Chandni Chowk to China Review

CC2C or Chandni Chowk to China meows much to the disappointment of Akshay Kumar fans!

The movie Chandni Chowk to China, released on 16th January 2009 had no doubt grand openings but Akki’s fans who pinned so many hopes on the movie had to return back with disappointment. Trailers could be deceptive is what can be said of this Bollywood action-comedy flick. And, after so many movie hits at the box office in 2008, this one will disappoint Akki himself if not his diehard fans.

Storyline of the movie Chandni Chowk to China goes like way: Sidhu (Akki) is a lazy young lad who works in a shop at Chandni Chowk. The shop trades paranthas and our Sidhu does odd jobs here. His dada (Mithun Chakraborthy) keeps reprimanding Sidhu for being lazy and he believes that the boy is worth more than being a vegetable cutter.

Somewhere North in a Chinese province…
People of the village become intolerant to the tyrannical attitude of a gang lord named Hojo and approach an astrologer for a solution. The bloke says that a Liu Shung who is reborn can salvage them. Two of the villagers with their astrologer come in search of the warrior hero (who once upon a time protected people of china on their Great Wall).

The twist here…
According to the Chinese astrologer, Siddu is the re-born Liu Shung and the legendary hero. The trio (villagers with astrologer) come and coax him to go with them to the Chinese province to help the villagers. The astrologer interprets mandarin of the villagers to Sidhu and this is where the comedy track runs, so pathetically, that it made me almost puke. If not the Balcony class viewers, firstbenchers may enjoy the comedy, and I still doubt.

In the interim, Sidhu meets Sakhi (Deepika Padukone) who works with TSM selling gadgets and its like love at first sight for our hero Sidhu only to realize that her ladylove is a knack thief. But the thief is none but one Meow Meow (twin sister of Sakhi) who was brought up as chinese so is an athlete and sexier than Sakhi. The drama is that they were separated when babies (and now didn’t we have had enough of these 'lost and found' dramas of siblings during 70s?).

Sidhu reaches the Chinese province and salvages the villagers from the clutches of Hojo and rises to fame in China as well as at Chandni Chowk. Well, how he does that forms the climax part of the Chandni Chowk to China story.

The picture misses out on the main story plot and seems to have had so much of already seen drama and emotion. Akki reminds us of the 80’s Amitabh in his antics and it’s such a boring stuff to see him remind of Big B. So said, still, Akki is the USP of the film CC2C. He is too good in the action scenes, and his Kung Fu fights would thrill the frontbenchers and the kiddos equally. Lyrics of songs and their composition are good, and I would say that the picturization is even better with you seeing some virgin locations and rich settings and these will be a great break from poor story. Deepika Padukone supported Akshay Kumar no doubt essaying 2 roles; one the sexy Meow Meow and one as Ms. TSM quite comfortably. But then when is it that we are learning to see a glam-tagged Bollywood heroines beyond just supporting a hero or just beyond pelvic twistings?

I would rather love use my 100 bucks to buying some tasty Paranthas at a Chandni Chowk eating joint rather than seeing such crap and believe CC2C is simply not worth my 2-1/2 hours of time. But, in case you don’t mind for some nonsense comedy, poorly-woven drama, femme fatale and some good music and beautiful locations, catch up with the movie Chandni Chowk to China; rest assured don’t expect anything interesting and exciting please!

Sahm or Wahm give them the respect they deserve!

I've wanted to share this with you all for a long time. And you know that I am a housewife or a wahm or a sahm. And you must be having your own views of a sahm or a stay-at-home mother or a housewife and guess you must be evaluating a SAHM like this- an overly (not overtly) inflated barbie doll with kid/s around pranking, throwing toys and throwing tantrums, hair unkempt, sauce stains all over her apron, little time attended on her (visible through grown nails, untrimmed hair and unwaxed hands) and yeah not a great sight to say that she is beautiful after all!

Quite the contrary if you think of a career woman you get see the right-sized barbie with so high heels that even she’s tipping over, dressed immaculately, communication so civic (to say a hello would calculate so much in fact) and articulate, laptop bag dropping on her shoulders, tortoise-shelled glasses, a high job title with of course taking huge (enviously huge) pay every month…so she’s very sexy and no doubt attractive.... Now this takes me back to what I want to say...this is typically the case of SAHM and a career woman.

If I ask you who is more worthy? I know you would yell it’s a career woman. But let me tell you without any jealousy, housewife when I mentioned above is I believe an occupation...unfortunately, what to say, unpaid occupation with chief job being caring for family and kids. It's still a job (if I am not harsh an inglorious job at that) agree?

