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Alright, it’s time for another trip down LinkedIn! This time, we’re heading back to the land of Windows 8 to see if there is anything new for us to dig up. Luckily, there appears to be plenty. Now, before I go into all of this, I’d like to remind all of you of the caveat that goes along with these LinkedIn posts: It’s very easy to create a fake LinkedIn profile and make it look genuine, so while most of what’s to follow is probably genuine, the potential is there for all of it to be fabricated. With that said, below are quoted passages from people’s profiles where Windows 8 is a point of mention. Below the quoted passages are links to the source profiles they’re derivative of.

Though some of the mentions below are ridiculously generic (I included them simply for the sake of including them), there are a couple of interesting mentions, such as the Windows 8 Runtime Experience Team and the Windows Desktop Graphics Team. Check ‘em out:

Worked as a Program Manager on the Desktop Graphics Team in the Windows Group. Responsible for documenting and analyzing a vast set of products and their interactions with each other. Also, analyzed these connections and how the products worked in order to determine problem areas and investigated how to correct these problems over a Windows 8 timeframe.

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Working in Windows Core Operating System Division. Design, develop and maintain automation for Windows Resource Monitor, Task Manager, System Monitor, MSConfig in Windows 7 and Windows 8 to ensure shipping product with high quality.

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Design and develop of several Windows 7 core libraries for the Font Managment System (C++ and C#). Currently participating on the Windows 8 planning process. Investigating, evaluating and proposing new features and prototypes.

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Windows 8 Test Sign-off Project Manager

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Windows 8 Planning.

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Working in the Deployment group of the Windows Core Operating Systems Division, I lead a team of SDETs working on a key technology used by a number of the deployment platforms (Setup, Windows Update, etc.). I manage the day-to-day assignments, strategic direction, and career development of the individuals on my team. I have 4 developers working here in Redmond and 2 additional at the Microsoft Canada Development Center in Richmond, British Columbia.

I am presently working on the Windows 7 release and expect to be working on Windows 8 as soon as this release is complete.

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

I have joined the Windows 8 Runtime Experience team.

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Windows 8, Windows User Experience — Live Social and Media Experience

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Sept 2009 – Now: Windows 8 security
Oct 2007-Aug 2009: Driving and conducting Windows 7 Security Pentest for SDL Compliance

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Working with the Managed Services Development (MSD) team in support of the Microsoft Update (MU), Windows Update (WU) and Windows 8.

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Product Management and Marketing duties for Windows 7 and Windows Genuine brand. Product planning and market research Windows 8. Also helped launch Microsoft incubation product – SLPS (Software Licensing and Protection Services).

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Worked on possible Windows 8 features.

Source: Windows 8 on LinkedIn

Overall, nothing too terribly exciting, but it’s more than nothing, I suppose…

-Stephen
http://www.msftkitchen.com

Buxom beauty Sameera Reddy has bagged iron leg heroine tag in Bollywood and Tollywood. In Bollywood she has very less hits, in Tollywood she has acted in three movies Narasimhudu, Jai Chiranjeevi and Ashok. Among them Jai Chiranjeevi became a commercial hit but failed to meet with the high expectations.

Narasimhudu became a controversial and also miserable flop. Third movie Ashok also faced bitter result.Then she hasn’t bagged any Tollywood movie. In Kollywood she has acted in some super hit movies like Vaaranam Aayiram. Present she is one of the most crazy heroine in Tamilnadu.

Recently Krishna Vamshi has approached her for female lead in his next movie Kandireega with Ravi Teja. Sneha Ullal will play another lead role.

Zondag heb ik me op enkele Amruts geworpen. Ik zette de nieuwe botteling voor Crombé tegenover de Fusion. De Blackadder op 46% toonte zich een ideale sparring partner.
Zoals ondertussen gemeenzaam geweten, is Amrut een beetje een hype de laatste tijd. Door het Indische klimaat rijpt de whisky er een pak sneller dan in Schotland, wat resulteert in erg mature vier-, vijfjarige whisky’s. Gezien de gigantische Angel’s Share zullen we waarschijnlijk nooit een Amrut 20Y of 30y kunnen drinken, tegen die tijd zal er immers niet veel vocht meer in het vat overblijven.
Thuishaven van Amrut is Bangalore. Managing director is Neelakanta Rao Jagdale, Ashok Chokalingam is er International sales manager en als dusdanig het sympatieke gezicht van Amrut in onze contreien.

Ik begon met de Crombé, voluit Amrut 2004/2009, 52%, OB for Crombé, cask 2930, 221 bottles. Mijn eerste impressie was “mwa, ja, niet slecht”, maar na een tijdje werd die “niet slecht” toch een serieus understatement. Hij heeft een zeer subtiele neus, die zoet en bloemig start. Honing. Daarna krijgen we gras, hooi en hars. Vervolgens komen er kruiden door, speculaas en noten, tabak ook. Opgelegde peren. Ja, die neus evolueert echt héél mooi. Op de tong is deze Amrut fruitig (citrus vooral) en kruidig (peper). Ook hier komt wat hars bovendrijven, wat een aangename bitterheid geeft. Hij blijft lang hangen, gaat naadloos over in een lekkere bitterzoete afdronk.
Wel, ik vind dit geen gemakkelijke whisky, hij heeft echt wat tijd nodig om zich volledig te geven, maar dan toont hij zich een beauty.

De Amrut Blackadder die ik tussendoor dronk, moet het meer hebben van zijn pure fruitigheid, zoete fruitigheid, zalige zoete fruitigheid. Ja, ik blijf deze een absolute stunner vinden.

Dan de Fusion, Amrut Fusion, 50%, OB 2009, batch #01, die al door heel wat mensen de hemel in is geprezen. De naam Fusion verwijst naar het gebruik van twee verschillende soorten malt, nl. geturfde Schotse malt en niet-geturfde Indische malt. Deze laatste komt van gerst geoogst in de provincies Punjab en Rajasthan, aan de voet van de Himalaya. Beide maltsoorten werden apart verwerkt, gedistilleerd én gerijpt. Het geheel werd na een viertal jaar rijping vermengd in bourbonvaten en dit in een verhouding van 25% geturfd en 75% niet-geturfd distillaat. Het resultaat is een zeer zachte whisky die inderdaad een mooie mix biedt van subtiele turf en rijke fruitigheid. In de neus geeft dit naast de fruitige turf nog heel wat zoete associaties, ik denk aan kandijsuiker, cake, rozijnen (op rum!) en crème brûlée. Vooral dat laatste wordt na enige tijd zeer duidelijk. De eveneens zachte en frisse smaak bouwt hier wat op voort: turf, fruit, vanille, hout, bloemen ook. Gho, ik weet niet of het mij ligt maar dat laatste nijgt een beetje naar iets geparfumeerd dat ik niet onmiddelijk kan thuisbrengen, zonder echt te storen evenwel (het is geen jaren tachtig Bowmore). Behoorlijk lange finish met terugkerend hout, fruit en turf.

Scores? 86/100 voor de Fusion, 89/100 voor de Crombé. Aan nog geen 40 euro de fles… kopen die handel!

Søndag morgen stemning:
Fuglekvidr, hundegøen, cikadesang og abehyl blander sig med traktorlyde og en stor diesel 4WD i tomgang neden for min terrasse – sidstnævnte har kun været her et øjeblik, den kører snart igen. Miles ville nu have klædt stemningen…

Så er vi sgu i Lumbini – stedet hvor Prins Siddhartha Gautama aka Buddha Siakyamuni blev født år 563 før BC af Dronning Maya Devi.

