Name\u003dT
he+earth+celebrates\u0026amp;Description\u003dThe+earth+celebrates
\u0026amp;Url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008
/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to blinklist\"\u003e\u003cimg s
rc\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/blinklist.png\" title\u003d\"Add
 \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to blinklist\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to blin
klist\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://reddit.com/
submit?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/
08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth+celebrates\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u002
6#39; to reddit\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloade
d/reddit.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates
\u0026#39; to reddit\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to reddit\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://feedmelinks.com/categorize?from\u003dtool
bar\u0026amp;op\u003dsubmit\u0026amp;name\u003dThe+earth+celebrates
\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/200
8/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;version\u003d0.7\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to F
eed Me Links\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/f
eedmelinks.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates
\u0026#39; to Feed Me Links\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;T
he earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Feed Me Links\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.technorati.com/faves?
add\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-
celebrates/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrat
es\u0026#39; to Technorati\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmark
ing-reloaded/technorati.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to Technorati\" alt\u003d\"Add \
u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Technorati\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://myweb2.search.yaho
o.com/myresults/bookmarklet?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;t\u003dThe+e
arth+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates
\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"
http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/yahoo_myweb.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#
39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Yahoo My
Web\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.newsvine.com/
_wine/save?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/20
08/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;h\u003dThe+earth+celebrates\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0
026#39; to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-rel
oaded/newsvine.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates
\u0026#39; to Newsvine\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Th
e earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://ekstreme.com/socializer/?url\u0
03dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/
\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth+celebrates\" title\u003
d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Socializer\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog
/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/socializer.png\" title
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#3
9; to Socializer\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates
\u0026#39; to Socializer\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca hr
ef\u003d\"http://ma.gnolia.com/bookmarklet/add?url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\
u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth+celebrates\u0026amp;description\u003dThe
+earth+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The
 earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/s
ocial-bookmarking-reloaded/magnolia.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Ma.gnolia\" alt\u
003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to
Ma.gnolia\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.stum
bleupon.com/submit?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/
the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+eart
h+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates
\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"htt
p://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/stumbleupon.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;
The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.google.com/
bookmarks/mark?op\u003dedit\u0026amp;output\u003dpopup\u
0026amp;bkmk\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-
celebrates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth+celebrat
es\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to
Google Bookmarks\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://ww
w.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/
google.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth c
elebrates\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The
earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\"\
u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/bookmark?http://www.wide-aware.co
m/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Squidoo\"\u003e\u
003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/
social-bookmarking-reloaded/squidoo.png\" title\u00
3d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Squidoo\"
alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to
 Squidoo\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.spurl.net/
spurl.php?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog
/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth
+celebrates\u0026amp;v\u003d3\u0026amp;blocked\u003dThe+e
arth+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates
\u0026#39; to Spurl\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/spurl.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to Spurl\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to Spurl\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u
003ca href\u003d\"http://blinkbits.com/bookmarklets/save.php?v
\u003d1\u0026amp;source_url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth
+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth c
elebrates\u0026#39; to BlinkBits\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bo
okmarking-reloaded/blinkbits.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The
earth celebrates\u0026#39; to BlinkBits\" alt\u003d\"A
dd \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to BlinkBits\"\u003e\u003c/
a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://blogmarks.net/m
y/new.php?mini\u003d1\u0026amp;simple\u003d1\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celeb
rates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Blogmarks
\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/bmarks.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Blogmarks
\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u
0026#39; to Blogmarks\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.bloglines.com/sub/http://www.wide-aware.com/bl
og/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The
earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Bloglines\"\u003e\u00
3cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/
social-bookmarking-reloaded/bloglines.png\" title\u00
3d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Bloglines\" alt
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39;
to Bloglines\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.netscape.com/submit/?U\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/b
log/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;T\u003dThe+earth
+celebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebra
tes\u0026#39; to Netscape\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarki
ng-reloaded/netscape.gif\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to Netscape\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026
#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Netscape\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.bookmark.it/bookmark.
php?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-
celebrates/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth cele
brates\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-boo
kmarking-reloaded/bookmark.gif\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\" alt\u003d\"A
dd \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://smarking.com/
editbookmark/?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-
earth-celebrates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth+cel
ebrates\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to
Smarking\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.w
ide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/
smarking.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth ce
lebrates\u0026#39; to Smarking\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to Smarking\"\u003e\u003c/a\u00
3e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.linkagogo.com/go/AddNoPopup?url
\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-eart
h-celebrates/\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth+celebrates\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Li
nkagogo\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/linkag
ogo.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to
Linkagogo\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth ce
lebrates\u0026#39; to Linkagogo\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"https://favorites.live.com/quickadd.aspx?url\u0
03dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/
\u0026amp;title\u003dThe+earth+celebrates\" title\u003
d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Live-MSN\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/w
p-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/live.png\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Li
ve-MSN\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to
Live-MSN\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"ht
tp://www.facebook.com/share.php?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\"
title\u003d\"Ad
d \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to FaceBook\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-con
tent/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/facebook.png\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to Fac
eBook\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to
FaceBook\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"htt
p://www.myspace.com/Modules/PostTo/Pages/?t\u003dThe+earth+celebrates\u0026amp;c\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/200
8/06/08/the-earth-celebrates/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;The earth
celebrates\u0026#39; to MySpace\"\u003e\u003cimg sr
c\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/myspace.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u
0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to MySpace\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;The earth celebrates\u0026#39; to MySpace\"
\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n","categories":
["Thoughts","Wildlife
Tours","sways","the","strong","wind","blurry"
,"literally","touches","the","window","celebration","smell","the","wet","earth","and","visible","the","weary","drag","hu
mid","summer","months","months","dirt","and","pollution","leaves","fresh","and","green","and","wet","the","rain","stops"
]},{"title":"Phase
B","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/04/phase-b/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate"
:"Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:42:29
-0700","contentSnippet":"This is an
interesting life I have. Just as I begin to believe thin
gs are sorted and settled, a new twist comes up. Just as
I ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis is an interesting life I
ha
ve. Just as I begin to believe things are sorted and settled, a new
twist comes up. Just as I begin thinking of myself a
s average, I see how I am exceptional. This time is no different.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI had gone to attend the P
hase B of my professional development programme as a T-Group
facilitator with the Indian Society for Applied Behavioural
 Science, and expected to have a steep learning curve full of struggle
and difficulties and discovering things that are
not nice about myself to have to deal with and work through to emerge
victorious and was prepared for all the melodrama.
 I was surprised to find myself flowing with the learning, discovering
new horizons of learning and awareness.\u003c/p\u
003e\n\u003cp\u003eI am now in the internship that precedes the
acceptance by the board members into the professional me
mbership and faculty at ISABS. \u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile
.gif\"
alt\u003d\":)\"\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cem
\u003eAdd to your favourites\u003c/em\u003e\u003cbr\u
003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://del.icio.us/post?url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;tit
le\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wid
e-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/
delicious.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026
#39; to Del.icio.us\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
Del.icio.us\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\
"http://digg.com/submit?phase\u003d2\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;title
\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to digg
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.c
om/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/digg.png\" title
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to digg\"
 alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to digg\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://furl.net/storeIt.jsp
?t\u003dPhase+B\u0026amp;u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/04/phase-b/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\
u0026#39; to FURL\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloa
ded/furl.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
FURL\"
alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to FURL
\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://blinklist.com/
index.php?Action\u003dBlink/addblink.php\u0026amp;Name\u0
03dPhase+B\u0026amp;Description\u003dPhase+B\u0026amp;Url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\" titl
e\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to blinklist\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-cont
ent/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/blinklist.png\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to blinklist\" alt\
u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to blinklist\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://reddit.com/submit?ur
l\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/
\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase
 B\u0026#39; to reddit\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-
reloaded/reddit.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
reddit\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39
; to reddit\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
feedmelinks.com/categorize?from\u003dtoolbar\u0026amp;op\u00
3dsubmit\u0026amp;name\u003dPhase+B\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;versio
n\u003d0.7\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Feed Me
Links\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-a
ware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/
feedmelinks.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#
39; to Feed Me Links\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
Feed Me Links\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u00
3d\"http://www.technorati.com/faves?add\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\" title\u003d\"Add \u002
6#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Technorati\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/socia
l-bookmarking-reloaded/technorati.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Technorati\" alt\u003d\"Add \u00
26#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Technorati\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://myweb2.search.yahoo.com/myresults/
bookmarklet?u\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/
\u0026amp;t\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#
39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/socia
l-bookmarking-reloaded/yahoo_myweb.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\" alt\u003d\"Add \
u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Yahoo My Web\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.newsvine.com/_wine/save?u
\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;h
\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0
026#39; to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-rel
oaded/newsvine.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
Newsvine\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#3
9; to Newsvine\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
ekstreme.com/socializer/?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.c
om/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Socializer\"\u
003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/socializer.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Socializer\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Socializer\"\
u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://ma.gnolia.com/
bookmarklet/add?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008
/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\u0026amp;description
\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026
#39; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloa
ded/magnolia.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
Ma.gnolia\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39
; to Ma.gnolia\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware
.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Stumble Upon
\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/stumbleupon.p
ng\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Stumble
Upon\" alt
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Stumbl
e Upon\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.google.com/
bookmarks/mark?op\u003dedit\u0026amp;output\u003dp
opup\u0026amp;bkmk\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/
phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Ad
d \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/google.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\" alt\
u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Google Bookmarks\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http:/
/www.squidoo.com/lensmaster/bookmark?http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/06/04/phase-b/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Pha
se B\u0026#39; to Squidoo\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarki
ng-reloaded/squidoo.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39;
to Squidoo\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u00
26#39; to Squidoo\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.spurl.net/spurl.php?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware
.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\u0026amp;v
\u003d3\u0026amp;blocked\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\
"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Spurl\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/
social-bookmarking-reloaded/spurl.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Spurl\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39
;Phase B\u0026#39; to Spurl\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://blinkbits.com/bookmarklets/save.php?v\u003d1
\u0026amp;source_url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/
phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"
Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to BlinkBits\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugi
ns/social-bookmarking-reloaded/blinkbits.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to BlinkBits\" alt\u003d\"Ad
d \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to BlinkBits\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://blogmarks.net/my/new.php?mini
\u003d1\u0026amp;simple\u003d1\u0026amp;url\u003dhttp://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003d
Phase+B\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Blogmarks
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.co
m/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/bmarks.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Blogm
arks\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
Blogmarks\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.blogl
ines.com/sub/http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\" title
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Blogli
nes\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/bloglines.
png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Bloglines\"
alt
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Blogline
s\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.netscape.com/
submit/?U\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06
/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;T\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Netscape\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u00
3d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-
bookmarking-reloaded/netscape.gif\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026
#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Netscape\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B
\u0026#39; to Netscape\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.bookmark.it/bookmark.php?url\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\" title\u003
d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/bookmark.gif\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\" alt\u00
3d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Bookmark.it\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://smarking.com/editbook
mark/?url\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/
\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#
39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Smarking\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bo
okmarking-reloaded/smarking.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B
\u0026#39; to Smarking\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Ph
ase B\u0026#39; to Smarking\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.linkagogo.com/go/AddNoPopup?url\u003dhtt
p://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#3
9; to Linkagogo\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloade
d/linkagogo.png\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
Linkagogo\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39;
 to Linkagogo\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"https://
favorites.live.com/quickadd.aspx?url\u003dhttp://www.wide
-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\u0026amp;title\u003dPhase+B\" title
\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Live-M
SN\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/live.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Live-MSN\" alt\u003d
\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to Live-MSN\"\u003
e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u
\u003dhttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/ph
ase-b/\" title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to FaceBook
\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/wp-content/plugins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/facebook.png\"
title\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to FaceB
ook\" alt\u003d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to
FaceBook\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.myspace
.com/Modules/PostTo/Pages/?t\u003dPhase+B\u0026amp;c\u003dhttp://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/06/04/phase-b/\" title\u00
3d\"Add \u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to MySpace\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/plu
gins/social-bookmarking-reloaded/myspace.png\" title\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to MySpace\" alt\u003d\"Add
\u0026#39;Phase B\u0026#39; to MySpace\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div
\u003e\n","categories":["Experiential learning","I
SABS","emotions","experience","experiential-
learning","struggle","and","difficulties","and","discovering","things","the"
,"professional","membership","and","faculty","a","steep","learning","curve","discovering","horizons","emerge","victoriou
s","and","sorted","and","settled","attend","the","phase","prepared","the","melodrama"]},
{"title":"Human Behaviour Proces
ses","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/05/13/human-behaviour-
processes/","author":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate
":"Tue, 13 May 2008 07:43:53
-0700","contentSnippet":"Those who are in
touch with me know that I have a keen interest in
 human behaviour processes and am actively pursuing
my ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eThose who are in touch with
me know
that I have a keen interest in human behaviour processes and am
actively pursuing my self-development journey with ISABS
.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts Summer, and its time for the
National Event being held in Goa. After a lot of anxiety
about being able to complete my logs and get them approved in time, I
have finally been cleared two days before I am sup
posed to leave.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNeedless to say, this is
an exercise in pressure to be planning a trip to Go
a two days before departure in the holiday season. Keeping fingers
crossed and hoping for the best.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eThis time, I will be doing my Phase B of the Professional
Development Programme. This is going to take two weeks
, and hopefully I will be emerging on the other end intact and wiser.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI am a little anxious
about my ability to cope with the intensity of the process work and
can hardly believe that I made it this long. Seems y
esterday that I attended my first Human Processes Lab. Time certainly
flies when you are celebrating it.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eWill keep yaΓÇÖll posted on proceedings and my condition
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blo
g/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif\"
alt\u003d\":D\"\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Experiential learnin
g","ISABS","journey"]},{"title":"Free
Outbound
Training","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/05/13/free-
outbound
-training/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 12 May 2008
15:25:40 -0700","contentSnippet":"One of my more bi
zarre \u0026#8220;potential clients\u0026#8221;. I could write an
entire book with the entertaining questions I get.\nGo
t ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eOne of my more bizarre
ΓÇ£potential
clientsΓÇ¥. I could write an entire book with the ent
ertaining questions I get.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGot an email
from a Sarita Sharma today asking for a quote for a
training programme. Fabulous. I was online and sent one across
immediately.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGot a response a
sking only for accommodation and food costs and need the outbound
training complimentary!!! So now in a world of 20% ext
ra with your toothpaste, thereΓÇÖs this new thing of free outbound
training from a training company, while you book a ho
tel that is not theirs in any case.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGo
figure!\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Experiential le
arning","the","outbound","training","complimentary","a","sarita","sharma","today","a","training","programme","fabulous",
"write","an","entire","book","outbound","training","accommodation","and","food","costs","and","book","a","hotel","the","
entertaining","questions"]},{"title":"Rock
Climbing at Kanheri
Caves","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/04/18/
rock-climbing-at-kanheri-caves/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:40:33
-0700","contentSnippe
t":"Its becoming a habit. I have a conversation with someone that sets
me thinking and I come here and write about it  \
nThis time ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eIts becoming a
habit. I have a
conversation with someone that sets me thinking a
nd I come here and write about it \u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_bi
ggrin.gif\" alt\u003d\":D\"\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis
time it is about Kanheri Caves and what is happening
 out there.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen I learnt climbing,
Kanheri was a regular haunt of climbers. On Sundays and
public holidays, the place was literally swarming with outdoor people.
A public bus service ran up to the caves from the
 Borivli station. We used to use that shabby bungalow to hold training
camps. Those were the good old days.\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, the crowd is hardly there. For some bizarre
reason, the authorities have forbidden climbing there
. Probably something to do with their weird sense of preservation of
ancient monuments.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLetΓ
ÇÖs face it. Rock cut caves that have withstood the centuries and have
fairly nothing in terms of paintings or delicate
art are not exactly going to crumble when they see climbers. In any
case, no one actually climbs the cave walls (mostly
- no promises - climbers are crazy). Climbers sweat a lot, but I am
fairly certain that caves will not faint or erode fr
om it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSarcasm aside, I see this as a
situation changed for the worse:\n\u003col\u003e\n\u00
3cli\u003eThe area has hardly any people any more, and trouble with
anti-scial elements is on the rise. Earlier, the abu
ndance of the climbers made it a pretty busy area with an abundance of
fit and valuable free people who were passionate
about the sanctity of the place likely to come across trouble makers.
\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClimbers generally h
ave a well developed sense of affinity with nature and served as
excellent policing of trash throwers and often brought
back stray trash they found in remote spots. Today, you have families
throwing garbage all over the place with no one to
 try and make them aware of the need not to do such things.\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe social feel of the place.
The climbing community, the families and the overall busy feel brought
an impression of a busy, thriving place with imme
nse value to a variety of people. Today, there are few people who dare
to go beyond the main area for fear of the isolat
ion, except for couples who use the caves like private bedrooms to
make out in.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonkeys ar
e a menace there. A busy community makes it less likely for someone to
be attacked and hurt. A simple suggestion of not
bringing any eatables to the caves would have sufficed to discourage
moneys over time when they realized that there was
no food stuff forthcoming. However, the authorities are not interested
in anything like that, even after repeated sugges
tions of solutions, complaints about monkey attacksΓÇª..\u003c/li\u003e
\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI miss the old Ka
nheri Caves, where I as a teenage girl could walk around without fear;
where we were there to stop tourists from litteri
ng, rather than make occasional visits and be depressed by the litter;
when monkeys could actually be scared away withou
t resorting to extreme measuresΓÇªΓÇª..\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p
\u003e","categories":["Environment","Safety
issues","Social
 Awareness","habitats","trouble","makers
climbers","generally","climbers","sundays","and","public","holidays","in
monkey
s","a","menace","there","a","busy","community","crazy","climbers","sweat","a","lot","face","it","rock","cut","caves","fa
irly","caves","kanheri","caves","and","the","kanheri","caves"]},
{"title":"Public involvement in the
sanctuary","link":"h
ttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/04/18/public-involvement-in-the-sanctuary/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"F
ri, 18 Apr 2008 10:22:00 -0700","contentSnippet":"I happened
across
this article on the net and thought that it was wort
h sharing. For once, it doesn\u0026#8217;t speak of
dwindling ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI happened across
this articl
e on the net and thought that it was worth sharing. For once, it
doesnΓÇÖt speak of dwindling populations of animals and
 effects of pollution, but an astounding initiative.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.newindpr
ess.com/NewsItems.asp?ID\u003dIEQ20080409014927\u0026amp;amp;Page
\u003dQ\u0026amp;amp;Title\u003dORISSA\u0026amp;amp;Top
ic\u003d0\"\u003eEco-tourism now includes adventure, anti-poaching -
Newindpress.com\u003c/a\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003c
br\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003eEco-tourism now includes adventure,
anti-poaching Wednesday April 9 2008 12:10 IST\u003c
/blockquote\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBHUBANESWAR: The eco-
tourism concept which, till recently, was the buzz wo
rd for nature lovers inside Chandaka Sanctuary, has incorporated new
elements like hands-on experiences on anti-poaching
 activity, protection and adventure tourism.  \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhile the visitors could now go with the fore
st staff on an anti-poaching drive to sensitise villagers on the
importance of conservation of elephants ΓÇö the flagshi
p species of the reserved forest ΓÇö they could also experience
trekking along the odd forest paths along with forest st
aff and security agency like Central Industrial Security Force
(CISF).  \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven the sanctuary
authorities have started a dialogue with the CISF officials at Mundali
in this regard, says DFO Akshaya Pattanaik, addin
g for this visitors would be taken in groups or phases according to
availability of accommodation and base camps within
the sanctuary limits.  \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the nature
education front, to let the visitors know the various
plant varieties, display boards are already in place at major tourist
spots and boards on animals are in the pipeline, t
he DFO says.  \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eΓÇÿΓÇÿA natural garden
containing 30 medicinal plants and 30 herbal species i
s already commissioned near the main gate at Godibari. There is also a
plan to start souvenir centres at Deras point and
 Godibari in future so that tourists can take some memory of Chandaka
with them,ΓÇÖΓÇÖ Pattanaik reveals.  \u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sanctuary has submitted a proposal of Rs 40 lakh
for the information dissemination process which wil
l also include a separate and dedicated vehicle to ferry visitors
inside the forest area and to make the entrance point
another major tourist hot-spot with state-of-the-art facilities for
nature education, he adds.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u0
03eWhat I enjoyed reading about this was the proactive feel of the
whole thing. Most visitors to sanctuaries feel strong
ly about nature and being involved in safeguarding nature beats
looking at it hands on. This move is brilliant because i
t achieves several admirable things at once.\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eReally, I cannot say it often enough. Its a
cheerful, proactive step that is far more tempting than forecasts of
doom and entreaties to do some vague ΓÇ£somethingΓÇ
¥.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt delivers a far more real and
intimate experience with nature to the visitors.\u003c/
li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt serves to further develop a sense of
responsibility and pro-activeness in safeguarding the en
vironment and creates a belief that it is not impossible to create our
bit of impact.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMake
s people wiser about the natural life in the sanctuary, the local
cultures that live in and around it and the role of th
e government on the scene.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts viral. I
can imagine far more people hearing about this and
 wanting to do it themselves than ordinary trips. So it should result
in a revenue, public support and awareness as well
 as regular vigilance in the sanctuary.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eFolks at the Sanjay Gandhi Nationa
l Park, are yaΓÇÖll reading? Could this idea work to help get the park
trash free?\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","categor
ies":["Environment","anti poaching","newindpress
