How to make a 'KANDIL' (paper lantern)

So i was always wondering about how to make a Diwali 'Kandil' (paper lanterns: Is that what they are called!? ). Also someone was searching at my blog on how to do so. Hence it is only appropriate i post on how to make one.

Following is a list of all websites that tell you how to make one:

The first one really tells how to make a simple one. (as their tag line goes: Children's Corner - Arts & Crafts - Kandil Making)

http://www.balagokulam.org/kids/arts/kandil.php

Fancy Kandils:

http://www.funsocialstudies.learninghaven.com/articles/lantern.htm

http://www.pacon.com/projects/PaperLanterns.htm

And for those looking for more go here. A really exhaustive list to sate your appetite:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rls=SUNA,SUNA:2005-51,SUNA:en&q=paper+lanterns

And dont cringe when it says Chinese/Japanese lanterns. Half the 'kandils' we see in shops are of Chinese make. lol

Signing up for Google Adsense

Just signed up for Google Adsense. Lets see how it goes...

Diwali info for the uninitiated

Heh so my overseas friends wonder no more. Here is all the info on Diwali i can sum up!

Diwali is also variously spelt as Deewali / Deepawali / Dipavali / Divali. It is the 'festival of lights' and India being a land of festivals this is the most grand of all of them!

It a major Hindu festival which is celebrated to commemorate the return of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita to their kingdom Ayodhya after 14 years of exile.

Usually occurs in October/November according to the Hindu calender and lasts for 5 days.

Diwali typically means lots of sweets, shopping, lighting diyas (lamps) and electric garlands!

Also bursting crackers. (which i love to do, albeit in control; i dont wanna spread too much air/noise pollution)

You might not believe dear friends how 'lit up' India is during this time!!! :D You gotta see it to believe it.

Hey if someone posts a YouTube video i will add it here. ;)

You can find more assorted and detailed info on wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Bollywood expansion in overseas markets

Nice going and take that those Brit-Pakis making that anti-Bollywood video!

Ha Ha Ha

Read the following reports:

http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=143621

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2172419.cms

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200610162136.htm

Other Takeaways for your Blogger Template

Listed is all that you will ever need for your blogger template:

http://www.quickonlinetips.com/archives/2005/04/free-essential-tools-for-blogger/

Another good one:

http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/jennifer/blog-templates.html

Adding Technorati Tags to blogger

Find yourself the best method on this page. I tried one myself... See the results below in the Seles picture link!

http://www.editthis.info/bloggerhacks/Technorati_Tags_on_Posts

Federer with Seles at Japan Open

Enjoy!!!

Technorati tags: Monica Seles , Roger Federer , Japan Open Tennis , Miroslava Vavrinic

Rutherform turned 36!

So Ruth baby turned 36.

huh time flies doesnt it. heh hope he had a fine birthday. :D

Adding your own banner to blogger

So i found this great 'tip' page on adding your own banner to the blogger template.

And i also tried it.

Hey guys look up... :P

The site also explains how to add your own links. Now if you have any more great tips please spread the good word. ;)

http://www.knitblog.com/blogger.html

Akinom's Seles in Japan Picture

Akinom has posted a picture of Monica Seles in Japan.

You can view the picture here:

http://akinom6060.skyblog.com/

Shopping for Diwali & watching movie

So yesterday i finally finally saw Munnabhai. The noon show was really crowded.

In the theater during the break we had some light entertainment offcourse thanx to a little boy.

So everyone who has seen a movie in India knows about the 'social messages' that are played on-screen during the break (also preceding the movie) like dont litter the environment, smoking is injurious to health etc etc.

This one was a poster about 'urinating in public places . Our little friend asked his Dad 'loudly', "Papa what does this message say?"

Rather embarassed the man said, "Cant you read?"

To which the boy had this to say, " Arent we supposed to go to toilet now?"

That drew a chorus of laughter from everyone. Very amusing!!! :D

Adter the movie we went shopping for a 'Kandil'.

Hmm at Citylight we found the one we had seen earlier. This guy said 70, we thought we'd find a cheaper one ahead.

There we found same make of Kandil only Rs. 100! Discouraged we went till Ranade Road!

After a little bargaining we bought the same Kandil outright for Rs. 60!

Talk about swindling customers in India! :(

Also near Citylight we spotted the most fab. diyas, kandils, rangoli makers...

