All India Bewakoof?!

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So like millions of others, I laughed at the AIB Knockout Roast of Arjun Kapoor and Ranveer Singh ... and might I add Karan Johar. Not only did I think the roast was good (for a first time effort) but I also applauded the efforts of AIB in trying to introduce the concept of 'roasting' (first started in New York) to India. Progressive India? Yes. Youth centered India? Yes. Offensive India? Huh.

 

The good thing about blogging is that I can pen down my opinion. I can execute my fundamental right to freedom of speech and speak my heart out. I won't force you to read it. It is up to you to click on my blog article if you deem it interesting. It is up to you to continue reading my article if you deem it further interesting. That is you exercising your freedom of choice.

 

So essentially I would assume that the same is true for AIB. This is a group that works purely on YouTube. What better way  for everyone to exercise their own version of discretion than YouTube? Was the AIB roast launched live on National Television? Were viewers forced to watch it on a prime time channel? Were they taken by surprise? Was your right to discretion violated? I think not! So if I get this straight - folks made a conscious effort to go to YouTube, watch the roast in its entirety, and then comment out loud that this was offensive? To whom? Definitely not to the folks that were being laughed at. They took everything in their stride in an exceptionally good spirit. So this offended you - the viewer that made a conscious choice to go online and watch it?! Interesting.

 

What irks me the most is that AIB has since then removed the roasting knockout video amid mounting pressures and propagandas for its removal. So much for freedom of speech. So much for progressive India. So much for having a sense of humor. Actually, what do we really expect?! If someone like Aamir Khan who has produced movies like Delhi Belly (which I also loved BTW) and television wonders like Satyamev Jayate can come out with words of disdain for this, then there sure isn't much hope for the rest of us.

 

So to summarize, here's essentially what India, a country of 1.3 billion, finds offensive and not -

 

Delhi Belly - Not offensive. ("Oh it was such a laugh riot")

Certain Saas-Bahu serials - Not offensive. ("Oh its just entertainment")

Bigg Boss - Not offensive. ("Oh we love BB")

AIB Roast - Super offensive. ("Take this down now or we come at you with pitchforks")

 

'Nuff said.

Why I love Tana French...

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I like reading. I like going through a (self-imposed) meticulous process of finding and researching just the right book for any occasion - be it a long flight, a vacation, or just reading at home. There is a book for all moods. I would also like to mention here that my devil’s advocate in this is this phenomenal app called Goodreads. If you are an ardent book reader and you haven't heard of this app, you are honestly truly missing out. I do not think there is any book, any volume, any series, that I will pick up without checking its rating on Goodreads. (The ratings are user defined and are extremely accurate - so any book with a rating over four is bound to be incredible - by all standards etc.) Anywho, I digress - lets return to Tana French.

 

So I first heard about Tana French from Goodreads (big surprise there :p). She is a Dublin based author who won the 2008 Edgar Award for Best First Novel ('In the Woods') and a series of other awards. And her books have constantly received top accolades from all across the globe. So it goes without saying that I was intrigued enought to put in that request to get her book from my local library. And boy was I hooked!

 

To start with 'In the Woods' is truly one of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a while. (It was so intriguing that I couldn't stop myself from googling for days on end reading spark notes about the story etc.). Tana French has currently written four books all revolving around the chronicles of the Dublin Murder Squad. Let this whole book series thing not phase you out. This isn't about cheesy sequels and continuing love sagas and the rest of the shenanigans that follow most series books. Each of her books is a first person narrative of each of the characters - which brings me to the next point. The characters!

 

To say that she has done a good job with the characters would be an understatement. She has massaged each character, their quirks, traits, and nuances within the fabric of the readers mind. So you'll love Cassey, you'll be constantly amazed by Frank, you'll adore Sam, and Rob - let’s just not say much about him :p Very few authors have such a knack for embedding fictional characters in a readers mind. You cry for their strife, you feel for their pain, you laugh at their triumphs, you get frustrated at their helplessness. Simply beautiful.

 

My second Tana French accolade would go to her writing. Its rare to come across such absolutely beautiful prose - such poetic writing even. She has a way of swirling words and placing them just right so that they come out beautifully and written in a way with such references as one can never imagine. Very hard to describe but if you pick up one of her books, you'll get what I mean.

 

And my third and final tribute goes out to her stories. Simply put, they are wow with a capital W. I am still to comprehend how she came up with the story for The Likeness (her second book). And not only did she churn up an incredible story, but she churned up incredible characters and incredible story writing to accompany that. Talented, much?!

 

So here I am - an eternal Tana French fan - down with her first two books and currently on her third. Already awaiting starting her fourth and have never been more pleased. Hope this motivates some of you readers out there to pick up one of her copies, you will not be disappointed ;)

Ten things that I learned from Sex & the City!

