Maayaa

Exilim - a decorated Zombie !!

2010-12-13T23:27:00.001-06:00

Exilim- This was what I said in my prev post -"the price.. its features..It looked amazing..Military certified- water, dust, fire proof..5.3 m pixel camera.. distinct key/dial pad..very good battery life..long talk time.." Yeh...everything is true..
But people on the other side complain that they cannot even hear me..No reception in many places..Its a phone with all nice features but the basic function is not up to the expectation..Thinking about returning !!

ahh... just can't wait !!

2010-11-30T20:15:00.000-06:00

From T Mobile(4 years) to Cingular(2)...AT&T..and now Verizon !!

Motorola Flip..Motorola Razor..Nokia candy bar..Sony Ericsson W820 candy bar..Sony Ericsson W760a Flip.. Casio Exilim..

Well, you guys must be wondering if this girl still lives in stone age. Well, yeh.. I certainly never had the urge to get the latest phone model.. Infact I got these phone much later after they were actually in demand..But that does not mean I have no requirements..Rather I had requirements that people never bothered!! It took me a while to figure what I wanted in a phone..rather what can irritate me...

Motorola Flip - This was my first one ever -learned that the screen can get so yukky because of the touch..phone heated up after 1 to 2 hrs..and my ears were so warm..

Razor- a nice one..I did all the testing for free.. Left in the fridge for a day..dropped from the second floor..stepped on it many times..dropped in an oil pan..like a bajji and that's when I had to actually change when the screen looked like a "water bubble" game..well, the oil was trapped in but it still worked..The only bad thing was it was too slim and it would fall out of the trouser pocket.

Sony Ericsson W820- this has been my favorite phone ever...with the popular/standard sony ericsson ring tone.. This phone really made me understand what I want in a phone.. a very nice dial pad where each button is distinctly away from each other and can be used quickly w/o touching the other..No need to flip every time..Fits in a pocket so well..very good battery life..never gets dirty..it lasted for 3 years. I just could not throw that away even after its time !!

Sony Ericsson W760a- I liked my prev phone so much and as, I could not find any more, this was closest to my requirements..A Walkman phone..My current one..a very good one for recording music..excellent camera.. 3.2 m pixel..did not like the sliding concept. In 2009, I choose to buy this during the time when it was totally outdated.....I could not find the same just because it was from Sony Ericsson- still good..

Okay... now moving to Verizon...need another one- did a lot of survey/search for a free phone or a phone under $50- samsung Intensity 2 and LG cosmos were the two that were sort of.. okay to me at the store.. But I did not like the plastiky finish of Samsung and I hate this horizontally sliding models, although it is in vogue. Thats when I saw this Casio Exilim in the hands of a Verizon sales person. Suddenly it striked her that is the phone that I may have to consider although it is not available in store. I was enquiring about how she likes it.. the price.. its features..It looked amazing..Miltary certified- water, dust, fire proof..5.3 m pixel camera.. distinct key/dial pad..very good battery life..long talk time.. well, its a flip phone and except for that, I was okay. I ordered it right way..

Its something that I am dreaming about every day..every hour..when is it gonna arrive??!!!.. I know some people are like " hey its not even a phone that people would find it fashionable.." Well..when my necessities are met and when I think that is the best one for me..I get happy..and I dont easily get carried away by what is in demand in the market.. Living in my own "contented" feeling of having the best phone- may be, blissfully ignorant.. he he!!!

Rajinikanth enters CBSE Textbook...

2010-09-27T17:11:00.001-05:00

Remember the song from Raja Chinna Roja "Super staru yaarunnu ketta chinna kozhandhaiyum sollum.." Yeh..probably an old news for some of you..new news for me :(

See this !!!

Well my first reaction was " Oh.. okay..This is how people enter into text book". I do not deny the fact he has come a long way with his hardwork and by dealing with the right people with right attitude. Well, why am I not so happy. Somehow I cannot see somebody getting into textbook like this !!Do I really underrate the use of his style and action to captivate the mass' attention? Is it because I underrate somebody for becoming successful in the film Industry or Do I fear that this person is gonna be followed by other actors with political support. Oh!! I absolutely enjoy Rajini movies. Then why is my reaction not so great? I wish I see MS Subbulakshmi, Kalki, Ilaiyaraja for their success stories. Anyways!!

Am I ??

2010-09-25T07:49:00.001-05:00

It has been a while since I visited my own blospot..However, every week I have had a topic and the content in my mind that I thought I should definitely share here. Well..what stopped me from blogging.. nothing... nothing..nothing but lack of discipline and a chaotic mind-set. Although I cannot recollect all of those " supposedly interesting and valuable" topics, I have decided to commit myself to get back!! Anyways..

Now this brings in a topic that I have been thinking for quite sometime now. "Discipline". Have I been this bad since childhood? Is it just that I am just trying to get adjusted to a new place? No.I have not been great for quite sometime - during my grad school since after qualifiers.

Well, back in India, we all (used to, atleast) go to bed and sleep at the same time, whatever time it may be. Even eating habits were n't that bad. Although I prefer to have an early dinner like Americans these days, I was not too bad with keeping up with the dinner timing back at home. And here, what happened to me?? Why and how in grad. school did I gradually loose everything. The enormous freedom, personal time and space that I enjoy- how come I could never use them to mend myself? This is the question I have been asking for quite time. How come I never thought.. well I thought but did not prioritize discipline...I remember a statement that a friend told me "you can bring anything into a routine if you can manage to do that forcefully for 30 days"- May be..May be not..Doing some experimentation by practicing small things. Will let you know if I can make it work.

I have always been easy on me as well as on others in this regard but I can see that I am getting reallly really mad at people for a lot of things.. I am not easy on myself as well. And, I cannot stop wondering how important it is to have a routine and how that helps you especially when you are put into a stressful or chaotic situation. On the other hand, I have learned to admire the discipline in others. May be I am just getting old :)

Record !!

2010-06-07T22:37:00.001-05:00

882 Roll-over minutes - Yeh...I just can't believe if this is me - Before we think this is how we are, we change. There was a time when I paid $ 200/month.. anyways :)

6 Animals..

2010-05-01T11:47:00.001-05:00

6 Animals That Show Mother Nature’s Sense of Humor
he he he
I saw Okapi and Platypus in the zoo here!!

Goundamani-2

2010-04-30T20:55:00.004-05:00

Few more !!

Goundamani

2010-04-18T14:30:00.002-05:00

Today, all of a sudden I wanted to watch some goundamani comedy. When I googled, I see that (Rumour says that) he is dead today. Its not yet confirmed.

However, I wanted to post this as a tribute :). I am a not a great fan of goundamani as I hate his noisy voice. Nevertheless, I enjoyed his comedy in a lot of movies with low volume tone. His comedy does not appeal right away.. something like AR Rehman's music or aerated drinks..But once you are accustomed to the noise, you can enjoy the funny/peculiar word usage in his comedy. Sometimes, his thinking ..the way he takes it to make it comical is completely a new line of thought that it will make you laugh right away. He is also an actor who became popular in his later years. There are many many scenes of goundamani comedy that I absolutely love. Here are the ones that I was watching today:

How do you address a fellow stranger?

2010-04-13T22:41:00.002-05:00

Recently I noticed that non-chennai tamilians and people from outskirts of chennai like me, address another tamilian with a relation (murai vechu koopdardhu)..I mean, when I meet a fellow tamilian girl or a guy, I call them as akka, anna, thambi, maami, maama, ayya etc. I feel more connected with them when I address in any of these forms. The core chennaiites don't address them with any form of relation. They find that there is no necessity and don't try to connect with the other person with a relation. Also, I was noticing that I always have a defined relation to most of the people right from day 1. Unlike core-chennaites, once I find somebody elder to me, they are akka to me irrepective of how frequently I talk to them or how much I am friends with them. And it is hard for me to create and put this person in a category of general pool of friends, unless they are of my age.

I love you Rasna!!

2010-03-15T21:32:00.001-06:00

Maayaa's Theory :)

2010-03-06T21:08:00.003-06:00

If you want something strong from inside, you surely will receive it/be able to do it, when you don't limit/define yourself with "from whom/with whom/how/where". Some times, don't even define "when" and it may happen exactly at "When" you wanted. This is my Life's theory these days. There are many many things happening at my side that fall under my theory.

Wanted a couche/ Love seat. It got into my apt with absolutely NO efforts from my side (through somebody I hardly knew) from somebody. I wanted a cappuccino steaming machine very badly but I thought it is very expensive for me to buy. Now, it is there next to my cube (from my boss's husband). I never even asked or told my boss about my interest. My boss decided to bring a coffee maker/espresso for the lab for coffee lovers and that happened to be what I wanted (there is just 2 of us who use that and I am the only one using the steamer). Wanted to visit LA and Vegas before 2010..wanted Hyundai Sonata since years and all those happened.

The wanting thing should be deep from you like a Sankalpam. You should have thought about it for a while..again and again. I can sense that there is some positive around me that favour my wishes. In fact. for some of the things, I resisted the route through which I received things but it finally came to me even after resistance. In other cases, I was rigid on "with whom" to go around/do what I wanted and the "how" I want part. These days, I feel..after all I am getting what I want and a lot of people don't. By being rigid with secondary things, I may miss those lovely things/wishes in life. Hope this attitude of "being easy" lasts in me!!

Hindu Pundit in USA Georgia Caught on Camera !! -Its not about Nithyanandha!!

2010-03-05T00:24:00.000-06:00

A cute masala-mix

2010-02-28T02:33:00.001-06:00

A sweet malayalam song masala-mixed with a video from a song in "1 2 ka 4" movie :)

Shampoo Quality - Pantene..Suave

2010-02-25T21:39:00.002-06:00

As like anybody, I was trying out different shampoos to make my hair look beautiful. Earlier in 2004, I found Pantene Shampoo + conditioner to make my hair look shiny and beautiful. The shine given by Pantene was so attractive to me that I almost stopped my weekly Shikakai use and used Pantene instead, even after oil bath. Although I was doing this, there was some thing weird...It wiped out the oil and dried my hair completely that there was no use of having an oil bath. So, I gradually stopped using Pantene after oil bath but I never quit using Pantene for a normal hair wash.

In about 2008, I switched to Suave when I found that it gave an extraordinary fluffy feel of my hair. It made my hair look shiny as well as silky. But I realized that it had a wax-like feel that made my hair look great. I was wondering if a 1.5 dollar stuff can made my hair look this great, why people are not using it?? Never researched about it. Recently, I bought the New Pantene in a hurry at a store and I see that Pantene has come up with a very similar wax that you can experience the same fluffy-feel as well as the dryness as like Suave..in fact its worser than suave.

Guys and girls, your hair might be fluffy, silky, shiny without knots with these shampoos but if you have a dry skin, please stop using either of those. I tell you this because, it dried out my hair so much that I really felt dehydrated. It removed my natural body oil on the scalp totally. Infact, it went to an extent of building up my body heat that my eyes were burning like hell for almost a week. I had an oil bath with shikakai and then is when my eyes stopped burning . These shampoos have a low quality wax and bad detergents. If you are sensitive like me to dryness, you will experience it sooner..otherwise, you will be puzzled why you have all the heat-related illness!! It hard to discover what is wrong. Most of the times, we blame it on the local weather.. But I guess a lot of times, its the synthetic stuff that we use.
Google up to see the bad things in these shampoos!!

Are you a workaholic?

2010-02-24T22:46:00.002-06:00

Well, now I am in a complete research-based university-associated to medical center wherein people's minimal qualification is PhD or MD. Doctors, profs, post-docs and students are very committed to their job. Can't see funky hairstyles..junk jeans or pink tops in the corridor..On the other hand, I see people being so obsessed with work..no smiles..talks only..only..and only about research.

People who know me will understand how it is not so me... Believe me..its hard to make conversations for me..I have made few friends. Here, I get a feeling that most post-docs/students work long hours not because their boss demands. Its something else in them that drives them..workaholism. No body plans any expt to end by 6 pm or 7 pm. I am very surprised ..rather shocked about that.
Infact, I started probing some of them..why? They are like..they derive some feel good-factor in the lab. After reaching home at 8.00 pm, looks like..they cook something minimal, talk to their spouse about experiments and call up home..and thats it..open books and read for the next day. And these are married people !! Dont know if it has any guilt driven thing behind it. Life is work alone and work alone is life. Many of these people genuinely tell me " I know..I need to change..Its not good for me". Initially I had been so guilty that my mind set is not so trained to think just about work alone. But now, I see that it cannot be me. I cannot force myself and looks like it may not be productive as well. Its very hard to explain them how it affects the productivity. People might think I am jealous or I am distracting them and productivity is proportional to working long hours. I am sad and I am not sure how are they even happy. What is that..that is giving them pleasure..

I am very confused how people can't differentiate hardwork and workaholism. Hard work and workaholism - I think that there is probably just a thin line between these. May be once they go past working hard work, they see a happiness in workaholism that I have never seen in my life.. May be I dont know. I see this behavior even with other people who are not researchers..with engineers..with s/w professionals..I am interested to know what is the cause for such a behavior.
Trying to read about this. Check this to see if you are a workaholic.

Fun!!

2010-02-23T21:22:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's day

2010-02-14T12:20:00.003-06:00

Enyego partha Mayakkam -A Tribute to Valentine's டே :)

Lyrics - Na.Muthukumar

Singer - Udit Narayan

Yengaeyo Paarththa Mayakkam

Eppotho Vaazhntha Nerukkam

Devathai Indha Saalai Ooram

Varuvathu Enna Maayam Maayam

Kann Thiranthu-Ival Paarkum Pothu

Kadavulai Indru Nambum Manathu

Innum Kangal Thirakkatha Sirpam

Oru Kodi Poo Pokkum Vetkam

Aan Manathai Azhikka vantha Saabham..

Arivai Mayakkum Maaya Thaagam

Ivalai Paartha Inbam Pothum

Vaazhthu Paarka Nenjam Yenghum

Kanavugalil Vaazhntha Naalai

Kaan Ethirae Paarkiraen

Kathaigalilae Ketta Penna!!

Thirumbhi Thirumbhi Paarkiraen

Anghum Inghum Oodum Kaalgal

Asaiyamarathu Venduthae

Indha Idaththil Innum Nirkka

Idhayam Kooda Yenguthae..

Ennaanotho…Yethaanaanotho..

Kannaadi Pol Udainthidum Manathu

Kavithai Ondru Paarthu Pogha

Kangal Kalangi Naanum Yenga

Mazhaiyin Saaral Ennai Thakka

Vidaigal Illaa Kelvi Kekka...

Yengaeyo Paarththa ..

Aathi Anthamum Maranthu

Un Arugil Karainthu Naan Ponaen

Aangal Vekka Padum Tharunam

Unnai Paarththa Pinbu Naan Kandu Kondaen

Idi Vizhuntha Veetil Indru

Poochchedigal Pookirathae

Ival Thaanae Unthan Paadhi

Kadavul Bathil Kekkurathae

Viyanthu Viyanthu Udainthu Udainthu

Sarinthu Sarinthu Mirandu Mirandu

Indha Nimidam Meendum Piranthu

Unakkul Kalanthu, Tholainthu Tholainthu..

Yengaeyo Paarththa ..

எங்கேயோ பார்த்த மயக்கம்

எப்போதோ வாழ்ந்த‌ நெருக்கம்
தேவதை இந்தச் சாலை ஓரம்
வருவது என்ன மாயம் மாயம்
கண் திறந்து இவள் பார்க்கும் போது
கடவுளை இன்று நம்பும் மனது

இன்னும் கண்கள் திறக்காத சிற்பம்
ஒரு கோடி பூ பூக்கும் வெட்கம்
ஆண் மனதை அழிக்க வந்த சாபம்…
அறிவை மயக்கும் மாய தாகம்
இவளைப் பார்த்த இன்பம் போதும்
வாழ்ந்து பார்க்க நெஞ்சம் ஏங்கும் எங்கேயோ பார்த்த மயக்கம்..

