Learn while you play

Though I am a full-time employee, I could not stop myself from going back to my childhood which was evergreen. I had a lot of kids as my neighbors and hence there was no dearth in spending some quality time with them. I use to play a lot of outdoor games like cricket, football, badminton and also flying kites. But all these wouldn't be possible during the rainy season or when my friends are away during the holidays. It is very clearly etched in my mind that when I was appearing for my Grade X exams which was in fact a Government exam, fear and stakes were high. It is during this critical time, that my dad brought home a TV Video game. We never had hi-fi games like PS or Xbox those days. This will be like a deck and on top of it, you have to tether the cartridge which came with a certain number of games. Though there were numerous games, I liked the ones that challenged me. They were mostly related to calculation/mathematics. 

I was fond of maths back then and could solve or finish the games in no time. But these cartridges usually did not last long. Also, we could not easily carry them anywhere as we wished. Now that I am married and have a baby boy, the options are limitless. However, I stumbled upon a site that took me back to my past. The site I was referring to is Calculators.Org

The maths game has a few engaging games namely:

1. Math Boy

2. Sinal Game

3. Crazy Math Game to name a few.

When the concept of learning is coupled with games, it makes it appealing and interesting to the kids. They find it more compelling and even we, as a parent need not have to worry about them since they end up spending quality time. The more they play and are successful, the more knowledgeable they become, undoubtedly. Even though this is meant for kids, once I started playing, I could not stop it and ended up playing for more than 15 minutes at a stretch. These games are so captivating and addictive but in a good sense.

Sinal Game on the other game is all about symbols/various methods used in the calculation. By playing this game regularly, you can enhance your skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. 

It doesn't end with this. There are even more interesting board games namely:

1. Checkers

2. Master Chess

3. Snakes and Ladders to name a few.

There are options like Single Player and Multiple Players. Hence you can choose the ones as per your convenience and interest.

Now, this is even more reminiscing.

How can I forget playing Snakes and Ladders apart from Chess/Checkers and other games?

The best part is you can play these games anytime, anywhere and since these games are designed with HTML, it does not drain your pc/laptop battery nor does it consume more data. What are you waiting for?

Author Interview - Syeda Javeria Fatima of Whimscial Poetry : Fiction & Reality eBook

 

1. When did you start writing?

Well, I’ve been a reader all my life and I remember to have commenced writing ever since I was 9.

 

2. How do you get inspiration for the topic to begin with?

I’ve primarily dealt with topics that I want to raise awareness about and can confidently say that the inspiration comes to me naturally i.e in the most organic way one can think of! 

3. What else do you like to do besides writing?

I mainly read novels, invent recipes, and edit videos.

4. How many books have you written? Which are your favorites? 

I’ve written one book so far. It’s called “Whimsical Poetry.” But I have co-authored 11 anthologies. 

5. What do you think makes a good story?

I think a decent story constitutes an intriguing plot, well-composed characters, and an authentic connection between the writer and the story. 

6. What was your first dream to become, like back when you were a child? 

My thoughts are often variable and so, ever since I was a little, I dreamt of becoming everything. Be it a doctor, detective, police officer, or even an astronaut. 

7. Like a lot of people, do you also get stuck in writer’s block?

Not really. I think I need to write often to come across writer’s block. 

8. How long does it usually take you to write a book?

Since I’ve published one poetry book so far, I can’t properly discern the duration it takes. But I can say that it took me 3 days to assemble and summarize everything into the book that I call “Whimsical Poetry.” It is a compilation of a few poetries that I have written in various stages of my life that have either been witnessed or imagined by me. 

9. Please tell us about your journey and how it has affected your life.

To begin with, my journey as a writer has been sincere and an incredible rollercoaster ride. I had my share of ups and downs. Many have appreciated the book and the love outpouring from the unexpected ends for its honesty is widespread. I feel fortunate to be witnessing this! 

10. Is there anything you would want to pass on to a newer generation of writers and beginners who are just getting started?

~Do you have the potential? So, as well showcase it to the world!

~Never hesitate to explore what more you can do as a writer.

~Always be prepared to rectify your faults.

~Lastly, remember that you were born to stand out and you got this! 

Book Review - The Sun-Eyed Children, Volume 1 - Earth

 

Title - The Sun-Eyed Children, Volume 1 - Earth

Author - Joel Koechlin

Genre - Fiction

Publisher - Leadstart Publishing

ISBN - 978-93-5438-013-6

This is the second book, I had the opportunity and honour to read that was from #Koechlin family. With the foreword from @kalkikanmani , I knew that this is going to be an extraordinary read and I wasn’t wrong.

