Category: Day to day

For blogs on the day to day activities

Teen Maar: Movie Review

Teen Maar starring Pawan Kalyan and Trisha is another love story from a confused youth who is unable to decide his present and future. The movie fails to capture the audience as well as Pawan Kalyan’s acting talents to the fullest. Poor storyline and boring comedy are a major drawback for the film. You may watch it if you are a loyal fan of the Chiru’s family and get bored at your own risk. 🙂

Story

Pawan Kalyan plays the dual role of Michael Velayudum and Arjun Palwai (Funny names though). Arjun Palwai is the youth in past and Michael Velayudum is a youth in the modern ages. Arjun Palwai falls in love with a girl Vasumati. He follows and sticks to her faithfully while trying to win her. He believes that dating does not matter if they both love each other. Despite Vasumati’s family opposition and other differences, he succeeds in winning the girl at the end.

In contrast, Michael Velayudum is an upcoming youth who has high career aspirations and flexible life goals. He is good at flirting with women and dating them. He meets a girl named Meera and spends couple of years with her. Once she decides to relocate to another place, he breaks up with her as the long distance relationship would not work for him. Later, while he is dating another girl, he realizes that he misses Meera.

Meanwhile, Meera decides to get married another man in India. Michael Velayudum gets hurt to lose Meera and after her marriage he realizes that he indeed loves her and misses her. He decides to reconcile their relationship and discovers that Meera too broke the marriage as she missed him too. Finally, they both realize that they cannot live apart and decide to commit their lives to each other. (duh!)

Review

The main drawback of the movie is the story or lack of it. Mani Sharma’s music fails to capture the audience nor the comedy by the hero. Trisha and Pawan Kalyan have put up weight but have been shown gracefully. Pawan Kalyan is indeed a feast to watch in both the roles of Michael Velayudum and Arjun Palwai.

The locations of Varanasi, Madras, Australia, and Mauritius have some good scenes. The movie resembles many past movies including the recent ‘Orange’ or Pawan Kalyan’s own ‘Badri’. While watching the movie, the audience will hope that some good may come up at the end but will get disappointed by the predictability throughout. Everything about the movie is plain and predictable and so if you have high expectations due to the star cast, you will be frustrated. 🙂

Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)

Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, also known as FBAR is a mandatory document to submitted to the Department of Treasury if you hold foreign accounts over $10,000. The IRS is questioning some HSBC and Swiss accounts which hold unaccounted money all over the world. The recent guilty pleas and discoveries may lead to huge penalties and criminal punishment.

FBAR

The United States government mandates that all tax payers must submit FBAR if they hold any foreign account in any other country. All citizens, residents, and visitors who pay tax to the United States government must submit FBAR if they hold a  foreign account exceeding $10000 in an year.

The tax payers need not submit with federal tax return but must send a separate mail to the Department of Treasury. FBAR form or the        TD F 90 -22.1 can be downloaded from the IRS website. The pdf file allows you to enter and save the data. The basic details which you need to fill include:

  1. Type of Filer
  2. First and Last Name
  3. SSN
  4. Date of birth
  5. Passport Number
  6. Country
  7. Address
  8. Bank account number and type
  9. Bank address and contact
  10. Maximum amount held in the account in the year

You may have to declare all the multiple accounts which you have under your spouse’s name or dependent’s name. Convert the exchange rate in that year and fill the amount in US dollars.

Exceptions and Disclosures

FBAR has some exceptions which need not be declared. For example, norso accounts – banks linked with your current account need not be declared. All the accounts that are owned by a government agency or retirement accounts need not be declared.

The IRS has extended voluntary disclosures if you missed submitting FBAR in the past. You may declare and pay any late penalties to avoid any criminal charges.

Filing

Filing the form is simple as downloading the form, entering all the details, printing., and signing the form. Mail the form to United States Department of the Treasury, P.O. Box 32621, Detroit, MI 48232-0621. You may call 800-800-2877 after ninety days to confirm the receipt of the form. Note that the deadline to submit an FBAR is June 30 in 2011. There is no extension.

Small businesses and Self-employed tax payers may have to follow separate forms and declarations. In any case, the IRS is watching all your accounts and be cautious! 🙂

Idli Recipe

Idli is one of the famous South Indian dishes which is savored by many people. However, the preparation needs careful practice otherwise they may turn rock hard. Here is the recipe for idlis.

Beans are a very healthy meal for strength. Dry beans can be soaked or cooked to prepare a variety of recipes. Idli is one of the recipes made of  urad dal or Vigna mungo, a special kind of beans grown in Asia. Follow these steps to make smooth idlis.

  1. Soak one cup of urad dal for overnight or five hours.
  2. Grind the soaked dal with little water to make a smooth batter.
  3. Wash three cups of idli rava (Cream of rice) in water.
  4. Drain all the water from the rava and mix in the urad dal batter.
  5. Add salt and mix the batter.
  6. Let the batter remain outside for three hours to five hours.
  7. Make idlis and store the rest of the batter in fridge.

Note that you may substitute cream of wheat or parboiled rice (soak and grind) along with the urad dal batter. You will also need muffin maker type vessel to pour the batter and steam them for about ten to fifteen minutes. Non-stick microwave or electric vessels also provide a fat-free method to prepare idlis.

