Merry Chrismas! (Gift Included)

Hey Everybody,

Wish all of you a Merry Christmas! Hope you guys have lots of good fun and lots of goodies to share! Its a wonderful season, with trees all decorated and lights everywhere! Kind of reminds me of our own Diwali! Another thing I sort of noticed it, the ornaments to be hung on the Christmas tree are also themed nowadays, similar to our Kollu, during Navarathri! Its really nice to see what ornaments are on the trees, and the ones in the malls... Man, HUGE trees!

I wonder what Santa brought me today! :)

Oh by the way, I'm no longer going to be posting the Tweet Tweets anymore... I'm sure its a big relief to you guys! Well, you can keep that as my Christmas gift to you! Hehe!! Okay, I know. Lame... Well, anyway...

Here's my real Christmas gift to you all. A personal invitation to join The Gilt Groupe, which is an exclusive group that offers coveted fashion and luxury brands at big discounts, upto 70% off! Isnt that amazing?! Remember, it is an invitation only group. So here is my invitation. Every day there is a new set of sales, and each sale lasts for 36 hours. So hurry and get your big brands at big discount prices!

Oh, I almost forgot! I've started a new category named "Poised Goodies" under which I shall post about great deals, offers, or anything that sounds "KA-CHING"! So stay tuned for these posts, and you should find yourself some great stuff, like the invite above. Now get going with your celebrations!



Merry Christmas to ya'all!


Ho Ho Ho,

Purple Poise

My Music Experimentations

Apple iLife's GarageBand is quite an impressive application for making music. While it may not be as wholesome as the applications used by big time music directors, it is surely something for newbies like me. I haven't really played much with it, but have tried to create a couple music pieces, if you may call them that. Dont expect something awesome. I'm just posting it here to share it with you guys! :)

How I created them: There is section in the application that allows you to record and mix different sounds; which can either be the ones already available in the application library or some piece you may plug and play with the application, or simulate on the application (like playing a virtual keyboard on the application). What I did was just use the different sounds available in the application library, and mix them. :) Voila!

Listen and well, laugh? enjoy? shut your ears? do anything! Before you listen, dont forget to read the fine print below! ;) And please do leave comments/critics/rebukes etc. :)

Check out this application whenever you can, and make your own music! Am sure you'll come out with stuff better than me!


My first creation: Maiden Piece



Despair, Fear and Freedom (I dont know why I named it that way! Please suggest some names!)

XOXO,

Purple Poise 

Warning: I am not responsible for any damage to your ears or any other part of your body! 

Back with some Sweets!

Okay... I know its been a really long time, again, since I last said "I'll be back!". So here I am, back with some stuff to show you guys. I promised to post pictures of the Diwali Sweets and Snacks etc. that my mom made while she was here with me. Well, here they are now, atleast in time for Christmas!! Haha!! :)

Take a look!

Peda

Gulab Jamun

Ras Malai

Badushah

Ashoka Halwa

Okay then!!!

Happy oggling at the snaps!!! And I'm going to be posting more stuff in sometime... Not pics though! ;)

XOXO,

Purple Poise

I'm back again!

Helloooooo...
Well, seems like no one's reading my blog anymore! Haha!! Well, I'm back again, back with a bang!

I was dumped with sooooo much work, I hardly had time to even remember it existed. Until now!

I'll update you guys with what has been happening with me...

My mom was here with me, for three months. My dad came here for a month, while my mom was here. Now both my parents are back at Doha.

I've been struggling with my thesis work, and my paid work, and some voluntary work as well. Incidentally, all three involve working with Ruby on Rails! Well, it was a bit stressful at times, but its also fun working with Rails! :)

Very soon, I'm going to post the following:
1. Pictures of the wonderful sweets and snacks my mom made for the festivals she celebrated with me here.
2. Some funny audios I created with my Macbook's GarageBand.
3. A post promoting my thesis work! (I need you guys to play around with a sensational(!) facebook application revolving around sustainability, so that I can do some kind of research work on the user activity and get done with my thesis work)
4. A LOT of interesting info I've been stepping upon in the World Wide Web.
5. A lot of stuff about what I've been doing.
6. And, a lot of ramblings! :)

Stay Tuned...

XOXO,

Purple Poise

ASU graduate student commits suicide

David Solnick, 59, a graduate student at Arizona State University, (yes, the school that I go to), shot himself while in the office of Mookesh Patel, a professor, around 11:40 am, in the College of Design South building at the Tempe campus.

The police are investigating the matter.

Click here to read more.

President Obama wishes Happy Diwali

Hello All,

I wish each one of you and your family a very very happy and colorful Diwali! Well, I may be a bit late in wishing, but I sure hope you had great fun, sweets, snacks, poojas etc...

I was busy celebrating mine by devouring the lip smacking sweets my mom made! :) I'll be posting pictures soon! Hehehe!

In the meantime, I thought I'll post a video here, of Prez. Obama's Diwali wishes. Have fun watching!



Click here to watch this video on Youtube.

XOXO,

Purple Poise

Science of Scams Video: Brickbreaking

Science of Scams: Brickbreaking



Click here to watch the video on Youtube.

Science of Scams Video: Ghost on Film

Science of Scams: Ghost on Film



Click here to watch the video on Youtube.

Science of Scams Video: PSI Wheel

Science of Scams: PSI Wheel



Click here to watch the video on Youtube.

Science of Scams Video: Introduction

Science of Scams: Introduction



Click here to watch the video on Youtube.

Science of Scams

(This was so exciting that I didnt want to allow it to rot in the drafts, and just had to publish it!)

How many times have we come across videos that claim to show live footage of ghosts and spirits? And how many videos have we seen on Youtube that boast about telekinetic powers?!! Well, there are more weird videos out there, but did you know that there was a scientific principle behind all these "stupid" videos? Know it now, from Derren Brown and Kat Akingbade, in their Science of Scams series.

Derren and Kat show you how these scams are made, and what is the scientific principle behind all these. Now, when people say ghosts are not scientific, well, you know now, they are scientifically produced! ;) I dont want to give too much away, but take a look at the website. Between you and me, the website is a refreshing change from the other usual websites. The design is very impressive and intriguing. I shall post the videos as separate posts, as and when they are published, so you can watch them here.