Lumbini er måske det sted, der har stået allerhøjest over steder, vi har villet til. Naturligvis fordi stedet har en stor betydning for os som buddhister – men også fordi vi føler, at vi bør se de mest betydende turistmål i Nepal, så vi i det mindste kan tale med og have en holdning til de forskellige muligheder der eksisterer, når venner og bekendte spørger om hvad der interessant… og her er Lumbini altså en af top attraktionerne.

Lad mig sige det med det samme. Her er røvsygt!

Der er efter min mening ingen grund til at pakken tingene ind. OG slet ingen grund til at stille sig op i koret af begejstrede tilbedere, travellers og traders der højlydt lovpriser stedet.

Kejseren har ganske enkelt intet tøj på. Så er det sagt!

Dermed ikke være sagt at vi ikke har det godt og ikke nyder det.

Vi har det forrygende! Og rent personligt er jeg helt kriblende i kroppen over udsigten til en dag, hvor vi overhovedet intet kan gøre, andet end at slappe af, læse bøger, skrive, slentre rundt, spise dal bath med fingrene, nusse hinandens fødder og alt det man ellers foretager sig, når man ingen planer har. Og i morges flyttede vi fra et mindre og ydmygt guest house til det mere komfortable Buddha Maya Garrdens med kæmpe balkon, lunkent vand, satellit Tv (hvor den første, der toner frem på skærmen, Gud hjælpe mig er Anders Fogh i et interview på Al Jazzera, weird!) udsigt og morgenbuffet for bare 175 kr.!

Uha, den er godt nok helt gal denne gang...

Vores bil brød naturligvis sammen i går, hvilket konkret betyder at vi ikke som planlagt returnerer til Kathmandu i dag. Vi får nemlig først bilen i løbet af i dag, hvis det altså lykkes Gopal – vores mekaniker, der dukkede op out of nowhere, da vi befandt os in the middel of nowhere i går – at få en ny fjeder til højre baghjul… nu må vi se. Jeg nyder det.

Vi forlod Kathmandu fredag morgen, og havde en relativt smertefri køretur hertil. Vejret var perfekt – lettere overskyet, så solen ikke bagte for meget. Og trafikken var særdeles imødekommende uden for mange tunge lastvogne og sindssyge busser. Maoisterne havde lagt brænde i ovnen til den helt store demodag i Kathmandu, hvilket måske har det afholdt folk fra at tage både ud og ind af dalen. Og samtidigt kan den begyndende benzin mangel have betydet, at de første biler er kørt tørre eller at folk er nervøse for ikke at have brændstof nok til at komme hjem igen

I don’t know – har efterhånden lært at det er fuldstændigt ligegyldigt hvad man bruger af argumenter for og imod det ene eller andet. I Nepal gør tingene fuldstændigt som det passer dem.

Som eksempelvis at efterlade os her i Lumbini i vores behagelige ufrivillighed.

Det er naturligvis også derfor vi synes Lumbini er kedelig. Hvis det nu havde været et fantastisk sted, ville vi jo have pisket rundt som gale og ledt efter nye rejseoplevelser, vi kan lægge til listen over alle vores andre eksotiske oplevelser…

Hvorfor er det så lige at vi – som nogle af de meget få – synes her er så ligegyldigt?

Godt spørgsmål. Det skyldes naturligvis, at vi efterhånden har set så meget, at der skal noget til før vi falder på røven.

Omvendt har vi også så meget erfaring at vi godt kan se hvorfor et sted er attraktivt og populært selvom det måske ikke lige appellerer til os.

Lumbini er på liste over UNESCOs Heritage Sites. Men det kvalificerer ikke nødvendigvis stedet til en attraktion. Det gør bare stedet til et sted der har historisk betydning – og det har det naturligvis.

Problemet med Lumbini er, at stedet ingenting er i sig selv. For at kompenserer for dette ingenting har man åbenbart måttet bygge noget op, der er så interessant, at folk ikke løber skrigende bort efter fem minutter. Og det er altså ikke lykkedes – ikke endnu i hvert tilfælde.

Kerne i det hele er naturligvis de historiske begivenheder omkring prins Siddhartas fødsel. dronning Maya Devi er – højgravid – på vej fra en by til den anden. På vejen kommer hun forbi en ufattelig smuk pond omgivet af fantastisk smukke og blomstrende træer. Hun kan naturligvis ikke holde sig fra at tage en svømmetur.

Pludseligt starter hendes veer, og de er åbenbart så effektive at hun lige akkurat har tid og kræfter nok til at tage 25 skridt (FEM-OG-TYVE) sydover til et træ hvor hun griber fat i en gren for at sætte fødslen i gang (dengang fødte kvinderne stående for at få hjælp af tyngdekraften).  Godt hjulpet af sin søster føder hun her prins Siddharta der ikke alene står på egne ben med det samme men også bliver velsignet med forudsigelsen om at han enten bliver en stor lærer eller en stor konge.

At være lærer var åbenbart heller ikke dengang et specielt respektabelt erhverv. Så for at sikre at Siddharta bliver Konge beskytter hans far ham mod al menneskelig ulyksalighed i det fantastiske slot Kapilavastu.

Herefter kender du nok resten af historien, og gør du ikke – må du sætte dig ind i den.

Videnskabsmænd, forskere, historikere og sandsynligvis en masse sandsigersker har med meget stor sikkerhed bekræftet denne historie. Så Lumbinis betydning for Buddhismens grundlæggelse er god nok. Men da hele forløbet skete ved en lille sø i junglen for mere end 2.500 år siden er der naturligvis intet der eksisterer i dag… og gjorde der det, ville der ikke være tale om andet end en sø og et træ.

Eftertiden har så tilført stedet en masse ting som burde gøre stedet interessant. Allerede et par hundrede år efter Buddhas død rejser en indisk kejser Ashok en søjle med indskriften om mane padme hum. Der bygges et tempel over selve fødestedet – Maya Devi Templet – hvor det centrale omdrejningspunkt er selve den sten prins Siddharta stillede sig på ved fødslen. Den identificerede man med sikkerhed i 1992. I dag er da naturligvis kun ruiner tilbage af det oprindelige tempel. For at beskytte dem har man indkranset hele herligheden i den mest rædselsfulde beton- og jernkonstruktion man kan forestille sig.

Selve søen – de 25 skridt nord for selve fødeelspunktet – er naturligvis muret op, så den fremstår mere præsentabel.

Et af de senest og mest ambitiøse tiltag for at peppe stedet op, er af meget nyere dato. I 1978 får man den japanske arkitekt Kenzo Tange til at designe en kæmpemæssig hellig have der døbes det meget eksotiske navn: Lumbini Developement Zone – en slags Noahs ark over buddhismens forskellige retninger. Konkret er dette sket ved at invitere alle buddhistiske lande og trosretninger til at bygge en slags buddhistisk ambassade i parken. I dag opføres der derfor klostre (med tilhørende templer) hurtigere end man kan sige om mane padme hum.

Alle klostrene omkranser en uendelig lang kanal, der strækker sig fra begivenhedernes centrum – stenen – nordpå, med Mahayanerne (os) i vest og Theravadaerne i øst – med den meget imponerende og smukke Peace Pagoda i bunden af kanalen, som prikken over i’et. Er det svært at forstille sig – så tjek evt. planen ud selv…

Har man set Taj Majhal, kan man forstille sig hvor fantastisk et syne dette er. Eller kunnet have været – hvis omgivelserne havde mulighed for at genspejle sig i kanalens vandoverflade. Men meget typisk for alt andet menneskeskabt i dette land ligner kanalen lort. Nogle lokale fattige har dæmmet kanalen op og planet ris. Og skulle man være så heldig at finde et stykke bart med vand, flyder det med plastikflasker og papir – det er dog ikke så slemt som resten af området. der godt kunne deltage i konkurrencen om Nepals mest beskidte sted…

Any way – tingene er som de er. Og dette er åbenbart godt nok til at tiltrække alverdens pilgrimme og dagturister fra Indien mindre end 50 km mod syd.

