Personal Impressions

Water is the new Oxygen

2018-03-25T08:34:00.000-07:00

Rain, rain, go away,
Come again another day;

Little Johnny wants to play,

Rain, rain, go away!

The day will come when we will admonish kids not to sing this nursery rhyme; when, instead, we will fervently pray for rain to come, to fill up all the water bodies which supply the precious element to our villages, towns and cities.

We may not be able to enjoy a houseboat ride across Kerala backwaters.

We may not be captivated by the endearing image of an avian resident in the Sunderbans.

We may see dry temple tanks in Kanchipuram.

Do not dismiss these as rambling musings of a paranoid blogger! The reason: It is increasingly becoming evident that water is not only scarce but is alarmingly depleting. We already have States fighting over the sharing of river waters. Who would have thought that a Court of law would need to decide who gets how much water? Who would have thought that a river is not everyone’s, that it is a belonging like a physical possession? Reports have emerged about the possibility of Bengaluru running completely dry, just like Cape Town. Other cities, too, will face this horrifying possibility. The image below of a totally dry Vastrapur Lake, taken on a recent trip last month to Ahmedabad, is a stark reality.

The image above is frightening, isn't it? The scarcity of water has become such a major problem that it is being referred to as "water stress". If you look at the map below, India does face a bleak future in terms of water availability. And this map is of 2015; so what will it be like in 2025?

[Image courtesy: indiawatertool.in]

Poor water quality is also something to think about, of course, but before worrying about that we need to worry about facing drought. A lot of discussions are initiated on ways to save water, but more often than not, all the ideas simply remain in sound bytes, printed out on reams of paper, filed away and forgotten on dusty shelves.

World Water Day was a few days ago. There were a few media reports on it, perhaps some symposiums and group discussions were organized and poster campaigns initiated. Was it just another token gesture to mark this specific day? We have to stop chattering and philosophizing. We have to start taking actual steps to preserve, conserve and stop wastage of H₂O. Water has become the crucial Oxygen (the 'O'of H₂O).

The effort begins at home

Must you install taps which gush out more water than the waterfalls in nature? We have a side tap attached to the pipe which carries water to our wash basin. It helps us to regulate the flow of water to the minimum required amount for brushing, rinsing and washing our face.

Must you keep the tap open while you stand in front of the mirror above the wash basin to shave or brush your teeth? Close that tap!

Must you fill up an entire bucket of water to bathe or stand under a continuous flow of water from the shower? We don’t have a shower. We don’t fill up the bucket under the tap to the brim – just sufficient to use 4-5 small tumblerful of water.

Must you install a flush system that, literally, throws gallons of water down the toilet? We have a flush tank which has 2 buttons, one for half-flush to be used for liquid waste and another for a full flush to be used for solid waste.

Must you fill up the washing machine to full capacity when the washing load itself is hardly a quarter of that requirement? We put in just enough water as per the number of clothes to be washed. When there are two few clothes, such as when other family members are out of town, then we use the machine only on alternate days.

Must you always drain out all the water of the washing machine? We often re-use the water. For example, if there are clothes which are not colour fast or there are bed sheets to be washed, we use the soapy water in the machine. Once in about 10 days the water is drained out into a bucket and used later to clean the toilet.

Must you throw away in the basin the water used for washing rice or vegetables? We put it in the plants or put them in the used vessels kept for washing.

Must you open the fridge, drink half a bottle of cold water and then abandon the bottle so that the water eventually gets thrown away? We keep half-finished bottles of water (brought back after coming home from shopping or work) on the dining table so that it gets finished at meal times.

Children can be ace teachers, too, in helping you in the right direction to save water! Learn from this young girl –

Coming together to harvest water

In a residential complex, tenants get together to celebrate festivals and organize cultural programs as a way of bonding and having fun in general. Why not get together, too, to implement a rainwater harvesting scheme? Rainwater can be stored in large collection tanks and used by the residents for washrooms, cleaning vehicles, watering the plants in the complex, etc. Even office complexes can get together and install a rainwater harvesting system.

Talking about complexes, as also hotels and resorts, why aim gallons of piped water or fling large amounts of water from huge watering cans? Far better is a drip irrigation system. The water drips at a gentle pace to the roots of the shrubs, trees and flowering plants. This ensures that water is equally distributed to all the greenery and there is a negligible loss through evaporation as well. Water dripped through the soil this way is water saved. It is not easy, yes, but then, every step does require some effort, doesn't it? Where there's a will, there's a way!

Save Farm, Golvad, Maharashtra is a superb example of this will - how it is possible to save rainwater on a large scale. There is a large lake which was created by the Farm owner over years of hard work; the water is also recycled. Additionally, the owner installed a drip irrigation system around his farm which is abundant with chikoo trees and flora.

At the national and global level, too, people can come together to find solutions to manage water. In India, Livpure has come up with the #CuttingPani campaign. Every Mumbaikar worth his salt knows of the half glass of tea which gives those on the move a quick, economical brew. Taking a cue from that, Livpure campaigns for not wasting even a little water left in a glass, whether at home, at work or in a restaurant. Let us support this campaign by signing their petition.

At least somebody is trying to take an initiative – even if it is a small step – to reverse the trend of water wastage.

Our beloved Earth should not die of thirst.

H₂O – precious.

Every drop.

The new 'E'moji: Vitamin E

2018-01-24T06:08:00.000-08:00

Our very first lesson of alphabets was so very simple: A for Apple, B for Ball, C for Cat, D for Doll, E for Elephant…and so on and so forth. Then we learned how to string the alphabets together to form words.

With technology leaping at speeds even faster than light, we now have communication tools at our fingertips. Words flew away and got replaced by symbols; these, in turn, being replaced with emojis. So how about somebody creating a bunch of innovative emojis for Vitamins, too, to remind people to ensure these are included in their nutrition?! The emoji on the plate in the image on the left is packed with Vitamin E!

So what exactly is Vitamin E? A bunch of compounds with the official name of tocopherols and tocotrienols is what forms Vitamin E. It should be noted here that it is not so common for a person to have Vitamin E deficiency. This is because most foods we include in our nutritional intake do contain some little percentage of Vitamin E.

The few people who are diagnosed with a very low level of Vitamin E are advised to take supplements (e.g. Evion supplements @ http://www.evion.co.in/). More about it can be looked up at #Evion. It is important to note here that such supplements must strictly be taken only on the advice of your Physician and, since it is a fat-soluble vitamin, it is usually taken with food.

The need to consult your Physician cannot be stressed enough, especially for pregnant women, those taking blood thinners, those having heart problems and other medical issues. More so because new research studies on foods rich in Vitamin E can also spring up surprising results. For example, this article mentions a study which discovered that certain Vitamin E-rich oils may cause inflammation of the lungs.

Getting back to food containing Vitamin E & how I make it part of my daily routine: there is no dearth of foods enriched with this vital vitamin!

I love making soups and one with broccoli is one of my favourites. I steam it for about 5 minutes and on cooling give it a whiz in the processor along with a little fresh parsley. A dash of dried herbs (oregano, thyme, basil), a pinch of salt and voila! A nicely packed Vitamin E broth is ready to serve!

I also follow my mother's age-old funda: eat almonds every single day. So four of them get an overnight soak, skins get peeled off & discarded in the morning and...chomp....chomp...Vitamin E down my gullet, not to mention it keeps the memory strong.

And what's not to love about beautiful red tomatoes and plump bell peppers? Chop them finely, cooked with a drizzle of olive oil – and thus I get my Vitamin E veggies for the day. Other green leafy vegetables, like spinach, kale and lettuce are also part of my varying meal menu.

No harm in going nutty, too! I like crunching on a handful of peanuts, as also walnuts. One of my latest favourites is pine nuts. I roast them on a flat tava (you need to be quick, though, as they can get burned fast) and toss them into a vegetable pulao (peas, carrot are the veggies in it). The rice gets a nice, scrumptious taste.

Taking care of what's fueling your body and going into your digestive system is all very well – don't forget the outside, too! Your skin, for example, can undergo a lot of deterioration over time. Here's where a good moisturizing cream will come handy, like Evion cream which is enriched with Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. Applying it to your face and body right after your bath will keep your skin soft and supple.

To wrap up, have a look at the list of foods enriched with Vitamin E (yes, it's in alphabetical order!)

Almonds, Avocado, Asparagus
Broccoli, Bell Peppers
Cereals, Cheese
Dried Apricots, Dried Herbs
Egg yolk
Fish (Shrimp)
Green, leafy veggies (some mentioned in this list)
Hazelnuts
Kale
Lettuce
Mangoes, Maize
Nuts
Olives
Papaya, Parsley, Peanuts, Pine nuts
Radish Greens
Spinach, sunflower seeds
Tomatoes
Vegetable oils
Wheat germ

At school, I am sure you did learn the alphabet soup of vitamins – A, B12, C, D3... You laboured your way through that list, mugging up which Vitamin was packed into which food, why the heck it was so important & what deficiency it caused if left out from the stuff we ate. Once academics was done and dusted with, you never again gave any of the Vitamins a second thought, did you?! Well, at some time when wisdom does dawn – during a blood test more often than not – it is time to delve into healthy foods packed with Vitamins and consume less of unhealthy stuff like fizzy beverages, fatty burgers & fries.

