My Heart Attack

I suffered a heart attack a few months back (Sept-2008).

I've been wanting to write about it but I had to wait since I hadn't told my parents (fear that they will worry a lot ).

Finally a few days back, I told my parents and here you go:

This is not about self-pity. I would like to share my thoughts about how I fell prey to this and how most of you can avoid heart disease. Applies specially to Desis in the mid forties and late thirties.

Anyways - between Sept-2008 and now, I have come long ways. My blood levels are good, lifestyle has changed 100%, lost 15 pounds and I am on a healthy diet. I am in good hands with my doctors and I am staying healthy and fit !

The only thing that I am not able to take care is my stress levels. However, I am working on that too.

In the coming days, I'll write about how this happened, what I've learnt and how I'm applying it to my life these days. If it could help somebody...I'll only be happy !

CHEESE !

CEO cooks books. Company gets Cheese !

(::)

Wonder Kid !

Hmm...this girl is amazing !

And.. please don't miss the end !

Bill Gates and Mosquitoes

Photo courtesy: The WWW

When I was growing up in Madras, the mosquito menace wasn't as much. I remember the first days of the launch of 'Tortoise Mosquito Coils' !

Today, whenever I go home, I see hundreds of Mosquito products ! coils, mats, bats..etc.!

Today's mosquitoes in India I feel, are immune to all these chemicals. They continue to grow, patronized by sewerage created by the growing careless population and supported by a corrupted government that cares about nothing !!

My dad has filariasis thanks to mosquitoes. I am lucky I haven't got any disease ( so far ) due to mosquitoes.

A few years back when I went home, I remember even street dogs in Madras were scared about Chikungunya!!

Anyways, I was happy to read this news item about a NEW LASER to destroy mosquitoes. I hope it reaches the markets soon !

I was surprised to see that Mr.Bill Gates funded this project.

Hello, Industrialists in India, what's your answer?

Jon Stewart vs. Cramer

Wow...finally a head-on collision tomorrow.

Jon Stewart has Cramer in the Daily Show.

Waiting to watch !

Silence is Gold!

Photo courtesy: The WWW

I remember my first few days in the USA. Eerie!!

I could hear my own breath, my stomach churning, neighbor snoring, cat meowing somewhere, an ambulance, someone arguing loud and all kinds of sounds that you normally don't even think of !

It was a scary feeling.

After living here for a while now, I am so used to this 'Silence' and in fact feel threatened whenever I visit India. It's is terribly noisy! I request my parents to talk in a lower voice and they laugh at me. My friends make fun of me when I ask them why they are shouting !

I yell at my friends when they frequently honk in their cars/bikes. I curse other motorists who honk for no reason ! I even go out and scare away stray dogs ..that bark through the night in the neighborhood.

Today I experienced NOISE in the USA for the first time.

I was waiting at Dublin-Pleasanton BART station and my God..it was terrible. This particular BART station sits right on I-580 FREEWAY, in fact it's the median between East and West bound lanes of I-580 at Pleasanton. Terrible is not the word. It was so annoying. I felt totally out of place.

I was so glad when the train came and the doors closed. It was all quiet again !!

SILENCE IS GOLD !

Jon Stewart vs. CNBC

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

CNBC Gives Financial Advice

Daily Show Full Episodes
Important Things With Demetri Martin

Political Humor
Joke of the Day

I've been watching Jon Stewart on Comedy Central the last few days. He is bent on doing damage to CNBC everyday these days and I feel rightfully so. Everyday there is something about CNBC that is hilarious!

He played several segments today to highlight how Cramer (Mad Money) asked his viewers to buy Bear and Sterns and how it crashed in 7 weeks after his 'Buy' statements.

Did you know that CNN cancelled the show CROSSFIRE after they came under attack from Jon Stewart? Amazing isn't it.

I am keeping my fingers crossed about Mr.Cramer and other programs on CNBC that are under attack now.

Watch Jon Stewart..you'll be glad you did.

TIPJAR - BY GOOGLE

TIPJAR

CHECK IT OUT

Being Green

Photo courtesy: APPLE

These days, I try my best to be green. I have my own cloth bags in my car that I use for grocery shopping, I use a porcelain cup at work instead of paper cups for my coffee, I drive a hybrid car, I turn off lights when not in use ( even my computer), I've changed the light bulbs in my home to CFL, well...I even read magazines via ZINIO!

These are only some examples. I have bragging rights here don't I?

I think it's a good idea to try and be green, considering what's going on around us.