Da vi var der i går, væltede det ind med busser, med skoleelever på picknick, rige familier (og de er store og mangfoldige, skal jeg hilse og sige) og lokale nepalesere på weekend.

Ungerne er jo altid herlige – men de skaber jo ikke just den spirituelle stemning vi havde håbet på at finde. I sær ikke når de som deres indiske forældre i virkeligheden er græsk-katolske med det hele. De springer over, skubber, fører sig masende frem og opfører sig i øvrigt som i Indien. For dem er Lumbini intet andet for dem end en god undskyldning for en lørdags tur over grænsen. De fleste af dem er jo hinduer…

Hvad så med klostrene og templerne – kan de ikke kompensere for et-eller-andet?

Nope!

De giver os decideret en dårlig smag i munden. Det virker mest som om lamaerne konkurrere indbyrdes om hvis der er størst… her skal man lige tænke på at Nepal er et af verdens allerfattigste lande, ligesom flere af de lande der strøer om sig med penge også er (Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka) – pengene kunne måske være bedre anvendt til gavn for alle levende væsener.

Vi tog til Lumbini for at finde ro og skønhed og en lille plads hvor vi kunne sidde og fordybe os i en stille meditation. Vi kunne lige så godt have taget til Delhi eller et tilsvarende vanvittigt sted – roen eksistere ikke i Lumbini.

I stedet besluttede vi os for at køre til Tilaurakot mindre en 30 km væk. Her ligger resterne af den Kapilavastu hvor Buddha Siakyamuni levede i indtil hans 29. år. Dvs. de rammer der var spirekassen for hans tanker og belæringer om the nature of existence. Det der er hele grundlaget for Buddhismen uanset hvilken retning man praktiserer under.

Tilaurakot og Kapilavastu burde på papiret og efter vores mening være et sted, der er lige så populært som Lumbini.

Men det er det overhovedet ikke. Når man kommer dertil, er det overhovedet INTET.

Området er indhegnet – ved gaten sidder der 2 soldater på plastik stole. Umiddelbart inden indgangen er der et lille gult hus med et kontor hvor man skriver sig ind og så er der en lille parkeringsplads.

That’s it.

Siddhartas slots westlige gate

Til gengæld rummer stedet et overflødighedshorn af ro, skønhed og spiritualitet. Og rammerne er guddommelige – her behøver man ingen forklaringer over hvad, hvor osv.

Det var naturligvis også derfor, vores bil sagde STOP netop på den P-plads.

Og det var naturligvis også derfor vi bare glade-i-låget gav Gopal 1.000 Rupees samt vores bilnøgler med ordene:

Go to India, buy the spare parts, fix the car and bring it to our hotel tomorrow…

… og steg på den bus med en røvfuld burmesiske pilgrimme, der lige havde forvildet sig til dette paradis og nu skulle retur til Lumbini – via et hurtigt visit i Kudan, der er så eksotisk at alle stimlede om os som om vi lige var landet fra Mars. Guderne skal vide hvordan burmeserne har fundet frem til dette sted – men det er bestemt et besøg værd.

Jeg er overbevist om at Gopal kommer med bilen i dag – også selvom Indien er lige på den anden side… og skulle han forsvinde med bilen er der nok også en årsag til det.

CODA
Vi er nu tilbage i Kathmandu – det er tirsdag morgen og klokken er omkring 5:30 am.

Bilen kom som aftalt. Naturligvis gjorde den da det. Med en dugfrisk og ny fjeder over venstre baghjul.

Der var bare et mindre problem – Gopal havde intet gjort ved bremserne, på trods af at Annette gentagende gange havde bedt ham sørge for, at de var i orden.

Allerede da de kørte op ved siden af os, kunne vi mærke den ramme lugt af brændt gummi og metal, der dampede os i møde. Og jeg skulle bare holde hånden i nærheden af baghjulene for at fornemme den glohede varme, der strålede fra dem.

Den var naturligvis helt gal – og hvis Gopal + makker ikke forstod det af sig selv, fandt de ud af alvoren, da jeg inviterede dem med til Kathmandu og tilbød dem begge en flyvebillet retur til Lumbini.  Hvis altså, bilen kom helt frem.

Det skulle de naturligvis ikke nyde noget af.

Jeg forklarede dem om problemet med at få en bil retur i en stand, der var meget langt fra det vi havde aftalt – og fortalte dem naturligvis også, hvor problematisk det var for os, at gøre som de foreslog: at tage til Butwal, få tjekket bilen igen OG med overvejende sandsynligvis få dommen: sorry sir, we need spare parts from India… so tomorrow. I Lumbini havde vi trods alt et godt og stemningsfyldt hotel, hvor vi kunne slappe af på den fede måde. Det tvivlede jeg på vi kunne få i Butwal.

Dette lille sceneri udspandt sig på busholdepladsen i Lumbinis basar, hvor vi efterhånden havde en mindre kreds af lokale specialister, venner, dommer og andre nysgerrige, der altid trimler sammen for at følge med og give deres mening til kende når der sker et-eller-andet.

Det er svært for mig at vurdere – men jeg tror at sympatien fra alle de tilstedeværende var på vores side. Om det skyldes at bilens tilstand var så åbenlyst tvivlsom at selv den usleste mekaniker ikke ville have den på sit CV eller Gopla’s samvittighed aner jeg ikke. I hvert tilfælde indvilligede han ret hurtigt at tage bilen til nærmeste værksted, skaffe de nødvendige reservedele, fikse bremserne og komme tilbage senere.

So far so good.

Kl 7:30 pm bankede det på døren til vores værelse.

Your car is here, Sir

… lød det befriende fra receptionisten.

Og ganske rigtigt – på hotellets aftenmørke P-plads stod to sæt smilende tænder med en bil, der hverken lugtede eller glødede. Og efter et par runder følte jeg, klart at affjedringen og bremserne var bedre end nogensinde.

Jeg overlod betalingen til Annette – jeg gider ganske enkelt ikke slås med idioter om horrible priser. I sær ikke når vi nu efterhånden har så meget erfaring med bilproblemer, at vi stort set ved hvad alt koster.

Men problemer var der ingen af – inkl. transport, reservedele, løn mm blev regningen på 3.500 rupees – eller 175 kroner. Og så var begge oven i købet så glade at de oplyste hele hovedvejen, da vi satte den ved nærmeste intersektion. Forude lå en times buskørsel hjem – når og hvis bussen altså kom. Til orientering fik de 1.000 Rupees mere end de skulle have haft.

Når jeg tænker på den ærlighed, der præger alle dem, vi har mødt og ikke mindst trukket på, når vi har haft problemer, fyldes jeg med varme.

Vi stod – igen – på Lars Tyndskids marker med en bil, der dampede fra steder, der ikke kan dampe. Overlader bilnøglerne til en vildt fremmede med ordene: You fix the car and bring it to us... giver ham 1.000 rupees til reservedele og modtager som kvittering et mobilnummer – vi ikke kan tjekke fordi, der ikke er noget signal, der hvor vi befinder os – og som viser sig at være forkert da vi endeligt kommer til et sted med signal.

Så meget naivitet og godtroenhed bør næsten straffes.

Gopal og hans makker kunne så let som ingenting køre til Indien mindre end 20 km væk, sælge bilen og give os fingeren. Vi ville ikke have haft en chance for at finde hverken, dem eller bilen igen – og 20.000 kr. og en masse energi ville være smidt lige lugt ud i intetheden.

