Indians or Native Americans or First Nations Peoples

Grand Canyon 057
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

One of the biggest confusions which has proved very detrimental to us is the mistaken identity of Christopher Columbus. This mistake has led to the term "Indian" become a derogatory word which refers to an uncouth, savage, violent, dirty, and tribal individual. Though over the centuries the truth has come out that these tribes in continental America are not Indians but they have their own distinct identity, the European White dominated West has obstinately refused to acknowledge their mistake and the US government continues to have a body known as "Bureau of Indian Affairs" which is responsible for the first nations peoples.
This picture is a classic example of how the west is using the term "Indian" to denigrate us, the people from India. There are signages around this ruin which says that this is an "Indian Dwelling". A bunch of stones placed unevenly around is an "Indian Dwelling", they are far from the truth. The truth is in this other picture which is the "Indian Dwelling" in India.

Chandragiri Palace
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

I wonder how many centuries it will take for the European-White-Dominated US Government, media and society to realize that Indians are the people from India and the original inhabitants of this continent are "First Nations Peoples".

Watch TV and win Laptop computers

I have been following Charter Communications and their activities, contests, and giveaways. This is one company which seems like giving its customers several rewards and that too quite frequently. Earlier this year they gave away HDTVs in their daily sweepstakes. Those who didn't win that time have another chance now, the prize is a brand new laptop computer. Their latest promotion is known as Laptop-a-Day Sweepstakes. The best part of this giveaway is that they are giving one laptop (HP 550 Notebook 15-inch with Windows Vista and a NeoTec Compu Backpack) away everyday for two months. That is what I would call a bonanza for Charter customers.

The sweepstakes began on July 15, 2009 and will go on through September 15. That means there are still more than 30 opportunities to win a laptop. Don't worry if you don't win a laptop, there are gift cards of $25-100 value to be won.

To think of it I think the timing of this contest is so right. Students are getting ready to go back to school and if they participate in this contest and win a laptop or gift cards it would a big savings in their back-to-school shopping.

I am sure by now everyone is curious to know how to participate in these giveaways and get their hands on the laptop computer. It is easy just visit Charter website and register to be eligible to win. You could get regular updates on Charters sweepstakes and giveaways by following Charter on Twitter. If you are not on twitter, no sweat, you could access Charter on Facebook and still be in touch.

Don't forget to participate and lose your chance to win a laptop in this promotion.

Plano Fun Ride

I volunteered at the 1st Annual Plano Fun Ride, a bicycle rally organized in aid of few local charities. The short ride (5 & 10 mile) was cut further short due to thunder storm. I was standing at the intersection playing the role of a signpost and directing traffic. Only about 250 riders showed up for the ride and less than 100 people completed the 10 mile ride. Here are some pictures I shot from my vantage point.

Weston, Tx - the oldest town in Collin County

Over the weekend we had been driving around in Collin County to scout an ideal route for a bicycle ride/ rally. We passed through a small 2-4 road city known as "Weston", which apparently has the oldest city hall in Collin County. Here are pictures of the same. Though most roads of this village are in shambles, the main arterial road which links this with rest of the county is in excellent condition.
The beauty of these villages in the US is their sparse population, which results in clean settings. The road infrastructure is simply superb which makes travel to and from these remote places easy.
It is a pity not many people bicycle in these areas because the roads are so good and the vast open spaces that flank the road and the wonderful scenery are well worth taking in while on a visit here.

Weston City Hall, the oldest in Collin County

Excellent roads link every small city, even if it just a few hundred population

Like every other village, city or town, Weston too has a swank church. I wonder why they had to name this one "First Baptist Church". I haven't come across any second Baptist church. Most that I come across are First Baptist churches, I wonder what the secret is.

Clothing and Equipment for Security Personnel

Every community, city, state and nation has its own law enforcement force. These people are absolutely necessary to prevent unscrupulous elements from gaining entry and disrupting normal life. Law enforcement personnel need specialized equipment and clothing to perform at the highest efficiency. These equipment are used by private security forces and few individuals who work in public safety field.

I recently came across the website of CHIEF, a dealership which sells over 300 brands of public safety gear and apparel. One of the famous line of apparel they sell is under armour, which has been preferred by Fire, EMS, Law Enforcement and related professionals during the past 30 odd years.

This long stint in the business has given CHIEF the edge and advantage which enables them to price the products competitively, provide excellent customer service, fast delivery and computerized order taking.

