::YouGuysRock::

I’m one of Happiest persons, to be associated with you guys, as a photographer. You guys ROCK.
After EK, and few Jingles, here is the next step from TAAN SAINTS, this time for the Kannada Rajyotsava.

Read more in citizen matters

ALL THE BEST GUYS.

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::9VasanthappaGardenWasBlackedOut:

I’m going to the consumer court…
I will write this in the press…
9, vasanthappa garden is not in the flood affected belagavi district..
I need power in the next 2 hours…

I said, all these.. but, still WE didn’t get power at home. #9, Vasanthappa Garden is my address, which is in Indira Nagara. One fine Thursday night(22nd October 2009) when i reached home at around 11.00pm, there was not power only at our house in the complex. Guess we didn’t pay our electricity bill for last month (September) and the last date for this month (October) is 28th October.

I was the one who was paying our electricity bill every month and my fellow buddies at home got no idea on this. Unfortunately, I had to go to Davangere on Friday morning, we could not pay the bill on Friday as well. So managed to pay the invoice on Saturday by cash in a vending machine. But power didn’t find way to our home that Saturday, Sunday and Monday too… We are all pissed off finally made a complaint to the central customer care at 10.30pm, when i came from office. I was totally occupied with so many things at work and could do only that at 10.30pm.

Tuesday, we got some hope, as there were some 18 calls from the Customer care starting as early as 7am till 4.00pm. They wanted us to go to this domlur EB office and show the paid in slip. We did at 9.30am sharp. And, as nobody was at home after lunch time, to check the electricity, we had to confirm the customer care only by 8pm.

The first four sentences of this write up was spelt out on Tuesday morning, when i was getting calls after calls from the customer care.

I learnt couple of things from this exercise.
1. As a consumer we should be aware, what to do when. Eg. The moment you pay your late bill, go show it to the local office. The Govt Office employees will come, if NO BILL WAS paid.. but, wont track, if its paid. 😦
2. Was bathing in the chill water every day of these 5 days, that too 2 days, early in the morning.
3. Was able to live without power for 5 days, in spite of living in the gadget era, in spite of living in the heart of the city.:)

Anyways… 5 black days gone.. NOW, found some time to write this. Few images from one of the black days here..

Special Thanks to Shwe / Prags for allowing me to charge my camera / blackberry, before my trip to Davengare for a photo shoot.

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HumanChainProtest.Bangalore.07June2009

Karnataka Tamil Makkal Iyyakkam has organized a human chain protest in Bangalore on Sunday, June 7 in order to mobilize the public support to the rehabilitation of the displace Tamils, to demand the international community to investigate war crimes and to condemn the genocide of Tamils by the facist Sri Lankan state.
The rally starts at 10.00 am from East Railway Station Playground via Sindhi Colony, Wheelers Road, Kamarajar Road and concludes at Cubbon Road Signal.

The firebrand speaker and ardent Eelam Tamil supporter, the Tamilian Director Seeman will be the chief guest of the event. The rally will be inaugurated by the Director of SICHRAM, Thiru. Mathew Philips and presided by the President of KTMI, C. Rajan.

Please Support for this Cause.

Thanks.

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Manmohan’sDreamTeam?

A 20-point quicklist… as given by NDTV.com.
Please check my comments below every point.

1. Agatha Sangma is the youngest minister at 28, SM Krishna the oldest at 77.
PV: Yes. She will go to Sangma College now to learn how to cheat and make money. Former CM of Karnataka, SM Krishna can also give her lessons from his vast experience.

2. The average age of the council of ministers is now a little over 62 years.
PV: Retired Candidates for the Youngest Country on Earth.

3. One out of every four UPA MPs is a minister.
PV: In an years span, it may become two out of Four MPs.

4. The southern states have a higher MP:Minister ratio than the North.
PV: At least now. There is a saying VADAKKU VALARGIRATHU. THERKU THEIGIRATHU in Tamil, Meaning North Grows and South dies.

5. Karnataka, with four ministers with 11 UPA MPs.
PV: Ha Ha… They Lost more seats to BJP. So they got More Ministers. Lesson for Other states.

6. Kerala is close with six out of 19.
PV: Enda Chettan… Sopper Coolaaanum.

7. Of 35 UPA MPs, Tamil Nadu has nine ministers – most of them from the DMK.
PV: Kalaignar, the TAMIL LEADER(?), in spite of being unwell, he achieved what he wanted for his family. But, will this help TN Grow?

8. But DMK chief Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi is not a minister, but son MK Azhagiri is.
PV: Kanimozhi is just nothing in front of this DADA Plus Azhagiri.. So He got one.. and not her.

