Rabb ne bana di jodi

The movie certainly goes by its title. Only in reel life is it possible for a husband to stretch that far for his wife. Well, i didn't mean stretching ones arms but a husband playing a dual life to win his wife's heart. SRK movie backed by Yash Chopra productions will keep your spirits high to watch the movie during the holiday season. What i liked about the movie is SRK's attire where he is playing a Punjab Power engineer. A combination of PT shoes (you know what i mean) with pant and shirt, thats a typical Indian sarkari job like dressup. SRK looks really funny in those. It's easy for SRK to mould into the role of another self of his who is completely opposite of what he is actually. This is what intrigues me but remember its a film and from that perspective, SRK does a fair good job. Anoushka Sharma, the debutante actor may not appeal impressive in the beginning but shes does manage to gain some credits for her part, as far as i am concernd. Rabb ne bana di jodi is a family one which you will enjoy for all age groups. Vinay pathak again comes in to help SRK achieve his life goal. Movie is however long but "Haule Haule ho jayegaa" manageable to watch for Indian audience. SRK is one of favourite actors and needless to say, he has done a good job. I'll rate this movie 7/10.

Dasvidaniya

When i first heard of this movie, i had no clue as to what it was. First of all, the name of movie itself is neither English nor Hindi. Its a Russian name meaning "Good Bye". I hooked up on all my resources to read its review and trying to convince my mind if i wanted to watch it or not. The movie stars "Vinay Pathak" so automatically you realize this ain't a 3 hr long movie and i enjoy such kind of movies. I did read that Dasvidaniya was based on Bucket List which i already had seen . The theme of Bucket List was good but i found the movie boring. I finally decided to watch Dasvidaniya, the hindi version if you may say so.
Its a story about a guy who knows has merely only 3 more months to live and is a big loser in life. Vinay Pathak has certainly grown as an actor. He already had his forte in comedy but the film portrays some instances of heart breaking acting which Vinay has flawlessly perfomed. The scene where he begs for instant death will touch you. He is at his best till date. Movie is impressive from beginning to the end. Its light, digestable and will give you loads of oppurtunity to retrospect the question that what would you do if you were in his shoes. I greatly admire Vinays acting. The director too (lets say inspired by Bucket List) has made sense in every moment. Never will you ever feel that movie is boredom or exagerrated. Everyone has very well supported the actor including the boss Saurabh Shukla and Pankaj Kapoor. It's an evening movie to relax your senses and i highly recommend this movie to movie watchers. Vinay Pathak is the new era of self defining hero. I'll rate the movie 9/10. Go for it !

My first snow in NYC !!!! 18th Nov 2008

This was my first snow in NYC. I got up in the morning at 6.30 am as usual to get ready. When i opened the door of my house, i saw these flakes all over in the air. Was it snow or fire ash flowing in the air? Well, fire ash cant be white but these flakes were not thick. I was in a dilemma thinking as making my way to the train station. On my way, my confidence grew that this certainly was snow. Extreme cold my body could feel and this wasn't the cold i was used to in India. I was really excited and for a sec forgot about the harsh -1 degree cold weather. It was a beautiful scene, whites flakes falling over my black overcoat. I will never forget this day. In delhi (India) from where i hail from temperature doesn't go below 2-3 degree Celsius in winters. But this NY winter which i have always been scared of is getting beautiful day by day. I hope it doesnt get worse when i need to change my mind !

The Call

A sleepy-eyed soul ready to hit the bed
awakening frantically to a call in his head
should all hell break lose to this squall
if it wasn't for him, couldn't take a fall
the marinated air seems new and fresh
this ethereal call reeking under his flesh
from the one who now rests 6 feet under
the voices so familiar, causing a thunder
is that you or someone stranger
none in the world a threat or danger
cant believe if this is real or illusion
hopes lost down the drains of seclusion
breaks my heart this wild loneliness
ever since you left, this clinging distress
would life return to normal again
or struggle in this behold pain
perhaps the light at the end of tunnel may never glow
the call has a destiny i may never know...

Happy Diwali 2008

First of all, a very Happy Diwali to all Indians !
This will be my 3rd Diwali in US ever since i have been here. The first year diwali memories of mine are still fresh, all indians at bovard auditorium at USC (University of Southern California) celebrating, dancing and wishing each other. No fireworks ofcourse ! And at home, i had not lit any candles to get a feling of diwali at home. This was not intentional, how can it be? Just that i was part of an organising commitee for Diwali celebration at USC and may have been busy.

2nd year i was staying with my American roomies and i took one of them to the same auditorium for a cultural show. This time i wasnt part of any commitee so i should say i had the time to lit candles outside my house. I did take some snaps of it and upload it on orkut, facebook. I made sure my roommate wore the Indian ethnic Kurta i gave him. We both looked great especially me in my saffron kurta !

This is the 3rd year, the dampest diwali of mine with no one around. Let me remind you that last 2 diwali's i was a student at USC but now a full time employee. Today is Tuesday, a mid day where even if you want to celebrate, you may not. This BTW is for Indians residing in US, Indians home are still celebrating Diwali on Tuesday, isn't it? So to start where i left, this is my first diwali in US while on job. Everyone is so busy with work. It indeed was a very busy today. Even Indians have no time to wish each other. Am getting the feeling there are more chinese in my office than Indians but as if i care for now. Mail fwding of nature jokes etc is kind of low in the industry i work for because evey mail you send is scrutinised and checked. Perhaps, someone then doesnt want to send but i did. Why should I stop wishing others if others dont? Mailing was one another way i could reach out to my friends who are working in different office locations. I would have sent mail to atleast 30 people and just got 6 replies. What the #$%^ ! If you are very well reading my blog, you very well know my nature that i aint sending mails for receiving any compliment that Sidharth took the initiative and send diwali greeting mail in office. But isnt it a spontaneous reaction you would be expecting when you wish someone Happy Diwali either through mail or in person. I still cant believe i just got 6 replies. Its not that my respect for other 24 has gone down, but i did expect them to see and wish in person if not through mail. One of the senior manager i mailed wished me in person. And i know that everyone had checked their mails as i mailed everyone yesterday and today is Tuesday. When i asked a fellow mate about his plans to celebrate, i was shocked when he said "What do you mean how will i celebrate Diwali. You know how it works here" ? Well, what kind of reply or question was that. I know Diwali in US wont be as like in India but was looking forward to him telling me much more that question. He didnt look at me again and went to his desk. Someone wished me today too on mail (infact one). Am i justified in expressing my anguish or do i expect too much out of life? I can wait till tomorrow but am disappointed at this moment from people i expected instant reply. After all, just because you work in NY makes you super busy huh? Diwali is very cold here guys just like the weather of NYC......Ill meet you next year telling my new experiences, till then have fun and be safe !!!

