It's always fun going to Ashish Book Center's book exhibition because you never know which books you might be able to get at bargain prices. This time though I had one particular book in mind - the one containing Sanjeev Kapoor's 100 favorite recipes.
I have been a regular visitor to this exhibition for the past few years so I knew that the cookery books are always in the last rows. However, when I went there, I could see almost all the books by the celebrity chef - except for the one that I was looking for. Just then a lady, obviously a senior citizen, happened to pass by me clutching a handful of books. The book that I was looking for was one them. I asked her where she found it. She looked about vaguely and said that one of the attendants had given her that book. I replied that I will look for the attendant and also remarked that this book was specially on my list.
Thereupon the lady smiled sweetly and said that if she decided not to buy the book, she will surely give it to me in case there weren't any more copies left at that time. I smiled back - pretty sure that matters will never come to that because the people at the book stall always make sure that there are enough copies around. But still, you never know about us Indians. If we see enough people buying something, we decide to play it safe and go for it as well. :-)
Before embarking on the "hunt for the attendant" I decided to take one more look at the aisle. And voila! The book was right there! I grabbed a copy before eager ladies descended on the aisle. Brandishing the copy about, I called out to the granny - 'I got it' I said.
And will you believe it? She smiled as if she herself had found something that she was searching for years. What is it in some old ladies that makes you wish they were your grannies instead?
Friday, May 6, 2011
Highway on my plate
It was fun watching the Ludhiana episode of "Highway On My Plate" (NDTV Good Times) yesterday - as usual. I am not much of a Paneer (Cottage cheese) fan. But did you see Rocky and Mayur tuck into the giant pakodas at "Punnu ke Pakore"? There was a chunky piece of paneer with green coriander-mint chutney inside each pakora. And this was accompanied with apple chutney. It looked yum!
I am not sure what was so special about the kulfi at "Basant Ice-Cream" at Field Ganj. I mean, the kulfi looked like any other kulfi. Guess the proof of the kulfi is in eating it. So if I ever go to Ludhiana and manage to get my hands on the aforementioned kulfi, I will be sure to let you know about it on this blog.
But the best part was the "Cream Chicken" at Chawala’s2- called so because in addition to their original dish of "Cream Chicken", they have now added vegetarian varieties like Cream Paneer and Cream Mushrooms. I was amazed when the owner told Rocky and Mayur that the absolutely sumptuous-looking dish was prepared without water, oil or chili powder. All it contained was a home-cooked mixture of secret spices, black pepper, milk and cream. Oh Boy!
I am not sure what was so special about the kulfi at "Basant Ice-Cream" at Field Ganj. I mean, the kulfi looked like any other kulfi. Guess the proof of the kulfi is in eating it. So if I ever go to Ludhiana and manage to get my hands on the aforementioned kulfi, I will be sure to let you know about it on this blog.
But the best part was the "Cream Chicken" at Chawala’s2- called so because in addition to their original dish of "Cream Chicken", they have now added vegetarian varieties like Cream Paneer and Cream Mushrooms. I was amazed when the owner told Rocky and Mayur that the absolutely sumptuous-looking dish was prepared without water, oil or chili powder. All it contained was a home-cooked mixture of secret spices, black pepper, milk and cream. Oh Boy!
An Investment Your Husband Will Approve Of!
I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at the bold-faced line in the NFO brochure of a leading fund house that I got in my snail-mail yesterday.
"An Investment Your Husband Will Approve Of" it said.
Excuse me? I am not rattled as much by the implication that women are ignorant or disinterested when it comes to investment. God knows, most of us are like that - at least in India. What bugged me is the implication that all husbands or, for that matter all males, are Investment GURUS! Give me a break!
You bet I am not going to invest a dime of my hard-earned money in this NFO!
"An Investment Your Husband Will Approve Of" it said.
Excuse me? I am not rattled as much by the implication that women are ignorant or disinterested when it comes to investment. God knows, most of us are like that - at least in India. What bugged me is the implication that all husbands or, for that matter all males, are Investment GURUS! Give me a break!
You bet I am not going to invest a dime of my hard-earned money in this NFO!
Osama Bin Laden must be turning in his watery grave - what with Ram Gopal Varma planning a supernatural movie on his killing. I wonder if Obama and Pakistan's Gilani would be willing to take him on a sightseeing trip :-)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Going Bananas!
