Kerala Blog Roll

Deepdowne: വരകള്‍...

deepdowne — 2008-05-16T15:39:59+00:00

"നിങ്ങള്‍ക്കെഴുതാന്‍ അവര്‍ വരയിട്ട കടലാസ്‌ തരികയാണെങ്കില്‍ വരകള്‍ക്ക്‌ വിലങ്ങനെയെഴുതുക." - ഹ്‌വാന്‍ റെമോണ്‍ യിമോനസ്‌</content>

Aarathi: C'est La Fête du Pain.- Fougasse

aarathi — 2008-05-16T14:56:00+00:00

Fougasse (Olives & Jambons)

Ingredients
500g flour
10 g fresh yeast
1/2 glass luke warm water
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup chopped olive
1/2 cup chopped ham
Method

Dilute yeast in luke warm water with 1 tsp sugar .
Set aside for 15 minuites.
Mix all the ingredients & knead well.
Cover the bowl with a damp cloth & keep aside for 1 hour.
Take an orange sized ball & flatten it into thick oval shaped.
Make cuts using a knife (resembles a leaf)
Preheat oven to 240°C (Th-8)
Bake for 20-30 mn.
Your Fougasse is ready to serve.

Today it's St Honoré, saint patron des boulangers .
So French celebrate "Fête du Pain" - Bread fest.

Shalini: Good times!

2008-05-16T13:32:45+00:00

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ctRWP0DNfNQ/SC1-Vd2_dHI/AAAAAAAAAHk/_iXCsHEG6x0/s1600-h/Photo+20.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"> <img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_ctRWP0DNfNQ/SC1-Vd2_dHI/AAAAAAAAAHk/_iXCsHEG6x0/s400/Photo+20.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200952051940422770" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Dennis, Lil S and, Me </div> We made it to Sydney safe and sound. Tomorrow's a shopping day, and we found a really good local joint to eat one night! Pictures to follow on Flickr, if I know you just email me and I'll add you to my Flickr account. We really miss being in a big city, so it's pretty nice. It sooooo noisy and everywhere we go (walking) Lil S covers up her ears.. but the plus side is that she likes publc transportation. Loves planes, trains, and buses!</content>

Biju Viswambaran: Of human rights

Alex Mcone — 2008-05-16T11:39:56+00:00

A cyclone devastates a South Asian country. Thousands are dead and hundreds of thousands are missing, presumed dead. The world pitches in to help but the regime that governs the country holds the supplies and then distributes the supplies to its trauma stricken citizens as propaganda. They then hold a referendum among the people to make sure they stay in power. An African country is ripped apart by civil war. A refugee crisis of unthinkable magnitude originates. Rape, murder and other acts of genocide take place on a daily basis. The refugee's are starving and wake up every day knowing that they will either die of starvation or will be killed by a state sponsored militia. What does the world do ? The world debates on whether or not it's genocide and whether or not they should interfere. A man in an Islamic country is harassed because he put up some offensive materials on his website. The website is hacked and a death threat pasted on the front page. The man is told that he will face charges but nothing is done about the death threats. A woman and her lover are killed in a remote village in India. The killers are her own father and brother. They wanted to restore the honour to their family which the woman lost when she decided to live in with her lover after divorcing her husband. The family drags her and the lover out of their house and beats them to death in broad daylight. The villagers watch and applaud. March 15th 2008. Human Rights Day. Are you kidding me ? Have you heard of the Geneva Convention ? It was supposed to make war civilized. We've had a lot of wars since the convention ... has anyone of you witnessed a civilized war ? Have you heard of the UN ? It was supposed to protect human rights. That was it's basic objective. "Never again" was the catchphrase used during the Armenian genocide. The Jewish Holoucast occured after that but there was no UN to stop that from happening right ? What about after the UN was formed ? Rwanda, Serebrenica, Darfur ... to name a few. And please dont tell me that the perpetrators were caught and put on trial. We're supposed to stop such things before they happen, not swear that we won't allow it to happen ever again. "Never again" is what everyone says. I say what the f**k were we doing when it happened the first time ? You know what's ironic ? The cavemen that we thought were dumb and stupid according to our standards are the one's who enjoyed human rights. The advanced and civilized us have none. So stop kidding yourselves. You have no rights and never will earn it ... until the day you're fellow human has it.<div class="blogger-post-footer">... Alex Mcone with V & K reporting ... live from Bangalore</div></content>

Cherian Mathew: gimme five!!

mathew — 2008-05-16T11:38:29+00:00

<div align="justify">Five people I hate?</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Well such a question five years ago would have attracted a venomous spit at more than 5 people…I think most people hate child abusers, racists, incest indulgers etc. That is so obvious isn’t...I mean you wouldn’t find a guy who would write in his facebook profile...’Hi guys, I love people who kill others’. But here I am tagged by a good blogger friend <a href="http://ushadhanraj.blogspot.com/">Usha</a> to list out the people I hate… Although it sounds so unrealistic, in real life I have not yet met any particular person worthy of hate as in say, I hate ‘X’. Even if I try to convince myself to hate one particular person, I am simply not able to do it because I end up feeling guilty before I can really hate that person… …sounds strange…eh... </div><div align="justify"> I think it’s with everyone...maybe as kids we might have hated one particular person…period... for most trivial of reasons. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Although am not much of a Gandhian, I really believe that we don’t have the right to hate someone for something. Because we ourselves are never perfect and once we hate that person we are indirectly not allowing that person to change for good. It is sad that most of us don’t realise that people DO change...from good to bad, which would so easily be believed though…but to believe someone changed from bad to good...tough to believe eh!!</div><div align="justify"> Well however if I have to, say express hate at someone or a group, it might be the Nazis. I was always fascinated with the war and the Jewish angle way before I came to Germany. Probably it is the dose of war movies like ‘schindler’s’, ‘pianist’ and literature like ‘Anne Frank diary’ that attracted me to it. And now ending up in a country where it all started was strange for me considered how much I loved Germany but at the same time sympathised with the Jews. When I say I wish Nazis didn’t exist it would mean any similar gang of people who torture people like they did in Auschwitz or Dachau.I don’t have any qualms in saying that I have cried watching these movies and being at the sites and would love to believe that the people who suffered then are now somewhere happy and peaceful…</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Besides that on a daily basis, I must say I get irritated with people who dont respect time and keep people waiting.. people who lie about others...and people full of themselves..</div><div align="justify"> Keeping aside that generic hate, it is easy to list out the people I hate…or maybe hated…</div><div align="justify"> Age 0-2 Doc who gave me that injection for vaccination Doc who gave me that thwack on bum to make me cry Doc who gave the bitter syrup for cold Uncle who threw me up in air and thought I was enjoying in it…man that must have been one scary ride… The diaper. Why is that always wet btw!! Age 5-12 Maths teacher Hindi teacher All the girls in class Music teacher for making 40 horrible sounding kids believe they are actually SINGING!! Manoj Prabhakar Age 14-18 Dad and Mom…Period Bro...Period Myself mm…I HATE the whole world!!!! Age 18-22 America America Capitalism People who hate communism All Malayalam movie directors of that time Age 45-55 All those kids who trying to spoil my child All those kids who are not respecting us elders My children for acting like a 16-year-old kid Tax department Age 75 Doc who gave me that insulin injection Doc who gave me that 15 pills for high blood pressure. Doc who gave me that awkward bone massage My children who think I am acting like an old man. Age80 (if it goes that far ;-P) Well….gone so far… Sadly there aint any left. …TO HATE!!! I don’t feel like tagging anyone in particular…maybe again it feels like I am spreading hate vibes...But if anyone wants to get their steam off anyone please do take it up… ;-)</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">aah..<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar0ZSl11VYk">friday song</a> for all friends here...i love these kind of songs which you can listen lazing on a sofa and just keep you head moving to the rhythm...auf weidersehen!!</div></content>

Smitha Visakhan: The Pawn

Thadhagadhan — 2008-05-16T11:31:49+00:00

Once there was a pawn who wanted to be independent. He was sad, and chafed against his limitations. These rules are so unfair, said the little pawn. I can only move forward, and then only one space at a time, except for my first move. Furthermore, complained the little pawn, I cannot attack an opponent directly in front of me, nor beside me, nor behind me. I can only attack at the front angle to

Annita Joseph: I’m back !!!