com","eco
tourism","nature","lovers","inside","chandaka","sanctuary","a
nti
poaching","wednesday","april","9","2008","12","ferry","visitors","inside","the","forest","area","and","ΓÇÖΓÇÖ","patt
anaik","reveals","the","sanctuary","central","industrial","security","force","cisf","an","anti
poaching","drive","place"
,"major","tourist","spots","and","boards"]},{"title":"Sightseeing
with
a difference","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/b
log/2008/04/15/sightseeing-with-a-difference/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:55:10
-0700",
"contentSnippet":"This is a paid review. One of the few that I
found
these days that give me something really interestin
g to talk about on my ...","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ca
rel\u003d
\"lightbox\" href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/b
log/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/nyc.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/200
8/04/nyc-150x150.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Sightseeing tours in NYC\"
title
\u003d\"Sightseeing tours in NYC\" width\u003d\"150\"
height\u003d\"150\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eThis is a paid review. One of the few that I found t
hese days that give me something really interesting to talk about on
my blog.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u
003d\"http://www.citysightsny.com\"\u003eNYC Attractions\u003c/a\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCitySights NY is a do
uble decker sightseeing tours company in NYC.\u003cbr\u003e\nOther
than double decker bus tours the copany offers attrac
tion\u003cbr\u003e\ntickets, daily trips to Boston, Washington DC, and
Philadelphia as well\u003cbr\u003e\nas shopping t
rips to Woodbury Common Premium Outlets.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhat I enjoyed about this site is the sheer number
of tours on offer. You have tours for the day or night or a few hours,
tours to specific locations, tours along themes,
tours on double decker buses, boats, helicoptersΓÇª. and even a tour
of premium outlets for shopping for a day or even 4
 days!!!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust reading around on the site
made me feel like a busy tourist and I found myself
 planning things and picking up on stuff that sounded interesting.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe links to the descript
ions of sights attractions and points of interest are interesting as
well. I enjoyed the informal style of writing and t
he immediacy of the writers experience in the words. I could imagine
myself being there and enjoying myself. Temptation
at its most tempting \u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif\" a
lt\u003d\":D\"\u003e or maybe I suffer from chronic
wanderlust.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you live in NYC or are pl
anning to go there, do try and do some of these things and let me know
how you find them and of course, if I go, youΓÇÖl
l read about it here.\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Paid
reviews","Places","sightseeing tours","nyc  
other","double","d
ecker","bus","tours","the","copany","offers","attraction
tickets","a","double","decker","sightseeing","tours","company"
,"tours","double","decker","buses","woodbury","common","premium","outlets
what","premium","outlets","enjoyed","the","inf
ormal","style","enjoyed","the","sheer","number","stuff","sounded","interesting
the","links"]},{"title":"Why Save the tur
tles?","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/04/14/why-save-the-
turtles/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"
Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:48:22 -0700","contentSnippet":"I found
this page
on the greenpeace site, and throught it is importan
t for readers here to notice.\n\n            \n
\n  ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI found \u003ca
href\u003d\"
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/turtles/why-save-turtles\"\u003ethis
page on the greenpeace site\u003c/a\u003e, and thro
ught it is important for readers here to notice.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cdiv\u003e\n            \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.greenpeace.in/turtles/images/turtlecoming.jpg\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.gre
enpeace.in/turtles/images/tnturtlecoming.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Turtles
arriving onshore\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n
            \u003csmall\u003e┬⌐Bivash Pandav\u003c/small\u003e
\n            \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsider this
ΓÇª Olive Ridley turtles rely on an inexplicable, in-built\u003cbr
\u003e\nnavigation system that guides them, when itΓÇÖ
s time for them to\u003cbr\u003e\nreproduce, back to \u003cem\u003ethe
precise coast \u003c/em\u003eon  which they were
born.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow\u003cbr\u003e\nconsider
something elseΓÇª The proposed Tata port at Dhamra threate
ns a\u003cbr\u003e\nnesting site that is amongst the last honeymoon
suites for the\u003cbr\u003e\nremaining Olive Ridley
s, a highly-endangered species that swims all the\u003cbr\u003e\nway
here from places as far away as Australia and the P
hilippines.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen\u003cbr\u003e\nyou
consider these two facts together, it seems only logical
 that Tata\u003cbr\u003e\nwould reconsider its decision to build the
port at Dhamra, and build it\u003cbr\u003e\nin an a
rea thatΓÇÖs less ecologically sensitive. It seems especially\u003cbr
\u003e\nlogical when itΓÇÖs Tata weΓÇÖre talking ab
out.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter all,\u003cbr\u003e\nTata has
grown from a national giant into an international pl
ayer,\u003cbr\u003e\nwhile constantly stating its commitment to the
principles of social\u003cbr\u003e\nupliftment, envi
ronmental justice and sustainable development. The Tata\u003cbr\u003e
\nbrand is ubiquitous, present in hundreds of produ
cts that have\u003cbr\u003e\ngenuinely improved the lives of
generations of Indians; from the Tata\u003cbr\u003e\nsalt t
hat flavours our daily bread, the Tata BP solar geyser that warms
\u003cbr\u003e\nour winter baths, the Tata Telecom that
 manages our communications, to\u003cbr\u003e\nthe Tata cars that
ΓÇÿdrive a billion dreams.ΓÇÖ\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cd
iv style\u003d\"float:right\"\u003e\n            \u003ca rel\u003d
\"lightbox\" href\u003d\"http://www.greenpeace.in/turt
les/images/babyturtle.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
www.greenpeace.in/turtles/images/tnbabyturtle.jpg\" alt\u00
3d\"Turtles arriving onshore\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e
\n            \u003csmall\u003e┬⌐Bivash Pandav\u003c/sma
ll\u003e\n            \u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd yet, in
Orissa, weΓÇÖre witnessing a different side to the same
 Tata.\u003cbr\u003e\nA Tata that shuts its ears to reason. A Tata
that looks the other way\u003cbr\u003e\nwhen confront
ed with evidence. A Tata that cares nothing for the\u003cbr\u003e
\ncommunity, and even less for nature.\n\u003cp\u003eTh
e port Tata is proposing to build in Dhamra will directly\u003cbr\u003e
\naffect the Olive Ridley turtles. With 150,000 t
o 350,000 Olive Ridley\u003cbr\u003e\nturtles nesting in the vicinity,
the average number of hatchlings is\u003cbr\u003e
\nbelieved to range from 15 million to 35 million.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eWhen \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.green
peace.org/india/news/ratan-tata-kya-hua-tera-vaada\"\u003econfronted
by Greenpeace\u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nTata pro
mised concerned citizens that it would abandon the port ΓÇÿif\u003cbr
\u003e\nevidence of turtle presence and the ecologi
cal significance of the area\u003cbr\u003e\nwere ever unearthed.ΓÇÖ
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003c
a rel\u003d\"lightbox\"
href\u003d\"http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/
images/dead-turtle.jpg\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"
http://www.greenpeace.in/turtles/images/tndead-turtle.jpg\" alt\u003d
\"Turtles arriving onshore\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u0
03cbr\u003e\n            \u003csmall\u003e┬⌐Pratyush Mohapatra/
Greenpeace\u003c/small\u003e\n            \u003c/div\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003e            The \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.greenpeace.org/india/press/releases/evidence-of-turtles-r
are-spec\"\u003eevidence was submitted\u003c/a\u003e ,  but this
promise wasnΓÇÖt kept. The \u003ca href\u003d\"http://w
ww.greenpeace.org/india/press/releases/tata-s-dhamra-port-eia-serious
\"\u003eperfunctory EIA \u003c/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003
e\ncarried out in this area isnΓÇÖt worth the paper itΓÇÖs printed on.
Another\u003cbr\u003e\nnesting season has passed
us by, with turtle mortality from mechanized\u003cbr\u003e\nfishing
agonizingly high. Coming in addition to this annual
death toll,\u003cbr\u003e\nthe Tata port could be the final nail in
the turtleΓÇÖs coffin, ensuring\u003cbr\u003e\nthat
this area is never safe for turtles again.\n\u003cp\u003eWill this
willful destruction be the legacy that Tata leaves  b
ehind in Orissa?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e               Not if you
can help it. To write directly to Ratan Tata and
 ask him to change his mind, simply sign the letter on the right.
\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Environmen
t","Social Awareness","endangered
species","habitats","nesting
stie","turtles","dhamra","directly
affect","the","olive",
"ridley","turtles","confronted","greenpeace
tata","promised","concerned","citizens","350","000","olive","ridley
turtles"
,"nesting","social
upliftment","environmental","justice","and","sustainable","development","the","tata
brand","thisΓÇª",
"olive","ridley","turtles","rely","elseΓÇª","the","proposed","tata","port","unearthed
ΓÇÖ","┬⌐pratyush","mohapatra green
peace","the","evidence","the","tata 
a","tata"]},{"title":"Bringing
the open source spirt to business","link":"http://ww
w.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/04/13/bringing-the-open-source-spirt-to-
business/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sa
t, 12 Apr 2008 16:19:19 -0700","contentSnippet":"I am often
asked and
even criticized for being over friendly with clien
ts. Which service provider explains components of
a ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI am often asked and even
criticized fo
r being over friendly with clients. Which service provider explains
components of a potential invoice and easy ways of d
oing parts of it themselves with little effort?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eA case in point being \u003ca href\u003d\"ht
tp://www.wide-aware.com/corporate-programmes/omdp.htm\" title\u003d
\"Experiential Learning through teambuilding activiti
es\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u003d\"external
\"\u003ecorporate\u003c/a\u003e programme proposals having pot
ential location contacts and a suggestion that a direct negotiation
might work out cheaper.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
Or adventure sport clients who are basically enthusiastic youth on the
look out for tips getting as many tips as they wa
nt, contacts and advice to organize their trips themselves and so on?
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe way I see it, my p
urpose is in my skill in the services I provide. I am doing no
miracles, but I do what I do exceedingly well. It does me
 no harm and gains a lot of good will if my client saves some money on
the buffers on hotel charges, or if a group of pe
ople manage their own tour. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are
clients who donΓÇÖt want the hassle and will still pa
y me to do it, and there are people who go away with information so
reliable and unique that the next time they go out,
they budget to be able to pay me.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin a
few years of the creation of this site, I have ov
er a thousand people subscribing to a newsletter that goes out maybe 4
times a year and stays shut if there is nothing e
xtraordinary to say.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI see this as a
strength which, like the open source softwares, is tran
sparent. I have clients suggesting that I start offering some kind of
tour, or recommending me to others. Like the open
source softwares, it may be silly to offer this kind of information
for free, but it brings me great goodwill and I get
to be appreciated and hired for the things only I can do.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eSeems unprofessional? I see it as
warmth and true commitment to my clients needs.\u003c/p
\u003e","categories":["Thoughts","Wide
Aware","clients","service"
,"provider","explains","components","the","open","source","softwares","potential","location","contacts","and","a","sugge
stion","work","cheaper
or","adventure","sport","clients","tips","contacts","and","advice","transparent","clients","sugge
sting","a","potential","invoice","and","easy","ways","4","times","a","year","and","stays","shut"]},
{"title":"Soda bicarb
 and improved
performance","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2008/04/13/soda-bicarb-and-improved-performance/","aut
hor":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 12 Apr
2008 15:18:46
-0700","contentSnippet":"I found these interesting posts t
hat speak of the effect of Bi-carb soda and improved performance and
Magnesium for stress ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI
 found these interesting posts that speak of the effect of \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://altdirt.com/?p\u003d228\"\u003eBi-
carb soda and improved performance\u003c/a\u003e and \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://altdirt.com/?p\u003d284\"\u003eMagnesium
\u003c/a\u003e for stress relief which leads me to wonder what will
the impact be on people training for sport climbingΓ
ÇªΓÇª..\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrecious little research is
available to climbers in India, and such information lea
ds me to believe that a more scientific and gym like approach to
climbing training could bring major shifts on the climb
ing scene.\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Adventure as
usual","Sports","bi
carb","soda","and","improved","performance","a
nd","magnesium","sport","climbing
precious","approach","climbing","training","bring","major","shifts","leads","th
e","impact","stress","relief","research","climbers","speak","the","effect"]},
{"title":"ChildrenΓÇÖs Summer Camp","link":
"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/04/12/childrens-summer-
camp/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 12 Apr 2
008 05:39:46 -0700","contentSnippet":"After countless
requests by
parents for camps they can send their children to, we
have finally succumbed and have organized a
...","content":"\u003cp
\u003eAfter countless requests by parents for camps t
hey can send their \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
schools-colleges/student-teacher.htm\" title\u003d\"out
door adventure for children\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\"
rel
\u003d\"external\"\u003echildren\u003c/a\u003e to, we
 have finally succumbed and have organized a childrenΓÇÖs camp at
Kanheri Caves this summer.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003
eThe dates are from the 25th to the 27th of April 2008 and the camp is
for children from ages 10 years to 15 years.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of activities, the usual suspects are
available - \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-a
ware.com/adventure-sports/rock-climbing.htm\" title\u003d\"Rock
Climbing Training\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" re
l\u003d\"external\"\u003erock climbing\u003c/a\u003e, rappelling,
nature trails, star gazing, etc. I have uploaded an \u
003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/community/Downloads-req-
getit-lid-6.htm\"\u003eentry form\u003c/a\u003e with
 more information about the camp if you want to send your son/
daughter, nephew/niece, kid brother/sister, etc.\u003c/p\u
003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe camp fees are Rs.2,250/- per child and there is
no cut off date for admission. However, we have v
ery limited seats -  not more than 25 for sure, and the cut off in
terms of availability is fast approaching. So, if you
 have a candidate, it would be in your best interests to hurry up with
the submission of the entry.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eCheers!\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Adventure as
usual","Adventure news","Children\u0026#39;s
Programmes","Exp
eriential learning","nephew niece","kid","brother
sister","april","2008","and","the","camp","camp","kanheri","caves","et
c","uploaded","an","entry","form","admission","limited","seats","children","ages","10","years","etc
the","camp","fees","
summer the","dates"]},{"title":"The hidden science
of
hugs","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/03/13/the-hidden
-science-of-hugs/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 12 Mar
2008 11:44:48 -0700","contentSnippet":"Ugh, this
is an extremely wise post from me  based on years and years of actual
experience. I have learnt that with hugs, what ...
","content":"\u003cp\u003eUgh, this is an extremely wise
post from me
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blo
g/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif\"
alt\u003d\":P\"\u003e
based on years and years of actual experience. I have
 learnt that with hugs, what you see, is rarely what you get. IΓÇÖd
like to illustrate some of the salient hug species w
e see commonly. I say species because after all this time, I have
begun suspecting that they have a life of their own.\u
003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe
Affection hug\u003c/strong\u003e: \u003cfont color\u00
3d\"#0000ff\"\u003eThis is usually initiated by one participant while
the other enjoys receiving it. I like this kind of
 hug and its sub-types: protective, funny and emotional affection hugs.
\u003c/font\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\
u003cstrong\u003eThe Space-War hug\u003c/strong\u003e: \u003cfont color
\u003d\"#ff6600\"\u003eThis is initiated by the d
ominant person in a conversation and stated as an affectionate
gesture, but one only needs to look at the poor stiff or
squirming or uninterested recipient to know how much affection is
being conveyed. Such a hug is basically the dominant p
ersonΓÇÖs way of entering the poor victimΓÇÖs personal space at will.
IΓÇÖd call it an attack.\u003c/font\u003e\u003c/li
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e The Obligatory hug\u003c/
strong\u003e: \u003cfont color\u003d\"#800080\"\u003eT
his is the beginning-of-meeting, end-of-meeting, when-we-meet, when-we-
part variety of hug - like the Italians saying ΓÇ
£ciaoΓÇ¥ or Spitians saying ΓÇ£JuleΓÇ¥ - means everything from ΓÇ£hiΓÇ
¥ to ΓÇ£ByeΓÇ¥\u003c/font\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u
003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe When-in-doubt hug\u003c/strong
\u003e: \u003cfont color\u003d\"#ff00ff\"\u003eThis hug
is commonly seen after a disagreement or confrontation is mediated by
a facilitator, when neither party is comfortable e
xploring their experience of the conflict. There is a spontaneous need
to hug. Such a hug is also called the ΓÇ£Band-Aid
ΓÇ¥ hug.\u003c/font\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong
\u003eThe reflected glory hug\u003c/strong\u003e: \u
003cfont color\u003d\"#ff0000\"\u003eWhere you go and hug someone who
is very powerful or well-liked, and let the world
know that that person is your pal.\u003c/font\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe sorry hug\u003c/
strong\u003e: \u003cfont color\u003d\"#339966\"\u003eWhere you hug
someone rather than do whatever they want you to do (
mostly because hugging takes the lesser effort of the two.\u003c/font
\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u
003eThe I-can-hug-too hug\u003c/strong\u003e: \u003cfont color\u003d
\"#7319e5\"\u003eThe entire world seems to be in lov
e with each other and rather than figure out why, you begin hugging
people too.\u003c/font\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/
ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOoops! Need to go. Will come back with more
info tomorrow.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeel free
to share your own pearls of learning in the comments.\u003c/p
\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","Thoughts","f
unny","learnt","hugs","ugh","an","extremely","wise","post","based","years","and","years","actual","experience"]},
{"title
":"Tips for picking trekking shoes you could walk
with","link":"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/03/12/tips-for-picki
ng-trekking-shoes-you-could-walk-with/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:24:52
-0700","conten
tSnippet":"Many people attend programmes with shoes that slip, are
tight, are too fancy to wreck in the mud\u0026#8230;\
u0026#8230;.\nI thought a ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eMany
people
attend programmes with shoes that slip, are tight, ar
e too fancy to wreck in the mudΓÇªΓÇª.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI
thought a quick post to point people to would help
me by removing the necessity of repeating this information all the
time.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNE
VER wear shoes for the first time when you are walking for hours at a
time and canΓÇÖt change them if they get uncomfort
able. Break your shoes in gently (for your feet - shoes donΓÇÖt feel).
Use them for shorter trips before heading out for
 that week long extreme trek.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eALWAYS
walk on a variety of surfaces - rough, smooth, marble
, stony, wet, etc. to check for slipping.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eBuy shoes in the evening when your feet are slig
htly bigger than in the morning from standing all day.\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003eThe shoes should fit comfortably. B
y this, I mean a soft cushioning around your feet so that they are
neither gripped by the shoe, nor rattling from the ex
tra space.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e┬áFor treks and situations
where you expect to do a lot of walking, thick soles
 work well.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSome people prefer hard
soles, others donΓÇÖt. You will need to find out from
experience.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCOTTON SOCKS and plenty of
them, please! You donΓÇÖt want to get those nice sh
oes smelly, and your companions unconscious.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eFloaters or slippers to wear on the campsite.
 I mention these and the socks in this list, because they are an
important part of a comfortable experience with trekkin
g shoes.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExpensive or cheap is not
always the most comfortable. Experiment with different
brands and types of shoes to experience what makes you happiest.\u003c/
li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e Care for your shoes as y
ou would care for a car. Checking condition, waterproofing, cleaning
and other small bits of attention ensure that your
shoes donΓÇÖt end up surprising you in a way you donΓÇÖt like when in
action.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u
003eIf you think this list is silly, try being in my shoes where every
programme has a percentage of participants not ha
ppy about their footwear (or me not happy with theirs - in the case of
high heeled sandals - because the climbing site w
as near a beach), or try getting embarrassed participants to talk
about fungal infections on feet when they want first a
id.\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Adventure as
usual","gear","adventure-
training","outdoors","people","tips","trekking",
"shoes","slip","wreck","the","mud
i","thought","a","quick","post","removing","the","necessity","tight","fancy"
,"people","attend","programmes","point","people"]},{"title":"Self
awareness and the self-coached climber","link":"http:/
/www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/03/12/self-awareness-and-the-self-
coached-climber/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate"
:"Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:33:20 -0700","contentSnippet":"In
every
organization, we have the odd success story of a person wh
o rose through the ranks like a comet. As a trainer,
the ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn every organization, we
have the
 odd success story of a person who rose through the ranks like a
comet. As a trainer, the most popular question we get a
sked is how people can be made to perform at full potential.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, there is no answ
er that can be an instant solution - do this, and every person in your
organization will be a genius. It just doesnΓÇÖt
exist.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo what is it that these stars have
that others donΓÇÖt?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
For one, they have passion. When they find something they want, they
go for it. When they find something they donΓÇÖt li
ke, they give everything in them to change it. Is it any wonder that
they are on the pulse of whatever it is that they h
andle? They either are in love with it, or have created it, or know it
in and out in their efforts to cause a change.\u0
03c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother thing these people have is self-
driven ambition. Being better than the next employee i
s irrelevant. What they are really competing with is their vision of
how they could be at full potential.\u003c/p\u003e\
n\u003cp\u003eHow can this be brought into training? A simple answer
would be - ΓÇ£It canΓÇÖtΓÇ¥. However, that is not t
rue either. People change. I believe that this is one shift that could
at the most be inspired by someone, but the urge
to walk the road is from the person walking it. It is not even a
decision that a person can make, but a need inside. All
 the training in the world can only create some dream of this. Whether
the dream fuels action when the person is on his
own is what separates the stars from the masses.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhere could this journey begin? Right here.
 Right now. There is no rocket science to it. All it takes is being
aware of yourself. Being aware of where you excel, w
hat could be better, asking for feedback and absorbing it.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most difficult thing in this
journey is probably recognizing failure. Most \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/corporate-programmes/omdp.ht
m\" title\u003d\"Experiential Learning through teambuilding activities
\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u003d\"ex
ternal\"\u003ecorporate\u003c/a\u003e employees today have an inherent
phobia of failure. When a situation doesnΓÇÖt wor
k as expected, a blame game follows. The brief was inadequate, time
fell short, so-and-so goofed up, we didnΓÇÖt have en
ough peopleΓÇª. and so on. Yet, there are also stories filled with
pride about old successes where the brief called for
guesswork and tarot cards, the project was due ΓÇ£yesterdayΓÇ¥,
everything that could go wrong went wrong, resources wer
e shortΓÇªΓÇª but the job was done. There is a reluctance to come out
and say ΓÇ£the job was not doneΓÇ¥, even when it w
asnΓÇÖt, where the simple statement gets replaced by miles of
explanations, excuses and jargon, till the original subjec
t of conversation is safely forgotten. This is an option - a
comfortable one, but it doesnΓÇÖt work for one who wishes t
o be a self-coched climber, because until you know what to fix, there
is no ΓÇ£climbingΓÇ¥ possible.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u00
3cp\u003eA difficult but necessary move is to strip the sugar coating
and speak of the results as they are. Explanations
 have a valid place in the reflection and planning for changes - NOT
in measuring results.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA
nother difficulty is in relating with people. The more we want
something, the easier it gets to forget that others aroun
d us have things they care about too. One possibility is to step on
toes, but unless you donΓÇÖt need any relationship w
ith them (work or personal), its going to come right back and step on
yours. It is a conscious choice to explore how thi
ngs different people want could fit in together and work out in a way
that helps everyone. And guess what, the person to
 initiate this would be called a leader, no?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eAnd so on. Its really about being aware and fix
ing what doesnΓÇÖt work, and experimenting and taking risks and owning
the results. Everyone goofs up. Its the risks tha
t work that make you a
star!\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Development
Methods","Experiential learning","corporate-train
ing","experiential-learning","inspiration","self-improvement-
journey","organization","the","odd","success","story","a","
person"]},{"title":"Prolite Autoglow
Ltd","link":"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2008/03/12/prolite-autoglow-ltd/","auth
or":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 12 Mar
2008 02:40:33
-0700","contentSnippet":"Just back from a training programm
e for Prolite Autoglow. This company manufactures emergency signs. A
family run concern, it ...","content":"\u003cp\u003
eJust back from a training programme for Prolite Autoglow. This
company manufactures emergency signs. A family run conce
rn, it is now expanding into a limited company and the family wishes
to include their original staff on this journey. Ne
edless to say, its a big shift. The organization has a strong
hierarchy, even though there is great warmth.\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a facilitator, it was a challenge for me to get
people to see beyond their roles. Yet, the flexibilit
y with which the participants adapted to the training programme, and
their willingness to experiment, once they realized
 its value had me humbled.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a
professional, this was the greatest change I had witnessed f
rom the start of a programme to the end. It served to reinforce my
belief that as long as there is a will, change will h
appen and it will be for the better.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe
group began with a very strong sense of roles and d
efinite boundaries between the ΓÇ£labourΓÇ¥ and the ΓÇ£eliteΓÇ¥. The
people lower down the ladder were not used to provi
ding inputs and contributing to the progress of a task, while they
excelled at following directions exactly as told. The
 ones higher up the ladder were not very experimental in their
approach and very often the first option to occur to a ΓÇ
£leaderΓÇ¥ was the one the team followed without exploring
possibilities.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was difficult t
o get people to explore their potential beyond what they were used to
doing. Yet, with the coming change in the organiza
tion, their roles were headed toward a change.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWe experimented with discussions in small gro
ups, examining contributions and their relation with the satisfaction
derived from success and a variety of approaches.
By the end of the next day, the group was functioning far smoother,
and had got used to being aware of how they function
ed, resulting in escalating change and eagerness to take their new
learnings even further.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI
n India, the \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/corporate-
programmes/omdp.htm\" title\u003d\"Experiential Lea
rning through teambuilding activities\"
style\u003d\"padding-right:13px
\" rel\u003d\"external\"\u003ecorporate\u003c/a\u
003e scenario rarely uses outbound training as a genuine
organizational intervention and objectives are mostly ΓÇ£fun an
d excitementΓÇ¥ with little, if any focus on objectives beyond that.
This programme was a low budget programme conducted
 with an objective to help employees function more ΓÇ£professionallyΓÇ
¥ than their usual family run scenario. It was a l
ow budget programme and a leap of faith. This difference is what
contributes to results.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt
is the intention that leads to results, and I am very happy for this
group, for they have gained something of far greate
r value than many of the 5 star programmes with jaded participants
eager only for their dose of adrenaline and organizer
s who would like to justify training budgets while keeping employees
relaxed and unchallenged.\u003c/p\u003e","categorie
s":["Experiential
learning","adventure-training","clients","corporate-
training","experiential-learning","company","manuf
actures","emergency","signs","a","family","run","concern","prolite","autoglow","a","training","programme"]},
{"title":"MB
TI and the
uninitiated","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/12/21/mbti-and-the-uninitiated/","author":"Vidyut Ka
le","publishedDate":"Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:06:26
-0800","contentSnippet":"This time, when I had gone to the
ISABS
National
 event, I met a lot of people talking about the MBTI instrument.
Without any ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis time, whe
n I had gone to the ISABS National event, I met a lot of people
talking about the MBTI instrument. Without any disrespec
t to Jung, I found the amount of importance given to this ΓÇ
£typifyingΓÇ¥ of people rather alarming.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u00
3cp\u003eWhat does it really mean if I am ENFP or INFP or whatever?
Honestly, I took the test quite a few times online,
and got my results as ENFP. I thought that was great, until I did a
document search for MBTI on my computer and found co
py pasted results from a test I had done some time in the past out of
curiosity. In those, I was INFJ. I read those resu
lts in detail as well, and they were pretty accurate descriptions of
me in a different mood.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003
eReally, the way we see the world after a date that ended with an
engagement and after a board meeting that ended in a r
esignation are entirely different. I dare say plenty of answers would
change between those two. Yet, there is much impor
tance placed on those tests. An example being two statements made to
me by a fellow team member:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\
u003eΓÇ£Oh great! YouΓÇÖre an ENFP - IΓÇÖm a (Something or the other).
We will balance each other nicely.ΓÇ¥ Huh? Did sh
e have a clue to how moody I was, and unlikely to balance out people
who tended to ΓÇ£figure me outΓÇ¥?\u003c/p\u003e\n\
u003cp\u003eOR\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eΓÇ£I wish we knew the types
of everyone. It would help us work together bette
rΓÇ¥ And How? We would still be the same bunch of people working
together. Does it really take a fancy label to tell us
if what we are doing is working or not?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI
can understand how tests like this can help people
 understand other people slightly better. I canΓÇÖt see how these can
be considered anything more than a rough idea - wh
ich you get after reading their answers anyway. Just asking someone
for their letters would be unreliable, as who knows
how accurate their test has
beenΓÇªΓÇª?\u003c/p\u003e","categories":
["Thoughts","statements","a","fellow","team","member
","alarming
what","enfp","the","mbti","instrument","importance","tests","an","and","pretty","accurate","descriptions","g
reat","an","enfp","understand","tests","enfp","thought"]},
{"title":"Rythm of
life","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blo
g/2007/12/21/rythm-of-life/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:48:41
-0800","contentSnippet":"
What is it about rhythm that gets to us?\nThis is a thought that has
been on my mind for a long time now. Rhythm soothes
, ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eWhat is it about rhythm that
gets to us?
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a thought th
at has been on my mind for a long time now. Rhythm soothes, excites
and everything in between. Rhythm basically takes us
 along. Animals will pause to listen to a tune, cultures around the
world have music and rhythm as an essential element.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRhythm brings people together and in
sync. HowΓÇª..? Why DOES rhythm affect us so much?\u00
3c/p\u003e","categories":["Thoughts","an","essential","element
rhythm","brings","people","between","rhythm","basically",
"takes","a","long","time","now","rhythm","soothes","rhythm","affect","music","and","rhythm","rhythm","us
this","pause","
listen","cultures","the","world"]},{"title":"Finally
on my PDP journey
with ISABS","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blo
g/2007/12/21/finally-on-my-pdp-journey-with-isabs/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:53:52 -0