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Today it's been 16 years since Sex and the City first premiered on HBO. The show that forever changed the way we perceive New York and Fashion. The show that made Manolo's and Cosmopolitans a household name. It is also rumored that for a while, all anyone in New York could talk about was what happened on this show. So, as a small tribute to this wonderful wonderful show, I have compiled a list of the top ten things that I learned from Sex & the City ;) This was fun, so here goes, in no particular order -

 

#1 It is better to starve than be deprived of a Vogue.

 

#2 Manolo's are not shoes but an outfit.

 

#3 Brunch is an affair between four girls and gossip.

 

#4  You cannot stay in New York and not go to Fashion Week.

 

#5 Your closet should have at least one Cavalli.

 

#6 A night out is never complete without a Cosmo.

 

#7 Once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker.

 

#8 Everyone needs a best friend like Stanford Blatch.

 

#9 Summer in New York = Hamptons.

 

#10 Wearing your name around your neck is sorta cool.

 

And here's a bonus one #11: It's well worth waiting for your Mr. Big.

 

So I think that's all that I had. Feel free to chime in with things that I surely and certainly might have missed ;)

 

Xoxo

 

 

 

 

Unplugging to Reconnect...

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I have lately started developing an acute sense of being a slave to technology. And what's even worse is that this sense of feeling arises not just from me, but from most folks around me as well. Be it strangers on a bus or folks at a party, individuals waiting for a train or dining at a restaurant, almost everywhere I turn, individuals are hooked to their devices - be it a cellphone or a smart pad.

 

For a while now, I have been considering breaking this barrier, starting with myself. Don't get me wrong - I do understand and appreciate the enormous power of having technology at our fingertips - the massive advantage of having all this information available to us, the unparalleled happiness of connecting with friends on a real time basis, no matter the distance and so on and so forth.

 

But somehow somewhere down the lane, I have started witnessing, within me, a profound sense of losing out on the 'real' things. I almost feel as though life is passing me by, all while my eyes are glued to some 5 by 2 screen.

 

I almost think that, for me, the straw that broke the camel's back, came in the form of a photo I recently saw on Facebook (big surprise there :p). The photo depicted some individuals in San Francisco attending a party in a breathtaking setting. The event venue had been converted into a Bali themed absolutely incredible open spaced area. And what could I see the folks in this mind blowing setting doing? - you guessed it, each one of them was glued to their cellphone. If we cannot communicate face to face even given such an incredible ambience, then something definitely is not right.

 

No more. I vow to not let life pass me by. So here's my conscious decision to indulge in...

 

...Less Whats App, more Whats up around me
...Less Texts, more Talks
...Less Email Subscriptions, more subscribing to life events
...Less Checkin's, more places to check out
...Less Status Updates, more updating my personal experiences
...Less Browsing, more Seeing
...Less phone conversations, more in-person meetings
...Less LOL's, more laugh out louds
...Less Tweets, more Speech

...Less Facebook, more noticing new faces around me
...Less a Slave to Technology, more a Master of my Life

 

Unplugging to reconnect. Wish me luck.

Barre me over!

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I went to my very first Barre class last week. And was completely blown away. It was nothing short of a spiritual experience and so how can I not write something about it? So here goes...

 

First things first, what is Barre? (pronounced 'Bar') Other than being the newest trend and something touted to give you a dancer's body, Barre is basically something that uses Pilates + Yoga + Ballet moves to give you a toned body. It's terribly difficult slow concentrated motions that target everything from your arms to your toes and give your body a complete workout. Basically, lengthen & strengthen your muscles. Also, have you ever seen a fat ballerina?

 

A lot of things went through my mind during my first Barre class. Here is my compilation of some of them ;) I am not shy to workout routines, running etc. but this was a whole new ball game.

 

 

So that's it folks. I can tout this form of exercise all that I want but you really truly have to try it out to believe what it can do for you. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. 

I want to believe...

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I want to believe that we are capable of kindness...
That chivalry is not lost...
That doing a nice thing for someone is not viewed with suspicion...
That sometimes there really is no ulterior motive
I want to believe that folks have a good heart...
That friendship is not just for give & take
I want to believe that scruples are not lost...
That conscience is not dead...
That it's not always about me...
Sometimes it could be about something bigger than you and me...
I want to believe there are angels among us...
To guide us on our path, to help us distinguish right from wrong...
I want to believe that positivity exists...
Not just superficially but really truly honestly
I want to believe a smile is not just a camouflage
For the dark lurking within someone...
I want to believe a hug is meant when it's meant...
And that promises are meant to be kept
I want to believe kindness is not just for display...
And that folks mean what they say and say what they mean
I want to believe genuine niceness is still required...
And that respect cannot be bought nor can dignity be bartered

I want to believe in a good world...don't you?