And caring for loved ones should be and indeed be the most graceful career and salute to the women brethren who do that practically without any expectations unselfishly and working unconditionally for their families.

Then, what is it you people throw that ah’s and oh’s when some one say that she is a stay-at-home mother?.Mind you, they indeed work more than you folks.

In fact, if I had a choice my way, I would love to have all sahms just for these reasons; they are multitaskers, they can handle stress much better than a high job woman or a man (imagine handling screaming kids whole day and sleepless nights end of it and her next day is more or less normal, and sinkfull of vessels to clean, loads of laundry, cooking this boiling that, milking her and bathing him)! They are ready for a evening walk with husband and would to render one or two bedtime stories to kids. I regard them as very superior breed in a society!

And still funny, someone looks at me puzzled when I say I am a wahm (a work-at-home mom). Oh! Sit at home and work? They laugh at that and I am obviously annoyed. In fact, I’d love to explain I am successfully handling two jobs; one as a housewife and one as a freelance writer.

Maybe wahms and sahms should be given much more respect than they are actually treated! Let me further elaborate, take a wahm or sahm and put them in a high profile job, she would be handling it easily (if she has the required skills) but take a high profile job woman and couch her as nanny, she would become hysteric amidst army of kids! Agree?

I’m comfortable in my own skin-Are you too?

For those of you who have been reading me without knowing me, I am a middle-aged, 37yo woman. I don’t have to hide my age because I don’t see a reason why I have to, at the first place.
So what?
Even at my age I see women gawdily dressed slipping into pointer heels, have their faces packed in almost an inch-thick cakes, heavily accessorized, brows and upper lip trimmed, and trying to look more youthful than they really are. Well why should one hide age after all?

Well, I for one, sadly, don’t fall in that category of women . Read me further….
I went out today on some work with my hair unbrushed; and leave alone cake of madeup face I didn't care to apply even a sunscreen lotion or a moisturizing gel. I'd just put on my dullest unironed jeans and shirt and headed (and jeans! How I love this?).

"Aruna you need to try your best to hide your real age," says a wonderful lady today. Alas! What a pity people are doing? And, as because all of you have eyes and mouth, do I have to follow you all like a blind sheep?

I know you are going to mouth about a person just by seeing what he/she wears! And if you see me with an inch-thick caked up face and a pencil-head pointer heels wearing a red carpet dress, I’m judged as a superior and woman (?) by you lest I am judged a normal and some go to the extant of calling me eccentric. Isn’t this ridiculous?

I rather put my face in a steamer for an hour than choking my skin with thick makeup and rather sit in a sitz bath than wear a dress that makes me feel unease.

Even at my age, most women are judged by their looks, and it is also based on how successful they are in their respective lives; I mean the gawdier you are dressed the more you are respected because they believe you are very very successful.

So unfortunate that fashion has become a staple diet of our society, and we are desperate to cook beauty (I only mean external beauty here) by adding all ingredients like fashion and uncomfortable trends. And, sadly, we are suffering from dyspepsia!

I would never want to pressurize myself into hiding my age. After all why should I? The dark circles around my eyes show the tolerance I’d been enduring in my family and societal life and it’s a grace certainly not disgrace to me, I wish people see them so they learn from me. The stretch marks that are shown on my belly are an evidence that I’m a complete woman and I’ve contributed to the society and I advice if you have these do show them to your kids, they would imagine how they played inside your womb, and believe me they’ll love you more to know that have endured so much of a discomfort when they were inside you.

Start feeling comfortable in your skin even if they are wrinkle rich… let that comfort reflect in your confidence and it will add to your persona. Sadly (or happily), not many women are like me, well its okay if they aren’t okay. But, if you are getting influenced by the society or by spouse I advice you please don’t. You don’t have to force yourself to starve or use creams to hide growth lines, or perm your hair to give a bird-nest look. If you cant walk your normal with those strapped heels throw them and get in to your open-toed slip ons.

With deep regrets to the society that tries to influence me, I am not the one it can change so easily. I can’t sashay around in uncomfortable attire rather gowns but will rather strut in my clumpsy jeans or an old-styled salwar. As for the creams, I rather leave my skin open to air si it can respire and perspire. In fact, I love it so much so I can’t stive it.

Given a choice I like to go out confidently, yes, without so-called make up but rather make up my mind how I talk or behave wherever I head to so my persona is respected. I like myself to be me and not a reflection of society or someone either. I am still significant in the society without any of these stuff!