Shopping with CHIEF has several advantages such as worry-free ordering via internet, telephone, fax and mail. That is not all if you are not satisfied you can return the product within 90-days for a replacement or refund. If you are in the market for tactical gear or clothing don't bother to search for anything other than CHIEF.

Hectic Summer!!!

It has been over 10 days since I blogged. Not because nothing happened in my life but because too many things have been happening and there has been no time to do anything other than, work, school, home and trying to put together an event plan for a fund-raising bicycle rally for Sankara Eye Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to eradication of curable blindness in India. Hopefully if this event becomes successful then the organization SEF will gain popularity and earn some money which will help open eyes in India.

Meanwhile I found a part time job with a small enterprise, wonder how long this job will last. The previous part time job lasted three months before it got Bangalored. This job will definitely not get Bangalored but in America nothing is permanent. So I don't know how much I can rely upon my job. At least I am glad for one thing, this will help pay for my college fees for fall 2009.

On the education front, things are still uncertain. Though the worst grade I have got is a B (80-90%), the average student here gets an A. I hope at least this fall I will manage to make straight A's and once again make it to the Dean's list. Let us see what is in store for me in the next few months.

New Contest from Charter Cable

Charter cable, the leading entertainment technology corporation in the country is totally adored by its customers and envied by competition. Charter cable constantly rolls our new and innovative competitions for the benefit of its customers. Each contest has several fantastic prizes so that participants are truly benefited. Last year Charter gave away laptop computers, Xbox 360 game consoles and a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid. This year the prizes are equally attractive, read on...

The latest contest launched by Charter relates to how we use technology in our lives. It is a fact that technology tools, especially in the entertainment, television and internet media are changing at a rapid rate and many people find it difficult to keep in touch. Now all you need to do to win a cool 15” laptop or a 52” HDTV is to tell your story of how you cope up with the technology changes. Thousands are expected to participate in this contest, and one lucky customer who submits their story will win the prize.

The stories can be around everyday life things such as whether you follow Charter on Facebook and use the same tool to keep in touch with friends. Whether you rent movies from Blockbuster or order movies online, if you play video games with friends and how do you enjoy life with an extended family spread out across the country. Has Charter Communications' services helped you in these endeavors? How have these amazing tools on telephone, internet or cable helped you keep in touch with family and friends?

All you have to do is to write a story and you will be entered into the drawings to win the prize package of one 52” HFTV, one 15” Laptop, and a free year of the Charter Bundle which includes Digital Cable with HD and a DVR, Charter High-Speed Internet and Charter Telephone.

Now that is what I call a real prize and boy I am sure there are several of you out there who would love to get their hands on these prizes. Don't delay log on today and submit your story.

Rural America same as Rural India

Being from India and having heard only good... no.. great things about the US and its wonderful infrastructure, I can't help but compare and contrast what I see here with what is there back home. I drove through many of the rural roads of Collin County last weekend and I was surprised with what I saw. Narrow, single lane, pot-holed, trash-ridden roads, ramshackle homes, horses, donkeys, cattle and poultry in the fields among others. The only difference between Indian rural areas and US rural areas is the lack of people. It is almost impossible to see people in this country. Occasional cars are all we saw while we drove. Check out the pictures of the great American roads and decide for yourself.

Reliable Auto Repair in Carona

When I was in India, I learned about the three basic necessities for life: Food, Clothing and Shelter. I moved to the US a little over 18 months ago and in this country there are four basic necessities for life: food, clothing, shelter and a car. Yes if one has to live in the US, owning a car is definitely a basic need.

Owning a car is not simple, one has to care for and maintain the vehicle in good running condition. Identifying and establishing rapport with a reliable auto body shop corona is critical to car ownership. There are large networks of reliable collision repair experts across the US. But you can know who is good only through the ratings and testimonials of their customers. The first thing to do while looking for an auto body shop is to ask friends and family. Their referrals will help you identify the right shop for you to get your car cared for.

Grand Canyon - Ruins

Grand Canyon is not all about nature and its wonders. There are many reasons to visit this natural world heritage site. Being an ardent traveller, nature lover, history enthusiast and an individual who intimately feels for the oppressed populations, I have a lot to look out for in the Grand Canyon. The first is of course, the natural beauty and the adventure possibilities the canyon offers.