கனவுகளில் வாழ்ந்த நாளை
கண் எதிரே பார்க்கிறேன்
கதைகளிலே கேட்ட பெண்ணா
திரும்பித் திரும்பிப் பார்க்கிறேன்
அங்கும் இங்கும் ஓடும் கால்கள்
அசைய மறுத்து வேண்டுதே
இந்த இடத்தில் இன்னும் நிற்க
இதயம் கூட ஏங்குதே..

என்னானதோ… ஏதானதோ…

கண்ணாடி போல் உடைந்திடும் மனது
கவிதை ஒன்று பார்த்து போக
கண்கள் கலங்கி நானும் ஏங்க
மழையின் சாரல் என்னைத் தாக்க

விடைகள் இல்லா கேள்வி கேட்க

ஆதி அந்தமும் மறந்து

உன் அருகில் கரைந்து நான் போனேன்

ஆண்கள் வெக்கப்படும் தருணம்

உன்னை பார்த்த பின்பு நான் கண்டு கொண்டேன்

இடி விழுந்த வீட்டில் இன்று

பூச்செடிகள் பூக்கிறதே

இவள் தானே உந்தன் பாதி

கடவுள் பதில் கேட்கிறதே

வியந்து வியந்து உடைந்து உடைந்து

சரிந்து சரிந்து மிரண்டு மிரண்டு

இந்த நிமிடம் மீண்டும் பிறந்து

உனக்குள் கலந்து தொலைந்து தொலைந்து.. எங்கேயோ பார்த்த மயக்கம்..

My first week..

2010-02-04T21:47:00.006-06:00

During this first week in San Antonio, the city weather is not as it is supposed to be..I guess!!
" Its rainy..There is no humidity...Extremely cloudy"

Well, I like it..Its new to me and every street is new !! Every road is parallel to another road at some point and is perpendicular at some point.. But, all roads lead to I-10 and most roads cross either of the loops 410 or 1604.

Food is awesome. Even the regular subway and chipotle food is tasty..Mann..There is something fishy here..Restaurant compete with one another so badly. Vegetarian food is so common here as well..

Shops...3-4 HEBs , 3-4 walmarts, 2 Big lots, atleast 7-8 auto shops, 2 huge malls, 20-30 ATMs, 8-10 banks within 10 min driving distance from my home. One thing that is missing are the local coffee shops.. almost nil..Again, starbucks' monopoly prevails here !!! :(

Friends.. who said people are not friendly in texas.. at least till now, people came out of their way to help me and get acquainted. !!

Overall, a better start here when compared to any of the cities I moved in earlier.. Well, now, I should give myself the credit that I am growing as well . Plus, my sonata has made my life much easier :)

Heavenly !!!

2010-01-18T20:44:00.005-06:00

Hershey's Milk chocolate with Almond Ferrero rocher Ritter Sport Milkyway Snickers Russell Stover Lindts KitKat ^Cadbury’s Nutties Raffaello Toblerone Ghirardelli Ferrara almond nougat Cadbury’s Lollypop Lacto King Torrone Best of Italy Hersheys Bliss Belgian Truffles Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Nestle’s Crunch

A chocolate is a chocolate is a chocolate !!

But some of them are heavenly :)

Avatar :)

2010-01-13T22:52:00.006-06:00

Wish you all a very Happy Pongal !!!

Bill Skelton - An American who loved India and its arts

2010-01-12T01:29:00.003-06:00

Today I was thinking about the south-indian musical instrument, Nadhaswaram. While I was googling to see if somebody offers Nadhaswaram lessons in US, I stumbled upon this link.
The Hindu : Arts / Music : An American who loved India and its arts

Wish Bill Skelton is alive!!

Who is this...Sangeetha Rajeshwaran..

2010-01-10T23:49:00.004-06:00

I am very much impressed by her liveliness in the few songs that she has sung!! The first one was " Dailamo dailamo" in Dishyum (2006) and now, I love this " Karikaalan.."song in Vettaikaran (2009)- esp. her energy and expression delivery. Good luck to her!!

Coffee flavor in Yogurt ??

2010-01-09T21:11:00.002-06:00

It tastes weird !! The first spoon was horrible. It tastes like coffee but has a caramel flavor. But I thought I will just discard it. Somehow it gives an inclination to have more- some addiction. But when you have the second spoon, it again tastes horrible. Confused..Weird!!

Life Lessons: Randy Pausch and Suki Sivam

2010-01-06T00:00:00.005-06:00

Most of us have heard atleast one of these lectures...Just want to begin the New Year with good speeches !!

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-01T11:55:00.000-06:00

May God bless everybody with lots of happiness and May all our dreams and ambitions come true!!

2009-Last day

2009-12-31T12:09:00.000-06:00

Well, 2009 has been a spicy /speedy year for me. From the mode of "Nothing Ever Changes in my Life", a lot of things "moved on" in my life in 2009. Many of my goals/dream got fulfilled. In fact, I reaped the fruits for all my efforts this year - closure for a lot of my ambitions/dreams in my life and it's time to begin many new things.

Amazing things that finally happened:
1. Got my PhD in Biological sciences- a big...satisfying..relief..whatever.. I am done !!
2. Brought my parents to US for graduation on my own- a dream came true !!
3. Got myself the gift I wanted all these years, a car (although, i could not find a white one) -Hyundai Sonata - the gift I cherish every day. It's my love!!
4. Got my first publication followed by 3 more- all in the same year - well, I am not that bad..I can publish...he he..
5. Finally...Visited New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Oooh.. that was God's gift. It does not happen in an year!!
6. Finally..started Horse Riding Lessons- a beginning !!
7. Learned Metal Embossing and Crochet - a stress relieving hobby that I could not identify all these years!!

On the downside..well probably for my good..
1. I have been on job hunt for almost 10 months in 2009 - Lived in an anxious mode for long.
2. I had to move to 3 apartments within 8 months - I am an expert in packing and unpacking.
3. For the first time, I borrowed money :).. Its not that hard to sleep :)
4. I tried to keep up my enthu levels but I rate myself to be "below average" this year. Well, next year will be definitely better than this.

A satisfying year with high levels of mental stress - yet managed to accomplish a lot of my dreams. Well, I think it's pre-destined !!

Do people hate texas?

2009-12-23T20:00:00.002-06:00

A friend of mine was passing sarcastic comments about southern states of US..esp. on texas. Well, he is also an asian and had never lived in Texas. I could imagine the look he had in his face when he said that over phone. I have seen such looks from few other friends in northern states as well. Well, what is wrong with southern states..texas or arizona or california. The idea he got should probably be from what he reads and what he heard about Texas. I seriously want to know why people hate texas?

I have been in texas for 3.5 years . I am not a supporter of aggies or longhorns..or any thing. Well, one thing that is sure is we have white and mexican population. There is english and spanish..and that makes things a little more complicated in getting a lot of things done. There is a different texan accent. But that is not new to an asian whose mom and dad does not deal with things in english. Multilingual things are so common in india. People probably forget where they are from. There is more history and cultural heritage than many other states. So, there are more chances of having pride about the revolution and past war stuff. Plus, everything is big here. Yeh.. definitely people are proud of being texans here. Most importantly, people in most cities of texas (even the uneducated ones) respect others. My friends who visited me here and I found people in el paso, austin and san antonio to be much more helpful and friendly than KY (where we lived). Well, I dont know if the logo " Dont mess with texas" bothers people. My friend was like "There is nothing in texas..very hot..people with accents..huh.." After all, if this guy got a job here, he would probably not say all this.

I am not sure if my comment is valid as I live almost near New Mexico. But after I move to San Antonio, I will revisit this question. Meanwhile, please let me know if you have comments.

The thing that bothers me is how can people look down at a place (with superior feeling) without even staying in there. Is it the racist feeling against mexicans ? Why people want to imagine US with snow, rain and green only?

Well, I still cannot counter argue that WA is always rainy..suicidal place..no sun...gloomy..No body can live there..etc. I think probably it may be good if you start living in there. Anyways..

Random Rambling

2009-12-22T18:07:00.002-06:00

Avatar 3D
Well.. talk of the town..everywhere.. I thought it was a great time pass. Sincerely, I think I can never watch it the second time. Boring after 1/2 hr..But, picked up after a while..Things I liked was no weirdness..Very clear screen play (for a sci-fic) to follow even to a lay person like me who does not read about movies before going to one... Well, every now and then, I was trying to see without glasses..Trying to think what can be made more creative. I have no big idea about techie advancements although I thought that a lot of scenes looked spectacular..Sincerely, this is what I thought. But after reading blogs and reviews, I am surprised how people loved it so much than usual. hmm..

Christmas
This is my first christmas (in my life) when I am not a student but an employee. No exams..No deadlines..But still in a job..Feels good but dont know what to do. Thought of every kid (of my friends) I know in US. Acknowledged them Well, I do something like that for Navrathri even otherwise. Still, I want to do something else. Well, thought of people whom I made friends in 2009..esp. those who enriched my life. Acknowledged them by sending cards.. Well, planning to make it more different - Guess...Vegas is the solution.

Maargazhi - learning is tough
Failed every december since 2007. This year..hoping to be successful in understanding/memorizing the meaning of Thiruppaavai. Definitely, I am not ritualistic. Perhaps, in a way..being ritualistic would have helped me learn long ago. Sticking to reading one a day is the most stupid idea to do in december. It's the time of holidays..It's the month you get easily carried away by celebrations..I learned this lesson in 2008 and I am cautious now.. Anyways..

Musical Gatorade for Restlessness

2009-12-03T22:31:00.002-06:00

               Well, technically this post has to be under Aanmeegham section. Somehow, I feel that this post should benefit anybody who wants to relax - you may or may not be religious. Few years ago, when I visited a friend's place in lex and complaining about my irritation/restlessness, this roommate of my friend casually told me to listen to "Subramanya Bhujangam". He also gave me an mp3 version sung by Anuradha Krishnamurthy. During the same time, I also heard the same from my dear friend/ex-roomie S. Subramanya Bhujangam verses were a spontaneous out-pouring of Adi Shankara at Thiruchendur. Well, I don't know if its just the words or rhythm or the voice -it was/is stunningly powerful. Like any ordinary person, I put it on in the background when I get restless or annoyed or upset. It gave me an immediate energy- some sort of hope, courage and strength.
               These days, I am trying to memorize/learn the verses. It gives more than just energy and courage - some pleasure out from those verses as well. Adi Shankar's verses are so simple and elegant. I have no words rather no capabilities to comment on the beauty of the verses. Sometimes, I feel it has nothing to even to do with Lord Karthikeya or any form of God..But, definitely, it is more than that..cosmic..spiritual..higher energy..whatever you want to call it. At times, I feel that usage of certain words can even take you to a different level from your mind...Can't even explain what I am thinking.Anyways

                Listen to this by Anuradha Krishnamurthy. Btw, this singer (Acted as a doctor in one of the tamil-serials, arasi I guess..don't know her name in that) has so much of that "divine looks" that she is like a junior MS amma.

Maatram.. Thadumaatram.. Kootram kaanaa unmai!!

2009-12-02T17:07:00.002-06:00

When we grow old, we have to deal with too many things..change is inevitable..restlessness and fatigue as well !! Few lines..

En Vazhvinil dhan ethanai nadappugal !

Ethanai vaaypugal.. ethanai maaruthalgal
Oru muduvuku varummum matroru aarambam

Manap Palagaiyil ezhudhi ezhudhi azhithu azhithu
Sunnambu innum theeravillai
Silamurai ezhuthum bodhe azhikkappadum
Ezhudhi azhithup pazhagukiren -irupinum
Ovvoru muraiyum pudhiya urchagam !
Idhu nilaika naan paadupaduven ennum urudhimozhi
Ithanai manapayirchiyum enaku mattumo

Oor ulagathilo
Maaruthalukku oppari vaikum maandhar
Enaku mattum en ithanai nadappugal?

Indha azhithu ezhudhum anubavam
anaithum enna dhaan solkinrana..Ennai
Uyarathil utkara vaika podam podum vaaipo..sirapo

Illai,

MaNappalagai kaaviyathin maanbinai ariyavo
Thadumaatram illadhu mudivugal edukavo

Illai,

Maatramillaa
Kootram kaanaa unmaiyai onru ulladhendru
Kuriyaai ullathuku unarthavo

Kadavulin kanakinai kandarindhavarum undo !!

Tasty Simmer Sauce !!

2009-12-01T22:33:00.004-06:00

People who knew me well enough, will clearly get surprised seeing this post. I am this person who cooks anything and everything right from the scratch. I don't (rather can't) compromise on the taste of any food and I hate most of the already cooked/ready made indian food items -no idli maavu or no ready-cans and esp. no frozen-ready made packets. However, I keep buying every frozen ready Indian food almost from every brand just to see if I like any of them. Most of the times, its disappointing. Recently, I found the 'simmer sauce' from the brand "Seeds of Change" in an organic store. I bought "Madras Simmer Sauce" and "Korma Simmer Sauce". To my surprise, they were amazing. Madras simmer sauce is a gravy with most spices plus onions and tomato. Korma is this slight yellow coconut-containing lucknowi paste. It can be used with rice or naan. It does not smell of any preservative like most frozen or ready-made food. Avasarathuku udhavum arumai paste :)

http://seedsofchangefoods.com/our_foods/category.aspx?id=simmer_sauces

Where is my Pride

2009-11-23T20:17:00.001-06:00

Every semester, my prof. gives me a chance to teach some lectures in freshmen biology. Students like my teaching, approach and things and over the years, I have gained the pride that I am doing a good job. I noticed that students who sat in the first few rows listen properly. They even recognize me on the road and talk to me.

This year, my boss wanted me to teach DNA repair and damage after the genetics and cell cycle lectures. Thats something that I hate to even listen, while I was a student. I used to dose off so much during those lectures. I was a bit upset and I still managed to prepare for the class. The lecture went okay. However, I was a bit shocked.. I noticed that the guy (in the first row) who used to listen with so much joy during the prev. lectures was dosing like anything. For the first time, my pride fell off. Could not take it easy for a while... Tried to console myself that " I have done that.." "the subject is so boring like that" etc..Came home with a lost feeling..Felt like I failed...Shared this feel to a friend. His one-line comment was incredible. All he said was 'I realize that Neeyum oru thaai Priya' :)-

Loudness..grrrr...

2009-11-11T19:07:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I called up my phone company to resolve an issue. There was this customer service representative who started the conversation with a dashing energy. Well, I was happy that it's not one of those mid-30's woman talking with a fatigue tone. With cheer, I greeted him and continued. Initially, I thought that this guy was a bit loud and I was thinking if I can change any set-up in the office phone to reduce the loudness. OMG!! I realized that his loudness increased gradually so much that I almost forgot that he was polite and helpful. I wasn't sure if I can tell him to reduce his loudness. But with his accent and stress on syllables, I felt that there was a nuclear explosion on my left ear and I was almost deaf. Then, I put my phone down on table and still I could speak to him with no need of speakers. My heart was pumping so fast with his loudness.
That's when I realized "I am an energy person as well. I get excited sometimes on phone. What if I am too loud for somebody.. what if the other person is just bearing with me. I don't want that " If any of my friends read this post, please let me know if I am loud. OMG!! It was awful to bear that!

Pattinathaar

2009-11-03T22:58:00.001-06:00

A very interesting read at Prabhu's Blog about Pattinathar. Awaiting the next post(s)!!

Strange things continue...

2009-11-02T18:12:00.003-06:00

Last..but not the least thing ..well sorry for the cliche..I got another job offer from a totally unexpected lab and place this evening!!

Clearly, its a lovely day!!

Strange day

2009-11-02T13:55:00.003-06:00

Today is a strange day in all sense. I dont know what is happening to me. And What is happening around me as well. I am here sitting and day dreaming..and I hear that my third-first author paper is accepted with no revision or corrections in a reasonably okay journal in less than a week. Straight through..

And its very strange that I am blogging all this..plus posting 3 posts on just one -day, that too during day time :)

Well, clearly everything is strange !!

