Though-Zilla!!!!

Slum free nation

2009-07-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

In his recent budget speech, FinMin, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee promised a slum free India in upcoming five years and for this very purpose a sum of Rs. 3973 crore has been allocated for various slum clearance schemes. An initiation in this direction was taken way back in 50’s by central government then and states like Tamil Nadu also came forward to shoulder the responsibility with the union govt. But ever since, only the number of slum dwellers has gone high. A slum free city sounds like an unrealistic dream. Govt. should emphasize on replacing the slums with built ‘pakka’ houses rather than evicting slum dwellers. According to 11th five year plan report, to achieve the target of a slum free nation, by the end of 2012, a fund of Rs. 3,60,000 crore is required and the amount allocated this year in the budget is a meager1% of the requirements. The primary issue to be dealt is actually the poverty. Ways should be devised to improve the livelihood of people living below poverty line and reframing of housing is the need of the hour. There are rules for government owned residential lands stating 10% of such land banks is reserved for the economically weaker section of the society. But such rules are not followed in actual practice. Socially responsible real estate practises should be implemented to get the desired result.

Such a short journey

2009-07-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

All these years Pakistan's budget never revealed the details of expenditures under defence sector, but last year Pakistan's new government broke all the taboos and presented a budget which gave out more details of defence spending than ever. To add to the surprise, a 2hours debate stirred in the Senate, which was first parliamentary discussion ever on the defence budget. This year again, the episode was repeated and the defence budget was as detailed as last year's except that service-wise breakdown of allocation was not provided.

Pakistan's army suffered image tainting enormously during Musharraf reign. General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who succeeded Mr. Musharraf, had this responsibility of repairing Pakistan army's image and he has done the job very well by accomplishing a big part of his mission in mere 2years.

From mid 2006, Pakistan Army suffered one setback aftaer another in terms of public relations under Musharraf regime attributing to his dual role as Army chief and the President. When second emergency was imposed in Pakistan in November 2007, public anger rose to its peak. When General Kayani held the office, his very first move was to recall all the serving officers from civilian government to army duties. During Musharraf's impeachment, army distanced itself from the whole drama. In March 2009, when Supreme Court chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhary was restored, Army backed up the restoration when there were protestors on the street. But the Swat valley operation brought the major attitude change towards army. The apparent sincerity with which the army took on the millitants drastically transformed the army's image.

Mr. Zaidi, on the other hand, said that two or three years down the line, there's a possibility that all these reports of army's role in governance and politics of Pakistan may turn out to be exaggeration. At present it appears that both government and army are working in sync for people's interest.

As for India, the army's image makeover in Pakistan has made things even more complex, as military repositioning in Pakistan is attributed to its ability to articulate more anger against India.

Military Coups and banana republics

2009-07-01T04:29:00.000-07:00

Banana Republic, the term was first introduced by Honduras, a small democratic republic in the Central America. Banana republic is a term used for countries that are politically unstable and depend on limited agriculture. Honduras is facing an ongoing political crisis. The President of Honuras was ousted by military from his official residence. Latin America left behind military coups long back which is a big accomplishment. But that doesn’t give the democratic government a blank cheque guarantee to last. There are times when governments just fall apart but the dispute can be resolved by some ways and means. But presidential system in Latin America is a rigid one ans so messiness ensues. This decade alone has witnessed many coups which were rather ’soft coups’. There was this coup against the president of Venezuela in 2002. But the international community including Washington, unanimously condemned the coup.

This coup in Honduras was a harsh one. Eight cabinet members were arrested and a new president was appointed on the same day as ouster of Mr. Zelaya, former president, Honduras. The political crisis that Honduras is in the midst of was triggered by Mr. Zelaya himself. He called for a referendum to make changes to the constitution and the idea was not supported by the army chief which resulted in president sacking him up. Supreme Court also called it unconstitutional.

Mr. Zelaya had the vision to visit Cuba and strengthen ties with Venezuela and have Honduras joined ALBA. This is why president Chavez of Venezuela has deplored the coup. If a political crisis was stirring in Honduras democracy some solution should have been found through a compromise between the government and the opposition.

President Lula of Brazil says they would not acknowledge any Honduran president except Mr. Zelaya. Chile is taking the same line as Brazil. Various International political cooperation mechanisms like the Rio group, the South American Community of Nations have come forward to denounce the coup. President Barack Obama has also condemned it. Honduras is a part of Central American Market and if it is excluded from it, its products would have a hard time competing in US markets.

