Value for money Videocon V1306 April 21, 2010

I purchased this mobile only a few days back and am pretty much satisfied by the performance.

The mobile is absolutely packed with all features except camera and serves well as an entry-level model. It is a light weight phone with dual sim. The battery back up is decent. It has 2GB memory card slot and polyphonic ringtones. An in-built antenna serves well to people who rely on FM when in city. A colored display and very easy to use interface will serve as a competitor to entry-level Nokia and Samsung models.

If you have a forgetful husband or careless kids or simply you want a small package replete with features; go this Videocon mobile.

Videocon V1306 mobile

5 things which disappear when you need them the most. April 16, 2010

This title I picked from Kiran Manral’s blogspot: http://thirtysixandcounting.wordpress.com/2010/04/13/five-things-that-disappear-just-when-you-need-them

I was inclined to list out those 5 things which disappear when I need them the most

1. The keys- When you are trying to reach for keys, they are deep down in your handbag buried under universe of relevant and not-so-relevant items. Key will be the last to emerge from handbag. By the time this happens, my daughter would be staring at me giving that familiar u-did-it-again look.

1. Kurta buttons – I can never find them. So I stopped purchasing kurtas for my husband. I simply cannot locate them when he needs them the most.

1. The mobile – Can’t write anymore. I can’t find it. Though I have taken an initiative to place it on the mobile stand and make this a habit.

I want to write 5 things. I need to rush now. SO will update it later.

Dahi_Sev_Puri Recipe March 25, 2010

I am adding a Recipe cateory to this blog. The recipes that I have tried and tested will find an entry here.

Dahi-Sev-Batata Khakra

Ingredients
1. Boiled potatoes
2. Onions
3. Sev
4. Ginger-garlic paste (optional)
5. Chaat masala
6. Curd
7. Puri or khakra

Mash the boiled potatoes in a bowl
Add finely chopped onions to it
Add finely chopped cabbages to it
Add finely chopped coriander to it..
Add salt, chilly powder, chaat masala to taste.
Add curd to the above mixture and mix it nicely.
Then crush Khakra in small pieces and mix it.

Serve it in a dish, garnish with Sev

Note: You can add khatta imli ka paani to it also.
However that will result in acidity.So I avoided it.
Ginger garlic paste is also optional for same reason
as above.

It served as a nice evening snack for my daughter.I want
her to eat more veggies, so I add any combination that is
at my disposal.

Recipes-tried and tested only March 25, 2010

I am adding a Recipe category to this blog. The recipes that I have tried and tested will find an entry here.

At five in the afternoon February 22, 2010

This post is about the movie I saw on some channel named “At five in the afternoon”.

I did not get a chance to see the movie full length. I viewed it somewhere half way through the start. This film had a deep impact on me and hence I am writing this post.

I will not go into the story much, rather only disclose that it is journey of a woman in a land called Afghanistan.First of all, it captures the landscape of Afghanistan unlike anything we have seen on TV. It is vast, barren and devoid of any life form. The rocky surface and empty moutains make it all the more lifeless. There is no trace of vegetation. And it showed the land in a manner that I will not want to witness myself. The only sight of this land made me feel the hardships one must be facing to survive. Yes, survive is the word. One has to survive the harsh weather, hostile regime (whichever it is), warring lords and crooked human nature.

As a person who can easily voice one’s opinion, one who can easily get that bucketful of water by turning on a tap, one who does not have to sacrifice the only possessions of one’s life only to survive, I consider my self very lucky to say the least in context of this movie.

One of the few scenes imprinted on my mind is when the lady loses her infant child in her arms and carries the infant with her for 3 days with the hope that it is frozen and not dead and will get up soon.  Second one is when there is nothing left to light a bonfire to keep the entourage warm against the chilly,harsh afghani weather and the old man is forced to burn the carriage.How symbolic!! The carriage is the only thing they can rely upon to travel the distance. they have to chose between the immediate necessity to survive against the comfort of traveling on the horse carriage.

The essence of a Afghan life is captured beautifully and realistically by the director, a woman.

CLint Eastwood’s films and his characters February 8, 2010

I watched Mystic River yesterday.
It is was so much typical Clint Eastwood drama. I have also watched his earlier award-winning flick “Million dollar baby”.

Each of his leading actors is portrayed as troubled people. They either have a traumatic upbringing or a tumultuous relationship with their parents/home. And it is always the unrelated friends or discovered acquaintances who help the protagonist in a big way to overcome the problems they have faced during movie.

An eerie feeling about how life would have been different had the characters made or not made a few decisions which they ended up making. Thats what i felt upon watching Dave Boyle from Mystic River. As Dave is being killed by Jimmy; I thought why did Dave not tell the truth to his wife? His sufferings as a child were well-known to the entire town; so why hide it from wife dear? Also why did he not simply gather strength to tell at least some story to his wife if not the truth?