By the way, I am very impressed by APPLE's New line of GREEN MACBOOKS. Look at some of the green features ..amazing !!

Arsenic-free glass
Mercury-free LED-backlit display
BFR-free internal
components
PVC-free internal cables
Highly recyclable aluminum and glass
enclosure
Up to 41 percent smaller packaging
Meets ENERGY STAR
requirements
EPEAT Gold rating

I wish APPLE brought down the prices of MACBOOKS ! Price is the only reason I am not buying an APPLE !

Hello Mr.Steve Jobs, are you listening?

General Musharraf

Photo courtesy: The WWW

I've always admired General Musharraf. Might not be as a leader but as a good daring pubic speaker. I've heard him speak on CNN and the other news channels and he also had an appearance at Comedy Central with John Stewart that was hilarious !!

I watched him at the India Today Conclave this morning. It came LIVE here via the 'Headlines Today' channel. And boy, was he as daring as ever. He dodged several questions which was expected, but the one quality, he had the guts to come to India and address such an elite gathering which is admirable.

I liked the way he handled himself, though I could see him getting agitated at times and running his hands thru his forehead and hair. Rarely do we see a leader from the Subcontinent with a sense of humor but I found it ( many times) in General Musharraf.

How many leaders ( Gen.Musharraf asked the same question ) from India would dare do this. Can they travel to Pakistan and talk in a conference like this? Can they address the Press and the people of Pakistan like what Gen.Musharraf did today?

He had some valid points about India which can only be answered by a leader from India. I wish someone answers to his questions about RAW etc.

His point about 'LET'S FORGET THE PAST AND MOVE ON', is what I liked the most.

Hat's off to you General Musharraf !. Long live peace !

விடியல்

அன்று

வெள்ளையனிடமிருந்து நடு இரவில் பெற்றோம் - சுதந்திரம்

இன்னும் விடியலை !

இன்று

வெள்ளையனிடமிருந்து பெற்றோம் OUTSOURCING வேலைகள்

இரவெல்லாம் பகல்தான் இப்போ!

விடியல் ஏது?

ECONOMY

உறக்கத்தில் ECONOMY
விழித்தால் ECONOMY
டீவியில் ECONOMY
ரேடியோவில் ECONOMY
நியூஸ்பேப்பரில் ECONOMY

இன்டர்நெட்டில் ECONOMY
பஸ்ஸில் ECONOMY
டிரெயினில் ECONOMY
ப்ளேனில் ECONOMY
போனில் ECONOMY
எதிர் வீட்டில் ECONOMY
ரோட்டில் ECONOMY
ஹோட்டலில் ECONOMY
ஸ்கூலில் ECONOMY
காலேஜில் ECONOMY
வேலையில் ECONOMY

கடவுளிடம் ECONOMY


எங்கெங்கும் ECONOMY

அடிக்கணக்கில் உணவு

Photo courtesy: WWW

தட்டு, இலை,

CUP, SPOON

எல்லாம் மாறி - இன்று

அடிக்கணக்கில் உணவு!

வாழ்க SUBWAY

!

Dividing lines

Even these days, it is hard to break the geographical barriers in India. Inspite of the techno boom, education etc. there is still that 'North Indian', 'South Indian' line that divides India.

Now, why am I talking about this?

I am thinking about A.R.Rahman, who managed to break these lines and become big in Bollywood which usually doesn't recognize South Indians as much as their very own. There are exceptions like Mani Rathnam, Shankar Mahadeven to name a few.

I remember a time when I was talking to someone from Bombay. Asked him why Hariharan doesn't sing enough in Bollywood and he answered 'He is a South Indian'! I was shocked.

Kamal Hassan, Rajinikanth, Mamooty, Mohanlal, Yesudas and Vani Jayaram couldn't do well Bollywood thanks to the same issues.

That's brings me to Ilayaraja. IMHO - he was one of the best during his times if not -The Best-. Somehow he couldn't shine in Bollywood.

I would attribute that to the N/S divide that was so strong those days. Another point to note is the media, especially the unavailability of Satellite TV / Internet that sealed Ilayaraja's fate when he was doing so well in South.

Can someone else match Rahman and break the divide? I don't think so, at this point. I have slight hopes on Rahman's nephew GV.Prakash..but I doubt if others can make it. Let's see.

In the meantime, I read today that Ilayaraja is setting tunes to Gulzar's lines for SRK. They are getting together after 'Sadma', a 1983 movie that failed to impress Bollywood about Ilayaraja despite those wonderful songs!

Let's see how SRK turns out!