Everytime I visit any historical location in the US. Everywhere, an intense sense of rage and frustration descends upon me because of the terminology which is used by the government/ national park service folks. There is a constant drumming of the fact that there were "Indians" or "American Indians" or "Native Indians" here before the Europeans landed and took over the country. This is grossly wrong, there were large native populations in this country and each one had their own nation, such as Apache, Choctaw, Hopi, Pueblo, Comanche, etc.

I'd like to present this picture of a ruins of a settlement in the Grand Canyon. According to some signage, this picture depicts the dwelling of some Native American tribes during 1,000 BC. Of course the signage says "Indian" while refering to the tribes. I understand that 500 years ago when Columbus landed here, he thought he had landed in India and called the people Indians. But since then the world has changed, there has been knowledge explosion thanks to the internet and other communication technologies. Despite these changes, the only thing that seems to persist is that "Native Americans" continue to be called "Indians". I can only infer this mis-nomer as an effort to degrade us, the real Indians from India.

Way back in 5,000 BC India had a glorious civilization and much more advanced society in terms of urban development, roads, art, architecture, culture, language, metallurgy, etc. Some of which have not been replicated to this date by any other civilization... not even the so called "Scientifically Advanced" first world nations. But these people continue to misrepresent India and our people in various forms. Be it in history or in the media such as the recent Oscar-awarded movie "Slumdog Millionaire" and the people who consume such media happily believe this.

I wonder when the "West will Learn".

High Fashion Jeans from Armani Exchange

I love wearing jeans and denim trousers. I am always on the lookout for fashionable, comfortable and high quality jeans to add to my wardrobe. Recently I came across the Armani Exchange, a line of jeans which are the answer to my quest for stylish and comfortable jeans. I browsed through the styles and found several appealing jeans which I would prefer to buy. My first choice would be the J101 Boot, which features a low rise boot cut classic fit jeans. The unique feature of this jean includes red thread accents, signature A | X branding. My second choice is the same fit with a destruction wash because this style of washing gives the feel of vintage stone wash and hand sanding makes it feel worn and faded, though new.

Another style I really liked is the J127 SLIM which features a low rise slim leg standard fit. I like this because, when I wear this I feel taller than I am, thanks to the slim leg. I would prefer a normal Dark wash product in this style and I am sure this will make me popular at school. I wonder if what I am talking about makes any sense, so I am including a screen shot of what I liked.

In my experience of shopping I have noticed that premium denims are expensive. When I read the A|X Blog, I came to know that Armani Exchange's Premium Denim range starts at about $98, which is total value for money.

Moreover Armani Exchange has launched a summer SMS contest through which participants can win a pair of denim everyday throughout the month of July. All one needs to do to participate in the text A|X content is to send a text message the keyword "DENIM2" to ARMANI (276264).

There are other promotions too. As part of the launch, buyers of a full price pair of denim (in store or online) before the 19th of July will be eligible for a $20 gift card for your next purchase of $100 or more. For the discount rules and conditions you could visit the website.

I have been talking about Armani Exchange all along. Now let me tell you a little about this brand. Created by Italian designer and entrepreneur Giorgio Armani, this line of clothing signifies youth, dance, music and symbolizes personal style and comfort. So if you think you are fashionable get into an Armani and flaunt your style.

Grand Canyon Monuments

Grand Canyon 068
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

This is another recreated monument on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. One thing strikes me about the US. When the Europeans started arriving in droves into this continent, they hated native Americans and started killing them without question. This resulted in bloody wars and lots of people were killed, especially on the native American side.
But now few hundred years later it is a fashion among European-Americans (White Americans) to say that part of their ancestry is "Choctaw" or "Cherokee" or "Apache" or "Pueblo" or something like that. Another thing that has been done to get more money and attract tourists is to rebuild the old monuments along tourist spots such as Grand Canyon. This will accomplish twin purposes... one successfully covers up the Atrocities meted out to native american populations by invading Europeans and two generates tourist revenue. It is a total "WIN-WIN" situation.

Search Engine for Offers and Deals

Marketing ideas and concepts are what makes the US a unique place. Here one can conceive an idea and turn it into a successful business thanks to the vibrancy of the society and free market economy. One such uniquely innovative business idea is to offer discounts for coupon holders. Everyone likes clipping coupons and saving on their shopping bills. How would it be if you could find hundreds of coupons on one place? Welcome to the world of Offeretti - Offers, Deals, Coupons, Savings, Specials and more.

All you need is to search for the product or service on the Offeretti website and you are all set to go. You can be assured of finding tons of great deals on Offeretti.

