வேஷம்..!

Photo courtesy: THE HINDU

பெரியார் கொள்கை
கடவுள் இல்லை
மூட நம்பிக்கை கூடாது
என்றெல்லாம்
பறை சாற்றிவிட்டு

கழக தொண்டர்கள்..

தலைவருக்கு, பிறந்த நாள் கொண்டாடுகின்றனர்

அதற்கு தலைவரும் போயிருக்கிறார் !

முதல்வருக்கு பிறந்த நாள் கொண்டாடுவது OK என்றால்
பெரியாருக்கு திவசம் போடலாமே இறந்த நாளன்று?

US Economy - Recession ?

Photo courtesy: The Web

US Economy is slowing down...US is probably heading to a recession. We've all heard it loud and clear.

Prices of almost everything has gone up. Gas price is around 4.15$ per gallon here in the Bay area.

The stimulus checks have arrived. So, will this help the US economy ?

Looked like that today! I went to a couple of Bay area stores and just could not get out...the lines were long and the parking lots were all full.

Not sure what it means, but thanks to the crowds, I saved my stimulus check money and came back home tired.

PS - What am I planning to do with my stimulus check ? Hmm...I am eyeing the SB-600 FLASH and a 18-200 VR Nikon Lens for my D50.

Indian TV - No creativity?

A few weeks back I wrote about my favorite music director Ilayaraja, lifting tunes from all over. I was saddened.

Today, I read about this TV show in India 'Kya Aap Paanchi Paas se Tez Hain'.

Looks like a copy of the show 'Are you smarter than a 5th grader', that is on here in the USA.


I wonder where the creativity has gone !

Everything from the West is copied...and now even TV shows !

I am happy for the audience who'll get a break from those pathetic soaps !

Shyama Sastri's descendants - Poverty

Photo courtesy: The web

I was shocked when I read about Sri.Shyama Sastri's descendants in GANESH's BLOG today.

I had tears in my eyes when I read this THE HINDU.

Carnatic music fans living anywhere in the world have Sri.Shyama Sastri in their hearts for his brilliant compositions. It is sad to see his descendants in poverty.

I am not sure how to help though my heart aches for the families !

I wish some blogger in Chennai goes home, meets the family and organizes a fund raiser.

Please write to me if you can help.

specialdosa at gmail dot com

BJP wins in Karnataka

Top agenda for BJP

Blackout cheerleaders in IPL

Not so important:

Everything else !

Victoria's Secrets - For Men in Tamil Nadu

BREAKING NEWS

VICTORIA'S SECRETS

is

opening exclusive outlets in Tamil Nadu, India

for Men !

Can you guess the name they've chosen for the outlets ?

சிதம்பர ரகசியம் !

Thanks

Jay Venkitu !

ஏன் எனக்கு இறைவா?

ஒரிரு வாரங்கள்

மனசுக்குள் மத்தாப்பு!

நெஞ்சு பஞ்சாக!

தேகம் தெம்பாக!

பொறுக்கவில்லை

இறைவனுக்கு !!

இன்று..

மத்தாப்பை ஆப்பாக்கி!

மொத்தமாக

OFF அக்கிவிட்டார்

இறைவனையும் உழைப்பையும் மட்டுமே நம்பும் நான், இது போன்ற நிகழ்வுகளை வாழ்வில் சந்திக்கும் பொழுது..

ஏன் எனக்கு இறைவா ?

என்று கேட்பேன்.

இன்றும் அதே கேள்வி தான்.....

ஏன் எனக்கு இறைவா?

Great photo

When I saw this photo today I was speechless.

Gold and India

Can you distinguish between a 14,18,22 Karat Gold ornament ? I can't.

I ask the question to many of my friends and most of them tell me they can't either just by looking. ( Honestly I can't even distinguish the different varieties even if I feel them ).

That said, we all know that India is the maximum consumer of Gold in our World today. And Indians never go near what is branded as less than 22 Karats.

How many stores in India sell authentic Gold ? I've heard and read a lot that most of the Gold sold in India is only 18-21 Karats..though they are branded 22 karats.

I know there are a few stores like Tanishq who have an instrument to check the quality of Gold , not sure if it's available everywhere.

