Topic Ek, tweets Anek

On 26th May 2015 the Modi Led BJP (NDA) Government completed 1 year and has planned several celebration activities (ads in news papers, 200+ rallies across the country etc).

Given India's increasing digital presence and BJP's strong use of the online media to reach out to Indians especially while campaigning, a twitter activity was never going to be far behind. While almost all of Modi's followers got the coveted DM's they also ran a official hashtag #SaalEkShuruaatAnek

And 1 of my fav aspects of twitter is how people can take an idea and spawn off multiple uses of that idea.

Truly its a - Sooch ek, Ideas anek!

I have shared a set of my fav tweets by India's twitteratti below. Please suggest more in the comments and will add them too :)

Choose wisely!

Shhhhhh....

This is relevant for sooo many people

From the world of E-commerce 

Profound

Summarizes Religion perfectly

You see a correlation in the 2?

Half of Bangalore will know all about this!

Insaan ka kartavya hota hain, koshihs karna!

Ghar Wapasi

Kisne kiska chori kiya?

Isne to ulta kardiya

Read to book to know more!

Ouch..

Every Engineer will vouch for this

Relationships 

The better looking neighbors right?

Traffic woes

There are tons and tons more. Please drop links in comment section below and I would love to add them

The Incredible V 2.0

Have you heard about it?

I was blown away when I did!

Yes I am talking about the new Asus ZenFone 2

Click here if you have not yet seen how Incredible it really is:
http://www.asus.com/Phones/ZenFone_2_ZE551ML/

The ZenFone 2 - Image courtesy the Asus website

What excites me about this phone?

Well I currently use a ZenFone 5 and find it amazingly fast with a very good batter life and I think this is the best value for money mobile phone in the market today.

How good my current phone is and how much more Incredible the ZenFone 2 is listed below:

1 - 4 GB RAM - I think this is the world’s FIRST Phone - yes WORLDS FIRST to have 4 GB of RAM. With 2 GB I get superior performance with absolutely no lag at all. Imagine playing games with 4GB. It would smoother than butter on a hot pan.

Combine that with a Quad core processor and we have a true winner especially given the excellent value pricing.

2 - Longer battery life and faster charging - This is a no-brainer. Every smart phone is critically evaluated based on batter life and having used smart phones for ages, I can tell you is that my Asus gives me the longest battery life of all phones I have tried. The fact that the ZenFone 2 has fast charging makes it all the more sweeter to buy

3 - Camera - the next most important criteria – Considering that I click pics of food, my family and surroundings almost on a daily basis, I am quite happy and impressed with what I get at that price. The new ZenFone 2 has more features, better low light photography, something which I can use to click better food pictures with enhancing my blogs experience. The enhanced 5MP front camera will be a nice touch to click selfies with my little boy, who is all of 2 years but loves to click selfies J

4 – Screen size and form factor – I am a sucker for large screens and every time I move to a new phone, I ensure it’s bigger than the previous one. The fact that ZenFone 2 is a 5.5 inch with the same physical size as the ZenFone 5 is superb as it means more screen space without the phone becoming difficult to hold and handle. The fact that it’s extremely thin and light, something rare for phones in this price range makes it truly incredible.

5 - 5 – Look and feel – Today mobile phones are beyond utility devices and have become a style statement and style accessory. People love to show off their devices and many use custom back panels, crystal back panels, covers etc to enhance the look of their phone. Ever since I got the ZenFone 5 I have not bought a single back cover and I think the ZenFone 5 takes that to the next level in terms of style and personality. All you need to see is the below image to know how cool, sexy and designer these phones look.

Image courtesy - Asus Website

In conclusion - Asus has out done itself with the ZenFone 2.

It looks incredible, has incredible features with industry first technology and specs and will be available for a jaw dropping price of only around Rs.17,999 (this is what I have heard)

In short - a MUST BUY. I will certainly look to upgrade my 4 month old device to this very soon.

Together we can and we will

We may be separated by distance but will never be apart from each other ever

“WE two boys together clinging,
One the other never leaving,
Up and down the roads going, North and South excursions making,
Power enjoying, elbows stretching, fingers clutching,
Arm'd and fearless, eating, drinking, sleeping, loving.
No law less than ourselves owning, sailing, soldiering, thieving,
threatening,
Misers, menials, priests alarming, air breathing, water drinking, on
the turf or the sea-beach dancing,
Cities wrenching, ease scorning, statutes mocking, feebleness
chasing,
Fulfilling our foray.” 
― Walt Whitman

No quote evokes a stronger sense of strength in me than what Walt Whitman has said here.