Purple Poise

Another Break!

Aaaarrrggghhh.. These past few weeks have been so stressful! :( I cant remember the last time I had a good laugh or slept peacefully, without having to think what I need to complete the next day.

I just finished completing a major piece of work, and now, I'm feeling soooo relaxed... :) Wish it could last! So while taking this break, I thought, why not publish some of my drafts. But then, when I looked at the list of the drafts, the blogger interface looked more like another big chunk of work to be completed, and I rejected that idea. :)

Anyway, this post is just to let you guys know that I havent forgotten my blog!! Hehehe!!! And that, very soon... very soon, I should be able to post my drafts and a few other posts that are drafted in my brain! Hehe!!

Keep coming back! :)

XOXO,

Purple Poise

Quick Break

Hey Guys,

Sorry to keep you waiting for the recipes for a long time. I've been really busy with stuff. :(

Hardly found time to post entries! But that doesnt mean I have forgotten about my blog! Hopefully this weekend, I should have sometime. :)

And guess what? My dad's here too now!! Having lots of fun with Mom and Dad!! Yay! :)

Stay Tuned,

XOXO,

Purple Poise

Vinayaka Chathurthi - 2009

This post should have come out a few days earlier: August 23rd, 2009. But better late than never!


July 23rd, 2009 was Vinayaka Chathurthi. I hope all of you had fun offering sweets and savories to Lord Ganesha to fill his belly, and also filled your bellies!!! Hope your prayers are answered soon. Belated Vinayaka Chathurthi wishes!

Vinayaka Chathurthi, also known as Ganesha Chathurthi, is celebrated as the birthday of the elephant-headed Lord Ganesha. Do you want to know how he got his elephant head? Then read along.

Once, when Lord Siva had gone out, Goddess Parvathi wanted to take a bath, but there was no one to guard the door. So, she created a little boy from the Sandalwood paste on her body, and asked him to let no one inside. As he stood there guarding the door, Lord Siva returned home, and asked to be let inside. The little boy, not knowing who Lord Siva is, refused to let Siva in. Infuriated by this, Lord Siva drew out his trident and severed the boy's head. When Parvathi saw her boy's headless body, she flew into an uncontrollable rage and took the form of Goddess Kali and threatened to destroy the three worlds. Siva, worried that he had enraged his beloved, instructed his "Bhoothaganas" to cut the head off of the first living being they encountered, whose mother had turned the other way. The bhoothaganas went on their search and came upon an elephant, and cut its head and took it back to Siva. Siva then restored the life of Parvathi's little boy with the elephant-head and named the boy Ganesha; meaning the "Lord of his Ganas" ( Gana + Isha (lord) ).

On this auspicious day, devotees offer sweets and snacks that are known to be the Lord's favorites; such as the Modaks or Kozhakattais, Bananas, etc.

This year, my Mom is with me, so we made several sweets, the recipes of which I shall post very soon. :) Its an auspicious start for my recipes again! Ha ha!
The image on the left shows what we made. :)

Do you know whats my favorite version of Ganesha?? I like my baby Ganesha on the right! (Its not a very clear image, but I'll try to update the post with a better picture, soon.) And also Nardhana Ganapati! He is sooo cute with his little belly also dancing about with him! Pranaams to you, my Ishta Deva! What are your favorite versions of the Lord? Let me know!

XOXO,

Purple Poise

Tête-à-tête with Navia Natarajan

Here is the unabridged text of my interview with Navia Natarajan Menon, for Bharathanatyam and the Worldwide Web. An edited version of the interview was published at Carnatic Darbar.

In this day and age, when a lot of students of dance are lost to the IT industry or some other demanding careers, there are a handful of them who realize what they’re truly meant to pursue, and take the brave step toward it.

Navia Natarajan is one such student, who realized her real calling, literally while performing laboratory experiments as a research assistant. In her own words, “I would sit in front of an experiment and start to think of an item.” This isn’t surprising coming from someone who was attracted to the divine art form of Bharatnatyam at the age of 3 and was on stage at 4, although her formal training began while she was 7, under the tutelage of Smt. Radhika Kalyani, in Chennai. In just 3 years, she was on the dais, performing her maiden solo dance performance – “Arangetram”. The year after that, she was awarded the CCRT (Center for Cultural Resources and Training) scholarship in recognition of her talent. Later on, she trained under Smt. Padmini Ramachandran, in Bangalore, while pursuing her Master’s degree in Microbiology at the same time.

After her move to the United States, her bond with Bharatnatyam only grew stronger. She started the Navia Dance Academy to instill this pristine art form into other young students and bring out the wonderful dancers within them. She has given numerous performances in India, United States, United Kingdom, as well as the Middle East. She visits India every year to continue her advance training under Guru A. Lakshmanan and Bragha G. Bessell, as well as give performances.

The Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India awarded her a scholarship in the field of Bharatnatyam in 1998. Following that, she won the top prize in Bharatnatyam at the Yuva Sangeet Nritya Mahotsava conducted by South Central Zone Cultural Center in Belgaum, Karnataka. In recognition of her talent and efforts to elevate the cultural standard, she was awarded the Kalakusuma Award by the Aryabhata Cultural Organization, Bangalore, in 2000. In 2002, she won the competition held by Tamil Nadu Eyal Esai Nadagamandram, Government of Tamil Nadu, which gave her the opportunity to perform at several prestigious dance festivals in Tamil Nadu. She was upgraded to a top-grade auditioned artist in the “A+” category at Prasar Bharathi, Doordarshan, New Delhi in 2004. She is an empaneled artist of ICCR (India Council for Cultural Relations), New Delhi, since 2007.

Read along to know what Navia has to say in our tête-à-tête.

Bharathanatyam and the Worldwide Web: When, where and how did your dance lessons begin?
Navia Natarajan: I was formally initiated into dancing at the age of 7 under the guidance of Smt Radhika Kalyani in Chennai. But it was at the age of 3 in Cochin, when I apparently saw our family friends taking dance lessons. I believe I was so mesmerized by the sheer beauty of it, that I asked my mother if I could also take classes. This is what my mother told me. That’s how I embarked on this journey. I was 4 when I first took to the stage for a folk number. We then moved to Chennai when I was four.