Rgds
Sidharth

Heroes or SuperHeroes or Zeroes

The ravishing poster of Heroes quickly made me think that after a long time we have a film dedicated for a heroic purpose. The four big cast on the front should give you some confidence about some seldome truth in the story. But untill you watch the movie you will realise that the 2 people on the bike are "cartoon superheroes". I wasnt sure who directed this movie but coming from a defense background, i gave time to this flick. The missing agonising part of the movie is that the director made no attempt to capture the heroic battles faught (as if there could be any) by the brave soldiers Salman, Bobby and Dino. The title is confusing to me as to who are the real heros, are they the ones fighting on the border or the ones who have lost their son, father, husband and now leading a void life.
Fist 5 minutes of the movie will spin your head as both Sohail and Vatsal are aboslutely pathetic in their roles. The introduction strip song damages and maligns the main theme of the movie which every cinema goer would have expected. Weak story line, flaw script all are disasters in this movie. To some extent, i felt preity played her part gracefully but during on of her interviews i heard, i thought she too played a military role which she was proud of. Not sure what preity meant by all this. The director could have casted sunny deol as the sikh who atleast could have spoken some fluent authentic "thhet" punjabi. Salman, preity couldnt carry this on their shoulders and disappoint. Why cant they practise and get into the punjabi character they have tp play. The half hindi punjabi dialect is hard bearing on ears. Their son speaks better hindi than Punjabi and is wise enough to answer all questions. The boy "jassi" says "Papa aisa kehte the..." when his father was dead when he was born. Stranger than fiction? Heroes lacks the spontaniety and depth a serious movie like this should have.
Sunny Deol cant walk but can drive his SUV. Mr sunny, you get too emotional and then showoff your acting skills. You forget you aint the sunny of betaab now. An old figure who swears by his chilled beer and his logic of patriotism goes over my head. In heroes, songs are boring, pathetic and unneccessary. You can have a cheesy pub at 20,000 ft above sea level in himachal with gals and firangs dancing in micro-minis. Sunny in his wheel chair cant be brought down by 15 young guys and looks superhero. He breaks floor tiles with his fists like a piece of cake. This movie is so disgusting guys. Dino Morea is playing American Football at Kargil. Do audience even know what a "TouchDown" is? Perhaps not nut all napalis at that height know much more than you. Bollywood is all about sporting the best look. Sohail and Vatsala are in their best attire in all scenes. sohail sports a NY yankees jersey. They have year clothes in their small rug.
Sameer Karnik is trying to promise lot of things but fails to deliver even the message in bits. A flop miserable director can never even imagine to come close to late Satyajit Ray ji or even todays Farhan Akhtar. Bollywood has to give training to these people who are journalists turned directors and have no common sense of directing the movie. He cant even get his actors act properly. He rakes in the worst star cast for a film like this except preity and salman who look lost too.
I cant understand why did the producers sunny and bobby even hire him. Am angry with myself i saw this movie and wasted my time. If he is to make films like this, god save India. Stay away from this film at all cost. Dont even watch it online for free !

I'll give it 1.5/10 just for its theme.....

Yeh hai Mumbai Meri Jaan - Critique

The trailer of MMJ seems a promising flick but guess i was disappointed the way the story is unfolding. Critics says its Indian "Crash" (so expected to do well in filmfare i guess) but in noway i am seeing lives of different people connected with each other, its rather mutually exclusive. Couple of scenes and plots may have characters in each others lives but its missing the thread that can connect all. Am sure the director is trying his effort to make a crash like movie but here is where he fails. Those of you who are thinking i think in parallel with NDTV movie reviews will be wrong as over their you would find this movie recommended but i am not suggesting on same lines. So to start with,i have no clue what Irfan Khan is doing in the film besides making tea. Sometimes he makes tea,sometimes he is working as a servant. Mind you, You dont need to see the film to find out. Soha Ali Khan,a dumb journalist who gets convinced by her manager to film a documentary on her lovers tragic death in Mumbai train blasts. KK looks too old and alazy ass caught between hindu muslim religious divides. Decent performances by Paresh Rawal and Madhawan keepthe movie from drowning. Madhwan pays 3 lakh rs in tax and travels by train to work. Would you do that?? This movie tries hard but failsto impress. It can be avoided for others. My rating would be 5/10.

"A Wednesday" - A good day to pick

The power of a Common Man - A Wednesday shows what may be impossible in real life is possible in reel life. Superb performances from Naseer ji and Anupam Kher - this film will blow your mind untill the last scene. Nothing to fret about this movie as its without any nonsense, nonrequired songs or subplots. Its packaged to the point set in Mumbai Nagri (i feel its been a while since i saw a movie been shot in Delhi or am i wrong, may be a director can read my blog and dosomething) A family thriller, this kinda movie comes once in a while. When you have Naseer and Anupam, (id rather say for the former though Anupam ji has his own marktoo) the filmwill automatically fetch you returns in terms of what you want to see in a film. Ahard hitting simple story made bold by the director,illgive him the credit for thinking the non-stereotypical way and commend his work. All actors also contribute well. Now i know this is a movie and you want to show an actor (Oh a cop) riding on a bike w/o his helmet but nothing hurts if you show him with his helmet.Today generation should blindly follow their idols. My rating is going to be 8.5/10. GoWatch it !!!!

Welcome to SajjanPurrrrrr

A new product from shyam benegal, light hearted and humorous. I liked this movie for its simplicity and true characters that the director has designed for his film. A picture very well synonymous with reality in remote villages. The superstition, The orthodox prevailing, The messiah whom the villagers would look forward to , The rituals,The earthiness - Welcome to Sajjanpur has all in it except for its songs which i feel were not needed. Untill now,i was known to Mr Benegal as a director who only churns out hard serious movies but the comic flick this time was a surprise. Shreyas Talpade has leveraged his position from a theatre to a fulltime movie entertainer. He does a good job along with YashpalSharma for whom i wont stop laughing as Mr Sharma keeps mentioning about his "Mamaji". Amrita arora looks cute and was fairly delivering a good performance. Illa arun wanting to get her daughter married to a dog shows the legacy we still hold in villages. I certainly recommend this film who wants a breakfrom love,romance,violence type movies. My rating would be 8/10.

Gym shedule in NYC Cold

Did you NYC is getting colder? I had only heard or read about it but now ilive in NY and this is going to be my first NY winter. Till now, the weather aint that cold but later ice will be part of your life. So my worry is how will i complete my regular fitness exercise? I used to finish work by 6 and goto the gym which is in the same Goldman building which i love because i dont have to leave my office for that. After exercising, i'dlike to take a shower and there is a provision for same in the gym. But at 7 pm,its still cold outside and you dont wanna take a chance catching cold or becoming sick. As for me, i have started "running" during break hrs. I make good use of it exercising between 12-1 pm and eat my lunch then. The advantages are after 5.30-6 pm i can head straight to my home, no chance of falling sick (atleast by eve i am good to go out in winter as i have taken bath in afternoon), complete set of work and exercise together. After the 13 mile stint,i never fail to run on treadmill for 3-4 miles. This is getting little off topic now but i have a friend of mine who comes to work/gym with me. She is heavy and all she does is WALK on the treadmill. I know how hard i have tried to run that 13 mile and here i see a young gal WALKING on the treadmill. What on earth does she think that walking will help her shed 40 pounds? With that much to reduce,the schedule i'll give to somone will be very strenous and my advise to her didnt work. I feel more pity on her than overweight gals in India cuz she is exposed to American lifestyle and culture but in vain. Probably the guy whom she intends to marry and perhaps for whom al lthis is being done will have an effect on her.....