Idlis go well with peanut chutney. Dry roast pea nuts and peel the skin off. Grind pea nuts, green chillis, dhaniya powder, and coriander. Add seasoning and serve. Coconut, coriander, or ginger chutney may be prepared to serve with idlis.

Idlis with sambar make a good dinner or breakfast. Enjoy. 🙂

Quad Cities Earth Week Fair – 2011

The QCCA Expo Center will be hosting the Earth Week Fair this Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. The event is free for all visitors. The first two hundred visitors receive free goodies apart from special exhibits from all the local authorities. It is a good opportunity to learn about conserving the natural resources and waste reduction.

The Quad Cities Earth Week Fair will be held at the QCCA Expo Center this Saturday. To increase the awareness among the local residents, this event has several hands-on activities for children and interesting presentations for adults. The presentations will be about natural beauty products, edible plants,  and raising environmentally friendly pets.

In our daily lives, we can make small changes to make earth more green and eliminate hazardous materials that damage the environment. The different local institutions have set up booth activities such as:

  1. Recycling
  2. Environmental landscaping
  3. Leaving no trace
  4. Water quality
  5. Reusable products
  6. Sculptures from junk
  7. Earth friendly practices
  8. Reusing

All the local authorities will display the green practices followed by them and some booths will have free arts and crafts for children. If you are a earth friendly and a nature loving person, do visit the fair. In contrast, if you are not earth-friendly person, do visit the fair to realize the small steps we can take to make earth a better place for our future generations. 🙂

You can reach the QCCA Expo Center at 2621 4th Avenue Rock Island IL. 309 788 5912

Total Body Workout

Body pains, muscle cramps, neck stiffness, back pain are all some of the side effects of not working out and exercising your body. Hitting the gym may not be a total solution for the complete workout. Flexibility and stretching exercises must be practiced daily to enhance the body fitness and lessen the body aches.

Cardio Exercises

Exercises for your heart are a must to compensate the sedentary life style. The top cardio exercises that improve the heart rate and health include:

  1. Running
  2. Bicycling
  3. Swimming
  4. Walking
  5. Walking steps

The treadmill and the elliptical also might be good for cardio exercises. Typically, thirty minutes per day cardio is mandated for most of us. Out door sports such as tennis, soccer, base ball, basket ball, volley ball, jump rope and so on provide fun and exercise simultaneously. The cardio exercises reduce the risk for heart and also help in toning. Aerobics help in increasing the heart rate too.

Stretching Exercises

Stretching Exercises play a key role in preventing aches and pains in the body. Simple stretching exercises aiming at the following parts can provide a good balanced workout:

  1. Neck
  2. Back
  3. Shoulders
  4. Calf
  5. Thigh
  6. Waist
  7. Hands
  8. Fingers
  9. Wrist
  10. Upper arm
  11. Ankles

Stretching exercises help in working the muscles of the body and the body pains can be reduced  by practicing them daily for about ten minutes. Yoga is a perfect tool for stretching but must be practiced correctly according to the guidelines.

Whatever workout you chose, be it indoor or outdoor, or yoga or aerobics, make sure you do it regularly and in a proper manner. Note that even skinny people need to exercise to maintain the cardio and flexibility. 🙂

Spring Cleaning? Involve Everybody in the Family!

Spring is around after the long winters. Spring cleaning of the house is a mandatory to allow freshness and a clean house. It is a better to clean the house room-wise. Further, involving all the family members increases the ownership and the task becomes more fun. Of course, cleaning  must be a family affair, not a single person’s responsibility. 🙂

Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning helps to allow bright light and cool air in to the house. It is better to clean:

  1. All the windows – mesh, glass, frame, blinds
  2. Kitchen – Rearranging the cabinets
  3. Floor – carpets, wooden floor, vinyl floor
  4. Clothes – Store the winter and bring out the light clothes
  5. Vacuum cleaner – Clean the bag and the filter
  6. Footwear – Store the snow shoes and rain boots and take out the flip flops
  7. Books – Dust and rearrange the book shelves
  8. Beddings – Wash all the blankets, pillow covers, comforters, bed skirts
  9. Garage – Check for water and rearrange all the boxes
  10. Car – Throw out the waster and wash

It is better to clean the house from top and vacuum all the dust on the floor at the end. Spring is also the time for throwing away old clothes and getting new ones! 🙂 While buying new clothes, keep the cost and style in mind. You may still need some light jackets due to the rains, storms, and winds.

Involving Entire Family

Mostly cleaning ends to be a one person’s job. It would be fun if all the people in the family are involved as increases the ownership making it less messy. Dividing the regular chores such as loading and emptying the dishwasher and laundry, grocery shopping, cooking and serving among the family members is good.

Spring cleaning involves throwing away all the waste and rearranging everything. Avoiding mess and clutter is a dream of every  home which is possible with a combined effort. Happy Spring Y’all 🙂

Arguing in front of Kids

We don’t often realize that the kids have grown up and what not to do when they are around. Arguing parents is one of the conditions which most kids confront in their childhood and may have created unnecessary thoughts. Most parents argue without actually realizing and some argue to prove their power in front of the kids. While negotiating and settling matters softly will prove as a good example to your child rather than calling names, insulting your partner, or hurting.