PS:
I didn’t mean to post this to point out at someone that they are doing wrong. No, and I don’t and can't do like them also implies that I am not doing something wrong. Let people be judged based on what they are by heart, and not by what they wear.

Freebies ka zamaana

There is a custom of gifting freebies and if you aren't aware its an act of persuasive selling, maybe the old school book kinda trick to sell a product. During earlier days, I remember of Summer Special sales or Winter Special sales otherwise dubbed as off-season offers coming once in a way and I still remember the excitement on my mother's face (who have been desperately waiting to clinch on a deal).
And, its no different now and I do see special offers these days as well , in fact more often and not restricted to any particular season. In fact when there is lot of floating money, the manufacturers find no reason to not wait for the season.

When I visit my grocer, often times, I see a guy or a couple of salesmen standing under a small umbrella offering sample freebies, of say, a sachet of a cappuccino or a small shampoo gel pack, or even a detergent powder or a sink cleaner tablets pack. There are times when I see sales people of some companies coming up survey questionnaires as to which toothpaste I've mostly been using like that. And then there are some other offers where these guys call me saying madam buy one and get another one for no extra cost. Countless times I'd have tasteless noodles countless times and ended up throwing them into drain.

And, these days I often see buy-two-get-one and even buy-one-get-two offers as well. I know and believe strongly that I dont get anything for free in this world, but unfortunately still, will become cynical when I see a new offer thrown up and bore hole through my wallet. Sadly, they are many fools just like me who believe in the romance of consumerism and assume strongly that the manufacturer is doing a fairplay and are quite generous to offer disocunts/sales/freebies, whatever.

So said, let me share the element of romance that I enjoyed particularly on the occasion we bought our washing machine. It was Godrej Washing Machine that we bought an year back and ask me what else we got? Branded 3-piece non-stick cookware free along with a steam iron box and a washing machine full body cover for the price of just the machine. I thought it was certainly a heart-warming offer, and my logic is that I would have anyway purchased the same brand/model washing machine, and with the offer it became such a lovely choice.

There were instances when it became hard to resist the free offer that I'd invested buying 3 squash bottles to get at the most a tumbler for free or bought 5 soap cakes for a free plastic soap case. Freebies and free offers are hard to resist for anyone, so whether you think you are rational or irrational you ultimately would have wasted so much money for silly free stuff!

Television or Books?

Someone was asking me which is better, a television or a book. I had my own argument that books any day are a better choice than TV for the reason they make great friends to you, and what else? You can carry books wherever you go, and the best part still is that they widen a reader’s imagination, especially when it comes to reading fiction.

Whenever I read aloud a story to my kid, I see that she puts up a smile on her face and open her eyes widely. She keeps asking me to repeat the interesting excerpts of a story (which not only gives me a kick) because I believe that when whatever she’s been imagining must be giving her thorough kick and entertainment. Quite the contrary, let's say we are watching a program like Tom and Jerry cartoon by Walt Disney. It is beyond doubt that Walt Disney produced a great piece of work, but it becomes hard to imagine beyond his work and, that’s it, there ends your imagination and creativity.

Even a small joke I read, I try imagining people enacting it and if its good to me I am just lost in a different world for a while. It might sound insane to a few, but that’s what me is and I’d love to invest time and my money on books any day! I also love to see my child up with love for books!

Life of a freelancer

This is a story of a freelancer
that’s no less than a roller coaster
I don’t cry for the hardships of doing any job,
It’s only hunting for job that makes me sob

If I landed up even with a small assignment,
it does give me spurts of excitement
but then I know I’ll have to do it per client’s satisfaction,
if not I cannot claim any compensation

After offering so many times of improvisation
Starts my beseech for remuneration
I'll send the client a reminder mail
and he finally throws up money saying my efforts did avail

then comes this genre of clients who ask for super quality,
only when it comes to compensating they pay if you are a charity
you don’t have to ponder how to slake
because some of 'em are just like icing on a cake

Come what may, this is the road I chose,
I thought that’s how the writer in me could compose
I am my own boss to approve or disapprove
I do have enough room to experiment until contentment

My resolutions for 2009

Hei friends
I know you would have thoroughly enjoyed the moment of welcoming another new year just like me! Didn't you?