International Women's Day

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March 8 was International Women's Day. So I thought I'd take this opportunity to list out the top 5 women who's strength and determination continue to inspire me on a daily basis. These are women who's careers I truly follow, who's positiveness and achievements are what I strive to emulate. So here goes...

#1 Ruchi Sanghvi

Ruchi Sanghvi started her career as the first female engineer at Facebook. She since then quit Facebook to start her own startup called Cove. Cove was later acquired by Dropbox. She is currently Vice President of Operations at Dropbox. She is also a vocal advocate for immigration reform in the US.


#2 Indra Nooyi
Indra Nooyi, born in Tamil Nadu, India and studied at Yale. CEO of PepsiCo and fourth on the list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women. She was also named CEO of the Year in 2009. Such an inspiration!

#3 Marissa Mayer

She is as smart as she is pretty! Marissa Mayer, current president and CEO of Yahoo! She was also one of the key persons in charge of shaping Google. All this and only 38 years old. Remarkable.

#4 Hilary Clinton

Does she really need an introduction? I would really like to watch her become the first woman president of the United States. Women power!

#5 All the wonderful women in my life
So this here is a shout out to all the incredible women in my life. You are a constant source of love and inspiration to me and I would be so lost without you. This list comprises of my mom and my mother-in-law who really illustrate the true strength of a woman to me, my wonderful sisters-in-law (and other women of my extended family) for making me aware of the genuine kindness and niceness that women are capable of, and for my female friends for proving to me time and again that friends truly can be a second family.

So here's to all you wonderful women out there - there's really no one quite like us - so stay strong & stay fabulous!
 

10 reasons why I LOVED Highway (the movie)

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I recently watched the newly released Bollywood movie - Highway. And was simply blown away. The fact that I could not get this movie out of my head (still can't) should be sufficient proof of how incredible it was. So here is my compilation of the top ten reasons why I absolutely loved! this movie. (Spoiler Alert - In case you haven't watched it and don't want any scenes revealed, don't read this. But do go watch this movie. Pronto.)

 

#10 The fact that this movie made me wanna give up all my worldly possessions and become one with nature. Or something of that sort ;)

 

#9 The fact that I did not check my cellphone even once while watching this film.

 

#8 Alia Bhatt - I like this one. I think she has real potential and was incredible in this movie.

 

#7 The change from the typical Hindi movie love angle. No boy meets girl and somehow they fall crazily in love run-of-the-mill routine. The romantic nuances depicted here were simply remarkable.

 

#6 The completely believable plotline - no loopholes, no gaps (at least as far as I could tell).

 

#5 The incredible scenery of the terrains of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir etc. that were depicted in this film. Reminds you that India is just so beautiful, if only folks were more aware of this fact.

 

#4 The incredible folk music tunes within the movie. Indian folk music is so underrated that when something like this comes up, it is so worth mentioning.

 

#3 The incredible scene where Veera (Alia Bhatt) runs across the open wide space with stars above while trying to escape and is simply overwhelmed.

 

#2  Randeep Hooda. Need I say more?

 

#1 The scene towards the end where Veera (Alia Bhatt) screams her lungs out at her uncle until he walks away. I got goose bumps, I kid you not.

 

All in all, I think a movie like this comes once in a while. Now I have an intense desire to watch it again. I think I might. I just might.

 

The Curious Case of the Chicago winter

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Okay, so first things first. In case you're wondering what that gothic image at the top is - its the infamous Chicago lighthouse on Lake Michigan frozen during the polar vortex of Jan 6, 2014. This should give an indication of how cold this winter has been!

 

I will not go into the technical details or stats of this winter - after all that is all over the news for everyone to read. So instead, I think I'll just recount my experience of what has undoubtedly been one of the coldest winter's I've encountered. Correction - am encountering :p

 

Location, location - I went to school in Buffalo, New York. Buffalo is famous for two things - 1. the snow 2. the winter. But inspite of that, I gotta say that this winter in Chicago has surpassed anything that dear old Buffalo put forth.

 

Wind, much? - Chicago is called the Windy City. That's cute and adorable. But not so much when the wind we're talking about is a 30 below zero.

 

Zero is the new terrible - The subzero temperatures that folks warn about are not exaggerated. Those days, it is indeed unbearably cold. Unimaginably cold. The ideally-should-not-be-out-for-longer-than-five-minutes cold.

 

White land - I have never ever ever seen this much snow in downtown Chicago. Period. Thank God the city's snow budget has still held up and thank God for the wonderful snow plowing folks out there doing an incredible job. They are truly the true heroes.