River View @ Grand Canyon's South Rim

Grand Canyon 073
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

This is perhaps the most fascinating view of the Grand Canyon that I got to see. I shot this picture at the far end of the South Rim of the canyon near the "Native American" Watch tower and other monuments. The unique feature of this view is that the can yon can be seen in its full glory. Not only can one see both the rims but one can also see its depths where the Colorado river swirls along.
Taking in this view I wish I could just jump into the Colorado river for a refreshing swim to escape the desert heat of Arizona. The azure waters of Colorado are definitely inviting.

Watch Your Favorite TV Shows Online - Free!!!

I am not a major TV buff but there are certain shows I would like to watch. But getting cable to watch one show could be way too expensive. I had to find a medium where I could watch TV and still not have to pay a lot. After some searching I found Spreety TV Online : Watch TV Shows Online Free. This is a website where one can watch thousands of TV shows free and it is completely legal. For example I love travel shows and as I browsed through the Spreety TV online website I can catch my favorite show the Tattoo Highway Online. Apart from the travel shows there are over 5,000 shows from all genres. The best part is that every show is free.

Ancient Monument or Modern Store?

Grand Canyon 051
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

I shot this picture at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The first impression I got when I saw this building was that this must be some ancient, Native American ruins. But on getting closer I noticed that this is actually a recent construction or rather a recreation of an ancient building using the materials found here.
Currently a part of the building hosts a souvenir shop where all kinds of Made in China trinkets are sold to visitors and tourists.

Worried about property? Need efficient management?

One of the biggest challenges both individual home owners and real estate investors face is how to manage their property without getting into the details of it. If a home owner has to move to another city, then the home has to be leased and someone has to make sure that the house is kept in order. While for investors they are busy turning money around and don't want to get into managing their assets.

To bridge this gap, Real Property Management has been set up to offer management support. Irrespective of whether you own a single home or hundreds of properties they will service you and fulfill your needs. Real Property Management (RPM) has been recognized and awarded on several occasions for its great service to clients. Their awards and recognitions include, "Franchise of the Year Honarable Mention" award; the Bizjournal of Cincinnati and Columbus featured RPM Midwest.

Their great service is evidenced by the fact that owners of over 20,000 units nationwide have trusted RPM with their properties. RPM Midwest has been striving towards attaining higher standards and recently joined the National Association of Residential Property Managers.

Tusayan Museum, Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon 052
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

This is picture of the entrance of one of the several museums located on the south rim of the Grand Canyon. When I first saw the building, I thought that this must be a very old building renovated to house the museum. But I was wrong, according to a local official, this building was re-built in the style of the ancient buildings using locally available material and some debris of the old ruins.
Though the exteriorl of this building makes it appear like a ramshackle hut, the insides have all the modern comforts such as fire place, air conditioning etc. It is definitely worth a visit.

Rolex Watches at Discounted Prices

Every connoisseur of wrist watches has one desire, to buy and wear an original Rolex Watch. Well Rolex watches are among the world's most expensive and exclusive time pieces. It is hard to even imagine spending thousands of $$$s on a wrist watch, but several of us would happily spend that money on a Rolex. But now thanks to www.bestoftime.com aka Alex Jewelry, proud members of Better Business Bureau (BBB) are providing a unique opportunity for everyone to own a Rolex. They have received the A+ rating (the highest) from the BBB.

Best of Time aka Alex Jewelry has some amazing Rolex Watches at real low prices. Don't worry all the watches here are 100 percent genuine, certified and authentic and come with a 3 year warranty. The store invites you to visit their premises at 3180 Presidential Drive, Suite J, Atlanta, Georgia or call them on Tel: 888-721-1979 to fix a suitable appointment to view their fantastic Rolex collection. If you don't live in Georgia, you could simply visit their online store @ BestOfTime.com and browse through their collections. For further information you could e-mail them @ customerservice@bestoftime.com also.

How is it possible for Best of Time to sell Rolex watches at prices lower than the manufacturers suggested retail price? The company claims that they are an independent dealer and can decide on their pricing and margins and hence they prefer to sell more at lower prices than few at high prices.

If you are planning to buy a Rolex, just to to Best of Time.

Grand Canyon: A preferred getaway

Grand Canyon 019
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

Since early adolescence I had been awe struck by the sheer beauty and enigmatic presence of Grand Canyon. The frothing Colorado river beckoned me to raft on its waters and the deep ravines and remote crevasses along the Canyon has held some kind of mystery to me.
In 2007 when I landed in the US one of the first major destinations I visited was Grand Canyon.