Then?
Isnt this a great time to commit to some disciplined living or take some resolutions? Well I thought so (and I do so every year ....I stand by a few and break a few), and this year I dont want to break any of my resolutions but stand by them. And, here are my top 10 resolutions:

*Work out for at least 3 hours a week (I like to spread the time for entire 7 days....don't ask me how I am gonna divide my time).
*Close the gas cylinder knob before hitting the bed.
*Wake up early (dont laugh ...to me 7 am. in the morning is early).
*Close water taps so there is no leakage of water, be it home or away.
*Stay in touch with all friends and resume the hobby of reading.
*Bonding more with family members and relatives (after all without this we are just a bunch of bones, a heap of flesh and a pool of blood right?)
*Driving within the speed limits (I am a speed driver and want to be a responsible driver come 2009) whether driving single or with a pilion.
*Update my blog regularly (some one asked me what's happening to my determination and killer instinct when it comes to blogging?)
*Spend my earnings smartly with some savings.
*Stay away from junk food and indulge more into fruits. Try learning the art of managing stress through pranayam (wonder why and how I discontinued this habit).

I know most of these are repetitive ....but let me see how determined I am going to be with an year older this time! :) I hope you too must have taken some resolutions and wish you stand by them. Take care buddies!

Diwali Extravaganza!!

Check these out!

They are distinctly different

It is really always amazing as to me how kids play, especially how a boy plays and how a girl plays. Needless to say, they are distinct!

Sravi always seem to have great time talking to her babies (she names every toy she has and tell you what? They are all girlie names) or playing a teacher-teacher game making her dolls sit just like pupils and indeed giving them punishment as well; making them stand aside as they misbehave or disobey her.

Whenever she scoots on her scooter she carries her favorite doll greenie along with her. She loves her scooter and indeed it has been the best buy as because she enjoys scooting along so much carrying her dolls and teaching those to scoot as well. I always find my nephew Ajay finding interest in Car toys and Rangers accessories, way distinct from Sravi. These days he’s been navigating well with computer keys and playing games. If ever Sravi uses PC the most she enjoys is paintbrush and she draws pictures (not bad at all) and names them or gives her buddies names to those. What a distinctive way of playing between a boy and a girl right? Boy stuff and girl stuff yay!

Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently!!

Ever contemplated on investing in shares? If not, it’s still not high time. Believe me, it is one of those money making opportunities that can be handled from the comforts of your home. All you need is an understanding of the market trends and just a net-connected PC.

A person who invested as low as Rs. 10 K in Wipro a decade back is richer by more than 10 millions. However, it’s the one who waited is now with smiles and millions of course. He did have all the patience to see his shares split, to wait for company’s bonus and dividends, more than all he saw the company growing every step up, while seeing the share prices fall in the interim as well! How much of the losers (I meant in the share market) have got this patience? I think there will be noone! Any investment needs time to grow. You can’t anticipate to double it in a fortnight! You better not at least henceforth.

While saying so I know there is so much of volatility and uncertainty in the markets. But that doesn’t simply mean you need to press the panic button and sell off all your investment for peanuts or a loss. You waited thus far, why not try and breathe for a little while more? I recall my school teacher saying, patience always pays. So, be patient. Selling during an uncertain time makes no sense absolutely, at least in the share trading business (if you are married...then I know you are already more patient than before)

Let me tell you one small secret: People who buy more stocks during the uncertain times will have a big smile down the lane. Because they waited right? So staying long term is the mantra you need to practice and you have all what it takes to become a millionaire!

Aside, do your due diligence: Researching is what you need to do and never pay a heed to the skeptics. Pay attention to the looked down stocks! For instance you would want to consider hotels and other hospitality stocks (even the health industry stocks). Invest in health and it pays back handsomely in a couple of years’ time. You may benefit from picking up or rather investing in those that others have been ignoring. Finally, I will remind of Shiv Khera’s quote : Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently. Similarly people who are making money invest in places where others don’t!

Internet Security And Your iPhone

The rise in power of the personal computer and the advent of the Internet has led to many amazing technological innovations. Just twenty years ago, something as complex as the worldwide web would seem unfathomable, now it is hard to imagine ever living without staying connected for a part of the day (lolz). Unfortunately, as with every great innovation, there are always those who take advantage of something to just corrupt it. With the Internet, it has become hackers who threaten security. In the case of the new iPhone and it’s built-in web browser, things are no different as well!

In fact, the iPhone, based on the fact that it uses a “watered-down” version of Apple’s home operating system, is very much susceptible to corruption via hackers. Given the lack of complexity to the browser, hackers can take on the ‘appearance’ of another, trusted website; once the hacker ropes you into their trap, there is no turning back. Almost immediately, your iPhone’s system can become corrupted.

Another drawback to the iPhone is the ability to view websites that house the discussion forums. While there are no complications in accessing pages with the posts, there is no line of defense between the iPhone and posts that contain harmful, encrypted codes. Sadly, there is no way to identify these corrupted message boards.

