Merry Cristmas

Wishing all the people the Merriest Christmas of their lives,
just as I had mine!

Friendz..

A gift to my friends...

Dada disgraced !!

Sourav Ganguly's unceremonious exit from the Indian team on Wednesday was disgraceful. But though the proceedings that followed India's 188-run victory were a shameful way to sideline the former Indian skipper, they didn't come as a shock, especially considering the way Indian cricket is run. Politics, many would believe, got Ganguly so deep into the series in the first place. That Sourav was branded a "batting all-rounder" by the Jagmohan Dalmiya regime to force him into the side, and then made to bowl only 2 overs in the seven days of cricket that followed, tells a tale. Without enough chances, his "all-round" worth was destroyed with the precision befitting a seasoned assassin. Although, Ganguly displayed his worth with the bat, it just wasn't enough. The final blow came when Dalmiya was voted out of power and the referee-count ended on Wednesday. Politics giveth, and Politics taketh away. The balance of power has shifted and so have the preferences. Indian cricket remains the same, trapped in a vicious web of power-brokers.


Despite being sacked for the third Test against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, Ganguly does not believe he's reached the end of his international career. Sitting in his hotel room at the Taj Palace three hours after the announcement on Wednesday, Ganguly appeared dejected but not downcast. "I'll go back to playing domestic cricket," he said. "I still believe I can get back to the team. I want to play the 2007 World Cup, and Test cricket." What hurt Ganguly most was the cold shoulder he received from his former team-mates. None of the senior members of the team even came close to Sourav's room.

To make a simple connection, Ganguly has been made a pawn in the board's politics, in which anyone seen to be associated with Dalmiya has to be gotten rid of. But Ganguly has scored more than 15,000 runs in international cricket with his own blade, not Dalmiya's. He has been India's most successful captain by applying his own method on the field, not using the shrewdness with which Dalmiya survived for so long as Indian cricket's godfather. Of course he has not been in the best of form over the last year. But, given a chance under pressure, he showed he could still contribute as much as most others in the side. At the very least, he deserved another shot.

Keep on fighting DADA, we're with you...throughout.

Some touching Bengali literature...

Introducing my new blog : Abar Khabo !

I proudly announce the grand opening of my new blog

Abar Khabo ! : Food Fetish .... I live to EAT !

Come and drool over it !

Cartoons !!

Oh ! The Sounds of Silence !

Racism in America !

NRI files racism suit after BPO backlash
By Chidanand Rajghatta/TNN

Washington: An Indian-American tech worker has filed a suit in a federal court in Texas against a US firm alleging daily incidents of racial harassment and discrimination because the company outsourced work to India.

The lawsuit by Neelima Tirumalasetti, a senior IT analyst in quality assurance, says that after her company, Caremark, announced in December 2003 it would outsource work to IBM India, she became the target of widespread anti-Indian harassment.

Her co-workers called her “brown-skinned bitch”, “dirty Indian” and other insults, accused her of coming to the US to take their jobs, mocked her accent in team meetings and excluded her from work projects.

Hoping for relief, the US citizen reported the harassment to her seniors and even Caremark’s ethics hotline. The reports made matters worse. Caremark removed her team leader responsibilities on a large project, isolated her from prime assignments, began auditing her work daily, denied her pay and blocked access to leave.

According to the lawsuit, Caremark told Neelima she made up the harassment and faked the physical symptoms of escalating workplace stress, which repeatedly landed her in hospital.

Astonishingly, Caremark reportedly conceded she was the victim of harassment but concluded that the harassment was “understandable given employees’ concerns about outsourcing”. Nevertheless, it barred her from working from home, a privilege enjoyed by other employees.

Neelima suffered a final emotional breakdown after Caremark reassigned her to report to a co-worker she identified as a chief harasser — a more junior employee — and this coworker stated she would “kill the bitch who complained”.