Arguing Couples

Most couples or in any relationship arguing is natural. Wife and husband do argue quite a few times. Be it a petty issue such as a messy toilet or a major financial issue, couples do tend to argue with each other. Sometimes, the arguments go over the board and result in screaming, yelling, pushing, physical attacks, calling names, swearing, and what  not.

Such powerful arguments do not necessarily result in divorce or a settlement for that matter. Arguments do not really produce results or a common agreement. They just increase the tension in the relationship.

Arguing in front of the kids

OK, we all grew up watching our parents argue. Didn’t we turn up alright? Perhaps, Yes or No. But, how are we making sure how our kids are going to tackle it in a proper manner. Avoiding arguments in front of the kids may not be possible all together. Sometimes, we do not really mean what we say to each other while we argue. But, the kids may take it in a real sense. Their small minds may stay confused who is right or whom to take sides with.

Some kids may undergo severe shock or depression when they confront arguing parents. They may get scared that their parents might hurt each other which they do not want. Often, they may find it amusing and may wait for a chance to use it back on parents. 🙂 Be mindful that how we behave in front of them may lay guidelines for them to behave with others.

Watch out

If you are caught arguing in front of the kids, apologize and say that you really don’t mean it. Sometimes, due to emotions, adults do forget the rules of fighting and set up a bad example. You can promote healthy argument by:

  1. Respecting your partner
  2. Facing your spouse while talking
  3. Making your point clear while listening
  4. Not involving in any other task while talking
  5. Repeating what the spouse said as an example
  6. Talking softly as you would talk in front of your neighbors
  7. Restating your expectations
  8. Agreeing or proposing an action plan for the resolution

Most of the things may seem ideal and unattainable, but there is  no harm in practicing once in a while. 🙂

Logitech Revue with Google TV

Google TV lets you watch television channels, internet websites, net flix, mobile apps and videos on your normal television. Logitech Revue, the wireless keyboard with a mouse lets you watch and surf right from your coach. The combo of Logitech Revue with Google TV might seem alluring in the beginning, but after a while you might feel crippled due to its limitations.

Google TV

Google TV comes with a box through which you can watch channels and browse the web on your television. Its installation is simple as connecting a couple of wires. It s unique features allow the users to browse the web, operate your mobile apps, search the channels, and so on. Google TV allows the users to control their television using any advanced smart phone.

You can watch multiple channels on the TV using the dual view feature. Using the DVR option, you can record or save the programs on your satellite dish. It is an open source software and easy to operate. The TV has certain drawbacks as it can sometimes fail to operate flash programs on the screen. Further, it is not compatible with your gaming systems such as Wii or XBox. Google TV allows you watch television and browse the internet all the time but is not suitable for worldwide operations.

Logitech Revue with Google TV

Logitech Revue with Google TV comes with a box to which you can connect to internet and television. the wireless keyboard has full keys on it including the volume controls and mouse. The Revue can be operated by operating an app on your smartphone. The listings on the Google television are found to be inaccurate. The Netflix app does not allow the browsing option and also does not work well. Major television channels such as ABC and NBS have blocked their channels on Google TV.

While  many have liked the Logitech’s keyboard, the combo does not work well with most channels. If you are looking for an all-in-one option, this may  not be the correct choice. You may have to wait for the upgrades to enjoy a less-flaw version.

Moline Soccer Club

Operating since 1978, the Moline Soccer Club has encouraged area children to play soccer. Setting the teams, providing the ground, arranging the team uniforms, and facilitating the games are some of the services apart from providing expert coaching. Moline Soccer Club is a great platform to encourage the sportsmanship in children while mastering soccer.

Soccer, also called as football, is a great sport played by millions worldwide. It is the most popular sport in all parts of the world. The FIFA World cup will be held in 2014 in Brazil.  Spain, Netherlands, and Germany are the top countries in the Men’s rankings.

Moline Soccer Club

Moline Soccer Club aims at promoting soccer in area schools and children. They provide unique coaching and guidance in soccer as well as building sportsmanship and teamwork.

Moline Soccer Club provide coaching and facilitate games for children from ages five through fourteen. They form the teams for both boys and girls according to the ages and arrange the games. The teams are called Gnats, Bumblebees, Mosquitoes, Hornets, and Grasshoppers based on the ages.

Registration

The registration forms are supplied through area schools or can be downloaded from their website. The charge for six games and twelve practice sessions is about $61. One can register for both fall and spring sessions.  The players will be recognized and awarded a medal a the end of the session. Some of the best players are identified for travel teams and other soccer sessions.

Quad Cities United Soccer also offers soccers sessions for children for around $40 at Augustana College.

Rules

Moline Soccer Club expects the participants and their parents to follow certain guidelines during the sessions. For instance, calling names, using drugs, abusing, hurting, or passing negative comments must be avoided. All the players and parents are expected to display positive sportsmanship attitude during the practice and games.