Most of the fruits that I like are seasonal - watermelon, custard apple, strawberry and mango. I can tolerate almost all other fruits - except for Banana. I refuse to even call it a fruit. :-( In my humble opinion, banana should be eaten only in the form of Banana Split and Banana chips!
I was, however, completely floored by this - A Gallery of Banana Sculpture Art. Though I must confess that most of the sculptures look like they are straight out of some alien movie, I wonder how the artist has managed to carve them from such a soft fruit. One word only - WOW!
P.S. While you are at it, do check out the "Funny Egg Art" page on the same site. I especially loved the first picture :-)
I was, however, completely floored by this - A Gallery of Banana Sculpture Art. Though I must confess that most of the sculptures look like they are straight out of some alien movie, I wonder how the artist has managed to carve them from such a soft fruit. One word only - WOW!
P.S. While you are at it, do check out the "Funny Egg Art" page on the same site. I especially loved the first picture :-)
As I stepped into Crossword, I kept telling myself that I am not going to spend a rupee more than 500. That's because I go absolutely berserk when I see books on sale. (Everyone in the family believes that I am going to run a library after retirement!)
But I need not have worried. None of the books that I would have gone for were on sale. I, however, picked up a slim volume that has promised to teach Spanish to the beginners. I am bringing it to the office for the past 2 days in the hopes of learning a phrase or two when I get some breathing time. No such luck so far :-(
Let's see when I manage to at least open it up!
But I need not have worried. None of the books that I would have gone for were on sale. I, however, picked up a slim volume that has promised to teach Spanish to the beginners. I am bringing it to the office for the past 2 days in the hopes of learning a phrase or two when I get some breathing time. No such luck so far :-(
Let's see when I manage to at least open it up!
Did you hear this?
Pakistan on Thursday warned the US and India against any further covert operation in Pakistani territory, saying this would lead to a "terrible catastrophe".
(Pakistan warns US, India against covert operations)
I am laughing so much I almost fell off the chair! :-))))))
Pakistan on Thursday warned the US and India against any further covert operation in Pakistani territory, saying this would lead to a "terrible catastrophe".
(Pakistan warns US, India against covert operations)
I am laughing so much I almost fell off the chair! :-))))))
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
So RBI has increased the savings account deposit rate to 4%. To be frank, I don't remember the changes in this rate in 1992 and 2003. I was too young to worry about money matters in the former and too dumb to ignore the monetary side of life in the latter. :-(
The other day I was reading an article about the program that Monika Halan comperes on NDTV. She said that women do have this tendency to think that they cannot manage finance - or something to that effect. I was angry at first. But when I reflected on it, I found that it was true as far as I am concerned.
Before MBA, that was precisely what I used to think about investments. During the course of my MBA, I took finance courses to get familiar with the basics and in the vague hopes of securing a toehold in the Finance sector. Though the hope remained nothing more than wishful thinking, I succeeded in my first objective. Of course, I am not saying I passed the finance courses with flying colors. But somewhere, it gave me the confidence that I am not as dumb as I was suspecting all along when it comes to understanding money. An added advantage was that I actually started liking reading about Finance. :-)
So I agree fully with Ms Halan when she said that once this initial hurdle is crossed, then women will be on a roll as far as personal finance goes.
Okay, now back to the rate increase. I wasn't too thrilled about it as the 0.5% increase is not going to make a billionaire out of me. But something in an article in The Mint caught my attention. One person from the Banking industry had said that this will bring in a slew of innovative products like e.g. a tiered structure of deposits where once the amount crosses a certain threshold, a new rate kicks in. That should be interesting but I guess the RBI should take a few pages out of Sebi's and IRDA's notebook to fight the bogeyman called 'Mis-selling'!
P.S. Another confession is in order. I cannot, for the life of me, remember which rate - repo or reverse repo - injects liquidity in the system. If you have any handy tips for the same, do drop a line :-)
The other day I was reading an article about the program that Monika Halan comperes on NDTV. She said that women do have this tendency to think that they cannot manage finance - or something to that effect. I was angry at first. But when I reflected on it, I found that it was true as far as I am concerned.
Before MBA, that was precisely what I used to think about investments. During the course of my MBA, I took finance courses to get familiar with the basics and in the vague hopes of securing a toehold in the Finance sector. Though the hope remained nothing more than wishful thinking, I succeeded in my first objective. Of course, I am not saying I passed the finance courses with flying colors. But somewhere, it gave me the confidence that I am not as dumb as I was suspecting all along when it comes to understanding money. An added advantage was that I actually started liking reading about Finance. :-)
So I agree fully with Ms Halan when she said that once this initial hurdle is crossed, then women will be on a roll as far as personal finance goes.
