The first time I saw it on a JC Penney's catalogue, I thought it was a coincidence... But, it did remind me immediately of the lungis I saw in my childhood...
I checked the next catalogue I got (yeah, we are getting a lotta spam in our postal box!) and there it was, with more colors and types.... Then, I was sure the city I grew up has inspired a whole new style... the Madras style.... !!!!
I did some research online... check these out for yourself!!!! www.capemadras.com
I can give you hundreds of reasons why I am not writing here as often... but then, when they have given a good, encompassing reason called Writer's Block, why should I worry about those hundreds?? :P
Anyways, it is a self-attributing reason... What I mean to say is - the same reason also prevents one from even writing about it!! So, I guess I have broken through it now!!!!! ;-)
Here is not so much fun anymore Let me get there for more!
And I can be this life-long wanderer With no one 'dear', till my feet get sore!! -------------------------------------------
I at least bought a new camera... so, I can capture the sights on the way!! It is a Nikon Coolpix S10.. pretty conventional looks.. let me check how it performs and tell ya..
Some of my buddies are budding bloggers now!!! I am happy for them and happy that I could play a small part in their exploring their own hidden facets and expanding their horizons :-)
It's terrific! Like my friend Arun says, the best part of this story is that it is so catchy and so true!! truth - simple yet flabbergasting!!!
Quoting Cris B., "Annie Leonard does a brilliant job of distilling 10 years of research about STUFF into a fast-paced 20 minute presentation..." ... "With the support of pen & ink sketch-like animations, Annie demonstrates how our materials economy is completely dysfunctional, how our linear production-consumption system is using up our limited resources. Smart, witty and factual, Annie explains in language school kids can understand that our finite planet is in crisis...it's being trashed by what we the people, our government and powerful corporations are doing to create, use and dispose of stuff...lots and lots of stuff, every day."
Everyone (at least quite a lot of folks) are looking towards the possible fed rate cut on tuesday. There are tell-tale signs that the recession is already underway in some sectors of the industry and affecting the vulnerable sections of the economy.
There are talks of more lay-offs in the mortgage and financial sector... Other sectors (notably IT/software) too have started cutting the costs and tightening the budget. There is growing unemployment in the economy - supposed to be at the levels of 2003!
etc etc...
But, you know - When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!!
Well, I am in Detroit now. Come here for a few days, on work. I don't know where work is going to take me in the coming weeks, but I do know that I will not continue in Los Angeles for long.
Detroit is so coool!!! well.... literally cold... with snow around and flurries falling... but is nice (to visit, don't know about staying though ;-)
The best part is that the snow and all-encompassing whiteness gives it a surreal feeling.. more like in those fantasy lands... of Santa & Snow white!!!
As I was driving to my friend's place, I was reminded of my time in the Netherlands some years ago. Bare leaf-less (but not life-less) trees and cold winds... amazing! And then, the shock on my friend's face (I had not told her about my visit) when I knocked their door in the middle of the night... Man, priceless!!
But then, as Govar says, living here could be an altogether different deal... But I am not going to worry about it... I am just a happy visitor now!! ----------------------------
Downtown Detroit is supposed to be so crime-ridden... I went to a Tacos place... They had security cameras all over.... And even the counter was like a safe-deposit with thick glass panels... you deposit your money and close the door... only then, would the cashier's door open on the other side... he will keep the food packet and close the door again... And then you can pick it up your side.... ----------------------------
I almost drove to Canada... We were on our way to the MGM Grand casino downtown... we went past the ambassador bridge (that links to Canada)... There were a lot of construction work happening on the highway and many ramps were closed... We tried navigating our way and ended at a toll plaza. When enquired, she said that it was the toll leading to Canada... Well, imagine if I had not asked the question!!
Over the weekend, I came across someone who was supposed to be a serial entrepreneur... 'serial entrepreneur' - I thought what a funny title... in the lines of serial killers and such... Is this guy supposed to be a killer of startup ventures?! (On the contrary, this term refers to guys starting one business followed by another and often another...)
Why would somebody become a 'entrepreneur'?
Quoting Linda Pinson, creator of business plan software (business-plan.com)
First (of all), many entrepreneurs want to be masters of their own fate and they can't find this outside of entrepreneurship. While studies have shown that people derive tremendous satisfaction from their work, how many people are really doing exactly what they want to be doing? Entrepreneurs like to be in control of their future. They like to set their own course.