800","contentSnippet":"Isabs is an important part of my life
now. I
find that I believe in the process of development th
rough T-Groups and the ISABS
...","content":"\u003cp\u003eIsabs is an
important part of my life now. I find that I belie
ve in the process of development through T-Groups and the ISABS
methodology more than any individual facilitator there,
and I would like to become a certified trainer with them.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eI have finally taken my first step
 in that direction when I completed my ΓÇ£Phase AΓÇ¥ which is the
first part of their professional development programme
 which leads to the certification of behavioural trainers through the
T-Group methodology. This is the only kind of cert
ification available for T-Groups in India.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eThe programme was full of insights and shifts in
myself, as well as the way I see things. Strangely, the more I accept
that my emotions and experiences are the property
of the group and a part of our learning, the more I can acknowledge
them and look at them freely and learn from them.\u0
03c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Phase A comprises of two labs of the
usual length and was far more eventful for me than a
ll my previous labs. Part of this is also because I was far more ready
to understand my behaviours and experiment with s
hifts that could lead to changes I desired. This readiness and
acceptance of what I was, as I was led to me flowing and
changing freely with very little stress.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI
may or may not eventually write about my learning
s, but they are an inseparable part of me now. I am living by them.
\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["ISABS"]},{"title":"Uma
ng 2007","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/10/15/
umang-2007-2/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 1
5 Oct 2007 00:36:16 -0700","contentSnippet":"I am just back
from
another ISABS lab. This is the second time I did my ALH
P. This event was very special and very different
in ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI am just back from another
ISABS lab.
 This is the second time I did my ALHP. This event was very special
and very different in many ways.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u00
3cp\u003eThis was a low budget initiative aimed at making ISABS and
the T-Group processes accessible to sections of soci
ety that cannot afford the high budget programmes that usually happen
in resorts and are willing to live in basic comfor
t.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis was completely different from
previous experiences for me. Normally, participants li
ve in comfortable air-con rooms on a twin or triple sharing basis,
with separate areas for dining and laboratories. Here
, the entire community was accommodated in four dormitories, which
also doubled as labs and one of the dormitories was u
sed as the dining room as well.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll
through the duration of the community, there was a const
ant churning of participants among the group. You sleep with some of
them, meet different people at meal times, attend y
our lab groups with still another set of them, prefer some of them for
company in the eveningsΓÇªΓÇª. a constant shuffle
 of people youΓÇÖre with, but no such thing as an isolated space for
anyone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI had been very
 apprehensive about this lack of space, but got so swept in the flow,
that I donΓÇÖt remember what exactly it was that I
 had been apprehensive about.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOk, the food
could have been better, the fans could have worke
d, and small comforts could have been missed by some, but the
phenomenal community feeling wasΓÇª.. indescribable. Peopl
e had just knitted together so close, that we had turned into one big
family.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was also an
 amazing experience to have such a large representation of people from
the NGO sector in the community, and a valuable i
nsight into perspectives we had never really been very close to.\u003c/
p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI may write more about this
 eventually.\u003c/p\u003e","categories":
["ISABS","experience","initiatives","people","reaching-out","self-
improvement-j
ourney","society"]},{"title":"Patni Computers
again in
Lonavala","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/10/02/patni
-computers-again-in-lonavala/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:57:25
-0700","contentSnippet"
:"Just returning from another programme for Patni Computers. It went
well. Far better than we expected actually, conside
ring the ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eJust returning from
another
programme for Patni Computers. It went well. Far bette
r than we expected actually, considering the size and difficulty in
managing the group we had experienced the last time.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was a two day thing. We had gone in
expecting a recreation programme, but when we spoke
with their representative, we discovered that there were specific
expectations from the programme and it would be need t
o give it a training slant to the proceedings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eIt was a difficult call for me to make, as it
 being a fun programme, participant expectations would not be toward
learning. Particularly considering that some of the
 senior members seemed determined to take the whole thing as a joke.
Honestly, I have no clue how we managed it, but som
ewhere down the line, we figured that fun and learning are not
mutually exclusive, and then we took off into true experi
ential mode. I had a blast, and from the feedback we received, so did
the participants.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd
it was productive. For a quick two day thing with limited time, we
managed to go through quite a bit in terms of behavio
ural learnings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd I learnt a new lesson.
An unruly but enthusiastic group may be difficult
 to handle, but once channelized, the potential for learning, even
amidst chaos is huge as compared with a obedient but
cold group in terms of
energy.\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Adventure
as usual","clients","corporate-training","experie
nce","experiential-
learning","news","patni","computers","learning","amidst","chaos","learning","the","senior","members",
"discovered","specific","expectations","expecting","a","recreation","programme","terms","behavioural","learnings
and","t
hing","a","joke","honestly","and","true","experiential","mode"]},
{"title":"Siachen glacier is now open for trekking","li
nk":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/19/siachen-glacier-is-now-
open-for-trekking/","author":"Vidyut Kale","publis
hedDate":"Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:25:16
-0700","contentSnippet":"I saw
Charu sir on TV!!! He is on the Army escorted civilia
n team. The first goup of civilian trekkers on Siachen left on
the ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI saw Charu sir on TV!!!
 He is on the Army escorted civilian team. The first goup of civilian
trekkers on Siachen left on the 19th September as
planned, even as we were wondering if PakistanΓÇÖs opposition would
cause it to be canceled.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003
eFrom next year, I bet we will be looking at the same rush of people
heading to Siachen that once hit Ladakh and Spiti.
I only hope that in that frozen environment, where not much is going
to degrade, waste management policies are applied a
nd enforced from the start, as with strict rules to prevent damage to
the natural resources of the region.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eThough, I guess anything will be better than war.\u003c/
p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200709181861.htm\"\u003eRead more
\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Adventure
 news","adventure-
professionals","destinations","outdoors","trekking"]},{"title":"The
Brand Strength Test","link":"http:
//www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/18/the-brand-strength-
test/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 17 Sep 2007
22:36:23 -0700","contentSnippet":"Paid advertisement \nAnd
another
one. I\u0026#8217;m on a paid review roll. This one r
ocks. If you own any kind of business or
...","content":"\u003cp
\u003ePaid advertisement \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn
d another one. IΓÇÖm on a paid review roll. This one rocks. If you own
any kind of business or service that you are tryi
ng to promote, this one is fun and useful. It is the Brand Strength
Test -  provided by \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.b
randidentityguru.com\"\u003eBranding\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/brand-guru.jpg\" alt\u003d
\"Brand strength test screen shot\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003
e\nYou have to answer 12 questions related with your brand identity
and you then get scores based on how well different
aspects fare. For example, see the above screen shot. Those are my
results. You are also offered an hour long free consu
ltation.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther areas of the site relate
with important aspects of improving your brand ident
ity and promoting your business. Paid, of course.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eI liked the perky feel of the site. Very w
ell designed - obviously, these guys know how to make an impact. But a
flash siteΓÇªΓÇª I wanted to see what happens whe
n I donΓÇÖt have flash. I got a blankish page with some links, and a
small notice (that is also there in the flash page)
 to click here if the page is blank. Me did it, and went to a bizarre
orange and white page with the same information, w
hich clashes horribly with the previous and following pages to the
text version. Oh my eyes hurt! I wonder why that \u00
3ca href\u003d\"http://www.brandidentityguru.com/noplugin.html
\"\u003eone page\u003c/a\u003e is sitting there in those g
arish colours.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the whole, a colourful
experience. I love the purple of the site, and hate
 the orange of the solo page (normally I like orange, but not orange
and white combination immediately after purple - th
ank you. I liked the flash version for its perkiness and the text only
version for its readibility (except that page), a
nd the test was fun and brought my attention to aspects of my business
I need to consider, even while answering the ques
tions and the results made them even more clear.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eHowever, I discovered nothing at all that I
 didnΓÇÖt know in this experience, so I wonder what I will gain if I
were to pay them.\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Pai
d reviews","corporate-training","paid-blogging"]},
{"title":"Myngle","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/18/my
ngle/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 17 Sep 2007
22:04:19 -0700","contentSnippet":"Paid advertisement \nT
his is a social networking style site, where people can pay to learn
languages. Myngle is still in beta, ...","content":
"\u003cp\u003ePaid advertisement \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is
a social networking style site, where people can p
ay to learn languages. \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.myngle.com
\"\u003eMyngle\u003c/a\u003e is still in beta, but I fel
l in love with the concept. This place connects people from all over
the world and helps them learn new languages.\u003c
/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to their FAQs, signing up is for
free, but teachers are charged a small amount for usin
g the platform for teaching, though they can upload their profiles for
free. Different teachers set their charges and a
student can pick up whatever is affordable. Sounds interesting, but
one thing that IΓÇÖm wondering about is the credibil
ity of the teachers.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI mean, there are no
qualifications required to be a teacher here. As l
ong as a person can provide valueΓÇª.. well, thatΓÇÖs how learning
languages is, isnΓÇÖt it? So, you can actually have p
aid informal conversations which we traditionally call practice and do
them for free in the real world. I guess thatΓÇÖs
 the price of having the right kind of person handy in the online
world. However, what is there to assure us, that a tea
cher is as good as his charges make him seem (other than hindsight)?
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is nothing about
that in their FAQs. Also, nothing that can allow for a refund if a
teacher is just your average teenager trying to earn
big money and you discover it too late. Or, if there is such a system
in place, it is not there in their FAQs.\u003c/p\u
003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the whole, an interesting concept, but a new
service with an unknown paid factor, which may or not
 deliver. IΓÇÖd say, use it for its convenience, but play it by ear.
There probably will be some kind of rating or feedb
ack system (its inevitable). Use it to figure out the people you want
to learn from.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor tea
chers, I guess this is an excellent opportunity for some handy income
sitting at home. All you need is broadband, Skype
and a headset (which you also need if youΓÇÖre a student)\u003c/p
\u003e","categories":["Paid
reviews","news","paid-blogg
ing","people"]},{"title":"Thesis writing
service","link":"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/18/thesis-writing-servi
ce/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 17 Sep 2007 21:42:24
-0700","contentSnippet":"Paid advertisement \n Th
is is what I was talking about, when I spoke of paid blogging bringing
fresh ideas to writing and adding ...","content":
"\u003cp\u003ePaid advertisement \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-cont
ent/uploads/2007/09/masterpapers-com-thesis-php.gif\" title\u003d
\"Masterpapers\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.w
ide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/masterpapers-com-thesis-
php.thumbnail.gif\" alt\u003d\"Masterpapers\"\u003
e\u003c/a\u003e This is what I was talking about, when I spoke of paid
blogging bringing fresh ideas to writing and addi
ng to knowledge. Of course, this is a paid post, but IΓÇÖm glad to be
writing this one. Honestly, if I had thought of so
mething like this, IΓÇÖd probably have blogged about it anyway.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI discovered \u003ca href\u0
03d\"http://www.masterpapers.com/thesis.php\"\u003eMasterpapers.com -
Thesis Writing Tips\u003c/a\u003e while hunting fo
r subjects to review on \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.reviewme.com/?
ref\u003d12255\"\u003eReviewme\u003c/a\u003e. This
was a whole new train of thought. We hear of paid articles and stuff
all the time, but a service that will do your resea
rch for you for educational purposes? Its the first I have heard of
this (perhaps I should have gotten educated better \
u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images/
smilies/icon_wink.gif\" alt\u003d\";)\"\u003e - or
 used the internet more for it). I certainly could have done with help
like that.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot that I
ΓÇÖm incapable of writing tomes myself, but IΓÇÖm info hungry. So if
there is something that will gather loads of releva
nt info for me, nothing like it. I think the strength of this service
is in research. Of course, they say that they will
 help you write your thesis too. In fact, thereΓÇÖs a page with rates
for a variety of stuff they can do for you includi
ng powerpoint presentations, papers at various educational levels, and
what not. Sounds like a pretty tempting source of
 organized information, if youΓÇÖre a freak for enormous quantities of
well-researched data to pull from, like me.\u003c
/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe husband is laughing as I show him the site.
He wants to know if IΓÇÖm planning to go back to
school. Does he know how much research a website needs? Its like being
back in school, even for subjects you know about,
 when you have to write about them, confirm facts before immortalizing
them in your nameΓÇªΓÇª. sure, I could do with a
research service too.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRegardless, folks,
if you are still studying, hop over and see if it i
s any use to you. They have provided some samples and stuff to give
you an idea of their work quality. I canΓÇÖt say if
it is good or not (even though this IS a review) simply because I have
never used them, or any other service like them f
or comparison, but I think their site is definitely worth
investigating if you need well written documents that need a g
ood amount of research.\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Paid
reviews","education","paid-blogging","website-deveoplment","w
riting"]},{"title":"I saved a
life","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2007/09/18/i-saved-a-life/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 17 Sep 2007 12:44:21
-0700","contentSnippet":"This is a memory from a long time
ago. Way
bef
ore I figred out the internet beyond checking mail.\nI was living in
the high ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a mem
ory from a long time ago. Way before I figred out the internet beyond
checking mail.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI was l
iving in the high pastures with my herd of horses. The winter had been
rough, and I was just camping out in the high alt
itude pastures where we leave them for the summers, supplementing
their diet with some grain, to help them catch on on t
heir health a bit faster.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe days were
pretty idle. Feeding the horses a couple of times a
day was\u003cbr\u003e\nno pain - they used to come happily enough for
the treat. Beyond thatΓÇª. not much to do. Cooking
, enjoying the paradise I was living in, early to bed, early to rise.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOccupation came in an
unexpected way. A gaddi camp was passing by, planning to camp a little
higher than the pasture we were in. I recognised
the shepherd, and invited him for a cup of tea. When he saw me, he
decided to camp near our camp itself.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eOver a cup of tea, I realized why.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eA filly of his, had been attacked by a bear
a week ago, and had been hurt badly. Originally, believing that she
would die anyway, he hadnΓÇÖt taken her to a vet. Bu
t she hadnΓÇÖt yet died. She was in a bad way, with her wounds
infected, and was struggling to keep up with the moving c
amp, to follow her mother. This was creating a problem, as the mare
used to keep waiting for her, and slowing the carava
n.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI had already gained a solid reputation
as an animal lover, and my animals were often a p
oint of interet for local livestock owners for the glowing condition I
used to maintain them in. Plus, I was gaining a r
eputation as an enthusiastic ΓÇ£onofficial vetΓÇ¥ from the knowledge
of animal medicine I used to gather for the well-be
ing of my horses in a land where vets were not easily available, and
often very far from the place of need.\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eHe wanted me to take a llook at the filly and see if
there was any hope\u003cbr\u003e\nfor her, as well
as see if she could be put down, if there wasnΓÇÖt. I refused flat out
to put her down, as I am not of the opinion that
animals should be killed when they are fighting to recover. Plus I
lacked the kind of knowledge and equipment it would t
ake to put her down. I agreed to take a look and see what I could do
for her.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe went out in
to the pasture and unloaded his horses to set up camp and then look
for the filly. She was in a bad way. She was sleepin
g, exhausted at the end of the pasture without even coming to join the
herd, once she saw that they had halted.\u003c/p\
u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe got her up and brought her up to my tent and
tied her in front of it. I started to take a goot lo
ok at her and see what it was that I was up against.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eShe was a beautiful, black filly. Three
 months old. lovely body structure - she would have made a fine mare
when she grew up, if she survived this scenario. He
r rump and neck was covered with deep gashes from the bearΓÇÖs claws,
and a week of neglect had allowed infection to set
tle in. Most of the gashes had developed pus, and a couple had maggots
in them. My whole being recoiled at the thought o
f having to clean up this mess.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf I had
to save this filly, I had to do it, no matter how r
epulsive it was. I felt a surge of anger at the shepherd for
neglecting her treatment like that, and vented my fury in c
hoice words, yelling at him and his wife for being callous to the very
animals that made their livelihood possible.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe filly stood there shivering from the early
morning air and her exhaustion.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u
003cp\u003eI made the couple promise to rest in the pasture for at
least a week, before I would touch the filly - it was
 pointless to begin something, if it wouldnΓÇÖt be sustained. As an
incentive, I praised the quality of\u003cbr\u003e\nt
he filly, and asserted that she would become a very valuable animal
and bring him good money and work very well, if she
was helped to recover. This seemed to strike a note of interest.\u003c/
p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI had some anitbiotic injec
tions in my animal first-aid kit. I gave her a shot. She hardly
noticed. Then I knew, that I had to get over my nausea a
nd actually deal with those wounds, and took a look at my medical
supplies. They were minimal. The anti-septic I had, wo
uld hardly deal with half the wounds she had before running out. The
same with the creams. Now what? I shoved the suppli
es back into my sack, and kept only the bottle of phenyl. The rest
would have to be home remidies (which was what I pref
erred in any case).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI made a strong
solution of tea in a huge pot and used that to clean the
 wounds. Yes, I just plunged in, and cleaned them all thoroughly, pus,
maggots and all, till the flesh showed clean. Som
e of the deeper wounds still harboured maggots - of that, I was sure,
so I used some gauze soaked in phenyle on them to
dress them. On the rest, I applied a light film of honey and stuffed
them full with crushed garlic.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eAll done, I walked away from the tent area and puked.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe evening saw a repeat perfo
rmance. On the next day, the maggot wounds were clean too, and they
received the honey and garlic treatment, and by that
 evening, some of the lighter cuts had begun to heal, and the filly
was acting more interested in life, and giving me tr
ouble to catch for treatment \u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.g
if\" alt\u003d\":)\"\u003e But she seemed to understand that I
was
trying to help, so she flinched and nudged with her n
ose, if it hurt, but never tried to kick at me or hurt me in any way.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter that, I taught t
he couple how to do what I was doing, and told them that they would
have to repeat this till ALL the wounds were healed,
 and that the filly could probably begin walking in a day or two.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey seemed to have got th
e point, and the two days were uneventful - so to say (not counting
one of my fillies who seemed to be jealous of all th
e\u003cbr\u003e\nattention this one was getting)\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eThe time was up, and the gaddi camp moved o
n, and the filly became another memory, until a few years later, when
I ran across the same gaddi again. There was a bea
utiful mare in his herd - the one I had treated. I recognised her
instantly\u003cbr\u003e\nand was happy for her. The co
uple put camp once more, to spend some time with me, and that evening,
I was invited to a special dinner, where they tha
nked me with tears in their eyes for saving their beautiful mare.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir animals also looked
better cared for, since the last time. I was happy, that things had
worked out well, and that they had developed some lo
ve and concern for the living factors in their ΓÇ£businessΓÇ¥\u003c/p
\u003e","categories":["Animal
welfare","default_tag
_name"]},{"title":"How to tell if Himalayan trip will not be
what the
travel agent claimed","link":"http://www.wide-awar
e.com/blog/2007/09/17/how-to-tell-if-himalayan-trip-will-not-be-what-
the-travel-agent-claimed/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","
publishedDate":"Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:37:23
-0700","contentSnippet":"Heh. This is an easy one for me to
write, and
if you
really think about it, it is all stuff you know anyway. How many
points ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eHeh. This is an eas
y one for me to write, and if you really think about it, it is all
stuff you know anyway. How many points for betting th
at you may not have thought of things like that?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eOne of the best ways of knowing if the prom
otion materialΓÇÖs claims and the experience match is hindsight.
*ducks under the table*\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOk.
 IΓÇÖm serious now. What follows are the real ways to tell.\n\u003col
\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCount the number of destinati
ons offered, deduct 2 and divide by the number of days of your tour.
If the number you get is greater than one, your tou
r is going to be too hectic to really see anything. The lower the
number, the better. I like 0.7ish\u003c/li\u003e\n\u00
3cli\u003eSleeping in a new hill station every night is not seeing the
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/him
alayan-adventures/himalayan-tours.htm\" title\u003d\"Himalayan
Tours\"
style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u003d\"exte
rnal\"\u003eHimalaya\u003c/a\u003e. If you donΓÇÖt have the time to do
something special in each place, the pace is too
fast.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoes your guide love the place he
is showing you? If he doesnΓÇÖt, youΓÇÖre missing
out on insights collected over years of experience - which is
something you are paying for when you ask for a guide.\u00
3c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAsk to meet the guide before you pay. If
your guide doesnΓÇÖt go all enthusiastic about the p
lace in ways not mentioned on the brouchre, you might as well save the
money and travel with a road map and brouchre.\u0
03c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDoes your guide speak the language of the
place - even a little is good - but do you have so
meone handy to communicate with the locals?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eRead what is being offered in the tour careful
ly. How much of it is statistics and luxury descriptions and how much
is local information? You can be sure that the sam
e will be reflected in your tour most of the time. So, if you want
luxury, or if you want interesting stuff, or somethin
g else, reading up befopre paying up can be a good idea.\u003c/li\u003e
\n\u003cli\u003eAsk questions. Before you pay, ma
ke an effort to read up about the place and ask questions in the
meeting. Knowledge shows - even if it means admitting i
gnorance, but having a good idea on where to find out.\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003eDo the people have a sense of fun?
Self-explanatory.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFind out about other
people on the tour and ideally, attend a group meet
ing to make your payments to get a good idea of whether you will gel
with the group or not.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u00
3eTo find out if an operator is reliable - simply show an interest in
an unlikely variety of tours anthropology and pilg
rimage, for example. If they want to sell you anything you point at,
get out fast. They donΓÇÖt really care what your in
terests are, as long as you buy a tour.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eOr come to \u003ca href\u003d\"htt
p://www.wide-aware.com\" title\u003d\"Adventures in India\"
style\u003d
\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u003d\"external\"\u003
eWide Aware\u003c/a\u003e \u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif\"
 alt\u003d\";)\"\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","categories":
["Experiential
learning","default_tag_name"]},{"title"
:"Ganpati
time","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/16/
ganpati-time/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":
"Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:30:39 -0700","contentSnippet":"Its
Ganesh
Chaturthi time. This is big happenings near Mumbai and Pu
ne. Everybody and his cousin will install a Ganesh idol
in ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eIts Ganesh Chaturthi time.
This
is big happenings near Mumbai and Pune. Everybody and his cousin will
install a Ganesh idol in their home on Ganesh Chat
urthi and keep it in their homes for worship for durations varying
from a day and a half to 21 days. At the end of whate
ver duration has been selected, the idols are immersed into the sea/
river/other water bodies.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u00
3eIt is a time of great worship and cultural value. Hindus believe it
to be an honour (to themselves?) to host the God i
n their home. Even if you donΓÇÖt follow this practice, you canΓÇÖt
remain unaffected. You will be invited to go and pay
 your respects in the homes of those you know. A time of meeting
people and great joy.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowev
er, there is the dark side of the Ganpati celebrations. The dark side
is the utter litter of broken, half dissolved idol
s marring beaches and shores of all water bodies after these
celebrations are done. There is a great pride in creating h
uge idols, which are invariably of plaster of paris or fibreglass as
opposed to the traditional clay idols, which donΓÇÖ
t even dissolve away, like they are supposed to.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eThis Ganesh Chaturthi, IΓÇÖd like my reader
s to take the initiative in spreading the word about the damage done
to our natural resources through this practice. It
is also completely disrespectful to the God you love for so many days
in your home to be lying around like garbage once
youΓÇÖre done with your worship.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have
several suggestions I would like to make to Hindus w
ho follow this practice, and I hope they realize that Hinduism is an
evolving religion, and knowledge and understanding
shaping practices is highly respected, and make an attempt to shift
some of the practices to make our environment better
. These are inspired by todayΓÇÖs visits to people we respect highly,
and you will see why.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/
2007/09/dsc00273.JPG\" title\u003d\"A paper mache
idol\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/uploads/2007/09/dsc00273.thumbnail.JPG\" alt\
u003d\"A paper mache idol\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eThis is an idol in the home of Mr Mahesh Ata
le - an outstanding mallakhamb coach (he was my husbandΓÇÖs coach,
when Raka used to perform mallakhamb) and a man with
a social conscience. This idol is made of paper mache and painted with
eco-friendly paint. When immersed in water, it wi
ll dissolve completely within a day - normally, within 8-10 hours.
Still, he immerses it in a bucket of water at home.\u
003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother friend and old time guide/teacher
is Dr. Milind Chitley. A doctor who is also a mount
aineer and RakaΓÇÖs first employer in the outdoors. Raka worked with
him for 8 years and learnt much of what he knows ab
out operating programmes from him. Dokya, as he is fondly called, was
not at home, but his parents were, and we had come
 to pay our respects to the decorated big boss anyway, and he was
there.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDockya has an idol
made of silver. It is also immersed in a bucket of water and used
again next year. Of course, it doesnΓÇÖt dissolve, but
 that is obviously not what we want with a silver idol \u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-includes/i
mages/smilies/icon_wink.gif\" alt\u003d\";)\"\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eA friend of ours, Nikhil Mhapankar, was
 among those we couldnΓÇÖt visit due to a shortage of time. He is
planning an idol of ΓÇ£panch dhatuΓÇ¥, which is five m
etals - gold, silver, copper, tin and lead. He is planning to recycle
some ancestral silver and gold for this to add sen
timental value.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/0
9/dsc00279.JPG\" title\u003d\"A Clay idol of Lord Ganesha\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/uploads/2007/09/dsc00279.thumbnail.JPG\" alt\u003d\"A Clay
idol of Lord Ganesha\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u0
03e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an idol in the home of Mr Shrikant Warkhedi
- the son of respected sculptor Gururaj Warkhedi a
nd my husbandΓÇÖs maternal uncle. Shrikant mama doesnΓÇÖt do much
sculpting, but makes the Ganesha idol himself without
fail each year, like his father used to. This idol is created and used
for worship while it is wet. No paints of any kin
d are used at all, and it is immersed in a bucket of water at home at
the end of celebrations and the clay is reused for
 the next yearΓÇÖs idol.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are other
things people do as well. A chawl in the town area
uses an intricate water colour painting on a wall, which is simply
washed away. Other practices include reusing fibergla
ss idols after repainting them, keeping a stone shaped in a way the
worshiper finds symbolic of lord Ganesha, and drawin
g the shape with grain, which is later donated.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhatever the method, it is different, expres
sive of caring for the environment and love for the God. I request all
readers to promote such ideas among everyone they
 can. Each year, we have lakhs of idols littering water bodies and
devastating the ecology with lead paint and plaster o
f paris. Every person we can convert toward the protection of GodΓÇÖs
creation while engaged in worship is one idol less
 lying demeaningly on the shore.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI
particularly request large public celebrations to adopt e
co-friendly practices and become role models for upcoming
celebrations. Do it for GodΓÇÖs sake, or environmentΓÇÖs sake,
 but do it.\u003c/p\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning"]},
{"title":"Love the outdoors to
death","link":"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/15/love-the-outdoors-to-death/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 15 Sep 2007
 10:54:35 -0700","contentSnippet":"Honestly, sometimes I
feel like
shutting down Wide Aware completely and I would, if t
hat would stop people from
...","content":"\u003cp\u003eHonestly,
sometimes I feel like shutting down \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com\" title\u003d\"Adventures in
India\" style
\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u003d\"external\"
\u003eWide Aware\u003c/a\u003e completely and I would, if that would
stop people from ΓÇ£lovingΓÇ¥ the outdoors so much.
 But it will not, so the best I can do is to do my bit for the
outdoors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is this bizarr
e mood IΓÇÖm in? Its no bizarre mood. It is looking at some photo
albums on the net. Lovely pictures of hill forts in th
e Sahyadri, with litter in the foreground.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhat struck me, is that it is really no shock to
find garbage almost anywhere you head out into the outdoors in India.
Its like free decoration of the mountainside. Why
is it so? Because there are so many people who love the outdoors, that
they just have to go there. Apparently, once they
 have seen the place, its done. The place can go to hell for all they
care after that.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou t
hink IΓÇÖm being anal? Think again. Been to Kondana caves? Why go that
far? Been to the National Park? Even with people
employed to keep the place clean, the garbage is not under control.
The poor playground near the train station is litera
lly swept with brooms every day and all it manages to achieve is soil
erosion I guess. The flood of nature lovers doesnΓ
ÇÖt end.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo everyone a favour folks. Stay
the hell away from the outdoors, if picking up aft