The "Lost" Lear

It was for Amitabh that i watched this movie. I am going to write reviews for more films as this was the day i saw 4 films in a row because cable TV wont show up !!! The Last Lear is set up in Calcutta with a dark-ish background. To be honest,the first thing i did was to search the meaning of the word "Lear". I got 2 definitions,rather meanings. One was a british writer of nonsense verse and other hero of William Shakespeare. When you watch this movie,you feel its a combination of both. Am not sure what Director Riptupurno Ghosh was expecting. I seldom like movies with dark background and set in places unfamiliar to me but the Amitabh factor and the film title intrigued me. Amitabh delivers his best as an old actor who is smitten by the Shakespeare work and is nonsensical. His performance and dedication to his work is an exemplary example close to a masterpiece. Delivery of Shakespare literature with great enthusiasm gives a push to the film. However,he hardly gets support fromhis collegues. Priety looks jaded with filmlife although she is one of my favourite beautiful actresses. Its take time to follow the movie with mainstream dialoguee delivery and a voice over in background. Arjun is an arrogant director and hardly contributes to the film. Ijust dunno what to write for Bengali actors portraying in the film. Ofcourse, Amitabh has hogged the limelight but slow narration, missing elements in direction, missing flow are major drawbacks of the film. One thing i wondered about the movie is why should someone be so interested in a nurses private life (nurse played by Divya Dutta) whom you dont even know? Someone please tell Divya to clear her throat. She looks completely off. Also,when divya dutta opens the house door,why do people look down on the floor as they are opening the door giving the impression that it aint their house but of the guy who is standing outside the house? I have seen this in lotta other films too. This may be a tiny part of film where noone would care. Atleast i would if i am to make a Film. Illrecommend thsi film to an Amitabh fan (you would want to look his long locks) and someone who has patience. My rating 6/10.

Rock ON-OFF !!!!

Am back after a long spell. Lot of things happened and will happen. One thing i can share with you is that i often log onto ndtv movies section to read movie reviews. The review was moderate and Farhans maiden film i decided to pay heed to it. So lot of people are complaining about this film being a new version of Dil Chahta Hai. Because this is my blog and i am writing under no influence, i wont agree on the DCH part. Sure ist about 4 friends who want to lead a ROCKING journey but ego issues drift things apart. The movie is surely slow and misses the ROCK or swiftness in the film. Personally,Farhan looks good on screen but when he starts speaking is what turns me off. He has a croaked voice and reflected against him. The young Arjun succumbing to his miseries and wifes tantrums. Never does he retaliate and always slip in his own shell. The young arun seemed more promising instead. Gals played their part good, i feel both actressed played good character roles to justify. The fourth guy who couldnt make it till the end was an easy-to-go personality. During the movie,you might feel that Farhan has himself directed the movie and not the original director. Overall,the movie doesnt showcast the trail which each band member follows after the split. This is a movie i can recommend somone who is looking for some sense, some time passand some MAGIK ;) Out of 10,ill give it 6.5

The unlucky "13th" Mile

Erasing my uncertainties
i look at my chances
today or never
is the theme of evening
With adrenaline high
i resort to my favourite track
determined to run the farthest mile i ever have
the mind is ready
arms and legs strong
the quest begins
to break the previous record of 12
the first hour makes me pushy
second, a little soaked and burning
every moment a sacrifice
every second a desire to win
some hopes raised
a past killed, a new present being built
kept me moving
at not so easy task
"For Troy" somehow
"You can do it man" somehow
motivates me to run after run
the evening turns dark
people turn from many to none
accompanying me are the stars and planes
to add, cars on roads also
but i keep my faith high
the third hour surpasses earlier record
but there is still to go
Not to forget, the Olympics too mooted me
and i still run never thinking the end
delighted and enthusiastic
for a new milestone achieved
but a repeat still ahead waiting
end of 3rd hour makes my legs speak
losing at the 52nd lap
i fall to the mother ground
a disappointed body
just couldn't move more
to end on the 13th mile
soar legs crying for rest
my hopes trashed to have conquered the 20th mile
how will i lift myself next time?
with face up i look at the stars
for a glimpse of hope
perhaps, i saw another moment
cuz if not for office work
i certainly had made it
the unlucky 13th mile will never be the same !!!

Happy 61st Indian Independence Day (15th Aug 08)

Happy Independence Day to all Indians staying in all parts of the world. Today is 15th aug 08 and i am in NY. Its the training time before i actually get to work. A Friday and i didn't feel like getting out of bed but this day is special for every person who deeply thinks and misses his country. I am patriotic (not just because a hug Indian flag rests on a wall in my room) but because i know i am. I know you are still confused with what i wrote. Lets forget about it. So its a friday morning and i head ot my training center in NY.


I dressed ina orange Kurta and jeans. NY is extremely diverse place with people from all walks of life. You will feel this the moment you reach world trade center. All eyes staring at me, on my attire and i am sure there are mixed reactions among crowd. After midday, all analysts from Bangalore office came out with their Indian day celebrations. They were euphoric, excited and made every moment one of a celebration. Almost everyone dressed in Indian ethnic dress and looking nice, girls especially in their sarees. There was dance, music, cultural songs and presentation about Indian history.


This day is special to me as i miss my home a lot back in India. Thoughts get provoked as to what recent developments are happening in india, howz American economy affecting ours etc. As for rakshabandan which is tomorrow, am far away from my sister. I should receive it probably tomorrow and tie it on my wrist. That was all about Independence day here in NY celebrated with some style !

Poonam must be very happy today

I finally finished reading the book "The Heart of India" by Mark Tully my friend gave me 2 yrs back when i was leaving for US. Poonam must be very happy today. Atlast i read it before my 2 yrs regime in US :) (on 7th aug 08 i complete 2 yrs). The book was overall good as it connects different lifestyles and cultures of India seen through the eyes of a Britisher correspondent who ofcourse has spent lot of time in India. But i wonder how did he know so much about our culture which even i am not aware of. Perhaps, thats the work of a journalist to keep on digging. The hard to believe story sometimes makes a story within this book look dull and monotonous although i feel lot of effort has been made to preserve the Indian culture. You would also sometimes feel as if Mark Tully was standing right next to where all these events took place. I cant take the side of this one being truly inspired as i doubt elements of fiction in it.

I personalaly think i should not have taken so much time to read but as i mentioned certain facets of this book make it boring at times and hard to believe. I cant believe i took so much time to read it. Studies too affected my pace to read this book. Its for those who would like to delve into a culture thats so diverse and unbreakable....

26th BirthDay - New Jersey

I was here last year too celebrating my 25th b'day in a very lavish style. My blog here says it all. (http://sidharthkumar.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html) . This year it wasn't too magnificent but very simple. I just returned from Office (yeah it was a weekday) and bought a wine bottle with cake. I celebrated with my new American roomie Bruce. The other roommate wasn't home. Lotta calls to answer and scrap messages to thank everyone for wishing me a Happy 26th Birthday !!!