Caremark sent Neelima a termination letter after she reported her situation to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “Caremark investors deserve to know how it conducts itself,” says Neelima. “This lawsuit is about assuring that all employees are treated equally regardless of their national origin, race or ethnic background.”

Om : The Power Word !

The lower curve of the Sanskrit letter represents the dream state; the upper curve the waking state. The wavy curve issuing from the right symbolizes deep, dreamless awareness. The cresent moon shape stands for "maya" or the veil of illusion. The dot above it marks the transcendent state. With yoga, one may find transcendence to embrace the true self by passing through the veil, liberating these states, into Divine Union.

The ancient syllable "OM" is the shortest of the Mantras and in Indian tradition it is a word suggestive of God.

The scriptures tell us that "OM" is the planets primordial vibration from which the entire universe has arisen. All other sounds are contained within it.

It is believed that "OM" is the mother of all languages. Repetition of "OM" enables us to maintain mental and emotional calmness, overcome obstacles and enable understanding.

An analysis of "OM" as it is written in Sanskrit shows that it is made up of A, U, M and a symbol representing resonance. So "OM" has four aspects.

The first is A, a sound that comes from the belly, is formed in the open throat, and is voiced with the mouth open. As with many alphabets, A is the first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet.

The second aspect is the U, a sound that is formed in the middle of the mouth. The mouth is not as wide as it is for sounding the A.

With the third sound, M the mouth closes. The sound rises to the nasal passages, from where the resonance, the forth aspect of "OM" issues forth.

It is said that A represents the waking state. U the dream state and M the state of deep dreamless sleep. the fourth state, sounds in the resonance following M.

Saying "OM" is actually a form of meditation

(Acknowledgement T.K.V Desikachar - The Heart of Yoga)

30 days

Derick:
I guess we are the left-overs in this world.

Lily:
I think so...all of my friends have boyfriends, and we are the only the 2 people left in this world without any special person in our lives.

Derick:
Yup, I don't know what to do.

Lily:
I know! We'll play a game.

Derick:
What game?

Lily:
I'll be your girlfriend for 30 days
and you will be my boyfriend.

Derick:
That's a great plan, in fact, I don't have anything to do
much for the following few weeks.

DAY 1:
They watch their first movie
and they both are touched by the romantic film.

DAY 4:
They went go to the beach and have a picnic. Derick and Lily have their quality time together.

DAY 12:
Derick invited Lily to a circus and they ride through a Horror House.
Lily was scared and she thought she touched Derick's hand but she actually touched someone else's hand they both laughed.

DAY 15:
They saw a fortune teller down the road, and they asked for their future advice.
The fortune teller said:
"My darlings, please don't waste the time of your life, spend the rest of your time together, happily." Then tears flowed out from the teller's eyes.

DAY 20:
Lily invited Derick to go to the hill
and they saw a meteor; Lily mumbled something.

DAY 28:
They sat on the bus, and because of a bumpy road Lily gave her first kiss to Derick by accident.

DAY 29:
11:37 pm:
Lily and Derick sat in the park where they first decided to play this game.

Derick:
I'm tired Lily...Do you want anything to drink? I'll buy you one...I'll just go down the road.

Lily:
An Apple Juice, that's all. Thank you.

Derick:
Wait for me.

20 minutes later
A stranger approached Lily

Stranger:
Are you a friend of Derick?

Lily:
Yes, why? What happened?

Stranger:
A reckless drunk driver ran over Derick, and he is in critical condition in the hospital.

11:57 pm:
The doctor walked out of the emergency room; he handed Lily an apple juice and a letter.

Doctor:
We found this in Derick's pocket.

Lily reads the letter and it says:
Lily, These past few weeks, I realized you are a really cute girl, and I am really falling for you-your cherished smile, your everything when we played this game. Before this game ends, I would like you to be my girlfriend for the rest of my life.
I love you, Lily.

Lily crumpled up the paper and shouted:

"Derick! I don't want you to die-
I love you; remember that night when we saw a meteor and I mumbled something. I mumbled that I wish we would be together forever and that we would never have to end this game. Please don't leave me Derick .. I love you! You can't do this to me!"

