Mind Speaks

Extra caution needed to handle flammables

Posted on October 11, 2012 Updated on June 6, 2015

Extra caution needed to handle flammables

Guidelines needed to ensure precautions are taken to protect residents

By Ramesh Menon Gulf News readerPublished: October 11, 2012

While in the heart of Abu Dhabi, I happened to witness a tanker refilling a building’s storage unit with gas and was shocked at the absolutely careless manner in which the process was handled.

The building was situated in the center of the city, in front of one of the malls in the area, and the truck was stationed in the street, where many vehicles continuously passed by.

There was no sign or barrier around the truck to keep other vehicles at a safe distance.

All but one of the workers were out of uniform and the one person wearing a uniform was not near the control unit of the truck, which was transferring highly flammable gas to the storage unit. Nor was there a single person near the inlet to monitor the transfer process.

I was really shocked to see this being handled as if it were a transfer of drinking water to a building unit.

There are restaurants and coffee shops in the building, and the streets are filled with drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who carry lit cigarettes and which could be thrown in any direction at any time.

Also, rash drivers try to speed on these narrow roads. What if a vehicle were to emanate an electronic spark or if there was an accident while this process was taking place?

I humbly call on the concerned authorities to take caution and urgently issue appropriate guidelines for the refilling of cooking gas at residential units. These are activities that need to be carried out under strict caution and guidelines.

Let us take precaution before an accident happens.

The reader is based in Abu Dhabi. Be a community reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Send us your videos and pictures at readers@gulfnews.com

To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online.

This entry was posted in Community Reports, Gulf News, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2012.

Magic words of Marlon Samuels

Posted on October 8, 2012

“The career has been up and down,” Samuels admitted. “There have been a lot of tough times. I dealt with them in simple ways and tried to let them pass.

“Being under pressure on a cricket field is nothing compared to what I’ve been through off the field.

“But as my mentor always said to me, everything that happened to me in life is because I am important. I’m not someone that will ever give up. I never say die.

“The person that I am deep down inside is the reason why I am still here playing cricket. I have a family that believes in me. If outsiders don’t, it doesn’t really matter to me.”

Marlon Samuels, after winning the 2012 T20 World Cup at Sri Lanka

To read the article in which he has quoted the above, please visit Cricinfo : Relief for Samuels after ‘a lot of tough times’. Photo Courtesy : Cricinfo.

This entry was posted in Mind Speaks, Sports +, TQM.

Your future at their hand

Posted on October 5, 2012 Updated on June 6, 2015

A visit to a major temple festival brought my attention to an interesting activity happening out there. A line of about 50 or more ladies sitting out there waiting for customers. Some were with parrots, and tarot cards and some without. They are out there to predict the past, present and future of their prospective customers. I was out there to visit the temple festival after a long time.

This site brought out the memories of my childhood when as children, used to roam around freely during the festival times. Out of curiosity and interest to know more about these experts, I sat in front of one of them…My father, and my wife, amusingly watched me, as they very well know my intentions, and know that, there is no point they could stop me. They stood a safe distance away, but clearly they could hear my conversation.

As I sat in front of them, she started saying… oh… you just completed your studies with good marks. You will get a good government job.. I wanted to know more, where it will be, it will be abroad, sure. Oh, ok.. and then, before I stopped, she continued… you will get married with a beautiful girl…

I glanced at my wife, as I winked to her….smilingly…I couldn’t resist laughing, and told her… chechi(sister), I am already employed, married and have my son, who is in college….

Hiding her embarrassment but gutsy as ever, she was as cool as she had collected the fees in advance itself. Sir, sometimes these parrots, bring wrong cards, and we have a set answers for each cards. Also, we look at the customer in front. You never looked like a married man with a grown up child… A job abroad and marriage, those are the only two things important for the youth now. This is our livelihood.

As I enquired further, she said, we move on from one festival place to another.. Some times we hit bulls eye, which make our customers happy, but some times not. We just give only a vague picture only sir. From a coastal village in the northern part of Kerala, they have a team leader, who identify prospective venues and move them from place to place. After the festival season gets over, they go back to fishing or coir factory jobs….I said thanks to her and gave an additional note as token of my appreciation for being open with me to know more about them.

As I walked near to my wife, she was smiling at me and told me… which college are you studying? We thought about the numerous who followed after and thought about the life situations predicted for them!

