My two penny's worth published in 'The Hindu'

So, I was ecstatic when I saw my small article published in 'The Metro Plus' of 'The Hindu' paper the other day and I thought I'd put the link in my blog.

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/06/02/stories/2010060250110600.htm

QUEST FOR EVEREST WILL NEVER REST

How many times have you been gracefully acknowledging the standing ovation, people cheering and going crazy and all that fanfare and fame … and talks of how you made the Guinness Record of being the youngest person to scale the Everest? Amid all this, you start taking you first steps towards the mike to speak those precious few words and then BOOM! You wake up from sleep …

Many times .. is the answer in my case. Anyway .. that’s one dream that’s not going to come true as I dreamt it .. cos am much older now and the new Guinness Record for the youngest person is a 13yr old boy from the US. Good for him. But what makes my heart swell with pride is the fact that a fellow Indian dreamed and he accomplished the feat that’s been closest to my heart .. growing up. Arjun Vajpai, a 16-yr old from Delhi has climbed the mighty Mount Everest and staked his claim on her. When I read the news…. I almost lived the excitement, the anticipation, the thrill, the joy of actually having scaled the Everest.

What makes the whole thing so fascinating and so alluring …. I guess it must be the fact that a human heart loves to be at the center of attention.… it can never grow tired of applause, encouragement and .. and .. FAME.

My other post talks about just this – FAME. People know what’s fame, how to achieve fame and what comes with fame. But have we thought about ‘why FAME for me?’ Better still ‘why the recognition and all the brouhaha over fame and name?’ I think the complex and simple answer is that people want to leave their legacy behind. They want a witness to their lives… something that makes people take note of them and acknowledge them even if for a brief moment. On a broad view – this could mean both positive and negative fame (that’s where the infamous lot come from). ‘At any cost I want to be known in the world’ kind of lunatics too spring from this very well. Its upto man to channelize his energy and use only the ‘positive blue core’ and not the ‘negative red core’ (like in the movie ASTRO BOY!)

So, still talking about the mighty morphin Mount EVEREST, I’m sure it’s the dream of every mountaineer and non-mountaineer like me to climb it and to secure your place in the history. People, keep at it.

So, this has been a post I’ve been wanting to write since May, 22nd 2010, the day the news broke, But Its one of those posts that simply got delayed …but here it is now. It’s almost like my tribute to the Mt. Everest. I know I won’t ever climb it, but atleast.. here is my humble post instead!

What does fame cost?

"You've got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying ... in sweat." Debbie Allen in the movie FAME (2009)

Those are the opening lines of the movie in which a captivating story is told about a bunch of highly talented performing arts students who dream to make it big in their chosen field!

I got thinking ... what does fame cost really ??? What is achievement ?? Why do we need achievement? I mean ... i try things... I really try my hand at things ....
sometimes it works out .. sometimes it doesn;t... the times it works out .. things go fine. Things aren't astounding. The reason is .. am not sweating it out.

The results of my actions don't amaze me. They are just ordinary. and I am left feeling unfulfilled. What should I do to get over this feeling. This insomnia every night. The answer to this question lies in the 1st line of this post and also in a ZEN quote !!

I am not successful because I dont want that thing bad enough... how much badly Do I need it?? I shudn't be able to breathe without it. Right now .. right at this moment.. for my survival .. do I need to watch TV? do I merit that sleep? the lounging around the house? No, right now for my survival .. I need to reach my goal, get that thing, up my game and then find another goal and fight for survival! I need to be sweating it out right now to get FAME !!

This article beautifully crafted, merits a read
http://ezinearticles.com/?Between-Dreams-and-Reality&id=2278861

On a more philanthropic note,
"A hundred times everyday I remind myself that my inner and outer lives are based on the labour of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give, in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving"
--- ALBERT EINSTEIN
"

RIMMEL LONDON 60 SECONDS NAIL POLISH

Wow!! Truth in advertisement !! that’s what I thought when I first tried this Rimmel London 60 seconds nail polish. Yes, its true .. you wear the nail polish and it dries in less than 60 seconds actually. Its kind of matt finish .. but there is some shine. I bought the rich royal red color nail polish and in addition to drying quickly it also wears well. Just 1 coat gives the naturally thick, even, smooth and impeccable finish.