The classic hacking method of embedding viruses and/or other corrupted material within e-mails is no stranger to the iPhone. If the hacker can trick you into opening his or her e-mail message, it might already be too late for your iPhone’s operating system. Once a virus finds its way into your OS, the outlook becomes very bleak for recovery.

But how exactly do you go about defending yourself from corrupted information that is floating around the website? Use your head! You might be able to get away with visiting shaky websites from your home computer, as your security systems are probably the highest of quality. But more discretion must be practiced with the iPhone as one click can lead to disastrous consequences.

As such, it is always a good idea to avoid opening websites unless you can claim with certainty that they will be safe—stick with the massively popular sites for your iPhone, perform more varied web surfing on a personal computer. To that end, only connect to trusted networks. Yes, it is a pain to have to wait for internet service and it can be tempting to ignore the risks and connect to any network once you receive a signal, but practice patience. It won’t do you any good to connect to a corrupted network once it wreaks havoc on your iPhone. The only thing worse than no connectivity is an iPhone that no longer can connect once there is connectivity.
The bottom line is that the iPhone cannot really compete with the security measures that can be taken on most home computers. And unfortunately, hackers will take every chance they can get to exploit this fact. This means that more caution than necessary should be used when navigating the Internet on an iPhone. So exercise it generously!

Magazines and books are soon going to be a history!!

Yep Yep and did you know this?
Every single day, it seems like newspapers and magazines are increasingly becoming outdated, as news and articles on the Internet provide the same content without the price. It only seems natural that eventually, full-length books will have a computer-based replacement. Amazon.com, in their online initiative, has created a device that will provide the first steps in making our current books go the way of the dodo. Their new portable text-viewer, the Kindle, is spearheading a movement to make books cheaper, more travel-ready and eco friendly as well.

The Kindle acts as a technologically advanced notebook. It has the ability to access the Internet, so discovering new texts will be a simple task. You can search the web to find your favorite blog, newspaper, and/or magazine and read them all in one convenient device. Now, you will no longer have to fumble around trying to find your magazine or fold up that irritating paper.

There is also a store that offers books for purchase. These digital texts are offered at a cheaper price than their tangible brethren. Ergo, the money invested in the Kindle will be made back through savings on the books you would have purchased anyway. In fact, if you are an avid, or even an average, reader, reading via a Kindle will become a cheaper endeavor in the long run.
Kindle promises definitely to be a great idea. My only apprehension with purchasing one would be the fact that since it is such a new technology, there might some bugs that need to be worked out yet. This being said, once the inevitable revisions of the device are released to the market in the near future, I will seriously look into acquiring. And if you enjoy reading, no matter what form of the medium you choose to look at, I suggest you do the same..cool!

Gurur Brahma...Gurur Vishnuhu...Gurur devoh...maheswaraha..!!

Don’t you feel to go to school is a privilege considering the fact that there are so many children who still work instead of going to school?
And, yes to go to a school that had great teachers is a fringe benefit …..and to have a motivating teacher at least one during your entire education is something you are blessed with I believe, a teacher that can change the way you have been thinking, a teacher that inspired to choose a path in your career, a teacher who taught you to be a human being …
I am blessed is all I would say, as I've had three such teachers for what I am today (at least to a great extent)
there was Ms. Sundara Valli my English Madam during my 11th grade who aside English prose and poetry taught so many values of life; there had been Mr. Ram Kumar my GPBr First Year BSc teacher who taught with such flamboyance and ease that I remember longing for his weekly-once class, and there had been Dr. Ravuri who really changed my course of post graduation. He had a special way of approaching to everyday lessons and that gave birth interest in me for a new subject and I opted for Agronomy and not my otherwise interesting Plant Breeding as my PG specialization.

A great teacher always inspires as quoted by someone and I am blessed by 3 to inspire me during my learning times!

I know not where these 3 inspiring teachers are today..But I do remember them with reverence, love and gratitude!

I thought it’s a befitting tribute to wish all such great personalities who shape many more ….Happy Teacher’s Day! By the way is the guru shishya paramparya being lost to monotonous and mechanical teaching and children ignoring the pains of a teacher? I hope it does not. Some relations are forever and nothing should change them.

Care to Hair care

I went out to meet a friend today and she expressed surprise for the severe hair loss, although, I quipped. I know that I am well catching up with men as regards to hair loss. And, I am also upset that I lost way too much hair these days (who to blame?).

