Material Girl !

I only love a few songs by Madonna, and this stanza sure does rock!!

Cause we are

Living in a material world

And I am a material girl

You know that we are living in a material world

And I am a material girl...

Jo bhi kaho boss, Money is Power
Paisa bolta hai :P

Dumb & Dumber !

Dumb : A total of 4099 athletes participated out of which 3714 were the men and 385 were the women.


Dumber : Out of these participants, 5230 were men athletes and 1567 women were women athletes.

Barbie Indeed!

I met Barbie the other day. She still looks the same, not a day older, not an inch thicker, not an ounce heavier. She still has glorious locks.

While I... well, I was slightly (very) embarassed to meet her. I sure did cut a sorry figure. I looked many days older, many inches thicker and many many many ounces heavier. Neither did I have my glorious european looking locks anymore.

Boys will be Boys

My seat was changed. AGAIN! Let's see how long this lasts. The HR folks were considerate enough to give me a gem of a seat this time, providing me easy access. That however meant that the person who was on my seat had 2 be moved 2 my former dingy dungeon seat (not that I complained much).

The guy, let's call him NN, is SUCH a whiner. He cribbed all day long, even told me that I shouldn't have done this. Did he intend to make me feel guilty? But seeing a grown man whine and be such a cry baby was amusing. Even his friends made fun of him.

By the end of the day I was determined 2 stick to his seat no matter what. I sat in that seat for several weeks and not once did i crib like him! He ought to grow up. Men! I tell ya!

PS: Whoever said women were nags and talked too much should meet this band of boys. They talk more in 8 hours than I do in the whole week! Jeez! How the hell do they get any work done!

Main Miss India

What's with the Aishwarya Rai Complex these girls at work have? I complimented one, telling her "You're really looking nice today". And what reply do I get? "Huh! Don't I look nice everyday?" :O

And there is one on the second floor. Floating chiffon dupattas, long open hair, clearly her inspiration is Yashraj Films. There are more, but I'd rather not talk about ALL of them! :)

India, the Beautiful

We often yearn to travel abroad, most often than not, we don't even know our way
around town or know about tourist spots in our own city. How often is it that we
clamour to visit Khajuraho instead of Kent, Amritsar instead of Australia,
Pondicherry instead of Pattaya? If charity begins at home, travel should begin with
one's nation. It is important to know our country before we set out to explore the
world. New Delhi, therefore must come before New York.

I have been a travel enthusiast for ages (am just 22: note to self) and there are
many places I wish to visit before I die. I thought it would be a good idea to
enlist what I wish to visit in my lifetime:

In Delhi & NCR

The Lotus Temple

Akshardham Temple

The Mughal Gardens
Jama Masjid
The Red Fort

(I think I have seen the rest of the tourist spots in Delhi)



In India

Madhya Pradesh - Buddhist sites, Khajuraho, Forts and Palaces
Goa - Beaches, Churches and Colonial Structures
Jammu & Kashmir
Rajasthan – Udaipur and Jaisalmaer
North Eastern States - All of em! Primarily for monasteries and tea estates.
Kolkata - Howrah Bridge, Victoria Memorial
Lakshadweep Islands
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Hyderabad - Charminar and Pearls!
Chowki Dhaani - I wanna I wanna!
Ooty



In the World

Australia
Venice, Italy
Maldives
Bali, Indonesia
Thailand
Bora Bora, Tahiti
Iceland - esp to catch a glimpse of the world's youngest island close to it.
Poconos in Pennsylvania, America
France
Russia
Latin America - at least one nation!
China

Mysore Palace by Day


Mysore Palace by Night

Must Visit Again

I have explored many places in India, some call for a second visit.

Agra – Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri
Mysore – Mysore Palace
Orissa – Chilka Lake for Dolphins
Kerala – Kovalam Beach, Backwaters, Pondicherry
Mumbai – Let’s face it, my two “visits” were not exactly visits.