If Mr. Zelaya gets back in his office, as a result of international pressure, it would show a new measure of hemispheric cooperation and committment of the community towards democratic stability and continuity. However, if the coup in Honduras is not reverted back, the political progress seen in this region will be undone.

Dare to dream

2009-06-26T02:10:00.001-07:00

Stand up tall,

And face the world.

O dear butterfly,

Just take my word.

Leave the cocoon,

And come out of the shell.

The world is beautiful,

Put all your fears on a quell.

Don't be shy,

Dare to dream.

And once you dream,

Make sure your anxieties are creamed.

Don't confine,

Break the shackles.

Courage, my dear

Is the key to all miracles.

Look at the crab,

It stays within its shell.

But to witness light,

Even it has to move out of the pall.

The efforts you make,

Will help you shine.

The wings fully grown

Will take you to cloud nine.

So put all your worries aside,

It's time to take that first stride.

Take your big leap,

Abandon the sheath.

For those beautiful wings,

Are hidden beneath.

O dear, remember the heed,

Only those who act, get the lead.

Even the most beautiful painting,

Was once white.

It took the artist numerous strokes

To turn it into a beautiful sight.

Five F.R.I.E.N.D.S. you must have

2009-04-29T05:24:00.000-07:00

Courtesy: ibnlive.com

"We cannot choose our family, but we can choose our friends," a wise man once said.

Your friends make your world and are -- in a manner of speaking -- a reflection of who you are. While you may not necessarily be known by the friends you keep, the right friends can make or break the way you feel about yourself and the things you do.

Think friends and what comes to mind is the life and times of those six

F.R.I.E.N.D.S., who entertained us for a decade.

We're sure you too draw similarities and parallels to what happened to Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Ross, Chandler and Joey.

If you see yourself as one among the six, you need five friends, who will stand by you through thick and thin.

I know that sounds clichéd, but mark our words, with friends like these, you can't go wrong. So, here is our list of 5 friends everyone must have…

The positron (a.k.a enthu-cutlet)

The one friend who has never heard of the word no! Tell him/her you plan to quit your job and most likely answer is, "Go right ahead."

No questions asked; no explanations needed. He/she believes in you, no matter what!

The hard-hitter

This is the one who is always referred to as the hard-nosed dude. Nothing moves them, or so it seems. Guess what, you could do with more friends like these.

They may say an awful lot of things that hurt, but more often than not they will say it as is -- with love and without malice.

The man/girl friday

This one is a meddler and a compulsive one at that. But when all is said and done, you cannot do without them, you must have a friend like this one. This is the one who makes sure your wardrobe is in place for that important third date. If you are lucky, he/she may even offer to drive you so you don't have to take the train. 'Interference' is their middle name, but it is for your good. Honest.

The partner in crime

They are as bad as they come. From drinking and driving (which we don't endorse, by the way) to one night stands, this one is all for it. Yet, when it comes to being there, he/she is the 'wall'.

Your partner in crime is the one gets you drunk on your birthday or throws you a party when your divorce finally comes through. Frivolous to some, he/she is your rock when the going gets tough.

The unexpected friend

This one is the old (or middle-aged) piece of prehistory living next door, disapproves of your late nights and your loud music that blares all day. You can never be friends, or so you thought. After all he/she is much older than you, has never travelled abroad or even had a career!

Yet, their opinion counts and you know they will lend you a patient ear when things go wrong. And yes, a dabba is always ready for you when you are not well too!

Well, there you have it then. Five friends every woman must have. Love them, hate them, ignore them, but you cannot do without them!

Sketch I made

2009-04-14T02:49:00.000-07:00

My favourite nursery rhymes

2009-04-10T06:39:00.000-07:00

TWINKLE TWINKLE

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,

When there's nothing shining upon,

Then you show your little light,

Twinkle, twinkle, through the night.

In the dark blue sky so deep

Through my curtains often peep

For you never close your eyes

’Til the morning sun does rise

Twinkle, twinkle, little star

How I wonder what you are!

JACK AND JILL

Jack and Jill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water.

Jack fell down and broke his crown,

And Jill came tumbling after.

Up Jack got and home did trot

As fast as he could caper;

And went to bed to mend his head

With vinegar and brown paper.

Jill came in and she did grin

To see his paper plaster;

Mother vexed did whip her next

For causing Jack's disaster.

Friend...

2009-03-19T09:58:00.000-07:00

Have you seen a lighthouse, my friend?

Giving off light and guiding

the sailors,in the far distant sea,

Standing firm like a life tree.