er yourself is beyond your capabilities. Pick up every bit of garbage
you throw whether it is biodegradable or not. Smok
ers, donΓÇÖt forget the stubs. and gutkha eaters, the wrappers are not
for permanent route marking for hikers to come.\u
003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd yes, IΓÇÖm angry. So would you be, if
every spare moment in the outdoors was about cleani
ng up the place. And if you donΓÇÖt, please do. Pick what litter you
find. Speak with groups you come across and ask the
m to do the same.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease, while youΓÇÖre
at it, pick up the degradable stuff as well. LEAVE
NO TRACE. If possible minimize traces people have left too.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBio-degradable stuff has an impa
ct on the environment too. Plus, it is going to be litter until it
decays, and the place will never be clean, because th
ere will be other people throwing bio-degradable stuff constantly. To
put it bluntly, shit is biodegradable. Do you like
 sitting next to it?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThink of a beautiful
location in the outdoors. YouΓÇÖre the only person
 there. Its untouched. You like? Untouched is only going to be
possible when we clean up the place and give it some time
 to recover. Not if we keep allowing ΓÇ£touchesΓÇ¥ to remain behind -
degradable or not.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI a
lmost forgot: \u003ci\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.geocities.com/Yosemite/Falls/9200/leave_no_trace.html\"\u003eL
eave no trace!\u003c/a\u003e READ IT, PROMOTE IT, PRACTICE IT.\u003cbr
\u003e \u003c/i\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","categories":
["Environment","Social Awareness","Wildlife
Tours","initiatives","mountain","outdoors","people","ponderings"]},
{"title":
"Behavioural consulting and big advice","link":"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~3/158525873/","author":"
Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 15 Sep 2007 07:08:33
-0700","contentSnippet":"Ugh. I think it is an occupational
haza
rd for a consultant to feel obligated to have a say on everything,
regardless of how ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eUgh. I
 think it is an occupational hazard for a consultant to feel obligated
to have a say on everything, regardless of how in
ane it sounds. The more broke the consultant, the more desperate he is
to say something, anything, as advice. I found th
is article on CiteMan.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.citeman.com/overcoming-office-irritati
ons\"\u003eOvercoming Office irritations\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eMy response to this was of such magni
tude, that I thought comments wouldnΓÇÖt suffice, and dragged the
whole thing here.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe arti
cle opens with seeming to be about employees being unlucky in their
employers and suffering from an unhappy work life. O
k, so far, so good. Looks like we have a subject.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eThen, we get into generalities about the e
mployers practices and how they are not all bad and also say, ΓÇ£
\u003cem\u003ethey will definitely not turn ones workpl
ace a place where one wants to be for a long time\u003c/em\u003eΓÇ
£!!!???!!! Does that really mean that the employer wil
l want to leave?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThen the whole article
does a nose dive and turns into that ΓÇ£\u003cstrong
\u003eten tips for career success\u003c/strong\u003eΓÇ¥ tone, with a
whole load of advice given without any qualificatio
n of circumstance whatsoever. What is happening?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWe have ΓÇ£\u003cem\u003eAn employee must g
et himself assigned to a project.\u003c/em\u003eΓÇ¥ Come again? Do
employers really leave employees idling around until
they get themselves assigned somewhere? Why work at all? Just sit
around and enjoy the salary. Then ΓÇ£\u003cem\u003eAn
employee can tell the employer that to keep ahead of competitors he
wants to do research and find out the need of custom
ers and solution to solve their problems. This will give a chance to
step out and speak to people and the employee can i
nteract with people on line or simply get busy on the telephone or go
and meet them.\u003c/em\u003eΓÇ¥ No comments.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd, hold-your-breath ΓÇ£\u003cem
\u003eSometimes it is just not the day when one feels like goin
g to work. If thatΓÇÖs the case and if ones work permits then all one
has to do is work from home. Do the work in the sa
me fashion as watching TV or play with ones child and send in reports
twice in a day. If ones boss resists, explain that
 this style of working is helping him get the work done efficiently
and could not attend work because of minor health pr
oblem.\u003c/em\u003eΓÇ¥ Have I missed something about the \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/corporate-progr
ammes/omdp.htm\" title\u003d\"Experiential Learning through
teambuilding activities\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\"
rel\u003d\"external\"\u003ecorporate\u003c/a\u003e world completely?
Is being a well taken care of employee about workin
g from home if one doesnΓÇÖt \u003cem\u003efeel like\u003c/em
\u003egoing to work? Does the author realize how condescend
ing it sounds to be explaining to a boss ΓÇ£resistingΓÇ¥ this working
from home thing? Particularly when speaking of eff
iciency as the explanation, while doing the work like watching TV or
playing with a kid - as in, not with any major effo
rt or concentration?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖm not continuing
with this nonsense, because I just realize IΓÇÖm c
opying almost the entire article - each sentence is a masterpiece of ΓÇ
£teenager-playing-dream-consultantΓÇ¥, and I just
 suggest you hop over to the article to believe it.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eIs this a training article or what? It s
ounds more like something from Cosmopolitan - ΓÇ£\u003cstrong\u003e
\u003cem\u003eTen things to do when youΓÇÖre bored at
 work\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003eΓÇ£\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eIt is really a pity there is no author here to qu
ote, but the link leads to the \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.citehr.com/\"\u003eCiteHR\u003c/a\u003e. Honestly, I would
 have expected far better from an HR site, but that just goes to show
how the better consultants mint money with competi
tion like this.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have news for you, Mr.
Author, whoever you are. If the employee can genuin
ely think of working from home, opting in for projects when he feels
like it, exchange assignments in the name of multit
asking and do any of the many of the things you recommend, it is the
employer, not the employee that is unfortunate.\u00
3c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have just one reply to any whining employee
following this nonsense, and even more to the ΓÇ£
trainerΓÇ¥ who wrote this - \u003cstrong\u003eIf you canΓÇÖt stand the
heat, get out of the kitchen.\u003c/strong\u003e\
u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
corporate-training/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003ecorpor
ate training\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/corporate-training/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\
u003ecorporate training\u003c/a\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/~4/158525873\"
height\u003d\"1\"
width\u003d\"1\"\u003e","categories":
["Thoughts","corporate training","citeman
overcoming","office","i
rritationsmy","response","article","a","nose","dive","and","turns","teenager
playing dream consultant","and","reply","wh
ining","employee","generalities","the","employers","preactices","and","step","and","speak","to
people","and","the","emp
loyee","feels","work","if
thatΓÇÖs","the","case","and","feels","exchange","assignments"]},
{"title":"Adventure tourism i
n
India","link":"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/
~3/158525874/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"S
at, 15 Sep 2007 02:54:34 -0700","contentSnippet":"I think
this is a
rant, but I\u0026#8217;m not sure yet what direction
 it will take as I write.\nWe were casually chatting with
a ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI think this is a rant, but
IΓÇ
Öm not sure yet what direction it will take as I write.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eWe were casually chatting with a fri
end/free lance instructor with us, and he was telling us of his
experience with another group of tour operators he was h
ired to work with. He is a good outbound instructor, and experienced,
but he still doesnΓÇÖt handle groups on his own wh
en he works with us. Reason being, we arenΓÇÖt sure of his instincts
in an emergency.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd th
e incident he told us about reinforced it. Let us call him ΓÇ£RajuΓÇ¥
for now.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRaju had no b
ookings for a particular day, and was hired by a new ΓÇ£adventure
sports companyΓÇ¥ in Mumbai. Well, when youΓÇÖre a fre
e lancer, you take what comes along. Heck, when youΓÇÖre a business
owner, you still mostly take what comes along.\u003c
/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRaju lands up on the location for the
programme, and discovers that he is the only experienced in
structor there. WellΓÇª. he has confidence in his abilities, soΓÇª.
heΓÇÖs ok with that. Then, he discovers that it is a
 group of 40 people and throws a fit. How is a person to handle
rappelling for 40 people solo in a 4 hour morning sessio
n? The owner hurried to assure him that he had some experience and
would help.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWellΓÇª when
youΓÇÖre thrown in the water, you swim. Raju begins to set up the
rappelling and discovers insufficient equipment. He is
 encouraged to ΓÇ£adjustΓÇ¥. Great. He adjusts, and changes the site
of the rappel as well, so that the length is shorte
r. Then comes the parade. One participant after another. Owner
apparently is clueless about putting on the harnesses he
himself owns. Raju teaches him. Very late into the day, they still
have about 10 people left. Lunch time is long past.\u
003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eParticipants are bored from sitting while
one person at a time does the rappelling. They are
hot, hungry, and very irritated, because their promised 100ft rappel
is now 40ft. At the end of the day, there are compl
aints about how Raju is slow. And the bottom line is that these guys
are extremely lucky that no one died, but of course
, no one there realizes that.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs far as I
am concerned, Raju is NEVER going to be a chief in
structor at \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com\"
title\u003d
\"Adventures in India\" style\u003d\"padding-righ
t:13px\" rel\u003d\"external\"\u003eWide Aware\u003c/a\u003e. If
my
chief instructor canΓÇÖt have the guts to cancel an
activity when there is a shortage of resources - both human and
equipment wise, IΓÇÖm not interested. If I wanted yes me
n, I would hire yes men. I donΓÇÖt. I want an instructor to speak up
and make a stand when security is compromized.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf course, such a situation wouldnΓÇÖt come up
with Wide Aware in the first place. We maintain a
 minimum of a 10 participants to one instructor ratio on our
programmes, and it works well. IΓÇÖm not planning on changi
ng that. IΓÇÖm hiring a vehicle for transport anyway, so where is the
point in being stingy with equipment? If its not n
eeded, it can sit around and come back untouched. Raka would throw a
fit if he were expected to handle rappelling or cli
mbing without a rope of adequate length sitting around anchored and
unused for use in an emergency. And honestly, I woul
dnΓÇÖt expect him to adjust on that either.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhat would I or Raka have done in the place of R
aju? To begin with, we would have booked instructors and carried the
equipment needed for that group size. If something
went wrong, and we ended up being without equipment, we would have
cancelled the activity and done something else that c
ould be managed safely in the resources we had. Non-negotiable. I
donΓÇÖt care if I donΓÇÖt get paid or have to issue a
refund when the option is putting clients in danger.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eWhen we do our mad cap adventures, we a
re experienced and know what we are getting into. Clients are paying
us to know that for them, and we KNOW that if they
had the experience, they wouldnΓÇÖt be paying us. I think this is
cheating and endangering the client.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u
003cp\u003eWhy does anyone want to make such a great profit, or offer
services at such a competitive rate, that there is
 no basic infrastructure offered?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe
ministry of tourism is \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.
incredibleindia.org/pdf/
Basic_Minimum_Standards_for_Adventure_Tourism_Activities.pdf
\"\u003emaking efforts to regualate
adventure tourism\u003c/a\u003e, but unfortunately, there is nothing
yet about \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware
.com/adventure-sports/rock-climbing.htm\" title\u003d\"Rock Climbing
Training\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u0
03d\"external\"\u003erock climbing\u003c/a\u003e and rappelling below
6000m. Is there a rule that says climbing accident
s donΓÇÖt happen below 6000m?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut still, I
recommend that that moronic operator read this li
nk. One climbing accident is going to make all our clients leery, and
honestly, there are less climbing accidents than r
oad accidents, but that hasnΓÇÖt factored in potential stupidity. It
takes one.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCall me para
noid, but IΓÇÖm actually seriously reconsidering hiring this Raju at
all, if he finds it ok to operate under those circu
mstances. Will he speak up about any problem he sees, or simply shrug
it away thinking it is better than ΓÇ£thatΓÇ¥ comp
any anyway? I donΓÇÖt even see that company as a comparison, and I
have made it clear to him, but IΓÇÖm going to be keep
ing a very close eye on the guy for the next forever, until I find him
being more assertive.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003
eI see this as his fault entirely, as the only guy around who knew the
game, and allowed that huge risk to happen.\u003c
/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
adventure-professionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadvent
ure professionals\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-training/\" rel\u003d\
"tag\"\u003eadventure training\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/educational-program
mes/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eeducational programmes\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/ta
g/experience/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperience\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adv
enture-professionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure
professionals
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide
-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-training/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eadventure training\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"ht
tp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/educational-programmes/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003eeducational programmes\u003c/a\u003e, \
u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/experience/\"
rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperience\u003c/a\u003e\u003c
img src\u003d\"http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/wide-aware/RmtA/
~4/158525874\" height\u003d\"1\"
width\u003d\"1\"\u003e","
categories":["Safety issues","Sports","Adventure
as usual","adventure
professionals","adventure training","educational p
rogrammes","experience","raju","booked","instructors","and","carried","the","equipment","needed","the","rappelling","and
","discovers","insufficient","equipment","raju","now
raju","swim","raju","begins","owns","raju","teaches","him","a","4",
"hour","morning","session","the","owner","hurried","along
raju","lands","rock","climbing","and","rappelling"]},{"title":
"Who are
you?","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/15/who-
are-you/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"F
ri, 14 Sep 2007 15:12:21 -0700","contentSnippet":"I write
and write,
and imagine people reading my blog, clicking throug
h to something else, reading that. Nameless
faceless ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI write and write, and
imagine
people
reading my blog, clicking through to something else, reading that.
Nameless faceless creatures in the dark known to no o
ne, except server logs.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe only thing I
guess I know about you, is that you are probably in
terested in the outdoors, considering that you are here.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eCould you take a moment and drop me
 a line about yourself and your interests? IΓÇÖd like to know more
about you.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/default_tag_name/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eDEFAULT TAG NAME\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"
http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/default_tag_name/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eDEFAULT TAG NAME\u003c/a\u003e","categories
":["Experiential learning","DEFAULT TAG
NAME","clicking","reading","that","nameless","faceless","creatures","and","imagi
ne","people","reading","my","blog","write","and","write","server","logs
the","here
could","a","moment","and","drop","int
erested","the","outdoors","thing","guess","the","dark"]},
{"title":"Indian travellers and
bloggers","link":"http://www.wi
de-aware.com/blog/2007/09/14/indian-travellers-and-
bloggers/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Fri, 14 Sep 2007 0
3:09:00 -0700","contentSnippet":"I just love how the net
connects
people. I was spending some time reading around, and h
eaded across to Mridula\u0026#8217;s blog -
...","content":"\u003cp
\u003eI just love how the net connects people. I was
spending some time reading around, and headed across to \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/
\"\u003eMridulaΓÇÖs blog\u003c/a\u003e - Travel Tales from India. Most
of her recent posts are about Nainital.\u003c/p\u
003e\n\u003cp\u003eHonestly, I hadnΓÇÖt given much of a thought to
Nainital, as to many mountaineers, ΓÇ£hill stationsΓÇ
¥ are like the plague, unless they are access points to outstanding
trekking routes or peaks. IΓÇÖd been to Nainital, pr
etty much like I go to a railway station. But when I looked at the
blog, I felt so connected, that I felt a sharp pang o
f regret, that my snobbish attitude had blinded me to the beauty of
the ΓÇ£regular hauntsΓÇ¥. There is a reason Nainital
 is a well loved hill station, and in my thirst for adventure, I had
missed it entirely. Speaking of not bothering to st
and and stare!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThen of course, I was in a
Nainital mood, and found another blog - this time
by \u003ca href\u003d\"http://lokeshshah.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/wild-
flowers/trackback/\"\u003eLokesh Shah\u003c/a\u00
3e and had my fill of looking at Nainital pictures. He has some really
nice pictures, and the whole feel of it is one of
 familiar fondness.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow IΓÇÖm off to see
what else I can find. I have two hours before headi
ng off for a climbing session at Kanheri, and I plan to put them to
good use.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/destinations/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003edestinations\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http:/
/www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/ponderings/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eponderings\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.
wide-aware.com/blog/tag/destinations/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003edestinations\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www
.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/ponderings/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eponderings
\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Places","Thoughts"
,"destinations","ponderings","my","nainital","pictures","nainital","mountaineers","a","reason","nainital","peaks","naini
tal","a","nainital","mood","nainital
honestly","hadn","felt","a","sharp","pang","a","loved","hill","station"]},
{"title":
"Outbound management training
programmes","link":"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2007/09/12/outbound-management-training
-programmes/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 12 Sep 2007
03:27:53 -0700","contentSnippet":"Just coming bac
k from a successful training programme. This one was for a bunch of
new recruits in an upcoming software ...","content":
"\u003cp\u003eJust coming back from a successful training programme.
This one was for a bunch of new recruits in an upco
ming software company. This was one of the most bizarre programmes I
ever conducted, yet, it was satisfying in a very me
aningful way.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe participants were fresh
from college, and had a lot of ideals, but very li
ttle idea of what working is all about. Chaos ruled, and initially, it
took some time to get them to believe that outbou
nd training programmes are not office picnics or perks, but the
company actually expected them to be learning something
out here.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was a time when I was
willing to write the programme off as a disaster.\u003
c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe took off in fits and starts. Somewhere down
the line, the whole thing clicked in place, when
we were discussing happenings in an activity that required a lot of
perseverance and their\u003cbr\u003e\nperformance wa
s a dismal failure. Something happened in that group. All of a sudden,
there was an awareness that here was something im
portant going on.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tempo picked, and at
the end of the three days, I can say that this wa
s one of the programmes where we were able to acheive a lot of
constructive change among the participants. It is probabl
y not even close to some of the outstanding programmes if discipline
and performance in activities is to be considered,
but if we see the magnitude of change we went through, this one has me
thoroughly humbled.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eS
hows that even trainers have a lot to learn from their own experiences.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wi
de-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-professionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eadventure professionals\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca hr
ef\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/educational-programmes/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eeducational programmes\u003
c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
experiential-learning/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperie
ntial learning\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u00
3d\"tag\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-pr
ofessionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure
professionals\u003c/a
\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.co
m/blog/tag/educational-programmes/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eeducational
programmes\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"htt
p://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/experiential-learning/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eexperiential learning\u003c/a\u003e, \u00
3ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-
journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself improvement jo
urney\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","adventure
professionals","educational programmes","experient
ial learning","self improvement
journey","recruits","an","upcoming","software","company","outbound","training","programm
es","humbled
shows","trainers","office","picnics","or
perks","the","option
the","tempo","picked","coming","a","successf
ul","training","programme","place","discussing
happenings","perseverance","and","their 
performance"]},
{"title":"Really
 safe dangerous
adventures","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/09/12/really-safe-dangerous-adventures/","author
":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 12 Sep 2007
03:26:07
-0700","contentSnippet":"Ah, what do I say, the growth pangs
of a young company are torture indeed. I\u0026#8217;m in the process
of negotiating a deal for ...","content":"\u003cp\u
003eAh, what do I say, the growth pangs of a young company are torture
indeed. IΓÇÖm in the process of negotiating a dea
l for outbound soft skills training for a BPO. Money is a crunch, and
they want the world as always, but whatΓÇÖs more a
nnoying is that they want really safe ΓÇ£high\u003cbr\u003e
\nadventuresΓÇ¥.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the clients w
ords, ΓÇ£Most of us have never been in the outdoors, so we want to
experience something really dangerous and spectacular
ΓÇ¥ and in the same breath, ΓÇ£it shouldnΓÇÖt be too scaryΓÇ¥. \u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI think they want to have so
me kind of a good time in the outdoors, but as usual, the focus is on
the adventure rather than the learning.\u003c/p\u0
03e\n\u003cp\u003eThatΓÇÖs fine. I guess IΓÇÖll just need to show them
some fancy pictures\u003cbr\u003e\nand some expla
nations on actual and perceived risk.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eLetΓÇÖs see how it goes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u
003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-professionals/\"
rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure professionals\u003c/
a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
clients/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eclients\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/
\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003
e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-
professionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure profe
ssionals\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/clients/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eclients\
u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral stu
ff\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","adventure
professionals","clients","general stuff","high 
adven
tures","in","the","clients","words","explanations","actual","and","perceived","risk
let","outbound","soft  skills","trai
ning","experience","dangerous
and","spectacular","annoying","safe","ah","the","growth","pangs","breath","scary","tortur
e 
indeed","the","process"]},{"title":"Cheapoair","link":"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/12/cheapoair-2/","autho
r":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 12 Sep 2007
02:42:54
-0700","contentSnippet":"This is a paid review, but I have b
een looking at sites with cheap air ticket offers for quite some time,
and I found the rates ...","content":"\u003cp\u00
3eThis is a paid review, but I have been looking at sites with cheap
air ticket offers for quite some time, and I found
the rates here quite interesting.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.cheapoair.com/travel/travel
_resources/topdeals.asp\"\u003eCheapoair Top 25 Deals\u003c/a\u003e┬á
is the site I am speaking about this time. On the
whole, it looks like any other flight booking site. The rates are
reasonable and the database works fast enough that you
 donΓÇÖt site around twiddling your thumbs waiting for something to
turn up, like it happens on so many travel booking s
ites. And there are handy links on top for group and \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/corporate-programmes/
omdp.htm\" title\u003d\"Experiential Learning through teambuilding
activities\" style\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u0
03d\"external\"\u003ecorporate\u003c/a\u003e travel, so that you
donΓÇÖt have to hunt around wondering what happens in t
hose cases. So that is a plus. Worth bookmarking for the next time you
need to book tickets, though I would recommend co
mparing sites and deciding for yourself.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eWhat I also liked, were the handy links to travel r
esources, hotel bookings, car hire and other needs related with
travelling. So on the whole, it could be a one stop shop
 for planning your trip.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wicked
temptation in the site is the vacations they have. Well
presented and tempting pictures. The problem being in chosing which of
all the places ot go, so a definitely dangerous s
ite for your wallet, if youΓÇÖre susceptible to temptation.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the minus side, this site is
geared specifically for Americans, with local destinations,
international travel and stuff being from that perspective.
So, for the regular readers here, out of which only about 20% are
Americans, this is a shift of perspective. Local means
 different to different people depending on their location, and it
feels alien for a non-American.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c
p\u003eI would definitely have felt more comfortable with the ΓÇ
£DomesticΓÇ¥ being America, so that I donΓÇÖt have to fi
gure out where exactly domestic is.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the
whole, a nice, convenient travel bookings site, w
ith speed of use and access and a good variety of information
available, even if it is nothing exceptional and seems to
be meant only for Americans. I think they could reach out better to
travelers from all over the world with that simple c
hange.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/booking-services/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eb
ooking services\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/flight-bookings/\" rel\u003d\"tag\
"\u003eflight bookings\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel-services/\" rel\u003
d\"tag\"\u003etravel services\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/booking-services/\" re
l\u003d\"tag\"\u003ebooking services\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/flight-bookin
gs/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eflight bookings\u003c/a\u003e,
\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel
-services/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etravel services\u003c/a
\u003e","categories":["Paid reviews","booking
services","fligh
t bookings","travel
services","turn","travel","booking","sites","and","flight","booking","site","the","rates","recommend
","comparing","sites","and","deciding","sites","cheap","air","ticket","offers","interesting
cheapoair","25","deals nbsp"
,"americans","local","destinations","convenient","travel","bookings","reasonable","and","the","database","works","fast"]
},{"title":"Umang
2007","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/09/12/umang-2007/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","published
Date":"Wed, 12 Sep 2007 00:17:58
-0700","contentSnippet":"Just as I
was sad about how I missed the regional event and ho
w it would be expensive to now go for a National event, I got
the ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eJust as I was sad about h
ow I missed the regional event and how it would be expensive to now go
for a National event, I got the newsletter from I
SABS that announces a new regional event that is IN Mumbai, very low
budget and coming up soon.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u
003eI guess my ISABS journey is destined to go on without delays.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor folks in Mumbai, this
is an unparalleled opportunity. The Umang 2007 event is from the 10th
Oct to the 14th Oct 2007 and takes place in Malad
- Aksa beach and overcomes one of the major hurdles for the common man
to participate - money. Accommodation is dormitor
y type, but that is what brings it within reach.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eSo, where I was planning to go, my husband
is also planning to join me this time with his BLHP.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eSeriously folks, donΓÇÖt miss this one.
 For more information, go the the \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.isabs.org\"\u003eISABS website\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u
003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
educational-programmes/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eeducational
 programmes\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/experiential-learning/\" rel\u003d\"ta
g\"\u003eexperiential learning\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/isabs/\" rel\u003d\
"tag\"\u003eISABS\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\
u003d\"tag\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/education
al-programmes/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eeducational
programmes\u003c/a
\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.c
om/blog/tag/experiential-learning/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eexperiential learning\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http
://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/isabs/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eISABS
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-a
ware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e","categories"
:["Outdoor professionals","ISABS","Social
Awareness","Experiential
learning","educational programmes","experiential lear
ning","ISABS","self improvement
journey","mumbai","an","unparalleled","opportunity","the","umang","2007","event","sad","
missed","the","regional","event","and","malad","aksa","beach","and","overcomes","regional","event","expensive","a","nati
onal","event","destined","delays
for","folks","the","14th","oct","2007","and","takes","place","isabs","announces","a"]},
{"title":"Paid blogging and content ideas
too","link":"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2007/09/11/paid-blogging-and-conte
nt-ideas-too-2/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Tue, 11 Sep
2007 04:29:04 -0700","contentSnippet":"There are pe
ople who want to pay for reviews and blogged links for their products
and websites and there are companies like ...","co
ntent":"\u003cp\u003eThere are people who want to pay for reviews and
blogged links for their products and websites and
there are companies like Review Me and PayPerPost managing this
chaotic demand and supply scenario.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eI see this as a great opportunity for people who want to earn
some money on the side. If you have a regular blog
, thatΓÇÖs all it takes. Even if you donΓÇÖt, there are loads of free
blogging services that you can start from. It is a
ll really about how well you can write.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eSome tips for those who would like to use blogging f
or money:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBe genuine. We
all like to earn money, but would you pay someone
for the kind of writing you are doing? Find out about what you are
writing for and write with that insight, rather than
churn out words to create posts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003ePractice. There are ways to warn money from your blog - n
ot every post has to be a paid post (this one isnΓÇÖt). Write about
things you genuinely like and present them in a way
that tempts the reader with your perspective.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003ePractice, practice.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eRead around. See what other bloggers are writing about. Create
relationships, comment, get to know them more as pe
ople rather than quick ideas for your own work. What goes around comes
around.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse other m
ethods of generating revenue from your blog, so that you are not too
desperate about writing only paid posts. Adsense fo
r example will deliver targetted ads to your blog no matter what your
posts are (of course, no porn and gambling and stu
ff)\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePromote your blog. Put links in
signatures on forums, emails, etc. Submit to directori
es, do link exchangesΓÇª.. the usual.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eHave patience. Signing up for something and earning
from it is a process, not a ΓÇ£push button and get resultsΓÇ¥ kind of
thing.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u0
03eWhere to begin generating income from your writing?\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eLoads of places - please note that so