Can we or someone else predict what is in store for us ahead? Of course, we can mould it as it happens in our own way and suitable style and convenience. However, there is something super natural and it is the grace and blessings that is really important to have our journey ahead smooth.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

05.10.2012

This entry was posted in Mind Speaks, Photo Speaks.

Keep a Personal Touch in Everything You Do

Posted on October 5, 2012 Updated on June 6, 2015

Interacting with very close and personal people help us to identify and acknowledge ourselves how sensitive they are to our attention towards them. I never really gave a serious thought to this element in my life and to this important point. Possessiveness and close presence is one important factor essential for the continuous survival of each and every living being. Whether it is you or me, it is not different.

I realized it all the more the other day, when I noticed plants in my small balcony garden. Not many items in the small space, but they were alive, fresh and lively and I had to be away from my home for some days. I entrusted the job of watering them and nurturing them to one of my friend. Back home after a week, I found one of the main items in my balcony, a Tulsi plant, almost dying. I felt really bad. Not giving up hope, I started watering it again, and within one day, it has regained its freshness and vigor.

The case was the same for my pet parrot, Mittoo. Although, he fed him well, it was missing an important element. My personal touch to it. It too shed its feathers and was looking skinny when I came back. But, the moment I was back, I saw it interacting with enthusiasm and heartiness. Within no time, it is fit and healthy as ever.

I believed and continue to believe that life and interaction with any living being is a bridge of emotions with two way traffic continuous and uninterrupted. What we give to the other living being, in any form, is returned in almost a similar or at times with double intensity.

Watch Mittoo, relish fresh fruits as also view the almost died Tulsi plant as well as its status after just a day of watering.

When, some people show affection towards me, and my family at strange and cruel life situations, I feel the magnitude of their action, many fold to what we did towards them. Just an assurance or “will be there” without asking, when you are really in need of it, is a great feeling and confidence booster to look forward to a life ahead.

I realized, there are living beings that are intensely possessive and passionate about the way about I care for them, and they themselves return the same possession and passion with true devotion.

I am sure; this life reality is the same in your case too.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
05.10.2012

This entry was posted in Mind Speaks, Photo Speaks.

Welcome and waiting.

Posted on October 2, 2012

Theme – ‘Red in the UAE’.
Where – One of the oldest 5 star hotels in Abu Dhabi
When – 1st October 2012
Why – Welcome and waiting… a traditional arabic welcome tent gives always a warm feeling to relax and converse, the past, present and future.

An entry to Gulf News Photography competition. If you love it, like it here:

Gulf News Photography competition

This entry was posted in Gulf News, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2012, Photo Speaks.

Who would like to say NO to this red and "made in UAE" item.

Posted on October 2, 2012

Theme – ‘Red in the UAE’.
Where – At one of the best hotels in Abu Dhabi \
When – 1st October 2012 Why – Who would like to say NO to this red and “made in UAE” item.

An entry to Gulf News Photography competition. If you love it, like it here:
Gulf News Photography competition

This entry was posted in Gulf News, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2012, Photo Speaks.

Schools should promote health – Letters to the editor – The National Dt. 01 October 2012

Posted on September 30, 2012 Updated on June 6, 2015

Schools should promote health

Watching the flow of students returning to a reputable school near my home after the summer holidays, I noticed that most the children are overweight.

Because many schools do not have adequate play areas, I think that classroom-based exercise, and health-awareness programmes should be conducted at the start of each day.

Even five minutes each morning could change the students’ outlook, making them more health and fitness conscious.

Smoking outside the school gate is another unhealthy practice that is quite common.

Schools say they are powerless in this matter as it happens off their premises. Therefore, I think it is up to health authorities to check what is going on near schools and take action against students who smoke in public – and their parents.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

To read this in original, please visit The National online

This entry was posted in Community Reports, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2012, The National.

An artist at work

Posted on September 29, 2012 Updated on June 6, 2015

An artisan at his roadside pottery cum exhibition at Bengaluru. I clicked him as I stopped and admired his craftsmanship, speed and skill at the way he was finishing each item. He was thrilled to pose for me along with his son who is schooling as well as assisting his dad, as he learn the fine arts of his craft and selling skills.

This entry was posted in Daily Passionate Photography Thoughts, Mind Speaks, PassionatePhotographers, Photo Speaks, WysiWyc, WysiWyc - What you see is What you click.