Ships come sailing,

Finding path in its light,

And it keeps glowing and glowing

Never giving up against darkness,

And continues its fight.

Have you seen a candle, my friend?

The small little candle,when lights

The whole aura, it enlights.

It shields the feeble thread inside,

And would burn itself,

To keep the thread at core enlightened with pride.

On this life journey,

When I set for sailing

I'm carefree and blithe,

Cuz I know I have you, standing firm as a lighthouse,

Comforting me with your care

And trailing everywhere.

When there's no light around

And I find myself in dark,

I look to you, knowing

You are the candle, to wipe

The darkness so stark.

Did I tell you my friend, the story of sun?

It rises every morning

And sets everyday to give,

A new day with every new dawn.

But you, my friend, are the Sun

That keeps glowing throughout the night,

And this shine makes every wrong feel like so right.

Cry of a despondent mind

2009-03-11T04:02:00.000-07:00

Darkness has crept in

Engulfing hope within

Dreams which rested,

In these eyes

Seem to have vanished,

Far away in those distant skies.

As time goes on

Life unfolds its another form.

All the courage vanishes,

With every passing day

Leaving me in utter dismay.

There's a hollow,

Inside me, leaving me

Out of sense,

And pushing me far away,

Seemingly into a nothingness.

I am lost in this wordly crowd

The dreams and desires,

Left my side.

Hope has faded away,which once

Helped me to stand out.

I wander lonely, in this

lonesome world.

Pacing up and down all night worrying

Waiting for twilight,

Anticipating riddance of my miserable plight.

Confession of a loving heart..

2009-03-08T21:12:00.000-07:00

Every morning I open my eyes,

To see you standing by my bedside.

And as I lean forward to hold you,

You disapper like a flash of light.

I look in the mirror,

I find you standing at my rear.

I glance at you,

To see you disappear.

In the bask of sun,

I seek warmth,

But nothing can compare to

The affection in the wrap of your arms.

Your thoughts captivate me

My love for you casts a spell on me.

One moment my heart aches for you,

And another, it blooms thinking about you.

I fly like a bird,

I touch the skies,

I connect to the moon and stars,

Repudiating all the bonds and ties.

I like you,

I'm crazy for u,

I want you to hold me

These burning feelings I want you to catch.

I want to sing with you,

I want to dance.

I don't want to let go

Those moment of trance.

I like you with all my heart

I don't know when my eyes locked on you,

But that marked this new chapter's start.

Gone are the moments

When I couldn't speak.

I want to confess my love for you

Are you all set to listen to my plea?