Amazon stores different varieties of Rimmel London 60 seconds nail polish.
Check it out here
http://tinyurl.com/38dknst

For someone whos cost conscious as well as getting quality for the price paid, this one suits really well.
Rimmel London 60 seconds nail polish comes in 24 different shades and all of them are bold, beautiful and shockingly bright! Brightens up my day for sure!


Available: Health & Glow in Chennai (RIMMEL counter)
Beauty Boutiques, Spencer Plaza

Price : Rs250

British Council IELTS Scholarship Award

IELTS SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
The British Council will select eight students from India, each of whom will receive an award of Rs.3,00,000 towards the cost of tuition fees.

DEADLINE
Send the IELTS Scholarship Application Form by 31 July 2010

TARGET AUDIENCE
Applicant must begin full time postgraduate study outside India in 2010.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
1. Be a citizen of India.
2. Have a valid IELTS score, with a minimum band score average 6.5
3. Have taken their most recent IELTS test with the British Council

REQUIREMENTS
1. Provide an acceptance letter from the attending institution by 20 August 2010
2. Send the IELTS Scholarship Application Form to The British Council by 31 July '10

PROCESS
1. Complete the application form and send it.
2. 40 applicants will be shortlisted and notified via email by 6 August 2010
3. Short-listed applicants will be required to make a ten minute presentation on a topic that will be given later
4. Present the letter of acceptance from the university you plan to attend
5. Final result notified by 31 Aug 2010

RESULT
Result will be sent by email to the selected applicants by 31 August 2010

For FAQ and other details, go to
http://www.britishcouncil.org/india-exams-ielts-home.htm

GRE 50% fee waiver

GRE-Graduate Record Examination which is the qualifying exam to do your Masters in the US has long been a bane for aspiring students because of the humongous vocabulary section requiring a student to cram upto 50,000 vocabulary words.
But the good news is around the corner plus bonus.

The new format for GRE test from AUG 2011.
Thats correct, new format suggests complete removal of the vocab section and new question types that are test-taker friendly and more real life scenarios blended in into the test. More reading passages are also expected.

The icing on the cake is 50% fee waiver for the GRE exam from Aug 1, 2011 till SEP 30, 2011. But beware, the results for the test come out only in Nov 2011. So plan accordingly.

Well, thats good news for the sophomores and Juniors in college. For the rest of you guys, you'd need to take up the regular GRE General test if you're to get into colleges this semester or the next.

Point to note - Registrations for new format start from March 15, 2011. So be ready
to enroll and take the test. Results only in Nov 2011. So take that into account as well.

Places to do your GRE coaching in Chennai, India

Jamboree http://www.jamboreeindia.com/
The Princeton Review http://www.manyagroup.com/
Score Getter http://www.scoregetter.org/abouts.html
TOP GRE http://www.topgre.com/
The Lyceum http://www.thelyceum.org.in/

The A-Team Movie Review

The A-Team - Gets an A for the following
Action, Adventure, Slapstick comedy, Satire, Cinematography, Special Effects,Cliche
Overall a movie that had people laughing and on the edge of their seats at the same time and left us craving for more.

Ok, its been long... really loooooong since I've seen an English action movie that has so beautifully integrated situational comedy with action and over-the-top violence minus gory scenes. Of course, you leave logic, reason and laws of Physics and gravitation behind at home and watch the movie with an open mind. The subtitles throughout the movie were a lifesaver. No clue why the movie is 'A' rated 'cos there were only 2 kissing scenes and violence was the soft type, the bad guys get disabled, but not killed. I guess the movie appealed to me as much more because I'd read not long ago the A-Team novel by David George Deutsch. This also used to be a popular television series in the 90's. A very good adaptation of the book/TV series.
The movie with its shoot-outs, fights and chases in mid-air, in the water and on land were exceptionally filmed and presented. The thrill never fades and the action scenes top one another. The mention of 'Call Of Duty' brought hoots of recognition from the gamers in the theater. By the end of the movie, a lot of people knew the taglines even before the actors said it - I love it when the plan comes together, There is no Plan B