Drinking with the Dead

As the mighty sun settles
beneath the river horizon
a knock at my door awakens
ringing no bells and enters
for time that had no wait
for thing that was never lost
prayers of eulogy never spoken
pots of memory never broken
perpetual meetings this seems
and for the rest of my life
hands in hands we lay and
eyes speak with eyes
and there i am
drinking with the dead
the ferry soul i lost few decades ago
nights i am entitled to
days i am without her...

Sarkar Raj - It all has it !!!

After many days of me trying to convince myself, i finally hooked on to watch Sarkar Raj. Ironically, i havn't blogged for "Sarkar" yet which released in 2005. Well those days i wasnt even blogging as well ;) I did read lot of negative reviews about Sarkar Raj so may be this kept me at a distance from the film. On the wikepedia site you can read that this film is a flop. Sarkar was made at a very decent 7 crore Rs and was a hit across the country. "Sarkar Raj" comes back with 30 crore Rs but not to much excitement among the crowd. I saw Sarkar in India when i had not seen the GodFather trilogy and thereby couldn't relate the events or the tribute director Ram Gopal Verma mentions to the GodFather. Now that i am in US, i happened to see all 3 flicks of GodFather. Undoubtedly, its a classic and one of my best movies with me now. After watching GodFather could i feel that Sarkar did have a big bang on the Box Office. With Ramu's unconventional style of direction, his selection of starcast, everyone spilled their contribution to its success. As i have earlier also mentioned and am sure lot of you would agree to, it makes a lot of difference watching a movie on theater or online. Anyways, Sarkar Raj is a movie which certainly has shades of Sarkar. The movie seems little slow in the beginning but sooner i cudn't find myself glued to anything else besides my laptop screen. I wonder why i cant see Abhishek like this in his recent flicks, he certainly has matured a lot in his acting. To me, i enjoyed watching "Sarkar Raj" as every moment is a thrill and suspense as to what is going to happen next. Aishwarya looks absolutely beautiful complimenting AB. The plot certainly has interesting facets such as death of AB (i could never have imagined this, by mistake i read a users comment on the same site i was watching the film from that AB dies and i was like...Oh God) , Chander plotting the death of AB, Aishwarya mourning the death of AB and finally taking over AB's place in Sarkar Raj. The thing that makes both Sarkar movies unique is the urge and need of elder (here Big B) to look for someone who could carry their legacy and in the end, Big B summons for Vishnu's son Chandu. I am dying to see Sarkar 3. I read Jaya Bacchan urging Ramu to make the 3rd part and interestingly, AB would return as Big B while he was in younger days. Also, Hrithik Roshan playing Chandu in next Sarkar flick. I wish this movie had a better success at the box office. I felt even the background music was good sang by Kailash Kher. The Villains though were not as powerful in their performance like those in "Sarkar". I would also recommend my readers to watch GodFather trilogy if they havn't before watching Sarkar Raj. It will give you a good idea of both cinemas and may be then public has better respect for Sarkar Raj. I liked this movie, is a family movie if you like action as well. I'll rate this movie 4.5/5

Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic - Review

After reading lot of negative reviews about the film, i decided to give this film a pass. Today a si was bored and wanted to watch a movie, i decided to watch TPTM over Sarkar Raj. Am abig fan of Bacchan's and Khan but the mood of the day prompted me to watch a light hearted movie. The movie certainly was interesting, kept me glued to my screen all the time. Boredom is no where surrounding this movie. Saif and the 4 kids in the movie are spontaneous and keep the movie going at the pace one would want. Saif looks hunk in many scenes in which he is showing his muscular body with bare chest. The shirts , The attire , The personality, The flamboyance of a rich business guy. To me the movie was sweet although the Angel (Rani Mukherji) entrance to the film wasnt discouraging. She too plays a well justified role of bonding the children to the person who killed their parents, thats Saif. Commendable performances by all the child stars who looked very natural in their acting. However, Kunal Kohli, the director of the film never explained why the surd was named "Iqbal". Also, i wonder how the director is shooting the "Lazy Lamhe" song with young guys in their bathing suits and hot gals in their bikinis. Ameesha Patel looks sizzling HOT right from scene one but contributes nothing to film. The film could have had scenes where pranks were being played with the home butler "Makodi"...i dont know this guys name, @ saifs house. It would also have been better, i feel if the children had apologized to the American children and their dad...may be, the director didnt feel the need.....I guess overall the movie is a family movie, a good time pass i would say. Watch it over Jaane tu ya Jaane naa...(thats a boring movie, believe me). Songs in TPTM are also good which i will be downloading soon ;). I'll rate the movie 4.2/5

The Last Samurai - Critique

I had heard of this movie for quite sometime now. Also, seen its trailer but the idea of seeing Tom Cruise leading a role in a US-Japanese flick did not quite interest me. But i certainly know that Tom is a great actor, a handsome actor so passionate in his role. During my last days in LA after my graduation, i was in a spree to watch all DVDS of sean, my ex roomie. He had this wonderful collection of hundreds n hundreds DVD. One day, i finally decided to watch this movie. So now i actually am in a position to give my opinion about it. My interest grew right from the moment i began this movie. "The Last Samurai" is a long movie and many of my American friends who seemed to like the movie also admitted that they slept at least once during the movie. Somehow, this wasn't the case with me. This flick is an excellent one and am glad i watched it. To me, its the finest performance by Tom Cruise till day. The role of a captain as a American Warrior who is hired by the Japanese Emperor to fight the Last Samurai, Ken Watanabe. He is captured by the Samurai's men and then later fights against the Emperor's men. The blend of American Japanese culture in the film makes it unique. All shooting locales and fight sequences have been shot beautifully. Tom's acting was brilliant and all supporting actors have done a commendable job. I am a big fan of Japanese culture and the film reveals lot more about it. People from japan have the ability to show their emotions from their facial expressions, they need not speak. Their poised innocent will tell everything about them. The director has done his piece of homework and research. All applause to him. I have seen "The Last Samurai" 3 times now and would like to see it again. My favorite seen in the movie is when Tom tries to fight the samurai's men with the Japanese stick. His men keeps confronting and bashing him in the rain. Tom breaks apart but doesn't give in. He falls down repeatedly but always trying to fight the samurai's men. An inspirational scene for all young takers. I think Ken is much better to watch than Jet li and Chow Yun Fat.

If you love action-drama kind of movie and culturally want to be aware, this is for you...trust me !!! I''ll rate the movie 4.9/5

I have reached New Jersey for my Job on 1st July

NJ is terrible. Maybe, i say that because the place is new and will take time to settle here. But its certainly not like LA. I miss LA so much, the open roads and spaces.....its a different plaace all together. My first day experience wasn't good. I had to change my house as it was in a very shady area and my rent including utilities went up from 475$ to 900$. This place however, is good neara to Indian square where you can feel at home. Am pasting the letter i sent to my previous roomies sean, cameron and kyle in LA. It will be edited due to some personal reasons.