Round Table at GIM - Experiences unfolded

2009-03-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

I feel as anxious as I felt before the interview session while I'm writing this. The journey begins with writing XAT, waiting for results, getting stupendous scores, shortlisting and finally the day comes when I leave for Delhi to have a face to face evaluation with GIM (Goa Istitute of Management) people. Why Delhi, because I opted for Delhi as my GD-PI centre. Did I mention Group Discussion, the word itself is good enough to give me a near nervous breakdown. Venue for interview was YMCA, New Delhi. I was supposed to report at 8.45 AM and I reach there by 7.30 itself. YMCA has got a beautiful campus. Candidates waiting outside were very few in number. I guess rest of them were in their sane minds to not to appear so early. I'm waiting outside with my father and with every passing minute my anxiety level's going high. And Then I see a guy standing alone with his notes. I approach him and we start talking. Talking always helps relieve stress. Other candidates have started arriving and few of them have joined us. And now my watch shows it's 8.45 and it's time to go inside. We all enter and are taken to a big conference room and the very thought of participating in a group discussion in few moments is giving me jitters. Now the person there tells us about the next two rounds. 1st round he says is 'Essay writing'. Did i catch it correct? I confirm from other candidates and my happiness seems to be knowing no bounds. No group discussion, hell I was so much stressed out. And now I'm unable to get that smile off my face Next round would be a personal interview round. Who's scared of an interview anyway. We are divided into 2panels and are taken to our respective rooms for the next stage and . And now we are in the committee room seated around a table. Two of the GIM faculty members are there to give us a warm welcome. They brief us with GIM,its history, their MBA programme, infrastructure and now they distribute sheets for essay and announce the topic. Topic was so random 'Foreign management principles do not apply to Indian management'. 15minutes is the duration and 350 words is they are expecting us to write in that time limit. And I start writing. Random thoughts coming in my mind and I'm busy jotting down every point. After all my career is at stake. And 15minutes deadline has expired and we are instructed to stop writing. Oh god, how much I hate it to be interrupted when my mind is flooding with ideas and thoughts. Hehe, jokes apart.. I wind it up and hand over my sheet. It's such a relief, half of the job for the day is done. Then we go for document checks and some other formalities. And now is the time to go for the interview. I'm called soon as I'm third on my panel. The girl before me she comes out and I ask her about interview questions. She talks about top stories of the day being asked in interview and I take newspaper from her and browsing through it like crazy. And suddenly door opens and one of the interviewer comes outside to call me and sees me with the newspaper and tells me, "Don't worry, we won't ask this question." Anyway I enter the room with confidence and a smile. After all a smile sets everything right! I pass my document file towards them but they dun even bother to open it. Poor me! They ask about my CAT, XAT scores, about all the calls I got, my RPET rank, hell am I supposed to remember a rank I got 5years back. Then they ask me about my plans 15 years hence after earning MBA. I tell them about my idea of entrepreneurship nad then they tell me to share my business idea with them. What the heck, I never had one! Anyway I tell them something or other. Then they ask about what I have been doing for 1year after my graduation and I tell them about my placement in Satyam and then they ask about Satyam fiasco. Since i used the word 'fiasco' I'm asked to tell it's meaning. Ha! the disaster seems to be putting me into one. Anyway I answer their question, somehow the right word clicked to me. Then they ask about my family and my father's profession makes way for the upcoming questions. Since my father is working in Statistics and Economics department, they ask me about Stats and Eco, the subjects I have never had a course in formally. Anyway I go on answering as much as I know. Then a few questions on telecom, IEEE standards and all and I answer few of them leaving 1-2 questions unanswered. Next they ask me about why I would join Satyam when I'm looking for a career in telecom. I tell them about all IT companies coming for placements and no telecom cos on campus and somehow try to prove IT and telecom as complementry to each other. And at last I'm asked to leave. But as they didn give me a chance to ask anything, I ask for their approval to go ahead with my question. The senior interviewer answers my query. And this brings an end to my interview. I come out pleased with my performance and exhilarated as finally it's OVER!!!

The Core Death

2009-01-28T03:12:00.000-08:00

What is this void within me

Sucking all the happiness,

And bounding my spirit which was

Once so free.

The tree which was green

Stands lifeless

Never knowing,

Chi was waiting to egress.

The place where,

Once life flourished

All the vitality

Now seems to be perished.

Little bud opened its eyes

Dancing with the joy,

Sky rised high.

As the days passed,

Shoot grew into a lovely flower.

Heavens seemed to drink

From its colourful shower.

Now stands the trunk

So dull and pale

Leaving no signs of life,

No energy trail.

That is how it goes on

A new life is born

To laugh, sing and dance

And eventually it vanishes off

But life moves on and on..

The beauty of mother nature

2009-01-22T08:23:00.000-08:00

Sitting on the cliff

Along the coastline

Keeping my eyes closed

Enjoying the aura so divine.

Away from the crowd,

In an ambience so serene

Waves striking and returning

In the depths of water so blue and clean.

Wind blowing, caressing my cheeks

Hugging and filling me deep with relief

Ripples in the sea are rhythmic,

Making with the breeze, a flawless sync

The melody fills the veins,

When nature plays with the perfection so plain.

Slowly I open my eyes

The lush green of algae

Makes a picturesque sight.

Sun rises

And comes above the horizon,

Painting on the canvas of sky

An orange yellow pattern.

The golden rays,

Spread all over

Giving a touch of tan

To blues of water,

And I smile and relish

The beauty of mother nature.

Clouds of fear, sun of success

2009-01-21T02:40:00.000-08:00

I stand on the podium,

Getting accolades

And applauds echoing in my ear

I remember those days, spent in fear.

The fear of failure,

The fear to lose,

A feeling I hated,

More than a booze.

It felt gloomy,

It felt dark

I used to wonder

Why I can't be a gay lark.

With the taxing times

Coming ahead

I could not find

Myself at rest.

Then came an angel,

Into my life

And helped me know,

Happiness does not come

Where anxieties rife.

I saw my angel,

I saw God

I looked back,

And I knew, fallacious is, what he was not.

He wiped the darkness

And helped me conquer the fear

He had this belief in me,

And was there for me to cheer.

He instilled in me

This very thought

Failure is not end, but a bend

And I consented with a nod.

I walked on the road to success,

I found the path

This journey from dusk to dawn,

Taught me I could have never seen the sun

With clouds of apprehension on my lawn.