Don't forget to make sure you consult your Physician for the recommended dietary allowance to get the right 'E'moji on your plate!

My 'E'moji Plate

Ironic Idli Surprise

2017-11-19T00:45:00.000-08:00

Mg. Isn't it ironic that we all learned this metric unit at school, drilled it and its siblings into our minds to pass crucial exams, but, as adults, never really bother about it?! How much importance do we give it? How many of us bother to check the amount of various ingredients on the packet of foods we buy? Quite a large number of us would not even know the daily requirements of vitamins, proteins, fibers, carbohydrates and minerals! One of the most vital of this last group, namely minerals, is iron; and one of the many things which go into giving us bountiful energy is this essential, but oft neglected, mineral. Combined with protein, it is iron which enriches our body’s RBCs (red blood cells) that generate haemoglobin, which gives a surge of oxygen to our body, thus providing energy fuel. So what's that all-important Mg requirement for us? As per Livogen FAQs' useful info (http://www.livogen.in/iron-chef), 5mg is recommended for infants, 17mg for men and 21mg for the ladies (mothers-to-be and lactating mothers require more, as per their doctors' recommendations.) Drill those numbers into your mind and rustle up something in the kitchen to create a yummy, healthy dish which contains iron...

Let's consider imbibing the iron Mgs through lentils. One of the rarely used lentils is horsegram (known as Kulith in Maharashtra),

Horsegram

likely because it is quite bland & has a boring taste. I don't like it much either, but since it does contain iron, not to mention calcium & protein as well, I decided to incorporate it in idlis, combined with potatoes. In order to maintain the requisite balance, though, I made mint chutney with lemon juice because the Vitamin C content of mint & lemon aids in iron absorption. Explaining in brief – on eating something containing non-heme iron (in this case the lentil), you need to pair it with something that will absorb the iron well. Iron absorption is, after all, as important for the body as eating the source of iron itself!

Kulith Idlis Recipe

I don't bother generally with any measuring items as such, just going by an instinctive knack of knowing how much to put. However, for those who are particular, I have given the literal measurements, using a small steel katori. Note that you need to plan this recipe well in advance due to the soaking requirements of the various ingredients for the idli. This recipe will serve two persons.

Ingredients

For the idli batter

½ katori kulith
1 katori urad dal
1 katori idli rawa
1 large potato
Salt to taste

For the mint chutney

¼ katori fresh coconut (grated)
About 15 mint leaves
Lemon (nimbu) juice from half a small lemon

Method

Soaking requirements:

1. Check the kulith thoroughly for small stones. Once clean, soak the kulith overnight in warm water. Next day, change the water and at night change the water yet again and soak it again. Thus, you will be soaking it for two consecutive nights.

2. Soak the urad dal separately for 4-5 hours at least.

3. Soak the idli rawa separately for 3-4 hours.

Note: After soaking the kulith for two nights, on the third day morning, before breakfast, I soaked the urad dal & the idli rawa so that these were ready for grinding later.

Grinding requirements:

1. Cook the kulith in a pressure cooker for at least 4-5 whistles. Let it cool. Put it in the grinder jar and whizz, using only a little of the water from the cooker. Keep aside.

2. Grind the urad dal and idli rawa, too, each separately. You can put just a teaspoon of water when grinding.

Batter mix:

Mix the ground kulith, ground urad dal and the ground idli rawa all together in a large bowl (picture on the left.) The mixing process can be done with a ladle or even with your hand.

Do not make it to a watery consistency. It should be not too thick either, just sort of semi-thick.

Peel the potato and grate (the grated shavings should be a bit thick like shown in the picture on the right). Add the grated potoato to the bowl of batter mix. Add salt to taste.

Steaming process:

Today we have modern idli stands placed in a cooker or other vessel. I use the traditional pedavan (see picture of steaming vessel below) in which the idli batter is put in katoris and these are placed on the round mesh section with holes through which the steam from the hot water below seeps through to steam the idlis.

Now follow this method –

1. Grease the katoris lightly with oil (I use coconut oil) on the bottom and sides.
2. Heap the batter in it with a spoon, leaving a little space towards the top (as the batter will rise when steamed) and spreading the top with the spoon to level it out.
3. Put water in the pedavan and place atop it the katoris on the flat section with the holes (as shown in the picture above). Cover the pedavan and let it cook on high flame for at least 20 minutes. Switch off the gas and let it be as it is, giving it a further 10 to 15 minutes to get steamed a bit more.
4. Remove the pedavan lid with a cloth and remove the katoris from it with a pair of tongs. Hold the katori with a cloth. Very gently poke the back of a spoon into the very edge of the idli, making a space between the idli and the katori's side, thus prising it out from the katori. If you use a knife to do this, likely it will cut through the idli and chop off the edges. You can also upend each katori and bang it gently onto a plate – the idlis may come out this way too.

Note: You will require 10 to 12 minutes if using other types of steamers or placing the idlis in a pressure cooker.

Method for the chutney:

1. The mint leaves should be torn off their stalks and washed with

Mint leaves and coconut pieces in jar, ready for a whizz

clean water.

2. Grind the leaves with the grated coconut, adding some water to make it slightly liquid, but not to watery consistency.

3. Add salt to taste and squeeze half a small lemon in it.

Serving instructions:

Place the hot idlis on a plate and serve the chutney separately. You can place a slice of lemon, too, for those who would like to squeeze some more in the chutney or even directly on the idlis.

Voila! The Kulith Idlis are a delight to behold
- and healthy to eat too!

Footer: The little tea set incorporated in the picture of the completed dish is from my childhood days, when me & my sisters played "Tea parties"!

Learning the Magic of Photography in UK

2014-02-11T00:06:00.002-08:00

A photograph captures a moment in a frame & preserves it for posterity. Quite often, captured by the lens in a fuzzy manner is something which you had not quite realised was there when you focused your camera on that moment. For example, your camera is focused on the moon, but you don’t realise that something flew by it – was it a shooting star or an angel or just a strange alien creature?

Wouldn’t it be cool to have photographs which moved? Imagine, then, taking that photo of the moon & the photo moving in such a way as to display every second your camera was trained on it, thus showing what flew by. Such is the magic ability of photos in the world of Harry Potter...ah, well, time to get back to the world of Muggles...

As somebody who likes to aim and shoot, it would be great to increase my knowledge of photography. Instead of just clicking, I would be eager to learn both the technical and aesthetic aspects of this art. If I had the chance to learn photography & pursue it in UK, I would choose a college near King's Cross Station.

Selecting a college in UK

Why near that particular station? Pretty obvious from the opening paragraph, isn't it? That's where you can board the Hogwarts Express of course! As Harry Potter fans are aware, you have to board this magic red train from Platform 9 ¾ at King's Cross Station. While the fictional train takes the student wizards to Hogsmeade station, the real one is at Goathland, where the Harry Potter film was shot.

In order to have the opportunity to travel (on my days off from studies) to Goathland from King’s Cross Station & relive the fictional experience, I would apply for a photography course at a college near the station. Specifically, that would be Central Saint Martins, located at 1 Granary Square, King's Cross, London (Ph:+44 (0)20 7514 7015 / Email: shortcourse@csm.arts.ac.uk).

About Central Saint Martins Photography Course

Central Saint Martins offers a short term course in photography


Photo Studio at Central Saint Martins

especially for beginners. With a fee of £495, the course has got some interesting features.

What I would learn is not just how to handle a camera, but also how to develop the film in a darkroom. Super!

What's more, I will learn the aesthetic aspects of photography through lectures on historical contemporary artwork. The course teaches:

Camera operation
Principles of exposure
Film development & printing
Picture content

While I would need to take along my own SLR camera, the college’s photography department does have its own cameras which can be used during the course learning period.

Putting the Learning to use

As part of the course, there will likely be assignments & I would get a chance to capture my travel experience from King’s Cross Station to Goathland. After buying my Hogwarts Express ticket from the souvenir shop at King’s Cross station, I would board the train, along the journey enjoying the pumpkin pasties & other delectable snacks from the tea trolley on board (that is fictional though!).

At Goathland station itself there is a tea room & there are plenty of places in and around the pleasant town to capture on camera. Not to be missed by my camera would be the well known waterfalls at Mallyan Spout and Thomason Foss, not to mention the surrounding woodlands.

Career Scope

Who knows? On completing the course, I just might get hired by Barnabas Cuffe, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Prophet, the newspaper of the wizards. Thus will be launched my grand career as a photo journalist!

Owl delivery of Daily Prophet

See how knowledge can be truly great even for a short term course in the Uk?

Central Saint Martins...here I come...

This blog post is an entry for the Knowledge is Great Indiblogger contest.