Annita — 2008-05-16T10:39:30+00:00

I’m back in the U.S.I reached here yesterday only,now staying in a hotel and we’ll be moving to Pittsburg next week because of my husband’s job change. I am very excited to see many messages and emails from my friends.I couldn’t check my emails or blog for a long time as i was travelling most of [...]

Swapna Tom: Padachonte Thirakkathakal

indulekha I ഇന്ദുലേഖ — 2008-05-16T10:36:52+00:00

Collection of essays, memoirs & autobiographical notes by actor-director-script writer Sreenivasan Olive Publications, Kozhikode Pages: 137 Price: INR 75 HOW TO BUY THIS BOOK നടനും തിരക്കഥാകൃത്തും സംവിധായകനുമായ ശ്രീനിവാസന്റെ ലേഖനങ്ങള്‍, ആത്മകഥ, സംഭാഷണങ്ങള്‍ തുടങ്ങിയവയുടെ സമാഹാരമാണ് ഈ പുസ്‌തകം. അനുബന്ധമായി സത്യനും ശ്രീനിയും ചേര്‍ന്ന് ഒരു സിനിമയ്ക്ക് രൂപം കൊടുക്കുന്നതു വര്‍ണിക്കുന്ന

Rammohan Paliyath: 1, 2, 3

One Swallow — 2008-05-16T09:37:42+00:00

<a href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_eECfu4W_yWk/SC2ZvBh7lMI/AAAAAAAABGA/GLIU2Gtt_iw/s1600-h/double.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_eECfu4W_yWk/SC2ZvBh7lMI/AAAAAAAABGA/GLIU2Gtt_iw/s200/double.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200982177826444482" /></a> ടെക്നോളജിയൊക്കെ ഇത്രയും പുരോഗമിച്ച സ്ഥിതിക്ക് എന്നെപ്പറ്റി ഞാനറിയാതെയുള്ള മറ്റുള്ളവരുടെ വാക്കുകള്‍ - നേരിട്ടും ഫോണിലൂടെയും പറഞ്ഞത്, എഴുതിയത്, ഈ-മെയിലിയത്, എസ്സെമ്മെസ്സിയത് - എല്ലാം ഓഡിയോ ഫയലുകളും വേഡ് ഫയലുകളുമായി സീഡിയില്‍ കിട്ടുമോ? സീഡി തുറന്നയുടന്‍ 1) ഒരു കരിമരുന്ന് പ്രയോഗത്തിന്റെ കൂട്ടപ്പൊരിച്ചിലിലേയ്ക്ക് ഓടിക്കയറേണ്ടി വരുമോ? ഹിപ്പോക്രസിയുടെ സഞ്ചയനം ഇഡലിയിലും ചായയിലും ഒതുങ്ങുമോ? പൊട്യേനിയുടെ ചാരം പോലെ തൂളുമോ? അതോ 2) ചെലവിന് കൊടുക്കാതെ ലവ് തരമാകുമോ? എല്ലാ പെണ്ണുങ്ങളും എന്റെ മക്കളെ പെറുമോ? എന്റെ ഏമ്പക്കങ്ങളാല്‍ ദിക്കുകള്‍ക്ക് കഴയ്ക്കുമോ? അതോ 3) ഇങ്ങനെ ഉള്ളിലൊതുക്കി കണ്ടാല്‍ വീണ്ടും ചിരിക്കുമോ? ഒരു കുപ്പി ചാരായം പങ്കുവെയ്ക്കുമോ? ആയിരം രൂപ കടം ചോദിക്കുമോ? ആത്മാവില്‍ ഗുഹ്യരോഗം ബാധിച്ചവരെപ്പോലെ മഞ്ഞ വാക്കുകള്‍ കൊണ്ട് ടെന്നീസ് കളിക്കുമോ?</content>

Ralminov: ഉബുന്ദു വിന്‍ഡോസില്‍ - എന്തിനു് ?

ralminov — 2008-05-16T08:38:43+00:00

ഞാന്‍ ഉബുന്ദു വിന്‍ഡോസില്‍ ഇന്‍സ്റ്റാള്‍ ചെയ്തു . എന്തിനു് ?

ലാപ്ടോപ് വാങ്ങിയപ്പോള്‍ വിന്‍ഡോസ് അതില്‍ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. കളയുന്നതെന്തിനു് ? കാശു് കൊടുത്തു് വാങ്ങിയതല്ലേ . പക്ഷെ ഓഫീസും മറ്റു സാമഗ്രികളും വാങ്ങാന്‍ ഇനിയും കാശു് കൊടുക്കണമത്രേ. എന്നാല്‍ പിന്നെ സണിന്റെ വെര്‍ച്ച്വല്‍ബോക്സ് ഡവുണ്‍ലോഡ് ചെയ്തു് ഉബുന്ദു അതില്‍ ഓടിക്കാം. ഉബുന്ദു ഒന്നു പരീക്ഷിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യാം. എന്തിനു് വിന്‍ഡോസിന്റെ മീതെ ? വേറെ പാര്‍ട്ടീഷന്‍ ഉണ്ടാക്കി അതില്‍ ഇന്‍സ്റ്റാള്‍ ചെയ്താല്‍ പോരെയെന്നു് സംശയിക്കാം. എനിക്കതില്‍ താത്പര്യമില്ല. കാരണം ഒന്നു് : ഡിസ്ക് പാര്‍ട്ടീഷന്‍ ചെയ്യണം. മെനക്കേടു് . രണ്ടു് : റീബൂട്ട് ചെയ്യണം, ഒന്നില്‍ നിന്നും മറ്റേതിലേക്കു് പോകാന്‍. മൂന്നു് : ഹാര്‍ഡ് ഡിസ്കില്‍ സ്ഥലം കമ്മി. ഇതാകുമ്പോള്‍ എക്സ്റ്റേണല്‍ ഡിസ്കില്‍ സംഭവം ഒപ്പിക്കാം. നാലു് : ലാപ്ടോപ്പിന്റെ ഡിസ്ക് ഫോര്‍മാറ്റ് ചെയ്യേണ്ടി വന്നാലും ഉബുന്ദുവിനു് ഒന്നും പറ്റുകയില്ല. അഞ്ചു് : ഉബുന്ദുവിനെ അതേ പോലെ പൊക്കിക്കൊണ്ടു് പോയി എന്റെ മറ്റേ ലാപ്ടോപ്പിലും ഉപയോഗിക്കാം. ആറു് : സിസ്റ്റം മെമ്മറി അഡ്ജസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്തു് പെര്‍ഫോമന്‍സ് ഇവാല്യുവേറ്റ് ചെയ്യാം.