The Moline Soccer Club is one of the mediums through which boys and girls can learn soccer and develop sportsmanship. 🙂

Washington D.C.: The Mystical City

The nation’s capital and the most popular tourist destination – Washington D.C. is famous for its attractions, cherry blossoms, memorials, and museums. Some find the city mystical and get mesmerized by its grandeur. If you are visiting the nation’s capital, planning ahead saves time and money while enhancing your delight!!

Preparation

Washington D.C. has many attractions including the Capitol and the White House. For visiting the Capitol you may need to take a prior appointment online and take a print out. For visting the Congress in session and tour the White House, you will need a written permission from the office of your local Representative or Senator. In case of immigrants, they may have to seek permission from their embassy too.

All memorials and all Smithsonian museums are free to public. But, your tour depends on how much time you can spend and what you want to visit when. Be prepared to walk miles and miles with a good pair of shoes to enjoy the tour.

Next, you may have to think of accommodation and mode of transport depending upon your vacation time. Washington D.C. has hotels ranging from $125 to $6000 per night. You may decide based on your preferences. Public transportation or hop-on hop-off trolleys are suggested for local tours. Free walking tours that are tip based are also available. Booking online saves money and AAA members can avail extra discounts!!

Note that public parking lots charge around $25 from 9 am to 6pm. Free parking lots are available along the Ohio Drive SW and near the Jefferson memorial. The Smithsonian’s charge $15 per day during working hours.

Attractions

The popular memorials and attractions in Washington D.C. are:

Visitor Centers

  1. The White House
  2. The Capitol
  3. Library of Congress
  4. Supreme Court
  5. Department of Treasury
  6. Union Station

Memorials and Monuments

  1. Lincoln Memorial
  2. Jefferson Memorial
  3. World War I and II Memorial
  4. Korean War Memorial
  5. Franklin Roosevelt Memorial
  6. Arlington Cemetery
  7. Boy Scouts Memorial
  8. Washington Monument

Smithsonian Museums

  1. Natural History
  2. National Archives
  3. American History
  4. Natural Art
  5. Modern Art
  6. African-American Art
  7. Asian Art
  8. Sculpture Garden
  9. Holocaust Museum
  10. Natural Zoo

What to Expect

All the guides and tour operators are friendly and explain the sites. You will be surprised by the facts in Washington D.C. For instance,

  • The Library of Congress has over 142 million objects but only congress members can check them out.
  • The Capitol was burned in the past and was built in phases.
  • The Washington Monument has two different colors as it is built by different type of stones.
  • Women were not allowed in the elevators to the top of Washington Monument.
  • Martin Luther King Junior gave his famous ‘My Dream’ speech at the Lincoln Memorial.
  • All the memorials and statues face the Capitol or the White House.
  • The Capitol has an unoccupied tomb!
  • Supreme Court was a part of the Capitol building.
  • The Union Station hosts the Christopher Columbus statue and Freedom Bell!
  • Lady of Liberty sits on top of the Capitol.
  • Japan sent thousands of Cherry trees to Washington D.C.
  • Embassy row has office from over 200 countries.
  • The Capitol’s paintings have some unsolved puzzles and symbols.
  • The Smithsonian’s host the original Wright brothers’ plane

And still some more memorials are under construction and in the planning!

Free Attractions

Somebody in the past said, ‘the best things in the world are free’. Most of the attractions are free and need only your time and energy. You can find your own local cuisines. George town has three universities and hosts many students. The Cathedrals and secret societies are popular in the nation’s Capitol. Dan Brown’s ‘The Last Symbol’ aptly describes the city.

The orange line, blue line, and the red line will capture everybody. One will be left mesmerized by the attractions and might get totally lost in its  beauty. 🙂

Speeding: Myths and Facts

Driving on a highway can be tedious and at times enjoyable. Maintaining the speed limit always can be challenging in the freeways. Most drivers enjoy risking by crossing the speed limits. The cat and mouse game can be disastrous for self and others. Most states have imposed photo or radar enforcement methods to control the fatal accidents of speeding. Here are some speeding myths and facts.

Myths

  1. I am ok at this speed: Modern cars have high maximum speed and hence drivers feel confident to drive at higher speeds on freeways. Though the cars are advanced, human errors are inevitable at high speeds and one may not control the car.
  2. The cops cannot catch me: Most drivers think that they can spot a police car and then can reduce the speed. In fact, the cop can trace your speed, before you can actually see the cop through the sophisticated radar enforcement methods
  3. I have to cut the travel time: Long journeys force drivers to increase the speed hoping that they would reach sooner. But in contrast, speeding may result in reducing the time and the car’s performance may suffer at higher speeds. Driving at the posted speed limit can take the driver in time and can improve the mileage of the car.
  4. I am not tired: Most drivers do not realize that they are tired and continue driving ignoring the signals. Breaking for every two hours at the rest areas and swapping the drivers may be a good idea to avoid fatigue. Having enough diet and rest in between the drives is suggested.

Speeders do agree that they undergo a lot of pressure while speeding and miss the scenic beauty on the drive. The time savings (2 1/2 hours when 65 mph posted) for a thousand mile trip at 80 miles per hour is not worth the risk and tension. Rather it is better to enjoy the drive at the posted speed while being safe for self and others.