[Note: The images of the flying cat and the owl are taking from Harry Potter Trading Cards]

Awaken India! Sirf Ek Ungli desh ko badalne ke liye

2013-12-30T00:33:00.000-08:00

We Indians are #1 at ranting about the general state of things. Bribery, red tape, corruption. When it is time for elections, though, where are we? Enjoying a blissful public holiday instead of casting our crucial vote to elect for a better government. Why blame the system when we ourselves encourage it? We don't vote, we willingly pay bribes, we just resign ourselves to waiting for weeks & months to get something official done. Apathy, apathy, apathy. Next year once again the elections will be on. What are YOU going to do? Are you going to continue being apathetic or are you going to use that one important finger?

Aakhri Aachaar ka maza lene ke liye,

Darvaje ki ghanti bajane ke liye,

Telephone call khatam karne ke liye,

Disha dikhane ke liye,

Hava mein ishara karne ke liye,

Aankh mein kachara nikalne ke liye,

Garam cake naram hai dekhne ke liye,

Jab kaam se bore ho to pencil balance karne ke liye...

Itne saare kaam, kahin mazedaarwale, kahin mahatvapurnwale aur kahin aise time pass ke liye...sirf ek ungli sabke ke liye

To kyon na hum wahi ungli istamaal kare India ko badalne aur sabko jagane ke liye!

Sirf ek ungli – message bhejo vote karne ke liye

Sirf Ek Ungli. Just one finger. What do you use one finger for? To scoop off & lick that last smudge of yummy pickle off the plate. To ring a door bell. To depress the phone's button to end a call. To point out a direction. To jab the air to emphasize a point. To clean out grit caught in the corner of your eye. To poke tentatively at a hot freshly baked cake to check its softness. To try & balance a pencil to allay boredom at your work desk.

Essential activities, fun activities, pointless activities...all

done with just one finger. To be precise, the first finger of your right hand or left hand (let's not forget the left-handed people of this country). Above all, that finger has got a VVIT (very very important task): to exercise your vote. Who cares? You might well say. Why bother to vote when anyway all politicians are corrupt? is the permanent rant. Time to wake up India! Just as Sharukh Khan said in Chennai Express, "Don't underestimate the power of the common man", I would say "Don't underestimate the power of a vote". It is that power which gets people into power, either at the local municipal level or the higher State level or the highest echelons of the Central Government of India.

Let's not waste the use of that all-important finger. Let's get together to fight apathy. Instead of ranting about corrupt people in power, use the finger to vote and make changes for a better governance.

You can also use just one thumb to get others to vote for the right people. How? Let’s find out...

Using Social Apps Constructively

Admit it – don't you often use social apps for pointless conversations (c u tm, when you have already confirmed you will meet the next day) and inane updates? Don't you love broadcasting to all and sundry your likes and dislikes, where you went, what you ate? Then there are the times when you use a social app for the latest hot trending activity, namely organizing a group of people for a flash mob. All this done with rapid typing using the 2 thumbs or jabbing at the keys of your smartphone with one finger. Then why not make better & more constructive use of social apps to shake out the apathy of the citizens of India? Even if you are not good at speed typing on your smart phone, you can use just one finger too & contact your friends, chachaaas & chaachis, maamas & maamis through a mobile social app to exercise their vote. In fact, I have seen the deft use of a single thumb by commuters in buses and trains. One hand is used to precariously cling on to some kind of hand-hold, the other being used to hold on to a smart phone, the thumb rapidly punching keys to send an SMS!

Popularity of Social Apps

Why are mobile social apps so popular? The reason is not hard to find: it is a money-saver and we Indians are #1 in eagerly wishing for things that are (a) free or (b) really, really cheap. Then, of course, there is the immense craze to use emoticons which practically all social apps allow for.

So which app to use to spread the good word?

Popular Social Apps

One of the most popular current mobile social app is WeChat, especially among the teens. It is fun and has a convenient connection to Facebook, not to mention some cool features,such as Shaking your phone to connect with others who are shaking their phones too. Use the Drift Bottle feature to throw your vote message.

Talking about Facebook, the Facebook Messenger app is naturally a huge bonus for today’s people since practically everybody uses Facebook anyway. With all your contacts existing there, what couldn’t be easier than getting in touch with them via Facebook Messenger?

Then there is WhatsApp, its popularity soaring by the second due to its easy availability for just about any type of smart phone from the most basic Nokia to the most sophisticated iPhone.

Heard of Skype? Thought it is only for audio-visual chats? You’ll be surprised to know that Skype is also a useful smart phone app for messaging.

There are so many other social mobile apps out there. Whichever you use, use it well to spread the good word: Vote.

What YOU can do to awaken India
Here's an idea:

Smear a purplish blob (with ink/sketch pen/paint) on the first

finger of your hand. Snap it with your smart phone’s camera. Paste an inspiring message across it. You can use SnapChat to take the photo, draw or type a message on top of it, such as "Sirf ek ungli istamaal karo, India ko badlo!", and send it off. Another option is to use Phonto Text-on image app. In the case of SnapChat, though, note that the recipient can see the message just for a couple of seconds, after which it vanishes – even you can’t see it again!

Share it with a whole bunch of people using any social mobile app.

Ek angootha ya ek ungli kafi hai – desh ko jagaane ke liye!

This blog post is an entry for the Indiblogger contest: Indian General Elections 2014 with Social Mobile Apps

The Better Way to exercise - use your Tab!

2013-12-17T02:07:00.000-08:00

Twist. Turn. Hold Steady. Aerobic steps? Yoga class? Actually these are the antics I was performing with my PC tablet. The tablet was a freebie which came with the purchase of some electronic gadgets. It was my very first tablet, so naturally I was thrilled to bits. The tab came in a bright pink box, the pink colour probably selected because it was actually a tab for kids. It looked much like a cake box and I opened it with childish delight.

Neatly packed inside was the blue and white-bordered tab along

Opening ceremony

with its wire cables, one for charging and one for attaching to a PC. The user manual with instructions printed in, inevitably, miniscule text was there too.

Why on earth can’t they have instructions in good sized font? There is a good amount of space in any gadget box so why is it that we always get these silly teeny-weeny manuals?!!

After admiring the tab for about 2-3 seconds, I jabbed at the white power button. Nothing happened. I jabbed at it again. No dice. I frowned, pressing it hard with my thumb. Still no response. All I could see was my frowning reflection in the tab’s screen. Then the Eureka moment: the battery needed charging!

Then began the hunt for a socket to plug in the charging cable wire. I am sure many of us play this find-a-socket game to charge a gadget. It goes something like this: head to the living room. The TV is plugged in one socket; a sibling is watching video, so DVD player too using up a socket. Turn direction and go to another room where there are 3 sockets. Here, another sibling using laptop which is plugged in socket for charging; Internet connection wire plugged in yet another socket; Light feeble, so table lamp attached to third socket. U-turn to the kitchen where, annoyingly, somebody’s mobile phone is being charged. I despair of ever getting a chance to get that tab going. Luckily, a call comes through on the mobile phone & it is removed. I practically pounce and attach the tab’s charging wire. As the tiny red light on the charger piece comes on, there is a weak flicker and the screen comes to life. Hurrah!

Once it is juiced up, the tab is ready to be experimented with. First begins the attempt to understand how to get going as there is a picture of a lock on the screen. This, even a first time user will know, means that it needs to be unlocked to be used. After peering at the instruction manual, I am enlightened – I have to slide my finger across and push the lock to the side. There! Now I am in...

I turn the tab slightly and... good heavens! The screen too tilts and I am looking at the current time in a skewed manner.

Tilted screen

I turn it around and now I am looking at an upside-down time.

Upside down tab screen

I am a little bewildered. Am I supposed to do some kind of gymnastic head-stand or what (akin to what the girl is doing in the image below!)?

However, thankfully I realize that the tab's asanas are merely temporary and it rights itself by itself within seconds. Now that is a fascinating bit of technology & I am duly impressed. After some more exploring of its features, every now and then diving into the manual, I get the hang of it.

A few hours filled with Hurrah moments later, the screen dies out again. Most annoying , just when I was experimenting with the tab’s camera. To my horror, the tab took hours and hours literally to get its battery charged again. In my mind arose a picture of my next electricity bill...

Hair pulling exercise after getting electricity bill

After a few more days of this nonsensical dying and reviving ritual of the battery, I had quite enough. A call to the customer service guys of the store from where the tab came led to an exclamation of surprise from them, "Oh, how is that possible? It should not take all that long to charge..." etc etc. They said they would come and pick up the tab since it was under warranty and I did not have to pick up the tab (no pun intended here!) on the servicing. (just an aside: the customer service of Croma is terrible & I would advise you to get feedback from other buyers who bought products from Croma).