ഇനി എന്തിനു് ഉബുന്ദു ? വേറെയെന്തൊക്കെ കിടക്കുന്നു . അവരെനിക്കു് സീഡി അയച്ചുതന്നു എന്നതു് ലളിതമായ ഉത്തരം.

വെര്‍ച്ച്വല്‍ബോക്സ് ഒരു നരിയാണു് കേട്ടോ .

MK Harikumar: ഊട്ടി കാഴ്‌ചകള്

എം.കെ.ഹരികുമാര്‍ — 2008-05-16T08:36:41+00:00

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_D1dxb0kd1yE/SC1ABD0rFlI/AAAAAAAAAss/CU87hVIAKZA/s1600-h/homely+and+sky+059.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 365px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_D1dxb0kd1yE/SC1ABD0rFlI/AAAAAAAAAss/CU87hVIAKZA/s320/homely+and+sky+059.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200883531633071698" border="0" /></a>photo mk</content>

Najeeb Abdulrahiman: AAPL and GOOG

Najeeb — 2008-05-16T08:30:45+00:00

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://idannyb.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/10-15-07-iphone.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://idannyb.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/10-15-07-iphone.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.loaz.com/media/blogs/timwang/google-phone-switch.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://blog.loaz.com/media/blogs/timwang/google-phone-switch.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> In the next few weeks, I will be attending two important events in my line of work - Apple developer conference and Google developer event. Both are exciting in its own ways. I have had hands of variety of smartphones during my stint at mobile software companies and needless to say, for a 1.0 product, Apple has done better than anyone else. Having had one for a while, jail broken and hacked to do some cool tricks, what surprised me most was the remarkable stability of the platform, thanks to the unix underpinnings of the iPhone OS. Google, on the other hand could turn out to be the first heavily subsidised smartphone, a phone built solely around Internet content. I will have more to write after the events, but for now, I am simply excited.</content>

Samayam: വിമര്‍ശകര്‍ക്കെല്ലാം നന്ദി പറയുന്നു

സമയം ഓണ്‍ലൈന്‍ — 2008-05-16T06:31:49+00:00

സമയം ഓണ്‍ലൈന്‍ ഏതാനും ദിവസങ്ങള്‍ക്ക് മുമ്പ് ഒരു ബ്ലോഗ് അഗ്രിഗേറ്റര്‍ (<a href="http://www.samayamonline.in/blog%20aggregator.php">http://www.samayamonline.in/blog aggregator.php</a> ആരംഭിച്ചിരുന്നു. അതില്‍ ഓരോ ബ്ലോഗും മുഴുവനായി ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. അത് കാരണം തങ്ങളുടെ ബ്ലോഗിലേക്കുള്ള സന്ദര്‍ശകരുടെ എണ്ണം കുറയുമെന്ന ആശങ്ക ചില ബ്ലോഗര്‍മാര്‍ അറിയിച്ചതിനെ തുടര്‍ന്ന് അഗ്രിഗേറ്ററിന്‌ ചെറിയൊരു മാറ്റം വരുത്തിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. ഇപ്പോള്‍ അഗ്രിഗേറ്ററില്‍ ബ്ലോഗിന്റെ പേരും പോസ്റ്റിന്റെ തലക്കെട്ടും മാത്രമേ ഉള്ളൂ. വിമര്‍ശകര്‍ക്കെല്ലാം നന്ദി പറയുന്നു. നിങ്ങളുടെ ബ്ലോഗ് അഗ്രിഗേറ്ററില്‍ ഉള്‍ക്കൊള്ളിക്കാന്‍ <a href="mailto:samayamonline@gmail">samayamonline@gmail</a> എന്ന വിലാസത്തില്‍ ഇ-മെയില്‍ ചെയ്യുക</content>

MK Harikumar: ഊട്ടി കാഴ്ചകള്

എം.കെ.ഹരികുമാര്‍ — 2008-05-16T05:34:54+00:00

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_D1dxb0kd1yE/SC0aLD0rFjI/AAAAAAAAAsc/t0nMqogNw9Y/s1600-h/homely+and+sky+050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 333px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_D1dxb0kd1yE/SC0aLD0rFjI/AAAAAAAAAsc/t0nMqogNw9Y/s320/homely+and+sky+050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200841921989908018" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_D1dxb0kd1yE/SC0aBT0rFiI/AAAAAAAAAsU/9Vj1VD2Tqo0/s1600-h/homely+and+sky+049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 371px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_D1dxb0kd1yE/SC0aBT0rFiI/AAAAAAAAAsU/9Vj1VD2Tqo0/s320/homely+and+sky+049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200841754486183458" border="0" /></a> photo: mk</content>

Vinod Cheriyan: Number system

Vinod — 2008-05-16T04:33:25+00:00

I read somewhere that the original Dravidian number system was base-eight. Indeed the names for our numbers reflect this. One through seven have unique roots. Eight is എട്ടു which comes from എണ്‍, which actually means 'number'. (Compare with എണ്ണുക, എണ്ണം) Nine is ഒമ്പത് which came from തൊമ്പത് = തൊള്‍ + പത് , "almost ten". Compare with 90 തൊണ്ണൂറ് , 900 തൊള്ളായിരം. (Aside: This used to be a bit confusing when I was a little kid.) Ten is പത്ത് which came from പന്തി which is a തത്ഭവം of പങ്ക്തി, meaning row. Probably derived from saying "there is a row of things". Now, we all know that our current base-ten system was a result of humans having ten fingers. So how can a base-eight system evolve "naturally"? My explanation is that early Dravidians might have used their thumbs to touch other fingers when they counted. This leaves the eight fingers to do the actual counting leading to the development of the octal system. </content>

Siva: യാത്രാമൊഴി

ശിവ — 2008-05-16T03:37:11+00:00

<div align="center">ഇനിയൊരു സംഗമമില്ല സ്നേഹിതാ ഞാനുമെന്‍ യാത്രയും ഇവിടെയവസാനിക്കുന്നു ഒരു നാളും കിട്ടാത്തസ്നേഹസൂനങ്ങള്‍ ‍ഇന്നെനിക്കു കിട്ടും നിസ്സംശയം മറക്കാനാവാത്ത എത്രയോ മുഖങ്ങള്‍ ‍ഇനിയൊരിക്കലും കാണാന്‍ കഴിയാത്തവ എവിടെയൊക്കെയോ എങ്ങിനെയൊക്കെയോ അവരും ജീവിക്കും ഒരു നാള്‍ എല്ലാമുപേക്ഷിച്ച്‌ അവരും യാത്രാമൊഴി ചൊല്ലും എന്നാലിന്നോ ഞാന്‍ മാത്രം......</div></content>

Sudheernath: സന്ന്യാസികളുടെ കഷ്ട്കാലം

cartoonist sudheer — 2008-05-16T02:39:42+00:00

<a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_ZhD3LA0Taeo/SCzpG7yTreI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/M4vj1KJZTYs/s1600-h/car_may-15.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200787975043263970" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_ZhD3LA0Taeo/SCzpG7yTreI/AAAAAAAAB5Q/M4vj1KJZTYs/s320/car_may-15.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div>May/2008/15</div><div><a href="mailto:cartoonistsudheer@gmail.com">cartoonistsudheer@gmail.com</a></div></content>

Swarnasrikrishnan Ganesan: Interesting Realisation!

