Deepview

For a Better India

2010-01-05T05:32:00.004+05:30

There are hundreds and thousands of social groups, forums, websites and what not that depict the poor face of India, the problems that we are facing, how over the next decade we are going to screw up, how the economy is taking us down and blah blah blah. The focus of each of these are the problems, they depict all the negativities and issues that we have as a country. While listing out the problem is a good way to look at it but it also makes one wonder what a country we are, certainly does not help the hoards of young crowd that we have.

However, thankfully there is one such forum that is different and takes a complete new perspective to the way we look at it. It is launched by a Bangalore based couple Dhimanth Parekh and his wife. Take a look at it here and am sure you will love it. As the website tells it is about the unsung heroes doing their duty at the ground level, this is about people who make the difference and not just talk. This also shows us and points us towards where we can help. There are a lot of people who have the willingness to help but do not know where to start if you are one of them make use of it.

Hopefully this will change the way we look at India and motivates us to contribute more.

Welcome MMX... and let's Go Green

2010-01-03T02:13:00.002+05:30

So here it is... The year MMX (2010). This year has been designated as the International Year of Biodiversity. Simply put "Go green"

Simple things that would help us going green.

Let's reduce the usage of Plastic
Let's pool in when we travel
Let's not print it unless really necessary
Let's switch those lights off when not needed

I am sure there are a lot more that we can do and help us save our earth....

With that thought I wish you all a very Happy New Year !!!!

Avatar - An exhilarating experience

2009-12-20T09:50:00.003+05:30

It was one of those weekends where you do not feel like going out anywhere. Just a lazy day...

Woke up, a nice chat will folks back home, an usual breakfast, some usual movies on TV, a quiet lunch and a nice nap. This is what the day was until I decided to break the monotony and go for a drive. A couple of calls later two more lazy bums joined me and we headed off deciding where to go.

Its a different experience when you start driving not knowing where to go. You decide if you want to take a turn at the signal and later decide you did not want to (After hearing the honks behind you). Well as it ended, a couple of wrong turns later we were in sight of AMC 30. (A movie theater with 30 screens!!!!). As it were meant to be, found a lot of parking space and lucky enough to be just in time for the movie Avatar in 3D. Nice seats were found and a bucket of pop corn and a few promos later we wore the 3D glasses ( I would once like to take a photograph of a theater full of people wearing those glasses LoL that would be a sight to see).

Once the movie started I was gripped to my seat not wanting to even miss a scene. Birds, arrows and bullets flew past me riveting me to my seat. The movie has a good pace with a nice storyline (there are places where a few songs can be placed if remade in Bollywood.). The narration is good and direction stupendous. James Cameron wins the heart. A must watch for all the movie buffs and the ones not so keen as well. Ensure that you have your spectacles on and don't forget to duck when an arrow is aimed at you. It was truly an exhilarating experience.

Am sure you will enjoy it... well I did...

City of Joy

2009-12-18T05:26:00.002+05:30

Phoenix is one of the most well planned cities in US. The city is criss-crossed with parallel roads and perpendicular avenues or streets. As with the other majority of cities, the main roads mostly lead to malls, hotels or large buildings and the side roads lead to similar houses. So having said it, I thought I will write something about how the city and the residents are prep'ing for the upcoming holiday season.

Christmas is probably the only biggest festival here. There is a general feel of happiness in the air, the flights are all booked, the flight tickets a sky high, there are discounts flying all around, the shopping malls are full, there are large queues in the billing counters at the malls and what not. The houses are decorated and lit up with colorful lights. The Christmas tree is too adorned with lights and colorful decorations hanging out.

At office, there are smiles all around, people are talking about how badly they are looking for the long vacation, inquiring what they would be doing this vacation, where they are going to be, who is visiting them and are in a general hurry to finish up their long list of assignments. There are cakes all around. Meetings end with a smile and not much action items.

So with all this, it seems to me like this may be how a city of joy would look like!!!!

Dummies Guide to kitchen...

2009-12-12T06:34:00.007+05:30

Disclaimer: This post is not about the ingredients nor the method of preparation various dishes. As the title suggest, this is for dummies, so who cares what they cook except for themselves. Also, they would like it anyway. This is purely my experiences in mastering the art at the kitchen. Read on!!!

I am no expert to write a dummies guide well, that too on this topic. Infact I am a dummy my self helping the fellow dummies who despise the same pizza's, burger's, burritos or subs in creating their own menus.

So here began my experience...