BN: Nowadays the dance field is losing a lot of students to the IT Industry or some other demanding career. You hold a Masters degree in Microbiology and have also worked as a Research Associate for a Scientific Research Foundation in Bangalore. How did dance fit into your schedule amidst all that? What would you tell students of dance who want to pursue or are pursuing a professional degree as well?
NN: Frankly speaking I have never analyzed all that. The reason being ever since I was a school going student, I was also a student of dance. Dance classes and classes at school went parallel to each other. This was possible only because my parents backed me and supported me thro and thro. There was no room for excuses for not having fared well in studies or dance. All of it was meant to be a part and parcel of my life. I doubt if during my early school days I was even aware of the intrinsic meaning of the word “dedication” or for that matter “passion”. I probably went about it like a normal chore. After I performed my arengetram in Chennai. My father got transferred to Hosur.
Hosur is approximately an hour away from Bangalore. He and my mother used to drive me to Bangalore every weekend for my dance classes with Guru Smt Padmini Ramachandran. We then moved to Bangalore.
During my high school days, ones the day ends I would rush to the dance class looking forward to doing the adavus or learning an item. While in college I would do the same except that at times I would be exhausted after all the experiments that had to be conducted. Even while at work the routine was the same, but the approach started to change. I was beginning to feel a tug at my heart. An emotional bonding that was surfacing towards my conscious level.
But even then, I used to only treat it as a hobby. It was during my days as a research assistant that I felt a deep urge to take dancing seriously. I would sit in front of an experiment and start to think of an item. That was an eye opener. That is when I decide to take dancing seriously.
So all that I would like to tell students of dance who want to pursue a professional degree is that, try to handle both and do justice to both. Never confine yourself, never limit yourself with self-inflicted “it is tough” thoughts.
I was able to juggle all this solely because of the constant encouragement and support of my father Mr. M. Natarajan and my mother Varada. They served and still serve as an impetus to fuel my passion and goals. After marriage, I also have my husband Rupesh who is a pillar of support, though he [is] still in the process of understanding the significance of dance in my life.
It may seem absolutely impossible, but it has possibilities as Nelson Mandela rightly put it “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” There will be a point when, they will be able to decide with conviction if they want to take up dance as their career or some other field.

BN: You have worked with dancers from different styles. Your initial training was in Vazhuvoor Bhani, you have collaborated with Madurai Sri. R. Muralidharan, you have worked with Malathi Iyengar and you continue advanced training with A Lakshmanan, who runs the Nrithyalakshana School in Chennai and Bragha G Bessell. Tell us about your working experiences.
NN: It is interesting, when one collaborates with artist of exceptional caliber. One gets to understand another artists working method, how their experiences mould their expression and vision, the kind of hard work they put in to produce and launch their productions. It has been a very enriching experience and I feel deeply honored to have worked them.
My advance training with Lakshman sir and Bragha akka has been extremely gratifying. While with Lakshman sir I am learning how to understand the body, the precision of body lines, how an amalgamation of grace and energy can enhance a performance, with bragha akka I am learning ways of interpreting a line, a passage, the kind of episodes that can be used to articulate, how even a slightest movement of the hand or a small twitch of a facial muscle can change the color and context of the item.
I derive a lot of inspiration from them, their attention to details and above all their total commitment and dedication to the art forms.

BN: Was it difficult for you to move to US as a dancer?
NN: Interestingly, it was actually after reaching this land that my personality underwent a progressive change. My dormant senses were aroused. Things that would have never crossed my mind earlier where all making their presence felt.
As initially I was unable to work here, I would spend a lot of hours contemplating. In India my life was fraught with activities I never had the time nor the inclination to spend some quality moments with myself. It was here that I actually became sensitive to my own personality, my needs and interests. So I would say that, it is this land, which, has actually been instrumental in the process of metamorphoses.
But having said that I do go to India every year to learn and to perform. I do miss India, its vibrant, energetic life. I often look forward to going to India, absorbing and basking in its rich cultural tapestry. Rushing for programmes amidst rehearsals, trying to understand another artists approach to art, themes, and interpretation without any bias. I savor the whole process of rejuvenating ones senses in India.

BN: You currently teach in US. Do you find a need for a different teaching strategy or adaptation of the teaching methods used to train students in Bharathnatyam students in India, while teaching at US? How about the difference in teaching Indian students vs. NRI students in US vs. Foreign National students, especially because the latter are not that aware of our traditions?
NN: To be candid, I began teaching only couple of years back. I was in Denver initially and with in a couple of years I moved to California. So basically I have been dealing with students who have just been initiated into Bharathanatyam. They all are still learning the steps /adavus. So right now I am not employing any strategy. But yes I have heard other teachers expressing difficulty while trying to teach them interpretive dancing. I am yet to face it. Will cross the bridge when it comes.

BN: You have performed both in India and abroad. Generally, the conception is that in India, the audience is a bit more familiar or informed or knowledgeable about Bharathnatyam, than in other parts of the world i.e. a foreign audience. Do you think it is so? If yes, can you share with us how you experienced that difference?
NN: Yes, performing in other parts of the world is quite different. That is because our Indian classical dance forms are steeped in philosophy and mythology. We as Indians are able to relate to it, as all this has been a part of our growing up in India. It is a way of life for us. We take pride in being a part of its rich heritage.
While performing nayika oriented piece say a varnam, in India we can go ahead and perform it without a lot of hassles as to whether the audience understand it or not. But in other countries, I have experienced that one needs to explain the emotional plight that the woman is in, what thoughts or desires she is journeying thro, and how the plethora of gods such as Shiva, Rama or Krishna are just protagonists in the piece. Emotions be it love, hate, anger, humor are all universal, so when an artist presents these pieces to a foreign audience we just need to package them in away that they will be able to relate. For example I recently did a piece “indendhu vachitivira”, where in a kandhitha nayika rebuffs Lord Venkatesha for being unfaithful to her. Here the audience did not know about the lord but were able to see the turmoil in the nayika.
If we take our mythological stories, there are Protagonist who are not ideal characters to emulate, some characters have shades of grey in them, some are perfect to revere and theses shades of characters can be found in all and sundry irrespective of the age/ era their hail from.
Foreign audiences do appreciate neat lines, the geometry in the execution of our steps and our grand eloquent movements. So I personally believe our art forms have various layers of meanings and contents. It is how we use those layers skillfully to present it to foreign audience. Presenting our items to them also help us to sit back and reflect on our work.
Well with the limited exposure that I have had, this is what I have felt and perceived, but then again probably I would be able understand it more as and when the journey unfolds.
Therefore a lot of dilemmas and perplexities [exist] but then I guess that is the whole beauty of being an artist, coastally evolving.