My questions here:

1. Why are Indians still crazy after 22 / 24 Karat Gold ?
2. Will Indians ever come out of this Gold craze ?
3. If India reduces Gold consumption will the prices fall ?
4. Would that be a good thing ?
   

PS - I hear and read about a lot of breakins into Desi homes here in the USA because it's common knowledge that most have a lot of Gold !

Yaadein by Somas

What can music do to a person ?

I realized it today, when I listened to Somas's Yaadein song.

So soothing, I fell asleep.

Somas has a wonderful voice, nice control, superb emotions !

Please listen to Somas and let him know your thoughts.

Thanks to the Internet we get to listen to beautiful voices like Somas's !

My sincere thanks to Jo for showcasing these
amazing artists via audio India

What's your weakness ?

I've heard this question thrown at me several times during my career. If it were outside of career I can easily answer it.

Yesterday, I got into the same situation. I was asked about that one point that will make me stand out at work and also one point that would be my weakness. Did I stumble...not sure, but I was uncomfortable !

This question always bothers me. What is your experience? How would you answer this?

I remember the early days of my career when a few colleagues of mine had said 'Girls' as a response to this question !

God Men / Women - Frauds

Looking at terror and natural calamities happening all over the world, I wonder where God is and what he is doing these days?

Sometimes I even wonder if there is a superpower that we call 'God'. Well...let's not go there.

This is about the so called GOD MEN/GOD WOMEN in my homeland India. I always felt that they were nothing but 'Frauds'. It is a shame that there are tons of them in India. I don't know if other countries have such human beings who have the so called ' Super powers '.

If these GOD MEN/WOMEN have real super powers as several people claim why can't they help the world out. I can give them a big list of what they can do to India and to the world as well.

Let's go from back, they could have saved a few hundred lives in Jaipur if they had the powers as several claim. They could have saved thousands in Myanmar and China ! They'll have their hands full...if indeed they had the super powers !

IMHO - GOD MEN/WOMEN are all super frauds. I am glad my parents gave me education and I am happy to report that it has helped me in this matter.

Jaipur Blasts

80 people dead

200 people injured

That's the status as I write this.

May the departed souls

rest in peace.

May the injured

recover fast and full.

God, give the families the courage

to

face this terrible tragedy.

**-**

IPL Cheerleaders - perverted camera crew

"I think there is nothing wrong in the concept of cheerleaders. They add value. The only thing I don’t like is the way cameras go up their skirts. That is the only thing I do not approve of,” says Mandira.

I agree 100% with what Mandira Bedi says. I've been watching IPL matches the last few days and I even saw a shot of the Cheerleaders dancing, where they were shown upside down !

What a shame !! These perverted camera crew must be sacked for portraying these beautiful women in such poor taste. They add fire to the controversies that are going around. These idiots must learn from the camera crew here in the NBA / NFL.

I wish IPL spoke a few words to these idiots aka. IPL camera crew.

IPL Cheerleaders

PIZZA வேண்டும்

ஆனால்..

SAUCE வேண்டாம்

MUSHROOM வேண்டாம்

CHEESE வேண்டாம்

TOPPINGS வேண்டாம்

மாவு போதுமென்றால்

அதற்கு பெயர்

PIZZA இல்லை

DOSA / NAAN / ROTI !

IPL Cheerleaders

நன்றி - IBNLIVE

அமெரிக்க / மேற்கத்திய

உணவு, உடை

பணம், பொருள்

ஆதரவு

லொட்டு லொசுக்கு

எல்லாம் OK

ஆனால்

Cheerleaders வேண்டாம் !

லஞ்ச லாவண்யம்

வன்முறை

மதவாதம்

சின்ன வீடுகள்

ஆபாச திரைப்படங்கள்

எல்லாம் OK

ஆனால்

CHEERLEADERS...

ஐயோ..ஐயோ!

வேண்டாம்..வேண்டாம்

கலாச்சாரம் அழிந்துவிடும் !

Best wishes Jenna and Henry!