A walk to remember

2009-01-20T23:51:00.000-08:00

Standing by my window

I look outside,

Going back to the memory lanes

Mind gets sweeped with emotional tide.

I look at the kids,

Playing in the street

They remind me of the childhood

That was a phase, very sweet.

Those were the days

When smiles and giggles mattered

Now reign the dreams,

Half fulfilled and half shattered!

Balloons, candies, toys

Made Aladdin's treasure

Even the millions we earn today,

Can't give that pleasure.

Better marks and grades,

Did not matter

Mickey and Minnie

Decorated room corner

When I ask myself,

What is childhood

A voice within me says,

It's when one doesn't have to

Worry about livelihood.

The carefree plays,

And joyful rides

Cycling down the streets,

And up on the hillside.

Rushing to the playground

With a gleeful laughter,

Mother warning and shouting

But never looking after!

A ball comes,

Swinging in the air

Bringing me back to the window,

I started from where!

The Almighty..

2009-01-20T07:17:00.000-08:00

He is great,

He is kind,

I bow my head,

In his shrine.

He is the knowledge,

He is the power,

He's the one,

Who gave me strength

To pull through so far.

He is the hope,

He is the Blessing,

He is the one,

Who keeps the world running.

He is faith,

He is fate

Wen in distress

Every one's mate.

His shower of blessings

Has no end

Anyone who believes in him,

Is welcome to his land.

He gave me mom,

He gave me dad,

A sweet little sister

To always hold my hand.

He preached love

He gave life

He made this beautiful Earth

Where we all survive.

He's the nature

He's the beauty

He's the light,

When everything feels murky.

He's the almighty

He's the GOD

The guiding force,

Protecting us all!

Are you the one I am in love with??

2009-01-19T23:49:00.000-08:00

The mystery remains within me

Are you the one i'm in love with?

You make me smile

And the other moment I have tears in my eyes.

One moment u make me feel wanted

And the other moment I feel you to be so indifferent.

This feeling gives me a tang of pain,

Still my feelings for you remain all the same.

Last night I saw a dream

You were there standing with all the gleam

Like a star shining up in the sky

Which can't be reached, no matter how hard I try!

They say Times change, people change

then why do my feelings for you remain the same?

I have seen you change

And this encourages me to change with your change.

Alas, you matter to me all the same.

Missing you is pleasure,

Missing you is pain

But it's the tender feeling for you that helps me sustain.

What is this feeling I don't know

But you are the one who makes me glow.

This relationship we share,

What you want to call it

I don't care.

I don't want to name it

I just know you are among the best things

That ever happened to me.

But tell me something

Are you the one I'm in love with???

Shahid does a Timberlake

2008-12-22T22:36:00.000-08:00

Quoted from The Times of India (Jaipur Times) issue dated Dec. 23rd'08

Ican’t call him the best dancer, I would rather say he’s a beast of a dancer,” said Justin Timberlake’s choreographer Marty Kudelka. These words weren’t in praise of the American pop idol, they were meant for our desi Justin – Shahid Kapoor.
Remember, JT gave you the news that Marty, who has made artistes like Janet Jackson, N’SYNC, Pink, Jennifer Lopez, OTown, Christina Milian, Mandy Moore and Donnell Jones dance to his tune, was going to make Shahid do the same for Ken Ghosh’s new film Yahoo! At Filmistan where Hollywood’s most sought after choreographer was at work, Shahid passed with flying colours.
But getting Marty to choreograph Shahid wasn’t easy. He first looked at one of Shahid’s songs before he agreed to come to Mumbai. Said a source, “He was very curious to work with Shahid after he watched that song.” Marty gave Shahid some tricky dance moves to try and the actor impressed him by picking them up in a jiffy. “Marty is pleased that Shahid left no stone unturned to get Justin’s super flexible moves,” added the source. Marty said, “Shahid is a fantastic dancer. He’s a fast learner. He’s incredibly focused and enthusiastic about his work. Given a chance to work in Bollywood again, I would love to work with Shahid once more.”

LAID BACK FLIGHT..

2008-12-10T00:57:00.000-08:00

When loneliness surrounds me,

I seek warmth and affection.

And i go back to those nostalgic memories.

But in the bask of sun,

Under the clear sky

I feel the warmth that gives me the strength,

To fly away across the blue sky.

I see flowers blossoming everywhere,

Which is a reflection of the bliss of my heart.

This joy, this feeling gives me hope

I'll someday reach those distant stars.

It seems the dreams are coming true,

Life's becoming passionate and worthy too.

And i fly up and high, in the bosom of sky...