Then the clock strikes 12...

Derick's heart stopped pumping...

It was the 30th day.

Behind every successful man there is a woman !

Warning : To experience the fun below, you must open this blog using Internet Explorer. Firefox will fail in this case ...



You may be wondering what this picture has to do with the title.... now press Ctrl + a and .... bingo !

ps. for a better view you can use this link : Picture

Glimpses from Shinkyokushin All Japan Tournament

Click on picture to enlarge ...

Celebrating the first birthday of Jhal-Muri !

Wow !! My blog Jhal-Muri ! has just crossed a year !!
I hope the spice keeps alive for years to come...

Happy Birthday to Jhal-Muri !!

Nothing is impossible !!

See the impossible speed barrier that I've crossed. I became last as the car couldn't be controlled at that speed...

Can't stop laughing !!

See this : Calvin tries variety !

And this : Born Loser !

Oh ! Exam fever !!

I have my University exams starting from 1st December to the 24th December. This's my 3rd Semester of Computer Engineering course (4 yr course). So I've to shift to the 7th Gear else ....

So as Keshi commented, I wont be able to post new ones as I'll be a little 'busy' ! Wish me luck!

Eyes that can kill !

Are you scared ?

My First Mobile Phone !

Today (20th October 2005), I bought my first mobile phone without taking any financial aid from my parents.
Here it is :

Quotations...

Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.
Henry David Thoreau

The deepest feeling always shows itself in silence.
Marianne Moore

There are two ways of meeting difficulties : You alter the difficulties, or you alter yourself to meet them.
Phyllis Bottome

You come to love not by finding the perfect person but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.
Sam Keen

Love built on beauty, soon as beauty, dies.
John Donne

I will be right here waiting for you ...

This is one of my most favorite songs. Check it out if you haven't already ...

Richard Marx

Right here waiting for you

Oceans apart, day after day
and I slowly go insane.
I hear your voice, on the line,
but it doesn't stop the pain.
If I see you next to never,
how can we say forever.

Chorus:
Wherever you go, whatever you do,
I will be right here waiting for you.
Whatever it takes or how my heart breaks,
I will be right here waiting for you.

I took for granted,
all the times,
that I thought would last somehow.
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears,
but I can't get near you now.
Oh can't you see it, Baby,
you've got me going crazy.

Chorus:
Wherever you go, whatever you do,
I will be right here waiting for you.
Whatever it takes or how my heart breaks,
I will be right here waiting for you.

I wonder how we can survive, this romance.
But in the end if I'm with you, I'll take the chance.

Chorus
Oh can't you see it, Baby, you've got me going crazy.
Wherever you go, whatever you do,
I will be right here waiting for you.
Whatever it takes or how my heart breaks,
I will be right here waiting for you.
Waiting for you.

Courtesy : http://www.rabayjr.com

Faces of Calvin !

Calvin the Mennace !!

Moha-Shashti : Pet-Pujo #1

Today was Shashti, the first day of Durga Puja.

I was in front of my PC till 6pm. After that I decided to go out and have some fun. Oh, I had just forgot....I had actually got out at 12pm in the morning to take some snaps, but rain came pouring in and I didn't find a suitable angle to make a good snap.....so at the end no shot was taken.

I had decided to spend eating this Puja and had saved around 500 bucks for it. So, at an average I can spend 125 bucks on these 4 days.