me of the below are affiliate links, but do no harm to you. In fact,
clicking the review this post button below will act
ually earn you money along with your sign up with PayPerPost.\u003cbr
\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u
003ca href\u003d\"http://www.reviewme.com/?ref\u003d12255\"\u003eGet
Reviewed At ReviewMe!\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.auctionads.com/refer_
%2060d670cda8bd3a4738eb\"\u003eAuctionAds: Increase the
 bid on your siteΓÇÖs income!\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003ePayPerPost is something you can join directly by
 going to their site, but if you review this post, you will actually
begin your account with earning money.\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are others as well - Watch out for updates on
this post.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http:/
/www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/blogging/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eblogging
\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wi
de-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einspiration
\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wid
e-aware.com/blog/tag/website-deveoplment/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003ewebsite deveoplment\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"h
ttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/blogging/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eblogging\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://w
ww.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://ww
w.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/website-deveoplment/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003ewebsite deveoplment\u003c/a\u003e","categories":[
"Experiential
learning","blogging","inspiration","website
deveoplment","writing","paid","posts","adsense","directories",
"link","exchanges","the","usual
have","patience","signing","perspective
practice","practice
read","around","reviewme pay
perpost","directly","post","a","paid","post","this","words","create","posts
practice","bloggers","writing","about","crea
te","relationships","genuine","earn","money"]},{"title":"Paid
blogging
and content ideas too","link":"http://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/2007/09/11/paid-blogging-and-content-ideas-
too/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Tue, 11 Sep 2007 0
4:28:36 -0700","contentSnippet":"There are people who want
to pay for
reviews and blogged links for their products and w
ebsites and there are companies like ...","content":"\u003cp
\u003eThere are people who want to pay for reviews and blogg
ed links for their products and websites and there are companies like
Review Me and PayPerPost managing this chaotic dem
and and supply scenario.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI see this as a
great opportunity for people who want to earn some
money on the side. If you have a regular blog, thatΓÇÖs all it takes.
Even if you donΓÇÖt, there are loads of free blogg
ing services that you can start from. It is all really about how well
you can write.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome ti
ps for those who would like to use blogging for money:\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBe genuine. We all l
ike to earn money, but would you pay someone for the kind of writing
you are doing? Find out about what you are writing
for and write with that insight, rather than churn out words to create
posts.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePractice. Th
ere are ways to warn money from your blog - not every post has to be a
paid post (this one isnΓÇÖt). Write about things
you genuinely like and present them in a way that tempts the reader
with your perspective.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003
ePractice, practice.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRead around. See
what other bloggers are writing about. Create relati
onships, comment, get to know them more as people rather than quick
ideas for your own work. What goes around comes arou
nd.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse other methods of generating
revenue from your blog, so that you are not too desper
ate about writing only paid posts. Adsense for example will deliver
targetted ads to your blog no matter what your posts
 are (of course, no porn and gambling and stuff)\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003ePromote your blog. Put links in signature
s on forums, emails, etc. Submit to directories, do link
exchangesΓÇª.. the usual.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHave pa
tience. Signing up for something and earning from it is a process, not
a ΓÇ£push button and get resultsΓÇ¥ kind of thing
.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere to begin
generating income from your writing?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003
cp\u003eLoads of places - please note that some of the below are
affiliate links, but do no harm to you. In fact, clicki
ng the review this post button below will actually earn you money
along with your sign up with PayPerPost.\u003cbr\u003e
\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.reviewme.com/?ref\u003d12255\"\u003eGet Review
ed At ReviewMe!\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePayPerPost
is something you can join directly by going to thei
r site, but if you review this post, you will actually begin your
account with earning money.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u00
3eThere are others as well - Watch out for updates on this post.\u003c/
p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-awar
e.com/blog/tag/default_tag_name/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eDEFAULT
TAG
NAME\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wi
de-aware.com/blog/tag/default_tag_name/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eDEFAULT TAG
NAME\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Experient
ial learning","DEFAULT TAG
NAME","directories","link","exchanges","the","usual
have","patience","signing","writing","pai
d","posts","adsense","perspective
practice","practice
read","around","reviewme
payperpost","directly","post","a","paid",
"post","this","words","create","posts
practice","genuine","earn","money","fact","clicking","the","review"]},
{"title":"Cl
eartripΓÇÖs white water rafting adventure on the Kundalika near the
Tamhini Ghat","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog
/2007/09/10/kundalika-tamhini-ghat-kolad-white-water-
rafting/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sun, 09 Sep 2007
16:46:43 -0700","contentSnippet":"Go on, ask - why would
someone who
does this regularly find it an adventure? Its all i
n the logistics.\nOn the first September,
...","content":"\u003cp
\u003eGo on, ask - why would someone who does this regu
larly find it an adventure? Its all in the logistics.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eOn the first September, which is last
week (IΓÇÖm always late with these things) Raka and I accompanied a
group from Cleartrip.com that we were sending for a
dayΓÇÖs outing on the river Kundalika, and the region around Nagothane.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConsidering that the
 booking numbers fluctuated all the time, and we had multiple pick up
points, I just had one of those feelings. Raka and
 I were due for a break anyway, so we went along for the ride.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe morning pickups were pred
ictably a nightmare and we managed to get out of Mumbai at a record
breaking 6:30 with me praying constantly that the wa
ter held. White water for the rafting is really a matter of being at
the right place and right time, as the Rafting depe
nds on the release of water from the Bhire Dam, further up the valley
in the direction of the Tamhini Ghat.\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eThe group was excited and quick on their nerves and it
was a mission to keep people moving fast (like it
 always is with high energy groups). With a few pick ups and some
miscommunication, we caught the tail end of the water
and I heaved a sigh of relief to see the participants depart on their
rafts at the starting point.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003c
p\u003eThis is when I really stopped worrying and caught up with the
moment. As always, this region is a pleasure to be
in, and it was my trip to catch up with people. I was visiting the
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.kamathresidency.com\"\
u003eKamath Residency resort\u003c/a\u003e after quite a few months,
my rafting field staff after even more, and to top
it all, I happened to run into Brig. Sushil Bhasin of \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.empowercamp.com/\"\u003eEmpower Cam
ps\u003c/a\u003e right there near the rafting equipment, as he drove
by with some guests.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFo
r a moment, I wondered idly, if Raka and I should simply hijack one of
the vehicles and go ahead to visit Garudmachi - t
he \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.hpmpl.com/\"\u003eHigh
Places\u003c/a
\u003e campsite - who knew who else we could meet
 out there? Instead, we chose to arrive at the ending point of the
river run early and wait for the group to arrive and
spent a nice hour watching the tiny fish nibble at the banks and
clouds doing their best to impress us with added impres
sions of peace.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA couple of groups who had
left earlier arrived, and I met yet another old f
riend - a rafting instructor I used to know as Kumar when he was a
straggly youth figuring out this job, when we did the
 pilot run for this route 3 years ago. Now, he looks totally classy
with a low ponytail and all that. Honestly, i hadnΓÇ
Öt recognized him at all until he came up and shook hands.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoon, out group came, and it was
time to go back to the resort for a well deserved lunch and some
lazing around.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThen, we lef
t for a waterfall nearby, and managed to get thoroughly confused by
the route and our own mismanaged communications, and
 out hike to the waterfall turned into quite an adventurous and highly
enjoyable hike in the area of the waterfall. It w
as good fun. Particularly considering that the rain at lunch time had
made all the flowing water too muddy to appeal in
any case.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the way back, we hooked up
with an online friend of mine - Abhijit Rao and we w
ent over to his place to continue into a weekend celebration that
didnΓÇÖt end until Monday evening.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u00
3cp\u003eAll in all, one of my not-smooth bits of management, but a
fun day even then. And yes, IΓÇÖm planning to upload
 pictures, and it isnΓÇÖt my usual ΓÇ£one dayΓÇ¥ scenario either. The
thing is, IΓÇÖm waiting for some pictures from Ame
ya Salvi. Its a new excuse this time.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eUpdate: Some photos from my mobile are up, and can be
found \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/gallery/v/clients/
cleartrip/\"\u003ehere\u003c/a\u003e. Ameya is als
o planning to upload his photos here (one fine day)\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/ta
g/adventure/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure\u003c/a\u003e 
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adv
enture-professionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure
professionals
\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide
-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-training/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eadventure training\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"ht
tp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/experience/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eexperience\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http:
//www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/experiential-learning/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eexperiential learning\u003c/a\u003e  \u003c
a href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/outdoors/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003eoutdoors\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\
u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/rafting/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003erafting\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http
://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eadventure\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://ww
w.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-professionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eadventure professionals\u003c/a\u003e, \u003c
a href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-training/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure training\u003c/a\
u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
experience/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperience\u003c/a\u00
3e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
experiential-learning/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperiential l
earning\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/outdoors/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eoutdoors
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
rafting/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003erafting\u003c/a\
u003e","categories":["Adventure as
usual","Experiential
learning","adventure","adventure
professionals","adventure train
ing","experience","experiential
learning","outdoors","rafting","nagothane
considering","the","booking","numbers","fl
uctuated","outing","the","river","kundalika","cleartrip
com","sending","accompanied","a","group","september","week","i",
"the","logistics    
on","the","and","the","region","late","things"]},
{"title":"Missed the monsoon ISABS
event","link":"
http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/07/missed-the-monsoon-isabs-event/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Fri,
07 Sep 2007 06:12:00 -0700","contentSnippet":"How dumb of
me. I
\u0026#8217;d completely forgotten about the annual monso
on event ISABS usually has. I wanted to attend, but
sigh! ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eHow dumb of me. IΓÇÖd
completely
forgotten about the annual monsoon event ISABS usually has. I wanted
to attend, but sigh! It already began on the 4th Se
ptember. IΓÇÖd completely forgotten about them, and whn I remembered
and rushed to visit their site, I found that the ev
ent had already started. IΓÇÖll probably go for the next event. I was
hoping for this Mumbai regional one - it works out
 cheaper than the national events.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI
rarely write about this, so the posts are probably buri
ed among others. For the curious, my previous posts about my ISABS
journey were about \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wid
e-aware.com/blog/2006/08/31/improving-on-myself/\"\u003eimproving
myself\u003c/a\u003e after my BLHP - Basic Lab in Huma
n Processes, and then when I was \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2007/02/09/just-back-from-my-alhp/\"
\u003ejust back from my ALHP\u003c/a\u003e and when I went all
sentimental about my \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2007/02/19/the-journey-continues/\"\u003ejourney
continuing\u003c/a\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eF
or those who are clueless about what I am going on and on about,
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://isabs.org\"\u003eISABS\u003c
/a\u003e is the Indian Society of Applied Behavioural Sciences. They
conduct a variety of laboratories (as they are euph
emistically called I guess - they are anything but impersonal)
oriented toward self-discovery and interpersonal skills i
ncluding facilitation skills with groups. The series of programmes are
collectively referred to as a journey in the sens
e of self-discovery and improvement.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI
honestly recommend these programmes to anyone interes
ted in self-improvement.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/experiential-learning/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperiential learning\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca
href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/genera
l-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e 
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/isa
bs/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eISABS\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca
href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement
-journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself improvement
journey\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/bl
og/tag/experiential-learning/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperiential
learning\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://ww
w.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http:/
/www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/isabs/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eISABS
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-awa
re.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself
improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e","categories":[
"ISABS","experiential learning","general
stuff","ISABS","self
improvement journey","self
discovery","and","interpersonal
","skills","including","facilitation","skills","the","annual","monsoon","event","isabs","self
discovery","and","improvem
ent
i","honestly","recommend","cheaper","the","national","events
i","rarely","write","my","isabs","journey","isabs","the
","indian","society","event","hoping","sentimental","my","journey","continuing"]},
{"title":"Planning hikes in the Sahyad
ri","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/09/07/planning-hikes-
in-the-sahyadri/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","published
Date":"Fri, 07 Sep 2007 05:56:22
-0700","contentSnippet":"Getting out
into the outdoors is not as tough as it sounds. Ho
nestly, even though I provide the service, I don\u0026#8217;t do
any ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eGetting out into the o
utdoors is not as tough as it sounds. Honestly, even though I provide
the service, I donΓÇÖt do any rocket science. Most
 of the enquiries I get are for outings in the Sahyadri from Mumbai.
So here, I provide a detailed method of going about
 it.\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat do you want? Is it a
challenge, relaxation, explorationΓÇªΓÇª? What do you want
 to do when you have this itch to get out of the city.\u003c/li\u003e\n
\u003cli\u003eNarrow it down - For example, if yo
uΓÇÖd thought of exploration in the previous step, go a step ahead. Is
it exploring forts, caves, sea forts in particula
r, fishing villagesΓÇªΓÇª?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFigure out
other stuff you want - how would you like to travelΓ
Çª. bike trip, local buses, private vehicleΓÇª? What would you like to
eat - local food, self-cooked stuff, full-royal r
esort mealsΓÇª? Stay where - in nature, resort, caves, local
homesΓÇªΓÇª?\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce you have th
is, youΓÇÖre ready to begin preparing. Simply put together all
requirements and make a list of everything you will be ne
eding. Fuel arrangements, resort bookings, routes, stocks of foodΓÇª..
whatever. Make this list as detailed as possible.
 Feel free to ask other travellers for tips.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli
\u003eMost resorts can be booked online or through
agents. If youΓÇÖre planning to stay in a village or cave, there are
no booking needs of course, but you may wish to fin
d out details on the village or condition of fort etc. Most of this is
readily available online.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cl
i\u003ePut one day aside for shopping and preparations. Get your act
together and be sure to go through your entire list
.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThatΓÇÖs it. Leave on time and have a
blast.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u0
03eAs a general guide, if you have figured out transportation, food
and accommodation; thereΓÇÖs little that can go wron
g. However, be sure to cross check all information you get, as once
out in the rural areas, it is not uncommon to find u
nmarked roads, or those that have been too damaged to use, etc.
Similarly, a trekker who visited a fort a few years ago
may confidently tell you that the village is 10 min from the fort,
when in reality it may be 2-3 hours. Information that
 seems the same from a few different sources is generally reliable.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is probably the onl
y place where an organized trip is stronger, as we have strong
contacts in most places we operate in, and checking any c
hanges in status of information are a matter of routine. However, many
trekkers and regular travellers know enough of th
e place to help verify information.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo why
am sharing this? Because my objective is not to s
ell tours so much as to get more and more people venturing in the
outdoors and developing a love for the land they live
in. If this helps people get into a car and head out of town more
easily on a weekend, IΓÇÖve got what I want.\u003c/p\u
003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe people who come to me easily become capable of
this within a trip or two, so its no real secret a
nyway. I think they pay me just because they like the company, or
would simply like me to handle the hassle reliably.\u0
03c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
adventure/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel/
\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etravel\u003c/a\u003e\u003
ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca hr
ef\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003etravel\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","catego
ries":["Hikes","Adventure as
usual","adventure","travel","full
royal","resort","meals","stay","routine","trekkers","and"
,"regular","travellers","mumbai","provide","a","detailed","method","travellers","tips
most","resorts","exploration","the
","previous","step","resort","caves","caves","sea","forts","condition","fort","etc"]},
{"title":"Lovely posts, rotten pac
kaging","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/08/20/lovely-posts-
rotten-packaging-2/","author":"Vidyut Kale","publ
ishedDate":"Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:55:08
-0700","contentSnippet":"I was
scavenging for ideas to use in my next youth progra
mme, and found a wealth of them on blogs. I think I\u0026#8217;m
developing ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI was scavengin
g for ideas to use in my next youth programme, and found a wealth of
them on blogs. I think IΓÇÖm developing an affinity
 for blogs. Regular posts, inspiring ideasΓÇª.. some people have a
talent for looking for the unusual and thought provok
ing in routine life.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is sad to see that
blogging seems to have a bad effect on careful wr
iting though. Is it only me, or do many outdoor and travel blogs not
maintained by professionals have terrible spelling
and next to no punctuation?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI only hope
this doesnΓÇÖt rub off on me as I roam around readin
g the exciting, but messy world of blogging everything that catches
the eye.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e
Powered by \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://scribefire.com/\"\u003eScribeFire
\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/default_tag_name/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eDEFAULT TAG NAME\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca hre
f\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/default_tag_name/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003eDEFAULT TAG NAME\u003c/a\u003e\u00
3c/p\u003e","categories":["Thoughts","DEFAULT TAG
NAME","blogs","developing","an","affinity","blogs","regular","posts","
blogging","catches","the","eye
powered","outdoor","and","travel","blogs","the","unusual","and","thought","provoking","sc
avenging","ideas","inspiring","ideas","terrible","spelling","and"]},
{"title":"Lovely posts, rotten
packaging","link":"ht
tp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/08/20/lovely-posts-rotten-packaging/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 20
Aug 2007 10:54:56 -0700","contentSnippet":"I was scavenging
for ideas
to use in my next youth programme, and found a wea
lth of them on blogs. I think I\u0026#8217;m
developing ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eI was scavenging for
ideas to
use i
n my next youth programme, and found a wealth of them on blogs. I
think IΓÇÖm developing an affinity for blogs. Regular
posts, inspiring ideasΓÇª.. some people have a talent for looking for
the unusual and thought provoking in routine life.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is sad to see that blogging seems to
have a bad effect on careful writing though. Is it
only me, or do many outdoor and travel blogs not maintained by
professionals have terrible spelling and next to no punct
uation?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI only hope this doesnΓÇÖt rub off
on me as I roam around reading the exciting, but
messy world of blogging everything that catches the eye.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowered by \u003ca h
ref\u003d\"http://scribefire.com/\"\u003eScribeFire\u003c/a\u003e.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/tag/blogging/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eblogging\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/b
log/tag/blogging/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eblogging\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/
p\u003e","categories":["Thoughts","blogging","blo
gs","developing","an","affinity","blogs","regular","posts","blogging","catches","the","eye
powered","outdoor","and","tra
vel","blogs","the","unusual","and","thought","provoking","scavenging","ideas","terrible","spelling","and","sad","bloggin
g"]},{"title":"Busy with
code","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/08/17/busy-with-code/","author":"Vidyut Kale"
,"publishedDate":"Thu, 16 Aug 2007 23:08:59
-0700","contentSnippet":"Its time for my sporadic obsession
with the
website
. These days I\u0026#8217;m trying to spruce up the entire place. I
fiddled ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eIts time for my
 sporadic obsession with the website. These days IΓÇÖm trying to
spruce up the entire place. I fiddled around and learne
d new stuff. I found this thing \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.giannim.com/blog/index.php?page_id\u003d13\"\u003eAjaxWP\
u003c/a\u003e and installed it on the site. It requires a little
fiddling around with the theme, but once that is done,
it makes the site run much faster, as no doubt regulars here will have
noticed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts a really
 neat modification, though IΓÇÖd have appreciated a little more clear
instructions. Newbies to code have a duty to mess
up everything we touch, and I take that seriously \u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images
/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif\" alt\u003d\":D\"\u003e
\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eIt took me a while to figure out that I h
ave to create versions of my theme files for the ajax, and rename them
and keep them in the same folder as the rest of t
he stuff. Now that IΓÇÖve figured it out, it seems kind of obvious,
but until I arrived at enlightenment, I tried replac
ing the files, creating a separate folder, sub-folderΓÇª.. you name
it, I done it - all except the very obvious - just l
et them be where they are \u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif\"
 alt\u003d\":P\"\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOther than that,
IΓÇÖm reworking almost the entire site now. Trying
to generally tweak things around to make them prettier, faster, read
better, etc. IΓÇÖm at a stage where IΓÇÖm totally c
onfused, but there seems to be emerging some kind of path through the
chaos.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖm in a some
what ΓÇ£overreachingΓÇ¥ kind of mood as usual, so IΓÇÖd appreciate any
comments, suggestions, complaints, etc that can h
elp me toward better webdesign. Pleeeeease donΓÇÖt wait for me to
revamp the whole thing and then show some major glitch
 IΓÇÖve created somewhere. My abilities are rather limited.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/tag/experiential-learning/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperiential
learning\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http:/
/www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"htt
p://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/website-deveoplment/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003ewebsite deveoplment\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca hr
ef\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/experiential-learning/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperiential learning\u003c/
a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u00
3c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
website-deveoplment/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003ewebsite
deveoplment\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Adventure as
usual","experiential learning","general
stuff","website deveoplme
nt","fiddled","and","learned","time","my","sporadic","obsession","days","spruce","the","entire","place","the","website"]
},{"title":"Blister
season","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/08/16/blister-season/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","p
ublishedDate":"Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:01:19
-0700","contentSnippet":"Heh.
Monsoons near Mumbai are fun, but let\u0026#8217;
s be honest - this is blister time. Whether we go on a fun picnic, or
a long ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eHeh. Monsoons
near Mumbai are fun, but letΓÇÖs be honest - this is blister time.
Whether we go on a fun picnic, or a long hike, or sim
ply roam around in the city. The continual wet feet are quite blister
prone.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is why I w
as so impressed with this product - \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
thegoat.backcountry.com/blog/2007/08/15/adventure-medical
-kit-glacier-gel/trackback/\"\u003eGlacierGel\u003c/a\u003e I came
across as I was surfing. It is a clear blister dressi
ng that protects the blister, and is soft and is transparent as well,
so we can keep an eye on the painful spot. The per
fect recipe for feeling free to risk our feet and know that we can
deal with any blisters that pop up?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u
003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/first-aid/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003efirst aid\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca
 href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e  \u00
3ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/interesting-
products/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einteresting products\u0
03c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
first-aid/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003efirst aid\u003c/a\u
003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-
stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/
a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
interesting-products/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einterestin
g products\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Adventure as
usual","first
aid","general stuff","interesting
products","thegoat
 backcountry com blog 2007 08 15 adventure medical kit glacier gel
trackback","glaciergel 
url","surfing","a","clear","b
lister","dressing","protects","the","blister","blister","prone
this","the","painful","spot","the","perfect","recipe"
,"the","city","the","continual","wet","feet","blister","time","impressed","product","url
http"]},{"title":"Working in th
e
outdoors","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/08/15/working-
in-the-outdoors/","author":"Vidyut Kale","publishe
dDate":"Wed, 15 Aug 2007 01:10:28
-0700","contentSnippet":"One of my
freelancers was just enjoying a cup of tea with me
during some spare time on a programme. He wanted some advice,
and ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eOne of my freelancers was
 just enjoying a cup of tea with me during some spare time on a
programme. He wanted some advice, and I had all the time
 in the world, unless something went wrong, so we plunged into the
subject.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe had been offe
red a job with another company and was wondering if he should be
taking it. He does some freelance work with Hills and T
rails, Wild country Learning, us, OET, and some other companies as
well, and earns, (like most other free lance outbound
 resource people in India) in a very erratic manner. A good month is
riches and luxury and some months are a step away f
rom being very badly broke. Not that it isnΓÇÖt the same with any self
employed person, but I find this particularly of
concern in the outdoor adventure industry in India.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eThe salary offered in this case was piti
ful, but it would be guaranteed every month. On the other hand, this
boy would lose his freedom to choose jobs that he l
iked, paid well or even helped him learn and develop. It was a tough
decision.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost Indians
are not too aware of adventure tourism, and even those aware of it are
not always happy to pay big money. Most adventure
 businesses do reasonably well, but the pool of freelancers we mint
our fortunes on, are not as lucky. Some of us are no
w taking care to offer better rates, more reliable working
relationships, some security, etc.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u00
3eBut on the whole, an adventure instructor in India, is leading a
life with its economy also in a desperate rescue scen
ario.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost such people are more into the
business as it doesnΓÇÖt require any specific quali
fications or skills beyond those they can earn on the job. So they
arenΓÇÖt always equipped to have any other profession
. They are in a physically demanding profession, and even barring
accidents, very few can work in the field as they grow
 older. They need to be able to figure out other ways of sustaining
and providing for their futures, which is something
that doesnΓÇÖt really seem to occur to them.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eNot having the benefits of a regular income, or
 investments through the work place, there is also no source of back
up for money. Hardly any invest in any sizeable lif
e insurance, medical insurance or even basic ΓÇ£nest-eggsΓÇ¥ for
emergencies. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI suggested t
he best I could. I asked him to tell his new employer that the amount
offered was really low, and he couldnΓÇÖt accept i
t, unless he was allowed to accept bookings from other companies on
the days when the company employing him did not requ
ire him. In my opinion, he should have asked for a basic amount per
month, with an additional smaller amount calculated
according to the number of days he spent in the field. This is what I
offer my regulars. Unfortunately, his new employer
 wouldnΓÇÖt have allowed that, and I donΓÇÖt have vacancies.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI hope things work out for him.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
adventure-professionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003e
adventure professionals\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/india/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eIndia\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/mountain/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003emo
untain\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/outdoors/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eoutdoors\
u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
tourism/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etourism\u003c/a\u
003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etravel\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
 href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure-
professionals/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure professionals
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral st
uff\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/india/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eIndia\u003c/a\u
003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/mountain/
\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003emountain\u003c/a\u003e, \
u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/outdoors/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003eoutdoors\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/tourism/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003etourism\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003