Men det gjorde de som sagt ikke – og det er der ingen andre der har gjort i Nepal. Det er sgu meget rart at vide…

Og naturligvis skulle bilen bryde sammen på P-pladsen udenfor Kapilavastu. Hvis den ikke havde gjort det var bilen brudt sammen et sted over bjergene med konsekvenser jeg ikke tør tænke på.

Så der er altså en-eller-anden eller et-eller-andet, der holder hånden over os.

Det er også rart at vide.

This venue has recently been added on Expopedia, the tradefair service finder. Visit our website for more information.

The Ashok Convention Centre
Diplomatic Enclave 50-B Chanakayapuri
110021 New Delhi (India)
More information about The Ashok Convention Centre …

Sharafat is a Bollywood movie directed by Asit Sen. It was a block buster hit in the a year 1970. Hema Malini and Dharmendra paired opposite each other in this feel good movie.

Rajesh (Dharmendra) is an young boy who last his parents. His uncle Jagatram (Ashok Kumar) takes care about him and hopes that, Rajesh will marry his daughter (Sonia Sahni) one day. Rajesh joins in a hostel and comes to know that, all the guys are not concentrating on their studies. He comes to know that, a prostitute Chandini (Hema Malini).

He controls all the students, from the meet with Chandini. One day Jagatram notices that, Rajesh is regularly visiting Chandini’s house. He watches that, Rajesh is meeting Chandini to teach her how to write and read. Movie then takes different turns.

A week or so back Mr.Abhishek Singhvi in the op-ed page of the TIMES OF INDIA, Bangalore edition had in an article more or less titled “IQ-EQ”, made the point that the Nobel Laureate Mr.Venkatraman, by not being indulgent to the fans from his home town of Chidambaram, from the state of Tamil Nadu had betrayed that he lacked the EMOTIONAL QUOTIENT to empathize with the fans in Tamil Nadu. Almost as a response to that in today’s TIMES OF INDIA (27/10/2009- Bangalore Edition), one Mr.Ashok (said to be a bureaucrat) had defended the response of Mr.Venkatraman as a respose from a seeker of TRUTH and contrasted it with, the politician’s objective of a “just social order”. Very well written article- i should say.

The problem with Indians (including me) is that we do not want to accord SPACE to our fellow human beings. Every human being has rights but no LIBERTY. His LIBERTY, if exercised is immediately interpreted as a LICENSE granted by the society. Mr.Venkatraman had out of his own efforts made it to wherever he has made it. Even a week before the declaring of the Nobel Prize no Indian outside the scientific community had heard of the work done by Venkatraman. Suddenly after the receipt of RECOGNITION thru the ultimate prize, the politicians swing into action and lecture us as to how the recipient should have the Emotional Quotient, and be humble to the native Indians, etc. etc. Have the politicians named any main road in the capital city of New Delhi in the name of Sir C.V.Raman or Ramanujam or J.C.Bose in all these years? I know of only COPERNICUS MARG (the monk who discovered that the Earth was not the centre of the universe and left the proof for posthumous publishing, so as to avoid the Papal BULL!!), and none besides that radiates from INDIA GATE.

The roads that radiate are AKBAR road, Rajpath, Ashoka road, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, Copernicus Marg, Tilak Marg, Purana Qila road, the High court Road ( do not remember), Shah Jahan marg and one more. Of these roads there is only one SCIENTIST and that also a Polish. So where do we RECOGNIZE the discoveries of our own SCIENTISTS?

We are a nation led by some humbug palliatives. Mahatma Gandhi had contributed to this nation’s independence, had brought out the soul of India by organizing the nation against the British through NON-VIOLENCE. But who is Kasturba Gandhi and besides the fact that she had been the wife to the Mahatma, is there any other achievement that is worth remembering through the generations to pass in this country? I guess not. Yet we have named a road after her. Maybe we have used her name as a replacement to Lord Curzon, so it is okay. But why not name significant roads after C.V.Raman, Ramanujam, Hargobind Khurana (Medicine Nobelist), J.C.Bose, Chandrashekar? After all we haveerrectedstatues for the LIVING POLITICIANS too in India (Dr. M.Karunanidhi, Ms.Mayawati etc). Why do we not recognize their INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS?

Secondly, except for a few lectures delivered by Mr.Venkatraman in the IISc, Anna University has the COUNTRY FELICITATED him in any way by giving him FREE AIR TICKETS TO INDIA in our MAHARAJA AIRCRAFTS? OR the unpunctual TRAINS of India? or VIP protocol during his visits to India? No. That is preserved for the POLITICAL MARKETEERS!! The political marketeers who bring about a “JUST” social order thru PROCRUSTEAN methods. CUT THE BIG ONES TO FIT WITH THE COT OF UNIFORMITY!!!

Now that he had won the Nobel Prize, certain self- appointed high priests of social etiquette are prescribing SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR to our own NOBEL LAUREATE. If only such persons could influence the government and make policies relating to RECOGNITION OF INDIAN SCIENTISTS ABROAD, they would have done some service, instead of curbing the LIBERTY of a great mind.

Finally, Mr.Venkatraman is a scientist who is not into politics or marketing that he has to appease people with his charming behaviour. All great minds have their idiosyncrasies and it squarely falls within the LIBERTY of an Individual. If some fellow in Chidambaram is going to claim that he taught Mr.Venkatraman, when that is not the case, why should NOT Mr.Venkatraman deny it on record? Mr.Venkatraman still cycles and goes for work ( or so the reports say!), so why not leave a MAN alone who is busy with his own vocation and draw him into ACCEPTABLE SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR and make him feel guilty both in his own eyes and in the eyes of his fellow country men?

Mr. Abhishek Singhvi might even question the wisdom of Mr.Venkatraman wanting to buy a Stradivarius cello for his son paying $200,000/- when there are many Indians living below the opaque statistical poverty line!! Leave the man alone. The poor will always be there.

Let me reiterate what Jesus said: SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN, AND NOT MAN FOR THE SABBATH.

LET US HINDER NOBODY’S LIBERTIES, WHEN IT AFFECTS ONLY OUR SOCIAL SENSIBILITIES!!

SPAM:

Plot 108

Muara Baru Ujung

Block D1-2. City,

Indonesia.

Ref: DELL/009083/09

We happily announce to you the draw of the Dell Computer Lottery Online Sweepstakes International program held on the 14th of October 2009,of which you emerged a winner.You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of US$100,000.00 (One Million United States Dollars ) To file your claims, please contact our agent:

Mr Ashok Wong,

Email:dellpromo001@yahoo.co.id

Ms.Debbi Maria,

Online coordinato.

ME:

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Me?! Really? Oh my gosh, okay um, I’d like to thank my family, my friends, my dogs, God, Sally from accounting, my therapists, all those who doubted me, and everyone else.

btw, what is a Dell?

SPAM:

Muara Baru Ujung

Block G1-2. City,

Indonesia.

Ref: DELL/009083/09

Attn:Winner,

I received your email,You are required to forward the following details to help facilitate the processing of your winning certificate and the release of your funds.

1. Full names.

2. Residential address.

3. Mobile Phone number.

4. Age

5. Country

6. Sex

Regards,

Mr Ashok Wong,

ME:

Sure no problemo,

Name: Ashok Wong

Residential address: Muara Baru Ujung, Block G1-2, Indonesia.

Mobile Phone Number: 62 432 1232

Age: Unknown.

Sex: Gentle, but passionate and affirmative.

Regards Ashok,

Ashok Wong.

Høyesterett har nå, dessverre, slått fast at utsendelen av Ashok Jegatheeswaran var riktig. Ordføreren i Lørenskog, Åge Tovan, er veldig skuffa. Det er jeg også.