"
hey guys
hope u r doing good
i was really in a bad shape when i reached here.
the house i went was in a very shady area , may be thats why the rent was so less
ofcourse i had my private room wid AC but the whole thing around sucked
All MAKKUS and BLACKs arnd....blacks frm west indies, jamaica, guinea
i didnt even see an indian or white
it freaked me out man.....dirty locality, NJ is dirty not NYC
and its so congested here man unlike open spaces in CA
shops close here very soon, dat sucks
no indian stores arnd
i was feeeling choked man, i cant explain you
no net at home, and these ppl were so elder to me guys
i dun think i wudnt be able to call someone either u guys or my parents

i decided in day 1 i cant stay there...went to internet cafe nearby and took whichever house looked best
saw the house, is reallly really nice..atleast able to call someone at home nw
everythin here, TV, sofa, 3 rooms , BIG living room..so clean...its way excellent nw
i guess frm all dis i learnt a lesson dat cheap rent may nt necessarily gurantee everything
when i was returning frm the house i saw in a bus, a lady was talking to me...i told her i was staying on ocean ave...she sed "YOU DONT WANNA STAY THERE" and i was like "WHAT DA FUCK"...:) :(
am nt anti makku or black but i guess i rather stay with whites or the last option wid indians
the black guy was good, he returned my security deducting minor expenses.

ama sure ull like my new house, its right behind a cemetry..lol
n very very close to my place where i stayed last summer during my intern
ama nw stayin wid 2 whites, a gal and boy both 27 yrs old..they r cool

rent gets higher now ofcourses paying 900 bucks nw including utilities..i gave lotta thought to it n decided it was the best
no security asked...anyways a room in good area nearby will nt be less than 650 and then with utilities, it comes out almost to this.
walk to indian stores takes 15 mins but atleast i am very happy nw
due to shops closing so early, i didnt eat food for more than 24 hrs ...i was so weary runnin arnd.....
n todaya i got up at 1 pm......tooka good sleeep...
i sometimes think if i had to pay 900 bucks only, i should have already chosen such house b4 comin here
what a waste of everything i did :(
ama jus waiting for my job to start soon n i make some good money nw

whts going on in LA? hwz the new roomie?

hey my new address is
386 Sip Ave Jersey City, NJ 07306

so send me all security here (house + laundry card)

i hv started makin food...made dal aand rice yday
Will miss ya guys....

Take care guys, happy weekend and 4th july
Will be very happy to see ya here.....

Rgds,
Sidharth
"

The Soul

Preserved in my own body
a soul of mine
sets against the time
to walk out free
to sneak out with agility
for it feels the need
the urge to liberate now
trapped for years inside me
it sees the life i bear
it sees the half life i lost
anguished and hurt
it pleads and cries
for its independence and glory
the sound that echoes in my ears
the thought that closes my eyes
should i or should i not
the question i ask myself
to erase the boundaries
lift any ban on it
death aint my concern
for life will still persist
but the eyes of fire await my soul
in the outside world
beholding and waiting
ready to feed relentlessly
till today have no clue
rounding my dilemmas
i just seek to protect the soul
against the enemy at the gate...

The Story of my Couch

Sitting on the sleep inducing couch of mine
i try to see another miracle
either in my sweet dreams or wild drink in hand
a change so slow, so poignant
to end the turmoil in me
to alleviate the pain love brings
to change the man inside me
only if time could be relied
and be my best friend
would i spend whole life on the couch
contemplating the shattered story,
an unsuccessful tale of my life
Stagger and fall to the same piece
everytime and everyday
again and again
reminiscing private moments
i spent with her on the velvet fabric
a comfort zone, a space
witness to my honesty and truth
lies seldom puked and stained my couch
for the pact we made to stick to verity
for the journey we decided to be together
But here i lay now
singing to an elegy
the start of my tipsiness
but no end
Would want to sleep for ever now...

Broken Tears

A subtle morning has undergone change
for life has lost its lustre
colors have become my enemy
a preposterous attempt i make to mend my futility
dismal future bangs at the gates of my heart
with heads down in direction i despise
constantly hammered by a haunted past
me, a victim of selfless pure love
Could have i asked for more from Almighty
for the celestial love i received
for the touch and warmth you gave
As my dogeared destiny tumbled
a chapter of love closed down to be called history
interwined in my sulking emotions
am drowning a hell lot
dont think will be able to make it to surface
for the load of pain will bury me underneath
before the last breath
my dying and devastated body wants to hear
what were the tears you shed for me
What was the faith you instituted in me
what were the promises i witnessed in your eyes
what were the stars we promised to make our home in
time induces change in every instinct and
some tears are just meant to be broken....

When you passed by me

Eyes never opened so wide
Shadows never grew that long
Time never stood still
Illusions never became reality
Roads to my heart never froze
When you passed by me

Deep rivers never felt so shallow
Scorching sun blaze never felt so cool
Dying stars never felt so burnished
Seasons never felt so refreshing
Head never stood so high
when you passed by me

World appeared a small place to live
Destiny lost its grip on me
Like a bird i felt free
Like a statue i felt motionless
I knew God had blessed me
When you passed by me

You seemed everywhere
You were in the moment
You lit my small world
You were in the 3 words
You captured my life
When you passed by me....

A New Milestone Of My Life

Hey guys, am found of running and exercising. These days, in fact for past couple of months i have been a lot of cardio exercise. I run on the tracks of USC on a frequency of say 3-4 times. I realize that to be in good shape, running is absolutely must. My exercise begins with warm ups and stretching every part of the body. It will also include either push ups, pull ups and sets of abdominal exercise. How far and how much one can run on a track depends on lot of factors. Its to hot in LA with temperature soaring up to 100F so its advisable one run in the evening when the earth cools down. I used to do 1/2 hr cardio everyday before my heavy workout at Lyon Center, USC while i was still in school. Now that i am an alumni, i cant use the school gym unless i pay monthly fees of 50 bucks which is a lot for me so i wasn't interested. I decided to make away for me on the tracks more often either with my roommates Cameron or Sean. The maximum i ran on tracks until yesterday was 3.5 miles without a break but yesterday i broke all boundaries. I ran miraculously for 12 miles continuously with no pause. This was in 1 weeks time. Do you guys terms this as Super Efficiency ? I dont know what was going on in my mind and kept running to achieve my goal. I initially thought i would run 5 miles but then later i kept pushing myself to run , run and run....:) I wonder how many calories i lost in this process cruising at moderately speed of 5 miles/hr. It took my 2 hrs to complete my run. The truth is even after i stopped at the start line completing 12 miles, i still wanted to run.....to sincerely make and break new records of my life. Hopefully, next time you guys see a new marathon runner in me with higher score under my belt !!!

Ripjeet is no more

After i came back from our game, i came to know that one of my colleagues with whom i used to work at NIIT Technologies, New Delhi, India is no more. one of my friends conveyed me this through off line messages. It was really sad to know "rippy" as we all knew him was no more among us. Ripjeet was a hardworking guy at NIIT, a good programmer and a great friend to be with. A 6 ft punjabi munda, stockily built and very confident. He was a Punjabi and hence we gelled well in office. Always would keep his cool and easily do his job. I heard he had a bike accident and died on his way to hospital. I remember chatting with ripjeet while he was here in NJ and me in LA. Punjabi's are generally jovial by nature. Rippy was one of them, always making his presence felt in the office with his jokes among his teammates and other peers in different teams. You had a very long way ahead man, you just left us too early. Kithe chala gaya pappe.....We all will miss you rippy. May your soul rest in Peace.