 

Dig a little deeper - Okay, so this may not be from personal experience but this is for all you folks in the suburbs. Keeping the pathways clean is mandatory, so I've heard stories of endless snow shoveling, no place to put the shoveled snow, and the best of the lot - a colleague building a snow mountain in his backyard for his kids to slide down on. Yes, you can insert your unbelievable expression here.

 

Polar Vortex - Let me stop right here.

 

Greater Appreciation - I now have a new appreciation for the wonderful citizens here going about their daily tasks & regular routines with a shrug of their shoulders and a poof of their hands indicating 'oh well whatcha gonna do'.

 

I would like to stop here and end by saying - Hang in there everyone! One glorious day, this will all be a wonderful horror story to recount over a warm fireplace. A horror story of white evil, of caked ice on the Chicago river, of boiling water turning into snow, of being in a place colder than Alaska. And a story of surviving it all. Well worth it, me thinks. :p

Top 5 Movies & TV Shows with the best Fashion!

How many of us have watched a movie that has completely blown us away with its couture? Or left a lasting impression on us with its style depiction? Or really, both of the above?

So for all you fashionistas out there, here’s a listing of my top 5 movies/shows depicting the best of the fashion world – and why!

#5 Suits

The 2011 law firm TV show, Suits, is famous for its witty dialogues and slick movie-style direction, but in my opinion the show also features some incredible styles for the corporate world. Almost every attire worn by Gina Torres and Meghan Markle is to die for. Here are some glimpses –

Antonio Berardi dress

All Saints coat

 

Donna Karan dress



                                                        Beaumelle Jacket, Cassis Skirt

 #4 Gossip Girl

Ever wonder what the fashion conscious of Manhattan’s Upper East Side dress like? Wonder no more. Be it the pearls or the tweeds, this show has it all.

#3 Breakfast at Tiffany’s

 

This movie truly ushered in a new era of fashion consciousness and almost started a fashion revolution of sorts. Thanks to the incredible style icon that is Audrey Hepburn –

#2 Sex and the City (The show & the movies)

 

Is it really possible to talk about fashion on television and not mention this show & it's movies? Can anyone really forget Carrie’s iconic necklace? –

 Or the epic newspaper print Dior dress –

 

Or the amazing J'adore Dior t-shirt attire–

 

Or the picture perfect Polka dot Balenciaga dress in the Paris episode – 

And let’s not forget the incredible Vera Wang wedding dress –

 

#1 The Devil wears Prada

This has got to be my most favorite movie in terms of the fashion depiction. A famous line from the movie is ‘A million girls would kill for that job’. Me thinks this should be ‘A million girls would kill for that wardrobe’. Because who can forget the incredible thigh-high Chanel boots (third image from the left), or the Cotton Voile Jersey Dress (last image on the right), or for that matter almost every other couture depicted in this film –
 

So that's it - my list of personal favorites! Gotta love style! So until next time, stay fabulous!

The Spirit of Mumbai

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Mumbai - the city that never sleeps! Mumbai - my hometown, the place that I've been away from for a decade. But each time I return, I realize that my city has changed. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But one thing that never changes is the vibrant, undying spirit of this city.

Keeping that in mind, here are some of the observations from my most recent visit home -

#1 Everyone is vibrant - The energy of everyone around you is seriously contagious. Be it the hordes of folks shopping in malls or eating in restaurants or walking on the streets, there is a vibrancy to it that is really unlike any other city in the world.

#2 Everyone makes money - No matter the heavy traffic to go to work, no matter the bureaucracy at work, no matter the politics at play, everyone makes money. The amount may vary but the fact still remains that Mumbai truly remains a land of opportunities.

#3 Buy that house? - While real estate prices plummet elsewhere, the property market in Mumbai is always at an all-time high. Buying a house in Mumbai is not for the faint hearted with real estate prices ranging more than New York even.

#4 No one cares about your petty concerns - You can honk all you want at that jay walker, you can scream and shout at something that's amiss, no one truly has time to even react to your concerns. Everyone has someplace to go to and something important to do. The age-old adage of Time is Money has never been truer than in here.

#5 The city never sleeps - This is so true. This is truly a city where much of everything will be open all day all night long. Craving your favorite fast food in the middle of the night? - you will inevitably find someplace that's open that serves it.

#6 Traffic, much? - Want to go to a fancy place in Juhu on a Saturday night? Boy, aren't you ambitious! ;) But jokes apart, one has to make sure to factor in the travel time. That is truly the most important part.

#7 New Year's eve? - What's a paltry Rs. 50,000 (that's around $800) for a New Year's Bash package? After all, it's all about having fun - money no bar, eh?!

#8 Miss that American food? - Not really but if you do, there are tons of really nice places that serve the same food that we get in good old Amreeka.