Radar Enforcement

Speeding, drunk driving, and reckless driving are the major causes of accidents. Authorities aim to control the speeding through radar enforcement and other traffic control systems. Red light cameras have reduced the cases and helped increase the safety. Road side electronic displays notify the oncoming vehicles speed to notify the drivers. Aerial traffic enforcement is in force in highly busy states.

Radars are exclusively used for identifying the speeders. Through Doppler effect, the radars can detect the speed of the objects arriving. In heavy traffics, it may be difficult to identify the original car. Radar detectors, which detect the police radars, have been banned in many states.

Fines

Some states have doubled the fines in work zones and increased the penalties for toll violations.  While many citizens criticize the photo and target radar enforcement systems as money-making methods, but the National Safety Council has seen reduced accidents due to the traffic enforcement methods.

If you are caught speeding, do not panic. Most officers are trained to the process and manage the situation in highly professional manner. Accept the citation in case you did speed. If you choose to visit the court, you are free to do. In some states, you can pay the fines online or  may send the check through mail. If you do not pay the ticket or ignore the citation, your driver’s licence may be suspended!

Japan – Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear explosion ….

The largest economy in Asia and third largest economy in the world, Japan, is now faced with the largest crisis. A 8.9 magnitude earthquake shook Japan, which led to a 27  feet Tsunami wave, that collapsed its nuclear plants resulting in explosion and dangerous radiations. Nature remains the most powerful with no escape from its effects. People worldwide pray and hope speedy recovery(?) for Japan.

Japan

Japan, the land of rising sun, comprises thousands of islands on the pacific coast of East Asia. The Japanese Yen is the currency and people practice Shinto and Buddhism religions in Japan.  With a strong history of resilient people and mighty leaders, Japan plays a prominent role in the world. Being the fourth largest exporter and fifth largest importer in the world, Japan has a strong hold in world’s economy.

Japan has excellent infrastructure with the its expressways, railways and roadways. Its high work ethics and affectionate people attract a lot of tourists from all around the world. Its manufacturing practices and technological production measures have set an example to the rest of the developing nations.

Earthquake

Earth has many earthquakes over the years but the most dangerous ones that are felt on the surface of the earth.  They are caused by faulty planes in the earth’s interior that send seismic waves to the surface. Human activities such as mine blasts or nuclear tests can earthquakes.

Scientists can estimate but cannot predict the occurrence of earthquake. Seismographs record an earthquake, the scale of three or lower is unnoticeable while the scale of seven or higher is devastating.   They can trigger tsunamis, cyclones, land slides, and volcanic activities among others.

Due to its location, Japan is prone to earthquakes and typhoons. The proximity to water proves to be dangerous naturally. Many earthquakes have shook up Japan in the past. The Japanese are prepared for similar disasters but were helpless when the magnitude was around 9 on March 11, 2011 followed by a monster Tsunami!

Tsunami

Sudden movements of earth planes under the oceans beds cause a large displacement of water. The displaced water result in large waves widely known as ‘tsunami‘. The waves travel with a speed of a jet under the water. When these waves hit a land, they cause a height of waves submerging the land around. In 2004, Indonesia and other surrounding nations were devastated by a monster tsunami in the Indian ocean.

Japan had many tsunamis in the past but the recent one is more dangerous. The waves hit within minutes of the warning. Older people and younger children who could not reach higher places lost their lives. Millions of people could not be traced with families entirely clueless whether their loved ones are alive or not. Funeral organisations cannot handle the large number of dead bodies appearing every day. However prepared the people are, all remain helpless under the power of nature.

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy provides a clean and safer energy and helps reduce green house effects. The large energy generation with high safety standards has encouraged nations to set up nuclear plants. The developed nations encouraged the nuclear plants to meet the never ending demands of people.

Nuclear energy plants supply electricity to most of Japan. While nuclear plants are built with concrete and steel containers and have sound evacuation plans, the recent disaster in Japan had cut off power to the nuclear plants. The containers need power to supply to maintain the coolants and the equipment. One by one, the nuclear plants are exploding releasing large amounts of nuclear radiation in to the atmosphere. The exposure to the radiation may result in cancers and other complications to the current and future generations.

Help

All nations are sending people, equipment, money, and all other required things to Japan. The social networks such as the twitter and face book are helping people to stay in touch when the other means of communication is disrupted. Google has set up person finder options through which one can track their loved ones. The economy is having effects through out the world.

You can help by contributing to the Red Cross or any other organisation. Emergency preparation kits are now mandatory for all house hold everywhere!

Fight Against Corruption

Well, corruption is an international epidemic prevalent in all countries. According to the 2010 corruption index, Somalia is the most corrupt country and Singapore, Denmark, and New Zealand are the least corrupt countries. Corruption hinders a nation’s progress no matter how hard its leaders try. Citizens are fighting back corruption through all means. In India, a social activist, Anna Hazare, opted for a hunger strike to pass a bill against corruption.