I do notice that more women are losing hair than ever before. Some study says that 1 among every 5 women experiences some form of a hair loss. If you want to know the common types of hair loss amongst women, here they are:
1) Fungal infections: The source could be change in water, boutiques and even hair washing products such as the shampoos.
2) Telogen effluvium is a form of alopecia and second most serious hair loss pattern studied by trichologists and dermatologists. Every woman experiences this at least once during her lifetime and there is heavy hair shedding with Telogen effluvium, as much as up to 500 strands of hair and in a month as you see almost half the hair has gone. Several factors responsible for this include:
crash dieting
anemia
excess hair doing including applying several chemicals to hair
post partum (if the woman is subjected to poor nutrition and/or deprived sleep)
thyroid and liver infections may also result in Telogen effluvium

So said, these are correctable issues if the hair loss is identified early and the cause is dug. If a quick intervention of this condition doesn’t happen, the hair loss can become almost irreversible.

3) Patterned loss of hair
It’s the worst form of hair loss and there are male patterned baldness and female patterned baldness. While in the past it used to be more of female patterned baldness, of late there is more of male pattern hair loss in women. In either case, the reasons could be hereditary or hormonal.

In hereditary acquired patterned hair loss (could be maternal or paternal) there are 3 stages when the patterned hairloss starts; menarche, post-partum and menopause stages.

The problem develops slowly but over a period of time and in majority of cases a girl or woman realizes that she has been losing hair after say 5-6 years after the problem has actually started.

Hormonal type of patterned hair loss can be seen in women suffering from hormonal disorders initiated by diseases such as PCOD (polycystic ovarian disease) and thyroid (usually hypothyroid) disorders.

However, in these cases it calls for a thorough investigation of blood samples for different hormone levels and a correction may sometimes help in regrowth of hair, especially when detected early.

Remember a hair saved today can help you smile with confidence tomorrow! Ain’t it?
Haviong said and done, I know my hair loss is due to hypothyroidism I suffer from and I have confidence that my Eltroxin and my food can reverse the scene. Anyways time can only tell whether it is hereditary or hormonal :( pattern of hair loss in my case!

Hai Hai Ganesha …..Come Again Ganesha!!

Ganesha is one my favorite deities and why, he is such a lovely god to just watch and see; I love his long coiled trunk, flappy ears and the small mushik or the rat that lay on his left side is an added attraction. Wonder how such a huge deity can travel all along on this small rat.

All of the explanation I got regarding this elephant god in the form of stories and they never seem to hold up to my child’s mind. She has several doubts about Ganesha!

Lord Shiva killing his son boy and chopping head of the boy and then again try fixing a Gajasura’s head to the boy and bringing life to the boy is all a great story that I knew and I tell sravi the same and she listens to me amazed. It is from then that the boy is known as Gajanana. So said, the story draws all sympathy from young and the adults for the little boy. No wonder he is everyone’s favorite deity.

It is on Ganesha Chaturthi that we bring this deity to our homes and offer puja along with great food. I recall my mother’s expertise in making undrallu (the pressure cooked food preferred by the god to other foods) while we as children used to go collect all the foliage from backyard to do the puja. I recall my brother donning the traditional attire and I recall him to look very cute.

This year too, I went out to get our cute deity and I especially liked the clay one without any colors (doing my bit to make the earth clean and green…hah); very cute-looking Ganesha indeed and bought it.

I could not buy the umbrella yet, although, told Sree Ram to get it. If we make our ganesha to sit with umbrella, its like we have made him comfortable almost and I know my hands have to work fast with doughs and soojis so we can please him with the food as well.

I know my task begins early in the morning, but it is great to have these once in a while and while the lord takes care of us, its nothing what we offer him on a chathurthi.

I wish that I make undrallu well so he likes. I lack the skill and the expertise so never they came out well out of my hands. All my watching as a child has never helped me!. Wish I could please my lord with my food. Those countless hours of assisting my mother as a child should help me do the undrallu with ease at least this year.

Immersion of ganesha idol is another interesting feature of this festival. We still watch on TVs for biggest and unique idols of ganeshas taken through crowded streets as a procession. It used to also bring tears in me! I used to wonder as to how we could be so tough on this god; previous day we loved him so much, we fed him with great food, we fell on his feet to seek his blessings, but the next day we are merciless and we push him into waters. Can’t there be a better way to bid an adieu to this cute God?

I still need some valid explanation as to why his idol needs to be immersed. Do you know it by the way? All said and done, I am all geared up for yet another ganesha chathurhi? Are you as well? Since Ganesha is also a deity known to remove any obstacle, come let's seek the blessings from elephant god collectively!

