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கையில்

ஒரு கோப்பை சிவப்பு திராட்சை ரசத்துடன்

பாரதியை

இளையராஜவின் இசையில்

ரசித்தேன் இன்று..!!

தனி ஒரு மனிதனுக்கு
உணவில்லையெனில்
ஜகத்தினை அழித்திடுவோம்!!

மெய் சிலிர்த்தேன்!

Northern California - Smoky

Smoky Northern California

Photo courtesy: MODIS

I've lived in Northern California since August-2000. I've experienced the following events that shook me up:

• A 4.5 Earthquake that hit Napa in Aug-2000
• Heavy rains cutting off I-80 near Fairfield, on Jan-1-2006
• A major fire in my area that almost came near my apartments
  
• A couple of small earthquakes, the latest a few weeks back
• The current wild fires and smoke

I must say that this has been the worst till date. I wrote last week about the smoky sky and even posted a photo. Since then, the fires have grown and NORCAL is under a cloud of smoke. Health experts are asking us to stay indoors as much while recirculating the air at home.

Today, looks like another dangerous day with a lot of Lightening strikes predicted. I hope and pray we don't have any new fires.

I'd like to salute the fire fighters and other organizations who are on the lines fighting the fires.

Field Marshal - Sam Manekshaw passes away

Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw
1914 - 2008

(Photo courtesy: The Web)

Field Marshal Mr. Sam Manekshaw is no more. I felt very sad to read about his death today.

I have good memories of reading about Mr.Manekshaw during my High School Indian History classes.

The India I know of, doesn't respect Men in Uniform. They are easily forgotten and are only honored in History books. I am not the only one who feels that way, I learnt. I listened /watched a recent show in NDTV where there was a debate on this issue.

Countless lives are lost everyday on the borders. How many died during the Kargil war? How many during the other wars. How about the IPKF ?

How many War memorials do we have in India? What is the biggest one and where is it? We have memorials for our politicians everywhere ! Please tell me, do we have a holiday honoring the soldiers ? Why not ? When we have holidays for politicians' death anniversaries !

I remember a dialogue in 'Kandukondein Kandukondein' where actor Mamooty laments that no one came to welcome the soldiers home after the IPKF mission.

Anyways

I pray to god for Mr.Manekshaw's soul to rest in peace.

WALL-E - Awesome

Pixar/Disney magic again.
Wonderful movie.
Watched it last night with my family.

I always wonder, how they come up with such wonderful themes.

Wall-E is a must see.

James Vasanthan - Subramaniyapuram

James Vasanthan - Who is this guy?

I didn't know anything about him, until I got a comment today from a good soul 'Balaji' for my Reethi Gowla Post.

Balaji, thanks for letting me know about this song.

James Vasanthan is the Music Director for the movie Subramaniyapuram. I listened to the song Kangal Irundal and got a good feeling about James. I feel that he has a good taste for melodies. I liked his ReethiGowla presentation.

The singers Belly Raj and Deepa Mariam have done a great job indeed. Lyricist Thamarai's lines are very nice. I felt that James could have made the interludes a little more grand. Wondering how ARR / IR / VS would have handled this song.

Personally I love a few raagas and ReethiGowla is one of them. Gives a great feeling when you listen to it.

Here is a list of songs that I am aware of in this Raaga.

Chinna Kanna Azhaikkiraan - Ilayaraja - Kavikkuyil

Azhagaana Raakshasiye - A.R.Rahman - Mudhalvan

Thalaiyai Kuniyum Thaamaraiye - Ilayaraja - Oru Odai Nadhiyagiradhu

Meettadha oru veenai - Ilayaraja - Poonthottam

Kaadhan Neruppin - GV.Prakash - Veyyil

Sudum Nilavu - Vidyasagar - Thambi

Raman Kadhai KelungaL - Ilayaraja - SippikkuL Muthu

TheendaTheenda - Vidyasagar - Thulluvadho Ilama

Kangal Irundal - James Vasanthan - Subramaniyapuram

Mugilinamey keladi - Bhavatharini - Amirtham

Please help me find the one by Bhavatharini. I heard raving reviews about that song..but somehow couldn't find it.

Sun and smoke

(Nikon D50 - Nikkor 18-200 VR)

Summer is fire season in California.

I went to Vacaville Premium outlets this afternoon. The sky was grey. For a few minutes I thought it was a storm but realized soon, thanks to the smell of smoke that it was a fire somewhere nearby.