The protagonist of this novel was Lionel Kalmer who had a troubled childhood despite failing from an affluent family. An incident changes the approach of his teachers and his class mates. 

The book is divided into 4 parts.

Part 1 - Migration

Max & Milien - Friends from Italy arrives. The sequence of Lionel’s visit across various countries in Europe is given below:

1948 - Lorraine, France 🇫🇷 

1969-70 - Switzerland 🇨🇭 

1970 - Corfu, Greece 🇬🇷 

1970 - Rome, Italy 🇮🇹 

1970 - Iran 🇮🇷 

1970 - Afghanistan 🇦🇫 

1971 - Turkey 🇹🇷 

1971 - Pakistan 🇵🇰 

1971 - India 🇮🇳 , Benares & Calcutta

When he gets detained in Switzerland, he was amazed by the Two star hotel kind of facility at Swiss Jails. How they treat the prisoners is very well documented. 

The way prisoners treated in various countries of Europe draws certain attention - Italy, France & Switzerland.

Enrique, a Spanish - bodyguard of Lionel is another main character in the novel.

While Max was on exile, Lionel was a fugitive who abandons his family. 

Finds the book in Rome, “l’Aventure de la Conscience” which triggers his journey. 

Part 2 - Quest

1429 - Orleans, France 🇫🇷 

Jean D’Aulon

Jehanne 

Dunois 

How the battle is won for the French against the English despite harming Jehanne

What phenomenon was noticed by the British during the war?

The book leads Lionel to la Ville Blanche in India but he was not welcomed. He was asked to leave. 

Lionel meets Thupten who directs him to Satprem, author of the book. 

539 - Island of Britain 🇬🇧 

Lionel was the son of King Bors of Guannes 

Then to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Haryana-Punjab before finally landing in Anantnag with his wife, Priyadarshini.

Part 3 - The Black Cliff &

Part 4 - Forward

Was his mission successful?

What was his journey all about?

Did he get to reach his destination? 

This novel has the mystic essence of searching the inner soul, connection with previous birth with a tinge of science in the end. A perfect entertainer.

This book is available on Amazon

Book Review - The Elephant In The Womb

 

Title - The Elephant In The Womb

Author - Kalki Koechlin

Illustrator - Valeria Polyanychko

Genre - Family & Relationships

Publisher - Penguin Randomhouse India

ISBN - 978-0143454052

Firstly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to @kalkikanmani for sending me this autographed book.

To start with, I must admit that if I had received this book before the Covid times, it may not have made any sense to me but now it did.

How & Why?

Me & my better half were without a child for almost 11 years but by the Grace of Lord Almighty, she conceived naturally and it happened during Covid times.

As I was freelancing then and the entire nation was in lockdown for almost a year, I had the privilege of staying in my in-law's house with my better half until she delivered. So, I can easily relate to the contents that were mentioned in this book.

Firstly, this book is not only for women but also for men who are wannabe dad/father.

Secondly, this book is NOT FOR KIDS

Kalki has documented her pregnancy journey in a detailed way. At places, it may look RAW but that was the actual essence. As they say, a woman takes a second birth or re-birth post pregnancy. This isn’t just a statement but the truth. If you had been with your wife during her pregnancy journey, you would certainly vouch for it.

This book would rekindle the memories for anyone, especially for new mothers and expecting mothers as it mostly resonates with their feelings.

I feel really glad to have got an opportunity to read this book since this would go a long way in establishing itself as a “Tribute” to every mother who has struggled so hard braving emotional imbalance apart from feeling nauseated and whatnot.

The journey to motherhood would be a remembrance of life for every mother.

The pictorial representation makes the book even more interesting to read and there is some space left for the readers to make a note too.

All I can say is, Well done, Kalki 💐👏

This book is available on Amazon

Book Review - Krishna : The Seventh Sense

 

Title - Krishna : The Seventh Sense

Author - Prof Debashis Chatterjee

Genre - Fiction

Publisher - Rupa Publications

ISBN - 978-9355205445

Krishna - The 7th Sense by all means is something beyond our comprehension. Prof. Debashis Chatterjee has come out with a thought-provoking novel which I would say is neither fiction nor non-fiction as it is a combination of both.