Aanantha Vali

2009-11-02T13:18:00.004-06:00

Okie.. I kicked myself out from the journal club. Mind is in a mood to just narrate..

Karavaipasu kanrukku paal-soerum pozhudhil
Paravaip palavum paadum pozhuthil - en
Varavai satre edhir noekki irundha
Kudhiraiyin mael naanum thaava , thaaviyadhu
Katrai alavu kudookalamum thaanae!! Munpiravi
Uraivai arindhadhu pol meyunardhu kuthiraiyo (ennaik)
Kuzhandhai yena karuthi karu neelavaanil
Kathirait thodum alavu thooki erindhu pidikka
Iravaik kadandhum meymarandhu makizhndhen

Kulirinaik kaaranam katti
Mayilinaipol irai thedaadhu
Thuyil aNai mael kanvalarndhu – Oodhiya
Udalininil unarum vilaiyaattu vali…anre Sonnen.. Aanandha Vali

A strange but pleasant monday morning!!

2009-11-02T10:27:00.006-06:00

A very happy monday morning inspite of the fact that I have not prepared for the journal club yet.
A cup of oatmeal with some music... My picks with fav. lines today are here.. You can watch if you don't care about the awful dance but you can definitely LISTEN.

1. En Piravaa mazhalaigai un vizhiyi paarkiren
Naan ezhudha kavithaigalai un mozhiyil ketkiraen..
Song 1

2. Nenjae Nenjae sellayo avanodu...sendraal varamaatai adhu dhaane perum paadu
Song 2

3. Ada vinnum mannum unakulla vilambaramo..Ne velichathil seythu veitha oli chirpamo
Song 3

4. I am a big fan of this up coming actress..these days after the movie Naan Kadavul.
Song 4
Well...I get reminded of this when I listened to this song.. Most of you must have listened to this long time ago. If not, just listen. This is not the full version. Need to search and find out..anyways..

After a beautiful morning..hope, I dont get kicked out from the meeting this noon :)

Ride on a horse..

2009-10-27T15:44:00.014-06:00

People always asked me " What is your favorite pet animal?". As such, I had no solid answer. Well, I tried to think and then say " there is nothing like that". I had told that few times. Once, I gave a deep thinking. Well, I am okay with dogs..I am okay when they lick me and put their fore legs on me. I can just say "Dogs" if somebody really wants me to pick a pet. What about Cats?Actually I have spent more time with cats esp. in my cousin badhri 's place. They had 2-3 generations of cats. Badhri's grandma was affectionately taking care of the cats that we call her either badhri paati or poonai paati. Even after all that, I am so scared of cats...their eyes plus the tales that I hear from all 3 cousins about how they eat their own kuttis..its soft body..plus their hair giving asthma issues..Whatever..Ironically, all my ex-roomies loved cats and they had wall hangings, jigsaws of cat's picture.

So, what do I like? My deep thinking came up with 2 animals..horse and cow. I was so surprised at my own self..why do you like to be around them..No strong logic..I have no idea why I like cow.

Well, with horses.. may be.. because we had this horse carriage (Kuthirai vandi) rides from the St. Thomas Mount Railway station to Surendran nagar every now and then. I loved to take the carriage rides when young. Later, in lexington, the horse capital of the world, I got to see various breeds of horses. There were so many things happening around in kentucky. Every street was named after a horse that won races like Kentucky derby, triple crown, horse carriage races..what not. During that time, a silent wave of thought used to pass through my head. "Well, horses look nice but we cannot afford to have them. Its for rich people or people who do racing". Later in my life, when my PhD studies werenot going right, I was asked to pray Lord Hayagriva (horse-faced God who is thought to be teacher for Goddess sarawathi. It became a routine for me to chant Hayagriva stotram standing in front of a small photo pic of horse-face God and in about an year, I got a big photo of Hayagriva. About an year ago, I was in this junk shop looking for handicraft stuff and I found a nice, well sculptured Horse doll. Did not know why I bought that. But I see that I admire looking at it like anything. I liked horses to an extent that, once when somebody asked what kind of guy do you get attracted to, my quick-answer was "He should be like a horse" and my answer made many of my friends laugh right away.

Two weeks ago, some body asked about pets and the same wave of thought passed through "Well, horses look nice but we cannot afford to have them". Then I was like.. "Wait a minute, you are in El Paso, a place where people take horses for desert-hiking". May be, you can try to learn horse-riding. I asked about this to my lab-mate and she said "Well, if you are not scared, try taking lessons". With confidence, I was like" It's not as scary as swimming or bungie jumping!!". I did a thorough search on the same day and found a place to go for taking lessons during the weekend. Promptly, I reached the place to learn horseback riding. It was so amazing to learn what horse wants. Horses do not want somebody on it who is scared. He(It) wants a leader to lead him. I had to walk, climb and sit like Bharathiyar Pudhumai Penn (Modern Girl) "Nimirndha nannadai, nerkonda paarvai, thimirndha seruku (without gyanam..he he)". My mind got quick flashes of Jhansi Rani..Actress Vaijayanthi Mala in the movie "Penn" in the song "akila bharatha pengal thilakamaai", Raja Raja Cholan, Alexander the great and the 10th avatar "Kalki". With so much inner happiness, I got on the horse and did 3 rounds with the teacher's guidance. Believe me, I never have derived this much pleasure. And I got some relief of my back pain during that time.

At home, I hear a lot of tamil sayings with horses. Amma always said "Run in life like a horse"and also used sayings like "Dont be a stone on the way while the horse is heading forward (oodum kudhiraikku kaaluka kallu)" "In life, its not how fast you run (like a horse) but how well you can get along with the Jockey and keep up with running"Blah blah..blah

It took me this many years to identify what animal I like. A lot of times, we have a mind-block to not proceed with what we wish to do. We think "No I have no time now.. I have no facility available..its not affordable..I will do it after my life is a bit relaxed or after my workload gets reduced." Now, I am a firm believer that it will never happen until we really look for it. If we can think out of the box and if we really want it, we can see that things are right next to us. Well, may be, one day I will also buy a horse.

Moving thoughts

2009-10-22T22:04:00.005-05:00

I am moving :)
I had this "going to finish..just finished degree..need to find the next position" periods wherein I felt I don't know how to be enthusiastic anymore. There was nothing that was moving on around me.
After months and months of job hunt for a position that I am really interested in, I have finally made a job decision to move forward. Yeh.. in about 3 months, I will become a resident of San Antonio-still a Texan. This period seems to be like a golden period - a period when you know that you are going to join a position that you would want to...a period with a lot of dreams..lots of plan (well, I love planning)..anticipation. The smile and enthusiasm in my life is springing up.
My hobbies are getting some life and are trying to recollect me, rather. Mind is as fresh as a dewdrop before sunrise on a plant...Hard to explain..anyways..

I will be moving again :(
I never ever want to change apartments. But it happens so naturally even within the same city..Now, this will be 11th move in the last 7 years. I am so used to moving and packing.
Despite of the fact that people keep complaining about me for not visiting them, I am always visiting places.. DC(Nov 2008), Lexington, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Nashville (Dec and Jan2009), Chicago (Feb 2009), Baltimore (Mar 2009), New Orleans (Apr 2009), Grand Canyon, Newyork, Niagara..etc (May 2009), New Mexico (Jun 2009), Phoenix and LA (Sep 2009), San Antonio (Oct 2009). Well, I am also used to visiting and I hope and wish that the visits continue :)

I will miss El Paso

Well, after 3 years of stay at El Paso.. after cursing El Paso for a long period for its no-green desert landscape, I have started seeing the beauty-part since an year. Stand anywhere at El Paso, you will be surrounded by mountains for atleast 320 degrees. Its amazing..I will definitely miss the natural cool breeze throughout the year - even when the temperature is above 100 F, the air is cool. This is the place where I learned to control my backache issues through yoga. I am definitely grateful to this city as the people around have always given me a relaxing and friendly atmosphere, although I had created my own tensions. Three years ago (till july 2006), I never knew where El Paso is in the map. But, this is the city which made me focus on my project and gave me a doctorate, finally. Probably, I may not miss the multi-cultural aspect (as I might see that in San Antonio also) of El Paso. However, this is the first city where I made friends with a lot of local public.. like in the bus stops..coffee shops..restaurants. Infact, people even know what I will order in their place. I will definitely miss my local friends so much !!

So, what.. I am still near mountains
Well, Rockfort, Pallavaram, St. Thomas Mount, Pilani(Pahaadi), Lexington, El Paso and San Antonio. The common thing in my life is my place of living is always surrounded by hills. May be its just in my mind. Well, technically, as like an olden-day tamilian, I can claim that Kurinji Nilam (Region in and around mountains) is where I live. As it is Soora Samharam tomorrow, let me recollect the lord of Kurunji Nilam, Lord Karthikeya and bow him to grant everybody all the good boons.

Happy Kandha Shasti/ Soora Samharam !!

The Original "Nashaa yeh pyar kaa"

2009-09-19T21:43:00.006-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, while in the universal studios -LA, I heard this original tune of "Nasha hai pyar ka". This was much better than the hindi one.

Watch here !!

For Lyrics

Like Jagan says in the comment, I am adding the hindi-version here for comparison

My home town

2009-08-30T18:06:00.002-05:00

Ananthakrishnapuram - a small village in Thirunelveli - this is the place where Grandpa was living. Happy to see this article..

Wondering if there is any such common usage..

2009-08-14T13:25:00.005-05:00

' I was wondering if you have processed this or had a look at this'

'I am curious to know what is happening at your end on this'

'I appreciate you guys for all the services provided to us'

Well, if you are living in U.S, try to count the number of times you use these or such polished statements every day. Focus on the wondering...curious..appreciate part...It's funny to literally translate and use them in colloquial tamil..I am not criticizing such usage in english.. In fact, it works here.

Well, again, I was just simply wondering how many times we use such statements to give a push on things/ have a impact on others to get something done/ have gotten something done :) hmm..

Can you guys think of any equivalent tamil phrases commonly used like that to push things on other's table (well, I do not mean the literally translated junoon tamil-like phrases ) !!

Summer in a desert ! Camphor helps!

2009-08-06T17:19:00.004-05:00

It is not just awful to bear with the heat in a desert !! Its more than that- the insects, moths, bugs, ants, flies. Poor creatures!! I feel sorry for all these creatures as they can’t put up with the heat. But, I am not good enough to accommodate them at my home :) Initially, I thought I alone had this problem of insects and bugs. Now, I hear tales from people in lab, office as well as in my yoga class. I managed to get an apartment that is supposedly free from any such insects. But…I am not allowed to keep the doors open even for a while. Getting reminded of Chennai !! It has never been this bad in El Paso earlier. Well, I purchased different varieties of sprays and sadly, I am killing them as I cannot put up with the itch and fear-feel. I also had to get the anti-itch creams. Surprisingly (which I should not be, as I am a pharmacy student), I found that the main ingredient in camphor was the ingredient in these creams.

Few days ago, when I was near the swami-prayer area, I realized that my mom had given me some camphor which I never ever used for any aarathi purpose. I thought I should probably use it in the traditional way like how it is used at home – taking to all the corners..shown to all swami padam..that way I spread its vapors all over the room. I did that (in the name of God reciting slokam) for a couple of days. To my surprise, there is less itch and hardly any insect...Camphor and God worked together on the issue.

Hmm..I have heard that people used it for this purpose earlier but until I tried it recently, I had no great feel for the concept!!

Good Time !!

2009-08-03T22:43:00.007-05:00

Just can't believe this.. Never I was this lucky.. all within one week !!

At a coffee shop !
Myself and Ms. BR did not bring lunch last wednesday and so, we thought we will get a salad, cookies..and a smothie as lunch. While we were in queue, a girl who was standing behind me offered to pay for us. She has some money ($ 800) to be spent with August 1st like in Arunaachalam and so, she wanted to pay for us. Why us alone ?? Still a mystery!! Did we look that pathetic :( Anyways.. Free food after a long time...We had it.

At Babo's!
My yoga instructor invited me to go along with her family for outing to a gaming place. Although I am not much on playing any video game / car games / throw games, I was there with them in a queue to get some coins for minimum value. i.e 2 coins for $ 1.5. Everybody before me got 2 coins for $1.5. When it was my turn, this guy gave me 6 coins for the same money. I was like " Why me" He said " Have fun" :)-

Rent.com !
I moved to an apartment in March and I applied for free gift card from rent.com for this move. I did not hear anything till now. When I recently moved to another apt this week, I get a $ 100 dollar from them.

Neram Nalla neram !!

Tring... Tring...dishyum... dishyum

2009-07-09T00:09:00.004-05:00

Well, it has been a while that I muttered in a blog about anything..Today I really have to!!
I woke up with a call..Wondering who was this.. Did not pick up as it was a new number..Brushed and hurried to listen to the voice mail. A voice message from some local insurance company " hmm.. these days they are hunting people even through cell phone". Anyways..Started getting ready for work..While in shower, another missed call. Local number but no voice mail. Did not bother to find who was that!! Reached university and while locking the car and picking the bags, another call. As I had too many things in hands, could not pick up..Missed call..Voice mail from Dominos pizza..hmmm.. Around lunch time, another call..this time I picked the phone. Somebody from kentucky. Wrong number...In the evening, another call..Call for Ms.Claritha..Well it is not me..anyways...Tired of calls..How can there be a day with just missed calls and wrong calls. Well, above all..during dinner, I left the phone in my friends purse and came home empty handed.

What is wrong today!!!

Wanna a degree in tamizh??

2009-07-01T00:34:00.004-05:00

If you are somebody who aim to do higher studes in tamizh - online, Visit this site. You can do it from where ever you are !!! Also, in this link, you get to see what are the universities that offer studies in Tamizh!!

Makkale.. Vandhu oru Hi sollunga!!

2009-06-22T17:11:00.005-05:00

Guys..
I am finally back after a llong time..A lot of things happened...(If you know me) you know that I graduated finally with a doctoral degree...In the mean time, invited parents..My parents visited me from India for 2 months. Had a great time..esp. sama saapadu..chance illa..plus sun tv, kv tv.... Learned a lot of things from mom..new recipes..smart ideas..showed them new stuff..We went to Newyork, Niagara, Pittsburgh, Kentucky, Ohio, Grand canyon..etc..Orae suthals..It was a give and take trip for each one of us. But. I have to definitely admit that I missed the blogging world and friends..Just thought I will get back here..

Makkale..vandhu oru Hi sollunga !!

The Sage of Kanchi

2009-02-23T09:41:00.002-06:00

There are 6 parts :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaZiCdRKxjw

Getting back..

2009-02-15T00:43:00.003-06:00

Hey guys

Coming back to blog after a while..nearly 3 months..Well, to those of you who do not know, I finished my Ph.D this December (2008). I am finally done. Just can’t believe that the purpose of my visit to U.S is accomplished. Although I cannot feel a doctor in me, I feel so relieved for getting done, with all the hurdles I faced and all the labs that I changed. Now, when I come to write this post, I feel like I am more of a serious, mature person (which I am not).

Coming to talk about Ph.D, I think PhD just needs patience and perseverance and not that much of intelligence or hardwork as what people think. And if you are a go-getter, it helps (it is not a must to be so) and you can do how many ever PhD’s you want. Plus, you get to see how amazingly you can apply your thinking abilities in day-to-day life (some people think you are a little crazy.. he he) as long as you are not a book worm and would like to have a social world. Overall, weighing the pros and cons, I think it is a positive experience for me.

With this,, I am welcoming myself to blogging again.. he he..

Comedian Vivek with Dr. Abdul Kalaam

2008-10-28T11:36:00.002-06:00

apj @ Yahoo! Video

Happy Diwali

2008-10-27T00:05:00.000-06:00

Its so beautiful to see this from my home!!

Photo Story- The story of pumpkin-cutting !!

2008-10-05T21:39:00.008-05:00

Mudhar Kanave!!

2008-10-01T01:43:00.004-05:00

Visit my new podcast and have this lyrics open!!