That was that. Now, naturally, when did we ever get a customer service guy gracing our threshold right away? Nah, that would be going against the norm. So I decided to put the tab to good use. Did you ever think of using your tab as an exercise equipment? I bet not! I had been attending physiotherapy sessions for stiffness in my upper arm and shoulder. One of the exercises was to raise both arms up over my head, holding on to a stick or an elastic band. Another was to raise the arm straight up, as high as it would go. Thus the tab got used in this unique way!

While awaiting further developments on my freebie (a quick query: why is it that when something is free it gives the maximum trouble?), I explored the thought of getting another tab. I zeroed in on Lenovo's latest product, the Yoga tablet. It looked

Good grip

interesting due to a feature not to be seen in any other tabs currently available. This was the cylinder on the left side where the screen ends.

This was something really useful as it meant that I would be able to grip it firmly whether using it as a tab or for the exercises!

By the way, that cylinder also houses the heart of the Yoga tablet, namely the battery. Who would have thought of that?

The Yoga tablet also has a nifty hinge. Now, as we all know, hinges are things which are likely to unhinge the thing attached

to it if itself it is loose. The Yoga tab’s hinge, though, is no such weak thing. In fact, it is a remarkable design feat. It enables the device’s kick stand to be self-bolstered in an upright position so that you can comfortably read an e-book or watch a film. Fiddle with the hinge in another direction and you get to type on the screen. Cool!

With the good grip and the kick-stand, the Yoga tab could definitely lead to a better way in terms of using your muscles. Those shoulders and wrists will be strained far less and you won't be spending precious bucks on the physiotherapist!

Other features of the Yoga tablet include: quad-core processor, micro SD slot, headphone jack, front & rear cameras, speakers at the front. The battery life is said to be up to 18 hours. Awesome! Definitely eons better than the piddling battery life of my freebie tab.

So if you are looking for a revolutionary new tablet, then the Lenovo Yoga tablet is worth a look – and a buy. Here are a few tech specs of the device:

Display: 8” / 10” HD display
OS: Android OS 4.2 Jelly Bean
Processor: MT 8389 Quad Core 1.2 GHz
RAM: 1GB
Storage: eMMC 16GB
Cameras: 5.0 MP in the rear & 1.6 MP in the front
Connectivity: Integrated Bluetooth, WiFi, 3G, GPS

Watch the product video below to get to know the device better

Interested? For more product info on the Lenovo Yoga tabs call 1800-3000-9991 (Toll Free)

Finally, pondering poetically about what an ideal tablet would be like...

Why is sensible logic not applied when designing a Tab that is only elegant in design?
Numerous wires are all they think of
~ Why don't they do away with the mess and give us just plain old wireless?

Why can’t a Tab be like your friend

Who when you succeed, will applaud & hoot
Why can't a Tab be like that?

~Perhaps give a yell of hurrah when you finally get that PPT right!

Some friends are so pleasant, charming & nice
Whenever you're with them, you're always at ease.

Why can’t a Tab be like that?

~ Easy to be with, never a tease

One friend in a hundred may not be quite nice,
But by and large friends are just gems, ready to help you through any mishaps.
Why can't a Tab be like that?

~ A decent workable buddy that rights itself & has no weird booby traps!

In short, an ideal Tab should be your best friend - the best work & recreational companion you will never want to part with!

This blog post is an entry for an IndiBlogger contest

(The Animated images in this blog are from www.animationfactory.com/en/)

Wake up and smell the coffee! A trip down fragrant lanes

2013-09-04T02:41:00.000-07:00

Memories tend to be very vivid visually. You see something or somebody and it will trigger off a nostalgic memory. Have you, though, had nostalgic memories associated with different smells?

This blog post is a dreamy saunter down memory lanes, the wanderings set off by smells and fragrances in the home.

Wakeup and smell the coffee! You must have heard this idiom when used figuratively. For me, it is more literal. Waking up to the smell of coffee my mother made first thing every morning, sleepy and still a bit drowsy, I would laze around in bed for a few minutes, letting the coffee smell percolate down to my olfactory nerves before making the effort to get up & start the day.

The scent of that hot brew sometimes sparked off memories of trips to the south, sipping on authentic filter coffee, and also of the winding roads past tea estates (tea is another hot brew I just have to have daily!).

Then there were the exciting foodie aromas emanating from the kitchen on returning home from school - of dosas and wadas, not to mention meal times on Sundays and holidays, when the aromas of pakodas and fried papads set our stomachs rumbling. We make them often today, too, and whenever I am blending fresh coconut & coriander leaves for chutneys to accompany the dosas, I smilingly remember past discussions on the various merits and de-merits of which restaurant in Chennai served the best idli-chutney or wada-sambhar dishes!

My mother was a fabulous cook and knew how to keep our stomachs happy, not to mention making improvisations when necessary. Today when I eat a katori of sheera, the aroma of the sweetness inherent in it recalls some of the birthdays I had as a child: Mummy made sheera, flattened it on a plate, put cashewnuts in a smiley face at the center and stuck candles in it – an instant, home made inexpensive birthday cake!

Sudarshan Dhoop sticks

Then there were the times we were troubled by pesky mosquitoes. Out came hot coals and kapur, the smoky fragrance pervading the entire home and wafting around the doors outside too.

I am glad that today similar devices in the form of dhoop sticks are available. They provide both a fragrant ambiance and some types of dhoop sticks do keep away mosquitoes too.

We also use air fresheners to keep out the awfully disgusting cigarette smoke odour which wafts from the neigbour's balcony window through ours.

Ambi Pur Sweet Citrus & Zest

It is good to enjoy the lovely fragrances incorporated in air fresheners, such as Ambi Pur, which provide heady scents around the home.

Spritz a citrus-based one around the room and my mind will immediately think of the succulent fruit squashes enjoyed during a stay at Panchgani.

Then there is the Ambi Pur Meadows & Rain freshener, which conveys the effect of being in a garden filled with colourful blooms. You can thus inhale different fragrances each day, to trigger off myriad nostalgic memories!

Remember, though, that air fresheners may fill the air with lovely scents, but they won’t keep out those mosquitoes!

Have you also realized that different garments have their own unique nice scents?

That of a silk saree differs from one from Bengal, that of a cotton kurti from a Tee.

When you wear them, especially for the first time, I am sure you will recall where you bought it from or who gave it to you, triggering off another round of great memories.

Speaking off garments, I still have my dad’s lawyer gown packed away carefully in a suitcase. When removed to give it an airing, the faint "lawyerly" silky scent prompts the brain cells to recall childhood memories, when on a few occasions I visited the courts with my dad. I have a vivid memory of sitting patiently in a room filled with cupboards of law books while my dad talked with his colleagues, and of passing a court room where the judge was nodding off while lawyers were shuffling papers around on a table.

A blog post on homely smells is not complete without mentioning one of my favourite hobbies – reading. If you are as avid a reader as I am, you will know that every book has its own unique whiff so to say.

When I am relaxing with a book at home, the whiffs emanating from a book’s pages jogs memories galore...
...of browsing bookshops
...of shopping at book fairs
...of trying to remove a book from the bottom of a precarious pile at a roadside book vendor’s collection
and
...of bargaining fiercely at a radhiwallah’s shop for second hand books.

Of course, there are a few "sad" smells around the home too, such as those which emanate from a medicine when one is ill - sending one teary-eyed down a memory lane of hospital stays....best not to go down such lanes...

It is better to remember the many, many more homely, smiley scents.

This fragrant-filled blog post is my entry for an Indiblogger contest.

Ford EcoSport features and price in India

2013-07-02T03:18:00.000-07:00

The Ford EcoSport is touted to be a strong competitor to the Renault Duster which was launched last year.

The EcoSport has varied engine options and a futuristic look. Its exterior is as great as its interiors.

The Exterior
The Ford Ecosport has a lovely exterior design from front to back, top to bottom. Whether it is the front chrome grill, the headlamps or the wheel arches, the overall impression is really great.

The Interior
The instrument panel & dashboard are nicely aligned and easily reacheable. All the seats are really comfortable, sort of cocooning you snugly. While the boot space is very limited, you can increase it by split seats.

Engine Options

Technical Specifications of the Engine variants

	Ecoboost Petrol	Petrol	Diesel
Capacity	999cc	1,499cc	1,498cc
Power	125ps@6,000rpm	112ps@6,300rpm	91ps@3,750rpm
Torque	170nm@1,400-4,500rpm	140nm@4,400rpm	112@6,300rpm
Fuel economy	18.9kpl	15.8kpl	22.7kpl

Other specs:

Wheelbase: 2,520
Ground clearance: 200mm
Bootspace: 346litres
Kerb weight: 1,258-1,259kg (ecoboost petrol variant) / 1,248-1,290kg (diesel variant) / 1,200-1,241kg (petrol variant)

Ford EcoSport Colours available for exterior: Mars Red, Diamond White, Moondust Silver, Kinetic Blue, Chill Metallic, Panther Black, Sea Gray.
Price of Ford EcoSport in India: starting at ₹5.59lakhs

Overall, this SUV is a great urban car, stylish & refined.