While I was here for the first time, Swamy graciously agreed to cook for me and I with no remorse or option agreed to do the dishes. I was occasionly allowed to cut the vegetables, peel onions and on some lucky days to fiddle with the food. I spent full three months watching him cook and craftily prepare the amazing mouth watering food.

The next time around it was Praveen who took the honors, but here I was allowed for some hands on under his watchful eyes.

So this time around it was me, myself and my kitchen. I was warned, teased and even challenged. But as you must have already read in my another post I have managed and well.

Here are my list of accomplishments over the last couple of weeks...

Bisibelebath (My masterpeice till date)
Uppittu (Upma for some)
Tomato Bath
Mix Veg curry
Puliyogre
Lemon Rice
Rice
Gojju
Maggi

Well the list will certainly grow over the next couple of months.

So as I boast about my experiences and accomplishments here are a few thoughts:

Cooking is about two things

1. Taste

2. Smell

Taste

A great taste is a combination of salt, sweet and sour. A right mixture of these three makes a great food. From my experience the cardinal rules of cooking a great taste are:

a. If its too salty, make it sour. (lemon juice, tamarind would do) and vice versa
b. If its too spicy, make it sweet. (Sugar, jaggery etc if nothing a chocolate :) )

A couple of tries and you will be on the right path.

Smell

Trust me this the most difficult aspect of cooking. The awesome smell that draws people in to the kitchen, hungry or not. You will smell it when the rice is cooked just right. when that sambar is just right and to be out of the stove.

How can you know before hand?

Well let me be frank, you can't. You are still a dummy remember!!!!

So what do you do? Nothing much actually...

Instead you can serve it hot or either break one of the cardinal rules mentioned above.
Believe me it works!!!!

So next time around if you eat something really hot, too salty or too sweetish you know what to smell for!!!!. However if you still fail do not worry, and remember this.

"Who cares how it tastes? It will taste good to you. Thats what matters!!!!"

So go ahead explore the kitchen, cook on!!!!!

The Lonely Life

2009-12-03T06:33:00.002+05:30

3:00am:

Half asleep-Half awake I turn towards the clock to check the time. I do not want to wake up yet.

But sleep evades me.

4:30am:

After struggling for an hr and half. I wake up get to my desk to check the mails.

Ah.. there are messages that have popped up on my chat window.

I respond to those and then a series of messages ensue....

5:30am:

Still in front of my lappy. Responding to mails, messages on chat window.

6:00am:

Coffee time!!! With a mug of coffee, my fingers continue to play on the keyboard.

6:30am:

Still there. Coffee is long done. Call from home.

Series of questions about what I did, what I cooked etc etc.

7:00am:

Ready for getting ready....

Arrgh... how I miss the ironed clothes...

7:30am:

Corn Flakes, Milk and Orange Juice. A typical continental breakfast.

Time to call the Cab. As I walk down to the lobby of the hotel,

the chilly morning air brushes aganist me.

The drive from office is in such a contrast with the one back at home.

8:00am:

As I walk down the office entrance lobby, I do not recognize the faces.

I get to my desk. Hey there is a meeting that is scheduled at 8:30am

11:30am:

Up pops a message!!!

"Hey, whats the lunch plan"

"Errr.. nothing", I respond

"Okie.. let's go out",

"Sure, will stop by your desk"

12:30pm:

Back at desk....

Meetings, Discussions, Decisions, Action Items,

5:30pm:

Back at Hotel Lobby.

"Hey, I would like to watch the movie ..............."

" Sure, here you go" (Hands over the DVD)

6:00pm:

With a cup of coffee in hand I switch over to the movie

7:00pm:

Tring Tring.... Phone time

8:00pm:

After a deliberate thinking as to what to cook I decide something and go about that

9:00pm:

Telecom.. Meetings, Discussions, Debate, Decisions etc

11:00pm:

Gd nite day.

The Weekend So far

2009-11-30T17:10:00.004+05:30

Well Saturday was gone... and of what was remained on Saturday, I had a nice shower and some yummy Maggi and was off to bed. I knew that the Jet Lag was looming somewhere over my head, finally it knocked me of my sleep at 3:00am I was trying to ward it off and get some sleep but gave up by 4:00. Logged in to see if anyone was online. Phuff no one... there went my thoughts of catching up with all back at home. Finally, got hold of Ranjani and spoke to her for a while and then asked her to call up home and get them online which she diligently did. After bidding bye to her(She commented that my voice is already sounding like an NRI) called up home and spoke to all. I am sure Google have revolutionized the web. G talk in an amazing thing and for the first time in my last three trips to US I was able to talk to people without the hassles of a calling card. Google rocks!!!!.

