Me back!!!!!!!!
Well this is too Narcissistic a title to have"Me back!" But what the hell, i dont care coz i am happy that i have at last got time to blog again. This is one of the longest blogging breaks i have ever taken. The previous one i took did not make any difference coz there nobody noticed it except for a few. But this time there's a difference.....Lotsa ppl noticed it and again if i may add ppl missed me;) hehehehe! Now i guess i should stop right here and do what i do best i.e. Blog! ;)

Lotsa things happened in the span of 10 days! Most prominent being "The mumbai bomb blasts" Its scary that its been happening at an alarming regularity. But at the same time Life in Mumbai goes on as ususal. he greatness of the people and the city here is that "Nothing can bog them down! I love and admire this city for its spirit and am glad that i belong to this lovely city.

There has been an ample media coverage for the blasts. Afetr watching the telecasts i was unhappy. 2 reasons:
Aaj Tak which is one of the highest watched News Channels in India came out with an absolute blooper declaring that "there have 4 bomb blasts instead of the 2. the additional one being somewhere near Marine lines and Near Mumbadevi Mandir. I initially saw Aaj tak and almost panicked. But later when i saw NDTV 24X7, I got the info that only 2 bomb blasts had happened and they also reassured us that the info is correct and there is absolutely no need to worry. I was absolutely confused. I didnt know whom to believe. then later it was confirmed that there were only 2 bomb blasts.
Now Aaj Tak being such a reputed channel, it was very irresponsible on their part to misreport like this. Thousands of people tune into Aaj Tak for news. They have all been misinformed now. Ina away the channel has been instrumental in rumour mongering. If there wouldn't have been immediate clarification by other news channels there would have been wide-spread panic. The credibility of the channel is doubted now. Aaj Tak in a quest for being "sabse tez" doesn't allot time time to verify facts. Also this is not the first instance of misreporting by Aaj Tak.

Also I was absolutle grossed out seeing the Blast footage of Aaj Tak. It was disgusting. I agree Bomb Blasts can't be a pretty sight. But with so much blood around it can be very depressing and gross. Lemme give u a example. During the WTC bombing did anyone see a drop of blood, a songle dead body? Absolutely not coz none was reported. I think that Indian news should emulate the aspect of honouring and maintaining the "Dignity of the dead". Again in the quest to be "sabse Tez" and first they have resorted to such measures. But i guess its high time they realised their responsibilities that comes as a part of being a news channel.

Another shcoking revelation but something which we all knew. If u r wondering what i am talking about click here

Anyways seeya and see forth!
(psst........waiting for lot of................comments from all ya guys!)

15 August
Today is India's Independence day.

Here's wishing all the Indians throughout "A Very Happy Independence day"

Raksha Bandhan
Well yesterday was raksha bandhan. I somehow feel lost on every raksha bandhan everyyear. Coz i am the only child. Always wanted to have an older brother. Well i somehow don't have any "mooh bola" brothers and very firmly I dont belive in tying rakhis just for the heck of tying them. Coz i belive in the sentiment behind tying rakhis and not the ritual tying rakhis per se.
But guess what i had a great day today! i am the member of a youth organisation. We as a part of a project visited "ASTITVA", a home for mentally challenged people and tied rakhis to the mentally challenged guys over there. Felt so nice............... It was an emotionally rewarding experience. It feels really sad when i see their condition. They inhabit in a world which is their own. Some of them were so happy seeing us, they were overjoyed when we tied rakhi to them, but i think they were more happy by the fact that we treated them with lotsa sweets and chocolates. Some of them were in real good mood that day coz their sisters and family members had visited them. One of them was dancing with joy coz his sister was getting married. One of them spoke so well with me in english that i was shocked when i heard that he was a borderline case, an euphemism for a mentally unstable person. It was an absolute humbling experince which made me thank god for the fact that i was not one among them. Will visit them often............Anyways seeya!
Love, Shobha

Objectivity!
Hello friends!
Its said that "One should not be football of other people's opinion". But is it humanly possible not to get affected? Sometimes i wonder whether one can be really be objective about ourselves. Can we be really be unaffected by other people's remarks?
Coz i can be easily swooned by a compliment and can be easily hurt coz of a stray remark!!!!!!!!!!! Well guys whaddaya think?????
Love, Shobha

Afterthought
After all the hue 'n' cry about the findings of unacceptable levels of pesticides ( including urs truly.......), here comes a different perspective altogether that reflects on the sad situation that we are in rite now.