When I saw the extreme level of commercialization and urbanization that have been put in place around the Grand Canyon, I was rather disappointed. I expected to find some Native Americans still attired in traditional clothes, riding horses and manning visitors. But things have changes quite a bit and I don't know whether it is for the better.

One way to look at it, with modern infrastructure, lot more people visit the place and the state and hundreds of people earn their living thanks to this. This provides access to the old, weak and challenged. But on the other side, considering the nature and the original inhabitants (Native Americans), the commercialization has pretty much uprooted them people and transformed the nature. I wonder what it will be like after 20 years.

Ultimate Online Employment Reference Guide!!!

In this economic scenario the biggest challenge faced by most college graduates is to find a suitable job. For those already employed retaining their jobs is posing a true challenge. Thousands have lost jobs due to recession and are scrambling to find alternative employment. Some have gone back to school in the hope of acquiring new skills and becoming employable in this economy, while others are contemplating becoming self employed.

Under these circumstances it becomes imperative that one needs to be of informed about important factors affecting their careers such as, best cities for specific professions, Job Salary Information, what extra skills needs to be acquired to get ahead, etc.

The internet is a great resource for such articles. The Career.QandAs.com offers some great information and resources in the form of over 1,000 articles on employment related topics such as, salary, career progression and interviewing. If you are in the market for a job or contemplating a career switch, this is where you go before taking the plunge.

World's longest motorcycle

While browsing the internet I found this interesting video and thought I'd share it on my blog. It is about how the World's Longest Motorcycle was built. This motorcycle was created/ engineered by Colin Furze of United Kingdom and measures 14.03 meters (46 ft 3 in) in length. Colin had to ride the home-grown motorcycle for about 100 meters to be accepted for the record. Nevertheless I think this is a spirited effort. Technologically it is nothing of any use to the human race but in terms of personal achievement, I think he has gotten there. Good for Colin.

Visit the Blu World and Win Fantastic Prizes

Online contests are fun, they offer opportunities to win really cool prizes. The best part of the online contests is the fact that some of them are absolutely free and don't even involve purchases. Now the latest such contest to open its doors for entries is "It's a Blu World Contest" by BluFrog.

Participants can walk away with cool prizes including a BluGamer - the ultimate gaming package, Happy Blu-Year - a trip on New Year's eve to NY, Blullapalooza: a trip to Lolapalloza in Chicago, BluStreak: a Richard Petty Racing Experience and of course XtremeBLU: A trip to the Winter X Games in Aspen. Now how would you like to be one of the winners to walk away with any one of these cool prizes? I bet every one of us would love to be in fray for the rich pickings.

You the funny thing is that entering this contest and winning is very easy. It is as easy as sending a Tweet. Yes! You could win this contest by Tweeting, commenting on their blog or by posting a note on your blog about the contest.

Speaking for myself I'd love to win the Happy Blu-Year prize, because this will help me accomplish two things. One of course being in the most happening place on New Year's eve and two visiting my dear brother who lives in NY. It would be a grant surprise for him and a very happy one at that. Me and my brother could get together and head to the Time square and have a blast with the Blu World.

So now if you want to win some cool stuff, just sign in and enter. The contest ends soon and you will be disappointed if you don't take action right now.

Tank in Texas Military History Museum

Tank in Texas Military History Museum
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

Since childhood I have always been attracted to these large weapons/ vehicles of destruction. I don't know why, but I have been impressed by these vehicles sheer powerful and scary looks. When I was a kid I used think of becoming a soldier and work in the tank regiment and fight the enemy if an eventuality arises.

As I grew older, life took me on a totally different path and here I am in the US studying business management and looking for a job. The only thing I do which gets me close to war machines is when I visit military and war museums.

Play Multiplayer Games Online

Online gaming is the biggest craze since internet speeds rose and high end graphics came into being. Starting from young children to seniors everyone is slowly but surely getting hooked to online gaming. The most popular online games include Billiards, Word games, fighting games etc. Speaking of Billiards I recently came across a fantastically graphic website http://www.8c1.net which lets people play multiplayer games online.

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of online gaming websites, what makes this different? In my opinion it is the high-end graphics, 3-D feel of the games, fast downloads and amazing sound effects is what sets this site head and shoulders above the rest of the crop.