#9 Let's go to Goa! - You or someone you've heard of is almost inevitably holidaying in Goa.

#10 Miss those brands? - Not anymore. Mumbai has everything from Louis Vuitton to Burberry and folks with the clout to buy it too.

Ahh my Mumbai - so different yet still the same. Needless to say I miss you already. So until we meet again, my old friend, do stay amazing.

Cheesy Express

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I recently watched Chennai Express. A few things happened after I watched this movie - first and foremost, I was unsure whom to blame - SRK because the man CANNOT stop hamming even for a second, Rohit Shetty for agreeing to be a part of this nuisance (dude you should've stuck to Ajay Devgan), or myself for helping contribute to the super ROI of this film by buying tickets to the same! Man, some mistakes in life you cannot undo :p 

 

Secondly, I realized who the real winners of this movie are! Any guesses?! Well it's the Nokia Brand Management people, of course! Those who have watched this know exactly what I'm talking about. Want the mighty SRK to promote your doesn't-matter-what-product? These people show us how!

 

So anywho, after being subjected to this disaster, I decided to compile a list of the top ten things that I would have rather done than watch this "mega-hit" -

 

#10 Find misspellings in the Oxford dictionary

 

#9 Spot the difference between Will Smith & Jaden Smith

 

#8 Rearrange my closet based on the texture of my clothes

 

#7 Hear all of Himesh Reshammiya's songs - again and again

 

#6 Recite the English alphabets - in reverse order

 

#5 Travel the Bombay locals during rush hour

 

#4 Watch all seasons of the Real Housewives of Orange County, New York City, Atlanta, New Jersey, Beverly Hills, Miami, and Vancouver

 

#3 Try to refill toothpaste in an empty tube

 

#2 Argue with Arnab Goswami

 

#1 Get my tooth extracted

 

And I would've enjoyed any of the above - far and much more! Enuff said :D

Pinterest...and why I love it!

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So I am writing after a hiatus of sorts, but here goes. Today, I wanted to talk a little bit about the wonder that is Pinterest!

 

I recently crossed a 1000 followers on Pinterest - a feat that was certainly not preplanned by me ;) So I think I owe it to Pinterest to mention a few words on why I love it and where is it useful (the question most users wonder about).

 

What is Pinterest?

 

For those of you who have not yet heard about this little marvel, Pinterest is a free social tool that lets you browse thousands of pictures (either pre-existing or you can upload your own too) and 'pin' (hence the clever little term 'Pinterest') any pictures that you like on your Pinterest page. You can essentially create something called as 'Boards' on your Pinterest page with categories that interest you (think Architecture, Fashion, Cars et cetra) and then 'pin' any pictures that you come across on your relevant 'boards'. There is no limit to the number of boards and no limit to the number of pins on each board.

 

Your followers (the individuals following one or many of your boards) essentially get an update of the pins that you have pinned so that they can then repin the pins onto their own boards if relevant. This is how a pin propagates in Pinterest. Finally, you can also follow boards from others that you find interesting so that you too can get an update when they pin something on their boards.

 

Another interesting concept is that of 'Community Boards'. If another Pinterest user finds one of your boards super interesting, he/she may invite you to start pinning onto their board as well. That is the basic premise behind Community Boards.

 

Why I Love it?

 

So now that we have an idea what Pinterest is, here are the top reasons why I love it -

 

1. Places! Oh the beautiful places that I come across while browsing photos! Places in France and other remote locations! Places that I haven't heard of and that make me realize what an artist God is :)

 

2. The picture is worth a thousand words adage has not been truer than in this case! Pinterest gives me a way to enhance my other passion - that of baking! Ever so often I come across food images that are just so scrumptious that they beg to be tried out ;) And the best part is that not only can I repin these images but can also click on the image to go to its source - be it a blog or a site. I can then get further details about the recipes or other information from there.

 

3. Unique categories - You could have unique and interesting categories such as 'Street Art' (this is also one of my favorites). Street Art, for instance, never fails to amaze me with the sort of art that nameless street artists around the world come up with. There is truly so much talent in the world! Alongside is my favorite street art portrait from Pinterest -

 

A Note of Caution & Other Comments

 

Pinterest is highly addictive. When I first started pinning stuff, I did not realize that I would slowly yet surely get addicted to it. But then again, this is kudos to the makers of the tool for coming up with something so innovative and refreshing that users (last time I checked they had 25 million users) find time out of their busy schedules to actually enthusiastically use this tool.

 

Another interesting point to note is that the Pinterest App is actually much much better than the web version of this. Maybe another reason why I love this ;)

 

No Spamming - It is highly recommended to not use Pinterest to promote your own blog or such by let's say, providing a link to your blog as a comment on each of your pins :p. Pinterest will suspend Spammer accounts when they come across it.

