Musical Evening

What do u get when u have U. Shrinivas - on the mandolin, Shankar Mahadevan - vocals, Loy Mendonca - on the keyboard, Sivamani - on the Drums? Magic, thats a very simple world, its way beyond that.

On the 8th of August 2003, Bangaloreans were treated to the magical music created by the awesome four musicians, all maestros in their own right. They not only had the attention of 1000+ human beings, but also some bats which were highly attracted by the sound of music. The right blend of classical, contemporary fusion and jazz, a proper musical treatment to the body, mind and soul.

The concert was built around carnatic ragas blended with jazz touches and contemporary beats. As always the blessings of Almighty were invoked with a good invocation. What followed later was 90 minutes of musical splendor. Each trying to better the other, in a war of music within themselves. what followed was essentially was a three-way jugalbandi of sorts, between Shrinivas, Shankar and Sivamani.

Shrinivasan with the wonderful control over the instrument, not just the classical tunes, but with the jazz and blues, he was a delight. Shankar to match with his vocals, Loy who played the jazzy blues had the audience wanting for more. Sivamani, with his innovative ways of creating music, be it the ghungroo, the school bell, or spoons.

The show ended with Michael Jackson's "Heal The World", the theme song of the Shakti Foundation. Shakti Foundation was formed by Velan, Velan, a victim of muscular dystrophy founded Shakti Foundation in order to integrate the disabled into the social mainstream. The foundation's dream is carried forward by Vasant, Velan's mother. The show was inaugurated by Anil Kumble, who is a part of the Foundation.

End of the day, it was a delight to have been there to see watch the "live" performance, make new friends, who have been living and working for a cause. And a major surprise was, when Vasant called me to say thanks for attending the show and informed me more about her Foundation and its activity. That was a real surprise...:)

This comes a tad bit late, but they say "Better late than never" ;)

What would my Obituary read like?

Any clues....??

I shall give me comments tomorrow :)

Hungama, a hilarious and confusing movie. But nevertheless, a very good time pass movies.

Does not come up to the lines of Hera Pheri (from the stable of Priyadashan), especially Babu Bhai was an instant hit. Rawal does not come to the mark in this movie, but the dialogues are quite good. Rajpal Yadav has played his part well, In one of the scenes where he is bashed by Kachra Sait ( Shakti Kapoor's) men and they realise he is the wrong man, he says "Log mujhe mandir ka ghanta samjah te hain, jo aata hai maar ke jata hai" gets etched in the viewers memory.

Watch it once, and u will like it :)

P.S. i cannot do a good job of movie review, read rediff for more

How stressed are u....check out with these "signals"

12 Warning Signs That You're Stressed Out

1. Your stomach hurts; your head aches; you catch colds frequently.
2. You feel emotionally numb.
3. You snap at people: colleagues, your spouse, your kids.
4. People tell you they're worried about you.
5. You feel that if you take on one more task, you're going to blow.
6. You feel like quitting your job. Often.
7. You feel helpless, out of control.
8. You know that whatever you do, things are bound to go wrong.
9. And you know that when they do, you'll be the only one who cares.
10. You feel guilty about taking a vacation.
11. You know the problem: it's everybody else.
12. You can't stop thinking about your work. Ever.

For more...read CIO's article on Stress

Have always wanted to a create a blog which would appeal to gastronomical delight

Here it is...The Foodieclub

For a daily doze of wisdom and gyan, visit The Wisdom Times

Welcome to the blog world Madhu :)

Economist has a article on Commercialization of blogging

The article talks about the business prospects of blog, fair enough, we have heard that time and again, but this one hits it out very badly. I personally feel, blogs maintained by people are they very own works, the Copyright rests with them, and in no ways can u call a blog good or bad or pass on politically wrong comments, each blogger takes pain to maintain their blog.

Describing a blog, the articles says

Web logs, known to their users as blogs, are web pages for self-anointed pundits—personal online journals, often updated throughout the day, full of raw, unedited opinions and links to other sites. Most are what one would expect from a new internet medium: nerdy, inane and barely grammatical, and intelligible only to teenage subcultures.

Wonder which blogs they have been looking at and wonder on what basis they call it intelligible only to teenage subcultures

Read a lot of articles on blogging and business, but this one is more cons type.

Whatever it is, a true blogger will never leave his/her blog at rot :)

First, recognize that you are not a sheep who will be satisfied with only a few nibbles of dry grass
or with following the herd as they wander aimlessly, bleating and whining, all of their days.

Separate yourself now from the multitude of humanity so that you will be able to control your own destiny. Remember that what others think and say and do need never influence what you think and say and do.

- Og Mandino (1923-1996)

The scene on 14th August 2003 was very bad. Power fluctuation, Internet Server down, Mail server down, only mode of communication with the world, dear old telephone. Let me tell u, for addicts like me, it was a BLACK DAY. And with the entire junta in the long weekend mood, it was a blessing in disguise to leave office early.