To learn more about this promising dancer and her upcoming performances, visit www.navianatarajan.com

Sita Sings the Blues

Amidst all my drafts, I just had to create a new post for this!

I was just browsing through the net when I came upon this site:
Sita Sings the Blues (http://www.sitasingstheblues.com)

I sat and watched the animated movie this afternoon, and thought that I should definitely put it up on my blog!

Sita Sings the Blues is a cute animated feature film, directed, produced, written and animated by Nina Paley. Nina Paley is an American cartoonist, best known for her comic strips such as Nina's Adventures and Fluff which were drawn by her, and often written by her as well. Her drawing talents naturally led to animated short films like Fetch!, The Stork and The Wit and Wisdom of Cancer, and now Sita Sings the Blues. Read her blog to know more about her works.

Sita Sings the Blues is a retelling of the Ramayana, evidently, from the title, based on Sita, Rama's wife. The story in the animation does miss a few elements from the original epic; such as the absence of Lakshmana, Rama's brother in the 14 years of Vanavas of Rama and Sita. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable piece of work with adorable illustrations, keeping the viewer intrigued and wanting for more. The movie also tells Nina's true story about how she was interested in the Ramayana. The story goes thus:

Nina and her husband are happily living in San Francisco. Her husband is sent to Trivandrum, India, for a six-month project, which is later extended to another year. Unable to withstand the pains of being separated from her husband, she moves to India to be with him, where she comes upon the epic, Ramayana. Later, she gets an assignment in New York, and while on that trip, her husband breaks of their marriage. Not wanting to go back to India or San Francisco, she moves to New York, and draws lines of similarity between her and Sita.

Strung along with Nina's story, is the story of Ramayana, in the form of a discussion between three Indian Shadow Puppets; and musical interludes containing blues songs by Annette Hanshaw.

The video file for the movie is available in several forms for downloading; the details are on the website. You can also watch it on Youtube, but I have also put in the playlist below for your convenience.

SITA SINGS THE BLUES: Youtube Playlist

Youtube Playlist Link: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=422DA8C3B574D836

Hope you have a wonderful time watching it, like I did; but remember, some facts are missing, however the focus is on Sita and her emotions tied up with melancholic music.

XOXO,

Purple Poise

My First Interview Ever

For some of them who don't know much about me, there is a Bharatnatyam dancer within me. But now, while doing my masters, that part of me is not too active. :(

But thanks to a wonderful person, Sangeetha Akka, I am able to contribute at least something to the dance field! In the form of articles!

Hmmm.. Maybe sometime soon I'll interview her and post it up here! :)

Sangeetha Akka manages a blog "Bharathanatyam and the Worldwide Web"; the blog name says it all. I'll save the grand intro about her for the interview! :) [Note to Sangeetha Akka: Ok. Now you've been warned!!! Hehehe!!]

She has been a big encouragement for me for being able to contribute to dance by allowing me to contribute to her blog. Thanks Akka!

So, she gave me my first interview assignment: To interview the young and inspiring dancer, Navia Natarajan. She asked me to submit the interview article to Carnatic Darbar, and they published it! Yay! And today, she would be publishing the unabridged entry on her blog! :)

Take a look at the article on Carnatic Darbar. And take a look at the unabridged version on Akka's blog.

Let me know what you think of it. :)

XOXO,

Excited 'n' Elated

Ice Breaker - Busy Times

Hello Everybody!

Its been a long time, I know. I have sooooo much to tell you guys!

Firstly, I apologize for not being able to update my blog as often as I wished I could.

I was quite held up with my work and thesis work as well. And to top it off, LoudTwitter, the service that used to ship my tweets to my blog, had problems with their server. So you couldn't really keep track of whats happening with me!

Here are the updates in a bulleted list. I guess its a pretty neat way to keep track of it. I'll try to provide time-lines as much as I can.

• July 31st: I moved to a new place! Its a one bedroom apartment. Its just me and my mom! :)
• August 9th: My birthday. Well, nothing great about it actually. It was literally just like any other day! Work work work. :(
• August 12th: My mom landed in Phoenix. :) Well, there's a loooong story behind it. She was supposed to arrive here at noon, but then because of flight cancellations and delays, she ended up coming here close to midnight!

Well, those are the only big highlights I could think of!! Heh heh! But I have a few other things to share as well, which I believe would be best if I put up as separate posts!

XOXO,

Purple Poise

Been a Long Time!

I know, its been a really really really long time! Well, I was pretty busy with work and stuff!!!

I made Twitter updates as much as I could, but unfortunately, LoudTwitter had some server issues, so they couldn't ship the tweets to my blog! :(

Anyway, I'm here now, to catch up with whats happening!

A lot of things are happening, actually. I got a new iPod Touch, yeah, I already wrote about it! Then I went to Madison for an interview with Epic Systems, and they had something fishy going. Ha ha!

And I've been working on a lot of interesting projects, and that is the reason I've not been able to blog for a long time. But generally browsing, I found a lot of links that might definitely be interesting. I'll post those links eventually! I'll try to post some today. And I've also drafted a few recipes, that I should post very soon, hopefully! ;)

I have some great news to share! My mom is coming to the US to stay with me for awhile! Woo Hoo!! My dad might come sometime too, but depends on how many days he can get away from work. I've asked her to get a load of goodies for me from India!!! :) Cant wait to see what she's getting! She's coming next month, and would be here for about 3 months! Yay!

Hey, know what? Today's my star birthday! :) Nakshatra Purandanaal! (Adi Krithika/Karthigai)
Well, but there's some confusion about it as well! The star Krithika, this year, is on two days during the month of Aadi - June 17th, which is today and August 14th! So I guess I'm the lucky one who has 2 star birthdays! Yippee, so I get in total 3 birthday! He He!! I didn't get to do anything special today anyway! :( Just work work work!