I mai 2006 ble den da 13 år gamle Ashok sendt ut av Norge til det borgerkrigsherja Sri Lanka, etter at han hadde bodd hos en fosterfamilie på Fjellhamar i fire år. Siden tvangsutsendelsen har Ashoks venner, Lørenskog kommune og SOS Rasisme kjempa for å få Ashok tilbake. Med støtte fra Lørenskog kommune gikk Ashok til sak mot Utlendingsnemnda (UNE). Denne saka har gått helt opp til Høyesterett, som altså dessverre ikke er enige med Lørenskog kommune. Jeg mener at det er Lørenskog kommune som har rett. Slik jeg ser det var utsendelsen av Ashok i 2006 i strid med FNs barnekonvensjon. Høyesterett tar feil.

Høyesterett tar også feil i forhold til pionerdykkerne. Høyesterett forkasta nylig ankesaken til fire av pionerdykkerne i nordsjøen. De fire pionerdykkere som nylig fikk sin ankesak forkasta kommer sannsynligvis til å ta saka videre til menneskerettighetsdomstolen i Strasbourg. Jeg håper i hvert fall at de gjør det.

Den norske staten har et klart delansvar for de yrkesskadene som nordsjødykkerne pådro seg under pionertida. Staten var på den tida både en aktiv aktør, samtidig som det var staten som hadde tilsynsansvaret. Pionerdykkerne må få en eller annen form for erstatning fra staten.

Lenker: Ashok: http://www.abcnyheter.no/node/97262 

Pionerdykkerne: http://www.abcnyheter.no/node/97289

A brilliant collection of songs from this Greenwich-based band – who include Flo from Florence and the Machine – before she left to pursue a solo career. An unusual line up – including cello and trombone lead to a unique sound which is hard to classify. Highlights include Lean from the Middle and Under the Thumb as well as Happy Slap. A great album – shame there may be no more.

download Ashok – Plans

As obscure movies go, this has to be among the more obscure ones. The movie is called “Fariyaad”(1964) and it had unknown names like Ashok, Zeb Rahman, Shabaani, Gyaani etc. I do not think too many people would have watched this movie or would even be aware of this movie even when it was released.

But this movie has a song which is just magical. This song goes “haal e dil unko sunaana thaa”. It is sung by Suman Kalyanpur and she has sung is wonderfully well. Lyricist was Kidar Sharma and the music director was Snehal Bhatkar. Snehal Bhatkar incidentally was the same music director who helped Mubarak Begum become famous with the song “Kabhi tanhaayion me yoon hamaari yaad aayegi” from “Hamari Yaad Aayegi”.

What a gem of a song ! It is a pity that a song like this is not all that well known among music lovers.

Song-haale dil unko sunaana tha (Fariyaad) (1964) Singer-Suman Kalyanpur, Lyrics-Kidar Sharma, MD- Snehal Bhatkar

Lyrics

haal-e-dil unko sunaanaa thaa
haal-e-dil unko sunaanaa thaa
sunaayaa naa gayaa, sunaayaa naa gayaa
jo zubaan par mujhe laanaa thaa
jo zubaan par mujhe laanaa thaa
wo laayaa naa gayaa, wo laayaa naa gayaa
haal-e-dil unko

pyar se seene pe sar rakhi to dil qadmon par
pyar se seene pe sar rakhi to dil qadmon par
aap ko apnaa banaanaa thaa
aap ko apnaa banaanaa thaa
banaayaa naa gayaa, banaayaa naa gayaa
haal-e-dil unko

kheltin aankh micholi rahin nazren apni
kheltin aankh micholi rahin nazren apni
jinko palkon mein chhupaanaa thaa
jinko palkon mein chhupaanaa thaa
chhupaayaa naa gayaa, chhupaayaa naa gayaa
haal-e-dil unko

ek hi waar mein haathon se jigar thaam liyaa
ek hi waar mein haathon se jigar thaam liyaa
haay jis dil ko bachaanaa thaa
haay jis dil ko bachaanaa thaa
bachaayaa naa gayaa, bachaayaa naa gayaa
haal-e-dil unko sunaanaa thaa
haal-e-dil unko

वृक्ष-दोहद की संकल्पना के पीछे प्रकृति के साथ मनुष्य का वह रागात्मक संबंध है जिससे प्रेरित होकर अन्यान्य मानवीय क्रिया-कलाप वृक्ष-पादपों पर आरोपित कर दिये जाते रहे हैं । प्रकृति के साथ मनुष्य के  यह रागात्मक वस्तुतः उसके आनन्द को और व्यापक बनाते हैं । मनुष्य के अन्तर्निहित भावों की अभिव्यक्ति इसी कारण प्रकृति के माध्यम से होने लगी और अनेकों इच्छायें (पूर्ण-अपूर्ण) विभिन्न क्रियाकलापों में दृष्ट होने लगीं । वृक्ष-दोहद का सम्बन्ध वृक्षों में असमय/अ-ऋतु ही पुष्प के उदगम से लिया जाता रहा है । आश्चर्यजनक है कि स्त्रियाँ जो स्वयं उर्वरता और प्रजनन के लिये उत्तरदायी हैं, विपरीततः  अपनी विभिन्न क्रियाओं से वृक्षों को गर्भित करती हैं, पल्लवित-पुष्पित करती हैं । वृक्ष-दोहद की क्रिया के अन्तर में मुझे सहज स्वाभाविक गर्भिणी स्त्रियों की सामान्य उत्कंठा दिखायी पड़ती है जो स्वतः में अनूभूत होने वाले उस विरल अनुभूति-व्यापार को अपने सामने, अपने से इतर कहीं घटित होते देखना चाहती हैं । प्रकृति से अच्छा साधन उन्हें कहाँ मिलेगा ?

विज्ञान की अननन्तर सिद्ध सैद्धांतिकी कि वृक्षों में जीवन है  और वह संवेदित भी होते हैं, साहित्य की कल्पनाशीलता से घुलमिल कर एक रुचिकर प्रसंग वृक्ष-दोहद के रूप में हमारे सामने उपस्थित है । वृक्ष-दोहद के संबंध  में प्राचीन साहित्य-शिल्प में जिन वृक्षों का उल्लेख है, उनमें सबसे प्रिय और महत्वपूर्ण वृक्ष ’अशोक’ है । कहते हैं, सुन्दर स्त्रियों के पदाघात (पैरों के प्रहार ) से अशोक में पुष्प खिल आते हैं, और पैर भी कैसे ? किंकिणि-नूपूर-सज्जित, कुमकुम लेपित । नूपूर-सज्जित रमणियों के वाम पैर ही वृक्ष में आघात देते हैं और अशोक पुष्पित हो उठता है । उत्कीर्ण मूर्तियों में अशोक दोहद की क्रिया सम्पादित करती यक्षिणियाँ अपने वाम पैरों से ही आघात करती मालूम पड़ती हैं ( A.K. Coomarswami – Yaksa) |

अशोक को कुसुमित करने की इस क्रिया के अनेकों उदाहरण हमारे साहित्य में व्याप्त हैं । राजशेखर की काव्यमीमांसा में इसका उल्लेख है । हमारे विश्व-प्रसिद्ध कवि कालिदास के समस्त काव्य में वसंत-उत्सव के बहाने, अथवा मदनोत्सव के बहाने अशोक को कुसुमित करने की क्रिया का वर्णन है । कुमारसंभव में वसंत का वर्णन करते हुए कवि अशोक को स्कंध पर पल्लवित और कुसुमित बताता है; मेघदूत में भी यक्ष के माध्यम से वह इस क्रिया का उल्लेख करा देता है कि "अशोक तो यक्षिणी के वामपाद का अभिलाषी है" । कालिदास की रचना ’मालविकाग्निमित्र” के तृतीय अंक की सारी कथा ही मालविका के पदाघात से अशोक को पुष्पित करने की क्रिया को केंद्र बना कर रची हुई है ।

