World Wide Web

To make clear the variety of information available on the internet, I see no need to write a thesis or even an essay. One needs to as much as sit on Google and type randomly, and the results will show up. If you make a mistake in spelling, the search engine has suggestions! Solutions are unending and results go on upto several pages.
In several such instances of searching the world wide web, I have come across several websites and I thought I  could provide a concise catalogue of my favourites!

• http://www.improvephotography.com/: Authored by Jim Harmer, this website is an all-in-one guide for a photographer. From breaking myths about the art of photography, providing tips and suggesting the best ways of clicking from the perfect angle; this site provides exceptional help! It ranges high on my list of favourites and their newsletter just makes life easier for the photographer in you!

• http://www.stylemepretty.com/:  Their slogan, 'bridal inspirations', says it all for their content! A soothing look of the webpage provides an assurance of their subtle tastes and if you hate gaudy, you love stylemepretty! Even though their services aren't available in India, this specific website rekindles the part of me that wants to be a wedding planner one day.If that dream comes true, my inspiration would surely stem from them.

• http://www.fabulouscakes.com/: I did not chance upon this one, this was suggested by an aunt. A mouth-watering site, to say the least! They genuinely have commendable ideas!

• http://www.obataimu.com/: It is a promising and an innovative site, even though there is a small 'Coming Soon' below.

The search for innovativeness continues........

Tanishq Everydays

Tanishq is known for its unusual ads. I like their “Tanishq Everydays” Print Ads.  These are second only to the Mia Collection ads.

 It’s genuinely different, in my opinion it defines out-of-the-box ideas. Even though the campaign wasn’t my idea, I thought of a few ideas in which this could be taken further.

A few of the ones that already exist in this category are:

Bangles on a corn cob

Stone studded green apples

These ads are not very prominent but put the product into perspective. They are unique ideas and the next time you see green apples, if you aren't preoccupied; you're sure to think of diamond pendants.

Some ideas that came into my mind on seeing these ads were:




Bangles in place of orange wedges



This sort of an image of an orange wherein the wedges of the fruit can be replaced with bangles. The sleek bangles, which have the same design all around because in this image only one side can be seen so if there’s an exceptional design on the other side, it will go unnoticed!

It doesn't cost a fortune

I choose this image due to lack of suitable images that can explain my idea. However, I do not agree with the message note featured. Firstly, it is very common and flouts the very rule of out-of-the-box ideas for Tanishq’s profile.  On another count I feel this idea could be used for the Mia Collection as well. Since that collection is meant for working women, it fits in there perfectly. Maybe the message could read: ‘It doesn’t cost a fortune’

This idea can be cashed in on for spreading the idea that a woman doesn’t always need a man to buy her a ring. She can buy it for herself. Maybe the one meant for her left hand’s ring finger comes from her man, but then there are nine other fingers!

Kangan Donuts

Kangans could be stacked together like this over a few donuts. But it is important for the donuts to be well frosted with chocolate because only then will the gold shine above the dark brown of the chocolate and be perfectly visible.

Tanishq Everydays!

Disclaimer: Tanishq has not given consent to these advertisements. It is only my personal addition to their pre-existing campaign called Tanishq Everydays. The seal of Tanishq is not borne herein.
Also, the use of these ideas without my knowledge is not punishable, but surely unethical.

Answer Sheets in Exams

For all students in India this is a crucial time of the year. While Board examinees await their results and then struggle for admissions, their juniors are busy adjusting into new classes. For us, college students exams are either are underway. I am no exception to this law of the land and my Part II exams in Communicative English, have begun today.

I have my Majors paper first each of which are four hours long. For me atleast, these papers are easy and the time is always excess. (The electives are invariably tougher and that's when I feel I had a LITTLE more time.So, its not like I'm a genius and a robot who can excel in everything!) With almost two year's experience of writing seemingly easy papers comfortably in four hours, I have developed the habit of dreaming while writing these exams. Yes, I dream while writing an exam.

I don't think that's much of an anomaly in my stream of studies because the more we dream the more we can ideate and hence, the better the reports, articles and stories! As long as my mind promises to come back in due time, I don't mind its wandering off to another land during these few hours when no one is a llowed to talk to you, no one except the invigilator will check on you, your phone is switched off. Basically, they are hours, you can spend entirely by yourself and unless you keep a little track of time and write out all the answers, its a good feeling!