Krish — 2008-05-16T02:39:26+00:00

<div style="text-align: justify;">The other day I was listening to some old Tamil melodies, when I realized I wasn't even born when those films were released and still I loved the music and the songs and lyrics. It struck me as a surprise, that I do have a penchant for old music. I am sure these would not have gotten into my liking of my own volition- just like Roxette or Bryan Adams got into. With Roxette, I consciously decided that I liked the music, whereas with the old songs, I can't say that. Thinking about it, I realise these might have been the result of the way I grew up. Growing up in an extended family, with aunts and uncles living together, exposes you to a variety of tastes and preferences and makes you more of a liberal is what I think. You are introduced to a multitude of thoughts apart from your own parents- for ex- I can point to my uncle from whom I got the taste for old songs- especially MGR songs. My father has a very specific taste for Gemini Ganesan songs and I like them too. Possibly I wouldn't have liked MGR songs had I not had my uncle when I grew up. My penchant for books and reading can be directly attributed to my aunts, who were in themselves quite voracious readers. When I look back and compare my sister and her tastes with myself, I see her tastes are more modeled around my parent's, which can be reasoned by the fact that, when she was born many of my aunts have already gotten married and my uncle was away working. These days as the extended family is mostly out of "trend", nuclear family and two earning member families on the raise- with the time spent by the parents with the children coming down, I am afraid, children would probably end up with a rather narrower taste and outlook. Not to say it is impossible to develop a wide variety of likes, exposure and tastes- but what came to us naturally, would have to be imbibed to the next generation. Am I the only one feeling this way? </div></content>

Vineet Kuruvila: Problem of the "internets"

2008-05-16T01:43:48+00:00

Bushism.

This video also has the clip of Bush talking about quiting golf.

Pooja Nair: Watch Out!!!!!!!!!!!!I am going to lose my teeth soon.

Mocha — 2008-05-16T01:36:14+00:00

There is not a single day that I don't fear that someone is going slap me and I will end up like a toothless philosopher. Yeah I live in that dangerous zone. What if people abduct me and take me as POW. I am scared. I watch each and every bush for hidden snipers. Duck , Cover , Take shelter. I am so into my summer classes on Vietnam War that even the safe beautiful peaceful coast of Florida seems like a battle ground. I am fortunate enough to have a professor who encourages everyone to say what is in their mind . Religion and Politics included. In this class the professor always talks about the others.(People different than the Americans). I am sole voice of the other . It is interesting class. Yesterday there was a discussion about why USA was in Vietnam. I could not believe that I said the personality of Americans is that of a bully who likes prove their superiority using power and other countries whether it Vietnam , Iraq or Afghanistan. I further went to say that you guys think of everyone else as under developed and barbaric if they are not like you. But it is time American rethink their policies. The whole class looked at me for minute. they had never heard an opinion like mine . Later when I started explaining my stand in context to Vietnam war, majority of class was convinced that i had spoken the truth. My teacher was impressed. After class I called my husband and said "Watch out I will lose my teeth soon". In the moment the passion I speaking out loud what I feel in my mind. I am sure these guys will think I am Anti AMerican and do something weird. All he could say was i was crazy. It feels good when you speak ur mind. Your opinion might be different than that of majority. But if it is a voice that comes from your heart it will be louder than the rest. Don't do things just because ..................................... Do what you want. Take the untrodden path. Be true to yourself and people will respect you. They will take you as their equal even though you speak their language. Dont be a sheep following to rest. Stop. On a lighter note........................................... Do you know what it feels like if you lose your teeth amidst a get together(I am speaking of an adult losing their teeth)? The situation is comical right. I lost my front two teeth when I was in tenth grade. I wear crowns . Last year I went to India and got my crowns replaced. Three months later I was amidst a gathering in Atlanta , when I felt air rushing in my month. I heard a sound . I looked down ,it was the crown . OOOPS . Astrix(My cousins Poodles name) shooo shoo. Not in my crown. I literally had to fight with dog to get my crown(teeth). I got the teeth before Astrix could chew on it. I put the crown back and stood up with embarrassing smile. My cousin asked what happened. I said "just wanted to pet Astrix. "(Irony I hate that dog and my cousin knows it) The whole situation was like that of a slapstick comedy. Hence I know exactly what it feels like losing my teeth ,so I am scared xt 4 weeks(classes go on till June 13). God only knows what all will fall out of my mouth.</content>

Lal P Thomas: മന്ത്രം, തന്ത്രം!

JamesBright — 2008-05-16T00:34:34+00:00

ബൂലോകമാ ണെന്റെ ലോകം അതിന്‍ ഭാഗ മാകുന്നെതെന്‍ കര്‍മ്മം! അമ്മയും താതനും മാതുലനും മറ്റു മിത്രങ്ങളും ചൊന്ന മന്ത്രം! പിന്നെ, ധനപാലനാണെന്റെ പേര്.. ധനംകാത്തു ഞാന്‍ പാലിച്ചിടേണം! അമ്മയും താതനും മാതുലനും മറ്റു മിത്രങ്ങളും തന്ന പേര്..! <div class="blogger-post-footer">http://cap.zliolist.com/admin/</div></content>

Macadamia: Remembering...

Macadamia The Nut — 2008-05-15T21:42:04+00:00

I find it SO much more pleasant to remember than to say Good bye ;) <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PTwsMusqF6A/SCysdilQJ1I/AAAAAAAAA3o/CplYTOr4gUA/s1600-h/rem2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_PTwsMusqF6A/SCysdilQJ1I/AAAAAAAAA3o/CplYTOr4gUA/s320/rem2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200721293205317458" border="0" /></a>Like deciding to get drunk finally on a girls night out, only to be denied a drink because I didn’t have my ID on me :(… The incredible lighting at Gaylord Opry… Our *sick!* door buster attempt… P’s pathetic bowling, though he ruled later… <o:p> </o:p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PTwsMusqF6A/SCysYClQJ0I/AAAAAAAAA3g/M4PpPItok7k/s1600-h/Rem1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_PTwsMusqF6A/SCysYClQJ0I/AAAAAAAAA3g/M4PpPItok7k/s320/Rem1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200721198716036930" border="0" /></a>And the feast at B’s house…. Holidaying in Fl.. The day we tried a ‘Badrakali’ act … ; <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Impromptu baking-attacks… <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PTwsMusqF6A/SCytISlQJ3I/AAAAAAAAA34/_ptoMDaRcjw/s1600-h/rem3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_PTwsMusqF6A/SCytISlQJ3I/AAAAAAAAA34/_ptoMDaRcjw/s320/rem3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200722027644725106" border="0" /></a>Etta’s new home… And finally seeing what my ghost looks like at wonderworks :D Sigh! You just can't say G'bye to great memories... </content>

Varnachitram: Run Thulasidas, Run

vc — 2008-05-15T20:33:04+00:00

There is some brouhaha going on between Dileep and MACTA. Long story short: Dileep, it seems, took some money to act in a Thulasidas movie about four years back. Now not only has he backed out of the movie, but “Dileep had informed Thulasidas, one of the leading directors, that he would work with him only after he came out with a successful film.”

It took us some time to regain composure from excessive laughing, for any time a pot calls a kettle black, it is funny. Dileep’s career goal for the past two years has been to bring down hit makers like Joshiey, Blessy and Lal Jose to the level of Thulasidas. Dileep has not had a hit in the past two years, causing a major impact on the career of Kavya forcing her to act with people Mr. Madhavan’s age.

