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!