Lyrics of Mudhar kanave:
If you watch this movie, you will know how apt is this song at this place..Unfortunately people dont ponder onto the lyrics.
To say this situation in brief, the girl has met the hero once, before she sees him currently. She had a mild crush on him and never thought she will meet this person again..totally forgot about this person. Now, when she meets him, she thinks the following!! arumaiyaana lyrics!!

Muthar kanave… mudhar kanave.. marubadi yean vandhai?Nee marubadi yean vandhai? ….Music…
Muthar kanave… mudhar kanave.. marubadi yean vandhai?Nee marubadi yean vandhai?Vizhithezhundhadhum marupadi kanavugal varumaa varumaa? Vizhithirukkayil kanavennai thurathudhu nijamaa nijamaa?

Mudhar kanavu.. muthar kanavu… moochullavaraiyil varumallavaa !!Kanavugal theernthuponaal vaalvillai allavaa? Kanavallave.. kanavallave.. kanmani naanum nijam allavaa Saththiyathill mulaiththa kaadhal saaghaadhu allavaaa !!

(Muthar Kanave)

Enge.. enge.. nee enge endru.. kaadu medu thaedi odi
Iru vizhi iru vizhi tholaiththu vitten!
Inge.. inge.. nee varuvaai endru Chinna kangal sindhugindra
Thuligalil thulighalil uyil valarpaen!!
Tholaindha en kangalai paarthadhum koduththuvittaai
Kangalai kkoduththu idhayaththai eduththu vittaaai
Ithayathai parithadharkaa yen jeevan edukkirai??
(Muthar Kanave)

Oodal vendaam…odalgal vendaam
Osaiyodu naadham pola uyirile uyirile kalandhuvidu !
Kanneeer vendaam.. kaayangal vendaam
Aarumaadha pillai pole madiyile madiyile urangi vidu !!
Nilaaa varum neram.. natchaththiram thaevayillai
Nee vandha neram.. nenjil oru oodal illai
Vanna pookal vaerkkum munne varachchollu thendralai !!!

Thaamaraiye.. thaamaraiye neeril oliyaadhe.. nee neeril oliyaadhe
Thinam thinam pudhu sooriyan pola varuven varuven
Anudhinam unnai aayiram kayyaal thoduven thoduven
Sooriyane… sooriyane thaamarai mugavari thevayillai
Vinnil neeyum irundhu konde viral neeti thirakiraai
Marankoththiye Marankoththiye manadhai kothi thulaiyiduvaai
Ullathukkul vilakkadiththu thoongum kaadhal ezhupuvaai !!

Thoongum kaadhal ezhuppuvaai
Thoongum kaadhal ezhuppuvaai
Nee thoongum kaadhal ezhuppuvaai!!!

Dosthu badaa dosthu

2008-09-18T11:40:00.001-05:00

புது பேஸ்டு..புது வாழ்வு!!

2008-09-06T22:52:00.003-05:00

வாழ்க்கை வாழ்வதற்கே
வெற்றி நிச்சயம் எனக்கே

பெற்றேனே சுவாச புத்துணர்ச்சி
நித்தம் கிடைக்குதே மனக்கிளர்ச்சி!!

Naka Muka

2008-09-04T14:51:00.008-05:00

Makkale..
By now, you guys must have heard about the awesome kuthu song with comic lyrics, Naka Muka !! Well, if you have heard "Paal Ice Cup Ice" song in sukran, you can relate this to that. Still this is good :)-

I could not get the actual video link yet!! Below is the youtube link (both male and female versions appended..there is no video on this link. Other made-up video versions on you tube do not do justice to the song )!!

Sun tv- Making of the song Naka Muka on Vinayaka Chaturthi !! -Caution: Horribly irritating compering..So, scroll to see whereever the dance clipping comes!!

Here is my podcast on Naka Muka !!

பேராசை !!

2008-09-04T00:56:00.003-05:00

பாலும் தெளி தேனும் நானே செய்த கொண்டை சுண்டலும், குல்பியும் ஹல்திராம்ஸ் சோன்பப்படியும்
இவை ஐந்தும் கலந்துனக்கு நான் இன்று தந்தேன்!!
காலம் உணர்ந்து கண்கண்ட தெய்வமாய் வந்துதவும் கணபதியே
நீ எனக்கு சங்கத் தமிழ் இயல்இசை நாடகம் மூன்றும் என்றும் தா!!

Animal Research or Kosu(ru) Research?

2008-08-27T00:39:00.002-05:00

Listen to the podcast here!!

Ennaa dhaan ne kastapattu theeni vaangi potaalum kozhi mutta (0) dhaan podume thavira 100/100 podaadhu :)-

- Oru aahaa fm kadi

Kasappu

2008-08-26T15:20:00.002-05:00

Ooruku nizhal! Ulagukko uvagai !
Uyar marundhai ulavi varuven !
Aanaal,
Ullukul dhaan ethanai kasappu!!

Ilayaai (valarukaiyil) kasandhen..
Poovaai kasandhen..
Kaayaai kasakiren..
Kaniyaaiyum kasappeno!!

Vaembaai kaniya virumbaamal vedhumbukiren!!

-kaalaiyil koondhal seevum bodhu vandha kavidhai !! Makkale...idhu epdi !!!(veppa marathukku equalla ellam sollikitta over dhaan..summa azhaga varudhennu..avlo dhaan) :)-

Thathuvam

2008-08-23T00:56:00.001-05:00

Wanna listen Thathuvam!! Click here

மிகவும் ரசித்த வரிகள்

2008-08-22T00:45:00.004-05:00

"ஆச்சர்யக்குறிக்கு மட்டும்
பஞ்சேமயில்லை,
அர்த்தமற்ற என் வாழ்வில்! "

- மேலேயுள்ளது.. நான் மிகவும் ரசித்த என் சிநேகிதருடைய கவிதை..இது எனக்கும் பொருந்தும் :)-

இன்னும் என் மனதைக் கவர்ந்த வேறு சில:

ஆதலினால்
என் காதலை நான்
மனதினுள் மறைத்து விட்டேன்...
வேண்டுதலை வெளியில் சொன்னால் - அது
பலிக்காதாம்(?!)

காதலி(யி)னால்...
நான்
பைத்தியக்காரன் தான்.
இதய அறைகள் நான்கையும்
நிரப்பிவிட்டு
அடுத்தவளுக்கு அகம் தேடும்
முற்று கலிகாலத்தில்
இருந்த ஒரு இதயத்தையும்
உன்னிடம் தொலைத்துவிட்டு நிற்கும் நான்
உண்மையிலேயே பைத்தியக்காரன் தான்!

இதுவும் சூப்பர்:)-

நிழல்
வெய்யிலில் நின்று
எதைத் தேடுகிறாய்?
என்னைத்தான்
விலகிப்போகச் சொல்லிவிட்டாயே...

First Gold Ever in Olympics- Abhinav Bindra

2008-08-11T01:11:00.007-05:00

Times of India Video

Times of India Article

Photos

Award Ceremony video - Indian National Anthem in a world event-Abhinav with Humble looks- Tears from eyes- Goosebumps on body !!

Abhinav is also a blogger!! Here is his blogspot!!

Virtual Barber Shop!

2008-08-03T00:15:00.004-05:00

Headphones/ EarPhones (wear to the correct ears) is a MUST!!

To listen to Podcast Trauma, Click here

post paaka podcast ponga

2008-07-29T11:55:00.002-05:00

Oru vazhiyaa..aanmeegham sitela post poda kai vandhadhu!!

Makkale.. Of late, I am lazy to write!!.. So, podcast paarunga.. Neenga kavalapadadheenga :)- I will definitely come back to write!!

Visa vaanga juarez ponga

Punch dialogue

2008-07-27T23:23:00.003-05:00

In the past few posts, punch dialogues were given as comments anonymously !!

Badhilukku (aaha fm lerundhu suttadhu):

"Night kosu kadicha "goodnight" vekkalaam
Morning kosu kadicha " goodmorning" vekka mudiyumaa !! "

idhu epdi:)-

My Pod cast

2008-07-27T16:58:00.003-05:00

Aarva Kolarin Uchakattamaa..I started a podcast!!

Makkale..En kurala kekanuma, please visit my podcast !!

Naan shock agiten

2008-07-22T00:09:00.002-05:00

Well, I was not a fan of vadivelu. But after seeing this, naan shock agiten :)-
I enjoyed vadivelu's comedy in marudhamalai !!

Palli and Panni - ?

2008-06-26T17:37:00.009-05:00

Wondering what is common between palli (lizard) and panni (pig)?

Well, the yuck factor - Aruveruppu.. Wait.. I don't intend to kadichufy you makkale!! Okay..okay.. there is another common thing.. Guess what?...

Diabetic patients have to thank both palli and panni!

Previously, insulin was obtained from bovine source. Now, due to prevalence of mad-cow disease, human recombinant insulin is only used and is genetically manufactured in pigs

Recently, it is also found that the saliva venom of lizard (gila monster) is an antidiabetic agent and is currently used. Also, synthetic lizard saliva anti-D molecule is being manufactured (but is not yet in market)

Well, wondering why am I telling you all this..

Makkale..last minutela examukku padikarennu kaata illa:)- thookam thookamaa varudhu..adha kalaika dhaan:)-

Tamil Kalyanam

2008-06-21T15:40:00.007-05:00

One of my american friends Ms. R is planning to visit India around the time when my ex-roomie is getting married. My ex-roomie is a telugu girl and is getting married to a tamil iyengar boy..adhaan lovesunga.. enaku oru raasi.. idhu naal varai enaku roommate aanaa loves varum..ella problemum solve aagum..aprom jolly dum dum dum dhaan..adhoda continuation idhvum :)-

Matter ennannaa.. I wanted to show R how an Indian wedding would look like. She has watched north indian dances in hindi movies like DDLJ, HAHK etc - enga kooda ukkaaravechu paaka vechirukomla:)- Now, when R goes to India, I dont want her to expect anything like that! Well, I am not even sure whether it will be a telugu wedding or a tamil wedding!! Hopefully, it is tamil, as paiyan veedu nalla traditional veedu !!

So, I thought of showing some tamil kalyanam song!! The first one that came on to my mind was "Thirumangalya.." All of us would have seen this nala dhamayanthi movie song- not a real kalyanam song..just a nalangu song!!

Well, this is not a representation of all tamil kalayanam and that made me search tamil kalyanam of many different castes. I found this wonderful song..iruvizhiyo sirakadikum song

All these days, Cheran was like olden day-Mani osai movie Kalyankumar (to me) who makes you feel the emotion by crying..andha "appa super" padam..forgot its name.. I cried in the first half only and could not watch any further :)- Of course, rombave overaave nalla nadipaar..nadika veppar :)-

But this song was almost perfect enough to explain many aspects of wedding !! I really like the reaction give by sneha when he tries to look at her. Believe me, I have seen that reaction in real weddings !! Dont know which caste wedding is exactly like this..

Well, idha paarunga - Not a tamil wedding song !

First shock..preety zinta as malaiyaali..he he
Second shock..shah rukh khan sattai illaama.. ho hoo..Mallu pasanga colora dhan sonnen :)-
Malaiyala song...couple-sexy dance oru kuppai ..yaenga?? malayaleesa asinga paduthareenga!! paavam!!
plus ellatha vida..vayasaana janaki voica (ofcourse enaku janaki voice pudikum) preety zintakku naan imagine pannanuma ?!!
adhuvum tamizla:)-

enna kodumai saravanan idhu!!

"oru manushan evlo dhaan imagine pannuvaan"ga!!

Hope you know which song I mean..I tolerate everything just for the beats and lyrics !!

Excitement !!

2008-06-20T00:47:00.008-05:00

I was walking towards the university library. There are some trees around the building. The wind blew and suddenly, lots and lots of light white-colored feathery things started falling out in large numbers (like flowers)..

"hey... thaathaa poochi...thaathaa poochi" Immediately I said this to myself and wondered!!

Wait a minute..am I using this word after...probably 15 years ? Yeh.. thats right!! And, I am noticing these cotton pieces after so many years !!

Well, what a nice word chosen by our(indian-tamil) children..It's like a poochi and it's like thaatha's hair strings !!

phuu...idhukellam oru postaa!! Some of you might think that way..
Anyways..excitement, admiration and malarum ninavugal man...adhaan!!

ஆண்டவன் சிரிப்பான்

2008-06-15T14:46:00.006-05:00

வெளியே வேகாத வெய்யில் – பல்கலைக்கழகத்தின்
உள்ளே கடுமையான குளிர் !
பொருக்க முடியாமல் நான் – கொணர்ந்தேன்
அறைவெந்திப் பெட்டியெனும் சாதனம்! (room heater)

நான்:

“என்னடா இது! விந்தையான உலகம்”- இப்படித்தானே
ஆண்டவன் நினைப்பான்! சிரிப்பான்!!

வெட்கக்கேட்டில் நான்!!

மனம் சொல்லியது:

"பொறு பிரியா"

(மனம் ஆறுதலைத் தொடங்க, சிந்தை ஒத்துழைக்க
பிறந்ததே பின் வருபவை!! )

உன்னைப்போல் பலரும் உண்டு! சொல்கிறேன் கேள்!!

"வெளியே கடுங்குளிர்! – கட்டுமரவீட்டின்
உள்ளே மிதமான சூடு
பொருக்க முடியாமல் நாம் - அருந்துவோம்
குளிர்ப் பெட்டியிலிருந்து பானங்கள் !

(வெட்ட)வெளியில் மூலிகை மண்டி! ஆய்வுக்கூடத்தின்
உள்ளே செயற்கை அணுக்கூட்டம் (synthetic molecules)
பொருக்க முடியாமல் (side effectsai) நாம் தருவிப்போம்
மூலிகை”யொத்த” செயற்கை மருந்துகள் !

வெளியே வேண்டுமிந்த சுதந்திரம் ! அகத்தின்
உள்ளே ‘அவனு’க்கு அடிமை சாசனம்
பொருக்க முடியாமல் அவனை அதட்டுவோம்
‘மணந்தால் சரிபாதி உரிமை வேண்டும்’ என்று !

(அவன்) உள்ளே அத்தனையும் அழகு - அகத்தின்
வெளியே அழகு பெண்ணையே அணுகுவான்!
அவள்அகத்தில் அழகுதேடி அலுத்து சலித்து
பொருக்க முடியாமல் காலம் தள்ளுவான் ! "

நான்:
ஆஹா ஹா..கேட்டாயா பிரியா!!

“இவை அனைத்திற்கும் சிரித்து விட்டுதானே இங்கு வந்தாய் இறைவா!!”

வெட்கக்கேட்டில் ஒரு ஒப்புமை வேறு! சரி
முடிவில் என்ன தான் சொல்கிறாய் மனமே !

மனம் சொல்லியது:

வெளியே ஜுன் 28ஆம் தேதி தேர்வு – அகத்தின்
உள்ளே ஆழ்ந்த தத்துவ சிந்தனை
பொருக்க முடியாமல் நீ (கொட்டிவிட்டாய்) – போதும்
“போய் படிக்க வேண்டியதை கவனி” என்று !

என்ன சிரிப்புச் சத்தம்? அருகில் நண்பர்கள்!!

நான் படிக்கும் அழகைப் பார்த்து
ஆண்டவன் சிரித்தானோ - என எண்ணினேன்

நானும் அவர்களுடன் சிரித்தேன் !!

நீங்கள் எப்படி?

(Actually title veliye ullennu vekkalaamnnu nenachen.. aprom, vevakaarama ninaipaangalonnu bayandhuten :)-)

If you were born in 80's or earlier and used to watch TV..

2008-06-14T17:20:00.004-05:00

This will bring a smile in your face!!

Right click and watch in another window :)

Jokeaamla.. joku!!...Yaen!! Naan mattum!!!

2008-06-11T15:50:00.011-05:00

I got a tamil book from my friend long ago. Book title "Vaay vittu sirika 100 kadhaigal"

Idha padichadhe illaye..Sangeetha aasayaa kuduthaalennu 'Romba aarvamaa' padika ukkandhen!!