First Sporting event (Baseball) in US

Its 30th May, the date we went to watch the baseball match at Anaheim in Califronia. This was my first official sport event in US, my first baseball match. Although i have seen my university (USC) play against number of other universities in US, they are played at school but not professional level. The match between home team LA angels versus Toronto's blue Jays was an interesting one. We four (Sean, Cameron, me and Matt) started from home around 5.45 pm. They seemed more excited than me. Baseball is not an official sport in India and neither do people play it. About myself, all i remember watching this sport at home when cable was new in India. Because it mimics cricket in some ways was probably the reason i would be glued to my TV set in India, nevertheless not familiar with all rules.



This excursion to watch the baseball match brought true one of my dreams. I wanted to witness New York Yankees play against Mets team last summer during my internship at Goldman Sachs in NY but never got the oppurtunity. We did a pregame before we left for the match which means to drink and drink..:) which actually sets you in a mood beforehand. We picked few hamburgers on our way. It was friday evening and so its rush on the roads. So while we reach, i see the anaheim stadium with a prominent "A" representing LA Angels. Lot of people dressed in red T's to support and cheer for their home team. Let me tell you that LA Angels team hails from Anaheim, California while the actual Los Angeles team is LA dodgers. We parked our car and started drinking more beer.


We may have been an inning late to the game which was fine. As we got in, it was spectacular as roughly 42000 people were seated in the stadium. Never ever have i seen such a big mass of crowd mostly in red as i mentioned earlier. Lush green ground and 2 teams competing with each other. I was seated next to Cameron and asking him lot of questions about the game. I came to know that if a ball hit by a batsmen (striker actually..lol) arrives into the stadium stands, people keep it and the game resumes with a new or old ball unlike in cricket.


I had a strong intuition that LA Angeles would clinch the match. A favorite way to enjoy the baseball match is with beer and hotdog, its simply awesome. America is very strict with giving beer to those only above 21 so if you are new to India, make sure you have your government ID or license or Passport. Well, i didnt drink more at the stadium as i was already buzzing on my way. The game was fun, sw lot of hot blonde and brunette chicks. Another thing to note is that even women whether young or old are very enthusiastic about any game. There is almost equal proportion of men and women to watch the game whether baseball or football.


India showcasts a different picture where household woman or even gals hardly come out to watch any game. Not that they dont have any interest, duties call more for them. Also, average women in US drinks far more than any average Indian women. Culture and social life of americans has to be attributed to this fact. I think in one match i learnt a lot. It was a night match and in the end, the best team Toronto won the match. I could see LA fans leaving the stadium in advance much to their dismay and disappointment. I was disappointed too :( I took several shots in and out of the stadium. Lot of fireworks in the end for friday game. I'll remember this day, i had loads of fun !

A day with Vin Diesel

Have graduated from USC and today is the first Sunday since graduation. I have been lazing around and today i decided to watch movies whole day. Channel USA shows some good flicks and here i was starting my day around 10 am with first movie "Meet Joe Black" of Brad Pitt.
After which, the marathon movie race on same channel with Vin Diesel in action. Watched all these movies in a row (Pitch Black, A Man Apart, The Fast and Furious, xXx, The Pacifier)...phew long day with Vin Diesel. Action roles suit this hunk who has a deep voice and body to show. Never ever in my life i have seen so many movies in a row with the SAME ACTOR portraying in it ;)

I graduate from USC (16th May 2008)

Remember this date......16th May 2008 Spring.....am done with Graduation.....MS in Computer Science from USC (University of Southern California, Los Angeles) under my belt.....whats next.....Start working full time at Goldman Sachs in New Jersey.....MBA after 4-5 years

The GMAT Experience

Hi Everyone,
Am finally done with GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test). My exam was on 15th May 2008. I know all of you are pretty interested in knowing my score. I did not do very well, just scored 600/800. My score in Maths and Verbal section were 44 and 28 respectively. Well after 4 months of on and off preparation, this is all i could achieve. I worked very hard and would say that i finished all books and softwares (Princeton, Kaplan, Manhattan etc). In my exams, i made improvement in my scores after going online on scorechase.com. My highest score before visiting this site was 580 and after 1.5 months on scorechase i was getting 650. Honestly, i have to admit that i am not very disappointed because i never scored more than 650 in practice exams. In Manhattan i scored 650, in Kaplan i scored 630, in GMAT prep i scored 620 and 560. I was confident that i would get above 600. My SC improved drastically along with DS but my CR always sucked. I just couldn't do it because i always would land up with 2 options to chose. I completed 10 pages from DS and SC, 7 pages from CR and 2 pages from PS in scorechase. I completed ALL books for maths, verbal etc. I cant answer why my score never went to 700 in practice exams, may be this was it.

Each one of us aims to get more than 700 to get into the top 10 business schools. These exams are so well made that they can actually test your "real-life" potential. I was kind of frustrated and jaded studying for GMAT after 4 months. It starts showing into you and thats when i decided to take my date on 15th, a day before my commencement at USC (University of Southern California). I just completed my masters in Computer Science. I remember Guardian told me that people can wait upto 6 months to get the score they want to achieve and the school they want to get in. GMAT will definitely give you an assessment of yourself. I used to on average spend 5-6 hrs everyday but still couldn't pass through 700. I think i was mentally prepared that i am not going to get a good one because i am among those 2% population who still thinks can make it to Stanford with 600. This is the ONLY college i want to apply and even if it takes me 10 attempts, i will continue to do so. I observed that people like L.Doit who have joined in Jan 2007 recently gave their GMAT scoring 760. People like him certainly have lot of patience, perseverance and confidence. I personally do not think that GMAT is the most significant criteria for gaining admission in top business schools. Schools like Stanford do not think so and hence even accept GRE score. I had much better score in GRE (1350/1600). I will apply with this score first.

I was expecting to score higher on the GMAT. I felt my exam was going good but there certainly are lot of factors which can or may affect your score but not drastically. I wish i could know my detailed section scores. What is important is how much you score on the "D-day". First of all, i could not sleep even for an hour the night before my exam due to anxiety and high fever. My exam was at 8 pm in Gardena, California. In India i gave my GRE in Delhi at 9 am, over here in US when the day starts an hour early it was 8. I chose this time as then you would have the whole day either to weep or enjoy. As i was a college student, i used to sleep late in the morning. A day before D day i was not in routine and in the morning it was terrible for me. Even my neck was stiff and hard when i woke up. I could not look up and down repeatedly. It was hard to concentrate looking at the screen and then writing on paper solving maths q's. I was panicking in the morning as the route we took was closed due to construction. As i never had driven a lot in US, it was very tough for me to find alternate routes and reach the centre. I somehow managed it but was nervous. At the test center, i mostly saw aged people with gloomy faces unlike youngsters. Who would want to get up at 6 in the morning, very few. The test itself soaks you for 4 hrs. I finished at 11.30 and i was DONE !!!! I was constantly praying i get a good score but i was taken aback with 600. Now whatever happened has happened and i am surely not going to repeat GMAT. Its a fun score which is low but i gave my best shot. I tried guys.

