Breakfast Skills

I have long wanted to learn making breakfast for myself. I have lived alone for most part of my last decade - six years in college and four years in work life. We had our canteen in the college days where I could just walk in, and get lovely Dosas and Idlis. Currently, my maid comes in the afternoon, and that too only on the weekdays. So, on the weekends, I am left all to myself to arrange for my food. 

I guess I need to learn a few light breakfast items - like making Poha, or Upma. There are readymade combinations available in the markets, but I somehow don't like the taste of them (and am sure they are not much on the healthy side as well). I wanted to give it a try today itself, but I do not have the necessary ingredients now. Need to make a list and order everything today. 

World Cup begins today, and I'm quite excited. I don't have to worry about entertainment sources for the next few weeks - as long as India survives in the competition. And given the structure of the tournament this time, its highly unlikely they will be knocked out in the first stage itself (with 4 teams from each group progressing to the next round). We play Bangladesh in the opener today, and I am hoping for a revenge. 

Photography

As I have written a couple of times earlier as well, I am learning a little about photography. And as they say, the best way to learn the tricks of the trade is to get your hands dirty. 

I have been reading about some of the technical stuff, and have been making a note of them. However, I guess I need to venture out with my camera more often, and start practicing a few techniques. The first thing I want to test is seeing the effect of 'Depth Of Field'. Am planning a few shots this weekend (mostly Sunday) to sample different pictures shot at different Apertures, and comparing the results. 

Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries)

There have been extreme reactions to the movie Dhobi Ghat. Some have liked it, like all Aamir Khan movies in recent times. However, there are a few who didn't like it. And there is nothing wrong in that. This is perhaps the boldest experiment yet from the production house - even more than Peepli Live. 'Peepli' had a rural charm, and an underlying topic to touch the hearts, Dhobi Ghat has none of them. 


The english title of the movie, Mumbai Diaries does more justice to name. Its a story about the city of Mumbai, and all those words thrown at you in the trailer of the movie. Its not a story about the protagonists, they are just used as a backdrop. Their own tale is incidental to the movie, and it could have been others in their place as well. We do not know much about any characters in the end, apart from the city. Anyone who has 'lived' in Mumbai, would relate to a lot of things - the relentless rains, the trains, the pace, the crowd, etc. Its a take on Mumbai from different eyes - the eyes of the four lead characters in the movie. 


If you are in love with Mumbai, may be this is a must watch for you. There have been many movies made professing their love for the city, and this may be the best amongst them. For all the Aamir Khan fans, this may be a let down as it isn't an Aamir Khan movie. In fact, he may be the most insignificant of the four characters in the movie. 

Inflation: An Evil?

We have always made inflation appear as an evil to society. All the pro-poor governments in India try to keep it under control and tame it. Te recent market movements got me thinking if Inflation was really that bad a thing in Indian context.

We are a country where at least 60 per cent of the populace still depend on agriculture for their living. And for time immemorial, food prices in India have stayed at ridiculously low levels. You can get virtually everything for less than a dollar. The road side Vada Pav sells for approximately 10 cents, whereas a similar thing in any developed nation would not cost less than 100 cents. One can get a whole day maid for less than 200 dollar a month, and I'm speaking only about Mumbai.

So, whereas the salaries for elite class and white collared workers are approaching the levels seen in developed world, the lower classes barely keep up with Inflation. So, rich are having a party with higher and higher income, and lower or stable expenses. Inflation is one of the way in which this anomaly can be removed. Let the prices of all food items double, an automatically we would have house maids and drivers asking for a raise.

In the short run there would be pain, but in the long run we as a nation may be better off with high inflation.

Apple's India Connection

As much as I like Apple's products, I really hate it as a company. While this may seem like a dichotomy, it isn't. Its similar to liking a forbidden fruit - its nice, but I can't touch it. 

Apple has the most racist of product introduction calendar - and most of the products are introduced in India (and many other poorer countries) after they have almost run their life cycles in US and Europe. And when there are newer versions to be introduced in those markets - it takes all the older versions off the shelf, and introduces the same in India. Much like iPhone 2 which came to India after 3G was introduced in US (and that too at a price higher than 3G). And now, the same story is being repeated with iPad. Months (if not weeks) away from the introduction of iPad 2 in US and Europe, they start shipping the old version to India. And market it as an event next to Big Bang Theory in importance for the nation. 

Its high time we do not lap up their products this way. That they should be forced to introduce the products at 'around' the same time with other markets, and not dump useless inventory at us. I just wish our government was active enough to control the foreign corporates, just like China does.