The past week was simply awesome for me. I finally reconnected with so many of my school & college friends, thanks to sites like Orkut and Facebook. But all this talk on how risky networking sites have become has made me a wee bit cautious. It can get really messy out there, if one gives out too much information than required.

Orkut has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons. Having signed in there just recently myself I did find it less than satisfactory in terms of privacy. For starters, just about ANYONE can access the profile page and see photos. Obviously, only if one permits a random person to communicate with him/her then it’s quite possible to run into a bit of trouble. What I really dislike in Orkut is that it’s just been a week since I registered and I’ve already had 6 requests from absolute strangers to add them as friends.

On the other hand, Facebook is big on privacy. One can tweak the security and privacy settings to his/her comfort level and be assured that there will be a minimal of the annoying, ‘Can you be my frend?’ requests! Also Facebook has been an even more fun site because of all its cool and whacky features. However, I still feel like one should exercise as much as caution as possible coz at the end of the day, you just never know!

Other social networking sites
LinkedIn, bigadda, Fropper, Jhoom!, Minglebox, the list goes on & on. Time for the bubble to burst??!!

Had a weird experience on networking sites? Write in…

60 years of freedom! In such a short span of time India has moved ahead in leaps and bounds towards a better future. We yet have a lot to achieve, a long road ahead, miles to go… in spite of which we still see and feel pride and enthusiasm brimming in the youth. The optimism and feel good factor going around is contagious.

We have reflected upon many accomplishments through many struggles of India and now need to evaluate the upcoming challenges, which collectively we, as able citizens can work upon towards making India not only a strong economic force but also help it in moving it up the social ladder.

Globally, Indians are known to be extremely patriotic and united. Yet when it comes to extending courtesy and considerate behaviour to our own fellow citizens, we are way behind compared to citizens of other nations. We are completely indifferent to the person standing in queue for hours and break in between, don’t care to help someone injured on the road, readily bribe a cop for a traffic offence, abuse someone who recklessly overtakes while driving, and of course, recklessly overtake while driving and endangering others. Overall, our attitude sucks! Attitudes have got to change.

We need to recognize that even the smallest of effort within our individual power goes a long way in making a complete difference in outcome of our actions. Whether it is in extending basic courtesies like queuing up, helping an injured person, maintaining traffic discipline, or by doing something on a larger scale like empowering underprivileged women, educating disadvantaged children and orphans, providing basic necessities to the deprived, demanding justice from a corrupt system, getting out on the road to regulate traffic, fighting for a mutual cause for safety for all or preventing crime by just being alert. Such efforts from citizens will enable a better and safer society. If at an individual level a person can make a difference then it is obvious what a collaborative effort can garner.

We can complain endlessly about how the government isn’t doing enough, that there’s too much congestion on the roads, too much crime, pollution, poverty, population, etc. What are we doing to help?

When a friend suggested I watch the DVD I have to admit I was skeptical. Me and self-help? I don’t need it! She agreed there. ‘Thanks’, I said, ‘but then why me?’ Well, as it turns out, it’s not ONLY for people who need a bit of a crutch but for anyone and everyone. A genius idea for mass marketing, I might add.

So while we are on the subject of self-help on blah, I might as well share an experience that I had recently. I applied the principle in a fun sort of way in my life and it has made a slight difference in attitude and outcome.

This is how it starts…Imagine a person going through a series of failed relationships, deaths in the family, job crisis, financial downfall, etc. She can’t see any hope to break free from all these negative situations in her life. She then stumbles upon an age old “Secret” that has over the decades helped many and made them overcome their road blocks. It made them extremely successful and well known through time because they followed the law of the universe… The Law of Attraction.

The Law of Attraction of the universe says…Whatever emotion one experiences with whatever task he/she is involved in, that emotion is expressed in one’s behavior and attitude, which is a signal to the universe. The universe then responds with a similar message and situation.

So if one is having a bad day and is cribbing and cursing his way through the day, he is bound to get more and more negative incidents occurring in his life. On the other hand, if one is having a bad day and responds to it positively he is bound to get positive reactions in turn. So this cycle is created by him simply by having responses to situations cropping up in everyday life.