 

And that's it my friends. If any of you are interested in checking out my pins - here is the link - http://pinterest.com/shrutasatam/. Happy Pinning!

Work-Life Balance?

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I was suddenly inspired today to write a little bit about my thoughts on one of the things I have started to strongly believe in. So bear with me as I pen (type? ;) down my thoughts about this.

 

What I am referring to is the proverbial Work-Life balance. Now I'm sure this is a topic close to most people's hearts as almost all of us are busy juggling our life and our work. But which one of these takes a backseat? And more importantly, which should?

 

Work-Life Balance

 

I first came across the term Work-Life balance at my place of work - Deloitte. Now this is something that Deloitte strongly believes in and painstakingly promotes. What they want to ensure is that an individual tries to achieve a Work-Life fit. A seemingly good balance of your home and office life, so that one can enjoy and reap the benefits of both these so very important aspects of life. This is what first got me to think about this concept. And I mean, really think!

 

At this point of time, right off the bat, people are going to argue that promoting is one thing but implementing is a whole different ball game. For instance, even though a company may endorse the Work-Life fit, an employee may still be inundated with a heavy workload, client deliverables, deadlines, and the list goes on. So isn't that counterproductive? Well, it is, but not if you can do something about it. Which brings me to my next point of how (in my opinion) this is achievable...

 

So, what gives?

 

Two words here - Time Management. You can stop reading this right now and understand everything that I want to say with these two little words. It's all about making time. Everyone is busy - that goes without saying. But what makes the difference between making your busy schedule work for you in both work and life is this - time management. Bucket your time, manage your priorities (without compromising them), and then the most important part - stick to it.

 

Does it work?

 

I have a high stress job - numerous meetings every day, things to manage, things constantly coming out of left field during a given day and the list goes on. Every day at work is a brand new day, filled with the excitement of being unaware of what may come and so constantly having to reprioritize tasks. But amidst all the chaos, one thing I do not change (or try my level best not to) is sticking to my schedule! And no matter how chaotic your day, it is possible to do this with a little practice, with a little discipline and will power combined with a solid determination of wanting to make this work. And the result - My office life is as good as ever and so is my personal life. Win-win?

 

What's important?

 

I truly believe that at the end of the day, it is a good fit of both that makes an individual truly happy. I love my work but I love my personal life too. I love the excitement of deadlines, and meetings, and managing people but at the same time I love the excitement of social events, the fun in experimental cooking, and meeting friends. Keeping time for the things that I love doing and more importantly keeping time for the people that I love. :-)

 

So to sum it up - Work or Life? Should one take a backseat? I don't see why! Is it possible to have your cake and eat it too? I think yes. And oh, how very delicious that is!

Girl Interrupted...



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It started one fateful December day
When a girl laid unaware of the fate that lay
Returning home from the movies, no fear in her mind
But thats not what happens, not what she finds

She gets on a bus with her friend in tow
Soon they find themselves in the midst of a row
Due to the leering and jabbing of six other men
Thats when her nightmare really begins

She was plundered, hurt, beyond belief
Tortured and left with no relief
The atrocities on her one cannot tell
If there is one, surely this is hell

In the darkness on the roadside she laid in vain
Terribly hurt in so much pain
Passers-by moved on without a glance
It seemed like this was her very last chance

An hour passed by and finally there came
A patrolling car upon where she lain
The hospital was her next pit stop
And thats where she went with noone to talk

In the Intensive Care Unit were her next few days
In and out of coma thats where she lay
Till the time she opened her eyes and gave
Her statement to the cops who could her save

In the meanwhile the culprits were out in the open
Without fear, without their own spirit broken
Until the media put the whole incident on air
On the tv, the internet, pretty much everywhere

The public was outraged, the people were horrified
For once there was such a hue and cry
How could such atrocities on a girl be done
Would the same have happened had it been a son

The pressure mounted, the culprits were caught
The Delhi police for once did their part
At last it seemed justice would be dwelt
Thats what it seemed like, thats what it felt

But alas the nightmare was not yet over
There was more to come, more to go over
The girls statement the cops tried to twist
The PM never spoke one word of this

The public was hit with sticks while they
In protest for her on the streets lay
The government once again has failed to report
Any change of laws for womens safety hereforth

The only saving grace is the spirit of the girl
With courage and determination she fights the world
The public and the media all in her support
No matter what the governments official report

We hope she with justice will be met
The perpetrators, the strictest punishment, will get
Rules will be changed, laws will be rectified
Thats when we as a nation will take pride

But the government's a joke and the cops don't care
The people are outraged, it's more than they can bear
Is this a revolution...a revolution of sorts
If yes, to help her, lets do our little part


Let's all do our little part to help - you can start by signing this petition to bring justice to her and to help safeguard the dignity, security, and future of women in India -

http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/president-cji-stop-rape-now

Thank you all.