Anyway, on one of these expeditions that my mind took while writing today's paper I thought to myself of a rule that should be initiated by the Univeristy. Each student should be allowed to write a note to the examiner before beginning the paper. A personal note about myself, how I write, my style of writing and my knowledge and comprehensive capabilities.

What would I write? Here goes......

Dear Teacher,

1. Please note that I am writing this paper on a bright, sunny, sultry, humid morning. It is difficult to sustain without water and I am sweating profusely because the air circulated by the ceiling fan actually has no effect. Hence, pardon me if the answer script is sodden with a few drops of water here and there.  I want you to know that, that won't be carelessness on my part,
2. I have studied attentively for this exam and put in considerable effort in the preparations. However, now when I see the topic of the report I feel a little lost as it isn't something I am comfortable with: old age homes. It makes me emotional and hence I would've liked to refrain from writing on this topic for an exam.
3. However, I am confident of the other answers and I am quite intrigued by the comprehension passage, about quintuplets. I will go back home and Google it, because I want to know if it is true.
4. As for my writing style, please note that I begin a paragraph from the margin, but if the last sentence of the previous paragraph ends quite towards the right side; I like to leave two finger gap if my next line is a new paragraph.
5. I will try my best to write the paper well so as to make it easier for you to check.
6. With all due respect, I request you to drink a little water and have a snack before you start checking my paper. Not that I will give you a tough time, but I just wish you to be in a congenial mood.
7. Lastly, please dont over-stress your red pen!

Regards,
ABC XYZ
(We are not allowed to write our names anywhere on the answer sheet which is why our names become a string of letters, without an affidavit!)



What would your letter to your examiner be?





P.S: For those who have a not-so-strong sense of humour, I do not intend this to be really incorporated. It is merely the product of my imagination!

Kaun Banega Crorepati

It was one of its kind when it was introduced to Indian television and I think even today it has a place of its own as far as the small screen is concerned.
But for me, personally, it has lost the charm it once had. Somehow it doesn't feel the same. Probably because Ekta Kapoor's serials and the multiple scams in the Indian government, have demeaned the value of a crore. Even though I have nothing against Shahrukh Khan, but I didn't like the controversy that surrounded around him taking over a few seasons of the show intermediating Amitabh Bachan's prorogative to it! The changing rules of the show itself, have changed. Basically, I am not appealed by Kaun Banega Crorepati anymore.
Anyway, I felt a renewed sense of excitement for this show when I saw the trailers of this season being aired. The way Big B comes on makes it sound so real. His lines are very well worded and the thought that goes behind each of those promotional videos is commendable!
For friends he says exactly the lines we use, and what's more is his tone and style is quite close to what really is used by us all. For ladies also, the line that says "Mihir fir se mar gaya" is my favourite.
Nice idea and well conceptualised. I think it is meaningful and it hits the target because everyone relates with it at some point or the other!

Facebook

Surfing the internet for me is not always Facebook Chat and GTalk. I like to browse through Google a lot, and even though friends have asked me several times how I chance upon some specific information, I never have an answer because one thing leads to the other and another and another and I keep finding things I'd never known, but would have loved to know!
The following link is one such thing that I thought I must share. It is stale news for people who already know about it, but my guess is most of us don't. It is not revolutionary, not breathtaking; just plainly interesting.

Hope you like it!

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/4/20120205201202050200437491de277da/Man-who-painted-Facebook-office-set-to-get-%C2%A3125-mn.html


The whole idea of Facebook is unique and intriguing and now with the social networking site going public on NASDAQ, it won't be long before young adults will be trading in Facebook shares. After all, it is so cool to own shares of your favourite website.
People maybe putting up pictures of their 18th birthday on their wall, and behind the scenes, they might be shareholders of Facebook.

Your right over the site goes a little beyond your own wall!

Kudos to whoever coined the phrase: THINK BIG!

Forced hibernation

About a month ago, the internet connection I have in my house went off, and with it went my landline phone as well, because both the services were covered under one connection.
This was around the time when Kolkata was 'enjoying' regular thunderstorms and apparently in the breeze, the precious wires snapped and the connectivity was lost. Allowing nature so much control over us, we made amends with the situation, and after complaining to our service provider waited with patience for the services to be restored.
Alas! All this time has passed, the weather in the city has changed, the Sun God has shown face after those storms but it is oh! so difficult for the telecom company to send their personnel to fix the lines.
I went to their office to complain ( Note: Office, not outlet) but their replies were indifferent and callous. So much so, that when I threatened to surrender my connection, the gentleman replied in a nonchalant "Ok"!
And that is what we ultimately had to do.
So now Mentalfloss makes a refreshed start, not that my writing will change with a change in the company renderring its services, but unfortunately Reliance (my old service provider) did not live up to its name and caused me great distress and so much has passed within this time that one regular sized post is insufficient!