In a nutshell, people invite situations by reacting in a certain way. The universe simply responds to the person’s thought and emotion.

Many narrated their experiences about having achieved more than they could have dreamed of. They got their dream job, dream house, dream lifestyle, etc by using the Law of Attraction in their lives.

All this is fine up to an extent where one can apply it to the daily grind but it going beyond that is certainly crossing the line. There’s a case of self healing and positive thoughts completely curing cancer at the last stage, without medical intervention. That seemed far fetched. Agreed, a positive attitude helps fighting off major illnesses but not without medical treatment. The fact that the author and producers claim and endorse that is ridiculous.

No doubt, selling self-help books, material and courses is an extremely clever way of making money and it may be plain silly to fall into that trap. But somewhere along the line it wouldn’t really hurt to try a new method to have a more positive approach to life. It’s just that someone figured how to put it all together in a book, linking it to some of the greatest people in history to add a mystifying element to it and marketing it on this basis.

I would suggest trying this out in a light hearted, fun spirited way and see how it works for you. Roll out of bed tomorrow and think you’re going to have the best day ever! See how it turns out

If you’re inquisitive to learn more read The Secret – Rhonda Byrne

What a drag… Feeling the Monday blues.. The weather adding to it! Agreed, I do enjoy the dull weather at times, to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and a great book! But it just so happens, my hubby is monopolizing the latest Harry Potter! So much so, he’s taken it to work so that I don’t start reading it and destroy his evening plans.

I turn on the TV, flick away, surf my way through… HBO/Star Movies – chick flick – so not happening right now… Sports – not really (after Ferrari losing and India putting on a dismal performance in cricket)… News – Bah, forget it!… About to switch off the tube when I chance upon… my one-time favorite – TOM & JERRY on Cartoon Network! Trust the funnies to lighten my mood. I have such a great time watching it that I’m suddenly compelled to pull out my comic collection.

It brings back vivid childhood memories. Right from the Sunday funnies section in the newspaper to the eagerly awaited Spiderman and He-Man cartoons at 9 am on Sunday morning on DD, the only source of entertainment then. Remember reading Tinkle and Amar Chitra Katha while growing up, a wonderful way in introducing Indian mythology to young readers. The Archie comic exchange sessions with friends in school and holding a comic in the text book while classes were going on, Asterix, Tin Tin, Garfield and all the possible comic classics to the much newer Calvin & Hobbes exchanged in college.

Most of us have a fave cartoon character. Something about them warms our hearts, brings a smile to our faces, evokes a hearty laugh and gets out the child in us. We take the child in us for granted, don’t indulge in cartoons any more thinking it’s only for the real kids. Lighten up a little, sit back, turn on the telly, switch to Cartoon Network, ENJOY!

Incredible! Magnificent! Super! Awesome! Words failed to enter my mind. I was so mesmerized by the spectacular view in front of me. This was 2 weeks ago, in the South of France, Cote D’Azur as it is famously known, between St. Raphael and St. Tropez, in a small sleepy town called Les Issambres, high on a hill in Villa Bali overlooking what I believe is one of the best coastlines that I have ever seen. Check it out…

For interested holiday makers, the villa also has a small self-catering apartment and two double rooms with bed & breakfast facilities, which are rented out reasonably. All the rooms on this spacious property face the Mediterranean Sea. It’s simply amazing to wake up to white yachts, jet skis and fishing boats dotting the brilliant blue sea.

Interested travelers, check out the following website for Villa Bali reservations www.villa-bali.fr .The owners of the property, Jean-Christophe Bence and his lovely wife, Isabelle, were extremely warm, welcoming and helpful. We had a great time with them.

The best part about Les Issambres is it’s proximity to all the major tourist spots in the French Riviera. Monaco, Nice, Cannes, St. Tropez, are within driving distance of 1 hour. Sure enough, these cities live up to their promise of showcasing pristine beaches, sparkling aqua waters and all that your heart could desire.