Now for the characters of the A-Team

A movie that carries every bit on the strength of the characters as its cinematography. Col. Hannibal Smith - the quintessential Hollywood hero and leader of the pack with a head full of silvery white hair and a Cuban cigar dangling out of his mouth. Faceman Peck - again the killer looks of Hollywood type character with a beach body and a stunning smile, the classic ladies' man. B.A Barracus with B.A standing for Bad-Ass or Bad-Attitude Barracus, the 250-pound wrestler types who's just as good with mechanics and bikes and cars as he is using his biceps. Finally the Howling Mad Murdock who's the typical lunatic with extraordinary sides to his personality - he flies helpcopters, speaks Swahili and can function as an emergency doctor !

Put all 4 colorful characters together and you get an A-Team and a hit movie.

The Lessons Learnt - You find out what ticks your adversary and then take him on in order to take him out!
There should be a PLAN for everything.
Of course, you ad-lib and cover up if the plan goes awry.
Call the A-Team if you have some deep dark secret problem which needs resolution, of course you should be the victim.

OVERVIEW
----------
RATING - 5 *****
Genre - Action, adventure, Thriller
Directed by - Joe Carnahan
Running time - 117 minutes
Music - John Powell
A touching tagline - Give me a minute, am good, give me an hour am great, give me 6 months, am unbeatable

How to crack TOEFL iBT

TOEFL iBT test
Its easy. Doesn't involve hard work. Anyone can do it. Anyone can score high.

MYTHS BUSTED - All of the above are incorrect. As a competitive exams trainer and coach, The following how-to tips I've compiled will take you through a systematic process of preparing and scoring high on your TOEFL.

1. FOR WHOM - Find out if the University you intend to do your Undergard or Postgrad requires a TOEFL score in addition to your SAT/GRE/GMAT score
2. REGISTER - Go to the ETS home page http://www.ets.org/toefl
and register yourself for taking the TOEFL exam.
3. PAYMENT - You can either pay at the ETS website through a credit card or purchase a voucher and fill in the voucher details at the ETS website and thus complete payment. Currently, for most countries, the fee is USD 165 for the exam
4. EXAM LOCATION - Now, this is very important. You'd want to register early so that you can choose a location in your city close to your home. You'd be doing this before the payment step.
5. RESULTS - The TOEFL exam results are published 15 days after the day of the exam. So on 15th night after 12AM, you can log on to the ETS website and check your scores.
There is an option to send your TOEFL scores to 4 universities you are considering for your higher studies at no extra charge. So dont forget to do this step in the registration process. You'd also get a paper copy of your results by post to your home address.

PREPARATION PROCESS

There are 4 sections on the TOEFL and its an internet-based test. Well, TOEFL is not so hard but without thorough and diligent preparation you run the risk of low scores.

1. SCHEDULE - With the test date in mind, draw up the schedule and try to stick to it as much as possible. You can always do more than planned, but never less.
For a person completely ignorant of any kind of competitive exams and what it entails, I'd advice 3 months of preparation time.
For someone, who has faced similar tests such as these, i'd suggest 1.5 months of TOEFL related study.

2. READ - This can include the newspaper, magazines, and all of those idle hours of internet surfing can be turned into productive online reading practice time. Not only you broaden your knowledge, you also learn new vocabulary words.

3. WRITE - The above point and this one are things to do while you are not doing TOEFL specific study. This is to break the monotony. Blog about articles and if you are the paper and pen kind of guy, just write about anything under the sky. This does not include FACEBOOK, TWITTER, ORKUT work as writing :)

BOOKS for TOEFL


Kaplan TOEFL iBT
The Princeton Review
Barrons' Edition TOEFL iBT
ETS
The Complete Guide to TOEFL iBT


TOEFL SPECIFIC STUDY -
1. First of all take a practice test of all sections of TOEFL from any of the books you are following. This will help evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. Yes, you will not be able to evaluate your speaking skills yourself. Here's where online TOEFL tutor or having a dedicated trainer for yourself or the institute you are attending will come in handy. As for the writing, you could have someone grade the writing piece for you.