Embracing the rainbows, that make me feel alive!!!

8-megapixel camera phone throwdown: Pixon vs Innov8 vs Renoir vs C905

2008-11-07T04:53:00.001-08:00

8-megapixel camera phone throwdown: Pixon vs Innov8 vs Renoir vs C905

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Sony Ericsson gets official with the W705 Walkman phone and the MBS-900 Bluetooth speaker

2008-11-07T04:48:00.001-08:00

Sony Ericsson gets official with the W705 Walkman phone and the MBS-900 Bluetooth speaker

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A thing of Beauty

2008-09-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

A thing of beauty is a joy for ever
Its lovliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.
Therefore, on every morrow, are we wreathing
A flowery band to bind us to the earth,
Spite of despondence, of the inhuman dearth
Of noble natures, of the gloomy days,
Of all the unhealthy and o'er-darkn'd ways
Made for our searching: yes, in spite of all,
Some shape of beauty moves away the pall
From our dark spirits. Such the sun, the moon,
Trees old and young, sprouting a shady boon
For simple sheep; and such are daffodils
With the green world they live in; and clear rills
That for themselves a cooling covert make
'Gainst the hot season; the mid-forest brake,
Rich with a sprinkling of fair musk-rose blooms:
And such too is the grandeur of the dooms
We have imagined for the mighty dead;
An endless fountain of immortal drink,
Pouring unto us from the heaven's brink.

Love..

2008-09-21T11:59:00.000-07:00

When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, and one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace and dullness. Love shows up in all forms, even very small and cheeky forms, it has never been a model, it could be the most dull and boring form- flowers, and romantic moments are only used and appear on the surface of the relationship.Under all this, the pillar of true love stands and that's our life. Love, not words win arguments.

Sometimes we expect far too much of the people around us, and because no one can ever live up to those expectations, we are almost always disappointed.Wouldn't it be better if we just let go, and let people be who they are? Then we'd be able to see them as they are, with all their beauty and goodness in which we take joy, and with all their faults which we too are not free from.

When we have put someone up on a pedestal, chiseling them to fit our needs and desires by smoothing out the old rough edges and creating new curves here and there, we cannot see the real person underneath our work. All we see is the illusion we have created. That is denying the person's real identity and is disrespectful.It's much better for our friends and for ourselves if we drop our expectations and illusions, and accept them all just the way they are.

Keeping Quiet- The passionate poetry of Pablo Neruda

2008-09-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

Now we will count to twelve

and we will all keep still.

This one time upon the earth,

let's not speak any language,

let's stop for one second,

and not move our arms so much.

It would be a delicious moment,

without hurry, without locomotives,

all of us would be together

in a sudden uneasiness.

The fishermen in the cold sea

would do no harm to the whales

and the peasant gathering salt

would look at his torn hands.

Those who prepare green wars,

wars of gas, wars of fire,

victories without survivors,

would put on clean clothing

and would walk alongside their brothers

in the shade, without doing a thing.

What I want shouldn't be confused

with final inactivity:

life alone is what matters,

I want nothing to do with death.

If we weren't unanimous

about keeping our lives so much in motion,

if we could do nothing for once,

perhaps a great silence would

interrupt this sadness,

this never understanding ourselves

and threatening ourselves with death,

perhaps the earth is teaching us

when everything seems to be dead

and then everything is alive.

Now I will count to twelve

and you keep quiet and I'll go.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Pablo Neruda, a Chilean poet, who happens to be a Nobel Prize winner is a renowned name in the world of literature. Pablo is recognized for his passionate verses to nature and love. New York times has remarked his as the most influential poet of Spanish language.

NeuroSky Sensor: Control Cell phones With Your Brain

2008-09-19T20:57:00.001-07:00

NeuroSky Sensor: Control Cell phones With Your Brain

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Suzuki's new star- A-star!!

2008-09-14T20:20:00.000-07:00

Suzuki has finally unveiled its new next generation alto- the Maruti A-Star, the hatchback version of Maruti's SX4. Maruti is introducing its new

K-series engine with this very car. This new engine is being seen as a generational change in maruti's engine technology. The 'K' series engine will be rolled out from Maruti's Gurgaon based plant in October. This engine is believed to be more fuel efficient than its anterior versions with less CO2 emissions. As the engine is environment friendly it is expected to get a better foothold in European markets.

Currently Suzuki has 5types of engines being used in its different models. F- series being used in its erstwhile models like maruti 800, omni, wagon R, G series(2 variants) in swift, swift dzire, versa, M series in SX4 and now K series in A-star.