More details available here: http://www.india.ford.com/suvs/ecosport

Mahindra Verito Vibe features and price in India

2013-06-23T07:10:00.001-07:00

Mahindra and Mahindra recently launched the Verito Vibe, a new version of the Verito with both exterior and interior changes. It competes against the Maruti Swift Dzire and the Honda Amaze. Will the Verito Vibe holds its own in the sedan segment? It does have its merits!

The Looks

The box shape of the front of the Verito Vibe is retained from the Verito. What enhances the shape is the greyish colour grille and the smoky headlamps. At the back, there is a slanted door & high-placed tail lights. The loading area is small though.

On the inside the spaciousness is evident and there should be no complaints from rear passengers. The problem is that there are no air bags for passengers and the driver cannot adjust the seat’s height.

The Performance

Those who have test driven the Verito Vibe say it is great to drive in the city and the suspension does provide for a comfortable ride. Its mileage is also great, giving up to 16kmpl in the city and over 18kmpl on the highway. It is not meant to be a race car for the highway though!

The Technical Specifications

The Verito Vibe is powered by a 1.5litre turbo-charged diesel engine with max power of 65PS@4,000rpm and max torque of 160nm@2,000rpm.

The other specs:

Kerb weight: 1,155kg
Boot space: 330l
Wheelbase: 2,630mm
Ground clearance: 172mm
Height: 2,540mm
Width: 2,740mm
Length: 3,992mm

The Price

The Verito Vibe comes with a price tag of ₹5.7lakh (diesel) and is thus cheaper than the diesel variants of the Swift Dzire and the Honda Amaze. The Vibe does not have a petrol variant.

Who needs a time machine when WeChat is here!

2013-06-15T02:26:00.002-07:00

Communication-cum-connection tools across space has got a new entry: WeChat. This social app enables us to connect with friends via text and share images and videos. Let's for a moment imagine that WeChat enables us to go back in time. If I had this wonderful opportunity to use this app not just to connect with existing people but also with those who lived in the past & fictional characters, who would I chat with? This blog post reveals my wishes...

First on my wish-list for chatting with WeChat would be Lord Ganesha to ask: What's your mantra for eating hearty and living happily?

Lord Ganesha

In our age, obsession about weight makes me want to discuss such weighty matters as His mantra for eat hearty, live happy. He wasn’t obsessed about His rotund figure was He? Enjoyed His food without a care in the world!

Next would be Enid Blyton, to ask: What is your take on Harry Potter?

My entry into fantasy & magic began with the The Magic Faraway Tree stories (image courtesy above-www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/). Climb up a tree in the enchanted forest, meet fascinating residents on the way up and enter the cloud hovering above the topmost branches – magic! Unusual lands, unusual people up there. Get back down quickly before the cloud moves away otherwise you are stuck in that land till the cloud returns to the tree. Descending, you get on a pillow and slide down the chute inside...fabulous imagination! So what would be Enid Blyton's feedback on the world of magic set in a school in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books? Wouldn't you love to know?!

At #3 would be Rabindranath Tagore to persuade him to create an anthem for the youth to stop committing suicide.

Rabindranath Tagore

Since Tagore was a poet & freedom fighter, who better than him to show the way to value life through beautiful language. Youngsters are pressurised to do well in exams, to compete with the best, to land successful jobs. Once in a career, the obsession for success & money never ends. Then there is the importance given to a love relation with boyfriend/girlfriend. When failure comes in the way of exams, career, relations...end life, rather than face it head-on and move on. Life is considered useless. Tagore’s beautiful language would help to reach out to such people & explain the value of life.

Then would be Kunti, chatting with her to convince her to be the face of an Adoption campaign.

Kunti - image courtesy www.starsai.com/

Blessed with a Sage's boon she did not really want, Kunti always pined for the son she gave away. In a country obsessed with fertility she would be great in endorsing the adoption of children.

Finally, I would just love to chat with a character from one of my favourite comics: Getafix in Asterix comics. I would earnestly try to get the recipe of his secret potion & learn how to use it wisely.

With his magic potion Getafix (image on left courtesy www.asterix.com/)imbibed strength in the Gauls against their perpetual battles with the fierce Romans. However, at no time did he give the potion for misuse. He gave it only when necessary and to those who really needed it, leaving out Obelix since he already had the strength due to having fallen in a pot of the magic potion as a baby. How I would love to know the recipe of that potion!

That's my wish list of whom I would love to chat with & why via WeChat. Do you have a wish list too?

This blog post is an entry for this IndiBlogger contest.

Chevrolet Enjoy features and price in India

2013-06-04T03:19:00.004-07:00

The Chevrolet Enjoy is available in both petrol and diesel variants. Nothing grand to look at, at first sight, the interior is roomy and comfortable. It is powered by 1.3litre multijet diesel engine / 1.4litre petrol engine. The Enjoy is the least expensive 7-seater vehicle, with the price tag less than that of the Ertiga and Xylo.

Design & Style

The golden bowtie signature symbol of Chevrolet is prominent in the front chrome which is surrounded by a 3-dimensional grille and fog lamps designed in the shape of leaves.

The wrap-around headlamps have a clear lens and sparkle like jewels. A triple-pod design graces the turn indicator, high & low beams.

Space

The Enjoy has a high roof design to provide good headroom for all those seated inside. The third row double-folding seating is flexible to provide for both leg space and cargo space as required.

Comfort & Convenience

The driver’s seat is height-adjustable to ensure driving comfort. The 7 seats for are equally comfortable due to luxurious upholstery. The second row seats, known as Captain Seats, have adjustable arm rests. A combination of front & rear air-conditioning ensures efficient cooling in the entire care.

Safety

Safe cage design with 10 collision protection beams made of high strength steel
In-built crumple zones
Side impact beam in the doors
Dual front airbags
Anti-lock braking system with electronic brake force distribution provides for steering control during emergency braking manoeuvres
Reverse parking sensors provide audio-warning for objects which are not visible to you during reversing

Price
Rs.5.49lakh-Rs.6.99lakh for petrol variant / Rs.6.69lakh-Rs.7.99lakh for diesel variant. Compare this with the Maruti Ertiga (Rs.5.99lakh-Rs.7.51lakh for Petrol/Rs.7.40lakh-Rs.8.71lakh for diesel) and the Mahindra Xylo (Rs.7.59lakh to Rs.10.81 for diesel variants – no petrol variants).

For test drive: 1800-30000-8080

Website: www.chevrolet.co.in

Telemedicine: Going beyond boundaries to provide healthcare

2013-05-18T22:53:00.001-07:00

Phantom Talking Drums

One of my many favourite comics as a child was Phantom, the purple-costumed masked superhero with his faithful four-legged companions Devil the dog and Hero the horse. It was not just his heroism which fascinated me but also some of the common threads which were woven into each adventure – the skull cave, the hero’s rings, etc. One of these fascinating concepts was that of the beating of drums (image courtesy alongside: comicvine.com) to convey a message or to summon help.

In today's contemporary world we don't need those talking drums to get help! We just pick up the phone or send a quick SMS. Then there is online chat & emails, forms of communication which transcend physical space. Using this very idea of transcending physical space and touching lives in unique ways is telemedicine.

Telemedicine is as fascinating as those talking drums. While those drums were an audio aid, telemedicine combines visual and audio aids to make healthcare easily accessible to those who are neither within reach of a professional nor within the perimeters of medical facilities. This is achieved through the eyes in the sky, namely satellites. Thanks to the unique service of telemedicine, medical records of a patient can be accessed by the medical professional, a diagnosis made, advice given and treatment regularly monitored. Through telemedicine one gets quick & precise clinical assistance.

Reaching beyond boundaries

Credit for the very first rural telemedicine centre in India goes to the ApolloHospitals Group, which established the center at the VSAT enabled secondary care hospital in Aragonda village , Andhra Pradesh. This was achieved through its non-profit organization Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF). From that one center 14 years ago, ATNF has expanded to over a hundred all over the country & even abroad. Teleconsultations are provided across over two dozen disciplines through its own app, 'Medintegra WEB'. ATNF ensures that there is no breach of confidentiality & that the patient’s records are kept secure.

The success of ATNF is obvious by the fact that no less than the Govt. of India has selected their pioneering concept for its Pan African E-Network Project to provide teleconsultation to over 50 countries of the African Union.

ATNF has not limited itself to only having hospitals of the Apollo Group availing of its Apollo's Telemedicine Network. It welcomes other hospitals, clinics and even independent medical professionals to join the network. This is truly selflessness at its best. (Want to join? Check details here)

Of course, there is a flip side to everything. Would you rather meet a doctor personally or consult through a Sat link? Somehow it is reassuring to meet a doctor in person. A doctor generally has a hearty & positive attitude and you tend to connect when you are face to face in reality rather than merely addressing a visual image so to say.

Also, can there ever be 100% guarantee of security of one’s medical information? Nevertheless, one should not discount the value of telemedicine for those who are living in inaccessible areas.