Quacky Hellow from below!

Who is pretty here? The sweetie in front of the bloom or the bloom behind?

Solitary Soul

Pollination Captured!

Beauty of Innocence!

It was last Sunday that all three of us (me, my hubby and my daughter) went to spend some time at Lalbagh here in Bengaluru. We had a nice day out with Sravi and I lost myself in nature and no doubt it was great to be with all natural elements surrounding you!

The place though is littered with plastic bags and pepsi cans...still loved it...the shrubs were so kind to cascade most of that litter.

The glass house is especially great and I loved the pond and the quacky creatures in the small pond! Sravi loved the white ducks. She kept on asking me to freeze one single white duck in our camera (please!! Don't call her racist she wouldnt understand a thing what you are saying!) we could'nt do it though. They seem to be so united irrespective of color, moving as a train!

My Dad...My Hero

Eversince I started blogging (10 days back) I'd been contemplating on dedicating one of my posts to the most important person in my life..."a man," and he is my father. I’m just not HERE without my father and I mean it in every sense of it; be it physically, biologically, mentally, emotionally, or professionally. To me, he is not a father alone, but a friend, a guide and a philosopher too.

Curiosity and refusal have been the order of my childhood and I realize it now though. But it is now I am fathomed by the fact that he's more than willing to give a clear answer to all of my questions. Tell you what? There have never been one liners and never one without a logic. I didn’t want to say that we have had long hours of discussion, Nope we never had! But he’s not fed me with those calorie-rich baby foods alone he gave me the fodder to think and ink to my writing muscles!

As of now, I find it very difficult to talk a thing or two with him, still it is the same ol' feeling of hero worship I have for him. If you ask me did he play with me when I were a child, I would say, No, never. We've never had so much of time together playing or laughing. But used to be a fire just the other side of his persona! I have attributed this to be the reason for his weird personality, but I realized once I was mature enough it is that fire that did not want to overprotect me or make me their mere shadow, and it is that fire that lit up and infused in me as extra confidence and guts (that I traveled 600 miles all by myself, safely as a student!), the same fire gave me strength to accept my failures and ask me to face them over again and again!!

That’s not all at all to his persona. He is more than a human at heart with a generosity that knew no bounds! I am sometimes aghast by these qualities. He would ask his domestic help to call up her parents from his phone and would increase her payment and pay a bonus without she having to put in a word, saying its only human to do so when he himself liked to receive hike or bonus as a central government employee.
Again, he is ruthlessly frank when it comes to analyzing anyone. It brought him friends and foes, but I believe it is his order no matter he has made friends or enemies. So father, I just love the way you are! It doesn’t matter we didn’t have a laughter and fun-filled times, you still are my hero …hero….hero…!!

A love that is limited by time and space?

What does it mean by love- What is the chemistry that works within you when you think of a person? Whether the affection you have for your parents, the extra care you wanted to show on your children or the warmth you feel for a friend who does a lot to you or a feeling you have for a good samaritan neighbor with whom you discuss everything between a heaven and hell? What is the biochemistry involved in all these feelings? Do they all lead to love?

Do all these forms get limited by time or space? Yes I guess! Let me tell you, this (limited?) love is vain and is capable of deserting anybody at a moment's notice.

The only way to love (anyone) is to love without limiting anything. Isn’t this ‘love’ the emotion that really is ruling all of our lives after all? Be it the positive aspect or negative aspect (such as ill feeling or hatred) you need to take time (unlimitedly) to think of a person whom you hate even! Is not it? So why waste a precious life hating someone? Why can’t we start “loving” everyone, even a person whom we dread to think of without looking for reasons? Some one said that a smile is very contagious, I will change it, love is contagious and it can spread like virus and I love to see the world infected with this pleasant virus. Can it happen?
I wish Rama, Allah, Buddha, Jesus collectively do that!

Road Safety in Bengaluru- Is it a dream?