By far, the best image of the Taj I have seen

India is inspiring, beautiful, diverse and my home. The sights and sounds are simply
unparalleled and there is nowhere in the world I’d rather be than in India at Dilli.

Ozone Again

I have a feeling if I knew Vinita Dawra Nangia in person, we would be really good friends :)
So here I am, watching a sunday end and posting her column in my blog. Cheers!!

We’ll Love you Just the Way you are ...if you are Perfect!

Men move around under a cloud of guilt unable to understand or meet the ever-burgeoning expectations of women in their lives! BY: Vinita Dawra Nangia


SOMETIMES, just sometimes, I feel bad for men. Considering the quantum leap women have taken from the last generation to ours, men can only be said to have regressed. As women gain confidence and poise, they are not just challenging men in their own space but also questioning what for generations has been accepted male behaviour.

That leaves men befuddled, with no role models to follow. After all, when they look towards their dads, they see a generation of guys who still shout out to their wives for a glass of water – and get it! Dare they try the same?! Not a chance, faced as they are with perhaps the most formidable generation of women in years past and to come – women who have discovered their identity and are revelling in the newfound strength of their feminity.

To make matters worse, a recent study indicated that men may no longer be required for procreation either, with the possibility of creating sperms from a woman’s bone marrow! How men must have quaked at the prospect of being nudged out of the only activity they believed women couldn’t manage without them! Pleasure, of course, is a possibility without guys, as women have known since Stone Age it seems (as indicated by the recent discovery of sex toys and dildos in a Stone Age cave in Germany)!

Men today labour under a perpetual cloud of guilt, not quite sure what they have done wrong nor what they are expected to do! Not surprising because women themselves don’t seem too sure of who or what they really want their man to be! 

It begins with Mom, who starts telling her little boy he shouldn’t be like Dad because no woman other than her would tolerate such an attitude. She forgets to mention however who or what he should be like. Then there is sis who is perpetually complaining about perceived disadvantages and blaming him for these, “Just because he’s a boy!” Quite unsure what his being a boy has to do with everything wrong in her life, he moves on to girlfriend and wife.

The problem here is that no woman is quite sure whether she wants a macho guy who sweeps her off her feet and vows to protect her, or a metrosexual man of the world, who is gentle and savvy and her equal. While she makes up her mind, our man has been hurtled through many avatars, which have left him one confused mess. Counter to what he has heard about feminists, a woman is quite happy with him paying all restaurant bills and holding open doors for her; wants him to be the chief breadwinner of the family and to handle all payments and matters that require running around. And yet, she also expects him to help around at home, with the house as well as kids! Whoa!

Well, to be honest, no man actually does all that, but that’s where the guilt seeps in! Expectations are a strange thing. They have nothing to do with you. And yet, either you do what you are expected to do, or you suffer guilt pangs. And once that happens, it gives the woman in his life just what she needs – a handle on her man. Most men complain women have become adept at making them feel inadequate. But of course, how else would we feel more than adequate? Come, honestly girls, how often have you heard the guy in your life whine, “Why am I blamed for everything that goes wrong?!” There you are!

Is it any wonder then that most women think men today seem confused, inflexible and inadequate? He’s damned if he does; damned if he doesn’t! And either way, he certainly can’t hope to measure up to the paragon we dream of!

Be a good boy
Push a little farther now
That wasn’t fast enough
To make us happy
We’ll love you just the way you are
If you’re perfect
– Alanis Morissette

My Comments: Let's face it, life is not all that easy for an Indian male. They sure do get away with a lot of stuff by and large, but they also carry the burden of Great Mammoth Expectations! 
TO BE CONTINUED: I am bummed abt MONDAY up ahead :(

Damn the Narrow Arteries

It just aint fair that women have narrower arteries than men, as it puts them at
higher risk of CAD - Coronary Artery Disease and makes diagnosis difficult as well.