What is even more funny is this. Dileep’s next movie, after Siddique’s “Body Guard” (a comedy, since Dileep is acting as a bodyguard. get it?), is Deepu Karunakaran’s movie titled Run Gopala Run, about a guy who runs after Meera Jasmine to get her to act in his movie. No, we are kidding. It is about a hi-tech thief. Deepu, brother of actress Suchitra, had directed one movie before - Winter - starring Jayaram and Bhavana. The movie is still sitting in the cans, since most people have forgotten who Jayaram is.

It is sad that Dileep is not willing to bet his career with the man who gave us that immortal classic - College Kumaran - but is going to try his luck with a newcomer with no success to his credit. All we can say, is, this could be good for him - we mean, Thulasidas.

Sarah

Sarah — 2008-05-15T19:38:43+00:00

I had no clue where he was going and I didn't want to lean over his shoulder and ask him. suddenly I was getting paranoid about physical contact! Still I wondered what aftershave he used. Appa was an 'Old spice' fan. He always smelled like a freshly baked Christmas fruit cake! I smiled when I realized that I was comparing my father to a fruit cake. Ok lah, may be not like a fruit cake but fresh and cinnamonish! I wondered again about Arjun's aftershave. Is he using Old spice? I gently leaned over Arjun's shoulder, making sure that I didn't touch him and sniffed and savoured his after shave A part of me was embarrassed with my own behaviour and a part of me was trying to act innocent.' hey, it isn't a crime to sniff someone's aftershave.. I am not sniffing glue you know!' Arjun parked the bike in front of a huge building and I checked the sign board outside. It was written in some script that I assumed is Gujarati or Marwari. "Come" Arjun Ok, Now I trusted Arjun, there was no doubt about that. But I still needed to know where he was taking me to. He can't just expect me to follow him without knowing where exactly we were going. How can he do that? "Where are we?" I asked again. The fence was too high and I couldn't see what was inside. There were few scooters and bikes parked outside and I noticed some Marwari women were standing near the entrance. They all wore expensive clothes and Jewelry. Is there some sort of party going on? "Oh Nina, Everyone is leaving, I hope we aren't too late" Saying that he started to walk and I was sure he expected me to follow. Oh Nina!, aventey ammentey thala! Doesn't he know yet how much I hate him saying 'Oh Nina' To hell with him. I stood next to his bike. He can go inside and do whatever he wants. I had no intention of following him. I simply would wait for him to return. I would have, if his sister had not come out of the building holding a box full of stuff. She was wearing a beautiful turquoise colour gagra choli. She saw Arjun and yelled "You are too late" Then She saw me standing near the bike. "Hi Nina how are you" She looked at me and at Arjun who was atleast 15 feet away from me. Arjun saw the look on his sisters face and he turned to look at me. Only then Arjun realized I wasn't walking with him. He looked at me bewildered. "Is everthing ok?" Preetha asked "yeah, everything is ok. I was just wondering if it was ok for me to come in. I am wearing jeans." "So? what is wrong in wearing jeans? It is only a food fair! We are raising funds for our school. Didn't he tell you?" Preetha was struggling with the box in her hand and she yelled "Hey moron, Can't you see that I need help" Arjun ran to help his sister. He took the box from her hand and looked inside "You sold everything?" "yeah, everyone loved the pav bhaji " "You didn't leave anything for me? How could you?" "hey, you were late, who asked you to come late?" I had no idea what the two of them were fighting for. I saw Arjun putting his hand inside the box and Preetha shrieked "don't you dare touch it. It is mine. I bought it with my money." "ha!" Arjun kept the box on the ground and I watched the brother and sister pulling, pushing and shoving each other. Arjun threw a small plastic bag with something pink inside towards me and shouted. "Take it and run" I caught the plastic cover and in seconds Preetha was in front of me "Give it back Nina, it is mine" Arjun was standing right behind her and he waved his hands and I threw the cover to him, he caught it, opened the plastic bag quickly and started to pull a handful of pink stuff out. "Give it back" Preetha punched her brother on his arm. "Ouch, that hurts" Arjun screamed. "Ok, ok, here, take it" He gave the plastic bag to his sister. "You took half of my cotton candy. I promise, I will make you pay" She turned and looked at me. I thought she was angry with me for not giving her the packet. But she was smiling "You too! Watch out. I will make you pay too! Both of you will get it!" She turned to her brother, who was busy eating cotton candy. "Now help me with the box, will you?" Arjun still had cotton candy in his hand. "You hold one side, I will hold the other side" he spoke while trying to swallow a mouthful of cotton candy. "Come, I will help you" I lifted one end of the box Preetha stopped an auto and together we carried the box and kept it inside. "You are coming home, right?" She asked "I think so, depends on your brother" "Arjun, bring Nina home" She ordered her brother. "See you soon, ok."She spoke to me "Ok" As the auto was about to leave, Preetha pulled something out of the box "Hey bhaiyya, see what I got?" She waved the box and shouted "Kesar Shrikhand! I will save the empty container for you!" Preetha looked out from the moving auto and grinned. "Damn" I heard Arjun mutter. "Come Nina, let us go and see if they have anything else left" It felt weird, the fact that Preetha didn't hate her brother for stealing her cotton candy. They fought, she even punched her brother. But not like my sisters and I. We always said, nasty mean things to each other and we pretty much showed each other how much we hate each other. We returned all the pinches and punches with added interest! Arjun was stronger than his sister, yet he didn't punch her back. Where did we go wrong? How did we end up hating and hurting each other so much? How did we have this much of hatred? I didn't know the answer. "You want some?" Arjun opened his hand to show me the squashed remnants of cotton candy in his hand. "Here" he pinched some and gave it to me. It was the first time I ever ate cotton candy. I have always seen people selling cotton candies in parks. Amma never allowed us to buy cotton candies. She called it "thuppal muttai". She named it so because apparently she had seen the seller wetting his hands with his saliva while mixing the candy! There was something special about doing things the first time. first bus ride, first boat ride, first this, first that.. "Want some more?" Arjun asked "Yeah" I took some more candy from his hand and together we walked around empty tables in empty booths, while eating cotton candy. There were few people sitting down on the grass field and eating. "hey Divya" Arjun called when he saw his sister sitting with other ladies. As soon as she saw him she got up holding a plate and walked towards us. "Did you guys get anything to eat?" He shook his head "Here, there is some aloo tikki and channa. You both can share! I was keeping it for Rajashree. You guys can have it. Rajeshree won't mind." She looked at me and spoke "Sorry Nina, I didn't know you were coming, otherwise I would have surely kept something for you" "Wait here, I will find spoon for you" She went to one of the ladies sitting in the group that she was in and got two spoons from her. She gave the spoon to us and spoke pointing to the two empty chairs in one of the booths. "Go, sit down and eat" The golden rule at home was 'Girl and a boy are not supposed to be together and they certainly need to be kept away from each other, so nothing untoward happens'. Yet here we were, eating from the same plate and no one batted an eye lid. Trust came as it should. I had even forgotten I was angry with Arjun few minutes ago. I knew it was time I got over my 'Oh Nina' Phobia. There were more important things to do in life than getting someone to stop saying Oh Nina.</content>

Cris: ATM machine and 3 men

Cris — 2008-05-15T18:39:50+00:00

Looks like I blog everyday I go out. Either the world has always been so happening and I just didn’t notice anything, or it must be me. I prefer to think it’s the world. Today’s trips had nothing special in them. One was to an icici atm machine, outside which I waited 15 minutes before realizing [...]