2. The Reading section - understand that there are specific questions on the TOEFL that are facts, negative facts, reference, pronoun antecedent, vocab questions etc. Once you know all question types.. answering the RC passages will be easier.
Each passage is 700 words long and followed by 12-13 questions. You have 20 MINS to complete each passage

3. The Listening section - Here's where you need to brush up on your American vocab and idioms.. often used in conversations. Just hear clearly, make notes as you go and you'll be able to answer the questions. Again, know the entire format for listening section and this makes answering easier.

MANDATORY 10 MIN BREAK

4. Speaking section - Short n sweet section of 20 mins. 6 kinds of questions each requiring 45 sec - 60 sec responses. DO NOT FREEZE and talk whatever comes to mind. Alternatively, if well prepared ... stick to the format prescribed in all books. Until the last day .. do as many speaking tasks as possible, with yourself/friend/tutor. Record your speaking sections and check the timing. Work with a timer/stopwatch

5. Writing section - 1 hr, 2 tasks, again will be required to take notes on Integrated writing section when you hear the lecture. Reading passage appears while writing. second task is independent writing.

IMP POINTS TO NOTE - 1. Paraphrase the lines from the reading passage and the listening piece.. Do not .. I repeat.. DO NOT REPRODUCE line by line from the text.
2. Use quotes/sayings/Facts to open your essay. Leaves a good impression
3. Use good vocabulary .. not outstanding is just fine. Try not to make grammar errors.
4. Sound points to explain .. after all content does matter in a small way.

So, thats that and All THE BEST for your TOEFL exam.

Do comment and ask me if you have any specific questions about preparation for TOEFL or other competitive exams !!

Adios'

SHREK FOREVER AFTER - Deja vu

Yeah .. just back from watching the movie and am left with a very 'wanting' feeling.
For me the movie fell short of expectations.
The main theme is - You dont realize what you got until you lose it
Aside - dont sign documents when you are drunk, read fine print of documents
and as for contracts, always find the exit criteria Midlife crisis, married life Vs bachelor life

3D - Not skilfully done. Good in parts where it shows, otherwise inadequate
Comedy - movie carries on Puss and Donkey. The usual dose of comedy from Donkey as in other Shrek series would've saved the movie.

Overall - Deja vu, slightly serious theme, good graphics but storyline not slapstick, comedy definitely could've had more, Great kids movie, but wont appeal entirely to adult audiences

OVERVIEW:
Rating - 3 ***
Genre - Animation
Duration: 1 hour 33 minutes

Chennai Summer and its People

So, as a Chennaiite I am proud to be a South Indian.
After all its a hot and happening place. More former than the latter. But the best thing is how we people can adapt to almost any other weather in the world ... irrespective of extremes of hot or cold. Having stayed here most of my life, I thought facing north India would be difficult and standing Chicago winter .. almost impossible. But I was pleasantly wrong.

The North Indian summers are notorious for the 'loo winds', heat waves through the day and most parts of evening and basically dry heat. But .. we get used to it. American summers .. nothing at all as romantic as they are portrayed in films and magazines... are just as hard to get acclimatized to. But we get used to that too. Any Chennaiite who has shopped in the month of May.. in the Khatri Veyyil in the bustling T.Ngr crowd and heat and dust ...accomplishes a feat that most people of the world cant. So thats our advantage. Our kids graduating high school HAVE to go out in the sun in the month of May to get applications for various colleges, to apply, to visit colleges etc ... and this is just what toughens them for life.

We learn valuable lessons of life from the weather. And because I understand how powerful nature is, I humbly bow before it and request some respite from the heat.
Happy Shopping Everybody !!!!!!!!

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON - WHAT A BALM

Movie Review - HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
This is my first movie review.
and I got 3 words for it - PRESPECTIVE, BRAINS over BRAWNS, DESTINY

Yeah .. everything changes once you change the perspective and see it again. It could be from a child's point of view, or just another dimension of looking at things. Viking Chief and all of the Vikings had been slaying the pest dragons for 300 years and no one thought of any other way out. And then comes a young lad who thinks .. why slay them .. instead train them and make PESTS into PETS and live in harmony. I was bowled over by the perspective shown subtly in the movie.