Social v/s Social



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I have been meaning to write this blog entry for quite some time now and finally got the time to pen my thoughts to paper (or to the keyboard in this case :p). So here's my little bit of a rant on 'Social Media'.

I often think about the word 'social' and what it 'truly' means in todays world. A decade and a half ago, a social person would have been an outgoing person, an inherent extrovert, a sort of 'jack-of-all-talks & trade' - but does the same apply today? To be a 'social' person, one had to go out, meet others, make contacts, create networks, entertain guests, be a friend to friends, host dinners, and the list goes on. So is that what Social Media helps us achieve in today's world?

The web definition for social media is, and I quote, - 'A media for social interaction, using highly accessible and scalable publishing techniques.' Okay...I agree with the second part of that definition that social media does use highly accessible and scalable techniques...but what about the first part? Does social media lead to social interaction in the real sense of the word?

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Yammer (for corporates) are some examples of the topmost social media sites currently in use. To dissect this further, how does posting on a Facebook wall make you more social? Same goes for Twitter - how does a minute-by-minute update of your status increase your status quo? How can posting YouTube videos make you a more communal member of society?

Some might argue that platforms such as Facebook help unite long lost friendships etc. which may eventually lead to a social interaction. But isn't that a somewhat rare occurrence that is almost always eclipsed by the other activities such as updating statuses, posting pictures, check-in's etc. that are much more rampant on a media such as Facebook?

Don't get me wrong - I heart platforms such as Facebook and YouTube - just that I wholeheartedly feel that the term 'social' is such a misnomer here. Wouldn't  'Interactive Media' or 'Entertainment Media' be better suited? Or have times changed so much today that this is the new 'social'? The easier form of being friendly, making friends, having conversations all via the safety of your computer screen?  Being social with no obligatory strings attached - no fretting over the perfect dinner plan or table layout to entertain a gathering - now all it takes is a simple click of the mouse.

Call me old fashioned, but social for me definitely implies physical interaction, the laughing with a friend, the shouting over a game, the face-to-face talks. So in my mind the question still remains - how is 'Social Media' making us more sociable?

The coolest of them all...



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So here's a twist on an ancient fairy tale that we are all accustomed to - In my version, it goes something like this - 'Mirror mirror on the wall - Who is the 'coolest' of them all'. And the answer comes screeching back to me saying 'Duh! Didn't you know it was your in-laws?'.

Surprised? Hell, you better be. After all who would expect a daughter-in-law, no less, to make such a statement?! But it's true, it's so true. And here are all the reasons why - 

• There's something to say about Proudness. And these are folks who were as proud of me as my own parents.
• There's something to say about Kindness. And these are folks who were more than kind to me - in their words as well as their actions.
• There's something to say about Coolness. After all who else would accompany me to the gym, come for runs/walks with me by the lake, teach me swimming (yeah you heard that right), and also be game to try out different cuisines with me?
• There's something to say about Love. After all who else would love all my clothes, and more importantly love me in spite of all my nuances?
• There's something to say about Trust. These are folks who trust me to make my own decisions, and make right decisions at that!
• And finally there's something to say about Faith. Faith in my me, faith that I can improve, even faith in my cooking, no less! 

They were all this and much much more. Accommodating, unconditional, unquestioning, and ever forgiving.

And so when the mirror screeches this answer to me, I cannot help but smirk and respond saying 'Duh, I knew the answer all along!'.

This one's for my Twinnies...



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 My dearest Namlu & Niklu,

Here's wishing you a very Happy Raksha Bandhan -

For being the best brothers in the world
And for loving your crazy sister with no questions asked

For fighting with me yet sharing some of your best moments with me
For the bond that we always held and will always hold

For putting up with all my tantrums
And for sharing in with all my joys

For all the love, care, and affection that cannot be paralled
And for brightening my day each and every time

Love you guys - for this and everything that you do - now and always -

Your silly sister,
Me

Bombay Rains!

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So it's been raining since a day here, where the rains are just as unpredictable as the winter weather. It basically rains anytime any day in Chicago - be it Fall, Summer, Spring, or Winter. However, the rains are pretty much for namesake and last for really short stretches of time (usually not more than 30 minutes). Also, I always find the rains here are not 'wet enough', if that makes any sense. In either case, these cannot hold a candle to the rains that we get in Bombay. If you have ever witnessed monsoon in Bombay, then you know exactly what I'm talking about :-)

Being born and raised in Bombay, monsoon is undoubtedly my favorite season of the year! For me, Bombay seems to transform into another city during the rains. Just thinking about it gets me all nostalgic. So I decided to pen down (or type down in this case :p), my most favorite things and most cherished memories about the Bombay rains. So here's my list of things that I absolutely adore about the monsoon in Bombay -

1. The broody gloomy look that the sky adorns right before it starts to rain. Sort of like a warning in advance that 'Hey I'm coming - either embrace me or stay out of my way'

2. The smell of the soil right when it starts to rain :-)

3. The way the leaves, the trees, and everything around seems to bathe in the rain water. Almost as though they have waited for just this moment to wash away their broodings.