d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003etravel\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Outdoor
profe
ssionals","Thoughts","adventure
professionals","general
stuff","India","mountain","outdoors","tourism","travel","wrong",
"plunged","wanted","advice","my","freelancers","offered","a","job","the","subject
he","tea","spare","time","enjoying",
"a","cup","company","and"]},{"title":"Rafting
time","link":"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/07/16/rafting-time/","au
thor":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Mon, 16 Jul
2007 06:18:02
-0700","contentSnippet":"Its monsoon time again, and the
world is a rich green. While we conduct rafting trips all through the
year, monsoon is a ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eIt
s monsoon time again, and the world is a rich green. While we conduct
rafting trips all through the year, monsoon is a s
pecial time, because the river is really full of water. We no longer
are slaves to the dam that releases the water for o
ur precious white water.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe season is
good this year. The field staff have got in another r
aft to deal with the work load, and trips are running full. Bookings
actually need to be done two weeks in advance to ha
ve any guarantee of getting a place on the raft. And all this, in
spite of having enough water on the river to allow an
additional late morning run as well as the usual early morning one
with the dam water.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot b
ad. Raka and I are in a good mood these days. WeΓÇÖre planning to join
a group from JP Morgan who have booked with us th
is Sunday, and hope that this is going to be a time for us to get away
from the city and feel truly like being in the ou
tdoors for fun again.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWho knows, thereΓÇÖs
a group from the same company on Saturday as well
, and we just might make an overnight trip out of this. Monsoon is
certainly not a time to be sitting in the city.\u003c
/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIΓÇÖll see if I can get some fun pics out of
this.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.
wide-aware.com/blog/tag/adventure/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure
\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral
stuff
\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wi
de-aware.com/blog/tag/outdoors/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eoutdoors\u003c/
a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-awar
e.com/blog/tag/rafting/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003erafting\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/adventure/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eadventure\u003c/a\u003e,
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/g
eneral-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral
stuff\u003c/a\u003e,
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/ta
g/outdoors/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eoutdoors\u003c/a\u003e,
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/rafti
ng/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003erafting\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Wide
Aware","Thoughts","Adventure as usual","adventure
","general
stuff","outdoors","rafting","precious","white","water
the","season","conduct","rafting","trips","good","y
ear","the","field","staff","monsoon","a","special","time","releases","the","water","a","rich","green","water","longer","
monsoon","time"]},{"title":"Cricket,
cricket","link":"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2007/03/21/cricket-cricket/","autho
r":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Wed, 21 Mar 2007
09:09:01
-0700","contentSnippet":"I am not usually an avid cricket fo
llower, but this World Cup has got me, and I am biting my nails from
the suspense with the ...","content":"\u003cp\u003e
I am not usually an avid cricket follower, but this World Cup has got
me, and I am biting my nails from the suspense wit
h the rest of India, as we wait to see if we even get into the Super
8.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInitially, it all se
emed to be going well, as we won against the West Indians in the warm
up match, but then, chaos struck. India lost to Ba
ngladesh! Many would say its impossible, but then, this is cricket.
India seemed to be not fully there on the field, and
 Bangladesh was outstanding, with the result that India is in its
current situation and unsure of even qualifying for th
e finals.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis certainly was a completely
shocking time for both India and Pakistan, when Ba
ngladesh subdued India, without even seeming to be struggling too
badly, and Ireland trounced Pakistan so badly, that it
 has been referred to as sent ΓÇ£PakingΓÇ¥. Both these results were
totally unexpected and have shaken the status quo pr
etty strongly, with some devastating results for Pakistan. They are
out of the Cup. Fans have been out in the street scr
eaming for blood and chanting for death to Woolmer and Inzamam. Worse,
their coach Bob ΓÇ£laptopΓÇ¥ Woolmer actually die
d in mysterious circumstances on the next day.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eI bet the Pakistanis hadnΓÇÖt wanted their wi
shes answered so literally. Then followed a spree of resignations from
Inzamam himself and others on the PCB in sheer hu
miliation. The final straw comes with the Jamaican police insisting
that the Pakistan team cannot leave the country unti
l the investigation of WoolmerΓÇÖs death is concluded/they are
cleared. Things are going really bad for the poor guys.\u
003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndia wasnΓÇÖt too far behind, with that
bad, bad match against Bangladesh and the completely
 shocking defeat. The only consolation being that they arenΓÇÖt out -
yet. Fans in India were enraged as well, expressin
g their anger out on the streets, burning effigies of players and
overall demonstrating how fickle they are, when the re
sults of one match can get them screaming for the blood of those they
were worshipping a couple of hours ago. DhoniΓÇÖs
home being constructed in Ranchi was attakced by irate fans and armed
security was immediately rushed to the homes of al
l players fearing similar acts.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShame! The
defeat hurt. It hurt really badly, but it shouldn
ΓÇÖt result in an attack on belongings or the safety of players
families, while they are supposed to be away fighting fo
r the honour of their country on the field. This is pure stupidity and
could sabotage the emotional well-being of our pl
ayers and destroy what little chances we have of victory after being
put into this tight spot after the defeat against B
angladesh.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, Raka says that this is
IndiaΓÇÖs way. India has often lost first matches
 and then pulled up their socks in a hurry to deliver good
performances after the shock. I certainly hope it is so. Indi
a now needs to win the big one with Sri Lanka after the record
breaking win against Bermuda in the next match. The Bermu
da win went a long way toward healing the feelings of the fans and
advertisers as well as the scores, in case it comes d
own to a battle of run rates.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt also
depends on how Bangladesh and Sri Lanka play and what
their scores read like at the end of the day.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eKeeping fingers crossed and eyes glued to the
screen!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/bangladesh/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eBangla
desh\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/bob-woolmer/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eBob Wool
mer\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/cricket/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003ecricket\u003c
/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/dhoni/
\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003edhoni\u003c/a\u003e  \u0
03ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/fans/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003efans\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/india/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eIndia\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.
wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inzamam/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eInzamam\u003c/
a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-awar
e.com/blog/tag/pakistan/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003ePakistan\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/b
log/tag/sri-lanka/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eSri
Lanka\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/t
ag/team_game/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eteam game\u003c/a\u003e 
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/we
st-indies/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eWest Indies\u003c/a\u003e 
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/wor
ld-cup/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eWorld Cup\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/bangladesh
/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eBangladesh\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca
href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/bob-woolmer/\
" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eBob Woolmer\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca
href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/cricket/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003ecricket\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/dhoni/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003edhoni\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/fans/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003efans\u
003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
india/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eIndia\u003c/a\u003e,
 \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inzamam/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003eInzamam\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/pakistan/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003ePakistan\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u0
03d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/sri-lanka/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eSri Lanka\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"
http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/team_game/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eteam game\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http:
//www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/west-indies/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eWest Indies\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http:/
/www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/world-cup/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eWorld
Cup\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Sports","Thought
s","Bangladesh","Bob
Woolmer","cricket","dhoni","fans","India","Inzamam","Pakistan","Sri
Lanka","team game","West Indies
","World
Cup","match","chaos","struck","india","lost","an","avid","cricket","follower","the","super","8
initially","an
d","biting","my","nails","the","west","indians","india","wait","the","suspense","the","warm"]},
{"title":"From Sangli to
Kule
Narshingpur","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/19/
from-sangli-to-kule-narshingpur/","author":"Vidyut K
ale","publishedDate":"Sun, 18 Mar 2007 12:04:27
-0700","contentSnippet":"This post will be split into two,
as there is
p
lenty of content. I\u0026#8217;ll focus this on the travel and the
people and the ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis post
 will be split into two, as there is plenty of content. IΓÇÖll focus
this on the travel and the people and the next can
be about the religious experience.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGetting
from Sangli to Kule Narshingpur is a pain. First,
 there is a state transport bus journey to Islampur, which takes about
an hour, and then there is the further journey by
 bus/rickshaw to Kule Narchingpur, which takes another half-an-hour.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe were lucky to find a
 luxury bus waiting as we reached the bus station at Sangli, and the
journey to Islampur was comfortable and quick. Not
much to do, except watch the kilometers tick by, and the wierd little
conductor interact with the people on the bus in h
is singsong voice.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis region is all
about sugarcane production, and we passed fields with
sugarcane standing, or in various stages of being harvested, sugarcane
loaded on tractors, bullockcarts, being storedΓÇª
.. whatever - sugarcane - and loads of it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eIn Islampur, we gave up trying to figure out furt
her state transport and simply hired a rickshaw to take us to our
destination. The road was now bumpy. I guess the paren
ts in law were not exactly comfortable. Raka was sitting on half the
driverΓÇÖs seat in the front, as these rickshaws ar
e designed to seat only three, so I guess he wasnΓÇÖt too comfortable
either, but I was enjoying the ride through the co
untryside.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/ima
ge539.jpg\" title\u003d\"Thr Krishna flowing behind the
temple\"\u003e
\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blo
g/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/image539.thumbnail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Thr
Krishna flowing behind the temple\"\u003e\u003c/a\u
003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
uploads/2007/03/image528.jpg\" title\u003d\"The lane l
eading to the temple\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/image528.thum
bnail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"The lane leading to the
temple\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/image526.jpg\" title\u003d\"Sitting
in the math\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.
wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/image526.thumbnail.jpg
\" alt\u003d\"Sitting in the math\"\u003e\u003c/a\u
003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
uploads/2007/03/image527.jpg\" title\u003d\"My father-
in-law and Raka entering the village\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/
03/image527.thumbnail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"My father-in-law and Raka
entering the village\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u00
3eNarrow bumpy roads, blocked with bullock cart traffic - pretty heavy
- we seemed to be waiting more than moving. Charm
ing glimpses of the river, and all kinds of people chattering with our
rickshaw man as we passed them. Very charmingly r
ural, if you overlook the not-so-charming ruts on the road.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBullocks and goats seemed to be
all over the place. Parked in front of homes having lunch, yoked,
pulling carts, being loaded, unloadedΓÇªΓÇª IΓÇÖve nev
er seen so many bullocks in one day.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe
reached the home of the pujaris at our destination.
Actually, the pujari on duty was someone else, but my parents in law
had good relations with another, who wasnΓÇÖt on du
ty, but we stayed with them anyway. I was surprised to find a Marathi
family - I was expecting Kannada Brahmins (my in-l
aws are Kannada) like in Sangli. Apparently there are historical
migrations and stuff involved and the seeming discrepan
cy was a normal state of affairs in such issues.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eAt least I could understand what was being
said. I found myself feeling at home. The family were really charming
people, complete with a really charming old widow
grandmother - a typical joint family. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe
visited the temple in the evening, and I have neve
r seen such a charming location in this region (plenty in the \u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/himalayan-ad
ventures/himalayan-tours.htm\" title\u003d\"Himalayan Tours\"
style
\u003d\"padding-right:13px\" rel\u003d\"external\"\u0
03eHimalaya\u003c/a\u003e). What can I say, IΓÇÖll let the pics do the
talking.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/
image553.jpg\" title\u003d\"Mother-in-law and I - wash
ing hands and feet in the river\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/im
age553.thumbnail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Mother-in-law and I - washing hands
and feet in the river\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
 href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/
image549.jpg\" title\u003d\"Father in Law washing
 feet in the river\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/image549.thumbn
ail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Father in Law washing feet in the
river\"\u003e
\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aw
are.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/image548.jpg\" title\u003d
\"Mother-in-Law going to the river\"\u003e\u003cimg sr
c\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/
image548.thumbnail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Mother-in-Law goi
ng to the river\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/image
544.jpg\" title\u003d\"Small structure on the
bank\"\u003e\u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content
/uploads/2007/03/image544.thumbnail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Small structure
on the bank\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u
003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/destinations/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003edestinations\u003c/a\u003e  \
u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/experience/\"
rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperience\u003c/a\u003e  \u00
3ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\"
rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e  \
u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/people/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003epeople\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/religion/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003ereligion\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\
"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/rural-india/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003erural India\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"
http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/society/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003esociety\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://ww
w.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etravel\u003c/
a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.
com/blog/tag/destinations/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003edestinations\u003c/a
\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware
.com/blog/tag/experience/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperience\u003c/a
\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.co
m/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral
stuff\u003c/a
\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware
.com/blog/tag/people/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003epeople\u003c/a\u003e,
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/t
ag/religion/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003ereligion\u003c/a\u003e,
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/rura
l-india/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003erural India\u003c/a\u003e,
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/socie
ty/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003esociety\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca
href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel/\" rel\
u003d\"tag\"\u003etravel\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","categories":
["Adventure as
usual","destinations","experience","ge
neral stuff","people","religion","rural
India","society","travel","sangli","kule","narshingpur","a","state","transport",
"bus","journey","journey","bus
rickshaw","post","split","islampur","takes","the","religious","experience
getting","f
ocus","the","travel","and","the","people","and","the","a","pain"]},
{"title":"Finally, my travel account -
Sangli","link"
:"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/15/religious-travel-
sangli/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Thu, 15 Ma
r 2007 04:22:42 -0700","contentSnippet":"We left Mumbai by
train and
travelled overnight to reach Sangli. Uneventful, ex
cept for a hugely pregnant and very charming
...","content":"\u003cp
\u003eWe left Mumbai by train and travelled overnigh
t to reach Sangli. Uneventful, except for a hugely pregnant and very
charming lady and husband occupying the remaining t
wo berths in our ΓÇ£roomΓÇ¥. We reached Sangli early in the morning
and headed to the home of the priest in the temple w
e were visiting. We got refreshed (bath and silk clothes, etc) and
went to the temple.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003
ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/
2007/03/image523.jpg\" title\u003d\"My mother in law an
d I on the banks of the Krishna\"\u003e\u003cimg src\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/im
age523.thumbnail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"My mother in law and I on the banks
of the Krishna\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/p\u00
3e\n\u003cp\u003eThe temple is at a charming location on the banks of
the river, that looks pretty nice, but smells some
thing awful. The priests actually bathe in it as a part of their
ritual cleansing - a thought enough to give me the jitt
ers - it is probably cleaner not to bathe. Anyway, we bathed in a
bathroom, so life was good.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u00
3e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/
uploads/2007/03/image525.jpg\" title\u003d\"The guruΓÇÖs
 samadhi\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
content/uploads/2007/03/image525.thumbnail.jpg\"
alt\u003d\"The guruΓÇÖs
samadhi\"\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eLeaving the parents with their God,
Raka and I skipped off for a quick tea and food break and discovered a
restaurant called Swagat (meaning ΓÇ£welcomeΓÇ¥)
which was amazing for incredibly delicious food, and the lowest bill
(Rs.54/- thatΓÇÖs less than a dollar and a half) fo
r two people I have ever encountered for stuffing myself till I had
vadas coming out of my ears. Overall, pretty good.\u
003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/image526.jpg\"
title\u003d\"Sitting in the math\"\u003e\u003cimg
src\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/03/i
mage526.thumbnail.jpg\" alt\u003d\"Sitting in the
math\"\u003e\u003c/a
\u003e\n\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFloating alon
g in the bliss of a stomach full of extremely desirable food, Raka and
I returned to the temple to find that the puja wa
s already over. That is really quick and efficient for these temples.
We did the obligatory bowing and donations etc and
 it was time for lunch! I could swear that I couldnΓÇÖt eat a bite,
after what we were just returning from.\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eFortunately, lunch at the pujariΓÇÖs home involved a
significant delay as it was prepared. Then it was t
ime to give a ΓÇ£supache vaanΓÇ¥ which is something I cannot describe.
Suffice it to say that it is a collection of asso
rted items related with a femaleΓÇÖs fortune in Hinduism, that we gave
to the pujariΓÇÖs wife. What I remember is a sari
, comb, coconut, betel nut, betel leaves, kaja, rice, dal, jaggery,
salt, some money, mirror, etc. Then it was RakaΓÇÖs
turn to give a dhoti and stuff to the pujari, and we were ΓÇ£clearΓÇ¥.
Time to eat.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFood was
 good, except that there was a massive quantity of rice to consume
with assorted dals and vegetables followed by sweet r
ice, spiced rice and finally curd and rice. IΓÇÖd had enough ric for a
lifetime by the time I was done with that meal.\u
003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter this meal, the only thing possible
was sleep \u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware
.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif\" alt\u003d\":D
\"\u003e and all the four of us crashed for a nap i
n unworded agreemment.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/destinations/\" rel\u003d\"
tag\"\u003edestinations\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/experience/\" rel\u003d\"t
ag\"\u003eexperience\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"t
ag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/religion/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003ereligion\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/rural-india/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u
003erural India\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/travel/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etr
avel\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/destinations/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003edestinati
ons\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/experience/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eexperience
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral st
uff\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/religion/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003ereligion\u00
3c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
rural-india/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003erural India\u003
c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
travel/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etravel\u003c/a\u003e",
"categories":["Adventure as
usual","destinations","experience","general
stuff","religion","rural
India","travel","charmi
ng","lady","and","husband","occupying","the","remaining","reached","sangli","early","reach","sangli","uneventful","mumba
i","train","and","travelled","overnight","a","hugely","pregnant","and","berths","room","the","morning","and","headed","t
he","the","priest"]},{"title":"Sangli,
Kule Narshingpur,
Kolhapur","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/05/san
gli-kule-narshingpur-kolhapur/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:31:59
-0800","contentSnippet
":"My parents in law are staunch theists. They believe in the
multitude of Hindu Gods and the places they need to travel
 in order ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eMy parents in law are
staunch
theists. They believe in the multitude of Hindu God
s and the places they need to travel in order to obtain their
blessings. One such location is this trip, which is actual
ly three locations. These are the family Gods of our clan. No matter
where we go, these guys are supposed to have their
benevolent eye on us.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eApparently, my
father in law had ignored the Gods for many years, as h
ad his parents, and bad times came on the family, when my husband was
young. Then some astrologer told them that their f
ortune will change if they go and meet their roots - the Gods who look
after their clan. Full of suitable repentance, an
d reverence, they did so, and claim their luck has changed ever since.
Health, happiness and money flowed.\u003c/p\u003e
\n\u003cp\u003eI am skeptical. Where is this flowing health when my
mother-in-law needs to take some 12 pills at one tim
e 2-3 times a day? Diabetes, blood pressure, ΓÇª. Their explanation is
it could be worse. It is a matter of their previo
us actions that is causing them to come to these experiences now. Heh.
It could be worse whether you believe in God or n
ot.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut regardless of their beliefs and
ours, I really respect them for not forcing us to co
nform. Except for this one thing. It is quite common in India. Newly
married couples go to the temples in their villages
 to pray within a year of the wedding and ideally, immediately after.
In our case, this didnΓÇÖt happen. We managed to k
eep avoiding this tour because we were busy or something or the other.
But whoever has lived in India, with Indian paren
ts know, that once the mother decides on something, obedience is
inevitable. It is simply a matter of time \u003cimg src
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/
icon_biggrin.gif\" alt\u003d\":D\"\u003e \u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eRaka and I donΓÇÖt believe this nonsense. We are both
atheists. But we do love our parents, and you know
 how it is in IndiaΓÇªΓÇª if your parents insist long enough,
obedience is inevitable. We tried all the excuses and expl
anations we could. We didnΓÇÖt believe, if God is everywhere, what is
the need to go to a specific placeΓÇª. and so on.
Unfortunately, this has nothing to do with our debating abilities. The
parents believe that it is our divine duty and it
 must be done - never mind that we donΓÇÖt believe - do the actions.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhatever. We like the r
egion and are ok with travelling there, but so many templesΓÇª..? I
guess resistance is futile \u003cimg src\u003d\"http
://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif
\" alt\u003d\":D\"\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u
003eSo here we are. Leaving for Sangli tonight. By morning we will
reach there. Then it will be a merry go round of temp
les and offerings. We will be supposed to show our gratitude to the
powers that be for giving us good lives and asking f
or good lives \u003cimg src\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/wp-
includes/images/smilies/icon_surprised.gif\" alt\u0
03d\":o\"\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis promises to be very
different. Stay tuned. IΓÇÖm going to be back on t
he 9th and will be writing about this trip.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/destin
ations/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003edestinations\u003c/a\u003e 
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/gener
al-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e 
\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/re
ligion/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003ereligion\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca
href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/rural-ind
ia/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003erural India\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca
href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/society/\"
 rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003esociety\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/travel/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003etravel\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca
href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/destinations/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"
\u003edestinations\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/religion/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"
\u003ereligion\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/rural-india/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u00
3erural India\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/society/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003esoc
iety\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/travel/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003etravel\u003c/
a\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","destinations","general
stuff","religion","rural
India","society","travel
","travelling","pleasure
tonight","meet","the","family","gods","leaving","a","quick","trip","the","village","heh","d
ays","the","days"]},{"title":"Spreading
awareness about the
environment","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/
03/spreading-awareness-about-the-environment/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:58:44
-0800",
"contentSnippet":"Not only can we do things to save the
environment,
we can spread awareness about the environment and a
wareness of the choices ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eNot
only can we
do things to save the environment, we can spread aw
areness about the environment and awareness of the choices open to
people that they can easily make to create a large co
llective impact.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCreating awareness can be
done in many ways. One of the best is actions. Do
 it, share it, encourage it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother way
is sharing information and ideas. Like IΓÇÖm doing
out here, and in my interactions with people in relevant situations.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother great way is to
 take an initiative. Announce a clean up drive and encourage people to
join in and spread the message. Announce a tree p
lantation programme. Approach local authorities for the setting up of
a rain harvesting scheme for your locality and sha
re your knowledge and experience with other localities.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eConfront people who litter and reque
st them to support the environment through their actions and explain
why it is necessary.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCr
eate motivation and interest in local schools.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eThere is so much that can be done. I do thing
s and new things occur to my mind. It is a journey of feeling for this
world we live in. Will you do it? Will you travel
 along?\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/default_tag_name/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003e
DEFAULT TAG NAME\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/default_tag_name/\" rel\u003d\"tag\
"\u003eDEFAULT TAG
NAME\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","DEFAULT TAG
NAME","and","spread","the","me
ssage","announce","a","tree","plantation","programme","approach","local","authorities","create","a","large","collective"
,"impact
creating","awareness","an","initiative","announce","a","clean","spread","awareness","a","rain","harvesting"
,"scheme","drive","and","encourage","people","localities
confront","people","the","environment","and","awareness"]},
{"title":"Minimising
pollution","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/03/03/minimising-pollution/","author":"Vidyu
t Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:57:45
-0800","contentSnippet":"Keep an eye on what you are
driving, and mak
e sure you are keeping its pollution levels law. It is required by
law, but its ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eKeep an eye
 on what you are driving, and make sure you are keeping its pollution
levels law. It is required by law, but its surpris
ing how many people donΓÇÖt really care.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eAvoid using vehicles for going around the corner. T
he walk will do you good.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse shared
vehicles and public transport where possible. Use eco f
riendly fuels.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeep an eye on what you are
using. Many chemical products are harmful for the
 environment. Find out the effects of chemicals you use, and explore
options that help you do your thing with minimum da
mage. Its probably healthier for you too.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003eAvoid cooking fires. Avoid campfires. Avoid all un
necessary smoke.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDonΓÇÖt sit on the horn
when traffic comes to a standstill. Your horn canno
t physically move cars along. If itΓÇÖs a jam, itΓÇÖs a jam. If it
looks like its going to take a while, switch off your
 engine, and have patience. Blaring horns only make a bad situation
unbearable. Yeah call me fussy. I call it noise poll
ution.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis goes for other noise pollution
stuff too. Bizarre loud celebrations in the middl
e of the night, loudspeakers, etc. near hospitals is a baaaaad thing
to do.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://ww
w.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www
.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.
wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e  \u003c
a href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/society/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003esociety\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003
d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\
"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u
003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/society/
\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003esociety\u003c/a\u003e","ca
tegories":["Experiential
learning","environment","inspiration","self
improvement journey","society","healthier","too
 