To conclude, one sees geographical boundaries on maps, not in reality. Boundaries between countries and those between States of a country may be earmarked by a barbed-wire fence or a wall or by a milestone on the road, but are by and large invisible. Telemedicine goes beyond all these boundaries – the visible as well as the not-so visible ones. Clinical healthcare has reached out to those who need it quickly within the area where they live, within their own "boundaries".

Thus, by touching lives across miles, telemedicine is, as the Apollo brochure states, "making geography history".

[This blog post is my entry to this Indiblogger contest.]

Royal Enfield Bullet 500 features and price in India

2013-05-11T02:36:00.001-07:00

Royal Enfield has re-launched the Bullet 500 with, as the name implies, a 500cc engine. The bike has a great stance and fabulous new silver decals on the tank. The engine block is integrated with the gear block. The 5-speed gear box is great, as is the engine. Those who have test ridden the bike, though, are critical of the vibrations which emit when the bike hits 80kph and the lack of rear disc brakes.

Compare Bullet 500 with Bullet 350

	Bullet 500	Bullet 350
Price	₹1.53lakh	1.10lakh
Length	2,140mm	2,140mm
Width	810mm	800mm
Height	1,110mm	1,030mm
Wheelbase	1,370mm	1,370mm
Ground clearance	135mm	135mm
Fuel tank capacity	13.5l	13.5l
Weight	193kg	180kg
Power	26.1BHP@5,100rpm	19.8BHP@5,250rpm
Torque	40.9Nm@3,800rpm	28.0Nm@4,000rpm
Top speed	135kph	120kph
Economy	22-15kpl	25-28kpl
Cylinders	1	1
Bore/Stroke	84/90mm	70/90mm
Engine capacity	500cc	346cc

Samsung Galaxy smartphones smart buy offer India

2013-03-23T02:09:00.000-07:00

Samsung Galaxy smartphones have been attracting plenty of customers in India. This range of smartphones enables doing tasks ranging from texting to emailing to capturing images real easy. There are a good number of Samsung Galaxy smartphones with one for every type of budget. For a limited period, Samsung is offering this range at great rates under the "Smart Buy" offer. So whether you want to buy one for yourself or gift one, don't miss this limited period offer!

Samsung Galaxy y

7.62cm screen
Free 2GB memory card

Smart Buy Offer: Rs.6,190/-

Samsung Galaxy y Duos Lite

3G
4GB internal memory

Smart Buy Offer: Rs.6,190/-

Samsung Galaxy y Duos

7.98cm screen
3MP camera

Smart Buy Offer: Rs.7,890/-

Samsung Galaxy Ace

8.89cm screen
5MP camera with flash

Smart Buy Offer: Rs.9,490/-

Samsung Galaxy S Duos

10.6cm screen
1GHz processor

Smart Buy Offer: Rs.13,990/-

You can avail of the Smart Buy offer on Samsung Galaxy smartphones at select outlets of Samsung brand stores, Samsung smartphone cafes, Samsung e-store and all leading mobile stores. At the e-store, you will get the best offers.
Check out your nearest store here: http://www.samsung.com/in/function/dealer/dealerLocator.do
Check the range of smartphones & buy at the e-store here: http://www.samsung.com/in/consumer/mobile-phone/mobile-phone/smartphone

Mercedes B class features and price in India

2013-01-15T01:13:00.003-08:00

Towards the end of 2012, the three pointed star appeared on a neat little compact car: the Mercedes B class. Aimed at the luxury market having such popular models as the BMW X1 and the Audi Q3, the Mercedes B class is the least expensive of the Mercs. Although not eye catching for its exterior and not really conveying a sense of luxury in the interior, it is nevertheless a great car. It has been labelled by the German creators as "India’s first sports tourer".

Adjustable boot space

The Mercedes B Class seats 4 comfortably, with place for a fifth passenger when the storage side is adjusted. The driver seat can be adjusted for height. There is good leg room at the rear too, as is the head room for tall people. There is plenty of boot space for just about all types of luggage. Seven airbags is also really good to have!

Colour options of the Mercedes B Class are: Polar Silver Metallic, Cirrus White and Jupiter Red.

You can drive the Mercedes B Class both in the city and take it for long drives on the open highway. Smooth acceleration and good handling makes for an overall enjoyable ride. Incorporated is the unique speed-sensitive steering with variable power steering assistance. Note, though, that it has a heavy kerb weight. The downside is that there is no diesel variant and it lacks a four wheel drive option.

Technical Specifications of Mercedes B Class

Engine: 4-cylinder in-line engine (Petrol)
Displacement: 1595cc
Max power: 122hp@5000rpm
Max torque: 200nm@1250-4000rpm
Top speed: 190km/h
Fuel economy: 14.8
Wheelbase: 2699
Kerb weight: 1425kg

Price of the Mercedes B class in India: Rs.21 to Rs.24 lakh

Contact Information of Mercedes-Benz in India

Mercedes-Benz India Private Limited
E-3, MIDC, Chakan. Phase-III,
Chakan Industrial Area,

Kuruli & Nighoje,
Tal: Khed

Pune- 410501

Maharashtra

India
Ph: +91 2135 673000 / Fax: +91 2135 673953

Website: http://www.mercedes-benz.co.in/

Edomz revenue earning program for bloggers

2012-12-13T01:14:00.000-08:00

For those who are looking for how to make money from your blogs, whether large or small, I would recommend trying out Edomz - especially for bloggers from India who often find their applications being turned down for other online earning programs. You can earn revenue from your blogs easily.

The best part: as soon as your revenue earnings read $10 you can get a payment! (it was earlier $5). Now which other revenue sharing program offers this? Publishers from across the globe are welcome to join up withEdomz. There are absolutely no joining fees. (please read the updates of my review at the end too).

Edomz review

First of all, let me tell you that I dislike those who do not reply back to queries. Edomz has one of those rare support teams who really do understand what ‘support’ entails. They actually reply back to your email quickly. This is a real boon since it is not as though we are going to be making international calls to them!

Here are some basic FAQs about Edomz:

What are the requirements to join up with Edomz?

1. Your blog should be in English

2. You should not have any illegal or offensive content in your blog.

Can I add multiple blogs to my account?

Yes, you can definitely add many blogs to your Edomz account. However, you can hold only 1 account. When putting in the Edomz code just make sure you place the correct one as each blog will have its own unique code.

Is country-specific traffic required for Edomz?

Some advertisers will want to be associated with your blog if the traffic is primarily from USA or Canada, others may want from European countries only. However, note that Edomz has advertisers from multiple countries so there are bound to be some advertisers interested in your blog!

What is the ad format offered by Edomz?

The ads appear as pop-ups at your blogs.

What are the types of ad codes offered by Edomz?

There are 2 types of ad codes which you can integrate in your blog:

1. Auto Open: When you select this code, the pop up ad opens automatically. However, the downside to this is that your visitor may have installed in the pop-up blocker in his/her browser. Hence such a visitor will not see the ads.

2. On Click: When you select this code, a pop up ad gets placed at your blog. This pop up ad will open when a vistor to your blog clicks anywhere, whether in a link or text or anywhere else. The downside to this is that the visitor may not click at all anywhere at your blog page!

Publishers can place both codes, for auto open and on click, in order to maximize earnings.

How to place the Edomz code at my blogs?

Placing the Edomz codes is really easy and quick. Simply sign into your account. Then follow these steps:

1.Under the Publishers Manager heading, you will see ‘Add Website for Popup Ads’.

2. Click on Add New Website & fill in the required details & click on the add site button.

3. Once your site has been approved, you will see ‘Active’ in the Status colum.

4. Now, under the ‘Action’ tab, click on ‘Get code’. This will lead you to the page where you can get your code.

5. Just copy-paste the code to your blog, using the HTML gadget tool (this is for those having blogs at blogger.com).

That’s it. Now you are ready to earn from Edomz!

What is the revenue share through Edomz?

Edomz offers 70% - 90% revenue share to the publisher.

What is the minimum payout from Edomz?

As mentioned earlier, as soon as your earnings read $10, you can request for a payout. When you log in to your account, you will see the link for the request if your earnings have reached $10. What’s more, you can make the request daily too if you are earning $10 every day.

What is the mode of payment for earnings through Edomz?

You can get your payment through Paypal. There are no additional charges by Edomz for Paypal payments. Within a few hours of your payout request, the amount is credited to your Paypal account. Believe me, it is really quick!

Another option for receiving payment is through Payza. Find out what the processing fee for this is, if you select this option.

Does Edomz actually pay?

YES! As I said, the payment is really quick.

How much earnings does Edomz give?

That’s the most crucial question. Can you earn as much as AdSense? No. Edomz will not give you high earnings in the same league as AdSense. Let me be honest: Edomz earnings can be really low, as little as $5 a month. However, the reason why I am recommending it is that if you don’t have AdSense and are getting less than $1 a month or none at all from other publisher programs, Edomz is definitely a better option.