4. The sound of the rain pattering on the rooftops. For me, this is the most magical sound - the best kind of music, if there ever was one!

5. Having a hot cup of coffee or tea along with hot pakodas or something similar :p

6. Reading a good book to the sound of the rains in the background

7. I absolutely love the fact that the Bombay rains are not a preview. In other words, if it rains it pours! and that too for a pretty long time

8. Sitting at a café watching the rain pour outside or going for walks right after it has rained

9. I love, love, love the way the sea looks during the rains, absolutely menacing yet magnificent!

10. And finally, I love the way the city simmers down after the rains. Sort of like it's been refreshed, recharged, washed off it's sins if any, and ready to take on the world again

If there was one thing that I missed the most about Bombay, it would, without a doubt, be the monsoons. That time of the year when everything seems pure and new and refreshed and energized. The only time of the year when Bombay seems to relax in the cool air after an especially scorching summer. The time of the year I crave for even today and that I would go back to in a heartbeat. So here's to the Bombay rains, keep it pouring!

My Flightmare...

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Okay so I think I am one of those people who are always accompanied by a bout of bad luck while traveling by planes...you know...the people who inadvertently have flight delays, cancellations, airport closures (that's right), lost baggages, planes sitting on the runway for hours and the list goes on. I do feel bad for the folks travelling with me as they indirectly get subjected to my awesome travel luck as well :p

But today I thought I should chronicle my worst travelling experience till date. My last worst experience was when I was travelling from India to the States and I had to deal with the following -

1. Plane sitting on the runway for hours prior to takeoff

2. A TSA attendant who almost lost my boarding pass

3. The delay, delay, delay at the John F Kennedy airport at NYC

4. Finally the shut down aka complete closure of the airport due to bad weather

5. Thus staying the night at JFK since the airlines was too cheap to give us hotel vouchers

6. Reaching my final destination (after a total of 36 hours of travel) the next morning after several more flight delays, boarding gate changes and so on only to find out that my luggage was lost in transit. (I received my bags three days later)

Until recently, I thought I had nothing that could top this story but last week I found out just how wrong I was. Here's what happened when I was returning to Chicago from NYC last week -
1. Regular flight, what a joke, delay, delay, delay, delay, mechanical problem so now flights canceled.
2. Last flight of the day so re-booked for 7 am the next morning, 6 am on standby.
3. Got into a fight with this Indian lady trying to cut into the line in front of me and several other passengers.
4. Airline gives us a voucher for an airport hotel and tells us to take the hotel shuttle. More than half hour later, no hotel shuttle.
5. Finally decide to just take a cab to the hotel, stood half hour in the cab line in my formal suit on what was one of the hottest days in NY this summer and was 'this' close to passing out.
6. Finally get a cab with a lady driver who half way there informs me that she has no idea where the hotel is, has no GPS, and can barely speak English. At this point we are near the road to the Bronx, I freak out, and tell her to just drop me at the airport again.
7. At the airport (it's 10:30 at night now), I decide to take the hotel shuttle. Upon reaching the hotel, they are completely booked. I offer to pay them, but no-can't-do, no room available. I take the hotel shuttle to the airport again.
8. Found the airline counter and told them the problem. They call numerous hotels, all booked, and finally find one that has availability. Quickly go to this new hotel shuttle with several passengers in a similar situation (flights canceled) and half the folks are turned back at this hotel too as it got overbooked.
10. The good part - I got a room. The bad part - this was an airport hotel. I had always heard horror stories about how bad airport hotels are and this one was no exception. I found a corner in the hotel room and just laid there for three hours and took the first shuttle (at 4 am) to the airport.

Thankfully I got into the standby flight at 6 am and reached home without further commotion.

But add to all this the numerous fights I saw break out among passengers because 1. it was New York 2. everyone was jittery and agitated. Also add to this the absolutely dickhead like people at the airlines, at the airport, at the hotel, almost everywhere in New York that I came across and this was a recipe for a nightmare that I cannot forget.

Now I need to tell myself to take a deep breath, calm down, and remind myself that this was several days ago. Oh wait, but I heard I might have to travel to NY again! You have got to be kiddin' me! :-|