Not everyone has or needs beef for a successful life. What you are is what you think you can be in your mind. So take that brain to task and see what more you could be. Hiccup in the movie could have trained to kill the dragons .. after all his predecessors had been doing just that. But he uses his mind to find a way out of this bloody mess through love, respect and brotherhood.
Hiccup's words "I saw fear in him" - everybody and everything has fear.. when you realize this fact, you start seeing the world differently. Fear drives us. Let not the fear control you.. but you control your fear.

As for Destiny, I do not conform to the definition given in www.thefreedictionary.com
"The inevitable or necessary fate to which a particular person or thing is destined"
Hiccup in the movie didn't. He blazed a new trail for others to follow. Even if others do not follow .. your trail is left behind.

What more .. a complete visual treat as a 3D movie. Kids will enjoy and adults will learn lessons for life. I did.

OVERVIEW
--------------
RATING - 5 *****
Genre - Animation, adventure, fantasy
Directed by - Chris Sanders
Dean DeBlois
Running time - 98 minutes
Music - John Powell
Editing - Darren T. Holmes
Studio - DreamWorks Animation
Distributed By - Paramount Pictures

OMRON SEM-2 Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor

Features
Large LCD Digital Display – displays BP and also the pulse rate
4 AA batteries or AC adapter
Durable Easy wear cuff
Memory to store previous readings up to 60 sets
Hypertension indicator

Correct Measurement Posture
1. Sit upright with your back straight
2. Place your arm on a table so that the cuff will be at the same level as your heart.

Price
$45 in the US from amazon.com
$110 Singapore dollars
INR Rs 2600-3400

OMRON SEM-2 is the first Blood Pressure Monitor in my house and am quite happy with it. A very handy device. A gift from my fastidious husband to my in-laws. Thinking of presenting one to my parents as well.
It uses the oscillometric method of BP measurement and displays it in digital format. It’s very easy to use. Just insert the cuff. Press the STAR/STOP button and the cuff inflates automatically. When measurement is complete, the cuff deflates automatically and the blood pressure and pulse rate are displayed.
If the systolic or diastolic pressure is outside the normal limits then the heartbeat symbol flashes when result is displayed – this is the hypertension indicator feature.

Vacation for a cause - Bala Bharati Siksha Samiti Summer Camp 2

Ok, so it was a 15 day camp and my son, myself and my friend had to get from Chennai to Hyderabad. last minute didnt get tickets .. so my friend said we are going to travel sleeper class. I said ok, its been 8 yrs since I have traveled sleeper class, so now's the time to renew my memories. The wonderful thing about this and about everything else in life is - PERSPECTIVE.

I was worried.. how would my son cope.. we've always traveled in A/C blah.. blah .. I guess in reality I was more worried about me coping. My son had a blast on the train.. he didn;t know anything different and that was a lesson learnt for me.

As we reached the camp, I awoke to the sight of greenery, mangrove trees, beauty, nature as we know it. I was thrilled. Our acharya introduced us to the parents in such superfluous words .. I thought here go my chances of even thinking about returning back. Now I have to stay and complete the entire 15 day camp !!

Mangalore Air crash - behind the apparent

Another news article, another plane crash, yet another tragedy ...
thats what goes through people's minds when they hear such news ...
the same went through mine. But I thought .. wait a minute.. things are not so mechanical .... and wanting to go deeper.. I read every single article in the papers.. and then the tears started rolling. For a few brief moments I put myself in the shoes of the bereaved families of the victims and I choked ...

The papers say that The Civil Aviation Minister has taken moral responsibility for this. But he is hardly the person to blame and like Barack Obama once said .. the blame game ends with me; I think that the true reason for this disaster needs to be dug out and person/persons/system identified and corrective steps taken.

A thought which scares the living daylights out of me ... what would have been going on in the minds of the people aboard the fated flight the few seconds before the inevitable. Thoughts of family? The all-pervading God?Chances of rescue? Some kind of turbulence? Bad dream?? Or actually thoughts of death ???

A lot of people ..... 158 is a HUGE number ... every single life has some kind of attachment ... parents, wife, kids, relatives, friends, colleagues .. to think that the thread gets cut short right there is heartbreaking.
Of course.. no words can describe the anguish ... nothing can compensate for whats lost ... for the life snuffed out cannot be restored. But life as it is .. must go on .. it does...they manage ..the period of despair wears out .. life continues in its ceaseless journey. We live and we learn.