9. Andhra Pradesh has the least of the southern states with four ministers.
PV: Ya. AP Should take lessons from Karnataka. AP Congress won more MPs and so Less Ministers.

10. Vilasrao Deshmukh and SM Krishna are not members of any House.
PV: Ex CMs screwed the states, now gonna spoil the Parliament house. Deshmukh is 26/11 fame and SM Krishna, affair with Saroja Devi Controversy. Hope Krishna wont have any EXTERNAL AFFAIRS now.

11. Among dropped ministers from last time: Arjun Singh, Shivraj Patil (who had already been dropped post 26/11), Sis Ram Ola, Saifudin Soz, Mahavir Prasad, TR Baalu, Oscar Fernandes, Ashwini Kumar, Santosh Bagrodia.
PV: What will these guys do now? Now they have to ask questions in the parliament, unlike they were answering all these years.

12. Despite the Congress bounty in Haryana, only Kumari Selja makes it to a ministerial post.
PV: Any Sardar is behind this? Or Vienna Issue are responsible?

13. UP, which gave the Congress 21 seats under Rahul Gandhi’s party revival plan, has only five ministers, but not a single Cabinet post.
PV: Rahul must be unhappy, cos, Sonia and Rahul represent UP and didn’t take a Minister Berth.

14. There are five Muslim ministers.
PV: For 14% of Indian Muslims, the representation was only 6.3%.

15. There are 10 Dalit ministers.
PV: Why should they list, when there is Reservation? To keep Mayavati Happy?
In any case, the representation is good (12.7% of ministers are Dalits)

16. There are nine women ministers.
PV: When will this become 50%? At least 33%?

17. There are nine former chief ministers in the Cabinet.
PV: These 9 guys must have lost Assembly elections in their respective states. Must Be.

18. Ally tally: Trinamool Congress seven (one Cabinet, six MoS), DMK even (three Cabinet, four MoS), NCP three (One Cabinet, one MoS Independent Charge and one MoS), Muslim League and NCP one each.
PV: Karunanithi, a veteran from TN won ministers, but its high time for the portfolios. Sure he is gonna fight for the Rich Portfolios.

19. Four former Indian Youth Congress presidents become ministers – Anand Sharma, Mukul Wasnik, Gurudas Kamat and Selja.
PV: Youth Congress Presidents? All of them now older than 45 Years.
Anand Sharma – 56 Years, Mukul Wasnik – 50 Years, Gurudas Kamat – 55 Years and Selja Kumari – 46 Years.

20. Most of the younger bunch of ministers are sons and daughters of politicians.
PV: Ya ya.. Getting into their Family Business.

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Support.TheNeedOfTheHour.

Live from the School.
Indira Gandhi International Academy was started in 1990 IGIA is an non-profit educational and residential institution exclusively for Sri Lankan refugee children. Currently major portion of the funds are provided by Bright Society, their parent NGO.

Lunch from Monday to Saturday is provided by ISKCON (http://www.iskcon.com/). Provisions for Breakfast and Dinner is in part provided by local philanthropists. Teachers Salaries and Non Teaching Staff salaries are provided by Bright Society. Investment on Student’s studying outside of school such as University students is in part provided by philanthropists from Canada and UK.

THATS NOT SUFFICIENT. THEY DESERVE MORE. CAN YOU HELP?
Reach out to me at 9945516333 / peeveeads@gmail.com.

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IntachParichay-18thApril2009

April 18th is World Heritage Day, a day to celebrate the diversity of the world’s cultural heritage and to raise public awareness about the efforts needed to protect it. As part of the many events lined up to mark this special day, Intach, Bangalore Chapter, invites you to a Parichay to the Bangalore Fort and its vicinity. This event will be held in Kannada.

The Bangalore fort goes back to Kempe Gowda’s times and has played a central role in our city’s history, being the focus of a pivotal battle in 1791. Apart from the Fort, the Parichay will cover several other historic monuments in the vicinity, including Tipu’s Palace, Jalakanteshwara temple, Kote Venkataramanaswamy temple and Tipu’s armoury.

Our Parichay will be led by Dr SK Aruni, Assistant Director of the Southern Regional Centre of the Indian Council of Historical Research. He has recently authored a book on on Kempe Gowda, and is an authority on Bangalore’s history.

We will meet at the Tipu Palace at 8:30 am on Saturday, 18th April. We expect the Parichay to end at about 11:00 am. Seats are limited for this event. Please call Meera (99860 23014) to register in advance.

Regards,
Intach, Bangalore Chapter

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(h)AirTravel and Fuel Hike… in India

Can i call myself as a great victim for the fuel hike?
Even if you say NO… Lemme call myself a victim.