For wine lovers, a bit inland, not too far from Les Issambres, is Les Arcs village, nestled at the foothills of the French Alps, Provence, a district known for its vineyards. A visit to Maison de Vin (House of Wines) is a must, where one can taste all the wine produced from the Provence area. Dining in the restaurant there is an option but sadly it has nothing to offer vegetarians. This aside, visiting Chateau Font du Broc, one of the most popular vineyards in the area is something one can not miss. The wine cellar on the property was HUGE! For scheduling a visit, go to www.chateau-fontdubroc.com

The trip was… (gosh, I’m out of words again!)… fabulous! The icing on the cake was watching the Formula 1 race live in Magny-Cours and we were awarded with a Ferrari win which made it all the more memorable.

Traveler Tip - Renting a car is the only way of getting around from Les Issambres to all the above mentioned places. If you’re someone who has driven in the US then it shouldn’t be too tough to drive here. Make sure you have your international driving license and insurance cover.

Hubby and I just got back from a fortnight of traveling 2 nights ago, delayed flight and all. Got home, unloaded the bags, hubby went off to park the car while my mother-in-law and I struggled with wheeling heavy suitcases in through the gate to the front door. As I head to the gate to get another suitcase 2 uniformed policemen on night patrol stopped and very politely asked if there was a problem. They hadn’t seen the luggage and seeing the gate open, they were naturally curious about people up so late. We explained we were just back from the airport and satisfied, they carried on with their night patrol stopping at the next house to talk to a private security guard.

We were impressed with the concern and with the respect they conducted their inquiry in the wee hours of the morning. Many of us have had some form of encounter with the local cops reporting burglaries and many may say that the authorities have at most been lethargic, unresponsive and rude. Also media brands law enforcing officers as arrogant and corrupt. Of course such exist. There are law bending, breaking cops around, who abuse the power they have in their hands but somewhere along the line is also an honest cop, doing his job and may be putting in a bit more effort than we give credit for.

With crime and terrorism on the rise in all growing cities, it is assuring to know that efforts are being made to prevent incidents that change neighborhoods significantly forever. It’s far from how Western countries have designed their law enforcing forces but it’s a start nevertheless, a decent start. There is a need to redesign the system and structure of law enforcement in India, a need for the public to respect the police force, a need for us collectively to prevent crime by cooperating with the law enforcement. Many a times we want to buy ourselves out of a traffic offence, not realizing that there could be serious repercussions to such an offence. And most of us want to stay out of trouble by not helping others seriously affected by crime. There is a need for Indians to understand that by volunteering not only are they helping others but they are doing themselves a favor by preventing future crime and of ridding a guilty conscience. There is a joint responsibility in preventing crime and citizens really need to do their part as well and recognising this will ensure more safety for everyone.

I really don’t know if this change is being seen in all the neighborhoods in Bangalore or if it is happening in other cities but I welcome this change in the area where I live. I would want to thank the sub-inspector/night duty officer/patrol officer, whoever is in charge for attempting to make my neighborhood safer and hope that it is an indicator of serious change for the whole country.

The day finally arrived! After almost 2 months of frenzied publicity, Aerosmith descended upon Bangalore, a city known for its die hard rock fans. Thousands flocked to Palace Grounds, Bangalore to get a glimpse of their rock idols. Tickets were available right till the last minute and there were many who scrambled around the city to buy them. Getting inside the venue took well over an hour and half as can be expected in such concerts.

I don’t want to sound too dejected right off the bat about the Aerosmith concert but it was a wee bit disappointing. For someone who really wanted to hear their most popular songs like Crazy, Janie’s got a gun, Dude looks like a lady, I was extremely let down.

But not taking it all away from them, Aerosmith were all fired up with energy and attitude. Needless to say, Steven Tyler was all style and class, Joe Perry brilliant with the guitar, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer were all fabulous n finger lickin’ awesome like Steven Tyler showed the crowd with his popular dramatics! Rumours aside, their on-stage vibes were fantastic!

The show started off with Taste of India and the Indian tricolor displayed on the giant screens. The crowd went berserk, in eager anticipation of what was to follow. After each song, fans were hopeful of getting to hear the most favored hits of the group but to no avail. For the not-so-die hard fans, like me, who really have maybe 4-5 favourite Aerosmith tracks, the show didn’t offer too much. For the hard core fans the party was just getting started when sadly, Aerosmith decided to belt out their last song.