Many entrepreneurs feel that running a business offers far more security than being an employee. Entrepreneurs often argue that you can acquire wealth much faster if you own a business and you can build a buffer of personal financial security. Further, an entrepreneur's continued paycheck isn't dependent upon a single employer whose faulty business decisions could lead to being laid off. So, while some people see starting a business as more risky than conventional employment, other people see it as less risky.
Why would somebody become a 'serial entrepreneur'?
Well... I would say, if you know how to start a new venture and if you enjoy the process of establishing and building a structure 'built to last' - you should become a 'serial entrepreneur'! ------------------------------------------------
One of the best aspects of this society is that there is a big tolerance for failure. It is "OK" to be a failure. If you fail at something, you just brush the dust off yourself and then, start working on the next.
If you fail in your venture, collect the learnings and then, start off with your next venture.
If you fail at your married life, just take some time to collect yourself and then, look afresh at life.
Just that, you should not jump into something just because 'failure is ok'!!
After being temporarily distracted by romance(;-) and work, I am back here! Hope to see more of you around... --------------------------------------
Well, that video link below never got updated. The problem with You Tube is that it could not encode the .mov format video file into a flash-based video that it uses to upload.
And then I checked this other video uploading site, Viddler... And have updated the links to the video... check it out!!
I have some suggestions for You Tube, apart from support for .mov files.. Even though they work good otherwise and are simple and easy to use, view, upload... I am sure they can give a better user experience... --------------------------------------
I came across this quote... (Thanks Pads!) I just love it...
"This is no time to make new enemies." - Voltaire, when asked on his deathbed to forswear Satan.
for my niece/nephew to come out in to this world and call me out loud and crying 'mama' (uncle)!!!
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I was watching the 'Super Tuesday' - the primaries and Caucuses for selecting the party candidates for the Elections to be the President of United States. Hillary is good... she knows how to touch the chords of the masses. But Obama is quite amazing in his power to reach out to youngsters and move them beyond their own awareness.
No doubt, it is going to be a close call.... But something tells me it is going to a Black President for us!!
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Why is my (blog) popularity increasing again?! Well.. I have nothing to complain... Thank you, folks!!
Oh, BTW, this is my 300th post here!! I am happy I came this far... Thanks again :-)
It rained cats 'n dogs in California last week... And I did not know what hit me...
But something shifted And the impact is going to be ever-lasting!!
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I am discovering the pleasures (visual, spiritual & ... :) of Malibu... Walking the fine balance between high expectations and being open to life... That is not just nature at work!!
It seemed like a nice sunny day when I started my car and keyed-in the address of the destination for the Perris Valley Airport in my GPS. I was quite excited just by the thought that I am going to jump off an aeroplane (my first :-) that day..
I had earlier made some enquiries at Thrill Planet (LA Skydiving online website) and the Perris Valley Skydiving school for the sunday noon seemed a good option. After some thoughts, I chose to go for a tandem jump (in which I would be strapped tight to an instructor during the free fall) and not the solo or Accelerated Free Fall (in which a couple of other instructors would also jump together with me but I would not be held tight to them - though they would give some 6hrs training before the free fall). At $340 - together with the video, it did seem a li'l costly, but then I could not lose the opportunity of jumping off an aeroplane, could I?!
Thus, I arrived at the Perris Valley Aviation at noon and was surprised to see the parking lot full!!! I did not imagine there were so many sky diving enthusiasts here.. Anyways, when I went inside to the office, I found out that a group of 100 professional sky divers were doing some formations in the sky that day and that I had to wait for another couple of hours before I would get a chance to go up in the sky.
After all the wait (watching the planes take off and the hundred odd guys land in multicolored parachutes again and again and a burger to fill my stomach in the time, I was assigned an instructor, Luke. (Of course, I should have asked for a female instructor... but then, I did not want any distraction this day ;-). He gave me some training and told me what to expect and all that. Finally, after getting dressed for the occasion, we made our way to the small aeroplane that was waiting to take us. (It felt like I was one of those astronauts in that jump suit...just the all-cover helmet was missing!)