Act 1:

After debating what to have for breakfast, decided that I need to do some grocery shopping. Got ready and a quick phone call to the Discount Cab saw that I was on my way to Fry's Market place. Its amazing how here they maintain the discipline of having the things the same way for years to come. After shopping had some croissants for breakfast and the cab diligently dropped me back to my hotel.

Act 2:

Once back from all the shopping i let my culinary skills act and the result was Puliyogare. Whoever said I will famish.... I dare ... LoL.

Act 3:

Well thought of having a nap but ended up sleeping at Indian time zone from 12:00 to 6:00.

I wonder when I will get over the jetlag. Evening was uneventful after all what can you expect. Watched America's Sweethearts and chatted with a couple of office mates. For dinner had tortilla, chutney pudi with curd and engaged myself with Micheal Chricton's Congo. The book is as gripping as the movie. Dozed off to a sleep to see myself awake at 4:00 am (Ah at least an improvement of an hour when compared to yesterday !!!) and typing this to you guys.

More to come... Have a nice day.

Above the white ocean

2009-11-29T15:40:00.004+05:30

It was time.... almost 4:15 am on Saturday morning. I was late per my plan of leaving home by about 15 mins. I was all packed and ready. Called up Arun and ensured that he was awake. Had the last cup of coffee at home for a long time to come. Nithin was awake and he helped me bring down the luggage..... Did a last minute check on the Passport, visa and currency all was as expected. So, there I was ready to leave home after a long time for a short time. Enroute picked up Arun and was on the Airport road with some good music playing.

Reached the airport well within time and then did a quick weight check (Oh not mine.... I meant the baggage) This is one of the good things that the airport authority folks have done. Having a weighing machine outside the departure gate. I remembered the first time I was travelling and the confusion I was in during the luggage checkin as one of my bag was overweight. After adjusting my luggages for the weight issues I was all set to enter. Bid Adieu to Arun and Nithin and I was on my way. At the counter, after answering a few customary questions, I was given my boarding passes and was through the security checks. Once near the gate, went to a book store and helped myself with the classic. Jules Verne's "Around the World in Eighty Days". The flight started boarding as planned, however a technical glitch saw to it that we were delayed by 20 mins.

Finally, all was set and we took off (Docomo dinn happen as well) Breakfast was served and I devoured myself on the adventures of Phileas Fogg, Passpertout and Auodha. The 10 hour flight was better than I had expected (Except for no DoCoMo). We were view flying at 38000 ft altitude gave a different view of the land below, we flew just parallel to Bombay and entered Iran, here land looked like crumpled brown cloth with white and blue (Snow and Water) design patterns. We then passed over The Dead Sea (Why do they call this?? I have no clue !!!!) flew past Germany and approached London. As we were flying above london all I could see was an ocean of white clouds and ours seemed like a sailing above it, it was an amazing view which cannot be described in words. Phileas Fogg had reached back to the reform club and we landed. Jules Verne did not let me keep the book down even for a moment.

We landed in London about 30 mins late and had to rush through security check to get to the gate. The next flight was ready and got on board. I had a better seat than the previous flight (well no Docomo here too!!!), had lunch and dozed off, was woken up by flight attendants while they serves the snack and we were already close to Phoenix.

Got out of flight, cleared immigration and found myself a cab and was in my hotel. Took a couple of videos from the Hotel DVD library and switched on Entrapment and I got entrapped in my sleep.

Oh ya... made noodles today for dinner... I mean Maggi Atta Noodles.. Easy to make yummy to eat !!!!

The Dosa Theory

2008-10-20T21:02:00.010+05:30

Fermented Batter made out of a right mixture of rice and lentils, spread on and fried with oil or ghee on a hot skillet….
All Dosa lovers…. Am sure your mouth must be watering now….
We all know how there are different kind of dosa’s.
Wait before you jump in to the conclusion that this blog is about different kinds of dosa’s,
NO it is not.
It’s about Masala Dosa and the way people savor it……

The wiki on Masala dosa says…
“A Masala dosa is made by stuffing a dosa with a lightly cooked filling of potatoes , fried onions and spices.”

So now what is the big hulla about some theory about Masala dosa…?
Well I am an ardent fan of Dosa’s… specifically Masala Dosa…
This theory was formed as I was enjoying my Dosa’s at various hotels and Darshini’s in and around Bangalore…

Does the style of eating a Masala dosa reveal anything about a person’s nature?
Hmm you might be asking what are these different ways of eating dosa?