Loved the way how the subjects were portrayed. While one part of the story talks about the life of Lord Krishna and HIS life, the other part simultaneously talks about Neel, Kaya, and their friends.

There are other characters like Anju, Prasad, Manas, Eva, Sardar, Prof Jalebi, and others.

The protagonist of the novel according to me is Acharya Keshav Mitra who despite being a Doctorate holder and having worked in a U.S. university, realizes that he is not the usual person he thought of. The enlightenment and the subsequent bliss that followed it for three days made him retrospect the purpose of his life. It is then, that he decides to go back to the land where Lord Krishna breathed, walked, and lived.

The poetic character of Keshav gets revealed of being asked about himself “When the grass cools down and air blows over it, dew drops show up without an invitation”.

Each and every chapter is like a magical discourse that delves deep into the true meaning of life and keeps us captivated until the end (which has a truly intriguing climax).

This book is available on Amazon

Book Review - Comprehensive General Knowledge : Ready Referencer 2022

Title - Comprehensive General Knowledge: Ready Referencer 2022

Author - B R Leelashree

Genre - General Knowledge/Current Affairs

Publisher - Goldwin Publications

ISBN - 978-93-5493-281-6

General Knowledge is evergreen. It is a pre-requisite by default for all the competitive exams which include but are not limited to:

1. UPSC

2. RRB

3. SSC

4. IBPS

5. RPF

6. SPSC

7. KBC to name a few

This particular subject tests your acumen of grasping the happenings around you in real-time and also how well you are aware of the past. This is a really vast subject and covering them in full has not been achieved by any to date.

Having said that, I must admit that I am an ardent fan of books that is related to General Knowledge which we fondly call in short form "GK". I have bought many books in the past but when I saw this book "Comprehensive General Knowledge: Ready Referencer 2022" by B K Leelahree, I did not give it a second thought before grabbing one. 

There are various reasons why I bought this book. First and foremost, this book has a massive 25,000 GK Facts along with 6,000 General English and 410 GK/English Topics. This is a bulky compilation and one cannot read it in full, in a stretch which is not advisable too as it is really difficult to remember the content in one go.

This book is divided into 15 modules namely:

1. General Facts

2. India Related Facts

3. About Indian Defence Forces

4. Indian Railway Facts

5. General Science

6. Geographical Facts

7. History

8. Space Facts - India & World

9. Sports

10. Banking

11. Computer Awareness

12. General English

13. GK Questions & Answers

14. Mock Test Papers and

15. Supplementary General Science Facts

The first module is the lengthiest among all which runs over 210 pages. There are many facts which would take you by surprise. I am sure, this book would have taken a few months, if not years to compile all in one go. I would say this is a really good attempt by the author who has meticulously collected all the data and compiled and presented it to us in one place. 

If you have a kid at home or anyone who is interested in GK, this is a perfect gifting option. Priced at just Rs.860, I would say it is worth your time and money as you would get yourself equipped with vital information that would go a long way in helping you in your life, be it on the personal front or on your professional life.

This book is available online on Amazon , Sadhanamart, and offline at Sapna Book Stores near you. Grab your copy today!

Press Release - SIAM hosts the 6th Annual CSR Conclave themed on “CSR Rewired: Post Covid 19 Scenario”

 

SIAM hosts the 6^th Annual CSR Conclave themed on “CSR Rewired: Post Covid 19 Scenario”

 

New Delhi, 21^st July 2022: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex automotive industry body today organized its 6^th Annual CSR Conclave, themed on “CSR Rewired: Post Covid 19 Scenario”. The conclave highlighted varied perspectives on Health & Sanitation, Skills development, Road Safety, and Environmental rejuvenation. For this year, there is an emphasis on sharing of best practices & learnings from the various CSR interventions by the Indian Automobile Industry in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. The conclave witnessed the participation of key industry leaders speaking on the inclusive development of the society while protecting the ecology.

 

Initiating the inaugural session, Mr. Sushant Naik, Chairman, SIAM CSR Group, Global Head- Government Affairs, Tata Motors, said, “We hope this conclave makes an impactful difference in the lives of our countrymen. We as an industry are committed to giving back to society and carrying forward the government's efforts of 'Amrit Kaal'. We are certain that the active support of our progressive Government shall take our country to new heights. Also, discussing mental well-being is a need of the hour considering the post covid world that we are living in.”

