India @ crossroads with the world

India shud not accept any changes in the Indo-Us Nuclear deal. Crazy or what…? Its a gimmick that the US is playing... twisting India’s arm on the nuclear deal saying get some changes in the deal and get this bill completed this year, else processing will start all over again by the newly elected Congress. Read this… US advocates want the changes in the Nuclear deal.. I say.. what was Bush & Co. doing when they had come down to India to sign the historic deal?????? India should say… “No changes" or "Hell with it!!!”

You will see this happng..... USA is bound to play with India in its bid for UNSC membership.

Doing my bit to sell the helmet rule…

Helmets best way to prevent fatal head injuries

Little Women

Its becoming a habit now… to stay awake late night watching tv. thanks to all the Saas-Bahu soaps, I get to touch the remote only after 11pm. Anyway, over the last few days there hav been quite good movies.. (real classic ones) on Hallmark and SonyPix. Only yesterday I saw one of “7 movies i want to watch again”. “Little Women” , a classic novel written by Louisa May Alcott(November 29, 1832 – March 6, 1888), an American Novelist and Transcendentalist. This literary work has been made into a full length movie by several movie makers in 1933, 1949, 1978, and 1994, but the most impressive one has been by Gillian Amrstrong in 1994 which has been nominated for several awards including Oscars. And this particular version of the movie was aired on SonyPix yesterday night (Nov 8th, 2006) as a part of the the “Perfect 10” movie lists.

Little Women is a story which Louisa May Alcott wrote while living in Orchard House, located in Concord, Massachusetts, United States in 1868. It is based on Alcott's own experiences as a child and the lives and loves of the four sisters (Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy) of the March family growing up during the American Civil War. As these young girls mature as women, they learn the ways of life in dealing with the hardships that come with poverty in a closely knitted circle of family and frends. Alcott, as one of the girls (Jo or Josephine March, who is the main character of the movie/novel) accounts the journey, the sisters and the March family take, making friends, loves and acquaintances. For me, after reading the novel and seeing the movie again (first time i watched this was almost an year and half back when I was in Norway, this was before i read the novel).. its like being a part of the entire story all over again. Each character has its own uniqueness and so very neatly etched by Alcott. Every delicate little thing that novel says about each of the character.. the movie has tried to capture all of it so beautifully.. in its own subtle ways. The spirit n the nature of each character is put on screen so elegantly that this tops my all time favorite movies to watch. In any novel u get a chance to get introduced to the character by a brief intro about him/her at the beginning or wherever in between.. n Gillian Amrstrong directing the movie has so beautifully got the sequences in place, so that the character exhibits his/her true nature/quality… and one learns more about that character as the movie progresses. Meg’s greed, Jo's anger, Beth's shyness, Amy's selfishness, Laurie’s love for Jo, the playful times of the family even amidst all the harsh times (due to poverty and illness),… the times during the American Civil War… the Christmas celebrations,…. all of it is so gracefully portrayed. For the person watching the movie.. reading these minute details on-screen.., n watching them in the character' s eyes n expressions is a classic experience, truly magical!! Wish I cud record the entire movie :) … mayb I wil try n get the movie on the net or something. As I said this movie was shown as a part “Perfect 10” movie list… I certainly, for surely give it a 10 out of 10. I woudnt wish to tell you the plot or the story of these lovely Little Women, you must see and experience it for yourself. Don’t miss this movie if you get a chance to watch. I wud say, watch the movie… then read the novel and then watch it again. Believe me u wil cherish it forever. You will feel n enjoy the movie a lot more than u had during the fist time. You will never miss all those tiny little things which will keep you craving for more.

Interesting snippets

Im the paper boy with some “news” u don get to read everyday… :)

Well, well.. :p
Amazingly talented
The great Indian Bull Run
New year gift
What if…
Great gesture...
Clinton on a "speaking" tour

Dont miss it.....

Art, crafts, music, drama, theatre.... has always made me go mmmmmmm http://livingdreamz.blogspot.com/2005/12/bangalore-habba.html. Just the thought of the cultural and artistic performances makes me feel happy about it.. for all the emotions involved, for all the effort, for all the interest that goes in and for all the message it gives to the society. I always had the interest for dance n drama... n I have this feeling that there is something more in me for all this. I enjoy every bit of it whenevr i read or see something on tv or elsewhere. But i hvnt been able to give much time to read, or witness such events. This october, The Rangashankara Theatre festival has drawn me towards it, n is already making news. Started on Oct 8th, this colourful, spirited celebration of theatre will go on for another 4 days i.e. till Oct 15th. However the magic and the sounds of the plays will resonate in the magnificent theatre at the Rangashankara all 365 days as dramas, plays (natakas) are scheduled round the year. Check out the schedule for the list of plays during this Theatre festival. Its truly a treat for all the theatre lovers, dont miss it!