Pradeep: മാസസസരോവറിന്റെ പാതിവഴി

കാണാമറയത്ത് — 2008-05-15T18:35:19+00:00

മാസസസരോവറിന്റെ പാതി..:) വളരെ അപ്ര്തീക്ഷിതമായി ഞാന്‍ ഒരു യാത്ര പോയി..മാസസസരോവറിന്റെ പാതി..:)എന്നു പറയാം..ഇന്ത്യയുടെയും നേപ്പാളിന്റെയും അതിര്‍ത്തിയില്‍.യാത്രക്കു പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് അങ്ങനെ ഉദ്ദേശ്യം ഒന്നും ഇല്ലായിരുന്നു. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ തിരക്കുകളില്‍ നിന്ന് ഒരു ഒളിച്ചോട്ടം എന്നു വേണമെന്കില്‍ പറയാം..ഉത്തരാഞ്ചലിലെ പിത്തൊര്‍ഗഡ് ജില്ലയിലെ ധാര്‍ചുള എന്ന സ്ഥലത്തേക്കായിരുന്നു യാത്ര. ഡെല്‍ഹിയില്‍ നിന്നും കാറില്‍ 52 മണിക്കൂര്‍ യാത്ര...അവിടെ ഇന്റ്റര്‍നെറ്റും,മൊബൈല് ഫോണും ഒന്നുമില്ലാതെ ഒന്നു അലഞ്ഞുതിരിയണം എന്നൊരു വട്ടന്‍ ചിന്ത.അതിന്റെ യാത്രാ വിവരണം എഴുതി ആരെയും ബോറടിപ്പിക്കുന്നില്ല..നാലു ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ ഇടുന്നു.. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Idu-arolzes/SCx3KJLqq_I/AAAAAAAABTQ/nijB5zaIgIs/s1600-h/IMG_0432.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_Idu-arolzes/SCx3KJLqq_I/AAAAAAAABTQ/nijB5zaIgIs/s400/IMG_0432.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200662685853330418" /></a> മാനസസരോവറില്‍ പോകണമെങ്കില്‍ ഇവിടെ 10 ദിവസം നിന്നു നടക്കണം :( <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Idu-arolzes/SCx3K5LqrAI/AAAAAAAABTY/XvZs3I7eF5Y/s1600-h/IMG_0453.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_Idu-arolzes/SCx3K5LqrAI/AAAAAAAABTY/XvZs3I7eF5Y/s400/IMG_0453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200662698738232322" /></a> മാനസസരോവറിലേക്കു പോകുന്ന കഴുതകള്‍..:( <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Idu-arolzes/SCx3LpLqrBI/AAAAAAAABTg/tqH2ztAJDPM/s1600-h/IMG_0513.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_Idu-arolzes/SCx3LpLqrBI/AAAAAAAABTg/tqH2ztAJDPM/s400/IMG_0513.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200662711623134226" /></a> ഇന്ത്യയിലേക്ക് കാളി നദി മുറിച്ചു കടക്കുന്ന നേപ്പാളി സ്ത്രീ ..ഈ നദിയാണ് ഇന്ത്യയുടെയും നേപ്പാളിന്റെയും അതിര്ത്തി.. അവിടെ നിന്നും കൂലിപ്പണിക്കായി എന്നും വരുന്നവര്‍ ഇതേമാര്‍ഗത്തിലൂടെ ആണ്.!! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Idu-arolzes/SCx_DZLqrDI/AAAAAAAABTw/_frhqETp0z0/s1600-h/IMG_0533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_Idu-arolzes/SCx_DZLqrDI/AAAAAAAABTw/_frhqETp0z0/s400/IMG_0533.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200671365982235698" /></a> മാനസസരോവറില്‍ പോയിരുന്നുവെങ്കില്‍ ഇതിലും ഭംഗിയായി കാണാമായിരുന്നു മഞ്ഞുമലകള്‍..പക്ഷെ ഇവിടെ നിന്നു 10 ദിവസം നടക്കണം..:( അതിനാല്‍ ഞാന്‍ സൈഡിലൂടെ എസ്കേപ്പായി പകുതി പുണ്യം മതി എനിക്ക്..നിങ്ങള്‍ എന്തു പറയുന്നു...</content>

Narayan: AIDS Jaago

Narayan — 2008-05-15T17:40:53+00:00

Came across a set of short films by four of the celebrated Indian film makers on AIDS. Conceptualized by Mira Nair, this venture is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to increase awareness of AIDS. The four short films are by Mira Nair, Vishal Bharadwaj, Santosh Sivan, and Farhan Akhtar. These are available from the movie download service <a href="http://www.jaman.com/">Jaman</a> (more on the site on my<a href="http://dscryb.blogspot.com"> </a><a href="http://dscryb.blogspot.com">tech blog</a>.) as part of their <a href="http://www.jaman.com/a/download/?f=aids-jaago">AIDS Jaago section</a>. They are available for download, or as streaming video (pretty nice quality). Just finished the first one, Migration by Mira Nair. Pretty nice short, focusing on how AIDS is a disease beyond the societal class. Decent acting by all the actors. Shiney Ahuja is a little bit too urban looking to pull off a villager though. Still its a very decent performance from him. Mira Nair's craft is very much evident albeit this being a short film. Will update the rest after watching each of the movies. Update: Finished watching Blood Brothers by Vishal Bharadwaj. An absolutely fabulous short film. Gripping. Great performances from Sidharth and Pankaj Kapoor, and an outstanding performance from Pawan Malhotra. This ones about how lives are altered with the onset of HIV. Onto the next movie. Blood Brothers is highly recommended. Update: Prarambha, the Kannada short by Santosh Sivan deals with the subject of the impact ofHIV on children. A really moving film, reminded me of the plight of two HIV positive children who were outcasted in their school sometime back in Kerala. The child actor has done a great job and Prabhudeva has excelled as the smart truck driver. One more left now. This time by Farhan Akhtar. Lets see if he hold his own with the others. Update: Farhan Akhtar does hold his own against others with Positive. The movie starts of a little peppy and settles in nicely.Yet another good short. Its about how a family copes with AIDS. Awesome performance from Boman Irani and Shabana Azmi. Easily the best acting in this series. Seems there is an issue with showing more than one film at a time in the same post/page. Go to the <a href="http://www.jaman.com/a/download/?f=aids-jaago">site</a> to watch the movies. The one I liked the most will be displayed here. All the four shorts are extremely good. Must Watch! Ranking according to me 4. Migration: Mira Nair has been eclipsed by the others here. 3. Positive: Farhan Akhtar does have a lot of talent. Hope that he will put it to good use. 2. Prarambha: I was hard pressed whether to give this the 1st place. A very strong contender. Santosh Sivan has done a brilliant job here. Boy in the movie is simply wonderful. If you are too lazy to watch it by registering in Jaman, just go <a href="http://dscryb.blogspot.com/2008/05/jaman.html">here</a>. 1. Blood Brothers: Gritty and good. May not rank that high in others lists, but this was the one which impacted me mostly. Vishal Bharadwaj takes the first spot. Watch the movie below! <a href="http://www.jaman.com/a/Blood-Brothers/video/0HsYuptHveNs">Blood Brothers</a> <object width="500" height="327"><param name="movie" value="http://www.jaman.com/a/embed/0HsYuptHveNs/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.jaman.com/a/embed/0HsYuptHveNs/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="327"></embed></object></content>