 

Assuring the Government of India’s willing and active partnership with the Auto Industry towards strengthening the CSR initiatives, Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, Hon’ble Minister of Heavy Industries, Government of India, said, “The Indian Automobile Industry has been a major contributor to the economy and the society as it holds a major share in the GDP.  Looking forward, in the PLI scheme the government is providing economic support of about Rs. 25,000 crores. to the industry. All OEMs’ have played a huge role in helping society through their CSR initiatives, including during the COVID pandemic. Going forward, the industry should focus more on laborers and small technicians, work more closely with NGOs, strengthen their focus on Health, Safety, Environment, and Skilling initiatives, share its experiences so that the larger community can learn, and lastly, the industry must think big but implement locally. Local communities in the neighborhood of Auto Factories must get benefited.”

 

Moderating the session, Mr. Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM, said, “The whole focus of this conclave is to learn and share best practices through peer learning and to understand the various CSR interventions by the automobile industry. We have been hosting this conclave for the last 6 years broadly focusing on health and sanitation, skills development, road safety, and environmental rejuvenation.”

 

In the keynote address, Dr. R A Mashelkar, an Eminent Scientist, presented his perspective on CSR 2.0 and talked about four new pillars of CSR in the present world. He also highlighted the Power of CSR and Gandhian engineering.

 

The virtual conclave was divided into three sessions. 1^st session was themed on “New Approach to CSR and Learnings”. With presentations from Honda Cars India, Ashok Leyland, MG Motors India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Hyundai Motor India, and TATA Motors.

 

The 2^nd Session started with a panel discussion on “Skills Development through CSR Initiatives” eminent panelists like Mr. Rama Shankar Pandey, Managing Director, Hella India Lighting, Mr. Niraj Hans, Chief Operating Officer (Automotives), Sandhar Technologies, and Mr. Apurv Choubey, Chief Human Resource Officer, Bridgestone India. The session was moderated by Mr. Arindam Lahiri, CEO of, Automotive Skills Development Council.

 

Taking a session on Mental Wellbeing, Sister B K Shivani, Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual Organization, emphasized inner peace and also imparting clarity in moving toward a peaceful and healthy mind. Sister also talked about the need to eat right and have a healthy lifestyle post the pandemic which makes us strong from the inside.

 

The event concluded with the presentation of the SIAM CSR Awards 2022.

 

About SIAM 

 

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is a not-for-profit apex national body representing all major vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India. SIAM works towards supporting sustainable development of the Indian Automobile Industry with the vision that India emerges as the destination of choice in the world for the design and manufacture of automobiles. It also works towards facilitating the enhancement of the competitiveness of the Indian Automobile Industry, reducing the cost of vehicles, increasing productivity, and achieving global standards of quality.

Press Release - Toshiba all set to Launch Exquisitely Crafted AI Google TV with India Insight Features

 

Toshiba all set to Launch Exquisitely Crafted AI Google TV with India Insight Features

• Set to launch 4K AI C350 Google TV series exclusively on Amazon on Prime Day

• Also launches Full Array M550 QLED TV series with India insight features exclusively on Flipkart this week

• 3 Year warranty and special introductory launch price up for grabs

New Delhi, 21 July 2022: Paving the way for the future of television, Toshiba is all set to launch the 4K UHD Google TV series - M550 and C350 series in India. The M550 flagship series, packed with high-end features like Google TV, Quantum dot, Full Array Local Dimming, 2.1 Bazooka Woofer, Far Field Voice Control, Regza Engine 4K Pro AI Picture optimizer, Dolby Vision HDR, and Game Mode and will be available in 55” and 65” sizes for an introductory price starting at Rs. 54,990 and 50” C350 priced at Rs.33,990/- exclusively on Flipkart from 22 July onwards. 

The elegantly designed C350 4K Google TV series will be available in 43” & 55” sizes with Amazon range starting from Rs.29,990/- with a limited period introductory launch offer 2 years additional warranty from 23rd July onwards. With smart features like Google TV, Regza Engine, Dolby Vision Atmos, Game Mode, and bezel-less design both the M550 and C350 flagship series TVs will be a ticket to elevating the TV viewing experience in India

     

Toshiba TV pursues the philosophy of “Essential Beauty” which is made based on the horizontal and vertical lines in the living space, it makes the living room look stylish by merging into its surroundings. With elegant design and pure anodized metal stands(available in M550), they deliver a gorgeous look while retaining a strong, rugged build. The TV also has a very slim design that blends into the horizon giving it an aesthetically pleasing look.