avoid","cooking","fires","avoid","campfires","avoid","noise","pollution","stuff","too","bizarre","loud","celebrations",
"fussy","noise","pollution     this","good
use","shared","vehicles","and","public","transport","keeping","pollution"
,"levels","law","patience","blaring","horns","care
avoid","vehicles","unnecessary","smoke    
donΓÇÖt","sit"]},{"tit
le":"Conserving energy
resources","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2007/03/03/conserving-energy-resources/","autho
r":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 03 Mar 2007
08:55:56
-0800","contentSnippet":"ThatΓÇÖs a big luxury and need toda
y. In Mumbai, a powercut is rare, but in many other parts of India,
uninterrupted electric ...","content":"\u003cp\u003e
ThatΓÇÖs a big luxury and need today. In Mumbai, a powercut is rare,
but in many other parts of India, uninterrupted ele
ctric supply is rare. Again, it is a matter of using what we have
wisely.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSwitch off lights,
 fans, and anything that consumes electricity when not in use.
Decrease your bills by exploring solar power. Switch to l
ower consumption versions of appliances. Switch off all things not
needed when leaving home. These measures will help ex
tend the utility of existing power resources as well as save money on
electricity bills.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhe
n cooking, use gas wisely. A flame that extends beyond the base of
that utensil is gas going waste and only charring foo
d on the sides of the utensil. Turn it lower and save yourself some
cleaning effort while youΓÇÖre at it.\u003c/p\u003e\
n\u003cp\u003eKeep your ingredients ready or easily accessible while
cooking, so that you donΓÇÖt cook food unnecessaril
y longer, consuming more fuel and making the food less tasty. Use
pressure cookers to speed up cooking and save fuel too
.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSolar cookers are great, if you live in
a place where you have sunlight, and an area where
 you can place your cooker safely. Food cooks slowly, retains maximum
nutrients, utensils are extremely easy to clean, a
nd no bills of any sort. Sunlight is free ∩üè Solar cookers are
extremely easy and inexpensive to make.\u003c/p\u003e\n\
u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e  \u
003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\"
rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e  \u0
03ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e  \u00
3ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-
journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself improvement jo
urney\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/environment/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eenvironme
nt\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/initiatives/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einitiative
s\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einspiration
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/
self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003
eself improvement
journey\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","environment","initiatives","inspiration"
,"self improvement
journey","speed","cooking","and","save","fuel","too
solar","cookers","bills","exploring","solar",
"power","switch","place","cooker","safely","food","cooks","slowly","cooking","donΓÇÖt","cook","food","unnecessarily","lo
nger","bills","sort","sunlight","wisely
switch","lights","electricity","bills
when","cooking","consuming","fuel"
,"and","making","the","food"]},{"title":"Save
water","link":"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/03/save-water/","aut
hor":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 03 Mar
2007 08:54:59
-0800","contentSnippet":"Hear that dripping tap? Fix it. N
ow. About a fifth of the people in the world donΓÇÖt have access to
drinking water. IΓÇÖm not ...","content":"\u003cp\u0
03eHear that dripping tap? Fix it. Now. About a fifth of the people in
the world donΓÇÖt have access to drinking water.
IΓÇÖm not asking you to feel guilty about them or supply them with
water, simply use what you have wisely, so that it sp
reads further.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDonΓÇÖt leave taps running
when washing, brushing, showering, cooking, washin
g vehicles, etc. Turn it on, use it, turn it off when its time for
soap. You can always turn it on for rinsing. Its not
as much hard work as it sounds, and becomes a habit.\u003c/p\u003e\n
\u003cp\u003eWhen you use a tap, you will notice tha
t you can turn it a little, for a less powerful stream of water, and
open it full, for gushing water. Most of the time,
we donΓÇÖt need that flood of water and sometimes we do. So keep the
flow how you need it.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA
void the fancy car showers. Your paint will thank you and serve you
better, and it really doesnΓÇÖt take that much water
 to get a car clean.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBegin rain water
harvesting in your locality. Its amazing the amount of
 absolutely usable, clean water you will ΓÇ£produceΓÇ¥. ItΓÇÖs a sense
of achievement that needs to be experienced to be
 believed.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the outdoors, donΓÇÖt
pollute water resources. Cattle and wild animals use the
m for drinking water. Avoid using soap in streams and pools. Draw
water from the stream for washing in a separate area a
t a distance rather than the stream or pool itself. Keep toilet areas
away from water sources.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u0
03eRun your washing machine on full load. Your electricity bill will
be the same for both the loads, but you will save t
ime and water.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u00
3eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003
einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003e
inspiration\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d\
"tag\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\" r
el\u003d\"tag\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" re
l\u003d\"tag\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d
\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-j
ourney/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a
\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","environme
nt","initiatives","inspiration","self improvement
journey","donΓÇÖt","pollute","water","resources","cattle","and","wild"
,"animals","soap","streams","and","pools","draw","water","water","a","car","clean
begin","rain","water","harvesting","
spreads","further
donΓÇÖt","leave","taps","running","drinking","water","avoid","washing","a","separate","area","soap",
"turn","access","drinking","water","iΓÇÖm"]},{"title":"Saving
forest
reserves","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/20
07/03/03/saving-forest-reserves/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:49:04
-0800","contentSnipp
et":"The next time you redesign your home, keep an eye out for the
many very efficient and highly suitable alternatives
for wood on ...","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe next time you
redesign
your home, keep an eye out for the many very efficie
nt and highly suitable alternatives for wood on the market and use
them where suitable. Repair good furniture rather tha
n discard.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProtest initiatives that cut
forests for development unless they are a necessity.
 Insist that all cutting of forests also results in actions that plant
trees in other areas.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003
eMinimize use of wood products where possible, and use them carefully
and sparingly where not.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u0
03eAvoid campfires for fun when out in the outdoors, unless you need
them for heat. The fun is in the company and what y
ou do ΓÇô not in a log of wood burning needlessly in a stiflingly hot
place. Spare yourselves the smoke, spare the fores
ts the hazard, and leave the dead wood for some needy villager to cook
on. Never EVER cut a tree for your campfire. ItΓÇ
Ös not going to be dry enough to burn when you need it, and the tree
will be dead by the time you realize that it will n
ot burn. IΓÇÖm telling you right now. DonΓÇÖt do it. It will help
neither the poor tree, nor your campfire.\u003c/p\u003
e\n\u003cp\u003eIts kind of a part of the forests, but the separate
mention is because trees are also in cities, village
s, everywhere. Avoid cutting a tree if you can. If you know of a tree
being cut needlessly, take action. Plant trees in
open areas where you can.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnjoy the trees
and the pleasures they bring, rather than thinking
 of them as lost real estate. That well-invested real estate is
helping you breathe.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"
http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"h
ttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"ht
tp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"htt
p://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e
\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e, \
u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e, \u
003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\"
rel
\u003d\"tag\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e, \u0
03ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-
journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself improvement j
ourney\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["Experiential
learning","environment","initiatives","inspiration","self
improvement
journey","villages","everywhere","avoid","cutting","a","tree","wood","burning","needlessly","spare","the","forests","the
","hazard","areas    
minimize","wood","products","well
invested","real","estate","cutting","forests","the","efficient",
"and","highly","suitable","alternatives","realize","burn","iΓÇÖm","telling"]},
{"title":"Using paper efficiently","link":
"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/03/using-paper-
efficiently/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 03 Mar
 2007 08:48:06 -0800","contentSnippet":"Using the paper you
have,
before buying excessive quantities. Old printouts, and
 other unwanted paper can be stapled together
...","content":"\u003cp
\u003eUsing the paper you have, before buying exces
sive quantities. Old printouts, and other unwanted paper can be
stapled together for a quick notepad to scribble notes o
n, rather than use good paper sheets.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp
\u003ePassing schoolbooks to other needy students helps supp
ort their educational expenses as well as decreases the number of new
books brought into use. Old notebooks at the end o
f the year can be stripped of unused pages to be bound together to
make cheap notebooks for rough work.\u003c/p\u003e\n\
u003cp\u003eUse electronic media for mailing purposes, e-greetings,
and storing information. ItΓÇÖs faster, more efficie
nt and cheaper too. Unsubscribe from all publications you receive, but
donΓÇÖt bother to read. Try to subscribe to elect
ronic versions where suitable for the ones you do read. Promote your
email address more than your mailing address for co
ntact.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eColoured newspaper makes for very
interesting looking gift wrapping and some very int
eresting effects can be achieved through selecting the right page to
use. A friend of mine marks news items and codes le
tters in the newsprint for special secret messages on the gift. Any
old water colour works well for colouring the paper.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePrintouts can be taken on both sides of a
paper. This shrinks the size of the paper stack w
hen stored or taken along, saves on ink costs, and uses the paper with
maximum efficiency.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eW
ashing hands keeps them cleaner than using tissue paper. Old fashioned
reusable cloth diapers are far more light and com
fortable for babies for use at home in warm climates. Plus they are
cheaper.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse recycled pa
per. It looks great for special purposes and creates a responsible
image for you.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemember,
we are losing trees because of our very real need for paper.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.co
m/blog/tag/environment/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/tag/initiatives/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/b
log/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself
improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http
://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http:
//www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http:/
/www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://
www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e","c
ategories":["Experiential
learning","environment","initiatives","inspiration","self
improvement
journey","great","specia
l","purposes","and","creates","a","responsible","image","good","paper","sheets
passing","schoolbooks","marks","news"
,"items","and","codes","letters","colouring","the","paper
printouts","maximum","efficiency    
washing","hands","fas
hioned","reusable","cloth","diapers","cheaper
use","recycled","paper","cleaner","tissue","paper"]},{"title":"Minimiz
ing plastic in the
environment","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/03/03/minimizing-plastic-in-the-environment/
","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 03 Mar 2007 08:46:36
-0800","contentSnippet":"Ouch. ThatΓÇÖs a tough firs
t one. Plastic is very useful to us and very harmful to the
environment. What can be done to find a ...","content":"\u00
3cp\u003eOuch. ThatΓÇÖs a tough first one. Plastic is very useful to
us and very harmful to the environment. What can be
 done to find a compromise my comfort and conscience can live with?
Keep the necessity, use thoroughly, discard carefull
y and avoid as far as possible.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWeΓÇÖll
need to keep the plastic bags for packing stuff on t
reks and monsoon hikes, but use them carefully and reuse them as much
as possible, rather than using fresh ones each tim
e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsing a biggish purse/whatever bags men
use, avoiding accepting the minor carry bags is n
o issue. Adding a small cloth bag for emergencies would avoid asking
for a fresh one while shopping. We can make sure to
 carry a shopping bag when going out for shopping for sure.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLoads of plastic can be recycled
. Rather than throw it into the dustbin, we can sell it to the recycle
shops ΓÇô kabadiwallahs, bhangarwallas, raddiwall
ahs, etc. That money can be put to good use, or simply into a box to
donate to organizations that work for the environme
nt.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpending some time a day at the end of
picnics, hikes or on treks to make the places we
visit cleaner. A quick 15 minutes effort by a group can make quick
work of the plastic lying around in a natural environ
ment and inspire the people watching them into similar acts.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnnual get-togethers for outdoo
r groups can be held in places that need efforts like this and a huge
gang of members can make their love for the outdoo
rs far more concrete through a spectacular and quick clean up of the
place.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRemember, the pl
astic that gets through human efforts will lie around defacing the
place for over 500 years!\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\
u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca hr
ef\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca hre
f\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u
003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u0
03d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003egeneral stuff\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href
\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\
u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\"
rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e","categories":[
"Experiential learning","environment","general
stuff","initiatives","inspiration","avoiding","accepting","the","minor","
carry","bags","shopping","carry","a","shopping","bag","fresh","time
using","a","biggish","purse
whatever","bags","me
n","discard","carefully","and","avoid","visit","cleaner","a","quick","15","minutes","effort","possible
weΓÇÖll","the
","plastic","bags","concrete","a","spectacular","and","quick","clean","sell","the","recycle","shops","ΓÇô","kabadiwallah
s"]},{"title":"Saving the
environment","link":"http://www.wide-
aware.com/blog/2007/03/03/saving-the-environment/","autho
r":"Vidyut Kale","publishedDate":"Sat, 03 Mar 2007
08:45:29
-0800","contentSnippet":"Saving the environment seems such a
 mommoth task. It simply leaves people immobile. Where does one begin?
\nSome things are easy. ...","content":"\u003cp\u0
03eSaving the environment seems such a mommoth task. It simply leaves
people immobile. Where does one begin?\u003c/p\u00
3e\n\u003cp\u003eSome things are easy. DonΓÇÖt litter. DonΓÇÖt damage.
DonΓÇÖt waste resources. But what exactly does th
is involve? What does the common person do to be saving the
environment? Not everyone can research. Not everyone can mak
e it the calling of their lives. Not everyone even knows what to do.
\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet, we have a huge num
ber of people available, who would, if pointed out, definitely be
happy to make small adjustments that together can resu
lt in massive change. The key is in identifying exact things, that are
quick to do and watch out for, once people know.\
u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf it doesnΓÇÖt take too much time,
doesnΓÇÖt involve a great deal of effort, a large number
 of people will happily walk the path to feel a little more secure
about the state of the world tomorrow.\u003c/p\u003e\
n\u003cp\u003eI find that like any other dauntingly huge task, this
one seems much more doable when we break it up into
bits.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst, make a not of the words/
issues that occur on the subject of saving the environm
ent: \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/03/
minimizing-plastic-in-the-environment/\"\u003eplastic
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/03/03/using-paper-efficiently/\"\u003epaper\u003
c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/
2007/03/03/saving-forest-reserves/\"\u003eforest reserves
and trees\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/2007/03/03/save-water/\"\u003ewater\u003c/a\
u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/03/
conserving-energy-resources/\"\u003eenergy\u003c/a\
u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/03/
minimising-pollution/\"\u003epollution\u003c/a\u003
e, fuel, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2007/03/03/
spreading-awareness-about-the-environment/\"\u003
espreading awareness\u003c/a\u003eΓÇªΓÇªΓÇª We can keep adding to
these as and when new words occur.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u00
3cp\u003eLetΓÇÖs take each aspect and brainstorm on it (follow links,
or subsequent articles). If you have ideas, please
 let me know, and IΓÇÖll add them in, so that we have a ready resource
of stuff that is really easy to incorporate into
our lives and has the potential to make a huge difference.\u003c/p
\u003e\n\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/environment/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eenvironment\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/b
log/tag/general-stuff/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral
stuff\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.co
m/blog/tag/initiatives/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com
/blog/tag/inspiration/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a
\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/
blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eself
improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e  \u003ca href\u003d\"h
ttp://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/society/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003esociety\u003c/a\u003e\u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.w
ide-aware.com/blog/tag/environment/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003eenvironment
\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.wi
de-aware.com/blog/tag/general-stuff/\"
rel\u003d\"tag\"\u003egeneral
stuff\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www
.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/initiatives/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einitiatives\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.
wide-aware.com/blog/tag/inspiration/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003einspiration\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca href\u003d\"http://www.w
ide-aware.com/blog/tag/self-improvement-journey/\" rel\u003d\"tag
\"\u003eself improvement journey\u003c/a\u003e, \u003ca
 href\u003d\"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/tag/society/\" rel\u003d
\"tag\"\u003esociety\u003c/a\u003e","categories":["E
xperiential learning","environment","general
stuff","initiatives","inspiration","self
improvement
journey","society","ea
sy","donΓÇÖt","litter","donΓÇÖt","damage","donΓÇÖt","waste","resources","doesnΓÇÖt","involve","a","great","deal","daunti
ngly","huge","task","words","occur
letΓÇÖs","saving","the","environment","saving","the","environment","people","happ
ily","walk","the","path","simply","leaves","people","immobile"]}]}},
"responseDetails": null, "responseStatus": 200}