Ajith S: നോക്കുകൂലി

Eccentric — 2008-05-15T17:40:49+00:00

ഇന്നു രാവിലെ കിട്ടിയ ഒരു ഇ-മെയില്‍ ആണ്. സംഭവം അല്പം ഒന്നു ചിരിപ്പിക്കും... Project Managers will starve to death !!! <a href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yCzkaeE5TIY/SCxwQrp4f4I/AAAAAAAABqg/9cClOtas7qk/s1600-h/image001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200655101604691842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 356px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="235" alt="" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_yCzkaeE5TIY/SCxwQrp4f4I/AAAAAAAABqg/9cClOtas7qk/s320/image001.jpg" width="347" border="0" /></a></content>

Soorya Jayadevan: 10 tickets to my Good Books!

soorya — 2008-05-15T16:47:12+00:00

<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxbuCCi0rI/AAAAAAAAD7g/n3n_dN6eSnE/s1600-h/intelligent.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxbuCCi0rI/AAAAAAAAD7g/n3n_dN6eSnE/s200/intelligent.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200632516085732018" /></a> 1) Mr/Ms Really Intelligent : People who can speak in depth about not-so-common topics in so simple a words yet with so much of clarity that they can leave me open-mouthed! I have felt that to me intelligence is more than saying "yeah, i know it and i can explain if u want". It lies in HOW you explain. Came to think of it, this was a question during an interview in Google. - Explain a database in three sentences to your eight-year-old nephew :) And somebody posted a reply in 2 lines "It's like a genie who knows where every toy in your room is. Instead of hunting for certain toys yourself and searching the whole room, you can ask the genie to find all your toy soldiers, or only X-Men action figures, or only race cars -- anything you want." And I loved it :) 2) Mr/Ms Cool n Smiling : These people slip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxb9yCi0sI/AAAAAAAAD7o/OPhY0RUh4a8/s1600-h/smiling2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxb9yCi0sI/AAAAAAAAD7o/OPhY0RUh4a8/s200/smiling2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200632786668671682" /></a> into my good books very easily.I adore people who can remain as cool as a cucumber even when there is chaos! They don't panic and their minds are in perfect equilibrium to make good decisions that nobody will repent! Just how do they do it!!! As for the smile part, :) 3) Mr/Ms Nice-Writer/Book worm : Been ages<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxcaCCi0tI/AAAAAAAAD7w/BABJqR4U4to/s1600-h/baby+writing.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxcaCCi0tI/AAAAAAAAD7w/BABJqR4U4to/s200/baby+writing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200633271999976146" /></a> since I read something now, and I maintain a very ordinary looking blog.So when I meet people who have read a lot, I am more than happy to hear them speak. Same with people who have honed their writing skills to come up with intriguing stories, sweet-nothings packed in beautiful expressions. Short story contest winners earn special respect :) 4) Mr/Ms Up-to-date :<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxc6iCi0uI/AAAAAAAAD74/0ly6GnGxlBc/s1600-h/mr+know+all+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxc6iCi0uI/AAAAAAAAD74/0ly6GnGxlBc/s200/mr+know+all+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200633830345724642" /></a> They get all the facts and figures right. They know whats happening around the world, they know whats new in technology, they know all the news around the world! 5) Mr/Ms Humble : <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxdNyCi0vI/AAAAAAAAD8A/6PClxO76_pM/s1600-h/humble.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxdNyCi0vI/AAAAAAAAD8A/6PClxO76_pM/s200/humble.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200634161058206450" /></a> They know they are great. Others know they are great. They know others know they are great. But still they don't show-ff the fact that they are great. 6) Mr/Ms Birthday Rememberers : People <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxdrCCi0xI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/8895xsr0CBk/s1600-h/birthday.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxdrCCi0xI/AAAAAAAAD8Q/8895xsr0CBk/s200/birthday.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200634663569380114" /></a>who remembers your birthday and wishes you (without using reminders in mobiles/calendars) are a rare species of people whom I consider are the warmest and the most genuine of spotlessly clean hearts!! 7) Mr/Ms PJ Crackers : Sounds cheesy. But I do<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxeDyCi0yI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/9iyG05oEMoc/s1600-h/laughing2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxeDyCi0yI/AAAAAAAAD8Y/9iyG05oEMoc/s200/laughing2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200635088771142434" /></a> adore them for all thier rotten PJs!! I just can't help liking their PJs :) There is one lady I know who cracks really really really bad PJs ... and sometimes I have actually wished I could crack such rotten ones like she does :)) 8) Mr/Ms Kids Lovers : They,<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxebSCi0zI/AAAAAAAAD8g/kawMLvOW5B8/s1600-h/kidslovers2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxebSCi0zI/AAAAAAAAD8g/kawMLvOW5B8/s200/kidslovers2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200635492498068274" /></a> like Birthday Rememberers are a special lot who are always assumed to be good at heart, loving and affectionate! 9) Mr/Ms Great Cooks : Man, <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxeqCCi00I/AAAAAAAAD8o/YPEh4ZsG9DE/s1600-h/cook.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxeqCCi00I/AAAAAAAAD8o/YPEh4ZsG9DE/s200/cook.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200635745901138754" /></a>this one might be on the top if I arranged it on a proper scale! Rightly said the way to a man's (or woman's, these days) is through his (her) stomach! 10) Mr/Ms Punctual : I hate to be made to wait for someone. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxe4CCi01I/AAAAAAAAD8w/XkLq00kZZYI/s1600-h/ontime.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_vR3M6B9nMjg/SCxe4CCi01I/AAAAAAAAD8w/XkLq00kZZYI/s200/ontime.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200635986419307346" /></a>I hate it if the person rushes in 30 minutes late and gives a lame excuse and says sorry and expects me to say "Its ok." Probably I am one such person and I know how it irritates others! Probably thats why I love people who are well on time :)</content>

Ralminov: ദാ ആ കീബോര്‍ഡ് തന്നെ, പിന്നെയും

ralminov — 2008-05-15T16:29:59+00:00

Disclaimer: Use at your own discretion. I sparely use this. I normally use the keyboard with the joiners. But, at times when we need to input these characters while in a discussion, it comes handy. So I share it here. If you fear it will create data inconsistency , please dont use this.

അതേ ഇന്‍സ്ക്രിപ്റ്റ് കീബോര്‍ഡ് തന്നെ, പക്ഷെ ആണവനാണെന്നു് മാത്രം . ആണവചില്ല് ഉദ്പാദിപ്പിക്കാന്‍ ഒരു മാര്‍ഗ്ഗം കൂടി. എല്ലാവരും (സ്വതന്ത്രമലയാളം കമ്പ്യൂട്ടിങ് അടക്കം) എന്നു് മുതല്‍ ആണവചില്ല് ഉദ്പാദിപ്പിച്ചുതുടങ്ങുന്നു അന്നു് മുതല്‍ ഞാനും തുടങ്ങും. അതു്വരെ കാത്തിരിക്കാന്‍ ക്ഷമയില്ലാത്തവര്‍ക്കായി ഇതു് സമര്‍പ്പിക്കുന്നു.