Talking of the looks, the car is brutally attractive. Though there are many other cars which are more elegant and voguish but this car appeals through its sheer raw looks. None of the cars in the small segment(A segment) is a match for this particular car. The car has vibrant interiors with a pink illumination on the dashboard and has got a sporty look.

This sporty, chic, youthful car is going to replace all the earlier versions in the European markets. Though in India this car will be sold along with its former versions. A-star is expected to hit Indian market by the end of this year. Its production will begin by October end in Maruti's Manesar plant. The car will make its international debut through the motor show to be held in Paris in first week of October.

"The A-Star is in line with our global strategies of having a car platform that caters to a multitude of requirements and fits in with our 'family' theme," Osamu Suzuki, boss of this revered car major had stated early this year. "It is a model that will be produced here in India first."

Quick Specifications:

Model: vxi

Body type: hatchback version

Segment: A segment

Length:3580 mm

Width:1680 mm

Height:1400 mm

Seating capacity: 4

Steering: power

Expected price:2.7 lacs

Clam and Sideflip media phone

2008-09-12T20:46:00.001-07:00

Clam and Sideflip media phone

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Microsoft’s New Zune Music Players

2008-09-10T02:14:00.001-07:00

Microsoft’s New Zune Music Players

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61 years of Indian Independence

2008-08-14T22:07:00.001-07:00

Here comes India's Independence day, another year added to the glorious past of our free nation. It's a time when number of emotions are running across the Indians. India has seen may ups and downs and twists and turns ever since its independence. We have grown a lot in past 61 years and still there's a great deal to be done. Last decade has witnessed a substantial progress and upcoming years are expected to witness India's headway at a greater pace. But at the end of 61years still what flusters us is what India still lacks in, do we realize the true sense of freedom???

Freedom has different interpretations to different people. Freedom to me is a break off from age old shackles of superstition and irrationality. We are still living in a society divided on grounds of caste, creed, language, gender and what not!!! To grow further we need to stand as one nation. But here an Indian is annihilating his fellow countrymen. Looting, mugging, plundering, rapes, molestation are commonplace. Terrorism in the name of religion successfully knocks down the nation. Quotas and reservations add to it. Bureaucracy, red tapeism, corruption and poverty grip the nation. Age old rudiments such as dowry system still prevail. Dangerous democracy terrifies all.

But is it all the fault of the system??? We need to be more responsible. There's a lack of respect for our nation among the masses. We need to stop taking freedom for granted.

India, a land rich in its culture and traditions with a rich history can truly live to its image of a great nation only when freedom is realized in its true sense. Let's take a resolution to be honest and responsible towards our duties towards our lovable and great nation. Let's proud to be INDIANS!!!!!

Happy Independence day to all..!

The 3 mistakes of my life: book review

2008-06-15T01:23:00.000-07:00

The 3 mistakes of my life, another book by Chetan Bhagat written for Indians based on real events of an Indian. The characters of his book are young, passionate, ambitious and above all they are friends with the all those morals and ethos that of an Indian household. After the success of FPS and One nite @call centre, Bhagat has succeeded in scripting another story to be turned into a future blockbuster.

This is the story of Govind who has an acumen for maths and accounting, who's keen to be a businessman. They say business is in veins of Gujarat. It is a story of Ishaan, a military school dropout who quits army for his fervour for cricket. And there is Omi who unlike his father doesn't want to be a priest. This book is a combination of cricket, politics, religion, friendship, trust, mistakes and last but not the least, the most vital element of Bhagat's writing- love!

Story begins dramatically with author receiving an e-mail from Govind, a boy from Ahemdabad who took many sleeping pills and is on death bed. Author gets startled after receiving the mail and tracks down the guy from his e-mail ID and with the help of one of his professors at IIM. Govind narrates all the incidents of past that make this book 'The 3 mistakes of my life'.

Govind sets up a cricket shop to realize his dream of being a businessman and to support his friends to have a career of their choice and what added further to their business was Maths coaching given by Govind and cricket classes by Ishaan. And then Ishaan comes in contact with Ali, a young 12 years old child whose every strike results in a six due to hyper-reflex action of his brain. Guiding Ali and making him a star cricketer becomes Ishaan's goal of life. Another important character of the story is Omi's maternal uncle, Bittoo mama who is a communal party member who's keen to use the three young men to incite the communal feelings among the common masses for party's advantage. And then is Govind's love for his best friend's sister which is a violation of the unsaid protocol among men. Their lives take a turn when the city burns in the fire of the communal riots. Govind faces a nightmare when his betrayal comes in light with Ishaan knowing about Govind's unacceptable love for his sister and situation becomes grave with the loss of Omi. Govind's life is too messed up to pull through and he decides to give away his life.