Corruption

Corruption is as common as the money itself. It may be getting a college seat, a railway reservation, or a movie ticket, piracy, human right abuse, or major scams involving governments and politicians. Huge amounts of money or goods are exchanged pushing a country in to its decline. Transparency International, a Berlin based firm, recently released a list of corruption index in the world. The results are alarming.

Here are the most corrupt countries:

  1. Somalia: 1.1
  2. Myanmar: 1.4
  3. Afghanistan: 1.4
  4. Iraq: 1.5
  5. Uzbekistan: 1.6
  6. Turkmenistan: 1.6
  7. Sudan: 1.6
  8. Chad: 1.7
  9. Burundi: 1.8
  10. Republic of Equatorial Guinea: 1.9

Here are the least corrupt countries:

  1. Denmark: 9.3
  2. New Zealand: 9.3
  3. Singapore: 9.3
  4. Finland: 9.2
  5. Sweden: 9.2
  6. Canada: 9.1
  7. The Netherlands: 8.9
  8. Australia: 8.7
  9. Switzerland: 8.7
  10. Norway: 8.6

The corruption index of 10 is highly clean and 0 is highly corrupt. The most corrupt countries have weak governments while the least corrupt countries set up strict measures against corruption.

Anna Hazare

India’s corruption index is 3.3, which is highly dangerous to its growth. Despite large educated population, exports, and growing economy, India is still suffering from corruption. Transparency and accountability are absent in most of the public and private sectors. Education, healthcare, revenue, judicial, transportation, and political corruption is prevalent in India. Corrupt politicians and criminal leaders tend to rule the developing nation. Though rich in natural and human power resources, India’s growth is hindered by its corruption. The youth and the learned desire a thorough revamp of the entire system.

Anna Hazare is a social activist in India who has been working for social causes since man years. At age 73 years, he resorted for hunger strike for passing Lokpal bill. According to the bill, any corrupt case is handled by a special committee of representatives whose verdict stands against over any other department or committee. A retired soldier and the recipient of Padmashri award, Anna Hazare has inspired many lives and is fighting for the justice in rural India.

Social Media

Let’s not undermine the power of social media in the light of latest revolutions in the Middle East. You can join Anna Hazare during his fast and support him on his facebook page. The fight against corruption will need the support and backing of many citizens worldwide.

Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen

I have heard about the movie with the title but have recently read the novel by renowned writer Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice is all about relationships and feelings between man and woman. The author narrates stories of young women striving to get married and get settled in life. Jane Austen is a master of writing and in this novel she describes the pride we see in self and others and the prejudice we form because of it.

Jane Austen

Jane Austen is an English writer who lived from 1775 to 1817. Jane had a passion for writing though she had not much formal education. She was part of a large middle class family in England.  Her writings were hidden for most of her life, but are now well known worldwide.

The quotes from her works, the stories, the letters, and the novels are popular in literary world. Her work has been a topic of interest for most literary students. The Jane Austen Society of North America organizes an essay contest for literary students every year and rewards their work.

Jane Austen is the author of six novels, on which many movies and television episodes have been made:

  1. Sense and Sensibility
  2. Pride and Prejudice
  3. Emma
  4. Persuasion
  5. Mansfield Park
  6. Northanger Abbey
Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice is the story of young women in a middle class family of England. The main character Elizabeth is the second of five sisters Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Mary, and Lydia. Elizabeth is close to her her eldest sister and her father Mr. Bennet. During that period, the primary goal of every house was to find suitable matches for their young daughters and marry them off. Unlike her younger sisters, Elizabeth was in no hurry for attracting capable young men in her community and getting married.

Jane, Lizzy’s elder sister and Mr. Bingley, the new visitor of Netherfield meet at a ball and hope to see each other more often. Elizabeth eventually meets Mr. Darcy who is a friend of Mr. Bingley. Mr. Darcy is perceived as unsocial and a proud man with no minimum courtesies towards women. He owns rich estates and business though. While misunderstandings seperate the two couples, the rest of the story is how the couples end up in marriage.

Review

The story progresses slowly and nothing much happens. But, the reader gets trapped in the narration and may want to complete the novel at once. How Mr. Darcy is perceived in the beginning and how Lizzy’s hatred turns in to love is so gradual and natural. The pride of a person and the prejudices people form entirely can be changed at any time. The sweet smiling faces which we see daily may not be the real nice ones. In contrast, the uncivilized ones may turn up as great humanitarians.

The incidents and consequences narrated back in 1800s are common even now and happening in modern world. The feelings are true in current sitations and can be applied in our lives as well. The social, moral, and economic conditions are similar to the modern world and gives us a feeling that things have not changed much during the last two hundred years. 🙂

Further, the love stories of the novel again suggest that lovers do not mind the social statuses in choosing their partners. The emotions of a father in giving away a daugther in marriage and the anxiety of a mother in finding a suitable match for her daughter is so relevant.
The female characters in the novel were not much educated but acquire knowledge and gain wisdom through reading, observation, and social interaction. The beautiful description of the country side, the elegance of the houses, and the never ending thought processes of the characters capture the readers.

