Thanks a Ton to Monu, for this and this. Anand also gave an ending to the story. Hmm.

If you haven't read the story, its just one post prior. Go ahead read it and give me some thoughts.

Iam still squeezing my thoughts to show a simple course of action, that devastatingly changes the life path.

Let us see...

Update :: Lakshmi and Iris have written their story endings.. check them out..

Someone with Someone. Webcam photo of still photo. (will scan and post the actual later. Cant control the anxiety, yo know..). Trust me... no photoshopping here. :)

Velai-vetti-illadha Day !

Iam not a supporter for celebrating Valentine's Day. But the protests from BJP and VHP and RSS and Shiv Sena keeps me neutral. I want a good protestor to join with. Not someone who plans to make the Lover gang to get married.

Read this, and come back

How crazy can you get... ? It keeps me entertained to watch the build-up for every Valentine's day, every year. People do crazy things to celebrate, and few others get even wilder to oppose that. The opposition doesnt realize, that they add extra glamour to the day. Anyways..

Why is that only Hindu movements oppose this ? Or is it only my assumption ? Arent there any parents who oppose Love-marriage in Christianity and Islam ? I guess it is only a political game to send opposition and violently crush the valentines.


BTW. Here's something that interested me... and i think if people marketted this day, then it would be a bigger success than the Valentine's day.

from Wiki,

In Korea, there is also an additional Black Day, held on April 14, when males who did not receive anything for Valentine's Day gather together to eat Jajangmyun (Chinese-style noodles in black sauce).

He he he !!

Lokha Samastha Sukhino Bhavantu !
(May all beings be happy and free).

Style Up !

I've been using this for long, but never tried to go out of the box (than the themes that were bundled along with it). Yesterday, hit on a website - ThemeXP.Org, and found an irresistable theme that looked way too impressive.

Here's how it looked on Avyukta.



Click for big.

Style XP Rocks. I understand most of you dont like installing themes, and like it simple. But from time to time, i would like to experiment on my desktop. After all, we feel happy when one fine day we wear a Jigu-Jigu shirt. Illaya ?

Mazhai (Rain)

Sangeetha should be waiting outside.. I have had this satin-like comfortable feeling, everytime I'm in this baggage belt. After picking this up, its straight into my country. Searching among heads, and finding the happy hands that waves towards me. They would have spotted me coming out.. but i will be struggling to figure out my mom and dad. Few gazes, and there they will be. Mighty delighted to see their son. And how delighted i feel ? you should ask the on-lookers. I leave the trolly just like that (this is a fashion) and jump towards them and give them a hug. Boy ! o Boy ! mom and dad.

This time is different. Im feeling quircky. I've come down for my betrothal and marriage (latter depending on the former). I've spoken to Sangeetha over phone, breaking the ice.. and I assumed we were beginning to get intimate. She sounded good, sociable and very practical. Mom is very satisfied with her. After all, that is what matters to me the most.

There comes my baggage. This time one extra suitcase. (and one extra hand-baggage). I made sure, the gift i had brought her is easily reachable. Actually, i got many gifts for her.. but i dont want to give it today. Mom and dad might think otherwise. I can do that later. So, a simple pack of make-up set (thats what usually people buy for their would-be's, dont they)..

There's the Exit. I just take a look at myself. I look good. I make sure the laptop is visible amidst all the luggages. I get out the shirt thats neatly tucked in. I wanted to look casual. I usually tuck in and look formal when i walk out. My dad always likes me formal. But he wont mind this time.

Gawd !This should be a remarkable trip, this time.

dEEP sIGH ! oohg !!

I walk towards the exit. There's a lot of hands, heads and name boards. There's mom and Sangeetha.

It is beginning to rain, as I rush towards them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 weeks later.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Me and mom are standing in the Check-in counter. We couldnt talk to each other.

The flight is delayed by 30 minutes, due to heavy rain. The rain that spoiled my life.

To be Continued.................

PS - I have no idea, how i'll end this story. I just wanted a plot where we can play around with our imagination. The theme is to tell, how "simple actions/reactions" can deviate the flow of life. Seriously, life's twists and turns (and whirls) are decided by petty things in life.

With that in mind.. can you think of ending the story. (Its a flashback we need !)

Saravana Bhavan - just getting out of list

This weekend looked like Saravana Bhavan Special to me. I ended up being in the hotel, with three different sets of people (relatives and friends) during the Sat and Sundays... in Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar and Anna Nagar.

It wasnt a let down in Quality.. but Pricing was very heavy. Thats what I felt. And what hit me badly was when my dear Masala Dosai was having a very minute quantity of masala. Thats outrageous. Looks like these guys have gone way too complacent that customers will somehow pop in and eat anything they give.