Vacation for a cause - Bala Bharati Siksha Samiti Summer Camp 1

A kids' summer camp where as a volunteer you are expected to be up by 4:45 AM, help the 90 odd kids, get up and brush ... get them to drink customary 2 glasses of water, exercise, bath and be ready for flag hoisting in an hour, help them with their yoga and pranayama while Acharya leads the session, help serve breakfast, help kids down the breakfast and funny tasting health drink, take classes on human values, serve lunch and dinner conduct out-of-the-ordinary art classes, drama classes, come up with new and exciting games for the games session, teach bhajan and sloka in the evening bhajan class, organize culturals/daily talent show after dinner and then ensure kids are asleep by 10:15PM, attend volunteer meetings till 11:00 PM and then if some steam is still left, practice the martial art Danda so you are ready for the next day's danda class at 6 AM. In between all this find time to wash urself and your clothes, eat food, document the sessions, practice danda, plan and brainstorm cultural programs for the last day fest, sort out some fights among kids, heal some bruises with love and hugs, some with dettol and cotton, attend a few sick kids, clean the camp and some other stuff I cant think of right now!!! Of course I didnt know any of this before I landed as a volunteer at Ravirala-the summer camp place in Hyderabad, but I cant imagine how easily I fell into this routine and how much I enjoyed the journey of self discovery.

Quite unexpectedly I went to this summer camp for 8-14yr old kids, a vacation of sorts where I chose to be a volunteer while my 5 yr old son could be a participant. Unexpected it was because .. when my friend was extolling the virtues of this particular values-based teaching summer camp,
it never did occur to me that I actually could be a part of all this. It was when I was narrating the conversation verbatim to my husband, he impulsively said why dont you have this experience ... of serving .. learning ... discovering about yourself.

I was bowled over and thought what an experience it would be for me and my son. My friend.. bless her heart did a reality check with me quite often to get me used to the idea of a very basic, rough and brash summer camp where 6 hr sleep is a luxury, mattress is unheard of, and yoga and pranayama are the cure for fever, body aches, etc. Not to mention the language barrier - as most classes, talks, lectures would all be in Telugu. I thought my Hindi and English would come to my rescue while interacting with kids, parents and other volunteers.
The thought of returning back to basics excited me as much as it intimidated me. But the seed was sown and there was no returning back. So pack I did .. as few essentials as I would need because as a volunteer we had to follow the dress code of white salwaar kameez with red bandhni dupatta.

Danda-The Lost Self-Defense Martial Art Form

How many times in your life are you presented with an opportunity inside of an opportunity ? And how many times do you actually grab it?

My opportunity for self-discovery - A residential summer camp in Hyderabad where I volunteered in May 2010; this I will cover in another blogpost.

The opportunity inside the above opportunity - A chance to learn DANDA (pronunced DHANDA) a martial art form lost somewhere among today's more popular Karate, Kung-fu, Taek-Won-Do.

For someone who's generally a little skeptic about new ventures, I cant believe the gusto with which I took to learning Danda. And it all happened by chance.
Volunteers at Bala Bharati Shiksha Samiti summer camp handling 90 kids, my friend Anu and I met Raj Anniya one day and all of a sudden he offered to teach us Danda, so we could teach the older kids in the batch.

Danda - a martial art form uses a staff about 4 ft long, goes through various levels
and finally comes to Danda Yudh. As all art forms it has its own set of Vyayam (exercises, some of them feel like karate chops and kicks)

Day-1 Spent about 4 hrs in the hot sun, learnt the basic movements from Guruji and finished with calloused hands and arms paining from wielding the danda. Nevertheless practiced hard at night and got ready for Day 2 classes.

Day-2 Classes started for the two of us at 6AM and in 1 hr we had to get good at Prahara Maar. The 'zoop' sound of the danda kept us going and we started classes for the kids in the morning.

3 more classes later and having learnt many many more movements and having practiced late nights and early mornings, I left the Ravirala camp ... a changed person.
Oh! Also had the kids perform a demo for their parents on the last day and as Danda teachers .. we looked on proudly ...