OK then, I should be back very soon with more posts!

XOXO,

Purple Poise

My first iPod; and its an iPod Touch!

Guess what? I got a new iPod Touch! I know, its awesome! :) Yay me! Wanna know how?

Well, its kind of a long story. Earlier, the Macbook I bought, I actually bought it with another good friend of mine; that time we were sharing the laptop, and I was primarily using the Macbook given to me in one of my workplaces, the New Media Innovation Lab at ASU. But then, I had to return that Macbook because they were upgrading all the laptops before checking them out to students. So sometime in May, I decided to buy another Macbook and keep it for myself, so my friend could keep the other Macbook. So, yay! I had a new Macbook, again! That was on May 13th.

Then, after about two weeks, I got a mail with an offer: Buy a Macbook for college and get an iPod Touch free. (You might want to check out that offer. Pretty good! Its valid till September 8, 2009.) And I had just bought that new Macbook 2 weeks earlier. How mean of Apple to have this offer after I buy the Macbook! X( I wanted to make use of this offer, and was thinking of ways to do it, and so I called up the Apple store, and asked them what I could do to make use of the offer, and they asked me to come to the store.

So I went to the store, praying all along the way, that somehow they should work out something to help me get the iPod Touch. Fortunately for me, God decided to answer my prayers, and the representative there worked up some magic*, and lo! I had my first iPod in my hands! My first ever actual MP3 player, and it was the latest iPod Touch! Woo Hoo!!! Of course, it was the 8 GB one, but who cares! It was free**!

Its been about 3 weeks since I have it, but I haven't been able to load much into it, except download a few apps and games, and about 1/1000000 th of my favorite songs! I hope I find some time to upload more songs...

Keep Reading,

XOXO,

Excited 'n' Exhausted

* The representative logged it in as though the Macbook was returned and bought again on the day of the offer. Luckily I was just a day from the return deadline. I got real lucky there!
** It was a rebate. I had to pay an extra 300 something, and I would get back $ 229 back, but it would be mailed out to me as check. And the rest of the amount goes as tax and stuff. X( But on the bright side, I get 229 back! :)

Ice Breaker - Stressful Times

Hey Everybody!!!

I know its been quite a while since I posted an entry. Well, I've been pretty busy for sometime. But I've collected a few bits and pieces from the web that I would like to share with you guys. So very soon, I shall put them up. You wouldn't believe, but I have about 43 drafts, waiting to be properly written and published!

Its been quite hectic for me. Working 40 hours per week, and then working on my thesis, and then there's the housework - cooking, washing vessels, washing clothes, drying clothes, folding clothes, ironing clothes, cleaning etc... Then there's eating, sleeping, etc... God, there's so much work to do but no time! I sleep at 3 and I need to wake up at 6 or 7! Till then, I have some work. Its been quite some while since I actually saw a movie, or series or did anything for leisure! :(

Wish I could go back to India! But you know what? I'm planning on getting my mom here to stay with me! Hope things turn out well!

Don't stop reading my blog! I shall be back soon, with plenty of posts. I know I promised some long back, but don't worry, I'll try to post something when I can. Also, I have a lot of recipes as well. Just need to upload photos. :)

Keep reading. (And waiting! Heh heh!)

See you soon.

XOXO,

Purple Poise

RECIPE: Dal Curry

Here's one more easy recipe. And its healthy, packed with proteins - the major ingredient for this is Moong Dal (the halved and yellow variety) or Mung Beans (dried, skin-removed and halved). You can make this dish any way you want, with any type of lentil. What I have here is probably the most simple form of it, ideal for students who don't really want to spend much time cooking!

SERVING SIZE: For 5 people

PREPARATION TIME: 20-30 mins. (Depends on pressure cooker cooking time)

INGREDIENTS:

• Moong Dal or Mung Beans - 1 cup (The yellow variety)
  
• Onions - 1 nos.
• Tomato - 2-3 nos. (small sized)
  
• Green Chillies - 1-2 nos. (Depends on desired spiciness)
• Oil - 7 -8 tbsp.
• Jeera (Cumin Seeds) - 1-2 tsp.
• Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp.
  
• Coriander Leaves (Cilantro) - To garnish
• Salt - to taste
• Lemon Concentrate - 2 tsp.
• Water - as needed
  

APPLIANCES NEEDED: Pressure Cooker

METHOD:

• Cook the dal in the pressure cooker for about 2 whistles, keeping 1:2 ratio of dal to water and 1/4 tsp. of turmeric powder.
• Meanwhile chop the onions and keep aside.
• 
• Chop the tomatoes and keep aside.
• 
• Pour the oil into the kadai.
• Add the jeera into the kadai and fry for sometime until the jeera is slightly darkened.
• Slit the green chillies and put them into the kadai.
• 
• Now put the chopped onions and fry until the onions turn translucent.
• 
• Add the chopped tomatoes and fry for until the tomato pieces are soft.
• 
• Now, once the dal is cooked, mash it well so that no individual lentil is seen.
• 
• Add the mashed dal to the kadai.
• 
• Mix well, adding water in small quantities to get the dal to proper consistency - it shouldn't be too thick nor too watery.
• Add salt and the lemon concentrate and stir well.
  
• Chop the coriander leaves and add that as well, and stir lightly.
• Dal curry is ready!
• 

PURPLE TIPS:

• You can use even Masoor dal for this.
• If you want to give it more flavoring, you can add some Garam Masala as well.
• Lemon concentrate gives it a slightly tangy taste. I like it that way, but it would turn out well even if you didn't add it.
• You can add some cooked, chopped spinach and that would be Dal Palak!

Try it out and let me know how it turned out.

XOXO,

Purple Poise

RECIPE: Palak Paneer

Okay, I haven't been able to post all those entries I promised last time. But I shall do them now. I have about 20 entries in drafts, waiting to be completely written and published, so don't think that I've forgotten about my blog! :)

Remember Popeye, the Sailor Man? He used to have spinach to get strength. Well, some people I know aren't quite fond of spinach. I'm not sure this recipe would be interesting for them, but maybe it could attract them because it has Paneer in it, which is a favorite for most people! Well, not exactly Paneer, its Tofu, which is much healthier than Paneer, but you wont know the difference!