Despair!

To say i was disturbed after seeing this picture would be an understatement. This award winning photograph is taken by Kevin Carter. he won a Pulitzer prize for this picture. This picture was taken during the sudan famine. this picture shows a famine stricken child crawling towards the UN food camp which was situated nearly a kilometer away. The vulture is waiting for the child to die so that it can eat it. The picture shocked the whole world. Nobody knows what happened to the child thereafter. But Kevin Carter died after 3 months due to depression.
I think Bush should be sent a big picture of this photograph. When world is facing such basic problems like lack of food, war seems such a futile option and seems so trivial. If at all, all such resources were diverted to resolving such problems.... Now that is what i call wishful thinking..............

Get Spooked

Lots of spooky movies are being released during these days. Ghost-stories, thrillers being the in-thing today. Read some of the real life spooky stories.

First mineral water and now this!
This! news justifies my dislike for soft drinks.

Laloo mania

Also its learnt that Laoo had plans to go on the bus to lahore along with some media persons and 30 0dd Mps which is scheduled later this week. But couldn't go because his involvement with a scam....err......hm......ya.i guess animal husbandary scam has prevented him from leaving the country. Poor Laloo.........Meanwhile an amusing article on Laloo which u all would love to read. anyways guys seeya!
love, Shobha

Here's wishing all of u guys visiting my blog a veryyyyyyyyyyyyyy happy friendship day! :)
wanna write many things on this wonderful thing called "Friendship". But at the moment, no time! will definitely do so in my future posts. byeeeeeee everybody! have a gr8 day!
Love, Shobha

Mr. & Mrs. Iyer
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! watta movie! watched Mr. & Mrs. Iyer for the first time and was completely bowled over by it. Now i realise watta loser i have been having watched the movie sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many days after its release. But as they say " Better late than never........ and i console myself.

This movie personifies " beauty in subtelity" such a beautiful movie but with such a powerful message but is devoid of any unnecessary drama. the movie hits you hard at appropriate places. Well for the unitiated, Mr. & Mrs. Iyer is a movie which shows communal tensions in India and how it affects the lives of 2 individulas a tamil brahmin played by konkana sen ( excellent acting) and a mulim photographer played by Rahul Bose ( cant keep my eye off him............... well now that's another story altogether.) Konkana sen is just perfect as a tamil brahmin lady. her accent was a revelation. Hard to believe that she is a bong female. They have worked very hard on costumes and the minute details of the chracter played by konkana which adds authenticity to her role. The customs, prejudices potrayed are all the same. I can say this beacuse i am a tam-bram myself. Even though i am not afflicted with any of the prejudices she is shown to have, i have seen such people in real life as icome in contact with so many "Mamis" of my community. The conservative upbringing reflects during her intercations with Rahul bose. Speaks of an amazing eye for details and characterisation. They have done their homework well.......... very well i should say! Rahul bose plays his part to perfection as amuslim photographer Jehangir chowdhary. Such subtle acting, he is amazing.

The movie has some excellent moments. The scene where Meenakshi comes to know about Raja aka jehangir to be muslim, her reaction is amazing. It really hits her as a bolt of lightening coz she is unable to stomach the fact that she has intercated with a Muslim, let him handle her child etc. This is where her conservative values are tested! But the scene where she shows exemplary courage and compromise of her values by declaring Raja as her husband when rioters barge into the bus. The most beautiful part of the movie is the relationship that meenakshi and raja share. During their last train journey when one sees subtle hints of both of them develpoing feelings for each other, one wishes the journey goes on forever..... But the end grounds you to reality. The journey of prejudices meenakshi from a conservative tam-bram to a mature woman who realises the foolishness of her beliefs is gradual and indeed beliveable.

The communal riots that are shown really potray the sorry affairs of the country. The typical scene in the bus wher literally mini-India is created is tribute to the unique diversity in our country. Bhishm Sahni and Surekha sikri play their parts as a muslim couple to perfection. Your heart goes out to them when they rioters drag them out to kill them.

An absolute briliant movie and if anyone has still not watched plzz watch it soon.
love, shobha