Diwali shopping is great, looking forward to some more. :P

Review : Lage Raho Munnabhai

lage raho munnabhai review


Directed by Rajkumar Hirani

Writing credits Vidhu Vinod Chopra
(screenplay)Rajkumar Hirani

Tagline: Munnabhai meets Mahatma Gandhi

Credited cast:

Sanjay Dutt - Murli Prasad Sharma - Munna Bhai
Arshad Warsi - Circuit
Vidya Balan - Jhanvi
Boman Irani - Lucky Singh
Dilip Prabhavalkar - Mahatma Gandhi
Diya Mirza - Simran
Kulbhushan Kharbanda - Kkhurana
Saurabh Shukla - Batuk Maharaj
Jimmy Shergill - Victor D'Souza


Also Known As:
Munnabhai 2nd Innings (India: Hindi title) (working title) Munnabhai Meets Mahatma Gandhi (India: English title) (working title)

Runtime: 130 min
Country: India
Language: Hindi
Color: Color
Certification: India:U

Yesterday i went and watched this great movie with my mom. I wasnt too keen to see it in the first place.

But after i came out of the theater i was wondering why dont film makers make more movies like this one around the world.

Nothing wrong with only making movies on gross entertainment, or politics, but this one really hit the mark.

Shows how entertainment can gel with giving a political/social message without offcourse the usual trappings of going overboard with either too much melodrama or too little enthusiasm.

That Gandhism is more relevant in today's world than ever before is true but to bring the message onto the front stage so beautifully and convincingly is the hallmark of this movie.

Munnabhai's "practical" applications of Gandhigiri (and this is a term we should well remember) were eye openers.

Especially in that scene wherein he turns his other cheek towards the guard showed what it really means in actual practise! Not easy this path of 'Satyagraha' is!

That it takes a lot of courage to say you are sorry (Munna saying sorry to his buddy Circuit) was also brought out effectively along with speaking the truth when you make a mistake (Jimmy Shergill's dilemma), forgiveness (Munna's lady love & Parikshit Sahni)...

Even though you may laugh loud at the comic way the story moves ahead you simply cannt miss the underline tone of the movie.

After you get in so many ways (re)introduced to the Mahatma and his teachings, one cannt help but feel even more respect for the man and disgust our shameful ways in todays world.

Simplicity is indeed best.

Hingis in Virtua Tennis 3

So here is a review of the game on PS3

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=147560

I was wondering if anyone has any review about this one?

read this:

"Now that our best chance of winning Wimbledon rests in the sweaty mitts of a plukey-faced, English-hating Scot, there are only two reasons to watch tennis: Maria Sharapova and her legs that go all the way up to her tits. Or is that one reason? We don't know - we're looking, not counting.

Virtua Tennis 3 will give you an ideal view of those perfect pins, along with the powerful thighs of Martina Hingis, Venus Williams, grunting Lindsay Davenport and Daniela Hantuchova. The inclusion of the female tennis circuit is a first for the series, but more importantly, we've found it is possible to glimpse the odd knicker-flash as they dive and stretch for the ball."

Not very flattering!!!

Shoib Akhtar & Md. Asif fail drugs test

Controversy reigned supreme again in Pakistan cricket and brought the ICC Champions Trophy under a(nother) cloud of controversy.

Pakistan's star players Shoib Akhtar & Mohammad Asif, both returning from injuries and on medication tested positive for the Nandralone.

With this news out of the Malaysian lab coming out, both players have now been sent back to Pakistan.

While coach Woolmer and captain Younis Khan may give them benefit of doubt it remains to be seen how with doctors, fitness trainers, coaches and dieticians available at the push of a button to these players they could possibly & accidently consume the substance from medicine.

Professional atheletes must be more than aware of what they put into their system.

Anti Bollywood Video from You Tube

Times of India article: The anti-bollywood video

Those you who may be wondering what this anti-Bollywood video made by British-Pakistanis is all about can watch it right here!

The Times of India article "Brit-Pakis bash bollywood" can be read online here:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1948996,curpg-1.cms

Anti Bollywood Video , Times Of India Article, , You Tube

Ahaaa

Not a Girl, Not Yet a Woman

Inside you've got the passion and ideals of a teenager And your intensity for life is what attracts most of the men you date You also like to party - and quite often you're the life of the party You've brought the best of your younger years with you... at least most of the time.

Are You A Girl Or a Woman?

hmmm and what do you think of that?

Your World View

You are a fairly broadminded romantic and reasonably content. You value kindness and try to live by your ideals. You have strong need for security, which may be either emotional or material. You respect truth and are flexible. You like people, and they can readily make friends with you. You are not very adventurous, but this does not bother you.

What Is Your World View?

Teenager Forever! lol :P

You Are 15 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

How Evil Am I?

This is for someone who thinks I am not!!!

Perhaps he should try the quiz himself and be honest in the answers too. ;)

You Are 38% Evil

A bit of evil lurks in your heart, but you hide it well. In some ways, you are the most dangerous kind of evil.

How Evil Are You?

Martina Hingis Income!