Pride and Prejudice is a must read and if possible to be cherished and passed on to the future generations. 🙂

Oscars 2011

The 83rd Academy Awards broad casted on ABC last night were good in the beginning but failed to engage the audience till the end. Anne Hathaway and James Franco hosted the awards show while the King’s Speech, Colin Firth, and Natalie Portman won the Oscars last night.

Oscars

The Academy Awards or the Oscars are given every year to recognize best performances of the year. It is the most prestigious award for any actor. The awards, red carpets, and parties are the most hyped and talked about throughout the year. All the actors were best dressed last night and the ladies were amazing to watch. Designer clothes, shoes, accessories, make up, and so on are carefully planned well in advance.

The music performances by Celine Dion, A.R. Rahman, PS 22 Chorus, Gwyneth Paltrow, Randy Newman among others were mesmerizing. The tributes to legends and lost people were good enough. The Kodak theatre in Hollywood, California was enormous with good stage and adjustments. Kodak could accommodate three thousand people and the decorations were impeccable.

The audiences might be bored with the never ending presentations but I think the guests did have a good time. The stars were best dressed and had multiple parties to attend. Elton John and Vanity fair apart from the Governor’s ball are the parties that the stars attend.

Inception won for its visual effects and sound editing and mixing. The Toy Story 3 won the best animation and best original song. King’s Speech won the best director, best film, and best actor. Black Swan won the best actress award while Melissa Leon won the supporting role in the Fighter.  The social network won the best song, best adapted screenplay, and film editing. Overall, the Oscars show was disappointing but I guess the movies are good to watch. 🙂

World Cup Cricket 2011

World cup has a significance in most of the cricket followers’ lives. Apart from the players and coaches, the entire world stands with the team and cheers. World cup cricket provides an opportunity to witness some of the greatest games, boost the economy, and may often link to important events in the family.

ICC

The International Cricket Council monitors and administers the cricket worldwide. The World Cup is a greatest event in the cricket and the cup is prestigious. Since 1975, the world cup has been entertaining audiences and encouraging players. The players and teams have official sponsors and promotions.

ICC regulates the rules for the games. They monitor and approve the players, playing conditions, the grounds, umpires, the decision Review Systems, Code of conduct, and other key aspects of the cricket games. All the 105 member countries abide to the rules and participate in the greatest game. The ICC also governs women’s cricket, test matches, twenty-twenty matches, apart from the one day internationals.

World Cup 2011

In 2011, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are hosting the games. The opening ceremony was in Dhaka, Bangladesh with amazing presentations and performances from regional and international artists. The official maskot, Stumpie, the elephant and the official song, ‘De Ghumake’ by Shankar, Ehsaan, and Loy are the favorites this  year.

This year fourteen countries are competing in the world cup.  The teams include:

Group A Captain Coach
New Zealand Daniel Vettori John Wright
Sri Lanka Kumar Sangakkara Trevor Bayliss
Canada Ashish Bagai Pubudu Dassanayake
Kenya Jimmy Kamande Eldine Baptiste
Australia Ricky Ponting Tim Nielsen
Pakistan Shahid Afridi Waqar Younis
Zimbabwe Elton Chigumbura Alan Butcher
Group B Captain Coach
India MS Dhoni Gary Kirsten
Bangladesh Shakib Al Hasan Jamie Siddons
England Andrew Strauss Andy Flower
Ireland William Porterfield Phil Simmons
Netherlands Peter Borren Peter Drinnen
South Africa Graeme Smith Corrie van Zyl
West Indies Darren Sammy Ottis Gibson

The teams are rated based on certain points and the top four from each group compete for the quarter finals. After four quarter finals and two semi-finals, the top two compete for the finals in Mumbai, India on April 2nd this year.

Many viewers visit the stadiums and billions of viewers view the games through the television channels or internet broadcasts. ESPN Star Sports is the major broadcaster apart from other providers. All the cricketers are in their good shapes and spirits to fight and win the world cup despite their differences and injuries. 🙂

The world cup winners so far are:

  1. 1975 – West Indies
  2. 1979 – West Indies
  3. 1983 – India
  4. 1987 – Australia
  5. 1992 – Pakistan
  6. 1996 – Sri Lanka
  7. 1999 – Australia
  8. 2003 – Australia
  9. 2007 – Australia

Who do you think will win this year? 🙂

Adding Spouse to Auto Insurance

It is often a confusing question whether to add a newly driving spouse to an auto insurance. If you have a valid driving licence and auto insurance, it is mandatory to add your spouse to your insurance if you are sharing and driving the same car. In most cases, it may not increase your premium but will increase the safety of your family.

Auto Insurance

We consider a health insurance mandatory for all the family members. But, considering auto insurance, we often hesitate whether to add a spouse or not. We may fear that it may increase the premium or other apprehensions. But the law mandates that every driver must have an auto insurance not only for the safety of the driver but also for the safety of other drivers.

Every driver must have auto insurance. If you and your spouse drive the same car, you may have to add your spouse to your auto insurance. Some insurance companies such as the AAA, do not increase the premium in such cases. If your spouse drives another car, you may have to take a new insurance to secure the driver.