मदनोत्सव में कामदेव की अभ्यर्थना के पश्चात अशोक को पुष्पित करने की क्रिया विस्तार से वर्णित है मालविकाग्निमित्र में । सामान्यतः होता यही है कि कोई सुन्दर स्त्री अपने समस्त श्रृंगार के साथ, पैरों में अलक्तराग और नूपुर सजा कर, हाथों में अशोक के पल्लव के गुच्छे पकड़कर  अपने बायें पैर से अशोक वृक्ष पर आघात करती है । अशोक नूपुर-ध्वनि से उल्लसित होकर अपने कंधे पर ही फूल उठता है । इस मादक क्रिया को अपनी लेखनी से और मादक बना दिया है कालिदास ने ।

हेम-पुष्प (स्वर्ण वर्ण के फूलों से लदा हुआ )  और तामृपल्लव के नाम से विख्यात अशोक एक सदाबहार वृक्ष है । सदैव हरा रहने वाला । सदैव हरा तो कामदेव ही है । मन, तन, सृष्टि और जीवन- सब की हरीतिमा हर क्षण बनाये रखने वाला और कौन है सिवाय कामदेव के । इसलिये ही यह अशोक भी समस्त शोक को हरने वाला है । खयाल करिये कि कामदेव के पंच बाणों में एक अशोक ही है ।

इसे विचित्र संयोग कहें या अशोक की महत्ता को स्थापित करने वाला ईश्वरीय विधान कि यह बौद्ध और जैन दोनों धर्मों के प्रवर्तकों के जीवन से संयुक्त होकर इन धर्मों के लिये श्रद्धा और आदर का पात्र बना । कहते हैं, शाक्य रानी महामाया ने लुम्बिनी के उपवन में इसी वृक्ष के नीचे बुद्ध को जन्म दिया । कथायें कहतीं है, कि रानी माया अपने उपवन में विहार कर रहीं थी और तनिक क्लांत होकर वह एक अशोक वृक्ष के नीचे आकर विश्राम करने लगीं । तभी अचानक ही विचित्रतः अशोक की शाखायें झुकने लगीं, और उन्होंने एक शाखा पकड़ ली । तत्क्षण ही रानी माया के दक्षिण भाग से महात्मा बुद्ध का अवतरण हो गया । जैन धर्म के प्रवर्तक महावीर के संबंध में भी कहा जाता है कि वैशाली में इसी प्रकार के वृक्ष के नीचे बैठकर   उन्होंने निर्वाण प्राप्त किया ।

अशोक सदा हरित रहने वाला २५ से ३० फुट उंचा, अनेकों शाखाओं युक्त घना व छायादार वृक्ष होता है । देखने में कुछ कुछ मौलश्री के वृक्ष-सा । सम्पूर्ण भारतवर्ष में इसकी बहुतायत है । पत्ते लंबे, गोल व नोंकदार होते हैं । कोमल अवस्था में इन पत्तों का रंग लाल, फिर गहरा हरा हो जाता है ।  बहुत औषधीय गुण भी हैं इसमें – यह बांझपन का कष्ट हरता है, मातृत्व देता है; रक्त प्रदर में, मूत्र के रोगों में चिकित्सा में सहायक होता है ; गर्भाशय की अंतःसतह (एण्डोमेट्रीयम) व डिम्ब ग्रंथि (ओवरी) के ऊतकों पर लाभकारी प्रभाव डालता है और गुर्दे के दर्द एवं पुरुषों में अण्डकोष-सूजन की चिकित्सा में सहायक होता है ।

वैज्ञानिक दृष्टि डालें तो अशोक में कई जैव-सक्रिय पदार्थ पाये जाते हैं । मुख्यतः टैनिन्स, कैटेकाल, इसेन्शियल आयल, हिमेटॉक्सिलीन, ग्लाइकोसाइड, सौपोनिन्स, कैल्शियमयुक्त कार्बनिक यौगिक और लौह खनिजयुक्त कार्बनिक यौगिक । आधुनिक वैज्ञानिक मत कहते हैं कि अशोक की छाल का निष्कर्ष गर्भाशय को उत्तेजित करता है । इसके प्रयोग से गर्भाशय की संकुचन दर बढ़ जाती है और यह संकोचन अधिक समय तक बना रहता है । ऐलोपैथिक संश्लेषण औषधि की अपेक्षा इसका प्रभाव हानिरहित माना जाता है । वैज्ञानिकों ने अशोक की त्वचा में कुछ ऐसे संघटकों की खोज भी की है, जो कैंसर का होना रोकते हैं ।

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# वृक्ष-दोहद के बहाने वृक्ष-पुष्प की यह चर्चा जारी रहेगी……किंचित अगला पड़ाव अमलतास होगा ।

I mai 2006 ble den da 13 år gamle norsk-tamilske Ashok Jegatiswaran, fra Lørenskog, tvangssendt ut av Norge. Hele formannskapet i Lørenskog kommune gikk ut imot utsendelsen. Store deler av lokalsamfunnet i Lørenskog har, sammen med SOS Rasisme, engasjert seg i kampen for at Ashok skal få kunne komme tilbake til Norge.

Da Ashok Jegatiswaran ble henta ut av hjemmet til fosterforeldrene, hadde han vært i Norge i fire år. Klokka 6 om morgenen kom to politimenn hjem til gutten og hans fosterfamilie på Fjellhamar. Ashok fikk bare noen minutter på å kle på seg før han måtte dra. «Det føles trist og leit» sa han til TV 2 da han var på Gardermoen, og venta på flyet som skulle frakte ham ut av Norge. Han ble sendt til Sri Lanka, hvor en bestefar med et dokumentert rusproblem venta på ham.

På grunn av urolighetene i Sri Lanka flykta Ashok etter hvert til India. Både tingretten og lagmannsretten har dessverre avvist Lørenskog kommunes påstand om at det var brudd på FNs barnekonvensjon å sende Ashok tilbake til Sri Lanka. I løpet av høsten skal denne saken opp i Høyesterett for en endelig avgjørelse. Jeg håper virkelig at Høyesterett lander på en annen avgjørelse enn tingretten og lagmannsretten, og at Ashok får komme tilbake til Lørenskog.

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Du kan støtte Ashok ved å gi et bidrag til konto: 0535 50 21027, og ved å signere oppropet: http://opprop.no/opprop.php?id=ashok

Lenker

http://frontlinjer.no/?p=335

Romerikes Blad om Ashok

http://www.rb.no/lokale_nyheter/article4074966.ece

http://www.rb.no/lokale_nyheter/article4346359.ece

http://www.rb.no/aktuelt/article2116443.ece

 TV 2

http://www.tv2nyhetene.no/innenriks/article2680332.ece

SOS Rasisme om Ashok

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/12381

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/11546

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/10688

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/12095

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/12378

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/12379

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/9558

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/10143

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/10598

http://www.sos-rasisme.no/sentralt/view/10461

Softlogic Chairman Ashok Pathirage told the Sunday Times FT that he is very interested in managing SLIC subsidiary Apollo Hospitals and if the price is right, will consider buying it. SLIC has 54.61% in Lanka Hospitals Company Ltd, owners of Apollo. “As Softlogic has experience in managing Asiri Surgical and Asiri Hospitals we are confident of managing Apollo as well and make it profitable, unlike the last six years when it was not profitable,” Mr. Pathirage noted. SLIC has 20% in Asiri Surgical and 27% in Asiri Hospitals. Asha Central Hospital renamed as Asiri Central Hospital under Softlogic Group.