More to which this Hotel does not feature any Air Conditioners. But the charges are like eating in a A/c restaurant. And the charges in the Saravana Bhavan - Pondy Bazaar are mindboggling. I'd better take the Balaji Bhavan and Geetha Cafe instead.

Im planning to avoid this Hotel from now on. I can get better or equal quality food for a lesser price. It is not the question of affordability.. it is the concern of exploitation. Simply a good-name cannot give you authority to raise your prices.

It wont matter to Saravana Bhavan, if just a One out of a lakh customers quit consumption.

Yo Kalakkal !!

Dailamo ! Dailamo ! Daila Daila Dailamo !
Dailamoooo ! Dailamooo !Dailamo Dailamo !!

Kallelekke Raathi riMel Kaadhala (means, Kaalaikku Raathiri Mel Kadhale !)

Dishyum nalla irukke !

Valaikappu Special

New Photo on Photoshop Blog.... Seemandham Special !

Mudhugu Photography !

I am a specialist in this kinda photographies. This is a special technique of staying dumb, with a camera waiting for important events to take place, through the view finder.. and Click... Damn ****, some one will come in between the event and the lens, and show their back. This is called "Mudhugu Photography". And people watching the images on the screen (after the function is over) will be guessing, whose back that is.

Today was my sister's Seemandham. And I was the photographer (besides a Handycam videographer, who can get good name by constantly showing the event, even if someone walks in between). The bad part in mini-functions where you dont call a professional photographer is that, we dont get quality pictures of the events.. because we are also busy arranging the Breakfast tables. And most of it, we (the photo takers) are not available in the pictures.

Hmmp.. What will i tell my niece/nephew (think it is niece), when she/he asks me "Mama ! nee enge kaanum... ?"

Woha ! The last sentence took me to a dream world. What do you call that ? Future ?

1200 Sq Feet Life

There is an empty land next door. Last September it was priced 66 lakhs (some 4.5+ grounds as a single plot).

Yesterday, I learnt that it is valued 1 Crore and 7 lakhs.

Both the times, I didnt care much, coz I knew I wasnt going to buy it. But, Whew ! Can you Imagine ? Land prices are at all time high in Chennai, even at remote places like Villiwakkam. Think about Besant Nagar.. Square feet prices are approaching Rs. 10,000 /-. Thats like Mumbai, Yo !

People are approaching the out-skirts of Chennai, and investing on Lands, with the hope that the city will expand. And the City does expand.

By and far, few years from now.... land prices will tease you with a grin. Better buy a land now, if you want one.

Indian soil just got little more precious.

Foreign Chocolates

How does dream smell like ? I am not sure, if feelings have smell. Aargh ! Whatever, but right now, my dreams have a fragrance. Diary rich Hershey's Black Milk Chocolate. Subbi mama (subbi mami's husband) will land in tomorrow morning. Like every year, we will visit him. All my happiness will await detonation, till the Samsonite is burst open, and an Aroma of chocolate boxes(not chocolates) fill the room. Im addictive to anything chocolaty !!
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This year chocolate bag was no different. Same M&Ms, Snickers, Hersheys, Crackles and one Giant Nestle premium pack chocolate. Slrrrupp !! Of course, there were some electronic gadgets, and some board games and picture dictionaries for me. Wonder what makes them think, those will interest me. hmm.
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I hate mom. She will split the packets, and give to next door and few other relatives. Only a few will remain..
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chandru mami came home. she was given foreign chocolates. My share was considerably reducing. I am in this half-adoloscent. Too old to fight for it in front of them.. they liked me being possessive, when I was a kid.. but the world has changed a lot now.. the way it behaves with me.

She ate all the chocolates on the plate, and then came the comment. "idhellam namma Food worldlaye kidaikkudhe..."

Is it true ? oh.. may be. I was at Food World once, but was left with the Security.. they feared that I would make a mess inside. But from where i saw, there were lots of colors. All chocolates would have been there.
------------------------------------
Dad came home. I wanted to show him I was upset. So, i made sure i was seen, and kept a long face. Did you know this technique works well.. it is simple.. just be upset, and make sure you are noticed.. your prayers will be answered :) So was mine..

Dad took me to Food World, and I found all the chocolates Subbi mama brought.. everything. The Chocolate boxes didnt smell the way the usual boxes smell. But they were the same brands and flavours.. I was floating.. I won these because i was upset.. Cool, this works.
------------------------------------
From then on, I got a lot of Hersheys, whenever mom went to Food World. They were no more interesting.
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Next Year

Subbi mama is coming tomorrow.
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Samsonite was open, and the aroma filled the room.