Okay, now back to the rate increase. I wasn't too thrilled about it as the 0.5% increase is not going to make a billionaire out of me. But something in an article in The Mint caught my attention. One person from the Banking industry had said that this will bring in a slew of innovative products like e.g. a tiered structure of deposits where once the amount crosses a certain threshold, a new rate kicks in. That should be interesting but I guess the RBI should take a few pages out of Sebi's and IRDA's notebook to fight the bogeyman called 'Mis-selling'!
P.S. Another confession is in order. I cannot, for the life of me, remember which rate - repo or reverse repo - injects liquidity in the system. If you have any handy tips for the same, do drop a line :-)
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
आठवणीतली गाणी
जुनी मराठी गाणी ऐकायला आवडतात? मग ही साईट जरूर पहा - http://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/
There is one ad that makes me go "Ewwww" every time it is aired. It is for the Domex toilet cleaner. The lady promoting the product actually runs her right hand along the inside of an Indian-style toilet to prove that their are no germs. Ewwww! I cannot for the life of me figure out what must be going through the mind of the person who conceived this ad :-(
Many a times now-a-days I wonder what the Media is coming to. I was surfing through the channels yesterday in hopes of finding a decent account of what actually transpired in the city of Abbotabad. I chanced upon one channel that was showing footage of everything from Laden's bed, his medicine and his clothes. I hurriedly reached for the remote to change the channel before they showed me Laden's toilet! For heaven's sake, guys, STOP showing the inane stuff. The viewers might be watching this at the end of a long tiring day but that does not necessarily mean that they have their brains shut off :-(
Siddhagiri Museum
Wanna see an Indian Village in all its past glory? Visit http://www.siddhagirimuseum.org/. While you are at it, also check out their other 2 museums.
Monday, May 2, 2011
काल १ मे - महाराष्ट्र दिन. पण पेपर उघडल्यावर राजकारणी लोकांनी ’आम्ही यंव करणार, त्यंव करणार", "आमच्या सरकारने हे केलं, ते केलं" अशी तुणतुणी वाजवलेली दिसली. आणि मग काहीही वाचण्यातला रसच संपला. खरं तर मला वाचायचं होतं संयुक्त महाराष्ट्राच्या लढ्याबद्दल. शाळेतल्या इतिहासात ह्याबद्दल काही वाचल्याचं मुळीसुध्दा आठवत नाहिये. तसंही शाळेत शिकवलेलं काय आठवतंय म्हणा :-( पण एक हुतात्मा स्मारक सोडलं तर ह्या लढ्याबद्दल आपल्याला एक मराठी माणूस म्हणून काहीही माहिती नाही ह्याची लाज वाटते. आता इंटरनेटच्या शरणी जाण्याखेरीज पर्याय नाही. पाहू काय मिळतं का ते.
I was too young to appreciate the first fairytale wedding and am too old to consider the second as such. I am talking about the royal wedding, of course. Well, I also have a fascination for royal families, kings and queens but honestly, I cannot understand why people are going gaga over the bride's feet-long train, her tiara and the kiss on the balcony. Then again, I am not British!
I don't much believe in politicians, in general and those making announcements before elections are due, in particular. So I am surprised that the US forces could ferret out Bin Laden so easily and kill him. On top of it, his body has now been disposed at sea. What was the hurry guys? Were you afraid that he might come to life again?
Oh well, in case this is a fake encounter, it will be interesting to see if any videos surface showing the supposedly-deceased terrorist alive & kicking as well as the response of the US to them.
In the meantime, I guess our neighbors across the border must be having a field time milking this news down to the last drop. I can already imagine angry leaders telling "Pakistan is a victim of terrorism too" to everyone within earshot!
Oh well, in case this is a fake encounter, it will be interesting to see if any videos surface showing the supposedly-deceased terrorist alive & kicking as well as the response of the US to them.
In the meantime, I guess our neighbors across the border must be having a field time milking this news down to the last drop. I can already imagine angry leaders telling "Pakistan is a victim of terrorism too" to everyone within earshot!
Miniature Babies!
Just check this site out - http://www.camilleallen.com/. Hats off to the artist, her creativity and patience!
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