I have grouped them in to three categories…

The Chippers
These are the ones who do not open the dosa but chip away the dosa along the side…. And savor it first with chutney and later with the stuffing…

The Attackers
They attack the dosa right in between but with out spreading it open… and thus enjoying the dosa with the stuffing…

The Openers
These people open the dosa wrapping and then savor their dosa’s with the stuffing…

Now what’s the big deal about this…?

Well, while I was thinking on this it flashed to me whether does this mean anything to the nature of the person?
I mean does his style of eating dosa reflect on any character if the person… I don’t know so here are my thoughts on this… Let me know if this is true…

The Chippers:
These people like to start with the loose ends and the work their way towards the problem.
They make decisions on the go and are very fast decision makers (Well not necessarily the right ones)
Their decisions change often based on the circumstances and they generally do not remorse for taking a particular decision.

The Attackers:
They are the go getters they want to get in to the root of the problems and then work around solving the issues and closing the loose ends…
They exactly know what to look for in a problem and usually use their past experience in identifying the root cause of the problem.

The Openers:
These people are more patient than the above lot, they would like to evaluate all their options before making a decision.
They are more oriented towards knowing the boundaries and believe more on doing proper planning before they take up any tasks…

So now guys…
Let me know which category you fall in to.

If the above character description does not match yours then I need to either update the above or you need to change your dosa eating style ;) (Kidding... )

For anything do leave a comment…

Poem...

2008-06-25T22:44:00.002+05:30

Here is another one...
Though I had written is long time back somehow posting it now...

Stay with me forever
--------------------

Twinkling eyes, telling me something.
Parted lips, waiting to spill out pearls
Let me learn the language your eye speaks
Let me preserve the pearls
Stay with me forever

Sweet voice, singing melodiously for me
Open ears, waiting for me to speak
Let me listen to your voice
Let me fill your ears
Stay with me forever

Warm words, speaking for me
Soft heart, thinking of me
Let me feel the warmth
Let me be in your thoughts
Stay with me forever

Trembling hands, waiting to be held
Beautiful fingers, without a ring
Let me hold your hand
Let me put on a ring
Stay with me forever

Time spent with you
Take the world away from me
A look in to your eyes
Takes me away from my world
Let me loose my world
Stay with me forever

So What shall I call this post???

2008-06-25T22:23:00.004+05:30

Well just felt like dropping a couple of lines in to my world famous blog (ahem ahem....) anyways..
Life is going on good...
I am totally in to my new work... I am loving it everybit...
Okay enuf of me talking about work...
how are you guys doing?? tell me ...
oh your are asking how to tell me...simple dropin through a comment... ;)

2007-11-21T20:31:00.000+05:30

Of late I have come to realise that traffic is one of the biggest time stealers in my life. I mean imagine sitting in the cab for almost 2 hrs. It can be pretty frustrating. To top it all you have to bear all the honking cos some pshycho feels that he has something better than all of us; any way let me not rant about this never ending problem. I do not know if any of you have felt the same. Do comment.

Bourne Identity….

2007-11-21T11:08:00.000+05:30

This was one of the movies that I wanted to watch from a long time…
Yeah I know… it’s an old movie.
Actually I started to read the novel and then wanted to watch the movie but had to watch Bourne Ultimatum before any of its prequels. Thanks Swetha
So curiosity got better of me and went on to watch the first part of the movie …
It’s a nice movie held me gripped to the seat till the last scene…
Now dying to watch Bourne Supremacy... guess it will be today….
That apart my day yesterday was as usual…
One nice thing was my walk back home after getting down from my cab…
It was a nice weather last night a little chilly with a nice breeze and went home for a nice dinner and then the movie
Must say the evening was eventful ;)
Okie you folks have a nice day…

Blog it !!! Make it a habit...

2007-11-20T15:55:00.000+05:30

Well decided to write at least a couple of lines every day to keep my blog alive and kicking...
So what do I write about?
Haven’t figured that out yet…but soon will I guess.
Watched OSO recently (for you mortals who did not understand its Om Shanthi Om)
I liked it…… tried watching the movie Eternal Sunshine Of the Spotless Mind but did not understand it at all ;)
Will give an other shot at it today ;)

Sinusoidal Wave.....

2007-05-23T19:46:00.000+05:30

Up up you go... as you stay there you feel on top of world.. nothing can touch you... you feel invincible life seems great....
BUT
not for long as you see down you descend... in to the bottom of a hopeless situation where nothing seems to work whole world works aganist you... and as you feel let down, you a ray of hope a silver lining... that again puts you back and as you see up up you go ...

havent we all felt it in our lifes ??
why doesnt life let us stay on top ??
Is Life Fair ??