I have started my own business, a flower boutique, with my mother as partner, I've called it FloraDeli. We've sent out several orders and the bright little flowers have genuinely added colour and activity to my life. My favourite project was the one taken up for Ritu Kumar's signature store opening in Woodburn Court and my favourite piece is a bouquet made of Ferrero Rocher Chocolates alone! If I had the privilege of writing while all this was happening I could've shared my feelings at length, but now as time has passed, these moments have settled down and the experiences have lost their new and exciting flavour.
(Advertorial: http://floradeli-kol.blogspot.in/) !

Castle Season 4 is airing in India now and it was as if Star World were tempting us at first when they started with once-a-week telecast every Wednesday, and recently they've allowed the detectives to rule our screen through the week! Kate's hair is a different shade, but apart from that there aren't any changes. After all, how can one alter perfectionism!

I attended and volunteered for an American Center program called 'The Real Americans' featuring Dan Hoyle. It was a monologuist performance but yet so holistic. Dan, is an intelligent man and fun loving ( I got to spend some time off the show with him) and it was interesting to see his observation skills at work. It is always fun to see an artist's performance and then accompany him on his research it always gives us a deeper insight into what goes behind the 60 seconds act, about which we pass a judgement, almost unthinkingly! Commendable program, it was truly entertaining!

Vicky Donor was released and even though I didn't catch it in the theatre, I loved it when I saw it at home. A totally fresh plot. A storyline that hasn't been copied, and so far, not pasted! An amazing line of thought and quite overwhelmingly realistic. Neither of the protagonists are perfect and nor is their story laced with violins and white horses. An entertainer packed with awesome songs, as well as endowed with a moral lesson! Awesome!

Harley Davidson has come to Kolkata and I loved the pictures that featured in the next day's papers. What a feast for the eyes!

At Princep Ghat

The Kolkata store



There were myriad things that I had in mind but memory has failed me because it is at the spur of the moment that one wishes to write and for me, if the urge is not fulfilled it is lost.
Though many people (including my elder brother) felt that whether a fixed line internet connection or no, life should go on as usual, I disagree strongly. No one told me to make do WITHOUT the internet, but there are several ways of making your way through. For example, using the phone. However, in my opinion, to say the least, it is tough to blog or browse through the phone. Ask someone who does not have easy access to the computer and you'll know!
Today as I go to bed, I shall pray:

Thank you God for the world so sweet
Thank you God for the food we eat
Thank you God for the birds that sing
Thank you God for everything!
P.S: Thank you God for the internet services you've bestowed us with!
Thank your stars, you're lucky if you're comfortably reading this:)

From Sooooooouuuunnnnnd to song

MTV India is known for its out-of-the-box ideas in TV shows. They are the trend setters and there's no doubt that they have a niche, loyal and loving viewership.
Just as my interest in the idiot box was dwindling, MTV India launched Sound Trippin'.
And whoa! TV viewing for me took a turn for the good.I was impressed by the trailers for this particular show and it defined the word 'difference'. In this age of reality shows and behind the scenes shots, this show stands tall.

The anchor

Its about the journey from sound to song. Sneha Khanwalkar, the anchor is seen travelling to various parts of the country and she records sound bytes to make a song out of it, for each region.

The show brings to light, the fact that each place has its own identity and so far the visual images were cashed in by the producers. So much so that, the visual imagery has reached a point of saturation. Typical of the MTV think-tank they brought out a strategy which is truly run-off-the-mill and here we have this young lady going to beautiful places and recording sounds. Sounds that we like, we've heard before, ignored before, taken for granted and sometimes even considered them as 'noises', this show turns all of that into a beautiful song.

The show is very well planned and even though they use latest technology typical to the musical field, their working is transparent and one can tell exactly how the sound bytes are distinct from one another.

On seeing the work that goes behind it we realize how much hardwork goes into the songs that music directors compose, those that we download for free from the internet or casually listen to their creations on the radio while juggling between a couple of routine tasks.

The 'noise' of the heavy vehicle is recorded for a song!



My favourite sound clip: water drop

 A beautiful concept, beautiful show.It sure does leave a mark! Kudos to MTV!