Steps to Add

Adding your spouse to your auto insurance is as simple as a simple phone call to your insurance company. You will need your spouse’s:

  1. Social Security number or  ITIN number
  2. Date of Birth
  3. Driving licence or TVDL number
  4. Date of getting the licence
  5. Address

Once you call the insurance company, you may have to give your insurance number and request for adding your spouse to your auto insurance. Just mention the required details and any other queries. Make sure to ask how your premium is going to change for the addition. Check how you can reduce the premium in case any increase.

One phone call can secure your family and others. 🙂

Grammy Awards 2011

Music industry through out the world celebrate Grammy Awards every year to reward the best performances of the year. This year Eminem and Lady Antebellum won most of the awards. The award night had many surprises with Lady Gaga arriving in an egg on the red carpet and Justin Beiber performances with Usher.

The 53rd Grammy Awards held last night was a musical festival and feast to the music lovers. The top performances by legends and new artists left the audience mesmerized and overwhelmed. The ceremony handed over 109 awards to the artists including the record of the year, album of the year, best new artist of the year, best rap of the year, and so on.

The performances and the red carpet arrivals are the most buzzed on the web. All the nominees received applause from the audiences and some of them performed to entertain the audience. The live telecast by CBS was good though the artists were some times blocked by the waving hands of the fans near the stage. Overall, the music reception was clear and not disappointing.

The duet by Usher and Justin Beiber, the performances by Eminem, Rihanna, Dr. Dre, Cee Lo, Gwenyth Paltrow, Dierks Bentley among other notable artists. Esperenza Spalding, the new Jazz artist, surprised everybody when she beat Justin Beiber as the new artist of the year category. Nicki Minaj’s hair and Lady Gaga’s egg were the highlights of the appearances. Barbara Streisand won the lifetime achievement award whose performance on the night was spell bounding.

You can buy the playlist of the year on Apple’s store or the record is available at Target and Amazon. You can listen the songs online at the Grammy Radio. Visit the Grammy Store in Los Angeles for a unique experience of the artists and memories we celebrate.

Valentine’s Day

Every year February fourteenth is celebrated as the Valentine’s day to celebrate love and affection between loved ones. Some consider it an opportunity to demonstrate their love. It may add a unusual pressure on some teens and children. For some, it is an unnecessary custom and a waste of effort. 🙂

Rationale

Historical and literary facts may differ in the exact reason behind the celebration. But, Valentine’s day is popular in the modern day. Children and adults celebrate Valentine’s day to add some joy during the cold winter days. School children exchange valentines in their classrooms. It provides an excellent chance for lovers to express their interests and confess their feelings about their partner.

Gifts – To dos

Valentines, greeting cards, chocolates, candies, flowers, jewelery, perfume, personalized photo frames, and so on are popular gifts for the Valentine’s day. Some may create special arts and crafts to express their love. Some think that special breakfast, outside activity, dinner, or a spa are also alternate gift ideas. Writing poems about your loved ones is also a good idea. The perfect gift may differ based on a women’s choice. Wedding proposals are common on the Valentine’s day.

Taboos – Do nots

Letting the female partner plan for the day, sending neutral and formal messages, expecting a gift from the women are some of the taboos of Valentine’s day. Some argue that Valentine’s day is for celebrating the women in your life and pampering them. While others think that both men and women should equally participate and  exchange gifts.

Whatever may be your style, make it special for your partner and enjoy the day. It is all about expressing love and building the relationship. Let me know your ideas for a Valentine’s day. 🙂

Movie Review: Gnomeo and Juliet

Based on William Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’, Gnomeo and Juliet is a love story but with a happy ending. The music is composed and directed by the great Elton John. A funny animation movie and has a 3D version too. 🙂

Gnomes

Gnomeo and Juliet is an animation movie in which real characters action is converted in to three dimensional characters. The voice over and music is added and they sound like real people. 🙂 Gnomeo and Juliet is about Gnomes and a funny love story. Gnomes are fictious creatures. They are mischievous and live underground. Several literatures in the past such as the Harry Potter and other stories have referred to the Gnomes.

Story

In this movie, the Gnomes live in the back yards of two adjacent houses. One is a red house which accommodates the red gnomes. The other is a blue house, which accommodates  the blue gnomes. Due to the apparent rivalry between the neighbors, the gnomes too end up fighting with each other. The hero, ‘Gnomeo’ is a young blue gnome, whereas the heroine, ‘Juliet’ is a red gnome.

Gnomeo is the leader of the blue gnomes and takes care of his garden apart from frequent lawn mover races with the red gnomes. Juliet is the only daughter of the red gnome’s leader and apparently pampered a lot. They both meet in an unexpected encounter and voila, they fall in love at the very first sight. Later, they realize that they being the professional rivals, are not supposed to meet each other. The rest of the story is all about how the hero and heroine face the further difficulties and succeed in their love story.

Review

The producers took eleven years to make this movie. The characters are apt and the music is highlight of the movie. Original scores by Elton John are catchy and melodious. Comedy by the crane, frog, mushroom, and the gnomes is hilarious. The story and the narration is engaging and the adults get totally engrossed in the movie along with the children. 🙂

Watch it in 3D for a better experience and let me know how you felt about the love story during the Valentines Day weekend.  🙂