But before I go ahead, let me tell you this. There are several ways of making this, actually. Right now, I'm just writing how I made it, with the form of the ingredients I got here, but I shall write the variations below in the Purple Tips Section. :)

SERVING SIZE: For 5 people

PREPARATION TIME: 20-30 mins.

INGREDIENTS:

• Main:
  
  • Spinach - 400-500 gms, Chopped (Or one box of frozen chopped spinach)
    
  • Onions - 2 nos. (small sized) or 1.5 nos. (medium sized)
    
  • Paneer/Tofu - 500 gms cube (Or one box of Tofu - preferably extra firm)
  • Green Chillies - 1-2 nos. (Depends on desired spiciness)
  • Ginger Garlic Paste - 1/2 tsp. (Or ginger pieces and garlic pieces)
    
  • Oil - 7-8 tbsp.
  • Curd or Cream - 2 tsp.


• For the Masala:
  • Cardamom (Elaichi) - A small pinch (Powder) or 2 nos.
    
  • Bay Leaf - 1
    
  • Cloves - 2 nos. (small)
    
  • Cinnamon powder - A small pinch
    
  • Coriander Seeds (Dhania Seeds) - 1 tsp.
    
  • Cumin Seeds (Jeera) - 1 tsp.
    
  • Fennel Seeds (Saunf) - 1/2 tsp.
  • Fenugreek Seeds - 1 tsp.
    
  • Cashew Nuts - 5-8 nos.
    

APPLIANCES NEEDED: Blender, if required.

METHOD:

• Chop the green chillies.
• 
• Fry all the masala ingredients in a small amount of oil, until the smell of the masala comes out.
• 
• Blend the masala ingredients with the green chillies and keep aside.
• Cut the paneer/tofu into small pieces - either cubes or small triangular pieces, like shown below.
• 
• Fry the tofu pieces in little oil, enough to take away the excess water in them.
• Keep the tofu pieces aside.
  
• Dice the onions and cook the onions in the microwave oven for 5 mins. This will allow the onion to get fried and cooked quickly after blending.
• 
• Blend the onions to a thick paste.
• If using frozen chopped spinach, thaw the spinach for sometime and then cook it in the microwave oven for about 7-8 minutes until the ice is gone.
• 
• Blend the spinach to a paste.
  
• In the kadai, pour oil, and fry the jeera.
• Add the blended onion paste.
• 
• Heat until the paste turns slightly brown.
• Then add the blended masala, and fry for sometime.
• 
• Then add the tofu pieces to this gravy and let the tofu absorb the masala for sometime.
• 
• Then add the spinach paste and let it boil.
• Add salt to taste.
• Pour some cream or curd over it and stir well.
  
• Palak Paneer or Palak Tofu is ready!
• 

PURPLE TIPS:

• Adding green chillies is more healthier and tastier than adding red chillies. That's the reason I added green chillies.
• I usually like the spinach blended. But you can also use the spinach in the chopped form as well. It would be have more pulp.
• If you don't have the masala ingredients, or don't want to make the masala yourself, you can use garam masala instead. But I prefer making the masala on my own! :)
• You can fry the tofu to the extent you like, maybe even deep fry it. Its up to you.

Okay then, try out the recipe and let me know how it turned out.

XOXO,

Purple Poise

President Obama's Speech at ASU

On Wednesday, May 13, 2009, President Barack Obama addressed the graduating students at our school, Arizona State University. And my, his speech was, to say the least, inspiring and motivating. You can view the entire transcript of his speech here. But in this post, I wish to talk about my experience on that day, and what parts of his speech touched me the most.

A few of my friends are graduating this year, so I got a few tickets to the commencement which was held at the Sun Devil Stadium at ASU. My roommate S and I were getting ready to go to the stadium to listen to Obama's speech and encourage our friends who were graduating, including my other roommate S. (Hey, we're three S's in our house! Well, not anymore; the S that graduated left to Colorado on Saturday. Miss you, S!)

So, S and I left to the Metro Rail stop outside our apartment complex, and we saw a huge line right there. We went and joined the line, assuming that the line was for boarding, and after about 15 mins in the scorching heat of the bright Arizona sun, we found out that the line was for purchasing the ticket from the vending machine, and not for boarding the train! We felt really dumb because we were waiting unnecessarily in the line; we had our Student Passes for the train and didn't need to purchase tickets. Then after about 10 mins, a train came along - it felt like I was in India! The train was literally bursting with people! The doors opened, and it looked like people would fall out from within the train! Unfortunately, we were not able to get into that train and let it pass. Then came another train in 5 mins and thank God it wasn't full. In fact, it was quite free; we were able to get a couple of seats. The train ran only till the University Drive and Rural Road Stop, as that was the stop nearest to the stadium - so that meant it was one stop from our place. From there, we went on a bus shuttle to the parking lot near the stadium, and we walked toward the stadium only to join a HUGE crowd at the end! We kept going and going, and finally stopped and joined a queue. The sun was literally burning us up. My feet already showed signs of tanning! Finally we got past the security checkups and metal detectors and went in. That was the first time I was going to the stadium. It was amazing! It is so huge! Our seats were in Sector 245, which was in the second level. After climbing up and making our way through a pushing and pulling crowd, we finally reached our sector and went inside and climbed up to our row and found our seats. And that meant some more sun - our sector was directly facing the sun (sometimes, I felt that the sun was deliberately right in front of me!) and our row must have been like the 10th or 15th row from the ultimate top of the stadium! People down looked like red dots (students had their maroon graduation gowns)! S and I were speechless - not in a good way, though! After sometime, the stadium became packed with people. The Sun Devil Stadium is supposed to seat around 75000 people, and looking around, I just couldn't believe that I was looking at about 70000 people at the same time! This is the first time this was happening in my life! Wow! I guess the entire population of the city must have been there!

The program started around 6:30, with a band singing some stuff (pardon me, but I wasn't really concentrating neither was I too attracted to the "songs"!) and then, we saw some cheering and dancing from the cheerleaders (they looked like tiny yellow and white figurines from where we sat) and then finally, at about 6:55 or something, we saw the police cars and sirens and the black cars, and we knew that President had come. After a while, people gathered on the stage and they sang the United States' national anthem (nope, I haven't learnt it yet!).

