Mail-O-vation

I had ordered a laptop skin from SkinIt.com. As I was tracking my shipment, I noticed a new delivery method called UPS Mail Innovations. On further reading, I realized that it is not new, it has been in existence since 1997. Darn my ignorance!

Anyways, for those who think like me that only a "S" differentiates the two companies, here is some context -

UPS is a publicly-traded company that stands for United Parcel Service. USPS stands for the United States Postal Service and is a quasi-governmental agency. USPS is self-funded through the sale of postage stamps and delivery services. (Source)

So, the UPS Mail Innovation works as depicted below -

UPS Mail Innovations (UPS MI) has been a National Account of the United States Postal Service (USPS) business partner segment since 1997.  Through this work-share partnership, we provide global mail services.

The program works like this:
UPS MI picks up the mail, processes (sorts) and transports your mail to the USPS.

Then:
The USPS accepts your mail piece and makes the final delivery to your mailing address.

(Source)

Public Speaking - is it always by choice?

I have been a part of the Toastmasters Club both in India and in the US. Toastmasters is an international organization with a global presence. The clubs registered with Toastmasters International provide an avenue to people who either want to overcome their fear of public speaking or want to nurture their talent for public speaking. People take conscious efforts to become better public speakers. With both my fiance and brother as active members of Toastmasters (Mumbai), I have seen the efforts, the research, the practice, the dedication and the persistence that they have to put in, in order to pursue their passion for public speaking.

A random thought (the title of the post) crossed my mind after I read a column in Times of India about Dimple Yadav (Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law) contesting by-elections from Firozabad, UP. The 32 year old shy 'bahu' got a ticket to the election solely because of her identity. The column also depicts a picture where she addresses her maiden rally of about a thousand people. And thus is born a public speaker, mind you, not by choice, but by virtue of her association to a political family.

• Does she like being a public speaker? - does she have a choice?
  
• Does she want to learn the nuances of becoming a better speaker - are you kidding me? 
• Does she write her own speeches - are you from Jupiter to be asking that question?
• Does she care about the voice modulation - only if that means a larger vote bank.

From Rabri Devi in Patna to Kanimozhi in Chennai, both of them started as not-wanting-to-be-public-speakers eventually ended up becoming one. Is it their ability to convince masses through their speeches that was instrumental in their wins in the elections? They claim so, but I wonder...

P.S: Btw, Dimples' interview in English was far more bearable than her speech in Hindi.

On another note, while she is pitted against Raj Babbar in the political battlefield, it is Sanjay Dutt versus Salman Khan from the Bollywood fraternity extending their support and exhibiting loyalties in these political rallies. (This can be another topic for a post)

Election Update - As I am about to publish this, she has already lost the election to Raj Babbar. Looks like, she needs to attend a Toastmasters session to become a better speaker..

New learnings each day

I just finished reading "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseni. I had read his Kite Runner a couple of years ago, but this one is a masterpiece. For a few days after I have finished reading a book, I still linger on with the plot,the story and the characters of the book. And so this time, I have been doing a post novel reading on Afghanistan. I started with wikipedia and was surprised to learn this -
 

The name Afghānistān, comes from the Sanskrit word Upaganasthan meaning 'land of the allied tribes'. It was a Hindu kingdom until the 11th century A.D. Source
 

So what I thought of as an islamic nation till now, has its roots in Hindu Civilization, Indus Valley to be precise. I sometimes cannot help but pity my limited general knowledge.

A Romeo and A Juliet

Yesterday was an extremely beautiful day with perfect sunlight and just the right amount of cool breeze. For those who have experienced Fall on the east coast, would die for such weather at this time of the year. Since the weather was good, I decided to go for a afternoonish-eveningish walk with my camera.

I came across a flock of (I believe migrating) birds. Now, I am not a bird watcher to be able to tell if the birds in that flock were Canadian Geese or American Robins or Eastern Bluebird or Cedar Waxwings. The group just reminded me of some college friends hanging around carelessly after college. I stood in silence to notice their behavior for over an hour and was able to capture a few pictures that I thought are interesting.

(Shot 1: Someone makes a random plan to go out for a walk - the rest just follow)

 

(Shot 2: As the group starts moving, this smart little fellow has its eyes set on another bird)

(Shot 3: After contemplating for over 30 minutes, it decides to approach the other bird)

(Shot 4: The other bird obliges by noticing and then talking to our little romeo)

 

 

(Shot 5: Within 10 minutes our Romeo has impressed Juliet enough for them to walk together for the rest of the evening)

Meanwhile, the setting sun signals that it is time for me to walk back home. I return with a smile reminded of several such evenings after college when some Romeo had managed to impress some Juliet.