Lasting Rose

There had been recent reports of Facebook loosing a bit of its sheen.

CNN reported on recent signs of 'Facebook Fatigue' and another interesting story about it being ripe for some imminent disaster. There were also reports about alternative and upcoming social media sites like Tumblr which could soon replace Facebook.

Despite the recent drop out of about six million Facebook users in the US, I guess all this talk of Facebook’s loss of face has to do with its valuation of over a hundred billion dollars, based on a membership of over six hundred million users.

The reality is, with the world population approaching seven billion by 2011, the tsunami of Facebook is only in the making!

At the heart of its powerful social impact on the world, which can only be likened to a tsunami, are factors which the inventors of this social media site wouldn’t have been even aware.

The problem with Canada is that it didn't have an icon, at least until the Vancouver Riots happened.

Despite its stature as one of the elite G7 group of wealthy and developed nations, its wonderful people, its vast area of beautiful land with huge resources and many other enviable attributes, Canada is still young and has yet to etch something on the collective psyche of the humanity.

Incidentally Canada is the only nation among the G7 without a distinctive iconic identity. Can you name a famous Canadian in two seconds? You know what I mean!

FRASIER, epitomizing the fallacy of radio as a medium for social healing, is one of my all time favourite TV shows. However, technology has now the power to render the humble FM radio a veritable social healing medium for the whole world!

FM stations, now available on line to a worldwide audience, can play a powerful role in social healing as this radio show from Dubai proves.





TV has revolutionised social interaction in communities on national levels through talk shows, reality shows, celebrity shows like X Factor and Oprah Winfry, mostly carried on the shoulders of their celebrity hosts.

Though these shows bring people together, around a common cause or interest, and have enormous entertainment value, their role in providing a reprieve for human pain and agony in day to day life is quite limited. At best, people watch them out of curiosity or boredom. Most TV shows do not leave something behind to lighten your burden, or give you the relief in opening up to someone!

An excellent audio  visual montage of Kerala, a south Indian state, lovingly called GOD's own country by its inhabitants. Though it might sound a little pompous, and the people of Kerala take undue pride, to the discerning traveller, the affectionate name to this little corner of paradise on the earth is quite acceptable.

This montage made by Mr C.J.Kuttappan amply demonstrates the point. Many thanks to Mr Kuttappan for making it available to everyone on the YouTube.