The plane took off and started gaining altitude.. It must have been a couple of minutes and I was seeing 'ants' down below through the window. I checked the altimeter strapped on to my left hand and saw that it was only 4000 feet yet. We were to go thrice that height!! The burger in my stomach started churning a bit and I decided not to look out the window again...:-)
Luke again told me what to do - how we should slide to the edge of the door at the appointed time, how I should sit with my left foot just off the door and the right knee bent to the floor next to it, how I should look up with my chin protruding and all that, how I should arch my back just after we jump, how I should hold my legs bent and hold tight to the shoulder straps....etc etc. And then, he checked my gear and tightened the straps one final time, before letting me chat on video and himself playing some pranks with the co-instructors...
The final minute came and we were all set... and then, came the jump. That was the best part!!! The first few seconds felt so blissful... falling freely, throwing caution to the winds... and then, as we gained velocity, the winds literally caught up and were hitting me on the face and everything...! The difference in pressure started hurting my ears, but then, soon enough, Luke opened the trail (you would see the single rope like thing trailing us) and we stabilized.
It was time to give some poses and show the thumbs up and give a message from the batman... The video/photo guy was just beside us (This is an interesting fact of Physics.. remember the experiment from the top of Leaning tower of Pisa?! whatever be your weight, you will always hit the ground at the same time... as long as you time the jump, and start at the same time).
I tried opening my mouth and the wind was getting into my mouth and even otherwise, it was pulling my face in all directions...!!! Anyways, after about a minute of jumping off the plane, Luke engaged the parachute and the rest was a smooth landing.....
The next time, I want to do the solo jump.... Let me know if you wanna join.. :-)
I have a lot of videos to post here... For one, a couple of my girl fans have got together to make a video on me.. And, as you can imagine, it is so flattering to have their time and attention!!
And then, there's gonna be a video of me sky-diving... :-)
But all those would come later...
Here's the video/lyrics of a rock song I like these days....
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood Lyrics
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad I got sunshine, in a bag I'm useless,but not for long The future is coming on I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad I got sunshine, in a bag I'm useless, but not for long The future is coming on It's coming on It's coming on It's coming on
Yeah... Ha Ha! Finally someone let me out of my cage Now, time for me is nothing cos I'm counting no age Now I couldn't be there Now you shouldn't be scared I'm good at repairs And I'm under each snare Intangible Bet you didn't think so I command you to Panoramic view Look I'll make it all manageable Pick and choose Sit and lose All you different crews Chicks and dudes Who you think is really kickin' tunes? Picture you gettin' down in a picture tube Like you lit the fuse You think it's fictional Mystical? Maybe Spiritual Hearable What appears in you is a clearer view cos you're too crazy Lifeless To know the definition for what life is Priceless For you because I put you on the hype shit You like it? Gunsmokin' righteous with one token Psychic among those Possess you with one go
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad I got sunshine, in a bag I'm useless,but not for long The future is coming on I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad I got sunshine, in a bag I'm useless, but not for long The future is coming on It's coming on It's coming on It's coming on
The essence the basics Without it you make it Allow me to make this Child, like in nature Rhythm You have it or you don't that's a fallacy I'm in them Every sprouting tree Every child and beast Every cloud you see You see with your eyes I see destruction and demise Corruption in disguise From this fuckin' enterprise Now I'm sucking to your lies Through Russ, though not his muscles but the percussion he provides with me as a guide But y'all can see me now cos you don't see with your eye You perceive with your mind That's the inner So I'm gonna stick around with Russ and be a mentor With a few rhymes so m****r f****rs Remember where the thought is I brought all this So you can survive when law is lawless Feelings, sensations that you thought were dead No squealing, remember (that it's all in your head)
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad I got sunshine, in a bag ...........
Today was just one of those days.... imagine, I paid 2000 rupees to get a eye checkup done... ok, I also got a chottu 3 ml eye drops for that money.... No, the whole thing cost about 10,000 bucks, of which 2K was my part.... You need to convert that into dollars, but the cost of medication in this country is ridiculously high... World is flat, right? Then, how do such inequalities exist in two parts of the same world??!
There were other things in the day... let me not get to that here....
But, to top it all, I spent the last two hours on Orkut, reconnecting with my old engg batchmates....ogling at the babes, in general... May be, it is not so bad... but, it sure is crazy!!
PS: It is only 2.45am here...!
PPS: Dont you start now... how many can I give my attention to??!