The following would be my profile:
BTech (Computer Science) in India
3 yrs IT work experience in India
MS (Computer Science) from USC, LA
Am moving to Goldman Sachs in NY , will work there for 4-5 yrs and apply till i get through.


Last but not least, i will have to thank first of all to my brother who recommended me scorechase website. He used it for his GMAT preparation. All other users of ScoreChase - Hagrid, Guardian, L.Doit, Zing, thank you so much. People whose comments i read but never interacted with them - Sneha, manish, mavericksailor, whoishemu, T-bag, ChetanChanna, NickNish, Shivaqif, Gopi, recordbreaker, Dr MBA - Thank you so much. People whose names i am forgetting even though i checked scorechase website, all those people who come in my 10 page forum list - my apologies for not remembering your names but Thank you very much.

You guys provided me lot of support, cooperation, self-confidence and motive to do better and better with immense guidance. I dedicate this to you guys, sadly even though itslow.

That was from me guys. See you all and Good luck to others giving GMAT soon. Its just a test, Fight on.....

Signing off,

Rgds,
Sidharth Kumar

Rate my Argument - 3 (out of 6)

The author concludes that the rise in the number of immigrant workers has led to a downfall in the average wage of unskilled labor. He supports his argument based on data collected over the past 5 years. However, the author uses his conclusion based on certain assumptions for which there may not be enough evidence.
Firstly, the author is correlating the number of immigrant workers coming into his community with the decline in wages. He fails to establish there could be several other reasons for this downfall. There may be other reasons for this to happen. For example, the industries in which the labors were working may have shut their businesses down or in other words, manufacturing less goods and products for the market. Hence, thereby not making enough revenue to increase the wages. The argument would be strengthened if the write used concrete examples to assert that the inflow of new workers was causing decline in wages.
Secondly, the author cites 10% decline in wages over past years. The authenticity of this source needs to be verified as he mentions the decline in the city as whole and not within the community. The statistical data pertaining to city might not be synchronous with the results in community. May be the workers are getting paid more in local communities and not cities. The argument would considerably be strengthened in view of various environmental factors such as geographical location of industries and well being of workers working there.
Finally, the author also doesnt mention the nature of job of immigrant workers. He has not categorised them as skilled or unskilled. We need to know the percentage figure inflow of workers coming into his community and their categorisation details. This is important as it may turn out that skilled labor is more adept in their work and hence making more wages in the community (assuming there is also more demand for them) than unskilled labor. Only if the author provides evidence about the demand and supply scale of the workers and corresponding wages along with factors affecting each class, will then the the evidence be strong and argument hold.

Rate my Issue - 3 (out of 6)

Companies these days seem to give lot of emphasis on the privacy of their employees. There are always certain ethical and decorum issues which need to be considered before some one interferes in other person's life. I assert that privacy is certainly an important issue while at home or office and everyone needs to respect that. The above issue is a debatable one and we also cannot overlook the other viewpoint.
While on a job, an employee is supposed to put his heart and soul trying the grow the employers company. He does that faithfully and earnestly fulfilling his duties, in return of which if he relaxes to a certain degree by engaging in a private conversation or email i feel his or her privacy needs to be respected. Employers have certainly bought the time of their employees but not their life. As an individual, it is our duty to honor the private life of a peer or colleague. Privacy should not be threatened for the purpose of extracting information of an individual's life. Some details are family or personal related being confidential in nature and not subject to disclosure. A manager spying on his team members emails by hacking into his account for personal reasons is absolutely not justified. As long as an employee sincerely commits to his work and produces result, a company or organisation should not care to invade his life. Nevertheless, it becomes necessary in certain situations where the employee is not seeming interested in his or her work and this is hampering the growth of team or the firm's.
Financial companies, for example are very particular about every detail their employees mail or speak to each other as any piece of small and confidential information leaked can cause blunder on the wall street. Hence in these situations where it a matter of company's reputation it becomes very important that emails of employees be checked or scanned throughly. Phones may be tapped to hear someone not transmitting information outside the company walls. When i was interning at Goldman Sachs, every fax i made outside the company was there a copy being sent to the inspection and monitoring team. People found guilty could be fired for not adhering to company rules, regulations and code of conduct. Nowdays, lot of young generation families have started staying themselves alone because they demand privacy as some activities can be accomplished only with one's own peace of mind and freedom.
To conclude, privacy is definetely important in one's life whether at home or office. While arguments have to be made for both sides, its clear that no one enjoys a stranger invading their personal lives as long as that person is not a threat to that stranger. Circumstances will necessitate dealing with an individual's life. Respect for ones life is a good virtue and as good citizens we must honor it.

Rate my Argument - 2 (out of 6)

The author concludes that the job of a forecaster is easy to perform. Thats because he gets to take credit in all situations whether if its a dismal future been avoided or his negativity well founded. Both ways he comes in limelight and makes his way to making us believe that his job is an easy one. However, the author concludes his base on few assumptions for which there is no evidence.

Firstly, the author needs to do more research on various occupations available around us today. This assumption that the job of a forecaster is an easy has got no evidence to claim that other jobs are not that easy as it. Lets take an example of job such as Human Resources. I feel that this job is the most easist because all one does it hiring and firing. You feel the authroity in this job as you have the power to open or clsoe the gates for any candidate or worker. If a company stumbles like in a financial market, these people are still retained and eventually look for new prospective candidates when situation stabilises. The argument would have been strengthened if the author cited comparions between several jobs available today and made the distinction clear.

Secondly, the author needs to provide more options in his argument as evidence to make us believe that one should go for this kind of job. He fails to mention the salary aspects, the growth in this industry, recognition in workplace, job opportunities in the forecasting industy. Today the world has become very competitive and everyone will pick a job not only on the basis of his or her interest but also based on above factors mentioned. If the salary is not lucrative enough, no one may want to join the forecasting industry even though it may be easy. The argument would be considerably strengthened has the author based his argument with more concrete factors and examples. Someone may not want to work in areas which are certain of tornadoes everyday.

Finally, the writer assumes that it is as easy to pick someone from a pool of candidates as the nature of job is because whatever action you take here will always route you to the way to gold. The author seems very optimistic about the nature of this job. Only if the author provides evidence such as the age limit of candidates, their qualification, location of forecasting industry etc to support his facts, will then change the perspective of readers and hold the validity of argument.

Rate my Issue - 2 (out of 6)

Issue in Attached file:

The idea behind spoiling the image of a company can be done with the help of "whistle-blowers". They are part of company responsible for their own acts and trying to tarnish the image of the firm for their own personal reasons. In my opinion, whistle-blowing seems to have a negative impact on a company's image. However, we cannot overlook other viewpoint as well.

Whistle-blowing is a tactic used by an informant who wants to expose all the ill-doing within a company in order to stop it. I see this as one's own selfish interests motivated through external factors. There is lot of competition in the market for any kind of goods or products. When "Whistle-Blowers" are bought, they try to make another competitive company at an advantageous position by undermining the position of company in which they actually serve. A company may have their own secrets and reasons for their functions and jeopardizing all this can ruin the company and its health. Workers can lose confidence in the company, lose their jobs eventually and come on roads. All happening within the company should be restricted only within the walls of that company. The company may use this as a way to be publicly famous in the market and showcast its new set of products. A cheap publicity gimmick for extra gains for a company can be a prime motive a whistle blower is used for.