Story 1: A tenant said to the owner "There are a lot of snakes around the home. Either you do something for it or reduce the rent!!". The owner thought for a while and left!!

The next day, the owner was out near the entrance of his home. When the tenant looked out to see, he found that his owner was giving out tickets to people to visit around the home. And he said to the tenant "Look!! you don't have to worry anymore. Lots of people will be around you to look at snakes. I have taken care and now, you give 100 rupees more every month"

Okay.. first story..adhaan ivlo kadi.. let us move on to the next one.. Manasa urchagapaduthitu next story padichen!!

Story 2: Man: I found that may 20th is the best day!
Woman: Did pandit find the muhurtam that day to be very auspicious?
Man: oh yeh!
Woman : Will it bring prosperity?
Man: Certainly, it seems.
Woman: What time?
Man 9.30 am- 11.00am
Woman: Okay.. Let us fix that day
Man: Okay..you come with your stuff sharp at 9.30 am and we will elope!!

Okay, I will try one more at random!! palla kadichindu ponen :)-

Story 3: Man 1: Initially I was a person who was employed to reply for questions to readers in a magazine
Man 2: Then..
Man 1: Then, I started writing jokes
Man 2: Oho..
Man 1: Later, I wrote short stories
Man 2: Better..
Man 1: After a while, I started writing novel
Man 2: Man.. awesome..
Man 1:Now I am writing script for mega-serials
Man 2: Well, now you have grown up to a stage of having your own waste paper shop!!

:)-

One more..ipdiye.. I read 6-7 more..Finally, my patience threshold put me a full stop!! No More Priya...'Idhuku mela padichu ne siripa'nnu nenachaa nee muttaal :)-

Enn yaa.. "Vaay vittu sirikka"nnu appattamaa pulukareenga!! Oru smile kooda varleye :)

En.. Naan Mattum !!!

Well, indha posta paathu oru smileaavadhu udunga.. atleast, idha kaasu kuduthu vaanginavanga (paavam sangeetha) vayatherichalukkellam oru cooling factoraa irukum..I am not mad at her for giving this book to me.. Paavam ava..yaarukaavadhu sirupu varaadhaannu nenachu dhaan kuduthirupaa :)-

8 facts about me !!

2008-06-07T21:19:00.001-05:00

1. "Aarva kolaru"/ "Hyper enthu"/ "Passionate" alias Priya. Paatu keka pudikum..dance kathuka pudikum, cook panna pudikum, drama nadika pudikum, research panna pudikum, teaching pudikum, tamizh padika pudikum, ayur vedam pudikum, slokam kathuka pudikum, handicraft panna pudikum, oor sutha pudikum..the list goes on..One is no less than the other!!

But of late, I am in control holding my wings. Romba serious phase of my lifeaa theriyardhu !!

2. I have a deceptive look. Worries are inherent in me.. "Ippo edhukku kavalai padalaamnnu yosichu yosichu kavalai paduven"nnu close friends pesikaraanga. But as such, my looks would be as though I have no worries. "Hi-bye" friends always ask "how come you are always smiling" :)-

3. I am a tamil paithiyam..I will go crazy if I don't listen to tamil atleast for 1/2 hr a day.. Initially I had friends around to talk in tamil. At el paso, just 2 people know tamil. So, TV serial, radio idhellaam atleast 1 hraavadhu paapen, kepen.

4. I will die if I cannot eat southindian food for a week. Even before a big deadline, I will cook and eat. Otherwise, I feel useless, energyless, enthuless and passionless.

5. I can talk non-stop.. not just bland..with tone modulation etc. and I am one among the few who can feel something called jaw-pain due to excess talking. El pasola it happens less frequently..probably once in 2 months or so :)- But, believe me !! I am extremely hesitant and shy to talk with anybody new for the first time. I hate the first-time meet with anybody..extremely embarrasing.

6. I dont hold grudges. Not that I am too good but I am very forgetful. Again, I have a deceptive smart look (makkal solraanga!!) that I dont project it that way and very few people can notice that I am very forgetful.

7. I have reasonably good perseverance than a lot of people. Well, I like to initiate a lot of things with a group of people- a side effect of aarva kolaru. Even when things are not moving the way it should be, I have lots of perseverance to wait for the right time to execute and not close anything down without results !! I always want to handover the initiated thing to the most passionate person in that group- for me to venture into other stuff. In other words, I always want to be a kind-maker and not the king !!

8. I am such a slow reader that no body can ever imagine. English or tamil, It takes me forever to read anything. Naan padichu neenga kettaa nondhuduveenga..I would like to rather listen and not read!!

9. I have fear of height, fear of water, fear of climbing steps down (part of fear of height), fear of losing things -money, flight ticket etc., fear of getting lost in a crowd and I constantly get many other fears in the form of nightmares. Of course, I get weird and vivid dreams and I talk during sleep.

Appaada 9 facts vandhuduchu!! Well, one is extra.. Adha padikum bodhu choicela
uttudunga!!

Okay now I tag sendhil, pk, arun, aravind and Indian angel

Mnemonics in your life !!

2008-06-07T01:33:00.004-05:00

Well, all of us would have used mnemonics to remember important things during education or job or elsewhere !! You know..when you accidentally recollect some of them, it's so much fun!! Orae Malarum Ninaivugal!!

Well, why not initiate a tag and pass on the pleasure !!

Okay..recollect what mnemonic or abbreviations that you created or used to remember important things in your life. Try giving out 3 of them !!

Let me give mine!!

1. OILRIG: I am in a biochemical toxicology lab and I am supposed to know what is oxidation and what is reduction in terms of electrons. I can never remember how many ever times I learn, until I started used OILRIG- Oxidation Is Loss of electrons and Reduction Is Gain of electrons

2. During my bachelors in pharmacy,when you prepare medicines, using 2 phases, in class, they are in different forms such as emulsion, aerosol etc.

When 2 different phases (dispersed phase or continuous phase) are mixed together, the resulting product has a different outcome. For eg: when a liquid is mixed with a liquid, its an "emulsion". When a solid is mixed with solid it is called "solid sol" whereas when a solid is mixed with gas, it forms aerosol..

It was tough to remember. I created a tune to remember this. It goes like this

solid + solid = solid sol (laala laala laala laa)
solid liquid sol (laala laala laa)
solid gas aerosol (laala la laaalaa)
liquid solid gel (laala laala laa)
liquid liquid emulsion (laala laala laalaalaa)
liquid gas liquidaerosol (..)
gas solid solid foam (..)
gas liquid foam (..)
gas gas n/a (..)

3. Do you remember how electrons fill in the orbital s, p,d, f.
Somehow, I had to use that in every stage of life though I do not belong to that field at all. So, I memorized that like a song !!
1s-2s-2p-3s-3d-4p-5s-3s-4d-5p-6s.

Well, such mnemonics were not unusual even in olden days. I remember my paati singing thiruvaaimozhi (4000 divyaprabhandham) and end with the first syllable of every stanza .."the author"thiruvadigale charanam (say like thirumangaiaazwar thiruvadigale charanam)
And that is how I remember the few songs that I picked up from her !!

Well, I tag Subha, Prabu Karthik, Arun, Badhri

Okay.. neenga sollunga..I will try to understand your mnemonics of your field :)-

Award for Girlie Girlie Konjals ?

2008-05-27T21:21:00.007-05:00

Well, I am not a fan of girlie-girlie konjals..whether it is with friends or in movies!!

Sometimes..rather most of the times, men like such konjals!! It looks like there is some attraction factor in that. It grabs their attention by giving "ayoo paavam" or "so cute" feeling. Whatever!!

Well, it gets worser for people like me when the guy also does it along. Sagika mudiyaadha feeling..Kadavule, enna kaapathu feeling creeps in when you watch the movie !! Kushi for example got on my nerves like anything, although I loved the songs very much. Infact, Jothika was bearable and it was vijay who irriated me too much. And, its the same with Sachin. Inspite of excellent camera, I could not withstand Vijay and Genelia.

Adhellam pazhaya kadhai..ippo ennanreengala??!!

Recently I watched 'Santhosh Subramaniam', a remake of 'Bommerilu'. Though Jayam Ravi could not at all act, it was a decent movie. The surprising thing was I was not at all mad at genelia's girlie konjals..Somehow it went so well with the character. I enjoyed it without much complaints except for the first few scenes of her.

Is it me? What happened to me? I was perplexed!! Then I watched it again to notice why I liked it? Mann.. this girl really acted well than many others !! Plus, the dubbing artist saritha has done her job so well that it became a perfect fit for Genelia!!

If Asin does not perform well in Dasavatharam, I am sure Genelia will get this year's award.. filmfare or whatever!!

Just a thought!!

2008-05-24T12:29:00.001-05:00

My recent weird thought !!

Visit here !!!

Don't know why I think too too much!!

Akshaya Thritiyai

2008-05-07T11:46:00.003-05:00

Akshaya Thiritiyai – Day of Prosperity (Nothing diminishes)

Today is Akshaya thritiyai. Due to mass media and marketing, now it’s a day to buy gold and articles. But there are other important facts about this day that we all should know:

Third day of the bright half of the lunar month of Vaikasi
Sun and moon are extremely bright today-esp in westcoast of india
Lord Parasurama’s Birthday
Day when Threta Yugam started
Day when river ganges flew from heaven to earth

I read in a book that today is good to
1. Start a buisness
2. Apply for job
3. Look for a bride/groom
4. Buy articles

And above all,
5. It’s a good day to donate something and it fetches punyam in multifold.
Back in olden days (when no media propagation was there), this day was just glorified by mamis to shop. When mamis at our homes go to buy jewels, my thatha used to get a lot of coins and go to temple. And on this day, there used be many many beggers (atleast 20) sitting in a row near temple Gopuram. My thatha used to go to each person and put a coin. I can appreciate it now though not earlier. Also it’s really good to do annadhanam this day it seems.

Donate if you can !!!

Heard Recently!!

2008-05-06T17:20:00.001-05:00

Pant pottu, mutti podamudiyum
Mutti pottu, pant poda muduyumaa!!! Mudiyaadhe :)-

Frown to a Smile

2008-05-03T19:01:00.004-05:00

Few days ago, I was getting into the bus and as usual, I was about to put in 50 cents in the box near the bus driver.

The bus driver stopped me and asked "How old are you?"

I was taken aback!! Assuming that he thought me to be a non-student and expecting me to put in a dollar, I said " I am a student" in a defensive manner.

Bus driver: I know..Thats why I am asking how old are you?

Me: With a frowing face I said "I am 28"

Bus driver: "Oh..I am sorry Ma'm. Today is xyz day for mexicans. So it's free (to ride in bus) for people under 18. I thought you were. That's why I asked"

My frown turned into a wide smile and I said " That's okay"

Bus Driver: You look so young !

"ore pullarippu dhan ponga..." I was thinking to myself " indha oorla makkal valarthiyaa irukardhaala namma younga theriyarom" Yaanai kitta poi nee poonainnu sonnaalum yaanai sandhosham dhan padum pola :)-

Well, on the other hand, yaarume madhikardhulla.. 16 vayadhinile stylela sonnaa.." naan dhaan akkannu koopdu..ma'm nu koopdunnu solren..yaaru kekraanga" :)-

Visit LOL

2008-04-29T21:32:00.002-05:00

Guys,

Feel free to visit LOL - a group blogspot to make others laugh ... or atleast smile!!

Priya

Overlooked songs

2008-04-27T22:24:00.007-05:00

Malai Katru vandhu
I have heard this song earlier though not till the end. Now that, there is too much wind and sandstrom in El Paso and my home is surrounded by mountains 320 degrees, I was humming this song...Went to lab and listened to this song in full..Good lyrics and good music !!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MrbdLmGo_0

Nee dhan en desiya geetham
Surprisingly, I have not heard this song at all until recent !! Nice lyrics as well !! Cute Madhavan and beautiful Sneha!! Different lyrics

"மரியாதக்குரியவளே !! மனதிற்கு இனியவளே!!"

"என் பிறவா மழலைகளை உன் விழியில் பார்க்கிறேன்
நான் எழுதா கவிதைகளை உன் மொழியில் கேட்கிறேன்"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djX5FJ0EOSQ

Uppu Kallu
I have heard this a number of times..Like the verses:

"தேதிதாள போல வீணே நானும் கிழியிறேன்
தேரிவு தாள கண்ணீரால ஏனோ எழுதிறேன்

இது கனவா
இல்ல நிஜமா

தற்செயலா
தாய்செயலா"

"கத்தியின்றி ரத்தமின்றி காயப்பட்டவள்
உன் கண்கள் செய்த வைத்தியத்தால் நன்மையடைகிறேன்

மிச்சமின்றி மீதமின்றி சேதபட்டவள்
உன் நிழல் கொடுத்த தைரியத்தால் உண்மையறிகிறேன்"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nu_zz3ncmgg

Condolence over phone- talk smart !!

2008-04-21T01:59:00.011-05:00

Death- Irreparable loss to anybody. While we are one of those close ones to the dead person, it's a terrible pain. While we are not one of those really close persons, we have to console the close ones. Guys…Have you noticed that talking smart over phone is (not a choice) almost a necessity while conveying condolence?

How do we do this? Death does not happen frequently:)- I understand that we can’t prepare speeches/practice to deliver proper consolation during the 10th day or 12th day events. And if you are a girl, you have to talk to console !!

However, some people talk really smart and sensible while consoling!! My mom is one among them. She is so articulate that I admire her talent. After attending condolences or after I called up the deadone's family, we have discussed “ Who said what and what they could have said instead..etc.” It might sound odd to some of you..Namakku koncham analytical mind..in everything.. "Unaku epdi ellam topic kedaikkudhu, veetuku india call pesum bodhu"- apdinnu yosikaadheenga!! It's true!! Just thought of sharing my thoughts on some specific situations... It’s really funny but thought provoking.. Thought it would really help others in communicating better.

STOP AFTER READING A QUESTION AND THINK WHAT WILL YOUR ANSWER BE!!

1. When somebody (who is older than the dead one) cries “Kadavule! Avana kondu poyitiye!!. Enna kondu poyiruka koodaadha….Naan poyirukalaam (கடவுளே..அவன கொண்டு போயிட்டியே..என்ன கொண்டு போயிருக்கக் கூடாதா!!)", how will you react as a third person??

You can’t say “aaamaam”(I have heard some people telling this by mistake to console:)- ) By saying aaamaam, you mean that 'You old lady!! you are in queue and you could have died before your son'..ha ha ha...

Ofcourse..you cannot say “illa..avan ponadhu right”

But you can say this.. "Apdi ellam solladheengo/nenakadheenga….yaaruku minaadi yaaru povaangradhu namma kaiyila enna irukku! Aprom (don’t say neenga poyita), yaaru indha kuzhandhaigala paathupaa!!/அப்படியெல்லாம் சொல்லாதீங்க..யாருக்கு மின்னாடி யாரு போகணும்ன்றது நம்ம கையிலயா இருக்கு..அப்புறம், யாரு இந்த குழந்தைகள பாத்துக்குவா!!"

2. Many a times, I can neither call up the close one nor cry when somebody is crying on the other side (though I am sad). How do you start the conversation and convey your empathy?

Well, I learnt this the hard way.. by trial and error..Well, if the close one is young, you can definitely start the conversation by saying ‘I am sorry about this’ and asking ‘how this did happen’. They will be more than willing to share the event and not cry that much. That way you don’t have to cry to them. If the close one is old, listen to what they say. They will do the talking and all you have to do is reply according to what they say..
Let us see some of those situations:

3. When the old one (periamma or paati) says “namma ellarayum vittutu poyitaan daa!/ நம்ம எல்லாரையும் விட்டுடு போயிட்டா டா or bagavan nammala ipdi sothikaraane/ பகவான் நம்மள இப்படி சோதிக்கறானே", how to reply over phone?