Press Release: Amazon Prime Days Sale

 

Amazon Prime Days Sale: Unbelievable Discounts on Westinghouse Smart TVs

• There will be exclusive deals on all Westinghouse Smart TVs
  
• The sale will offer discounts going up to 80%
• Extra 10% discount available on SBI & ICICI credit/debit cards
  

New Delhi, 21st July 2022: To make this monsoon season more special Amazon is back with its most awaited Prime Days Sale. which will start on 23rd July 2022 and will be live till 24th July 2022. 

Popular among Indians, Amazon’s Prime Day sale is the Company's exclusive sale for its Prime members. This sale offers heavy discounts, coupons, and cashback on its various range of products. The sale will offer discounts going up to 80%. Shoppers can get the Amazon Echo range of devices free in combo offers or at discounts going up to 50% or more

The E-Commerce website has collaborated with SBI and ICICI bank to offer a 10% instant discount on all purchases also Prime members can avail of extra discounts using Amazon pay.

On the same, SPPL which licenses the US-based consumer electronics giant, Westinghouse TV, is offering huge discounts on all its Smart and Non-Smart TV models. The budget TVs on the list include the Westinghouse 24-inch Non-Smart LED TV and 4 Smart Android TV models – 32-inch HD Ready, 40-inch FHD, 43-inch FHD, and 55-inch UHD and their newly launched 32 HD, 43 UHD, and 50 inch UHD models.  

The details are mentioned below:

The 24 Inch non-smart LED TV, is priced at Rs 6,499 with a 20W speaker output, 2 speakers, an Audio Equalizer, and Automatic Volume Level audio features, and has an HD Ready display of 1366 x 768. The 32-inch HD Ready and 40- inch FHD smart Android TVs are priced at Rs 10,499 and Rs 14,999, respectively. Both the devices are powered by Android 9 which has an ultra-thin bezel and comes with 24W speaker output, HDR, surround sound technology, 400 nits of brightness, 2 speakers, 1 GB RAM, and 8 GB ROM to offer a smooth viewing experience. The 43-inch FHD TV has a 30W speaker output and has an ultra-thin bezel and is priced at Rs 17,499. The model is powered by Android, which comes up with a High Dynamic Range, 500 nits brightness, Surround Sound Technology, 1GB RAM, and 8GB of ROM. A very well-designed UHD 55-inch model priced at 31,999 has an ultra-thin bezel powered by Android 9. The device comes up with 40W speaker output, offers HDR10, 2GB Ram, Surround Sound Technology, 500 nits brightness, 8GB Rom, and 2 speakers.

Also, their newly launched 32 - inch non-Smart TV model is priced at 7799 which comes with an LED screen, HD resolution, 2 HDMI, and 2 USB ports. The model has 2 speakers with a sound output of 20W, a digital noise filter, an automatic volume level, and an audio equalizer that supports mp3/WMA audio formats to assure a seamless sound experience. With a brightness of 350 nits and a static contrast ratio that provides phenomenal visuals.

The 43 inches UHD/4K model is priced at Rs 20,499, and the 50-inch UHD/4K TV which is priced at Rs 27,499 supports 2 GB of RAM, 8 GB of ROM, 3 HDMI ports, and 2 USB ports, which is on par with high- end TVs in the market. These models come with HDR10, and Chromecast, to ensure that users enjoy every visual in sharp details and vivid colors. To provide an immersive aural experience with deep surround sound, both the models have 2 speakers, a digital noise filter, and a 40-watt speaker output that supports Surround sound technologies. Smart TVs are powered by the Android operating system, and users will have access to multiple apps and games through the Google Play Store. To top it all off, users can access Amazon Prime, YouTube, and Sony Liv with a single touch of the remote.

Going by the features and specifications, customers will receive a one-of-a-kind high audio-visual cinematic experience on 43-inch and 50-inch TVs having 500 nits of brightness, bezel-less design, 4K resolution, Google Assistant, IPS panel, dual-band wi-fi, 6000+ apps & games available, sleek design with alloy stands.

Notably, all smart TV models include Bluetooth 5.0, two USB ports, three HDMI ports, and an ARM Cortex A53 processor. They have an in-built Chromecast and Airplay that supports 1000+ apps, as well as access to over 6000+ apps and games such as Prime Video, Hotstar, Zee5, Sony LIV, and Google Play Store with 500,000+ TV Shows.