According to Prevention magazine:

Recognise the Symptoms

All heart attacks begin with a sudden, crushing pain only on TV. Actually, many
attacks start slowly as mild pain or discomfort. A full blown attack feels like
someone is sitting on your chest. In the case of women, the symptoms (chest, stomach
and jaw pain, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness and fatigue) are often muted. Why?
Answers Manchanda, “Possibly because the arteries are smaller to begin
with.” Add to that a condition named endothelial dysfunction — common
among women. Here, the lining of the artery doesn’t expand to properly boost
blood flow when it should be boosted.

Know your Numbers

» Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HDL, LDL,
triglycerides) and blood sugar. (It does unnerve me that i know the meaning of all
these terms - long live hypochondria)

» Doctors now suggest that you tack on one more measurement to your regular
cholesterol test: for lipoprotein, a protein strand thats attached to bad
cholesterol molecules. Researchers from the Framingham Heart Study, Massachusetts,
tested these levels in more than 3,000 women and found that participants with
lipoprotein above 30 mg/dl in their blood doubled their risk of heart disease.

Rate Your Risk

In addition to abnormal cholesterol, you're more likely to develop heart
disease if you have these as a part of your life:

» Smoking Ups the odds at least two to four times

» Diabetes Raises your risk four to six times

» Blood Pressure higher than 135/85

» Obesity Raises the risk of other conditions as well—high BP, high
cholesterol and diabetes. (GULP...)

» Premature Menopause Either naturally or through surgical removal of ovaries.

» Sedentary Lifestyle (UMMM...)

» Chronic Stress

» Heredity

» Gum Disease has a strong connection with heart disease. Often, bacteria from the
gums enter the arteries and cause inflammation. Good oral hygiene and a dental
check-up every six months are great preventives.

» Elevated C-Reactive Protein is produced by the liver in reaction to injury or
inflammation. Research correlates high levels of CRP with an increased risk of heart
attacks. Elevated levels of CRP could mean that the arteries are inflamed.
Inflammation can cause rupture of plaque. More than 3.0mg/dl is considered high
risk. (ERMM...)

Get Moving

» Be physically active. Start by doing as many household chores as you can. Urban
surveys show that 51 to 75% of Indian women report low levels of physical activity.
Aim for 30 minutes of walk/excercise at least 5 days a week. Take the stairs instead
of the elevator.

» A Harvard University study showed that women who walked at 5 kmph or faster at
least 3 hours a week reduced their risk of heart disease by 40%.

» Instead of watching TV sitting down, combine it with an activity like ironing
clothes or walking on the treadmill.

Eat Right

» Wholewheat bread, brown rice, lentils, fish, poultry and lean meat are good for
your heart. A low-fat diet works for most women, but women with a low HDL level can
actually increase their risk of heart disease by cutting back on all fats.

» Eat breakfast every day.

» Snack every two hours, not on oily aloo bhujia and chips but on nuts or fruits.

» Switch to a lighter cooking oil like olive or canola oil. Yes, they are pricey,
but both your heart and wallet will love the fact that you are using less oil than
before anyway. Olive oil raises good HDL.

Stay Light

» Its not just about looking great, BMI is important. Body Mass Index is a
measure of body fat calculated by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of
your height in metres.

» A BMI of under 24 is ideal for women.

» To calculate your BMI log on to nhlbisupport.com/bmi or prevention.
com/bmicalculator.

Chill

» Chronic stress raises the level of homocysteine, an amino acid that increases the
risk of heart disease.

» You may not be able to cut stress totally, but try reducing it through yoga and
meditation. Pranayams and savasana are good stress-busters.

» American cardiologist Arthur Agaston says you can lower your homocysteine levels
with a daily dose of 400 microgram (mcg) of folic acid from foods like spinach
and beans.

Picture of the Day

A brilliant Skyscape
(Reminds me of arteries too in a way)

Thoughts & Grudges

Daily Thoughts from the workplace :)


The Greatest Gift you can give someone is your time
Because when you are giving someone your time,
You are giving them a portion of your life that you will never get back.