Today(to-evening), I got out ...here are the things that I had done :

1. Ekdalia Evergreen Pandal
2. Durgabari Pandal & Cultural Functions incl. Ondhokar Nogori
3. Singhi Park Pandal
4. Hindusthan Park Pandal
5. From Arambagh's Chicken (Triangular Park Branch)
Chicken Wings Masala Roast (2*6.5=13/-)
Chicken Tikka Kebab (15/-)
Chicken Shik Kebab (25/-)
6. From Club 9 :
Chicken Biriyani (35/-)
7. From Monginis (Rashbehari Branch)
Chocolate Ice-Cream(8/-)
8. Home

The Mythology of Goddess Durga

According to Hindu mythology a demon named Mahishasura, earned the favor of Lord Shiva after a long and hard penance. Lord Shiva, impressed with his devotion, blessed him that no man or deity would be able to kill him and that only a woman can kill him. Mahishasur was very pleased with this boon as he thought that a woman can never defeat him. Arrogant Mahishasura started his reign of terror over the Universe and people were killed mercilessly. He even attacked the abode of the gods and conquered the heavens and became their leader.

The Defeat Of Gods
After their defeat and humiliation at the hands of Mahishasur, the gods took refuge under Lord Brahma, who took them to Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu. The only solution left was the creation of a woman who possess the ultimate power to fight and defeat Mahishasur. Pure energy blazed forth from Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - the trinity forming the pure energy of Godhood, all concentrating at one point that took the form of Goddess Durga.

Culmination Of Energies
Her face reflected the light of Shiva, her ten arms were from Lord Vishnu, her feet were from Lord Brahma, the tresses were formed from the light of Yama, the god of death and the two breasts were formed from the light of Somanath, the Moon God, the waist from the light of Indra, the king of gods, the legs and thighs from the light of Varun, the god of oceans and hips from the light of Bhoodev (Earth), the toes from the light of Surya (Sun God), fingers of the hand from the light of the Vasus, the children of Goddess river Ganga and nose from the light of Kuber, the keeper of wealth for the Gods. The teeth were formed from the light of Prajapati, the lord of creatures, the Triad of her eyes was born from the light of Agni, the Fire God, the eyebrows from the two Sandhyas,ie, sunrise and sunset, the ears from the light of Vayu, the god of Wind. Thus from the energy of these gods, as well as from many other gods, was formed the goddess Durga.

Power Of Weapons
The gods then gifted the goddess with their weapons and other divine objects to help her in her battle with the demon, Mahishasura. Lord Shiva gave her a trident while Lord Vishnu gave her a disc. Varuna, gave her a conch and noose, and Agni gave her a spear. From Vayu, she received arrows. Indra, gave her a thunderbolt, and the gift of his white-skinned elephant Airavata was a bell. From Yama, she received a sword and shield and from Vishwakarma (god of Architecture), an axe and armor. The god of mountains, Himavat gifted her with jewels and a lion to ride on. Durga was also given many other precious and magical gifts, new clothing, and a garland of immortal lotuses for her head and breasts.

The beautiful Durga, bedecked in jewels and golden armor and equipped with the fearsome weaponry of the gods, was ready to engage in battle with the fierce and cruel Mahishasura. Mahishasura and his demon allies found their attention drawn from heaven to Earth, as Durga's power moved its way towards heaven. Though confident of their power and control in heaven, the demons could not help being awestruck.

The Battlefield
As Mahishasura's armies were struck down effortlessly by Durga, it became obvious to him that he was not as secure in heaven as he had thought. No demon could fight her and win. Her breath would replenish her armies - bringing back to life all of her soldiers who fell. The demons were in chaos and were easily defeated and captured. Mahishasura was shocked and enraged by the disastrous events on the battlefield. He took on the form of a demonic buffalo, and charged at the divine soldiers of Durga, goring and killing many and lashing out with his whip-like tail. Durga's lion pounced on the demon-buffalo and engaged him in a battle. While he was thus engaged, Durga threw her noose around his neck.

Mahishasura then assumed the form of a lion and when Durga beheaded the lion, Mahishasura escaped in the form of a man who was immediately face to face with a volley of arrows from Durga. The demon escaped yet again and then having assumed the form of a huge elephant, battered Durga's lion with a tusk. With her sword Durga hacked the tusk into pieces.