The sun was still high at 7.30 PM, but it was a glowing orange due to the smoke

Not sure if any homes were lost due to these fires, but it looked very scary indeed.

Hotels.com sucks

What a bad experience..I will never use this website to book my hotel again.

I am in LA this week on training. Booked my hotel room via Hotels.com. The operator assisted call ( had a lot of questions on the Internet access etc.) was very sweet. I was asked about the floor I wanted to choose, smoking preference and a few other preferences before my room was confirmed. I was even told that I will get a room with a desk !!

I landed at the hotel yesterday evening and found out that all non-smoking rooms were gone. I showed my reservation to the hotel staff. They showed their confirmation..and it said 'SMOKING' while mine said 'NON SMOKING'. I was frustrated. I was too tired and decided to move to the room and then call Hotels.com.

I called them and to my shock and surprise they told me to 'Read the fine print' on the reservation. They added that only the room is guaranteed...not the preferences. I checked the fine print..didn't see anything about all this !

What a shame, HOTELS.COM. I will never again use your website. I am also going to write to BBB about this.

I am glad I don't have my kids/wife along, in a smoking room!!

Hanuman - Chairman ?

Photo courtesy: The Web

If you are going to study at Sardar Bhagat Singh College of Technology and Management, Lucknow, India you are lucky !!

Hanuman, the popular god known for his strength and valor, has been named official chairman of the recently opened Sardar Bhagat Singh College of Technology and Management in northern India, a school official said Saturday.

The position comes with an incense-filled office, a desk and a laptop computer. Four chairs will be placed facing the empty seat reserved for the chairman and all visitors must enter the office barefoot, said Vivek Kangdi, the school's vice chairman.

News courtesy: CNN

Comment Moderation - Off

I was debating the last few days, if it is good idea to moderate comments.

Finally today, I decided that I shouldn't do that. I respect your comments be it harsh or whatever as long as there are no curse words which I don't encourage.

Sorry about enabling comment moderation the last few days.

I am boycotting 'Dasavatharam'

ஆம்பலை ஓம்பினோம் !!

அன்றே நினைத்தேன் இது தொடருமென்று

இதோ தசாவதாரத்திற்கும் 15$ ஆம்!

என் நிலை ( நான் கமல் ரசிகன் தான் ) இன்றும் அதேதான்!

15$ கொடுத்து பார்க்க நான் தயார் இல்லை.

DVD வரட்டும் பார்த்துக்கொள்கிறேன்!

--*--

This is an organized plan by the group that buys these movies for screening here in the US. In my opinion we should fight this.

We pay a big tag ( I will have to pay 60$ for my family) , the people who screen the movie make money, finally it goes down the food chain. Considering the economy and the recession we are in, I strongly recommend each and every one of my readers to please consider this.

Let's teach the distributors and screeners a lesson here. Don't watch the movie in theaters if possible ( atleast the 1st few weeks ) !

I am sure that if this trend continues, movies like KURIVI, KAAKA, ELI, PANNI, NAAI, NANDU etc..etc..will all cost us 15$ soon. So please...let's reverse this bad trend !

Numerology

A friend of mine recently changed his name from 'JAYARAMAN' to 'JEYARAMAN'. I asked him why ? He said someone advised him to change it based on Numerology.

I being me....asked him ...Did you change it in your Mother Tongue Tamil also ? He said ...No ! It is still ஜெயராமன்.

I laughed and...he got the point!

My question for all the people who've changed their names in English like S.Ve.Shekar etc.

All of you have the same names in Tamil isn't it ?

And your mother tongue is Tamil.

Tell me how the name change in English...helps you ?

No SSN , No Stimulus

I had a brief conversation with an IRS rep. on Friday ( after being on hold for 20 minutes ) about the Stimulus payment for my younger daughter who did not have a SSN.

I've been paying taxes using her Tax Identification Number, which was issued by IRS in-lieu of the SSN ( The last few years SSN's are not issued for spouses / kids ). The IRS took my taxes the last 8 years with my daughter's TIN but now, they can't pay the stimulus check since she doesn't have a valid SSN.

Prabhu sent me a link yesterday which explains this pathetic situation. This is plain nonsense. I wish the AILA or some other organization here in the US takes this case up.

Personally, I am writing a letter to the Senators from the Bay Area explaining the situation. Let's see what happens.