I wanted to feel unmoved. But then a sudden surge of excitement came in. Wow ! Foreign Chocolates..... :)

Cartoon Batcha !

Rajinikanth hits the Animation screens. Boy ! thats a fascinating news. It is a combined effort of Adlabs and Ochre Studios (looks like owned by Rajinikanth family). They say the animation will show all styles and mannerisms of Superstar.

"I am extremely thrilled to say that an animated full-length feature film, featuring an Indian icon, which has never been attempted before, has been taken up jointly by us," said Soundarya who is also the MD of Ochre Studios.

Adlabs Chairman and Managing Director Manmohan Shetty stated "The movie is going to be a combination of 2D and 3D animation. Things are currently in preliminary stages and based on the rough storyboard estimates the movie will be made in the range of Rs 10 Crore"

Kanna, Sivaji edhile varuvaan.. eppdi varuvaannu solla mudiyadhu... aana ! Cartoona vandhaalum, Fortuneaaathan iruppaan ! Idhu eppdi irukku ?

Read Full News here

Martyrdom Day

We must be the change we wish to see.
- Gandhi

This day some year, one man was killed.
But he made a difference in your life and my life.
He is the reason we stand and mourn for 1 minute, every damn year at 11 O Clock.
Yet, he is the reason, we can sit down if we dont like to mourn.

CBE is Cool !

Not a break, really.

Going on a break, and will pull back sometime next week. Till then , I trust i have something on my Archives for you, worth reading.

Archives

• 09/01/2004 - 09/30/2004
• 10/01/2004 - 10/31/2004
• 11/01/2004 - 11/30/2004
• 12/01/2004 - 12/31/2004
• 01/01/2005 - 01/31/2005
• 02/01/2005 - 02/28/2005
• 03/01/2005 - 03/31/2005
• 04/01/2005 - 04/30/2005
• 05/01/2005 - 05/31/2005
• 06/01/2005 - 06/30/2005
• 07/01/2005 - 07/31/2005
• 08/01/2005 - 08/31/2005
• 09/01/2005 - 09/30/2005
• 10/01/2005 - 10/31/2005
• 11/01/2005 - 11/30/2005
• 12/01/2005 - 12/31/2005
• 01/01/2006 - 01/31/2006

By the way, We have a Photoshop blog and a Story blog ( I reccomend this one ) also.

Just keep yourself busy, and I'll be back in a giffy.

Here's something that interests people working on IT.

Unlike Naukri and many other job sites, IT-People.com concentrates only on IT jobs.

Sounds Interesting :) to me.

Athithi Devo Bhava !

Incredible India is run by the Ministry of Tourism, India. They operate a lots of Package trips around the country and they are the one that seriously promote Tourism to India.

In their Promotions, most of them around the Taj Mahal, there's been a slight change.

They have begun a campaign - "Athithi Devo Bhava" - meaning Guest is God.

It is the verse in the Taittiriya Upanishad that says "Matru devo bhava, Pitru devo bhava, Acharya devo bhava, Atithi devo bhava". Means One should worship Mom, Dad, Teacher and Guests as God. (we are a sick generation who have started hating all the four of them).

The Video of Incredible India is very good, and worth watching for One Yoga stunt performed at the very end of this video, when someone sounding like Shankar Mahadevan sings "Athithi Devo Bhava".

Watch it Here .

Am going on a trip to CBE tonight. Am not sure what I will do there. Five of us. No plans. Anything good in Coimbatore ? I've asked PK, the CBE man for some suggestions. Lets see.

Dream Republic Day !

Check this out ! How would you like to login to the internet on a Republic Day morning, and find Your president Smiling and welcoming you, with a "Republic Day Speech" On Demand.

Indian Republic Day celebrations are Webcasted (with very surprising quality) on this webpage.

Watch it. Over the period of the past few years NIC has taken the Government websites to a certain height. Consistant usage will take it to greater heights.

I feel proud in joining Shri. Abdul Kalam, in wishing you a Happy Republic Day !

Chicken Very Little

Happened to watch Chicken Little in the middle of the work-day.

To comment on the movie in
One word - Cute.
Two words - Not Interesting.
Three words - Thats about it.

I learnt that "Chicken Little" is Disney's full length animation without Pixar, after a long time, and it clearly showed up. After being a fan of almost all the Chars made by Pixar, Disney's Chicken Little fails to leave a mark like "Mike Wazowski" did.

Mickey & Donald, Snow White, Tom and Jerry were all cute and good looking. But now after Ice Age, Monster's Inc, Bugs Life, Finding Nemo, Toy Story.... i think we have added emotions to animations, and They rock.

If Pixar is the only reason Chicken Little fails to make an impression, then Disney better reworks relationships.