Most of the times, I blink!!
If you say “aamaam perimma/chithi”, you should be careful to say the appropriate phrase next!
What to say next??
Generally, we youngsters don’t say a. “Ipdi poyitaare ” though it’s okay – kindaa odd
b. “kavalapadaadheengo paati.. dhairyamaa irunga” sounds rude - it's like 'summa keda kezhvi!!'
c. You can’t say “naan edhir paakave illai"- I have said this foolishly..as though some body can even expect the other one to die. Even if so, you can't say it right!!

Say something like “aamaam paati.. aana neenga dhaan dhariyamaa irundhu mathavangalukku dhairyam sollanum /ஆமாம் பாட்டி..ஆனா நீங்க தான் தைரியமா இருந்து மத்தவங்களுக்கும் தைரியம் சொல்லணும்”
You can say "ipdi nadakumo.. pona dhadava paarkum podhu kooda avlo nalla pesinaare/ இப்படி நடக்குமோ…போன தடவ பார்க்கும் போது கூட அவ்ளோ நல்லா பேசினாரே"

4. When it’s the death of their parents, you can’t say (even if your parents are not alive)
”I know exactly how much pain you will be in". It will not be consoling at all..
Rather you could say "I cannot really understand how much pain you would have that you cannot express? But I will pray for their soul to rest in peace and May God give you lots of energy to get going”.

5. If the person dies out of health problem and you are calling up to convey condolence..

If mildly sick and dead,
you can say “yaarukum kashtam kodukaama irundhaa.. apdiye poyitaa..யாருக்கும் கஷடம் குடுக்காம இருந்தா..அப்ப்டியே போயிட்டா”

If severely sick,
“Paavam romba kashtapatutaar irukum podhu..bagavam romba sodhichutaar/ பாவம் ரொம்ப கஷ்டபட்டார் இருக்கும் போது..பகவான் ரொம்ப சோதிச்சிட்டார்”

6. It’s highly embarrassing to call the dead one’s family. I hate doing this..My tip is this:
Before calling up the close one, recollect the most interesting conversation you had previously with the dead person.. Feel free to glorify more than how they were…
I could never do that. When I want to say he is good in that/this..I will not remember 20 good times. But I will remember one bad incident and so, I can’t say this generalized statement “he was always good”. By keeping our conscience away, I think, we can exaggerate or lie at this instance which will help the close one feel better.

Feel free to add in comments section and I will add to my list here.

Brands of 10 things that I currently can't live without!

2008-04-17T23:56:00.003-05:00

Answering to Badhri's tag...

Well, I don't see that I have any attachment to just one brand in most things I use. I always try different brands.

But I can give what I like the most..Here are they:

Toothpaste: Colgate/Pepsodent
Soap: Mysore Sandal Soap
Phone Service: Cingular
Phone: Sony Ericcson (Not just because it withstands all my trials to break; What I always want in a phone is, each dialpad no. should project out.. if I press a no, other numbers should not be accidently pressed !! Sony Ericsson has highly protruding key pad no's)
Hand Gloves (In lab): Microflex :)-
Chocolate-While frustrated: Hersheys Almond (to get back to normalcy) Good Mood: Lindt's
Shoes: Nike
Favourite shopping place (regular or window shopping): Michaels (handicraft store)
Quick Drink: Vanila Latte in Library
Music: iPOD shuffle/ Zune

Now, I tag Arun, Subha, Compassion Unlimited, Yathrigan and PK. Choose 10 things that you use!!

Thanks for reading!!

Mad at your own self

2008-04-14T21:21:00.009-05:00

Can you get extremely mad at your own self ??

Picturize this..Your internet does not work. You know nothing about s/w or computers. But you learned a lot of stuff and troubleshooted. Still it doesn't work. You decide to call cable company and they put you on hold.. Remember.. it's a big size-cordless phone!!

10 min.. okay

20 min.. hmnn.. it's natural to wait for 20 min

30 min.. uff... this is getting longer. (Washing utensils in sink)

40 min.. Man..I don't want to hang up losing patience..Who knows..in a couple of mins, they may come on !! Wait Priya ! ( I started wiping the kitchen counter.. Scratching heavy stain)

45 mins..

Suddenly, a man with unsually heavy/manly voice (like a Poochaandi voice who scares children) scared me from the other side "Hi this is XXXXX. (I did not hear the rest)"

Oh my God!! I got shocked..suddenly... scared to death!! (Thooki vaari pottudhu) My heart stopped beating for a moment. I dropped everything on hand including the phone. The phone started falling right near my foot. Not realizing that it is my phone that is falling near my foot, I brought my foot towards me quickly (reflex) and by mistake, I stepped exactly on the talk button on the phone.. The call got cut!! All this happened within 5 seconds

How should I feel now?? My foot is aching and the call for which I waited this long is cut :)-

Above all, I can see that it's so funny but I could not even laugh.

I was mad at my own self and I just felt like complaining the cable company not to hire men with scary voice..I dialed again and waited for 40 min to reach them! At the end of 40 min, I was anxious to describe my internet problem and forgot the whole thing (didn't tell anything) !!

My Goodness!!

Lesson learned !

2008-04-11T23:52:00.003-05:00

Never let coffee cool down to room temperature and drink!

Never knead the chappathi dough while watching 'Friends' on TV with your coffee and water side by side!

'Baa'nnu TV pathaa.. you may knead your chappathi with your coffee instead of water!!

But even if you do that, your chappathi does not taste bad!! Hee..hee.. I tried that also..

Shiva Rathri special- My favourites Part 2

2008-04-01T15:08:00.008-06:00

Makkale..
Sorry again.. as usual.. busy with studies..Let me complete listing my fav. songs on Lord Shiva

4. Ka pa li..karunai nilavu:
I don't hear many people singing this. But I have heard in instruments (esp. veenai) in family functions. Wonderful song..Thamizh is slightly tough to follow but it flows beautifully. As my thatha used to sing this clearly and beautifully with a strong masculine voice, I am somehow attached to hearing this through male voice. Madhuramani iyer has sung this. The quality of the audio is not so good. If you would like to understand the lyrics, you should listen to Lakshmi Rangarajan. She has sung it nice and clear.

Song: Ka pa li
Composer: Papanasam Sivan
Song: Lakshmi or Madurai mani iyer (Right click and open in new window)

Lyrics:
P: kApAli karuNai nilavu pozhi vadanamadiyan oru.. Ka pA li..
A: A bAla gOpAlam Azhi shUzh talattavarum bhUpAlarum aSTadik pAlarum pOTrum adbhuta
KapAli..

C: matipunal aravu konrai tumbai arugum mattaipunai mAshaDaiyAn
vidhi talai mAlai mArban uritta kariyin vempuliyin tOluDaiyAn
adhira muzhangum uDukkaiyum tirishUlamum ankiyum kurangamum ilangiDum kaiyAn
dyuti mighu tirumEni muzhudum shAmbal tulanga edir mangaiyar manam kavar jagan mOhana
(KapAli)

In tamil,

க.பா.லி.. க.பா.லி.. க.பா.லி.. க.பா.லி..!!!
கருணை நிலவு பொழி வதன மதியன் ஒரு..கபாலி

அ பால கோபாலம் ஆழி சூழ் தாலாட்டவரும் பூபாலரலும் அஷ்ட திக்பாலரும் போற்றும் அற்புத கபாலி (கருணை நிலவு)

மதி புனல் அரவு கொன்றை தும்பை அருக மத்தை புனை மாசடையான்
விதி தலை மாலை மார்பை உரித்த கரியின் வெம்புலியின் தோலுடையான்
அதிர முழங்கும் உடுக்கையும் திரிசூலமும் அங்கியும் குரங்கமும் இலங்கிடும் கையான்
த்யுதி மிகு திருமேனி முழுதும் சாம்பல் துலங்க, எதிர் மங்கையர் மனம் கவர் ஜகன் மோகன கபாலி (கருணை நிலவு)

5. Thiruvadi charanam:
This a very popular song sung by Musiri Subramanya Iyer (as told by my thatha) Unfortunately I have not heard. The lyrics is evidently emotional and I like the anupallavi so much. "Marupadiyum karuvadaiyum kuzhiyil thalli ennai varutha...padutha.. vendaam ponnambalavaa" Infact, Nithyasree starts with anupallavi and sings in DKP's style focussing on lyrics. When my thatha sings, I feel "God.. Thatha romba paavam..please fulfill his wish"- avlo urugi paaduvaar.

Song : Thiruvadi charanam
Composer: Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar
Song: NithyaSree or Musiri Subramania Iyer (the second link was not working.. hope they fixed it) (Right click and open in new window)
Lyrics:
P: tiruvaDi sharaNam enringu nAn nambi vandEn-dEvAdi dEva nin(tiruvaDi)
A:marupaDiyum karuvaDaiyum kuzhiyil taLLi varuttappaDutta vENDAm ponnambalavA nin (tiruvaDi)

C: eDutta jananm kaNakkezhuda tolaiyAdu- irangi magizhndu dEvarIr vENumenru
koDutta mAniDa janmam vINAgi pOgudu-en-kurai tIrtta pADumillaiyE!!
aDuttu vanda ennai taLLalAgAdu ara-harAvenru shonnAlum pOdAdO !!
taDuttu vandaruLa samayam gOpAlakriSnan santatam paNindu pugazh pOTrum (tiruvaDi)

திருவடி சரணம் என்றிங்கு நான் நம்பி வந்தேன் தேவாதி தேவா நின் (திருவடி)
மறுபடியும் கருவடையும் குழியில் தள்ளி வருத்தப்படுத்த வேண்டாம் பொன்னம்பலவா நின் (திருவடி)

எடுத்த ஜனனம் கணக்கெடுக்கத் தொலையாது-
இரங்கி மகிழ்ந்து தேவரீர் வேணுமென்றுகொடுத்த மானிட ஜன்மம் வீணாகி போகுதென் குறை தீர்த்த பாடுமில்லையே!!
அடுத்து வந்த என்னை தள்ளலாகாது அர-ஹராவென்று சொன்னாலும் போதாதோ!!
தடுத்து வந்தருள சமயம் கோபாலக்ருஷ்ணன் சந்ததம் பணிந்து புகழ்ந்து போற்றும் (திருவடி)

6. Sabapathiku Veru dheivam:
There is a story behind this song. Gopaalakrishna Bhaarati was visiting Tyaagaraaja when Tyaagaraaja asked him if he had ever composed in aabhogi. In response to that query, Gopalakrishna Bharathi while bathing in the river composed this song and came back to Tyaagaraajar and sung in front of him. Tyaagarajar was stunned at his composition and said that he would not compose anymore in Abhogi raagam. This song has made me think that I should visit Chidambaram.

Song: Sabapathiku
Composer: Gopaalakrishna Bhaaratiyar
Song: Priya sisters or Bombay sisters (Right click and open in new window)
Lyrics:
P: sabhaa pathikku vEru-daivamsamAnama guumA tillai (sabhaa)
A: krupaanidhi ivarai pOla kiDaikumO inda -taarani tanilE (sabhaa)

C: oru dharam siva -chidambaram enDru uraithaal podumE
paragadiku vEru puNiyam paNNa vEN -Dumaa ?!!
ariya pulayar moovar pAdam aDaindaarE-enD -rE (puraaNam)
arindu solla kETTOm gOpaalakrishNan paniyum tillai (sabhaa)

சபாபதிக்கு வேறு தெய்வம் சமானமாகுமா

தில்லை சபாபதிக்கு வேறு தெய்வம் சமானமாகுமா( சபாபதிக்கு)

கிருபாநிதி இவரைப்போல கிடைக்குமோஇந்த தரணி தன்னில் (சபாபதிக்கு..)

ஒருதரம் சிவசிதம்பரம் என்றால் சொன்னால் போதுமே

பரகதிக்குயடைய வேறே புண்ணியம் செய்யவேண்டுமா

அரிய புலையர் மூவர் பதம் அடைந்தார்என்றே புராணம்

சொல்லக்கேட்டோம் கோபாலகிருஷ்ணன் பாடும் (சபாபதிக்கு)

Hope you guys enjoyed all my favourite songs of Lord Shiva!!

Shiva Rathri special- my favorites Part 1

2008-03-07T02:13:00.016-06:00

Makkale..I searched for some of the fav. songs for so long on internet..could not find lyrics.. Finally, I decided to write them in tamil here so that people can get benefited in future! Forgive me if there are any mistakes in lyrics. Also, please correct me !

I really enjoy these songs so much.. deep from my heart.. Hope you guys listen to it !!

1. Aadik Kondar Andha Vedikai

My cousin brinda used to sing this when we go to houses during 'Kolu'. You feel like dancing while you are listening only. Sudha Ragunathan's will have extreme dynamism and you can't sit simply. Unnikrishnan's has awesome aalaapanai.
Muthuthandavar says beautifully how Lord Shiva dances in Chithambaram and what all moves when Lord Shiva dances. Listen while reading in parallel.

Sung by: Sudha Ragunathan/Unnikrishnan (Right click and open here)

Lyrics: Muthutthandavar (not available online till date)

Song in English:
Aadi kondaar andha vedikkai kaanak kan aayiram vendaamo!!
Naadith thudhippavar, Pangil uraibavar,
Nambar thiruchempon, ambalavaanar,
Aadi kondaar andha vedikkai kaanak kan aayiram vendaamo!!

Aara navamani maalaigal aada, aadum aravamum padam pidithaada,
saerani konrai malarthodai aada, chithambara ther aada
paerani vedhiyar thillai mooayiram perkalum poojithu kondaada
karani kali ethirthu ninraadha

Aadi kondaar andha vedikkai kaanak kan aayiram vendaamo!!

Tamil:
ஆடிக் கொண்டார் அந்த வேடிக்கை காணக் கண் ஆயிரம் வேண்டாமோ!!
நாடித் துதிப்பவர், பங்கில் உறைபவர்
நம்ப திருச் செம்பொன் அம்பலவாணர்
ஆடிக் கொண்டார் அந்த வேடிக்கை காணக் கண் ஆயிரம் வேண்டாமோ!!

ஆர நவமணி மாலைகளாட, ஆடும் அரவமும் படம் பிடித்தாட,
சீரணி கொன்றை மலர்த்தொடையாட, சிதம்பரத் தேராட
பேரணி வேதியர் தில்லை மூவாயிரம் பேர்களும் பூசித்து கொண்டாட
காரணி காளி எதிர்த்து நின்றாட, கனக சபை தனிலே!!

ஆடிக் கொண்டார் அந்த வேடிக்கை காணக் கண் ஆயிரம் வேண்டாமோ!!

2. Kanaka Sabapathiku Namaskaram (Right click and open here)

The song is composed in a way that somebody dances towards Lord Shiva and prays. Some sort of mettu like that. Its a small song ! Also sung by seerkazhi. The qualiy in music india online is not so good. I have heard this in Bombay sisters cassette. Listen while reading in parallel.

Sung by: Bombay Sisters Lyrics : Gopalakrishna Bharathiyar (available online)

I liked the stanza so much..You can really visualize where the girl goes:

"vIthi valam vanthu, mElai gOpura vAsal nuzainthu,kAthaludan sivakAmi kalikkum maNdapam vanthu,mAthavan gOpAlakirushNan vaNangkum ambalam adainthu,nAthanE unathadaikkalam ena nadai makiznthu, thalai kuninthu"

"வீதி வலம் வந்து, மேலே கோபுர வாசல் நுழைந்து, காதலுடன் சிவகாமி களிக்கும் மண்டபம் வந்து, மாதவன் கோபால கிருஷ்ணன் வணங்கும் அம்பலம் அடைந்து, நாதனே உனது அடைக்கலம் என நடை மகிழ்ந்து, தலை குனிந்து"

3. Pithan Enralum Avan Peyan Enralum (Right click and open here)

Wonderful song. The whole credit goes to Sudha Ragunathan. Her expressivesness plus clear pronounciation has made the song so lively. The meaning is clear!! It's also like a song for dance.