The group bowed off the stage after just an hour and half of performing and fans were left standing, staring at disbelief when they realized it wasn’t a break and that the show was truly over. It took a lot of ‘We want more’ chanting for Steven Tyler to get back on stage with the rest following slowly. We were promised 2 more songs but had to make do with only 1, which thankfully was ‘I don’t wanna miss a thing’ from the Armegeddon.

All in all, I can safely say that most of the crowd trudged out feeling a bit cheated. How often do you get a show with such a magnitude and with such a band like Aerosmith to perform here in India? Obviously you’d want to please the crowd. Sure the organizers can not really tell the artistes how to do their job but maybe a word or 2 on the preferences of the audience would have scored a few points.

So have you ever left feeling high and dry after a concert you’ve been eagerly waiting for?

Where do I begin?! This movie was not as riveting as it promised to be, even with the multiple top star cast. I really can not say whether it did justice to the actual happenings of the shootout back in 1991 but the screen play was pretty weak and the audience was quickly moved from one event to the other. I’m sure this was done to quicken the pace of the story but a few links were lost in the bargain. The performances were not as stellar as expected. The best performance was by Abhishek Bachchan, who in spite of having only a 2 minute cameo in the film, did a decent rendition of a cop. But there was no real connection of his guest appearance to the actual story. Suppose it was a strategy by the producers to rope in more audiences just to rake in the moolah. AB as usual was fantastic except that the audience can not really figure out what role he is playing when his scenes begin. Was he the commissioner, a judge or a lawyer? Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty always give good performances so there was no disappointment there. Vivek Oberoi had a chance to redeem himself here and he didn’t do anything different from his acting in Company, which by far has been his best work. The rest of the cast (if you can even call them that) was a HUGE mistake, with Tusshar Kapoor and Dia Mirza leading the pack. Tusshar Kapoor is a complete rubber duck and blew it, BIG time, in what could have been a saving grace in his sister’s production. His being a gangster produced laughs in the movie hall. Dia Mirza as usual, sucked! She has the role of a news reporter played out all wrong. What was she thinking? Doesn’t she watch the news? I mean, there’s a multitude of news channels and no dearth of homework she could do just watching journalists on TV these days. She fails miserably to generate any appreciation for her performance. In fact, she is sickeningly annoying and pathetic when she attempts to throw coy glances at the cops.

The question raised from the movie is of serious debate. Were the methods used by the task force to snuff out antisocial elements justified as it compromised the lives of many innocent people living in the building? And should future confrontations be of similar nature? For one, I believe that terrorists such as these need to be treated in the same way that they treat their victims. They need to be tortured severely and then exterminated in the cruelest of ways. They recognize no rule or law of the land, haven’t a shred of sympathy in their random mass murders and are in control of other people’s lives as they please. They are trigger happy and victimize bystanders at the drop of a hat. In the process of capturing these elements, several lives are lost. One could argue that to save a million you sacrifice a hundred. But the turning point to that argument is, what if your loved one or someone you knew got caught in the cross fire? Would one still be saintly enough to accept that loss as… to gain something, you have to lose something? We still need to eliminate these kinds of criminals by giving them a dose of their own medicine but need to come up with something that will possibly reduce the amount of damage done to society.

Have printing nightmares? PRINTO is here to save the day (umm sorry, night)! For those acquainted with Kinko’s in the US, this store is its Indianised version. Printo offers a wide variety of print services and solutions to businesses and individuals. From printing business documents, presentations, catalogues, brochures, visiting cards to personal photo calendars, wedding invitation cards and party invites, Printo has it all! Step into any Printo outlet in Jayanagar, Koramangala, Whitefield or Malleswaram (to open soon) and you will be greeted by impressive interiors filled with state-of-the-art printers and copiers and well-trained staff to assist you with your printing dilemmas.