പതിവു് പോലെ വിന്‍ഡോസ് എക്സ് പി എസ്പി ടു, വിസ്ത തുടങ്ങിയവര്‍ക്കു് മാത്രം

(ആണവചില്ലിനെ ഞാനിന്നും എതിര്‍ക്കുന്നു. എങ്കിലും ഇതാണല്ലോ ഒരു പുതിയ സ്റ്റാന്‍ഡേര്‍ഡ് എന്ന തീര്‍ച്ചയുള്ളതു് കൊണ്ടാണീ സാഹസം. തത്ക്കാലം അഞ്ജലിഓള്‍ഡ് ലിപി എന്ന ഫോണ്ട് തന്നെ (ഏവൂരാന്‍ ഫോര്‍ക്ക് ചെയ്ത രചന, മീര ഇത്യാദി ഫോണ്ടുകളും) ഉപയോഗിക്കാന്‍ തയ്യാറുള്ളവരും തന്നെപ്പോലെ മറ്റുള്ളവരും അങ്ങനെയുള്ള ഫോണ്ടേ ഉപയോഗിക്കാവൂ എന്നു് കരുതുന്നവരും മാത്രം ഈ കീബോര്‍ഡ് ഡ്രൈവര്‍ ഉപയോഗിക്കുക )

MLALTCIL.ZIP

BVN: Vizhinjam…Finally!

admin — 2008-05-15T12:59:03+00:00

Messing up the day’s Hindu, scrambling to find a news item which could possibly rewrite the development history of the state, Mr Prasad and me were surprised and thoroughly disappointed. There wasn’t even a mention of the Vizhinjam tender clinched by the LANCO group yesterday. Ten minutes later when Malayala Manorama deliberately kept the news out of the broadsheet’s main pages, I wasn’t surprised, everybody knows where their ink comes from and flows to. Mathrubhumi carried the news in the middle page, three column.

One news item which was picked up by Forbes, Reuters and Wall Street Journal, which sent the LANCO stock up 10% in the bourses yesterday, found no mention in “India’s National Newspaper” and Kerala’s own Manorama which claims to have 7 billion readers as of today.

For Manorama online readers, Vizhinjam Port will be India’s deepest Port, India’s largest container transhipment Hub, the biggest infrastructure project in Kerala (pegged at 2 billion dollars) and work begins in 10 months time.

Official Press Release from LANCO is here

Excerpts: Vizhinjam, with a 15 metre natural draught and proximity to international sea routes, is best suited for the development of a world class, all weather deep-water port.The Vizhinjam port, situated about 16 km south off Thiruvananthapuram and at 10 nautical miles from international sea routes connecting Europe, Persian Gulf and Far East, when developed would attract a fair share of the container transshipment traffic meant for India, currently handled by international ports at Colombo, Malaysia, Al-Salalah (Oman) and Singapore.

To continue my rant, the same media which celebrated the “Smart City” deal((the inking of the deal was broadcast live) which looks puny in comparison to Vizhinjam or the upcoming Technocity, the same media which filled pages with the Vallarpadam Hub deal which is one fourth the size of Vizhinjam - chose to ignore one of the major developments in the state’s history.

If the question is Why should the media coverage be so important? The answer is, it raises the stakes for the people involved. It puts pressure on the administration to deliver when people are aware of it. Imagine the impact on the LDF government if the “Smart City” project goes cold. That is media’s job and in case of Vizhinjam they are doing a very bad job.

Vizhinjam is the result of the creative activism of a lot of people, a dream shared by millions of people, with powerful lobbies inside and outside the country working against it. The stakes are high, it is important to wake up and keep watch - closely.

Did I create fear from a happy news?

Cool!

P.S: Chk out the WALL in Talkies page, will keep updating

Anoop Sankar: Trust & Betrayal

Anoop — 2008-05-15T11:36:05+00:00

IMHO friendship, relationships rather any interaction between people can be reduced down to the application of two things - Trust &#038; Betrayal. When you think about it, these are two things that affect a lot on how you react to different social scenarios. To make a relationship work, we tend to improve the trust with someone, while betraying someone else a little. The whole network of our friends &#038; acquaintances are based and maintained on a delicate balance between the level of application of the &#8216;Trust&#8217; factor and the &#8216;Betrayal&#8217; factor. You don&#8217;t need a Phd in psychology to understand this I guess. But this is not the only factor either. But atleast in the world I see around me - this concept fits in perfectly! The people who can strike the balance seem to be the happiest, most popular among them all. They are especially cleaver at managing the T &#038; B factors and distributing it optimally between the opposite sex members in their clan. And the opposite sex thing, complicates thing to a huge extent and when it reaches that border case between love &#038; friendship.. well my processing power is not enough to explain that in terms of T &#038; B! If you know me, you might be wondering who am I to talk about relationships and emotions hehe. After all, I have been described as a nut-crack by many a friend when it comes to emotions. But all I am saying is if you master this art of allocating T &#038; B, you are definitely not going to regret it, Trust me <evil grin> <img src='http://rusty.in/wordpress/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif' alt=';)' class='wp-smiley' /> </evil> </content>

TR Rajesh: ഏറ്റവും വിലയുള്ള ചിത്രം കാണണൊ?

വലിയ വരക്കാരന്‍ — 2008-05-15T10:31:59+00:00

സിഗ്മണ്ട്‌ ഫ്രോയിഡിന്റെ കൊച്ചുമകന്‍ ലൂസിയന്‍ ഫ്രോയിഡ്‌ 1995ല്‍ വരച്ച ഒരു തടിച്ച നഗ്ന ചിത്രം ജീവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ചിത്രകാരന്മാരുടെ ചിത്രങ്ങള്‍ക്ക്‌ ലഭിക്കുന്ന ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ലേലത്തുകയ്ക്ക്‌ വിറ്റുപോയി. 17.7മില്യണ്‍ പൗണ്ട്‌ നാണ്‌ ഈ ചിത്രം ലോക റിക്കാഡിട്ട്‌ ലേലത്തില്‍ പോയത്‌. ജെഫ്‌ നൂണ്‍, സ്റ്റെയിന്‍ലെസ്‌ സ്റ്റീലില്‍ തീര്‍ത്ത "ഹാങ്ങിംഗ്‌ ഹാര്‍ട്ട്‌" (വില 11.3 മില്യണ്‍ പൗണ്ട്‌) ന്റെ റിക്കോഡാണ്‌ ഈ 'തടിച്ചി' അട്ടിമറിച്ചത്‌. <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_9PmCC2k83ts/SCwHNa26-WI/AAAAAAAAAMU/UIFtpNzhMUI/s1600-h/images.jpg"></a><a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_9PmCC2k83ts/SCwH_a26-XI/AAAAAAAAAMc/QBzYd9Z6vJI/s1600-h/lucianfreudEPA_450x300.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200540455828912498" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_9PmCC2k83ts/SCwH_a26-XI/AAAAAAAAAMc/QBzYd9Z6vJI/s400/lucianfreudEPA_450x300.jpg" border="0" /></a>Lucian Freud's "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping" <a href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_9PmCC2k83ts/SCwGw626-UI/AAAAAAAAAME/7bYy6FvevZs/s1600-h/koons-heart_48.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200539107209181506" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_9PmCC2k83ts/SCwGw626-UI/AAAAAAAAAME/7bYy6FvevZs/s400/koons-heart_48.jpg" border="0" /></a><div align="center">Jeff Knoon's "Hanging Heart" </div><div></div></content>