Know more about Rangashankara @ http://www.rangashankara.org/

Its a Nuclear world!!

North Korea has claimed that it has successfully carried out a nuclear test. The test, which reportedly took place underground, was conducted in defiance of international agencies. North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the test was a success and had not resulted in any leak of radiation.

Full text of the official announcement
The field of scientific research in the DPRK (North Korea) successfully conducted an underground nuclear test under secure conditions on October 9, Juche 95 (2006) at a stirring time when all the people of the country are making a great leap forward in the building of a great prosperous powerful socialist nation.

It has been confirmed that there was no such danger as radioactive emission in the course of the nuclear test as it was carried out under a scientific consideration and careful calculation.

''The nuclear test was conducted with indigenous wisdom and technology 100 per cent. It marks a historic event as it greatly encouraged and pleased the KPA (Korean People's Army) and people that have wished to have powerful self-reliant defence capability.It will contribute to defending the peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the area around it.

International Reactions

U.S. > NK test "would constitute a provocative act".

China > "North Korea has ignored the widespread opposition of the international community and conducted a nuclear test brazenly on October 9. The Chinese government is firmly opposed to this. The Chinese side strongly demands the North Korean side abide by its pledges on de-nuclearisation and to stop any action that would worsen the situation."

United Kingdom> "This nuclear test will be viewed by the UK and the rest of the international community as a highly provocative act to which we will respond robustly. It can only raise tensions in an already tense region, and have repercussions internationally."
South Korea> "Our government will sternly deal with this in accordance with the principle that it will not tolerate North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons. North Korea's behaviour is a grave threat to peace and stability, not only in the Korean peninsula but also in Northeast Asia. Our military, based on the South Korea-US alliance, is fully ready for any provocation by North Korea."

Australia> "Australia will advocate a UN Security Council regime against [North Korea] which includes targetted financial and travel sanctions, other trade restrictions and/or aviation restrictions."

The impact on me was more when i read this line on the net - "Asia is the most weponised and violent continent in the world. " :(

Shud i become a photographer?... Or am i already one!!

somewhere between Mysore and Mandya.. on our recent trip to Mysore


Melukote Hill!

this time its Dilbert!

eNjoY!! :)

News shape minds - Minds shape nation

news 
/nuz, nyuz/ Spelled Pronunciation [nooz, nyooz]
–noun (usually used with a singular verb )

1. newly received or noteworthy information about recent events. 2 (the news) a broadcast or published news report. 3. (news to) informal information not previously known to.

News.. was interesting when we were kids... to read newpapers, watch the 9’o clock news on National TV and get to know the events that shaped the world. Such wonderful times!!… Now, things have deteriorated, its nothing but reports relating to crime and misery, bomb blasts, attacks, terrorism, deaths, crisis, hatred, chaos... has the world changed or just the news that come across to us??? News today is all that hampers the growth of a peaceful and a vibrant mind. 80% of the newspaper or the pvt media channels mirror only the dark side of human kind. Times have not remained the same, yet the responsibility of the media is to build a society with a strong foundation of humanity, love, properity and growth. So much power the media has. News is supposed to inspire and drive individuals, communities, civilizations towards progress and exploration of the world within and around us. All the news channels/newpapers are a big let down today. None of them… think there are atleast 8-10 (probably more than that) pvt Indian news channels running on TV as of today… and yet every other channel just report everday incidents rather than enlighten people. A very good habit that my father taught me, to read the news paper and watch the National news for one hour daily, i can not impart the same to the children of today. All that today’s newpapers/TV channels crave is to get more and more viewers hooked to them by reporting cheap, controversial and behind the door events, than to build the young minds of a nation. It’s a rat race, an absolute mockery that the media is making of itself today and the jokers being the ones who make the headlines. arent they??????

Man in the glass...

[read this.... simply awesome]

When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day,
Just go to a mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.

For it isn’t your father or mother or wife
Whose judgment upon you must pass,
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people may think you a straight shooting chum
And call you a wonderful guy,
But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum
If you can’t look him straight in the eye.

He’s the fellow to please, never mind all the rest,
For he’s with you clear to the end.
And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test
If the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down the pathway of life,
And get pats on your backs as you pass.
But your final reward will be heartaches and tears...
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.

- Anonymous (Fwdd by a friend!)