The Victory
The demon reverted once more to the form of the wild buffalo. He hid himself in the mountains from where he hurled boulders at Durga with his horns. Durga drank the divine nectar, the gift of Kuber. She then pounced on Mahishasura, pushing him to the ground with her left leg. She grasped his head in one hand, pierced him with her sharp trident held in another, and with yet another of her ten hands she wielded her bright sword, beheading him. At last he fell dead, and the scattered surviving remnants of his once invincible army fled in terror.

For more details refer to Durga-Puja.org

Durga Puja : The Grand Festival of India !

Durga Puja

click here

This is the most famous religious festival of India. Not only pious Indians celebrate it, but people from all classes and all religions participate in the enjoyment. The streets are all flooded in the colours of light and beautiful pandals peek from here and there. The enthralling beats of dholak, fills the soul with esctacy and joy. People from all over the state come over to Calcutta to visit the different puja sites, which are awesome pieces of art by master craftsmen.

Click here for a flavour of Dhol !
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This is the famous Ekdalia Evergreen pandal 2005 made of wood and cloth.
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This is one of thousands of street lightings of Durga Pandals
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This is the Mudiali Club pandal
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For more details, refer to Calstreet .

Learn it from Calvin !

Smirks !

Q: What is the difference between Mechanical Engineers and Civil Engineers?
A: Mechanical Engineers build weapons, Civil Engineers build targets.

Why executives make more money:

Engineers and scientists will never make as much money as business executives will. Now, for the first time we have a rigid Mathematical proof that explains why this is in fact true.

Postulate 1: Knowledge is power.

Postulate 2: Time is money.

As every Engineer knows, Work / Time = Power

Since Knowledge = Power, and Time = Money, we have Work / Money = Knowledge

Solving for Money, we get: Work / Knowledge = Money Thus, as Knowledge approaches zero,

Money approaches infinity, regardless of the amount of work done.

Conclusion: The less you know, the more you make.

do you want to touch me ? my mother will be here anytime !

kitty kats kuddling !

Hotel Burj : Hotel ho to aisa !

Nature's beauty captured by a lens !

satellite image of the earth at night (fused separately)

The Lady of Shalott

The Lady of Shalott
Painting by J.W.Waterhouse
Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson

On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;
And through the field the road run by
To many-tower'd Camelot;
And up and down the people go,
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.

Willows whiten, aspens quiver,
Little breezes dusk and shiver
Through the wave that runs for ever
By the island in the river
Flowing down to Camelot.
Four grey walls, and four grey towers,
Overlook a space of flowers,
And the silent isle imbowers
The Lady of Shalott.

By the margin, willow veil'd,
Slide the heavy barges trail'd
By slow horses; and unhail'd
The shallop flitteth silken-sail'd
Skimming down to Camelot:
But who hath seen her wave her hand?
Or at the casement seen her stand?
Or is she known in all the land,
The Lady of Shalott?

Only reapers, reaping early,
In among the bearded barley
Hear a song that echoes cheerly
From the river winding clearly;
Down to tower'd Camelot;
And by the moon the reaper weary,
Piling sheaves in uplands airy,
Listening, whispers, " 'Tis the fairy
The Lady of Shalott."

There she weaves by night and day
A magic web with colours gay.
She has heard a whisper say,
A curse is on her if she stay
To look down to Camelot.
She knows not what the curse may be,
And so she weaveth steadily,
And little other care hath she,
The Lady of Shalott.

And moving through a mirror clear
That hangs before her all the year,
Shadows of the world appear.
There she sees the highway near
Winding down to Camelot;
There the river eddy whirls,
And there the surly village churls,
And the red cloaks of market girls
Pass onward from Shalott.

Sometimes a troop of damsels glad,
An abbot on an ambling pad,
Sometimes a curly shepherd lad,
Or long-hair'd page in crimson clad
Goes by to tower'd Camelot;
And sometimes through the mirror blue
The knights come riding two and two.
She hath no loyal Knight and true,
The Lady of Shalott.

But in her web she still delights
To weave the mirror's magic sights,
For often through the silent nights
A funeral, with plumes and lights
And music, went to Camelot;
Or when the Moon was overhead,
Came two young lovers lately wed.
"I am half sick of shadows," said
The Lady of Shalott.