Photo courtesy: CNN.COM

President Bush's daughter Jenna Bush married Henry Hager on Saturday May-10-2008.
"Best Wishes for a Happy Married Life"

வரலாறு

வரலாறு நீ படைக்கணும்

இவர் யாரு

உலகம் வியக்கணும்

உந்தன் பேரென்ன ஊரென்ன

குலமென்ன குடியென்ன

என்பதை மறந்து

இன்றைய நிலையென்ன நிஜமென்ன

பொருளென்ன என்பதை

நித்தமும் உணர்ந்து

உடல் மறந்து

முகம் மலர்ந்து

தலை நிமிர்ந்து

துயர் துடைக்க கரம் உயர்த்து

மனிதா!

*-*-*

( இந்த பாடலை யாராவது நிறைவு செய்யுங்களேன் - தயவுசெய்து)

IPL - Punjab vs. Chennai

I couldn't resist the temptation when DirecTv offered the IPL matches 'Live' for 59$. Called today and subscribed for the remaining games.

It was a nail biting match today. To see 'MAC' stadium aka 'Chepauk' stadium from here in the USA LIVE packed with spectators and celebrities alike was remarkable indeed. Add the glamor of the home team 'Chennai Super Kings' beating the 'Kings XI Punjab' and I got my money's worth the very first day.

I write this after watching Balaji bowl today. I am glad he is back from his injury. He bowled very well and truly deserved the Hatrick. I used to be a big fan of Balaji and I hope and pray he stays fit and gets back into the Indian team.

Dhoni and Badrinath played very well and Marsh and Pathan made the match a thriller !

Players like Harbhajan and Sreesanth should learn from Balaji. He was calm as a monk when the stadium was erupting in joy.

Way to go Balaji !

Tabu - Namesake - Wonderful

The clip above from the tamil movie 'Nayagan' makes my eyes wet whenever I watch it. It's been over 20 years since this movie came out, yet it hits me straight in my heart where it is soft.

I admire quite a few men for their amazing acting skills, the top being Kamalhasan. Close to him are Dustin Hoffman, Michael Douglas, Mohanlal, Thilakan and Prakash Raj to name a few.

Among women, I have never thought of anyone as a great actor until I saw 'Namesake' yesterday. Tabu...wow...she is amazing! She has beauty and great acting in her. I've admired her acting skills in Kandukonden Kandukonden and Cheeni Kum but 'Namesake' IMHO has polished the diamond in Tabu. She is beautiful and dazzles in her acting as well.

Hat's off to Mira Nair for casting Tabu in that role in 'Namesake'. Wonderful story by 'Jhumpa Lahiri'. Wonderful background scores and nice photography as well. Sharp dialogues. What a movie.

People like me who live the American Dream, will one day face situations like the movie portrays..that's for sure.

I am prepared !

India's Independence - Document

Can someone please point me to the

'Document of the Declaration of India's Independence from the British'.

I'd like to know where the original is.
I'd like to know what was written in the proclamation.
Who signed it from Indian side / British side ?

Is it in a museum in India? Are the public allowed to see it?

Have you seen it? Is it in the web anywhere?

NRI prejudice

NRI - Non Resident Indian

Can he/she write about the problems in India ? Can he/she write about corruption, quality of life and other such problems in India that bothers him/her ?

I've seen quite a few bloggers complain and even curse NRIs for doing the things above. Though it doesn't bother me a lot to see such comments / curses, it does hurt me a little.

I would like to iterate that a NRI and RI both have equal rights to write/complain about India just as they have the rights to be proud of their homeland ! I don't see anything wrong here.

I was born and raised in India and had to face problems that bothered me and affected me and my family. I got a chance to become an NRI and I live happily here in the USA. Yeah..I am really happy.

I love this country where I live. I don't have to face day-to-day problems that my beloved ones in India face. I must consider myself lucky !

But then, I do care about India just like an RI would do, heck I even care more. An NRI doesn't need to blow his/her pipes about what he has done/does for his/her homeland. Many take a cheap shot and ask me:

What are you doing about it ?

My answer to that:

I don't need to tell you what I did / what I do.
Tell me, what you are doing.
Don't tell me - I live in India. It means nothing.
Why don't you join the Indian army and serve the motherland ?