Road safety in Bengaluru has become like a dream that can never be realized, and a never-ending menace. Everyday, there is at least one amongst 1000 who do not return home after striking the roads of Bengaluru. The accidents are on the rise due to poor driving sense of the motorists as well as poor road conditions.
Lack of vision amongst the rulers has resulted in today's plight of the roads. Peak-hour traffic witnesses about 12,000 passenger car units every hour at traffic-dense areas of Hosur Road, Tumkur Road and Mysore Road.
Potholes and craters on roads seem to be an eternal problem. The poor shape of majority of roads in the city also pose a serious threat to the treading motorists, especially during peakhours and during nights. Needless to say what a mess we see during rainy season. Furthermore, the sleeping police which is more popular as the speedbreakers, are another threat on roads. Most unscientifically laid out speedbreakers are a common sight on Bengaluru roads and they are a reason for accidents rather than what should have been otherwise. There was no government during the premonsoon season and so no one really took interest to fill all the potholes of the city before the onset of monsoon.
When it comes to poor road safety due to poor dribving sense, noteworthy is the fact that a minimum of 5,000 traffic violations take place in Bangalore everyday, and this is shockingly nation's high figure and you now know the gravity of the situation in Namma Bengaluru.
Traffic police seem to conduct road safety campaigns for about a week once in a while but they are hardly any takers or followers of the safety rules.
To tackle the problem of traffic rule violators, levying on-spot fines is just not enough. As a small step forward to check on violators it is learnt that, traffic police (even the lower-rung officials)will soon be equipped with BlackBerry mobile handsets soon. Police will try to catch traffic defaulters with the help of these BlackBerry sets. The database of the violators will be recorded in the sets and will work in conjunction with a central server and repeat violators will be penalised three times the fine and I guess this system should keep a check on traffic violation.
On a pilot basis CCTVs were installed at specific junctions such as the Manipal Junction and Coffee Board Junction and traffic police are on a way to permanently install them at few more points in the city where density is high, not just to ease the traffic congestion but also to have an eye and put a curb on the erring motorists.
Earlier night traffic was not much but with the drag race culture and the night-operating BPOs, the night-time traffic is not any better. Reckless driving is one prime reason for several serious traffic accidents on Bengaluru roads, especially during nights. It was only a week that the city witnessed a major accident involving death of two teenagers and seriously injury of three youths on the Bangalore-Mysore road during late night hours. The reason was found to be rash driving of the driver who lost control on vehicle. This rash driving or drag racing has become a recent trend amongst the upwardly mobile youths who feel reckless driving as a style statement on roads. These motorists have to be dealt with very seriously and should be sent to training sessions on good driving sense.
One right step by the BJP government in this direction should be to coax government servants to use more of public transport and better is to start an incentive scheme for them to initiate the drive of using only public transport and refrain them from using private transport.

Google AdSense- A Great-income Generating Tool Online

One of my friend was asking me why I have to start blogging? There is not one answer to this while I wanted to show my clients a writing portfolio the other is to benefit at least a little from adsense.

So, have you ever wondered how many people are using AdSense and how much they earn and what is an Adsense? Well, AdSense is a “juicy steak” that monetizes a website. It is a program that gives advertizing revenue from each page a website has, with the least possible time investment. It works by having targeted ads delivered to a site based on content and earns commission resulting from searches generated by visitors' search requests.

AdSense is a fast-paced way yet requiring less effort for publishers of websites of different magnitudes to apparently publish pertinent ads on content pages that are relevant to the users’ needs. If you have ads on your site, then think of better positioning and play with colors that will work better than others. Apply them in a manner consistent with its purpose and design to keep on attracting more visitors.
Google AdSense is free; nothing to lose and it’s definitely worth it to join the program. It maybe a “mine-is-bigger-than-yours” type of thread (that’s how the competition goes right?), but it is a product of your creative thinking and work that will most likely give you the numbers that others are earning from the program. It gives contextual information that depends on a given topic. It is also a pay-per-click advertizing framework where there can be no fixed amount to how much you earn per click.
It is true that a greater part of Google’s income mostly come from content sites and publishers like NetScape, AOL, About.com, Lycos, Shopping.com, etc.; but the moment a Google search box is added to a site you own or on blogs you run, it gives you a substantial income. The figures usually range from what you call a “loose change” to as high as $100,000 per month per a webmaster if you know how to do it.
While it is one incorrect idea of people to just hit their websites flat with AdSense, thinking that it’s the only thing they need to make money, little do they know that the real trick to keep in mind is that there are factors to consider in order to turn the websites into an income-generating tool. Some sites are doing good with AdSense, that it pays up to millions of dollars a year, and that goes with having the right and exact website that bears high paying keywords and phrases plus the correct traffic.
Responses from ad users -- these are visitors that usually come to the site -- depend on the topics you have that are rich in keywords and key phrases. If your topic contents bear high-paying keywords and key phrases, then you have a foundation to have a steadfast income. Think of it this way, visitors that go to your site are sometimes “blindfolded,” whether they look at the ads as an extra resource that completes the whole or not, even if you have what you call “low-paying” keywords or whatever metrics you use as long as it draws traffic to your site, then GREAT! you’re making some money.