Hilarius reports:

In the last days before the start of the Zurich Open most papers in the Zurich area write something about tennis. So its with the "Cashdaily" a business evening paper, which is distributed free of charge mainly in the Zurich area. I give you herewith an abridged translation of an article of Oct.13 in this paper. although this paper has an English name, its written in German.

**********

Sponsoring:

"Martina earns well, very well" says Martina's agent and tournament director B.Ritschard. Her income consists of three parts.

With the prize money she fetched this year upto now USD one million.

The second part are the promotion-compensations. These have to be paid by the tournament organizers when they make promotions with the players during the tournament. These compensations double more or less her prize money, mainly as she is very popular on the tour.

The third parts are contracts with Adidas and Yonex and other personal contracts with V-Zug etc. These contracts get her about USD ten millions.

"The success is really great" says Daniela Hotz, responsible for PR with V-Zug, "although the beginning was rather modest.

We engaged Martina, when her career seemed to be finished".

Next Tuesday, V-Zug and Martina shall inform during the Zurich Open, about an extension of the contract.

**********
Hilarius

What is most interesting in this article are the promotions-compensations. The prize money you can look up on the WTA website. And about the USD ten millions you could read in the papers some times ago.

WTA injury saga continues...

Martina Hingis was one of the few big names to actually show up as promised this past summer in Montreal.


WTA suffering from withdrawls
October 12, 2006

Fans, sponsors and TV executives sensed it, and now the WTA Tour has put it in black and white: Top women's tennis players pulled out of events at a record rate this season.

In an effort to address the issue, tour CEO Larry Scott called Friday for rules changes in 2007 that would double fines for withdrawals and reduce the number of events players must enter.

"The women's game has changed a lot over the last five to seven years in terms of the depth; the power with which players hit the ball; the rigors of the tour, mentally and physically," Scott said in a telephone interview from St. Petersburg, Fla.

"The game's changed a lot, but the structure and the demands on the players haven't changed. If anything, they've gotten tougher. That's what we're trying to fix."

As if to illustrate Scott's point, U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova withdrew Friday from the Kremlin Cup before her quarter-final match, citing a right foot injury.

"I couldn't practice and even walk yesterday," she said. "I have to pull out. I'm really disappointed, but I have no choice."

At least spectators in Russia got to see her play one match. More than ever, leading women's tennis players are failing to show up at all.

Sharapova also withdrew from the Rogers Cup in Montreal this summer, an event that has hit hard by no-shows.

The list included France's Mary Pierce, Switzerland's Patty Schnyder, Russia's Vera Zvonareva, France's Amelie Mauresmo, Belgium's Justine Henin-Hardenne, American Venus Williams and Russia's Elena Bovina.

According to the tour, withdrawals from Tier I events -- the 10 most important WTA tournaments -- by players ranked in the top 10 more than doubled from 13 in 2005 to a record 31 in 2006.

Withdrawals at Tier I tournaments by top-10 players have increased 72 per cent over the past five seasons, the tour said, and for the first time, none of the 10 Tier I events featured more than five women ranked in the top 10.

And those statistics don't take into account the four Grand Slam tournaments or headline-grabbing players no longer in the top 10. Serena Williams missed Wimbledon and the French Open, for example. Venus Williams and defending champion Kim Clijsters withdrew from the U.S. Open.

"The last 12 to 15 months have created a sense of urgency for us," Scott said.

In recent weeks, Scott drew up proposals for next season he expects to be approved by the WTA board of directors no later than its meeting in Madrid in November:

-- reduce the number of WTA tournaments a player must enter from 13, probably to 12 (in addition to Grand Slam events and Fed Cup);

-- double fines for withdrawing, with the current maximum of US$20,000 rising to $40,000;

-- prevent players from getting wild cards into tournaments a week after withdrawing from another event.

Scott also wants to implement by 2009 some wider changes originally slated to go into effect in 2010:

-- shorten the season by two weeks so it ends in October instead of November, giving players an offseason that lasts two months instead of six weeks;

-- reduce the minimum number of WTA tournaments a player must enter to 11 or fewer;

-- add more breaks during the season, including changing Fed Cup dates so players aren't required to play right after Grand Slam tournaments.

Similar moves are being considered in men's tennis. ATP chairman Etienne de Villiers said in August he wants to figure out how to discourage top players from withdrawing from tournaments, and he raised the possibility of rankings point reductions. The ATP already is trying to reduce wear and tear by eliminating best-of-five-set finals at tournaments that use best-of-three matches earlier in the draw.

"I've gotten a lot of feedback," Scott said, "from fans, television broadcast partners, our sponsors, plus the players themselves, saying, 'Help! We need to make some changes."'

source:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/tennis/article.jsp?content=20061013_191619_1828