It all started in May, when we started planning for a trip to Gujarat and Rajasthan in August 2008. After discussing with fellow photographers of Ahmedabad and few shutterbugs from Bangalore, we decided to explore only Rajasthan in a span of 11 full days (August 14th to August 24th, convincingly planned to combine the Independence day holidays).

Guess, it was 6th June, i got my flight tickets booked for both ways of journey (Rs.8900 per head for a return trip to Jaipur). Thanks to Spicejet and we even called them our Official carrier for the trip then. But, when, the news on fuel hike came in the mid of 2nd week, Spicejet happily canceled their flights and left us in trouble, without even informing us. I called them, when i find no flight in the list, they agreed to pay 100% money back.

We don’t wanna cancel the trip, just becos, Spicejet canceled the flights, and this time, we got Jet lite and Indigo to help us out. Though this exercise of re booking the tickets cost me Rs.3000 extra per head, we went on and booked the tickets. Thanks to Arul for accepting this time too.. to go with a re booking and visit Rajasthan.

On June 24th, there was an another shock, when Jet lite canceled the flight and scheduled for different time, with a price hike of Rs.3000. I seriously don’t know, what to call this now, my fate, my bad luck?

As a last try, I re booked ticket again with an Indigo flight, and advanced my trip by a week (This time, its 7th August to 17th August 2008). Thanks Arul, again, for the support this time too.

Now, with fingers crossed, I’m waiting for something good to happen. If at all, if our INDIGOites Cancel or Reschedule the flights or Increase the price further, I will be GAME for a TEN DAYS TRIP in KARNATAKA or TAMILNADU. And, will call all these Air Travel as HAIR Travel.

Hope you guys are not praying for a cancellation or a price hike. 🙂 If you happen to be a victim, of any of this sort, please let me know. I need a company too.

~ peevee.

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leopard update – spotted one in wild

We were on an office outing to BR Hills, last weekend and stayed in Jungle Lodges, K.Gudi. This is the first time experience for me to stay inside a jungle, inhaling fresh air and listening to all strange sounds of birds, animals (read monkeys) and other insects. Thanks to the team, especially Sandeep, for choosing this place for a weekend outing.

The trip was a very short sweet trip with 24 actual hrs in the jungle zone, spreading across 2 days. The schedule is like…
Day1: Leave Bangalore by 7am, Check in the lodges at 12.00noon, freshen up, lunch, a mini walk, a jeep safari till evening, tea, a wild life movie show, dinner, campfire(not in rainy season), sleep.
Day2: Bed coffee, a guided trek, breakfast, elephant ride, relax, check out at 12.00 noon, reach Bangalore by 6.00pm.

Details…
We 10, in total, boarded 2 open jeeps, 8 of us in one and 2 others in the other jeep, headed towards the animal habitat zones of BR Hills. After 30 minutes of drive into the forest, yes, we got to see an Indian Leopard, happily sitting on the tree, and staring at us, crossing. The experienced/trained forest driver Mr. Kumar, spotted it from a distance of at least 100 metres.

We started clicking pictures, Shivu, shooting at 6.5frames/sec with his 300mm lens, mounted on Canon D40, Sarah with her 55mm on Canon 350D, and Saravanan, with my Nikon D80 at 135mm. It was a scene for a minute and half, and when kumar started announcing through on his walkie-talkie, about this leopard, two other jeeps came in to the spot, and thats too late, as the leopard, already moved out of the place, into the deep forest zone. Though, the men, women and children in the other jeeps felt bad that they could not see the leopard in wild, shivu’s picture served them the purpose.
Here is a picture, from my D80. (a cropped version)

Ok.. now to finer details…
Is spotting a leopard in wild, a big thing? Was that a great thing, achieved?
Guess, for most of us, YES…

But, at least for me.. a BIG NO. Its just like an other creature, roaming in the forest. I know, how it is, thanks to my LKG books (hmm… I read L for Leopard) and believe, there is nothing great, at least for now. Probably, over a period of time, my thoughts may change, when its extinct (hope this doesn’t happen) on earth. The particular moment, when we were looking at the Leopard, i was reminded of Suruchi and the discussion, we had in IIMB on wildlife photography, when she said, she spotted a leopard in Bandipur.

Fine prints…
The Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a leopard subspecies native to the Indian subcontinent. Despite being the most widespread cat, the Indian leopard has faced several types of threats. The animal shares its habitat with other predators, which include Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, bears, wolves, hyenas, and wild dogs. Leopards are in danger. As many as 226 of them could have been killed last year alone. The last leopard count — in 1997 — had put their number at 7,273.

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OldWomanGokarna

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DumpYardHennur

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