- No Clue

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of

an equal or greater benefit.   

- Napolean Hill

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness
I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it
now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way
again.

-William Penn

It's the heart afraid of breaking
that never learns to dance.
It's the dream afraid of waking
that never takes the chance.
It's the one who won't be taken,
who cannot seem to give,
and the soul afraid of dyin'
that never learns to live.

-Bette Midler

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Grudges :(


1. People are pure evil at times. Then again some people are pure evil all the time!

2. My benevolent boss is being shifted to Gurgaon branch and a khadoos is replacing him. No more easy sanction of leaves. I sure will miss him.

3. The stitches cause itches!

4. The stoopid maid won't come back from her gaaon. Cookin after a hard day's work with a bloated foot = not my idea of fun.

Picture of the Day
(Haven't posted one in a really long time)

How do they DO IT?

Everybody has seen them, and everybody knows one for sure. I am talking about those girls. You know, the kinds who are always prim n proper, with not a hair out of place. Even if you go to their house at an odd hour, they will still be somewhat put together! I ceratinly cannot imagine any of these running for cover when a camera is sprung up!

Are you gals for real!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Always armed with make-up (which is weather proof, i may as well add) they manage to make it seem like blasphemy to be 
seen at ease, without the greasepaint, the accessories and often 
end up embarassing you by just being. 

Reason, Season or Lifetime

A lot of you may have already read this somewhere or the other. I find it to be absolutely true and meaningful (would not be posting it otherwise!).

People always come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

` ` ` ` `  ` ` ` ` ` `

When someone is in your life for a REASON,

it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty,

or to provide you with guidance and support,

to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are.

They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time,

this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. Sometimes they just walk away.

Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

` ` ` ` `  ` ` ` ` ` `

When people come into your life for a SEASON,

it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.

They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.

They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall,

the season eventually ends.

` ` ` ` `  ` ` ` ` ` `

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;

those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person;

and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life.

Economic Utopia

A highly impractical, but not entirely impossible state would be a state
of Economic Utopia. What would that be, one may wonder, and the answer is
that it would be such a state (and am not talkin abt geographical states)
where money would not be over-valued, stones, gems, precious metals would also
not be valued at their rarity.

Ideally, an Economic Utopia would function on the long forgotten barter
system which originated in China. But how can the process be adopted in
our times? Production would continue as usual, but free of cost. Why?
Because if one was to go to buy a chair, for instance, the shopkeeper
would give it to him knowing that if he needs a trouser he can also go and
get it for free, because the one who would sell him the trouser can also
get a computer for paying no amount.

Now, that takes care of the consumer goods and durables, but what about
services? Would one go to work everyday, knowing that they dont really
need to work in order to satify human materialistic needs? Maybe they
would, if services compensate for services. One goes to work in whatever
chosen field one wants to (aah, to follow one's heart's desire to go for a
favoured career without thinking of money), provides services and comes
back at the end of the day to find that the plumber or the doctor wont
take money. Services for services.

 However, land and it's ownership would be a fickle concept, if everything is for free, everybody would want a huge chunk of land and that could lead to a lot of chaos, land is limited after all. But other than that, just imagine, no money, no debit and credit cards, no class divisions based on wealth and other posessions, no holding yourselves back, no slogging for material desires (read shopping!), no financial insecurities and tensions of making payments. 

On the flip side, quality would perhaps go for a toss and excellence would
be neither inspired nor awarded. There would be no real struggles, perhaps
people would be lax, careless and indulgent. And nobody would want to the dirty business for sure. Hehehe.

Surely, that is a somewhat vague way of describing the functioning of such
a Utopia. I hope I did not sound like Jairaj!

PS: To the person dropping anonymous comments on my blog, kindly reveal ur name, I would like to read your blog too :P