 Also in question is his wife Celeste. Why does she not believe Dave? He looked so harmless in the marriage and the contrary to this is not mentioned in the movie. What was the need for her to approach Jimmy with her doubts? She would have saved her hubby had she only managed to wriggle the truth from him. Dave got killed in the process. And all that Celeste was left with was desperation, heart-break and loneliness.Her one inane action left her son despondent.From the look of it,Dave was a very doting father.Jimmy among others is very predictable. He did what he thought was necessary and is also clear that had the police nailed the killers earlier, Dave would have never been killed.

At the end of the movie I felt very bad for Dave. Such an innocuous person bore the brunt of everything;circumstances, relatives, his own attitude and finally LUCK.We are left with Orphaned Micheal, heartbroken and crestfallen Celeste, repentant Jimmy, helpless Sean and unlucky but dead Dave!!

Parched Future for India? February 5, 2010

The water woes and electricity woes of India @60 stand staring at my face. The country with ever increasing population faces some problems which are not very different from Bijli, Sadak, Pani; increasing life expectancy, decreased land under cultivation, changes in weather patterns and its subsequent effect on Agri-business needs to be addressed and addressed fast.

There are no major power generation plants under planning. How long can we depend on thermal and hydro power plants? It is time to look at renewable sources of energy. Every one knows that but no one is taking concrete steps towards it.

I think to initiate steps like these; some major overhaul needs to happen; like what happened in 1991 when magician finance minister Manmohan Singh rescued India from License Raj and paved the way for development.

Who is going to be the new era Manmohan Singh or Montek Singh who will have the ‘WILL’ and the power and responsibility to take India into the new age of excesses.

Is Mod se jate hain February 5, 2010

Is Mod Se Jaate Hain

Is Mod Se Jaate Hain – (2)
kuchh Sust Qadam Raste Kuchh Tez Qadam Raahe – (2)
patthar Ki Haveli Ko Shishe Ke Gharaundo Mein
tinko Ke Nasheman Tak Is Mod Se Jaate Hain
aa?is Mod Se Jaate Hain

aandhi Ki Tarha Ud Kar Ik Raah Guzarti Hai – (2)
sharmaati Huwi Koyi Qadmo Se Utarti Hai
in Reshmi Raaho Mein Ik Raah To Woh Hogi
tum Tak Jo Pahonchti Hai Is Mod Se Jaati Hai
is Mod Se Jaate Hain

ik Door Se Aati Hai Paas Aake Palat-Ti Hai – (2)
ik Raah Akeli Si Ruktii Hai Na Chalti Hai
ye Soch Ke Baithhi Hu Ik Raah To Woh Hogi
tum Tak Jo Pahonchti Hai Is Mod Se Jaati Hai
is Mod Se Jaate Hain – (2)
kuchh Sust Qadam Raste Kuchh Tez Qadam Raahe
patthar Ki Haveli Ko Shishe Ke Gharaundo Mein
tinko Ke Nasheman Tak Is Mod Se Jaate Hain
aa?is Mod Se Jaate Hain

Lyrics from: http://www.6lyrics.com/music/lata_mangeshkar/lyrics/is_mod_se_jaate_hain.aspx

Decade recap January 7, 2010

Decade recap

2001, what a year it was, one that polarized the world like never before. WTC attacks divided the world into east and west, on grounds of religion, on basis of nationalities and these divisions will haunt us for years to come. Afghanistan was the first causality of 9/11 attacks. 2002 passed in the shadow of WTC attacks and no American felt secure or invincible anymore.

Then with Iraq war ensued in 2003, and the divisions were more permanent.

Then the unthinkable happened. A phenomenon we read only in books happened and when it did, we looked in horror. Tsunami: The tidal waves hit the shores of Indian peninsula among other south Asia pacific coastlines and 2004 was not ordinary anymore. It was registered in the future editions of Geography books.

If 2004 ended with natural disasters, 2005 followed up with massive earthquake in Kashmir. (I cannot forget picture of a school in shambles). Also to hit US of A was hurricane Katrina. The pictures of southern states showed how America lied under water and how difficult it was for the administration to reach out to the suffering population.

2006 saw the debate against reservation in India. The medical community spearheaded the campaign. It saw the end Saddam Hussein, dreaded dictators of recent times.

Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in 2007.

Mumbai was under attack. Few gunmen held the city and 2 of its most prestigious hotels to ransom for more than 90 hours. I refuse to talk about spirit of Mumbai or inaction of government. A word of mention for Karambir Kang

2009: Michael Jackson bid adieu to the world, recession of 2009 hit the world.

I have skipped a few events in this list. The surge in prices of gold from INR 4500 to 17K something today, release of Harry Potter series and various attacks on Indian soil

Kurbaan, of a otherwise good story January 2, 2010

Kurbaan has a wonderful story. A very contemporary story. Only that it should have been handled deftly.

The most foolish part is Vivek Oberoi refusing to contact FBI when he  gets to know of the plot. Seriously it is a crime and he can be tried for it. Kareena is the only saving grace of movie. She handles the talented, in love, confused and then betrayed part of character wonderfully. Her anger on Ehsaan is evident every time their eyes meet. Saif is a total disappointment. He hardly looks anything like a dreaded Khalid, he is supposed to be.

Best part of the movie. In the closing sequence, Avantika ask Ehsaan his real name. (I wonder can any one think of this question when their life is at stake)