For me and my best friend share more than a sense of camaraderie but a deep bond.

That of knowing what the other wants, needs irrespective of whether we are voicing it or not.

We may be far away from each other today, but every single time that we meet, talk or communicate, its not the words that we say or the gestures but the connection we share that assures us that all is going to be well in this world.

Soul mates is not a hypothetical phrase but a strong reality in our case.

If every day is a new journey in life and we embark on this journey many times together, but also often in separate ways, we know as surely as the sun must set that we will meet again at the end of that journey.

And that will give us strength to be able to carry on a journey by ourselves the next day.

We have seen many difficulties in life. Not about the difficulties one faces in life but that of being away from each other.

For we have been separated for years due to study and travel and marriage and kids and work and jobs and all that can come in between us.
At times ego, other priorities, other friends, deadlines, different interests etc

But every time we meet, its beyond magic. A sense of calmness overcomes us. It reduces a storm in our minds into nothing but a gentle cool breeze blowing across the fields.

I don't know if there is a karmic connection but there certainly is a feeling of gratitude towards God for giving us the best gift life could give us.

For this connection is not about friendship but of elevation, about transcending over worldly worries into an emotion that knows knows calmness, peace of mind and a feeling - that we will experience bliss, satisfaction and joy by being together.

Much the same as what one experiences with http://housing.com/ a sense of companionship, a feeling that your in safe hands and that any decision that you need to make in terms of where to live or how to find a house is best made with them.

Being Together

The Social connector - how socializing is the key to survival

Today while I was driving to work - I heard on the Radio that Feeling alone / being lonely was becoming a serious medical concern and that it was as dangerous as Obesity.

Increasingly people were being alienated and hence a feeling of disconnect was setting in.

This is also possibly 1 of the causes of depression that is increasingly being seen amongst people.

While people are increasingly connected in the digital world, perhaps not enough time and effort is going into keeping the human touch.

While social media is a great tool to connect with people, especially for the ones who want to stay protected, those who are shy or vary of human contact for fear of being hurt, upset etc., it is not a good sign to completely alienate one self.

What we all need is that 1 groups of friends, who you can count on to always be there for you.

It does need to be a large group, even 2 to 3 friends will do, but what they help is to keep the human touch and connect going.

You may argue, saying who does not have friends these days but the point is 1 should not confuse friends with work mates, associates, roommates, acquaintances etc.

In that sense I am glad to have various groups of friends, who I can call upon in need and who call upon me in their moments of need.

These groups have my childhood friends and we have stood by each other through out what life has thrown at us, couple groups who have a common interest and we bond over that commonality (if you can't figure that out, message me and I shall explain), sports friends (this one is easy to figure out), ex work / education buddies from different companies / colleges, random other friends.
And finally my twitter friends group. Yes I have a group of people who I have met via twitter and we share great camaraderie, stay connected and meet from time to time too.

Not to forget the various family / cousins and relatives groups we all hold dear as I do have loving family members.

The beauty is that at any time any of us can connect with each other which always leaves us with uplifted spirits and provides a new hope that tomorrow will be brighter and better.

No matter where the trouble in life, whether it's at home, work or with some of my friends, being a united group helps us tide over those issues and come out feeling stronger and more confident of ourselves.

It's not about any 1 instance, but each and every moment spent with these various sets of friends, helps you realize that there is so much more to life than worry and concern and that with support and being #together we can conquer any challenge that life can throw at us.

It's the same kind of support and togetherness that you can get from https://housing.com/ when you looking a new home. Truly a website with a big difference.

Inspiration is all Around is. Thanks to our #EverydayHeroes

For every smile you bring to the world, the world will give you 2 back.


Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them.

Dalai Lama

I am a firm believer in this philosophy. It is my quest to spread as much joy and happiness I can in this world. I go out of my way, often at my own peril.

I do give in despite it being against my belief or choice. But this is not for me to gloat over myself.

I most CERTAINLY am NOT the Only One and neither am I doing it more than others for there are people who are far more worthy to getting that title.

One only needs to look around us to experience a sense of gratitude. For there are people all around us who are doing their bit to bring smiles to people lives and to help make this a better place to live in.

#EverydayHeroes I call them. Unsung heroes is what you may be thinking about. Who silently contribute to your joy and you don't even realize it.