Sung by Sudha Ragunathan (and no body till date). Lyrics: Dont know who wrote this. (Not available online)

Song in english:
Pithan Endralum, avan peyan enralum,
Sitham ellam avan paal selluthamma!!

Thaththimithom enre siru nadanam puriyum
thaandavanai, thillai sithambara naadhanai,

Pithan Endralum, avan peyan enralum,
Sitham ellam avan paal selluthamma!!

Andangal nadungida, aninthavar avamaalai
Arithamum, muthumani udhira nadanamaadum,
Neelakandanai, mangai sivakaami manaalanai,
Kaamanaik kannaal eriththa maheswaranai,

Pithan Endralum, avan peyan enralum,
Sitham ellam avan paal selluthamma!!

பித்தன் என்றாலும் அவன் பேயன் என்றாலும்
சித்தம் எல்லாம் அவன்பால் செல்லுதம்மா!!

தத்திமிதோம் என்றே சிறு நடனம் புரியும்,
தாண்டவனை, தில்லை சிதம்பர நாதனை,

பித்தன் என்றாலும் அவன் பேயன் என்றாலும்,
சித்தம் எல்லாம் அவன்பால் செல்லுதம்மா!!

அண்டங்கள் நடுங்கிட அணிந்தவர் அவமாலை
அரிதமும் முத்துமணி உதிர நடனமாடும்
நீலகண்டனை, மங்கை சிவகாமி மணாளனை,
காமனை கண்ணால் எரித்த மகேஸ்வரனை,

பித்தன் என்றாலும் அவன் பேயன் என்றாலும்
சித்தம் எல்லாம் அவன்பால் செல்லுதம்மா!!

To be continued!!

Idli Burger..Idli Sandwich…Grrrrr…. finally, Rim Idli.

2008-03-02T11:57:00.018-06:00

Makkale,
Since childhood, I am not somebody who is fond of idlies but I can eat few. After coming to U.S, occasionally, I longed for it. Two months ago, I got this feeling..”Why is this idli not ever modified? wait... there is a modification..Oh yeh.. kancheepuram idli.. Still, what else?? How come nothing more?” ..“What can I do about it?“ Then I gave it a thought “okay..if idlies will have something over it disturbing the white color, I won’t like it (I would never liked to have it when it was totally immersed in milagai podi during travel time(as how it was traditionally eaten)..Apart from mixing something and trying like kancheepuram idli, what else can be tried?”
“If I identify something, I will spread this around the indian-restaurants and make a difference among the not- so-fond idli eaters” – with this nenaps, I thought for a while. Then I came with this “Rim Idli. An idli whose rim alone will have some color and will taste different”
Okay.. what can make the idli rim get a color..corriander chutney? tomato chutney? onion chutney?..

Try corriander chutney. I have the tradionally idli vessel where you pour the idli on a cloth wrapped plate(and not the cooker)

Trial 1 : Poured some idli maavu and get it half cooked. Over the half-idli, add a layer of C. chutney and fill the maavu over it.
Result: Ooops… it turned out like a burger… Idli Burger. The layer of chutney was like a patti in burger!! The taste was not any better. Rather horrible..

Idli Burger

Lessons learned: With the addition of small amount of idli maavu in the beginning, I expected to see a flat half idli to hold the chutney that I will add after. Arivu jeevi!! Of course, it formed a small convex-idli (full kutti idli) on both sides which made it look like a fat burger. And the corriander(which is dry in nature) has less taken all the water from idli and the whole idli was dry within. Next time, I will try with tomato (which contains water already) chutney. I will try to add less amount of maavu at the bottom.

Two weeks later…

Trial 2: Poured less amount of maavu at the bottom layer. Let it cook to an extent. Added the tomato chutney and layered maavu over it.
Result: Wow.. it looked much better than before!! But it was like a sandwich :) Idli sandwich. The bottom or top layer was thin than the other and the rim was not formed well with chutney. Taste was really good. If you make your chutney with some tamarind, it tastes awesome. But , why was it like a sandwich. Why not a rim?
Idli Sandwich

Lesson learned: The chutney should be thin enough to make a single layer. But mine was a regular chutney. So, next time, I will crush the tomato in a blender first and then make chutney and again, I will blend it. Also, I will try to use a spoon and press the half-cooked bottom layer to make it flat and then add the chutney.

4 weeks later..

Trial 3: Incorporated all the above-mentioned things
Result: Wow.. Rim Idli. It tasted awesome and looked fine. Look at the rim formed. (I started eating from other side of the plate before taking this pic..That's why you see chutney-spill over the plate..he hee)

Makkale.. try it out!!

Rim Idli

Malarum ninaivugal tag

2008-02-27T23:47:00.002-06:00

>>
Arun, tagged me with this tag, to pull together five (read some) of my posts to sort of fit into five Categories - Family, Friends, Your Love, Things You like and Yourself… So I’ve been thinking and thinking and I have finally haplessly put together a few of my posts to roughly fall into the said categories.
The rules of the tag are: Post 5 links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 key words given (family, friend, yourself, your love, anything you like). Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances (if not, your current blog buddies will do) so that you get to know them each a little bit better.
>>
Basically apdiye cut-paste from arun's blog he hee...!! But, I won’t tag anybody and trouble makkal. If anybody tags themselves out of enthusiasm, let me know:)

1. Family: Mothal onna padinga.. kadiya irundha free!! familyla onnume ezhuthala paa!!!

Amma appa 1 http://kuttipriya.blogspot.com/2006/02/amma-appa-1.html#links
Amma appa 2 http://kuttipriya.blogspot.com/2006/02/amma-appa-2.html#links
Amma appa 3 http://kuttipriya.blogspot.com/2006/02/amma-appa-3.html#links
Amma appa final http://kuttipriya.blogspot.com/2006/03/amma-appa-final.html#links

2. Friend: idhulayum onnum illa.. so, kanavule friendsa kodumai paduthuvadha pathi dhaan post..http://kuttipriya.blogspot.com/2006/01/kanavugal-pudhiya-kanavugal.html#links

3. Myself : My name is Priya Venkatakrishnan http://kuttipriya.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-name-is.html#links

4. My love: Indha kelvikku eppayume more than 3 answers irukku..generallaa sonna Food; Kavithai; Arts & Science
Kavithai sample http://kuttipriya.blogspot.com/2007/01/guna-stylela-kavithai-kavithai-padi.html#links

5. My like: Ditto as before.. lovekkum likekkum onnume periya difference illa enaku.. Ellathulayume overaa aarvam undu.. Passionnnu onne onnu ennikume kedaiyaadhu lifela..

Look at any of the posts on labels such as Food, Kavithai, Arts and Science...ada Pongayya..kadiya poduthu.. Arun..enaku varra kovathukku...!! idhellam oru tagu..kadavule!!

Manuscript -Panchamritham

2008-02-08T17:54:00.000-06:00

Makkale..

How are you guys? Well, this is probably the first official post of the year. Well, makkale..to me, this year has taken off like a rocket in everything. On jan 2nd, I got a news that I am selected for a research contest and as a result, I had to put my results in the form of manuscript and before before feb 1st. From hardly working to working hard. Also, I had to write atleast 7 tamil posts for thamizhmanam- tamizh grammar..en aarva kolarukku alave illa:)- Plus deadlines, booking tickets and hotels for the meetings during this semester. Plus UT El Paso formality documents filing (I can really write a post on that..I will definitely dump all my frustration on blogspot about this one day)

My backache shooted up during last week of Jan. Very severe..Like a paati, I was holding my hip and walking all around..On feb 2nd, I felt like december 2nd week...All tired. Need a vacation!! Then took 3 days off from lab, did yoga twice a day and I am back to work now. Ippovum onnum vela pannala Okay..

Makkale..I want you to see the effect of my manuscript writing. Its still in me… When you write an article, you will learn a new language (within a language). say for example, if you want to say ' avan enna thalli vittaan..padupaavi', you have to say 'mariyadhaikuriya avar, kaiyaal vegaamaaga thoda, naan tharaiyai thotten..idhu paavam tharakoodiya seyal'

Enna makkale..punnagaiyaa?? I will try to show how much I am influenced by this by writing a mini manuscript. I am choosing Palani Panchamritham that I made few months ago so that it is hilarious..hopefully:) (Read with References along)

A novel and authentic way of preparing Palani Panchamritam

Priya Venkatakrishnan
Department of Cooking and Catering, University of South Indian Arts and Science, El Paso, TX- 799xy

Address correspondence to Priya V, www.kuttipriya.blogspot.com

Introduction
Panchamritam is a sweet dish that is prepared in many different parts of India by Yogis. Originally Panchamritam contains 5 ingredients that are considered to be amritham, the elixir of life. The ingredients include Milk, Ghee, Butter, Honey, Kalkandu. Though Panchamritam is made all over India, Palani Panchamritam differs from Panchamritam. Palani Panchamritam is prepared in the Murugan temple at Palani (Sithar et al.,Kaliyugam) and hence called so. Palani Panchamritam has been relished not only by millions of people in Tamilnadu (Om Tat sat) in earth but also by Lord Muruga and his family in heaven (Murugan et al).

Palani Panchamritam is known to be good for health and during special occasions, Lord Muruga is bathed with palani panchamritam (Bhaktha Jana kodigal et al). Although Panchamritam is made along with other prasadhams at home, the art of making palani panchamritam is not well established over internet. Our lab has already been known to strive for perfection in preparing some of the known-to-be-tough dishes and have succeeded in preparing dishes with mouth-watering taste (Subha, 2005, kuttipriya-samayal, 2005). We, therefore, meticulously performed experiments to prepare palani panchamritam as tasty as the one at Palani, using modern equipments such as electric oven, stainless steel and non-stick utensils and fresh fruits in order to make the preparation easy and safe at home.

(Ipdi dhaan oru sothai topicla research edhuthu projecta project pannuvaanga..araicha maava araipanga ..)

Experimental

Utensils
All stainless and non-stick utensils weighing less than 5 lbs were purchased in Albertsons, El Paso

Materials

Ripe Bananas, Dates, Honey, Curd, Milk, Water and Grapes were purchased from Walmart. Cashews, Cardomom, Almonds were bought from 711 Gas station, El Paso. Jaggery and Ghee were obtained from R V Indian Grocery stores.

Methods and Results (Proving your point section)

One cup of Jaggery was solubilized using water in a stainless steel utensil until it becomes semi-viscous liquid. 4-5 bananas were mashed separately. The jaggery solution was heated mildly during which 1 tablespoon of ghee, a small bunch of grapes, ½ glass of milk, 1 tablespoon curd, ¼ cup of dates and the mashed bananas were added. In the meantime, few gms of cashews, almonds were mildly fried in one tablespoon of ghee separately and added to the jaggery solution. Now, when they become a semi-solid paste, they were removed from the stove. Then, a tablespoon of honey was added to the boiled mixture.
Results from our experiment showed that palani panchamritam tastes authentic as our positive control, the original palani panchamritam bought at Palani temple. The degree of exactness of the taste was 99 ± 0.4% and the sweetness sensitivity to the tongue is optimal 80 ± 0.7% (neither too sweet not too bitter). The consistency of palani panchamritam was semi-solid and matched the positive control (98%).

We also applied a negative control that contained all ingredients such as Ripe Bananas, Dates, Honey, Milk, curd, Water and Grapes minus Jaggery. Our negative control failed to produce palani panchamritam, although it produiced regular panchamritam, indicating that jaggery is essential for palani panchamritam. Also we had an internal control to test our experiment whether voluntary mixing of these gave the exact taste. The internal control contained all the ingredients, placed 2 inches from each other in a large plate and monitored at room temperature for 10 min to see if they move towards each other to form panchamritam. The internal control failed to produce panchamritam. Interestingly, milk and water moved vigorously to mix with Honey and Yogurt to form a thin liquid mixture and the fruits stayed apart.
Side-effect analyses using human beings such as Priya and her friends indicate that there were no symptoms of headache, backache or any problems for the next 24 hours, although Priya had sneezing a couple of times at 6hrs. Thus, we demonstrate that our experiment produce a safe and delicious Palani panchamritam.

Discussion (Most people do Logic rather Pethal )

Palani Panchamritam is a wonderfully tasting kongunaadu dish (Internet). Also it is considered to be an aphrodisiac (Miriam Hospodar). Interestingly sages and great men of different periods have quoted that Palani Panchamritam tastes awesome and it is offered to Lord Muruga (Arunagirinathar et al). As Lord Muruga loved Valli, we speculate that he probably tasted in Valli malai or any kongu regions. Although Avvaiyar (avvaiyaar et al, Ages before) enlightened us that he is THE fruit that we should taste, the fruit Lord Muruga wished to taste and be bathed is palani panachamritam. It is tempting to speculate that Palani Panchamritam is the fruit mix that gives Gyana.

Thus, identifying a novel and authentic way of preparing Palani Panchamritam with high degree of exactness at home is absolutely essential. Our lab produced a palani panchamritam with high degree of exactness and optimal senstivitity with minimal side-effects. We would like address the issue of Priya’s sneezing by quoting that Priya used to get sneezing whenever there is less circulation of air (Maayaa, 2006) Because there were many people at home, it is probable that Priya could not get adequate fresh air as before and that led to sneezing. Further tests are needed to prove that lack of adequate fresh air was the cause of sneezing.

Conclusion
In order to lead a healthy life and be prosperous, it is highly essential to prepare palani panchamritam and eat at home. To save money and to avoid side-effects of canned Panchamritam available outside the Palani temple and elsewhere, it is necessary to prepare them at home. To date, there is no perfect procedure described over internet. Our lab provides a method of producing authentic and novel way of preparing Palani Panchamritam with absolutely no side-effects. Further experiments are on the way to improvise and increase the exactness of the taste.

Acknowledgements: We than Ms. Natchiar.K, Ms. Darsan, and Ms. Nelson for coming over and participating in taste and side-effect analyses. Special thanks go to all friends for encouragement.

References

1. Sithar Sitharappa, Bogar Bogarappa, Kuravar Kuravarappa, kurathi kurathiappa, http://palani.org/, Kaliyugam.

2. Om TatSat, http://www.yogananda.net/messageboard/index.php?showtopic=4721, 2006
3. Murugan Sivaperuman, Valli veduvaappa, Devyani Indran, Sivan No last name, Parvathi Dakshan, Likes and Dislikes of Karthikeyan Family, KaliYugam
4. Bhaktha Jana kodigal, Offerings during Special days of Lord Muruga at Arupadaiveedugal, 20th century.
5. Subhashini Srinivasan, Testimonial to priya, Orkut, 2007
6. Maayaa, Label Samayal, www.kuttipriya.blogspot.com , 2005 onwards
7. Miriam Hospodar, http://caliber.ucpress.net/doi/abs/10.1525/gfc.2004.4.4.82,Gastronomica Vol 4, 82-93
8. Arunagirinadhar, kripanandha variyar. Compilation of Great songs and lectures about Lord Muruga, pages 4-8, 20-24, 78-90.
9. Avvaiyar, Palam Nee appa song, Thiruvilaiyaadal, Ages.

You can also find this article in http://www.pubcook.com/

Hoewwwwzit???

Note: This post is not intended to attack anybody's feelings or beliefs. Its written for fun. No Offense!!

2008-02-02T14:42:00.000-06:00

Makkale.. oru vazhiyaa deadline submission mudichutu vandhuten!!!

Rousaa aarambipoomaa!!

Filter??

2008-01-16T18:10:00.001-06:00

We call this ' a coffee filter'.

If sold in Amazon or eBay, what would this be called??
...
...

"Manipal's classic stainless steel 4 piece Filterware set"
:-)

Daily vandhu enna paarunga!!!

2008-01-03T00:15:00.000-06:00

Makkale..

Happy New Year!!

Let this New Year bring a lot of happiness in all our lives!!!!

Epdi irukeenga?? ABABABAB-long time no C. hee hee..