Update on this review (March 2013): There were many days in February 2013 when I did not earn a single cent. This was a huge disappointment. When I contacted Edomz, I was told that probably since the traffic to my blogs were mainly from India, it was possible that advertisers targeting such traffic no longer had enough funds for advertising. So it seems that Edomz earnings are not really as good for me as it was earlier!

Secondly, Edomz had said they would reward reviews, but I never did get anything from them (note that I had posted this review a few days before the reward offer so my review was NOT influenced by it). When contacted, they stated that only those sites with good content where the review was posted would be paid for the review. So apparently my blog is not worthy of their reward.

So what are you waiting for?

Edomz Corporate Address
Edomz.com
P.O BOX # 8312
Reston, VA 20195

Ph: 877-604-6786 / Fax: 877-981-9009

Did NASA really predict a blackout on 21st December 2012?

2012-12-13T00:49:00.001-08:00

There are wild rumours abounding about NASA's prediction of a total blackout in the entire world due to a cosmic alignment. Apparently, as claimed by the rumours, there will be no electricity on that day and people should not travel during this time. Some sites (such as this one) has this eye-grabbing headline 'NASA predicts total blackout on 23-25 Dec 2012 during alignment of Universe.' When you see the page, there is an additional note that "This story has not been confirmed by CNN. NASA has debunked this myth". Yet, people continue to believe in rumours. So what did NASA really say?

Did NASA really predict a total blackout?
No! They merely mentioned what is known as the 'Dark Rift' - an area which is located between the constellations Cygnus to Sagittarius and which is generally in darkness.

NASA said: "...the sun appears to enter the part of the sky occupied by the Dark Rift"
Since the Sun is what gives earth light, it has been assumed that there will be a complete blackout. Now where does NASA say that 'dark' means 'blackout'?!

If you read the text further, NASA says:
"...the sun appears to enter the part of the sky occupied by the Dark Rift every year at the same time, and its arrival there in Dec. 2012 portends precisely nothing."

- Note the words "every year at the same time": now did we have a blackout in the previous years on this date? No. That is why NASA also says "...its arrival there in Dec.2012 portends precisely nothing".

In fact, NASA also reassuringly tells us:

"Enjoy the solstice, by all means, and don't let the Dark Rift, alignments, solar flares, magnetic field reversals, potential impacts or alleged Maya end-of-the-world predictions get in the way."

So I for one am NOT going to cancel my travel plans - or any other plans for that matter - for those days in December when supposedly we are going to be in the dark. If you ask me, on the contrary, NASA has clearly shown us the light: how not to get carried away by words, neither by statements from topmost astronomical sources nor by predictions of astrologers and definitely not by rumour mongers.

Refer to the full NASA statement here.

And if you are obsessed about Dark things, then I would suggest a far better past-time than creating panic about the Dark Rift: just pick up a Harry Potter book and read about the Dark Lord!!

2012 Google Online Shopping Festival India best deals

2012-12-11T21:36:00.003-08:00

With Christmas beckoning on the doorstep, gift ideas crowd you mind. Make it easier for yourself by checking out the online websites which will be offering great deals and discounts in collaboration with Google. Yes! December 12th 2012 is THE day to indulge in online shopping at the 2012 Google Shopping Festival India.

One of the great shopping deals on offer is from IndiaTimesShopping. They are offering a superb discount: on mobiles and tablets you get 12% Extra OFF!! Code: MOBTAB Valid on 12th December, Maximum Discount: Rs.5000/-

For those who want to buy products for babies and kids, including cute clothes, take advantage of the First Cry winter shopping sale: a Flat 15% Off on all Baby & Kids Products. There are nearly 70,000 products and 400 brands to choose from! Use Coupon FC121212.

Travellers too will get great deals. Yatra.com is also part of the great online shopping festival: you can bag amazing deals on Flights, Hotels & Holidays on 12th Dec. Whether you want to honeymoon in Mauritius or honeymoon in Maldives, you will get a good discount.

Best Samsung Galaxy Tab and smartphones Diwali offers 2012

2012-11-03T22:59:00.004-07:00

With the festival of lights next week, you absolutely must take advantage of the wonderful discounts offered by various reputed brands. One of the most popular brands is Samsung and they have, like last year, come up with some amazing discounts for their range of Galaxy Smartphones as well as for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 [check out too their home appliances offer here]

2012 Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 Diwali discount offer
Features:

Display: 7”
Always on with 3G and Wi-Fi
Voice Call with receiver

MRP: Rs.21,290/-

Best buy: Rs.19,500/-

2012 Samsung Galaxy Mobile Phones Diwali discount offers

1. Samsung Galaxy S Duos

Display: 4”
Processor: 1GHz
Free 1GB 3G Data

MRP: Rs.18,590/-

Best buy: Rs.17,250/-

2. Samsung Galaxy Y Duos

Display: 3.1”
3MP Camera
Free 1.5GB 3G Data

MRP: Rs.9,350/-

Best buy: Rs.8,699/-

3. Samsung Galaxy Y

Display: 3”
Wi-Fi & 3G
Free 1.5GB 3G Data

MRP: Rs.7,790/-

Best buy: Rs.7,199/-

4. Samsung Galaxy Y Duos lite

Smart Dual SIM
3GB Internal Memory
Free 6GB 3G Data

MRP: Rs.7,490/-

Best buy: Rs.6,899/-

5. Samsung Galaxy Ace Duos

Display: 3.5”
5MP Camera
Free 3GB 3G Data

MRP: Rs.13,090/-

Best buy: Rs.12,149/-

6. Samsung Champ Deluxe Duos

Display: 2.7”
Advance ChatON messenger

MRP: Rs.4,280/-

Best buy: Rs.4,090/-

7. Samsung Star 3 Duos

Display: 2.9”
Fastest Wi-Fi

MRP: Rs.5,490/-

Best buy: Rs.5,250/-

Note: all the Data offers are from various operators and are subject to withdrawal/change without notice.

Where to avail of above offers: Samsung Brand Stores and Samsung Smartphone Cafes.

You can get your Samsung Smartphone at 0% interest EMI (on select models) for a limited period only at Samsung Brand Stores, Samsung Smartphone Cafes and online at www.samsung.com/in/estore.

Mahindra Rodeo RZ review

2012-10-29T23:52:00.000-07:00

The Mahindra Rodeo RZ is the new variant of the earlier 125cc Rodeo. A new feature is the position of the fuel tank, which is now positioned in the front to enable easy filling up without the need to get off the seat.

The Mahindra Rodeo RZ has more colour options and a coloured hue to the instrument panel. In fact, the instrument panel has got 2 great warning aspects: for one, it shows up a warning red light if you go over 60kph – so no over-speeding! – and, secondly, it sets off an alarm if you try to start the two-wheeler when the side stand is still in position.

The Rodeo RZ has better ground clearance than its previous avtar and the brakes respond instantly. Working on a 124.6cc 4-stroke engine, the scooter is good enough to drive on city roads.

The storage space in the boot is really good – not only spacious enough for your helmet & a small shopping bag, but it also lighted up.

Boot space

Charging point for mobile/iPod

Yet another great feature is the mobile charging point at a convenient position near the storage space at the front. So it is really easy to simply put your cell phone or iPod in that space and charge it up while riding the Rodeo RZ. Cool!

Incidentally the Rodeo RZ is not easy to steal because the special anti-theft key which closes the key slot fully cannot be used in the keyhole of any other model.

Overall, the Mahindra Rodeo RZ is a wonderful scooter to own as far as driving is concerned. However, the main problem as reported by riders is the low mileage (sometimes less than 30kpl as reported). What’s more, it is really expensive as compared to two-wheelers which operate on the same type of engine.

Price of Mahindra Rodeo RZ: Rs.48,900/- (ex-showroom Delhi).

Technical Specifications of Mahindra Rodeo RZ

Engine: 125cc
Max Power: 8.0bhp@7,000rpm
Max Torque: 9.0nm@5,500rpm
Weight: 106kg
Ground clearance: 154mm
Fuel tank: 4.5l
Colours: Flame orange, Mystique violet, Electric green, Onyx blue, Derby red, Fiery black, pearl white.

For more information call: 1800 233 8883 (toll free)

2012 Best Nokia Lumia and Nokia Asha mobile phone offers

2012-10-29T03:23:00.001-07:00

Noki Lumia 900

Diwali is always an exciting festival, more so due to the huge discounted offers available on all possible goods! This is especially the best time to avail of great offers on smartphones.

Nokia smartphones have some really good offers, especially for those who love traveling.

Have a look at these offers from Nokia...

2012 Nokia Lumia Smartphones Diwali festival discount offers

1. With every Nokia Lumia 900 get a Nokia -J bluetooth headset woth Rs. 5570 absolutely free.

Buy at: Rs. 32999/-. You Save: Rs.1250/-

The colour options are: Cyan, Black, White.

2. With every Nokia Lumia 800 get a Purity headset by Monster worth Rs. 5110 absolutely free.

Buy at: Rs. 19999/-. You Save: Rs.6423/-.