For in their actions and deeds they give hope and optimism of a better world that we will live in.

Who are these heroes? Here are a couple to illustrate my point:

Radio Jockeys - no matter what their mood / state of mind - they have to engage with their audience, spread smiles, joy and excitement and keep the audience hooked to their stations.

Twitter RoCur account managers - have you ever spared a thought for them? They typically get 1 week to engage with people they don't know, who are culturally completely diverse, across a vast age group and geography with different interests. All this means that they have very little to connect upon and the worst part is that they don't know what engagements have happened in the past!

Which means that they have to think on their feet, be different, interesting and engage with people they probably won't hear from ever again.

And there are people who volunteer to do this week in and week out.

If this is not inspiring then what is? Do remember that curators may get abused, fought with and insulted for hurting peoples sentiments even though they would have no such intention.

It is a thank less job and one that tells you that you have to be made of stern stuff if you want to be able to excel at it.

In the same vein there are a few companies who want to stand out in the crowd and make a difference. Who want to enrich your life in small ways so that you go to bed feeling happy at what you achieved that day.

One such company is Housing.com, Have a look at a website https://housing.com/lookup that you would never believe is from a company that is helping you choose a home.

It certainly gives you Hope. That there is a human on the other side too.

Starting a new life

I made my choice when it mattered the most!

As individuals we all grow up at some stage.

And by grow up am not referring in terms of age but in terms mentality and attitude.

Parents often have certain aspirations for their children and encourage them to follow their (Read parents) dreams.

After all they want, what is best for their children.

Just like everybody else, I was at a cross roads of life about deciding what career path to choose.

I was / am still good at math and accounts and had a passion for it to the point that I used to teach my friends and classmates math and accounts and help them excel in their exams.

My passion was such that when I was to join a degree college I opted for an evening course so that I could work with a Chartered Accountant in the day and learn all that there was to learn about the profession.

Just for a moment - do remember this was almost 14 years back. Unlike the youth of today where there are options galore and they get to pursue their dreams with greater parental support, I was doing this in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
And we are in a relatively conservative joint family situation.

My parents were thrilled that I was taking such a bold step of wanting to work for a pittance (even by the standards back then) with a Chartered Accountant just to learn the trade.
My career path was set and it was a matter of how well I learn, study and a matter of time before I pass my exams and qualify.

A year later - it all changed.

While I had a great boss who was very helpful, the work got to me. It was not the stress (for I have seen nightmarish stress in my work life many times) but the tediousness of tasks that got to me. It was mundane, boring and left little room for creative thinking and ability to think outside the box.

That was when I decided that I wanted to pursue a more 'Interesting' career in life.

And after committing a whole year, skipping college for another, joining evening classes for 3 I had decided that I want to pursue alternate options.

So I had to #StartANewLife 

Today it is over a decade that I have been in the field of sales and marketing with many a success story to tell and many an achievements to be proud about.

The biggest is that I am happy with what I am doing, Am not in a profession which is uni dimensional but multi-dimensional and have a plethora of exciting opportunities to make a difference in where am working.

My greatest achievement - paying a large percent for my expensive Global MBA out of my own pocket and the best - I bought my own apartment by the age of 32.

I could not buy it from https://housing.com/  but I still am a proud owner of 1 :)

You can always view the #StartANewLife.  with Housing.com's video here.

New Scam - Toy Horses power automobiles and not Arabian ones

Why we have slow moving traffic in Bangalore, now solved.

In a surprising turn of events, it was revealed that automobiles in Bangalore although marketed as having Horse power are in fact powered by toy horses and not true blue blood, race horses.

In a series of  candid interviews with manufactures and companies, officials claimed that what they were doing was not illegal.

"After all we only promote our cars and bikes as having horse power. We do no quantify that these are only show ponies or toy ones and no customer has asked us details about the same."

Further investigation revealed that - the change in culture in Bangalore is part of the reason automobile manufactures get away with such practices. With the huge influx of people coming in from Northern part of India and out side India - automobile purchases are no more about utility and convenience but more about vanity and show off.

What they want

What they get - part 1

What they get part 2

People buy BIG, FANCY Cars only to show off to the world that we HAVE ARRIVED and focus on the looks and color and useless features like glass holders, coat hooks etc.
Test drives are done to see if the car is comfortable, accommodates the newly acquired beer belly and if there is enough space for women to keep their emergency make-up kit.