Recently I watched this movie "In Pursuit Of Happyness" I was very much impressed with the movie. I often wondered what would I have done if I were in that guy's position? Well I havent found the answer yet...
Did he choose his way or did Life drive him towards it?
One thing he did was he never left the hope....

Thats a lesson I learnt...
no matter even if you feel that you are falling in to the bottomless pit..
have hope...
Who knows you might end up on the other side of earth :)

Well if you ask me I would say we need to go to the bottom of the Sinusodial wave to feel the importance of being at the peak....

You are not making a choice neither is someone for you......
Life is driving you towards it....

Either towards the top or to the bottom....
So that Up U can go Or Down you can descend

A long time ago...

2007-05-23T19:31:00.000+05:30

Yes, Its been a long time since I posted anything...
I donno if any one ever vists my blog... :p
If you have and if you have read... Do leave me a mesg :)
That would encourage me...
Hmm now what have I been doing since the last time I posted???
Well actually pretty much the same....
the routine never changes... or may be tats y its called routine ;)

There have been a lotta changes... well as usual...
Personally, I have added a few extra pounds... made a few more friends...
Roamed a few more places... Read a few more books...
the most important of all I have been thinking[Yes still ;)]
May be I will write about a couple of them in coming future...

I recently ended up realising that Life is not so fair and not so straight...
But yet somehow my faith from life never fades...
As I start loosing interest about something something pops up that brings back
the interest in...

A Sinusoidal wave it is .......

Will write more about this in my next post..
Now to get back to routine ;)

Adieu till next time.....

Change is the only thing constant

2006-06-06T10:37:00.000+05:30

"Change is the only thing constant".

How true are those words?
I must say that I have learnt it the hard way.
So many things/people in life I have thought will never change for me
have always changed.

May it be the first friend in my first class or be it my best
friend in engineering, they have all changed.
They have all helped me in learning the same lesson time and agian.

"Change happens - Its inevitable"

Believe me it really hurts when some one changes.
with you the charming smile vanishes. The warmth grows cold.
Finally, the feeling dies.

So lets be open for the tides of change that's going to
sweep us across shores and be ready for the inevitable.

Changing Gears

2006-06-02T14:50:00.000+05:30

This was a thought that sprang out while I was having a discussion about bikes.

A colleague of mine has just now learnt riding a bike.
So he was explaning me how easy it was for him to learn.
Apparently some one had answered his question of when to change gear
in a simple way
"Change the gear the moment when the pick up gets saturated. "
While I was thinking about this statement it flashed to me that it is very much
valid to life as well..
"Change the gear when you feel your pick up is getting saturated" Very true...
You are stuck at a problem and you dont feel like your are moving on
-- Change the gear.
Nothing seems to work out
-- Change the gear.

Hmmm wish it was as easier as holding the clutch and pressing
the gear pedal...
Life would have been much easier ....

Anyways now let me get back to a problem am stuck with and
let me see if I can change gears ;)

My Life

2006-06-01T12:22:00.000+05:30

My Life
--------

A Roller Coaster ride ...
Tats wat my life is ...

It tosses me up,
High up in to the skies of happiness
Thats when I feel on top of the world.

It pushes me down
Deep down in to the shadow of sorrows ..
Thats when I feel buried under earth

It keeps me on ground
Cruising through the mad mad world
Thats when I feel the pace of life.

There are speed breakers on path
That topple me off the road
But never lets me miss my ride

There are acceleration zones in between
That zips me across the greens
But ensures I have my breath.

It lets me pick up a new person at every corner
But also drops of an old one without even telling me ..
But still ensures I have enough people to enjoy the ride with.

It hits at me hard
With unexpected turns ....
But also ensures I am hard enough to bear it.

It pampers me with gifts
With unexpected surprises
But never overloads me so that I will want more

How ever it is ...
It gives me best of the things ...
It brings the best out of me ...

Tats what my life is ...
A roller coaster ride...

Poems

2006-06-01T12:19:00.000+05:30

Am trying my hands at poems. Well ya I know you must be smirking at me now. But as I post them do comment ;)

First Post !!!!

2006-06-01T11:54:00.000+05:30

Well, after procrastinating for more than 6 months here comes my own blog. Various thoughts have crossed my mind in the last few years. Few are worth remembering few are worth forgetting. Hopefully I will be able to manage them here and share them with you guys.