The colour options are: Cyan, Black, White, Fuschia

Nokia Lumia 800

Noki Lumia 710

3. With every Nokia Lumia 710 get a Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset BH-111 worth Rs. 2110 absolutely free.

Buy at: Rs.15499/-. You Save: Rs.2460/-.

The colour options are: Full Cyan, Full Black, Full White,White Fuchsia.

4. With every Nokia Lumia 610 get a Philips headset worth Rs. 1499 absolutely free.

Buy at: Rs.12999/-. You Save: Rs. 2020/-.

The colour options are: Cyan, Black, White, Magenta.

2012 Nokia Asha Smartphones Diwali festival discount offers

Nokia Asha 305

1. With every Nokia Asha 305 get a free Travel voucher worth Rs. 4500 (to claim the free voucher please check the T&C's at http://www.nokia.indiatimes.com/offers).

Buy at: Rs.4668/-. You Save: Rs.361/-.

The colour options are: Red, Dark Grey, Mid Blue, Silver White.

2. With every Nokia Asha 308 get a free Travel voucher worth Rs. 4500 (to claim the free voucher please check the T&C's at http://www.nokia.indiatimes.com/offers).

Buy at: Rs.5685/-. You Save: Rs. 464/-.

The colour options are: Black, Gold.

Nokia Asha 311

3. With every Nokia Asha 311 get a free Travel voucher worth Rs. 4500 (to claim the free voucher please check the T&C's at http://www.nokia.indiatimes.com/offers).

Buy at: Rs.6559/-. You Save: Rs. 530/-.

The colour options are: Dark Grey, Rose Red, Sand White.

How to order the above Nokia smartphones:

To order call: +91-11 45738580

Website: http://www.nokia.com/in-en/diwalioffers/

2012 Best Samsung India Diwali Festival free gifts offers

2012-10-22T02:13:00.000-07:00

With the festive season in full swing, Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd. has announced exciting offers under the tag of "Smart Home Celebrations Offer 2012".

This offer is valid till 18th November 2012 and is available on purchase of select products.

Samsung Festive Season Offers for 2012
1. Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 offers
(a) Get a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 on purchase of side by side refrigerators model No. RS844CRPC5H and RFG28MESL.
(b) Get a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 on purchase of Series 87 Samsung SmartTV (specific models)

2. Samsung 3D Blue-ray player offer
Get a Samsung 3D Blue-ray player with 3D movie pack on purchase of Samsung 3DTV (specific models).

3. Samsung offers on Home Theatre Systems
(a) Get a 51 movie DVD pack with 32 and above Panel TV models and all home theatre systems.
(b) Get a Skype camera with a Wi-Fi dongle on purchase of model No.40ES5600 and 46ES5600.

4. Samsung Mobile GT-1200T offer
Get a Samsung Mobile GT-1200T on frost free/direct cool refrigerators and washing machines (specific models)

5. Samsung Air-conditioners offer
Get free installation on Samsung Air-conditioners for all 2,3,4, 5 star models.

In addition to the above offers, Samsung is offering a double celebrations promotion which comes with the purchase of a Samsung laptop (valid on on Core™ i & AMD A4/A6 models). You get a free travel voucher worth Rs.10,000/- and a 1+1 year additional warranty. This offer is valid till November 15th 2012.

Check out all the Samsung promotions here: www.samsung.com/in/promotions/

Belkin wireless router features and price in India

2012-10-22T01:20:00.001-07:00

Belkin International Inc. is well-known for its innovative designs in the world of electronics, primarily for its networking related wireless products and accessories.

You should definitely check out its wonderful wireless router which is both easy to set up and use. It allows you to have Internet connectivity just about anywhere in your home without any glitches.

What's more, it incorporates a pre-configured wireless security encryption to ensure that you have a safe connectivity right from the start. A customer care team is also available 24x7 to deal with all your queries.

The Belkin wireless router has 4 models:

A basic one for web access with a speed up to 150Mbps
A surf variant which has better Wi-Fi performance with a speed up to 300Mbps
The N600 DB which gives advanced performance for video streaming and gaming with a speed up to 300Mbps +300Mbps
The N750 Superior performance for home theater video streaming and gaming with a speed up to 300Mbps +450Mbps

All the above products come with pre-configured encryption settings.

Where to buy Belkin wireless router in India
You can buy the Belkin wireless router in India at Croma mega stores, Reliance Digital stores and Vijay Sales showrooms. In Chennai and Bangalore the products are available at Landmark outlets too.

Price of Belkin wireless router in India: ranges from Rs.2,285/- to Rs.8,000/- + depending on the model. It is likely to be cheaper if you buy it online @: belkin.com/in/wheretobuy/onlinebuying/

Ducati Monster 795 features and price in India

2012-10-22T00:55:00.000-07:00

During the Delhi Auto Expo at the beginning of this year, the Ducati Monster 795 attracted a great deal of attention, so much so that the company reduced the price tag within a day for the initial bookings! Besides India, the bike is available in Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.

The monstrous two-seater (it weighs 167kg) with its tubular frame has the reputed name tag of Ducati to it and is considered to be a great machine.

The instrument panel incorporates a digital unit which displays a speedometer, rev counter, time, scheduled maintenance warning, oil temperature, trip fuel, warning light for low oil pressure, fuel level, fuel reserve, neutral, turn signals, over-rev and immobilizer - and let's not forget the lap time meter too.

Due to the crouching position on the saddle which the rider needs to take, akin to a racer, likely there will be some strain on your back and wrists. Once you have got the hang of the handling and are able to fit into the riding position, though, the Ducati Monster 795 bike becomes your pet passion. It is a refined bike with 6 gears, though on city roads you are unlikely to use so many gears. On open roads & highways, the bike comes into its own and makes for one long exciting ride. The Ducati Monster 795 comes with a warranty of 2 years unlimited mileage with a maintenance service intervals at 12.000 km.

Features and Technical Specifications of Ducati Monster 795

Engine: L-Twin cylinder, 2 valve per cylinder Desmodromic, air cooled
Power: 64kW - 87 CV @ 8250 rpm
Torque: 78 Nm - 8 kgm @ 6250 rpm
Bore X Stroke: 88 x 66mm
Exhaust: Lightweight 2-1-2 system with catalytic converter and twin lambda probes
Gearbox: 6 speed
Clutch: APTC wet multiplate with hydraulic controlFront suspension: Marzocchi 43mm upside-down forks
Rear suspension: Double sides swingarm
Seat height: 770mm (30.3in)
Wheelbase: 1450 mm (57.1in)
Fuel tank capacity: 15 l (3.8 US gal) / 13,5 l (3.6 US gal) ABS version
Colour: Red

Price of Ducati Moster 795 in India: Rs.6.09 lakh was the slashed introductory price when it was launched & it could be more now.

Compare Apple iPhone 5 with Samsung Galaxy III

2012-10-20T02:12:00.000-07:00

The Apple iPhone 5 is enabled for 4G – this automatically gives it a one-upmanship over its rival the Samsung Galaxy III. With a extra fast battery charger & a camera which can capture panoramic pictures, it is definitely carving a niche in the market & toppling the competition from their perch. Compared to most smartphones, in fact, the iPhone 5 is not just thinner & lighter, it also has a processor which is faster & a better battery life. Colour options are black & slate combination or white and silver comination. Naturally, there are thousands of apps available too from the App store!

The Apple iPhone 5 did bedazzle consumers and serpentine queues appeared long before showrooms opened, but subsequently niggling doubts have arisen as to its perfection. Some complained about its maps, others about WiFi, and yet others about the date & time not showing what it actually should be. Despite all this, a majority do feel it is the best iPhone to date.

The iPhone 5 holds up extremely well to the competition, primarily to the Samsung Galaxy III.

	iPhone 5	Samsung Galaxy III
CPU	Apple A6	Quad-core 1.4GHz Cortex-A9
OS	iOS6	Android 4.0 (ice cream sandwich)
Touchscreen	TFT capacitive	HD Super AMOLED
Display	640x1136 pixels, 4.0"	720x1280 pixels, 4.8"
Memory	16/32/64GB storage, 1GB RAM	16/32GB (upgradable)
Camera	8MP	8MP
Video	1080p@30fps	HD recording@30fps
Card Slot	No	microSD, upto 64GB
Battery	Standard, Li-Po	2,100 mAh
Weight	112gm	133gm
Band	2G/3G/4G	2G/3G
Dimensions	123.8x58.6x7.6mm	136.6x70.6x8.6

Apple iPhone 5 price and availability in India

Apple iPhone5

In India, the Applie iPhone 5 has not yet been launched although there were wild speculations in the media that it would be available to Indian consumers at the end of October.

In fact, the company itself did not make any official announcement of its launch in India. However, it seems that the iPhone 5 will be distributed through specialised distribution companies (reported here).

Even the price of the iPhone 5 in India has not been officially announced thought it is believed that it will definitely come with an astronomical price tag. It is presently available in USA for $199 (16GB), $299 (32GB) and $399 (64GB). These are the prices mentioned online here.