Even at the time of delivery - no customer ever opens the bonnet to check if the engine is in there - but they all inspect the car from outside to ensure that it looks as classy at the time of booking.

This reflects in the sad state of how the traffic is in Bangalore. While density of traffic is a concern, most drivers of these "BIG" cars are seen lumbering along.
If you closely observe you will see cars cross signals at an excruciatingly slow pace, vast open spaces in front of drivers which they cant cover, not due to poor driving skills but the lack of REAL power and people driving in the center of the lanes because they cant get the damn vehicle to move over to the side and make way :)

Another reason is the magnets (click here) on the roads of course ;) ;)

Bangalore City roads

Bangalore City roads

To be continued...

Bangalore Images credit -Vadakkus 

GosleeekASUSexperience - Indie blogger Meet

Asus in search of incredible...

And what an incredible evening...

There was excitement in the air.
The thrill of a new experience beckoned.
Memories were to be made.
A lot of fun promised thats was delivered and how.

We were there for the launch of the ASUS Eee book X205 and the AIO PC ET 2040.

Once the registration was done, the evening opened with some head banging rock music that really set the mood and got the crowd going.

Then came the MC. Special mention for Anoop here, our MC for the evening who was lively, funny, and kept the crowd in splits. The beauty was that he remembered almost all the old timers names despite having not met them in a while. A much loved man he is.

And since most of us were new to each other, he also spent time on an ice breaking session that really got the crowd involved.

The main event...

On to the launch of the ASUS Eee book X205...

 An ultra thin Laptop that weighs in under 1kg and is just 1.75 cms thin.

A perfect companion for the upwardly mobile who is always on the move and would prefer a laptop to a tablet.
The good thing about ASUS is that they are making machine for specific target audiences.
This is not a one size fits all strategy. I heard someone mention it was an atom processor but i don't think that should trouble a non power user who needs high battery life, good performance and a system that supports him when he needs it.
Note  - this sells for 14999/-

Click here for more info - http://www.asus.com/in/Notebooks_Ultrabooks/ASUS_EeeBook_X205TA/

The new AIO of ASUS is another winner.

A family computer with gesture control and a 19.5 cms large screens.
The deal clincher - the AIO has a 1 hour UPS Style battery life.
That's right - a desktop with an internal battery that saves you extra money and the ugliness of a UPS. Add a 500 GB HDD...and all this for Rs. 23999 and it's a steal. And its sleeek too. The gesture control may not be of much use but this PC certainly will find a lot of takers.

Click here for more info - http://bit.ly/1EWrny6

The event ended with an extremely fun group activity that saw the attendees divided in 4 groups and who had to showcase blogging in various thematic ways.

This was the most fun part which also showcased how leadership can bring complete strangers together to form a cohesive unit.

3 out of the 4 teams did a fabulous job. 1 of them got the plot completely wrong.

Special mention to the ITC Gardenia staff and chef's. Great food both starters and dinner and good service too.

And lastly the most special best wishes for ASUS wishing them tremendous success ...

 Hur hur hur hur hur hur  Hur hur hur hur hur hur  Hur hur hur hur hur hur Hur hur hur hur hur hur......

Yaaay

Fox Life presents Tales from the Bush Larder with Kiran Jethwa

The stage was set at Shiro's UB city.

The quintessential Bangalore winter was about.

The anticipation of some unique tasting food was in the air.

What makes this food unique you ask?

It is not so much the out come -  as what goes in that matters.
If you subscribe to this theory than this is one experience you should not miss

Tales from the Bush Larder - a unique TV show on FOX LIFE featuring celebrity Chef Kiran Jethwa went live on 29th Jan 2015.

Chef Kiran Jethwa does some live cooking and gives us a glimpse into the show

 Watch some earlier episodes on Youtube here - Kiran Jethwa's Show

The show explores how food, tastes uniquely different, when made with ingredients and unique cooking techniques from the wilds of Kenya.
Chef Kiran Jethwa has his own very popular restaurant in Kenya, where he lives and experiments on his cooking.

What we had is a list of well known and much loved dishes all cooked with ingredients from Kenya. Add the Shiro's magic touch to the food and this was one memorable experience.
My personal favorites was the Bao, Chicken Satay and the Shushi (which I dont normally eat :) ).

Catch the show on Fox Life Every Thursday and Friday at 8.00 pm.
Show starts on 29th January 2015

My co-foodies