While on other hand, Whistle-Blowing can reveal the bad elements of a company who may be exploiting its workers day and night for their own personal motives. Its a technique that can make the world and media aware about the wrong doings and probabably save an individual's life. If the workers union feel that adequate safety measures are not provided in the place they work, this needs to be brought top everyones attention. Be on strike or jobless than always living in the fear of death arriving any moment. It can help an individual who is afraid of coming in front exposing the wrong doings in a company. In todays ideal world, people will do anything for selfish means on a favour of few bucks which should be condemned. Hard work always pays off. Shortcuts to success can be challenged through whistle-blowing.

To conclude, i would say that we need to curb Whistle-Blowing if it is for wrong intention. Practises should be followed within limits making sure its for the betterment of the people and society in which they live. Any time whistle-blowers are around, its time we get prepared to listen to them and make prudent decisions.

Rate my Issue -1 (out of 6)

"The invention of the internet has created more problems than it has solved. Most people would have a higher quality of life had the Internet never been invented"

Today, internet had made its way through millions of houses across globe. It seems to be be now an important facet of one's life now. Users all over the world are in touch with each other through Internet and I assert with the statement that Internet has proved to be a boon for us. However, we also cannot overlook other contrasting viewpoints of Internet.
Internet when started in mid 90's was known to very few especially in developing nations. Sooner, this invention started becoming a trend as every household would like to be associated with it. Computers were bought mainly because someone could see the fancy side of internet and its numerous uses. It not only has bridged the gap on a global level but also leveraged our life tremendously. Life has been influenced as person nows goes online and fetches rich and current information from millions websites and pages. One can determine his way to his destination by surfing on Google maps which also will tell him the best shortest paths and fuel mileage. If it would take weeks for a mail to reach from India to US, now just at the click of a button email can be received instantly in any part of the world. Communication has fostered because of Internet as people chat and talk over internet protocols. Offices, Schools, Institutions, Industries all rely on high speed Internet connection for their daily work such as finding resources on the web etc from which they have benefited greatly. Real time applications would fail if there was no internet. People have become friends with distant people through messengers which in the past could only be a dream. Satellite images with the help of Internet can predict the presence of water in an area and may rescue someone's life. Applying for jobs and sending applications online has made our systems efficient and more productive as we don't have students waiting in line and no paperwork.
However, Internet has entered our life with such a force that we seem to be very dependent on it now. Our social life has been affected as we spend more time chatting than actually interacting with someone in person outside our homes. We could have devoted more time catering basic needs of house than wasting precious time on checking mails and surfing. Internet can also pose security issues. For example, someone can hack your credit card number online which you may not be aware of until you see your bank statements. Identities can be morphed by people having malicious intents destroying your life. Also, the Google earth software was not very successful as one could easily spot the prime locations of a country through satellite and be targeted by terrorists. People have started to report more health ailments such as pain in eyes, back and hands resulting from continuous work on a computer. This can make an individual stressful and more fatigue. We rely on Internet Information more than anything gained through word of mouth. children have lost interest in Physical games as these can be played online now with more fun and challenge.
To conclude, it seems life would not be feasible without Internet. Though internet has its implications, a common man's reliance on computers has and will continue to grow in future. He will always need to do better and Internet will be there to support him.

Rate my Argument - 1 (out of 6)

"Over 75% of the households in the town of Parksboro have Jacuzzi bathtubs. In addition, the average family income in parksboro is 50% higher than the national avaerage, and a local store reports record-high sales of the most costly brands of hair and body care products. With so much being spent on the personal care, parksboro will be a profitable location for a new luxe spa- a salon that offers premium services at prices that are above average."

The author concludes with the statement that opening a new luxury spa will be very profitable in Parksboro in view of the current statistics. However, he relies on certian assumptions for which there is no evidence.
Firstly, he tries to correlate the increase in the number of households having Jacuzzi bathtubs with the average income of these families. The evidence that the average family income in Parkboro is 50% higher does not necessarily imply that most of these households have bought the luxury bathtubs. Nevertheless, there also seems no evidence as to whether these households have been owned by people staying there for years or if new prople have shifted to Parksboro. The argument would be strengthened if the author had provided elements stating the fact that the families whose incomes have rised have started to buy new Jacuzzi bathtubs.
Secondly, the author mentions record high sales of the local store. There is no number mentioned to express the impact of the figure. The authenticity of the source providing this crucial information needs to be verified. Its not clear as to which class of people are buying the costly hair products. Are these products being bought by neighboring town who do not have access to any personal care store in their own vicinity? The argument would be strengthened in the light of facts that could uncover the truth
Finally, the author doesnt mention as which products and in which range are maximum sales occurring. The new luxury spa aimed at opening a new store may be targeting all items for kids which may prove a loss if most of the residents staying nearby the salon where unmarried. The argument would need to seek more information on the location aspects and class of people being targeted for its maximum sales. Only if the writer provides substantial clues to support his point that maximum sales will happen in area with household having higher income than average and that their interests matching those for costly hair products, will the argument hold.

Blue Umbrella

Its actually been a while since i knew Blue Umbrella was out in theaters but for not knowing whats exactly in this movie, i did not go to theaters. Will resent again that i watched it online on bittorrent.com site. Lot of people recommended me watching this movie. Infact, one of my friends also told me to download this flick for her once i returned to India. Well, that never happened. I saw "Blue Umbrella" yesterday at home. It doesnt have a big star cast and appears to be a small budget film. The title, i must admit wasn't compelling me to see this film.
But after watching this film, i wish i had seen it earlier. A short story about a young village girl and her possessiveness of a Japaneses Blue Umbrella. Vishal Bhardwaj who incidentally started as a music director is now making rounds in his life as Film director. The director of earlier films like makdee, maqbool and omkara brings this next flick in a row. I have seen his omkara. Although it was not a hit, i liked the movie for its characters and fishy plot. Blue Umbrella on the other hand is a very simple story far away from thrills of major crime and bloodshed. Shot in beautiful location of Himachal Pradesh, the film captures the emotions of tinsel town citizens beautifully. Picture has a blue print which adds to its glamor and goes in line with the title. Superb acting by Pankaj Kapur and nonetheless, chid artist biniya (Shreya Sharma). Honestly, this feels like the best picture and acting i have ever seen of a veteran artist like Pankaj Kapur ji. He is just brilliant in the film and the protagonist (which i feel ) is biniya (Shreya sharma) so sweet and innocent who brings a big turmoil in NandKishore Khatri's (played by PK) life. The whole chaos is about owing an expensive umbrella gifted to biniya by Japaneses tourists. PK is jealous and steals her umbrella citing it as his own. Biniya is a clever and bold girl completely contrast to a typical gullible girl of a small village would be.
Excellent direction as well as brilliant cinematography by Sachin Kumar shooting the best snow covered locales of himachal pradesh. This is a must watch film for all of us, there are not many films like this that come on silverscreen often. Vishal just pulled it off with a magnificent cast. Go watch it ! I'll rate this file 4.5/5