With the long weekend turning to be as hectic as well, coming back to work has been quite boring and to add to it, the Monday blues. humm...life just goes on and will just go on

Lost control

My temper is something, which I have never had, control, was a dread while I was a student and then it subdued as time went by. Everyone around said, Ah the young lady has matured. Well the maturity has not lasted long. From the past few days I have been back to my old self, minor things get me ticked off and I am always finding reasons to vent out my anger. and my anger goes out in ways people would take sometime to realize. I will make a statement and just walk off, and my target left tongue tied, and promising not to take panga with me again.

I have decided to control it again, nope not joining any anger management course, but will find my own way to handle it.

Fusion Poetry

Every sect has a faith, a direction (Qibla) to which they turn,
I have turned my face towards the crooked cap (of Nizamuddin Aulia)
The whole world worships something or the other,
Some look for God in Mecca, while some go to Kashi (Banaras),
So why can't I, Oh wise people, fall at my beloved's feet?

Every sect has a faith, a Qibla...
I have become you, and you me,
I am the body, you soul;
So that no one can say hereafter,
That you are someone, and I, someone else.

I am a pagan and a worshipper of love: the creed (of Muslims) I do not need;
Every vein of mine has become taunt like a wire,
the (Brahman's) girdle I do not need.
Leave from my bedside, you ignorant physician!
The only cure for the patient of love is the sight of his beloved —
other than this no medicine does he need.

If there be no pilot in our boat, let there be none:
We have god in our midst: the sea we do not need.
The people of the world say that Khusrau worships idols.
So he does, so he does; the people he does not need, the world he does not need.

The cloud weeps, and I become separated from my friend —
How can I separate my heart from my heart's friend on such a day.
The cloud weeping — and I and the friend standing, bidding farewell —
I weeping separately, the clouds separately, the friend separately...

-- Selections from the poetry of Amir Khusrau

Happy Weekend

Ever thot of

Software that detects when a cat is walking across your computer keyboard.
Estimation of the Total Surface Area in Indian Elephants.
Mathematical Law of Exponential Decay.
Washing machine for cats and dogs.

Somebody else thot of it and have been suitably awarded

Read about the Ig Noble awards, the Igs honor people whose achievements "cannot or should not be reproduced."

It might not "inspire" u to do something "out of the world", but it definitely guarantees a good laugh.

Capricorn

QUALITIES: ambition – organizational skills –efficency – amiability – pragmatism – calm – spirituality – internalization – lucidity – diplomacy – demanding – volunteer spirit – perseverance – realism – patience.

FAULTS: calculating temperament – distrustful – intransigence – proud – hardness – miserly – social climber – rigor.

ELEMENT: Earth.

MODE: Cardinal. RULER: Saturn.

COLOR: Black, Dark Green, Cherry Red.

FAMOUS CAPRICORN: Kate Moss, Martin Luther King, Gérard Depardieu, Matisse, Kevin Costner.

CAPRICORN symbolizes the Earth, its weight, its secrets and its fatality. This is the sign of critical discernment and mind over matter. CAPRICORN’s mastery over his/her emotions, and his/her determination get him/her to the goals he/she has fixed for himself/herself. But CAPRICORN also has a nasty tendency to bring everything back to himself/herself…Through his/her intelligence he/she imposes respect for everything he/she deems useful and necessary.

A WOMAN'S PRAYER

Lord, I Pray For:

Wisdom to understand my man,
Love to forgive him,
And patience for his moods.

Because, Lord, if I pray for Strength,
I'll beat him to death.

So many times, far many times than you can count, I get these wonderful thots, the first reaction is that; it should go on the blog. But like the proverbial "Many a slips between the cup and the lip", by the time the thot reaches the blog, it would have gone through n-number of iterations of changes and most of the time succumbed under the censorship of the mind.

"What do I want to put in my blog?" is the next question that comes up by the defensive thoughts and the not-to divulge anything brain says, not something which is too personal, up jumps the thot and say, but this is a very generic thought?

Everyday, the brain and the thot go through this fight of what should be posted and what not. Sometimes, either of them wins (very obvious, u duffer), sometimes it’s a truce and most of the time it’s a "lets compromise" situation.

Come September and its going to be a year of association with the blogging world. A whole new vista which opened, doors to many many new friends and a peek into their wonderful life and times, guess the journey has just began and “Miles to go before I sleep”…????!!!!

Friends:

Once who hear ur owes without even you having spoken it
Appearing the minute you think of them and sort ur problem within no time
who think just the way u want them to (well...most of the time)

People who are with u, during good times and bad, during the the thick and the thin, all through ur life.

Happy Friendship's Day buddies :)