Source: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090614/FinancialTimes/ft300.html

Peoples Truth

THESE COMRADES WILL CONTINUE TO INSPIRE THE REVOLUTIONARIES AND THE VAST MASSES FOREVER!!
Comrade Valluri Venkat Rao alias Mastan Rao alias Kailasam, comrade Thota Gangadhar alias Ramchandar, comrade Jaya alias Aruna alias Sarita and comrade Ramathoti Jaya Kumar alias Ashok alias Ramana were arrested by the APSIB on the 26th of October, brutally tortured for more than 24 hours and were murdered in the early hours of 27th. They were separated into two batches and shot dead in two different regions of Nallamala and AOB. As usual, a fake encounter story was floated by the police that comrade Ramchandar and Jaya were killed in an exchange of fire in Ravulapalli forest area in Bollapalli mandal of Guntur district which falls under Nallamala forest region, and comrades Mastan Rao and Ashok were killed near Ravikona Kothavalasa in Parvatipuram mandal in Vizianagaram district falling under Andhra-Orissa Border Special Zone. A few days prior to their arrest, another rcomrade of AP Special Committee and a former member of AOBSZC, comrade Gopu Sammi Reddy alias Jogal was arrested in Orissa but was produced in the court after arresting the other comrades.
Comrade MR hails from Guntur city and had joined the revolutionary movement three decades ago. He was actively involved in building the Radical Youth League (RYL) in Guntur and was working underground since 1982. He was initially involved actively in building the revolutionary movement in Guntur district. Anti-feudal struggles reached their peak in Dachepalli mandal in Gundtur district under his leadership during the 1980s and 90s. He was also actively involved in building the movement in Prakasham district. He was elected to the state committee in 1999. Later he was transferred to Rayalaseema region where he provided leadership as a member of the AP state committee until 2004. During the period of talks between Maoists and AP state government comrade MR was shifted to AOB along with several other leaders and cadre of AP. From then on until the beginning of 2008 comrade MR worked as a member of AOBSZC as well as a member of its state secretariat and guided the movement in Koraput division. He was included in AP Special Committee and was elected as its secretary in which capacity he was working for the past ten months.
Comrade Thota Gangadhar alias Ramchandar belongs to Kuragallu village in Mangalagiri mandal in Guntur district. He worked in RSU in 1984, later served as a commander of Pedaveni squad in 1989-90, commander of Veligonda squad during 1990-95, became a member of Nallamala Forest Division and was elected as its secretary from 200-2004. He was elected to the AP State Committee in the state Plenum held in 2003. In March 2007, after a decision taken at the Unity Congress-9th Congress of the Party, a Special Committee was formed in Andhra Pradesh to organize and guide the movement in the plains and urban areas in the state. Comrade Ramchandar became a member of the AP Special Committee. Towards the end of 2007 the Special Committee was reconstituted with comrade Mastan Rao as Secretary and comrades Ramchandar and Sammi Reddy as its members. Comrade Sammi reddy was also arrested a few days before the arrest of the other two special committee members. He was produced in the Court on the 26th while the other four comrades were murdered the next day .
Comrade Jaya hails from Brahmanpalli village of Medak district and joined the Party in 1993. She worked as a member and later as a commander of the PLGA squad for some years. She was promoted as a DC member and began to work in that capacity under the Special Committee since the beginning of 2007. She is married to comrade Ramchandar.
Comrade Ashok alias Ramana hails from Alakurapadu village in Prakasham district. He was working as a courier for comrade Mastan Rao at the time of his martyrdom.

Amaltas-Cassia fistula in full bloom in Jaipur

It is May and it is hot.All life is wilting in the heat.Except for the trees- they are lush green. And Amaltas and Gulmohar are blooming with abandon. In this day and age if you still want a reason to plant a tree you should  take a drive in Jaipur  in the afternoon. You will remember the yellow and the greens and the orange for a long time.You will notice bougainvillea is not shy in displaying its charms either.

You are all inspired to plant a sapling- but where in this concerte jungle.The best place would be to plant a sapling right outside your home- next to the road.Right under your eyes. You will be able water it and watch its growth on a day to day basis.If there is no possiblility of planting a tree outside your home then you can plant one in the colony garden. Remember the trees are not only for you but  for the future  generations yet  to come.They will also provide shade, invite rains and produce Oxygen.The plants should  be sown during the rainy season.The choice of sapling is up to you.You should  choose a variety which require less water and looks after it self in this arid climate of Rajasthan.Trees  like Ashok-Polyalthia longifolia, Khejari, Babool,  Neem-Azadirachta indica,Amaltas-Cassia fistula,  Gulmohar-Delonix regia etc.

The evolution of the indian identity (no not the native american indian) has been quite remarkable over the past decade or two in the American sensibility. From the domesticated, heavily accented, vegan Apu in the Simpsons to the still heavily accented, party loving King Julien in Madagascar.  What was interesting was as I watched Star Wars on the Cartoon Network with Anakin in pursuit of Count Dooku on this pirate infested planet, I could swear I heard Bollywood music playing at the pirate feast. And of course before I forget Ashok in Dilbert, your everyday IT consultant from Bangalore and Chennai.

Yes sir, pirates and bollywood music do go together but please pick the right tracks. The classics from Sholay would suffice or pick some local tunes from Bihari folk music for da real effect. Better still, Anakin in pursuit of Count Dooku in Bihar would be even more apt.

Even after Friedman proclaiming the Flat World and Obama in his effort to reclaim jobs lost to offshoring, India is still a big question mark in the American sensibility. I hold the various indian restaurants responsible. At least the Chinese all agreed on the same menu. Kung Pao chicken is Kung Pao chicken whether you’re at PF Chang or at the local Mom and Pop chinese shop. You can still go to 10 Indian restaurants and find completely different names for the same dish.This needs a complete brand makeover.

I would say that this shallow understanding of cultural affairs is partly to blame for the economic mess we are in today. A better understanding of the people, culture and history of that part of the world would not have let George Bush  take his eyes off the ball of Afghanistan after driving a dagger through the heart of Kabul. The outpour is now knocking on Islamabad’s door.

Why do I mix an article on the Indian identity with Afghanistan. history.

Ileana is coming back to rock Telugu audience this summer with Kick. She is going to pair opposite Ravi Teja in this film. No movie of Ileana was released after Jalsa. While in the shooting of a film her leg was broken. Due to this she stayed in Goa for many days. This increased her body weight.

But so many said that she is looking very beautiful with extra weight. Now she is regularly attending yoga classes to keep her weight in control. Kick film trailers and stills were released recently. She is appearing as a yoga practising girl. These yoga stills are attracting youth very much.

She kept lots of hopes on this film. Surender Reddy who directed super hit film Athanokkade directed this film. After Athanokkade his films Ashok with Sameera Reddy Jr. N.T.R and Athidi with Mahesh Babu , Amrita Rao failed to impress audience. But the technology which he utilised in this movie surprised even other directors .

Hmm, livejournal says that 406 is too much…
So, I’ve posted all here, under the cut. Enjoy!

Not bases, credit & comment if take, do not edit.

If u liked my work, check out my other icons here.