The president of ASU, Michael Crow gave his speech, and they introduced the students who had made tremendous achievement (there was a 17 yr old girl who was graduating, and another girl who was graduating with 4 degrees! Way to go girls! Girl Power! ) and finally, the most awaited event - President Obama's address to the crowd. Once he got to the podium, there were so many camera flashes among the audience, it felt like that night the stars from the sky fell over the audience and glittered from amongst us. I have taken a video of that - seriously, twinkling stars from the audience; simply beautiful! See for yourself!


I have always been bored by speeches, and especially those coming from political figures. But this speech, I will never forget in my life. It must have probably been one of the very few speeches that I have been completely attentive to, and the most inspiring speech of all. It was more of a wake up call for me. President Obama talked about the present economic situation and how it has affected us. But he also talked about how we can help others and how we can give back to the community. He never once looked at the paper and most importantly, the words were simple, elegant words; no verbose language. Simple, easy to understand, down to earth language, yet packed with so much power and energy that would have definitely inspired every student and every person in the audience.

Here are some of my favorite lines from the speech - ones that really touched me.

... I come to embrace the notion that I haven't done enough in my life; I heartily concur; I come to affirm that one's title, even a title like President of the United States, says very little about how well one's life has been led -- that no matter how much you've done, or how successful you've been, there's always more to do, always more to learn, and always more to achieve.

... graduates, Class of 2009, that despite having achieved a remarkable milestone in your life, despite the fact that you and your families are so rightfully proud, you too cannot rest on your laurels ... You can't rest. Your own body of work is also yet to come.

...The same principle is true in your personal life. Being a parent is not just a matter of paying the bills, doing the bare minimum -- it's not bringing a child into the world that matters, but the acts of love and sacrifice it takes to raise and educate that child and give them opportunity.

And best of all, his definition of "young":

...when I say "young," I'm not just referring to the date of your birth certificate. I'm talking about an approach to life -- a quality of mind and quality of heart; a willingness to follow your passions, regardless of whether they lead to fortune and fame; a willingness to question conventional wisdom and rethink old dogmas; a lack of regard for all the traditional markers of status and prestige -- and a commitment instead to doing what's meaningful to you, what helps others, what makes a difference in this world.

...Acts of sacrifice and decency without regard to what's in it for you -- that also creates ripple effects -- ones that lift up families and communities; that spread opportunity and boost our economy; that reach folks in the forgotten corners of the world who, in committed young people like you, see the true face of America: our strength, our goodness, our diversity, our enduring power, our ideals.

Well, this doesn't just go to Americans, this speech is for each and every student in each and every part of this world. Honestly, I feel this speech should also be seen by our lazy, selfish politicians in India. Each person in India, as an individual should also take in the words of the speech. We should all strive to do something not for ourselves, but for the others. We should all strive to make a difference in other's lives.

One speech that I will never forget in my life, and that I will always look back at for motivation, when I feel lost or helpless.

Watch the full video below. It includes Michael Crow's introduction as well as the actual address by the President.


XOXO,

Inspired 'n' Ignited

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! Especially mine! I love you, mom!

Well, you all must be wondering why I didn't post this entry yesterday, when it was Mother's Day, and instead I'm posting it today. I wanted to post the entry after collecting all my thoughts, feelings, and expressions that I experienced through out the day.

A mother is very important in a person's life. From the moment our life was conceived in her, we owe her so much. Not only did she give us life, but she gave us the courage and love to help us lead the wonderful life that we have. Mother, she has been there for you, from the beginning, literally. We started our life within her. And then, she brought us into this harsh world, telling us that she will protect us no matter what, and that she will always be there for us.

The word mother does not just refer to the biological mother, but also to the women who brought up other children as their own. And from the wonderful, culture rich country that we come from, India, the terms Amma, Ma, etc are used to call any girl or woman who shows the compassion that only a mother can, to someone unknown, or known. Hence, any girl or woman, who has expressed the sort of compassion to someone is regarded and respected as a mother, by the person receiving it. Remember the beggars outside the temples back in India? If we show them concern and give them some food or money or anything, they gratefully say, "Amma, you will live happily". Importantly, they call us Amma. Because someone showed them compassion. So, maybe, I would say, Mother, or as we know her in India, Matha, Ma, Amma, etc, is that embodiment of love and compassion without whom we would not have known what love means.

And now, to my dear mom, this is what I have to say to you...

Dear Amma,

When I was a little baby, you held me in your arms, and looked at me with all those dreams you had for me. You dreamt of making me a wonderful girl, and a wonderful woman and be proud of what I would turn out to be. When I first started to walk, you held my hands, and you were there to catch me when I fell, but you were so careful with me, that you didn't let me fall. When I was sleeping, you used to be awake, to make sure that I slept well.

When I started going to the Montessori School, in Dubai, you would pack my tiffin, dress me up, and send me off to school and after I returned, you would listen to all my nonsense. When I started dancing little steps looking at the dancers on TV, you and Appa joined me into a dance class, for which I am always grateful to you both. You used to take me along with you when you went to your Veena class, and I still remember falling asleep listening to the music, on your lap, while you rested the veena on the other lap. You never complained, although I'm sure your lap would have got numb several times.

You ended up having to go for work while I was still in school, maybe when I was in the 2nd grade, but even then, managed to spend time with me. I used to go to my friend's house after school, and you would call up to their house to make sure I came safely, and then come and pick me up to take me home. You instilled in me, slowly, the confidence and the courage to be independent, and responsible - you gave me my set of house keys so that I can come back home directly, after school. I was never afraid to be alone, when kids my age would've definitely been frightened. I used to call you once I reached home and you would call me every hour to make sure I was alright. And then, when you came home, you used to get me a toy sometimes, or a Barbie Doll. And then, in the evening, you would ask me to practice dance, and then say my prayers, and every night tell me stories before I went to sleep.