Chetan Bhagat has touched the heart of Indian youth and a man remembering him in the last minutes of his life proves it.

The novel has dealt with issues like Bhuj earthquake and the Godhra issue very sensitively. It has got all the elements for a perfect bollywood flick. All in all, this book is ideal for whiling away with time, a simple, lucidly written book that one can finish reading in one go. Not as excellent as FPS, yet worth givin a try!!!!!

My ratings for this book: 7 on a scale of 10

Shahid Kapoor: my heartthrob

2008-05-24T04:54:00.000-07:00

This page would have been incomplete without an entry on the person i adore like anything- Shahid Kapoor, the young actor who has a huge fan following that includes not only the youngsters but the little children too. Recently when Shahid was shooting for a movie in a school based at Pune, as soon as the school bell rang for the lunch break, some 200 odd children gathered there just to have a glimpse of their favourite star. Even after the recess was over children did not return to their classrooms until Shahid didn't spend some time with them. Now that is the charm of the actor that drew students out of the classrooms.

Born on February25th'1981 to actor Pankaj Kapoor and classical dancer and actress Neelima Azeem in Delhi, Shahid Kapoor is an actor and a model. He moved to Mumbai at an early age of10. His parents divorced when he was just 3. He spent most of his time with his mother. Before starting his career as an actor he worked in many commercials including complan with Ayesha Takia and pepsi co-starring Shahrukh Khan, Rani Mukherjee and Kajol. he performed in videos as well. Aankho mein tera hi chehra by Aryans was a smashing hit. After completing his schooling he joined Shiamak Davar's institute for performing arts and learned dancing with the legend of choreography, Shiamak Davar. His first break in films came from Ken Ghosh and Shahid made his debut through Ishq-vishk which was a big hit and his performance was admired and it earned him Filmfare award for best male debut and since then there has been no stopping. Shahid has given many good movies which were acclaimed by the critics. His recent hit was Jab We Met with Kareena Kapoor and he got nominated for Star Screen Award for best actor and a blockbuster Vivah despite of a theme which doesn't appeal much to the youngsters.

As an actor he's exceptionally brilliant and he outstands many of the bollywood actors in the emotional sequences. He looks fresh and with that innocent and cute look of his, he has won over viewers' hearts. He has grown a lot since his appearance as an actor and continues to grow with every new movie. He's climbing the ladders of success with his every new release and has established himself as a prominent actor. May he continues climbing steps of scuccess. Milenge Milenge and Paathshala are in pipeline and Kismat Connection is ready for release and is expected to be released by mid July!!!!!

To watch promos of Shahid's upcoming movie Kismat Connection click here

Maximum City: book review

2008-05-23T20:42:00.000-07:00

Maximum City- best non fiction book on Mumbai. Mehta left Mumbai when he was 14 and then he returned 21 years later to re-discover the city. The suburbs of Mumbai and people dwelling there make Suketu's Bombay. Author jots down his own experiences with the city. Mehta cavorts around the gangsters, the bar girls, the movie makers, the cable-men, top cops of Mumbai, the politicians and persuades them to come out with their stories and piles up those stories into an engrossing narrative. Every single detail presented by the author in a magnificent way would keep the readers absorbed from the beginning to the end. One can't just put it down. The book is an excursion of the city which happens to be the largest and the most ruined metropolis of the country.

Mehta has divided the whole book in 3 major sections each focusing the irreplaceable aspects of the city. Every section deals with the subject well.

Author makes an opening with his childhood memoirs. His journey from Bombay to New York, Paris, London and back to Bombay turned into Mumbai to get back to the personal geography redefined makes a good outset. Mehta is stunned to see the changes city has witnessed ever since he left. His sojourn with the gangsters- Sunil, Satish and others(all names changed), the powerful people like Bal Thackrey, bar dancers like Monalisa(name changed), top cops like Ajay Lal(name changed), luminaries from bollywood like Vidhu Vinod Chopra and his experiences with them make an account through rest of the pages.

On the whole, Maximum City is a stunningly written prominent book which lets one explore the dark sides of the vivid and gaudy Mumbai with a sensual gratification.

An enjoyable masterpiece on mumbai-the maximum city!!!!!!!

Rating for this book as a non-fiction : 9.5/10