417 icons of:

1 – 2 (3) – Shriya Saran in Awaarapan
3 – 6 (3) – misc. photoshoots of Kareena Kapoor
7 – 22 (16) – Shahid Kapoor and Vidya Balan in Kismat Konnection
23 – 26 (4) – Sanaya Irani, Rati Pandey and Mohit Sehgal in Miley Jab Hum Tum
27 (1) – Bipasha Basu in Dhan Dhana Dhana Goal
28 – 48 (21) – Minissha Lamba, Deepika Padukone, Bipasha Basu and Ranbir Kapoor in Bachna ae Haseeno
49 – 56 (8) – indian bangles
57 (1) – misc. photoshoot of Bipasha Basu (thanks to ApunBindaas)
58 (1) – misc. photoshoot of Bipasha Basu and John Abraham ((thanks to ApunBindaas)
59 (1) – misc. performance of Bipasha Basu
60 (1) – SRK in Chak De! India (thanks to SRK.pl )
61 (1) – SRK and Aamir Khan on Temptations Tour (dedicated to gruskek )
62 – 67 (6) – Rani Mukherjee, Kajol, Bipasha Basu, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta and SRK in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (thanks to indian cinema screencaps lj community)
68 – 69 (2) – Dard-E-Dil (bollywood oldie)
70 (1) – misc. photoshoot of Deepika Padukone
71 (1) – Malaika Arora Khan in EMI
72 (1) – Genelia D’Souza in Mere Baap Pehle Aap
73 – 76 (4) – Kay Kay Menon, Raima Sen, Ameesha Patel and Shabana Azmi in Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.
77 (1) – Genelia D’Souza and Hurman S. Baweja in It’s My Life
78 (1) – Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor in Kambakkht Ishq
79 (1) – misc. photoshoot of Asin
80 (1) – Asin in Pokkiri
81 – 83 (3) – Ram Charan Teja and Neha Sharma in Chirutha
84 (1) – Sameera Reddy and NTR Jr. in Ashok
85 – 97 (13) – Mamta Mohandas, Rambha, Priyamini and NTR Jr. in Yamadonga
98 – 167 (70) – Hansika Montwani and NTR Jr. in KaNTRi
168 (1) – unknown
169 – 170 (2) – Charmee Kaur in Mantra
171 (1) – Shriya Saran and Mahesh Babu in Arjun
172 – 175 (4) – Malaika Arora Khan, Amrita Rao and Mahesh Babu in Athidi
176 – 183 (8) – Mahesh Babu in Nijam
184 – 185 (2) – Ileana and Mahesh Babu in Pokiri
186 – 211 (26) – Charmee Kaur, Asin, Prakash Raj and Prabhas (an Aamir Khan ) in Chakram
212 -249 (38) – Trisha and Prabhas in Bujjigadu: Made in Chennai
250 – 256 (7) – Gopichand, Allu Arjun and Prabhas on Billa audio function
257 – 274 (18) – Anushka Shetty, Namitha and Prabhas in Billa
275 – 296 (22) – Shriya Saran and Prabhas in Chatrapathi
297 – 300 (4) – Shriya Saran and Prabhas in Munna
301 – 308 (8) – Charmee Kaur and Prabhas in Pournami
309 – 310 (2) – Trisha and Prabhas in Varsham
311 – 315 (5) – Mumaith Khan and Prabhas in Yogi
516 (1) – Shriya Saran in Tulasi
517 – 320 (4) – Shriya Saran in Sivaji
321 (1) – Prabhu Deva with his Filmfare
322 (1) – misc. photoshoot of Priyanka Chopra
323 (1) – Charmee Kaur in Rakhee
324 – 331 (8) – Rani Mukherjee and Ranbir Kapoor in Saawariya
332 -333 (2) – Genelia D’Souza in Sachein
334 (1) – Trisha and Mahesh Babu in Sainikundu
335 – 336 (2) – Priyanka Chopra in Salaam-E-Ishq
337 – 414 (78) – Sonali Bendre in misc. movies (Keemat, Anhaat, Indra, Duplicate, Bombay, Tera Mera Saath Rahe, English Babu Desi Mem, Kadalar Dhinam), occasions (Omega Launches, 50th Filmfare, Clove Launch, SPA etc) and photoshoots (Limca Ads etc)

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Spray and Pray. That's how I would describe Palm's hunt for "real reviewers". As Dell's Andy Lark pointed out recently, it's easy to identify the "influencers." Just start Googling!

Pressure is mounting on Palm as it gets closer to launching its new Pre smartphone, rumored to be just a couple weeks away, in mid-May.

For Collins Stewart analyst Ashok Kumar, Palm may be facing much more challenges than it can bear.

Pre faces multiple software and hardware issues

In a report this morning, Kumar writes about multiple hardware and software issues that forced Palm to dramatically reduced its production orders for the Pre; calling Wall Street’s expectation of Palm shipping 1+ million smart phones in 2H09, highly unrealistic.

Palm's future depends on the success of its Pre smartphone

Pre must sell at or below $199

For Kumar, if Sprint does not match or beat AT&T’s subsidized iPhone price of $199, which translates to a subsidy in excess of $200, the Pre is Dead On Arrival.

According to a virtual teardown done by analyst firm iSuppli, the material cost for the Pre is $170. iSupply expects Palm to charge Sprint $300 for the Pre, which in turn would subsidies the device to reach the iPhone level.

Running out of cash… again!

Kumar said that Palm’s cash burn was about $90 million last quarter, which should increase significantly with higher marketing cost associated with the launch of the Pre platform.

With only $220 million in the bank, time runs out in two quarters, Kumar notes.

But Palm might found a way to reduce its marketing “spend” by recruiting “Real Reviewers” of Palm phones including the Palm Pre. Every reviewer, will receive for free, a current model Palm phone and a data plan for six months. The only requirement is to regularly post about the Palm phone on blogs and social networks.

It’s smart for Palm to try to target “influencers” (journalists, bloggers, soccer Moms…). A strategy that was highly recommended at yesterday’s PRSA event on “PR Secret Strategies For Success” by PR pros from Dell, FICO and Sun. For the bloggers, it’s a double-edge sword: get an early access to the Pre, but risk selling your soul or at least the perception of it.

We already played with the Pre at CES, last January. The keyboard is nice – similar to the Palm Treo Pro – but the rest of the experience (features, applications) will need time to get use to it. We’ll stick with our iPhone, Blackberry and soon Google G1 for now!

Still, no takers, for Palm

Finally, Kumar does not believe that Palm is an attractive take out candidate.

“Their crown jewel is the operating system, but the smart phone industry is migrating away from closed to open platforms. As such PALM is on the wrong side of the fence,” writes the financial analyst.

While I agree that in this distress economy, Palm is an expensive and risky buy – which generally does not go well together – Palm’s WebOS is a much more “open” system than the highly successful iPhone.

Sonu Sood In Arundathi

Bollywood people call him Bollywood Bad Boy. He justifies that title by his negative characters. He has the same fame in South India also. He recently acted in a Telugu movie called Arundhati. Pasupathi character he played in this movie scared people. His character will move in three phases.

Sonu Sood In Arundathi
One is a bad prince who kills people. And the second phase as a person who knows Black Magic. In the third phase, soul came out from burial ground after 80 years. So many people were expecting that he will receive awards for his performance. This movie became a blockbuster and chart buster in Telugu and Tamil. Anushka Shetty, a Bangalore girl played the title role in this movie.

Sonu Sood and Anushka In Arundathi

Sonu Sood started his career with a Tamil movie Manju in 2001. He made his debut in Bollywood with the movie Boom. He acted in some super hit movies like Singh Is Kinng, Jodhaa Akbar, Yuva, Aashiq Banaya, Divorce and Bunty Aur Babli.
Sonu Sood In Arundathi
In Telugu, he has super hits like Rajinikanth’s Chandhramukhi, the Nagarjuna and Ayesha Takia paired Super, Athadu and Ashok.

Sonu Sood In Super