First of its kind in India this store is different from around the corner local DTP and print service providers in its approach right at the outset. I was amazed at the concept and professional outlook of the place. The entire process is more organized and efficient. You could custom design your presentations or catalogues, wedding invites and business cards at the store itself and leave it to Printo to hit the ball right out of the park! Yes, they do a fabulous job of finishing and lessen the burden of you having to deal with all the last minute formalities that ordinarily you can not ignore but hate doing. Come on, let’s face it, you’ve worked heart and soul on getting material together for your report, you’ve proof read it a million times already, your eyes are ready to give out on you for all the sleepless nights you’ve spent getting it prepared so why go through the headache of wondering how you’re going to make it all look impressive and worth all the hard work? Ok people, here is where you get excited. Printo’s staff is willing to throw in that extra bit of effort, understand your needs and make suggestions as to how it can all fall beautifully into place! And all of this for a price which is reasonable. After all one does want to hit the right note with the boss!

Printo started operations last year with its flagship store in Koramangala, Bangalore and have expanded to a total of 4 locations within Bangalore with 8 more planned. The company is planning to hit other major cities really soon, so all those tempted at the thought of a print convenience store, don’t be too disheartened! Printo maybe headed your way really soon.

Visit the Printo website at www.printo.in. They even take orders for photo calendars online!

Here I am with my travel post for the foodies. This is the 1st part of a 3 part series on different cuisines of the world for the quintessential non-vegetarians! My sincere apologies to all the strict vegetarians out there. I’m no food connoisseur but I can appreciate great food when I taste it. Feed on this…

1. Lebanon – First thought that comes to mind is falafel, baba ghannouj, hummus and pita bread. But there’s a lot more for the food traveler to discover here. Lebanese food is a delightful mix of Arab and Mediterranean. For the spice intolerant Lebanese food is a joy to sample. It is mainly flavored and garnished with onions, garlic, lemon, pepper, olives, mint and parsley. The most favored meat is lamb.

Lamb Kibbeh – The meat is minced, mixed with burghul (cracked wheat), marinated with pounded pepper, garlic and onions, broiled over charcoal (or fried) and served with mint sauce and a crispy cool salad. When prepared well, the meat is succulent, flavourful and simply melts in your mouth. Squeeze a dash of lemon juice before digging in…heavenly!

2. Mexico – For those who love absolutely any kind of spice, Mexican food will definitely tantalize your taste buds with red chillies and the hot n tangy jalapenos. Even the cheese dips served with nachos and salsa have a hint of spice which makes the taste all the more interesting.

Chicken Fajitas – The chicken is marinated in a paste of tomato sauce, garlic, red chillies and jalapenos with a dash of tequila, stir fried with vegetables and served in baked tortillas topped with cheese with a side of freshly made guacamole and sour cream. Absolutely divine!!

3. Malaysia – Malaysian food is on the borderline of spicy and mild. The food is generally cooked in coconut oil and coconut milk with more emphasis on flavouring than on spice.

Roti Kanai – No guesses there as to where this dish originated from! You’re right, its chicken and potato curry from India! But with a twist of local Malaysian spice concoctions, a dash of coconut milk and a hint of lemongrass, this dish tastes wonderfully unique from what we are used to back home. You could substitute the chicken with lamb or prawns. Mouth-wateringly delicious!

4. Italy – Definitely a HUGE favorite among almost everyone in the world. From the lasagnas to the pastas to thin crust brick oven pizzas (Pizza Hut DOES NOT qualify, people!). We are well aware of their different dishes but the following was an absolute treat for me.

Breaded shrimp in creamy scampi sauce was the signature dish of a restaurant I went to in Little Italy in Baltimore, USA. The chef simply refused to part with the recipe but you have to take my word for it, simply A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!! If you happen to be in that part of the world then please go try it out at Amicci’s.

5. Greece – When you think Greek food, visions of the hit movie and one of my favorites, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING comes to mind and tons of food being prepared for the smallest of celebrations Known for their cheery dispositions, Greeks take entertaining extremely seriously and if ever invited to a Greek meal, fast for 2 days in advance.

Lamb preparations are by far THE BEST of Greek food! Kapama or roast lamb with herbs is exquisite. It will definitely satiate your palate. Cooked with onions and tomatoes and flavoured with herbs like rosemary and thyme, it yields the most sumptuously prepared lamb.

Hope your mouths are watering by now. Mine definitely is… Check for Part 2 soon.