And then, when we came to India for good, in 1997, for my seventh grade, I asked you to stay at home, since you went to work earlier. And you agreed. It was a big sacrifice for you, but you never hesitated. I always complained that you left me and went to work, ignorant of the reason. Now I understand that you went to work that time, to make my future, which is present now, possible. You went to work along with Appa, to provide for my future - engineering degree, graduate studies in the US, dance etc. You have made so many sacrifices for me, to make me what I am today.

Every time you used to ask me to practice dance, I kept whining. But then, now I realize, that if you hadn't pushed me to practice, I wouldn't have been able to dance well now. I wouldn't have probably had the urge or interest in dance or the fine arts. During my arangetram practices, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to dance. You kept pushing me to practice, and encouraged me to do better every time. Even now, during every dance program, you are always on your toes, nervous, and constantly praying that I should perform well, and nothing should go wrong. It was all those prayers that have made me the person I am today.

You slowly made me independent and gave me the strength to take care of myself, by taking me to classes by the PTC buses. And encouraged me to travel alone and stand on my own, so that I can take care of myself in future; maybe that is one reason why I am able to take care of myself while living here alone without you here in the US, as a student. You taught me to be self-sufficient and responsible.

You protected me from the world, and at the same time, exposed me to it in such a way that it would only make me a better person, and not hurt me. You gave me the freedom to make my own choices, and at all times, you have always stood by me, and supported me in all times of good and bad. Every time I got injured, it was you who felt the pain more.

More than everything, you have always been there for me and still continue to be there for me, in all walks of my life. What I am today, I owe it all completely to you.

And I will always hold you at the pedestal, and I will never ever let you down or let tears come out of your eyes. I am proud to be your daughter. You mean the world to me. All these years you took care of me. Now, it is time for me to take care of you. I will never let any one hurt you or Appa for that matter. And I shall work hard and become the wonderful dancer you want me to become, of course with the help of Vijay Anna, my dance master. And I shall make you proud by being the wonderful woman you always wanted me to be. But also remember, I am still your little darling daughter. :)

Love you always.

Your darling little daughter.

To all the wonderful women out there, Happy Mother's Day!

XOXO,

Purple Poise

Ice Breaker!!!

Ah! Finally, I am done with most work; well, enough to allow me post entries on my blog. Yay! Guys, don't stop reading my blog! :( I have a lot of posts coming on the way. In the next one week, there is going to be a plethora of posts on my blog!!!

There's going to be more recipes, some general musings, some more revelation of another side of me (its not what you think!), and many more to come...

So hang in there, and stay tuned!!! Here's a rush of blog posts coming right at you!!!

XOXO,

Excited 'n' Exhausted

RECIPE: Coriander Chutney

As a student here in the US, we end up having very stereo-typical bread sandwiches - Bread and Jam, Bread and Cheese Slice, Bread and Butter, Bread and Peanut Butter, Bread and Nutella (A favorite of mine!) etc. But if you've noticed, they all are either bland or sweet. How about giving it a spicy twist?!

Yesterday, I made a bowl of Coriander Chutney. It turned out quite spicy, actually! And one nice way to have it is with bread. I usually spread the chutney over a slice of bread and place a few cucumber slices too. You can add onion rings and tomato slices as well. It tastes even better when you spread butter on the other slice of bread. Its a quick recipe, and you can use it to accompany your dosas, idlis, upmas, vadas, etc. as well.

SERVING SIZE: About a medium sized bowl

PREPARATION TIME: 5-7 Minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• Coriander leaves/Cilantro - A bunch (Comes to about 2 bowls)
• Grated Coconut - 2 tbsp.
  
• Ginger/Ginger Powder/Ginger Paste - 1 tsp
  
• Green Chillies - 1/2 nos.
  
• Peanuts - 7-8 nos.
• Water - as required
  
• Salt - to taste
• Sugar - A small pinch.
  

APPLIANCES NEEDED: Blender

METHOD:

• Wash the coriander leaves well and cut out the stems and discard them.
• Blend all the ingredients together, except the salt and sugar, by adding little amounts of water to get the normal consistency of chutneys.
  
• Pour out the chutney into a bowl and add salt to taste.
• Add a small pinch of sugar as well, to get a better taste.

PURPLE TIPS:

• Add chillies according to the desired spiciness.
• You can also add Pudhina/Mint leaves to give a minty flavor.
• You can fry some mustard seeds in oil and pour into the chutney.
• You can have this chutney with idli, dosa, uthappam, upma, pongal, vada, chappathi, dhokla etc.

Keep this chutney handy in your fridge, so someday if you're too tired to cook something, you can just spread it over bread and have.

Let me know how it turned out!

XOXO,

Purple Poise

Simulated Brain? Its not just in SCI-FIs?!

I know its been quite a long since I posted an "actual" post. Its been just "Time Twitters" for quite some time! But it is one way you get to know what I've been doing all day! Well, at least some parts of my day! But I've come back to post quite a few posts! I think there will be an array of posts you would see on my blog in the next couple of days!

For this post, I have a very interesting stuff to share with you guys. I stumbled upon this article on BBC News, which is totally mind-blowing, or you could say "brain" blowing!

In 2005, the Blue Brain project was launched as a joint research initiative by EPFL and IBM. This project aims to "create a biologically accurate, functional model of the brain using IBM's Blue Gene supercomputer", as quoted from the project website.

The article on the BBC News site just merely says the current development stage of the project, and then when I went onto the project's website, I was quite amused! Amused is putting it mildly. I was hit with a rush of several emotions, actually - surprised, shocked, awed, inspired, anxious, apprehensive... Well, its a wonder what science is capable of, but then, as I thought more about it, this apprehension crept into me - someday, the fiction of robots ruling humans might actually come true! In a few years, we'll have a simulated brain that can think and act like a real human brain. Next, there would be robots that can think independently - oh well, it isn't next, it has already been done! Just that, they still haven't gone to the point of having Cyborgs!

I might sound crazy, but hey, think about it. We're all so dependent on machines already that life, now, without a single machine is just not possible! Hell, I don't think I can even live without a laptop now!!! Sometimes, even for social communication we end up using machines; my roommates and I sometimes communicate via email or chat or SMS while being just a room apart! Someday, we might end up not using our own brains, and we would rely on such "simulated" brains. Who knows! Anything can happen!

Take a look at thearticle and let me know what you think.

Purple Poise