A bow-shot from her bower-eaves,
He rode between the barley sheaves,
The sun came dazzling thro' the leaves,
And flamed upon the brazen greaves
Of bold Sir Lancelot.
A red-cross knight for ever kneel'd
To a lady in his shield,
That sparkled on the yellow field,
Beside remote Shalott.

The gemmy bridle glitter'd free,
Like to some branch of stars we see
Hung in the golden Galaxy.
The bridle bells rang merrily
As he rode down to Camelot:
And from his blazon'd baldric slung
A mighty silver bugle hung,
And as he rode his armor rung
Beside remote Shalott.

All in the blue unclouded weather
Thick-jewell'd shone the saddle-leather,
The helmet and the helmet-feather
Burn'd like one burning flame together,
As he rode down to Camelot.
As often thro' the purple night,
Below the starry clusters bright,
Some bearded meteor, burning bright,
Moves over still Shalott.

His broad clear brow in sunlight glow'd;
On burnish'd hooves his war-horse trode;
From underneath his helmet flow'd
His coal-black curls as on he rode,
As he rode down to Camelot.
From the bank and from the river
He flashed into the crystal mirror,
"Tirra lirra," by the river
Sang Sir Lancelot.

She left the web, she left the loom,
She made three paces through the room,
She saw the water-lily bloom,
She saw the helmet and the plume,
She look'd down to Camelot.
Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
The Lady of Shalott.

In the stormy east-wind straining,
The pale yellow woods were waning,
The broad stream in his banks complaining.
Heavily the low sky raining
Over tower'd Camelot;
Down she came and found a boat
Beneath a willow left afloat,
And around about the prow she wrote
The Lady of Shalott.

And down the river's dim expanse
Like some bold seer in a trance,
Seeing all his own mischance --
With a glassy countenance
Did she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day
She loosed the chain, and down she lay;
The broad stream bore her far away,
The Lady of Shalott.

Lying, robed in snowy white
That loosely flew to left and right --
The leaves upon her falling light --
Thro' the noises of the night,
She floated down to Camelot:
And as the boat-head wound along
The willowy hills and fields among,
They heard her singing her last song,
The Lady of Shalott.

Heard a carol, mournful, holy,
Chanted loudly, chanted lowly,
Till her blood was frozen slowly,
And her eyes were darkened wholly,
Turn'd to tower'd Camelot.
For ere she reach'd upon the tide
The first house by the water-side,
Singing in her song she died,
The Lady of Shalott.

Under tower and balcony,
By garden-wall and gallery,
A gleaming shape she floated by,
Dead-pale between the houses high,
Silent into Camelot.
Out upon the wharfs they came,
Knight and Burgher, Lord and Dame,
And around the prow they read her name,
The Lady of Shalott.

Who is this? And what is here?
And in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer;
And they crossed themselves for fear,
All the Knights at Camelot;
But Lancelot mused a little space
He said, "She has a lovely face;
God in his mercy lend her grace,
The Lady of Shalott."

Poems : The food for the Heart !

Man first seeks food, then shelter and security. Then comes hunger for the brain and the heart.

Education perhaps suffices to an extent to intimidate the brainy hunger. But literature is the only substitute which has the highest potential to satisfy both. Let's have some poetry.

1. Every Poet

2. Poetry.com

3. The collection of a talented poet

Here is one of my most favoutite poems :

Most wounds can Time repair.
But some are mortal --- these :
For a broken heart there is no balm,
No cure for a heart as ease ---

At ease, but cold as stone.
Though the intellect spin on.
And the feet and practised face may show
Nought of the life that's gone.

But smiles, as by habits taught ;
And sighs, as by customs led ;
And the soul within is safe from damnation,
Since it is dead.

---- Poet is Anonymous

The masterpiece of Leonardo. Now preserved in the Louvre. Check out www.louvre.fr