Well, I have a news for you.. I am selected as the 'star of the week' by thamzhmanam for the forthcoming week (jan 7th - jan 14th). My blog will be linked here from this saturday - http://www.thamizmanam.com/

1000's of makkal varuvaangalaam..I was not serious about it till this week..Ippo matha star post ellam paathaa vayathula puliya karaikudhu..ovvoru starkkum edho speciality irukku.. Enna Thappa choose pannitaangannu strongaa thonudhu..edho..oru bayam... Innum enna enna tamil post podanumnnu ideave varala..edho oru sama bayam..

Well, I am selected for the http://www.tamilkkalvi.blogspot.com/ (one of my blogspots) and not this one. I will (have to) publish atleast one post per day!!

Makkale...nallavargale..pechaalargale..pengale..tamil pulavargale.. tamil kooti kooti padikravangale..yaathrigargale..lordgale..chandrargale..alavillaa irarakkam udaiyavargalee.. kalaiselvigale..'iraamane raaja'kale....jeevangale..muthukumarargale..agninatchatirangale!!

neenga ellam en katchila irundhu, coming week daily http://www.tamilkkalvi.blogspot.com/ kku vandhu paathu, ennai ookuviyunga:)- aasir vadhangal and good luck needed please!!!

Life at a standstill (ஒடத்தில் இருந்தும் ஓடாத வாழ்வு)

2007-12-17T01:25:00.000-06:00

makkalee...
vaazhkaiye nambikaiyila oduthu..enga ooduthu?? ellame nikkudhu..

நம்பிக்கை
எத்தனைக் காலம் இந்த ஓடத்தில் நான் செல்வேனோ??

ஓடம் நகர்கின்றது
ஆனால் எந்தக் கரையும் தென்படவில்லை

கடலுக்கு உப்பு நீர் தட்டுப்பாடு
என் விழிநீர் உப்பைப் பருகவே என்னை
எந்த கரைக்கும் அனுப்பவில்லை போலும்!!

அன்றோ, பால் முகம் பளிங்கு மனம் !!
இன்றோ, கலக்கத்தின் கலங்கரை விளக்கம்!!

அன்றோ, இமைகளுக்கிடையே சுமை !!
இன்றோ, சுமைகளுக்கிடையே இமை !!

கடவுளே!!
எத்தனைக் காலம் கண்ணாமூச்சி ஆடுவாய் ?

உன்னைக் காட்டு,
நானும் பின்னே வருவேன்!!

இல்லை உன் அம்சத்தைக் காட்டு,
நானும் பின்னே போவேன்!!

உப்புத் தண்ணீர் நிறைந்த வறண்ட வாழ்வு!!
இதற்கு முடிவே இல்லையா!!!

Makkale.. sogama irukkum podhu tamilfont keyboard minnadi ukkandhen..extemporeaa varigal vandhadhu !!

Margazhi begins

2007-12-16T07:56:00.000-06:00

Thirupppavai 4th song is here
Surprisingly rather shockingly, I was awake since 4.30 am and did not know what to do this morning.

"Today is probably the first day of margazhi (dhanur)!!!"- that's how I got up from bed unusually (unlike switching the alarm snooze atleast 3-4 times and sleeping).

Yeh, it's dhanur maadha pirappu!! Probably, it's HIS wish and arul to do that.

Have you heard of the phrase " avan arulaal avan thaal vanangi (அவன் அருளால் அவன் தாள் வணங்கி". (I have forgotten who said this). This means you need his blessing to even pray him- Adhu dhaan pola irukku!!

About Margazhi:

Lord Krishna has said in Bhagavat geetha that " In the 12 months, I am Margazhi". What else to describe after that!!!
Listen to thiruppavai by sudha ragunathan here:
Part 1
http://www.raaga.com/channels/carnatic/movie/CL00079.html
Part 2
http://www.raaga.com/channels/carnatic/movie/CL00080.html

To know more about margazhi, read this message Courtesy:http://groups.google.com/group/tamilcommunity/browse_thread/thread/b7f0e845075e09f7

The greatness of Margazhi month

The Yugam, in which presently we are living, is called as "Kali Yugam". Other than this Kali Yugam, there are 3 Yugams that we have crossed and they are Kretha, Thretha and Dwapara Yugam. In all these 3 yugams, Sriman Narayanan has taken lots of Avatharams (incarnations) to protect the Dharmam against Adharmam (evil) and protect the life of his bhaktas. Margazhi (from mid decembre to mid january ) brings the spring season.

The month of Margazhi which is supposed to be sacred from all aspects. Thus it's rendered to the god himself in aim of attaining prosperity and blessings, hoping god showers with all good luck. The very objective this month is to get together and offer the prayers, he will surely listens to it. How to go about it? Generally Brahma Muhurtham is considered to be good time perform pooja. Early morning on all 30 days Margazhi between 4.00 am to 6.00 am is beneficial for human being while the whole Margazhi the Brahma Muhurtham for DEVAS. The Tamil month of Margazhi is of great importance because Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that he is Margazhi among the twelve months.

In this month, there are many programmes for SriVaishnavas in particular.

On all the thirty days of this month, Tirupavai Pasurams will be rendered in the early morning in all temples and houses. Adhyayana Utsavam for 21 days (10+10+1) will also be held during this month by rendering holy scriptures (Four thousand Divya Prabhandam Pasurams) at 108 Divya Desam including Sri Rangam and many other Vaishnava Sthalams.

The famous Vaikunda Ekadasi also will be celebrated in the early hours of the Tenth day of Adhyayana Utsavam the people will join with Lord in proceeding Symbolically to Swargham and on this Swargavasal will be opened in all temples. Lakhs of people gather on 3rd January 2004, the Vaikunta Ekadesi day in Sri Rangam, Tirupathi, Thiruvallikeni. Kanchi, Srivilliputhur, Brindavan and in many other temples. Saivites will celebrate Arudhara Dharshan. In Srivilliputhur, there will be "Piriya Vidai and Sri Andal Neerattu Utsavam" and followed by Sri Andal Thirukkalyanam on Bhogi Day". The Proverb in Tamil says that "Thai Piranthal Vazhi Pirakkum".

On completion of Margazhi and commencement of Thai, there would be better future and there is a way for happiness and good omens. On Bhogi day, people not only cleans the houses, burn the old things and but also purifies from bad things & thoughts or situation by rendering prayers. Elders and music lovers also visit to the Sabhas in the evening to listen music, attend dance programmes and other cultural activities throughout Margazhi. This month is familiarly known as Margazhi Maha Festival. All musicians, Vocalists and dozens of singers will gather together at Thiruvayaru and render Keerthanas of SriThiyagarajar.
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haa haa haa..ooh hoo hoo hoo..last examaa?? Exam kadhai..

2007-12-12T18:29:00.000-06:00

Scroll down for exam kadhai..
Silar siripaar..silar azhuvaar.. naan azhudhukonde sirikinren:)-
Raja part rangadurai paatu..

adhu onnum illeenga...

Tomorrow, between 10.30 to 12.30, I have an exam to take..ohoo hoo..hoo kavalai..

Between 12.30-2.30, I have an exam to give ( to the undergrads). ha ha ha laughter

Today, I was at a prof's office asking my doubts for my exam at the last minute. Outside his office, there were undergrad students waiting for me to ask me doubts at the last minute..

Avanga question papera naan pathuiruken(set pannum podhu) but avanga en questionsa paakalayae :)-

romba padichutennu nenakaadheenga.. ippo dhaan arambichen.. adhukulla blog poda aasai vandudhuchu..Hopefully, this is the last exam of my education. Paapom..Ipdi dhaan ovvoru degree vaangum podhum nenachen..

Atleast, the last exam of Ph.D irundhaave podhum:)- adhuve periya vishayam..pudhusaa rule kondu vandhu extra course eduka vekiraanga pa ovvoru timemum.. andha vedhanai!!

Okay.. Oru vazhiyaa ' I am done with the last exam'- that doesnot mean that phd is over. Only the coursework.

This morning, my roomie was going to India. Examukku 1.45 am varaikum padichen. Got up at 4.00 am..Then helped her carry her baggages to the ground floor and another friend of us, dropped her. I just came back and tried to sleep.. Aniyaayathukku thookame varla..Howsoever well I prepare, I need to sleep atleast for 7 hrs before exam. Illati ellam kozhambidum- apdi oru nambikkai..actually, selfpity masked inside nambikkai!!!

But thookame varla.. 5.00 aachu..6.00 achu.. 7.00 achu.. Ezhundhu padikalaamna selfpity on the way.. "Come on priya, how come you deprive yourself of your sleep". Pasi vayatha kodaiyudhu..No milk..no buttermilk..no snack.. no thing was at home..Went and ate some chocolate cake that I made last week with 1.5 eyes closed so that I can protect the sleep feel in my eyes.. appayum thookam varla..

Summave thookam varlanaa thoongardhukku zandu balm thadavara category naan. Finally, got reminded of that idea. ZANDU BALM appinen and it worked.

A phone call at 8.45 woke me up. It was my roomie who missed her purse somewhere. She called from denver and wanted me to check at home. Thookathula ezhupinaa naan "maada" vida mosamaa miraluven.. Apdi mirandu poi purseaa thedunnaa.. hmnn.. thedinen kedaikala..unmaiyaave kedaikala..

aprom, tima patha ore shock...

A guy in my class wanted to revise the portions between 9.00 and 10.30. Also, he had a doubt that the exam might be at 10.00. So, we agreed to meet at 9.00am for which I had to get the bus atleast by 8.35 am. avanukku call panni plana cancel panna, he says " dont worry, there is a lot of time"

Enna mattum yaaravadhu pathu " cool cool "naa naan apdiye cool aagara category..

Amma seevi singarichu bussa pudichu ponaa, it was 10.20 when I was near the university. I was thinking
" why go 10 min earlier to exam hall? Every body will think that I am a geek"

Then, priya's mansatchi said "Priya, ne ella clasukum guest entry kudukra. One day minadi poi dhaan ukkaren?"

Finally, I agreed with manasatchi and went to the hall..Poi patha orae shock..Class was full..

Ellarum exam ezhutharaanga..including my friend. Enna paathu sirika vera sirikaraan. Exam arambika poguthunnu call panni sollalaamla..andha arivu enga pasangalukku

I bursted out aloud with an exclamation" Oh my God!!!".

The prof was a cool guy " Oh priya, the exam is small and I am sure you wont need that long"

For the first time, I went late to an exam. Hmnn..During the previous exam, I was the one who completed the last - took 30 min extra time for writing as my handwriting is big and I write slow.

Kizhinjadhu krishnagirinnu - apdi yosichinde q paper pathaaa " adhisayam!!!!! aanaal unmai"

What I properly studied alone was asked in teh exam. That was a pleasant surprise and so, ooruku minnadi exama mudichutu papera kuduthuthu oooodi vandhuten :)-

Avlodhaan...

After a llllooooong time..

2007-12-10T00:55:00.000-06:00

Guys,

Again a post on food..
After a long time, I cooked a grand dinner for 4 people(Including me) here. Meeting 3 friends at a time in El Paso is a big thing for me. Unlike in lex, I play myself silently and not participate in any cooking activity..

A hunger to cook many no of dishes was pushing to find a day and do it. Murugan Thirukalyanam - the day after Kandhar Shasti was the day I picked. Theme- Swami Kalyana saapadu!!

Menu: Palani Panchamritam, Mor Kuzhambu, Sadham, Lemon rasam, Potato curry, Appalam, Vadai, Payasam, home made Lemon-Pickle, Beans Kootu, cucumber pacchadi and Bahala bath.

Wanted to upload this even before 2 weeks.. But edho velai..My photos may not appeal so much. My roommie made a collage with whatever snaps we had. We forgot to take pics of some other dishes..

Look at this link and go to the food links of her friends and the drop down menubars that she has given..Its awesome.. Mannn.. Aniyayathukku pasiya kirali vidu indha site.

One thing out!!!

2007-12-07T17:23:00.000-06:00

Yaaahooo... Finally, I made it. In the list of things that I am trying to improvise the taste, look and smell, the cocoa chocolate is out. I am so glad..yaaahooooo...

Okay, let me tell you the reason behind my excitement. There are some dishes in my list whose cooking conditions have to be optimized to get the exact taste of mom's or the best preparation. Some are not bad but that exact taste is missing. Some dishes come into and go out of the list very soon. Some stay forever in the list showing my inability, lazyness or its own complexity.

Recently, the list contains(/ed) mom's cocoa chocolate, sujan's bisebela bhath, prabu's sambhar vadai, mom's mor kozhambu, my periama's thakkali thokku . Recently, mor kuzhambu and bise belabhath are almost out of the list. But, finally, yesterday, the chocolate came out of that list..

I finally optimized it w.r.t. the u.s butter sugar and milk powder. This is a dish wherein I did all the mistakes and learned the right procedure by my meticulous efforts. Well, you will never know where you will be dumb!! I have succeded like Mohammed of Ghazni or ashoka after several trials.

Here is the recipe to make cocoa chocolate (not a pastry) in just 15 minutes.

Cocoa Chocolate
1. Cocoa (Hersheys cocoa powder)- 1 cup
2. Milk powder (Dry milk) - 2 cups
3. Sugar - 3 cups
4. Butter stick (land of lakes brand-unsalted- 1lb)- 3/4 of one stick

Easy.. the amounts are just one, two, three. Remember sugar is the max.

Before you start,
1. Mix the milk powder and cocoa evenly. Break the small milk powder granules by crushing between fingers for atleast 5 minutes. This is very important as the milk powder is not very nice (granulated) here in U.S
2. Just melt the butter. Remember, the butter should not boil. Just melt and have 3/4 cup of that. If you dont melt and add it as butter in the recipe, it does not set.
3. Take square shape plate or box and grease the bottom (full) and the wall (about 2 inches) with butter. Why not a round plate?? It's because you will get a lot of bits and small, uneven pieces when its a round plate.

Recipe:

1. Add water to the sugar just enough to cover in a thick bottomed pan and place it on the stove. Set the stove in 4 or 5
2. The sugar dissolves and it goes to a thicker state in 5-7 minutes. Dip a laddle and take a small amount between two fingers (index and thumb) to see if it forms a string. Please be patient. Let it form a proper string. I tend to hurry here. Don't do that
3. Now add 1/2 cup or a little more of melted butter. You will see white bubbles. Stir the pan. Remember, the more you add, the longer it takes to set
4. Add the cocoa and milk powder mix to the pan. Stir in a circular way around the periphery till you see all the mix is dissolved with the liquid
5. Stir, lift the laddle and drop into the pan to see if the mixture falls like a typical flow in chocolate ads. (Nalla madipu madipaa vizhanum). You can see slight thickening/shrinkage of chocolate at the perphery of the pan
6. Pour the chocolate into the tray
7. When it is warm and molten, cut into pieces. It may not look like pieces. Eventually it will.

Modifications:

1. You can place a cashew/almond on each piece when it is molten.

2. This is just my own idea - If you have a egg tray (refrigerator), grease and pour in that and place an almond or cashew. It comes out hemispherical and it's so pretty!!

Trouble shooting:

I am an expert in this section.

1. If it solidified before pouring, it means it was too long on stove. You can avoid this by looking for solid chips at the edges of pan. You can slightly make-up by addiing a small amount of boiling water, put it back in the pan on stove and then pour back. Do not leave on heat for long. It may or may not work depending on how much you spoiled.

2. If it did not set, leave it in freezer for a while and then put it out. It will solidify before next morning. But, dont forget to make cuts horizontally and vertically when it is molten.

3. If it did not set at all,
1. Probably, you did not let the sugar form a string (Paagu varla). Keep it on stove for longer and then pour again
2. It may also mean it has less sugar. Take some sugar in a water, boil and add to this chocolate in a pan, heat and then pour
3. If its chewy like "kamarkat", a) leave it overnight. It will get fine many a times.b) it has too much sugar or butter that is not letting it set. Put it in a freezer and if it still did not get better, give it to children wrapped with a paper. They will love it.

Okay.. But remember, if you eat in plenty, "one thing is not out". I mean it causes constipation :)-