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Sanjay Goel

2008-Sep-03 13:16 UTC

head link

Issue with JSON gem

[This email is either empty or too large to be displayed at this time]

Frederick Cheung

2008-Sep-03 15:23 UTC

head link

Re: Issue with JSON gem

On 3 Sep 2008, at 15:16, Sanjay Goel wrote:
> Hi all,
> I have been using json-1.1.3 to parse the json output by google  
> reader API. It seems like certain RSS feeds have illegal characters,  
> and this gem throws a JSON::ParserError (unexpected token) when  
> trying to parse the json provided by google reader api for the same.
> Is there any way where I can ignore these characters instead of  
> throwing the parser error?
>
Please don''t post 1.3 Mb emails to the list. You''re just
wasting
everyone''s time & bandwidth.

Fred

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Rodrigo Fuentealba

2008-Sep-03 20:29 UTC

head link

Re: Issue with JSON gem

2008/9/2 Sanjay Goel
<sanjay.goel-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w@public.gmane.org>:>
> Hi,
> I am using json-1.1.3 for parsing json output from google reader api.
> Its seems like some of the rss feeds have illegal characters and when
> google reader api returns those, the parse method throws a
> JSON::ParserError (unexpected token) error.
> Has anybody faced the same issue? I would want to ignore these
> characters instead of getting a ParserError.
>
> Here''s the exact error:
> JSON::ParserError (unexpected token at
''{"title":"Why Save the
>
turtles?","link":"http://www.wide-aware.com/blog/2008/04/
> 14/why-save-the-turtles/","author":"Vidyut
Kale","publishedDate":"Mon,
> 14 Apr 2008 00:48:22 -0700","contentSnippet":"I f
> ound this page on the greenpeace site, and throught it is important
> for readers here to notice.\n\n            \n ...
For sure no one will read the entire message.

Now i am no rails expert, but it seems you didn''t parse your variable
content before passing to your JSON function. You should check there.

-- 
Rodrigo Fuentealba
Concepción, Chile

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Rails - Sep 2008 - Issue with JSON gem

Issue with JSON gem

Issue with JSON gem

Re: Issue with JSON gem

Re: Issue with JSON gem