My verdict is simple, if you are into online gaming just go to www.8c1.net and you will not go anywhere else.

Efficient Resource Management

houston-oct-4- 024
Originally uploaded by srinidhilv.

One of the things I like about the US is the way they manage their natural resources. Take for example rivers, streams, creeks, brooks, lakes and other water bodies. I have traveled to several different cities, both large and small across the US and no where have I seen a water body being killed to make way for commercial or residential development. Town planners always leave certain amount of space around the water body so that the natural elements are not hindered and earth retains at least some of its moisture and ground water content.

Take for example this river which flows right by Downtown Houston. If it were elsewhere it would have probably been closed down and buildings built atop its dried up bed. Or perhaps they would have used this as a natural sewage line and emptied untreated domestic sewage into the water body thus killing it slowly.

But in the US most water bodies are usually left alone and development takes place along side. Of course the river does get polluted, but not as polluted as it would get if wastes were directly emptied into them.

I think back home in India town planners need to realize this and learn to conserve resources so the future generations can have water, the elixir of life.

Contact Lenses or Lasik, which is cheaper?

People with eye problems often face several dilemmas. The first being choosing between spectacles and contact lenses. Spectacles if not created to suit the user can mar the beauty of the wearer. Contact lenses are expensive and need continuous care and replacement. Now with advancement in eye care and medical therapies, there is a new dilemma contact lenses or LASIK. In this case also the primary concerns are the cost.

In the short term it appears that contact lenses are cheaper compared to Lasik. According to a new quantitative research, wearing contact lenses could actually prove more expensive over a lifetime. For example the research states that a 25 year old wear extended wear contacts will spend over $20,000 through his/ her life. That is a very steep number, my sister and brother both wear contact lenses and I need to tell them about these costs.

I feel that with iLASIK one can completely avoid contact lenses and eliminate recurring costs. The savings will prove phenomenal in the long run.

Historically we are living in tough economic times and every penny saved is a penny earned. It is time we let eye care experts take care of our eyes and junk those contact lenses and go in for the most modern LASIK. This procedure is covered by most health savings accounts which provides a tax deductible method to pay for better vision.

Patients who have had the LASIK procedure done are extremely happy with the results and they feel that the costs are not as high as they thought it was. Moreover the elimination of recurring contact lens costs came as a big boon.

Collin Classic 2009

Over the weekend I participated in the Collin Classic 2009, a bicycling event which took me along with about 2,000 other riders through the rolling hills of Collin County. One thing I have realized after participating in couple of bike events is that country roads in Texas are not as big or good as the highways. Country roads are narrow and often potholed. The villages are quite similar to Indian villages barring couple of differences, which are actually quite significant.

The first and primary difference between an American village and Indian village is the road infrastructure. Many Indian villages don't have proper roads, and often times the roads are just mud tracks. Another difference is the housing, here the houses are built of wood and some are mobiles homes and trailers. Barring difference in material the quality of homes seem quite the same as in most prosperous villages in India. The biggie in terms of difference is the fact that every home has couple of cars/ trucks. A fact which is impossible to see in India.

Anyway I didn't carry a camera to the ride and hence I have had to depend on the internet to scout for pictures of Collin Classic. I found a trove of pictures shot by Ateupamateur on Flickr and thought I'd post them in here.

Uniquely Refreshing Ideology

Reading all kinds of non-fiction and non-science books, literature, articles and websites is one of my big passions. Recently I came across The Voluntaryist Website, which presented a totally ideology to me. The idea and thought of Voluntaryism. Feeling interested I browsed through the site reading the various articles posted online. The site belongs to the Voluntaryist newspaper which propagates the idea of Libertarianism or voluntaryism, meaning live freely and responsibly. Voluntaryists don't want government or any other body controlling their freedom and tell them what to do or what not to do.

One of the articles in the website defines freedom as a "Mental condition - a condition of the spirit". Another article on the website by Carl Watner describes the Pennsylvania Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 and how the US Government handled the situation.

It is a different thing whether I agree with the idea of Voluntaryism or not, but one thing I definitely say is that this website is a treasure trove of human knowledge and everyone interested in free society, true liberty and responsibility must read it.

Campus Rumpus

Summer classes started on Monday and things have become atrociously busy since then. Six hours of classes every evening with at least one quiz, test or exam every day. This semester is short, just five weeks, 20 days of classes and in that we need to cover 10 quizzes, 5 tests, 3 exams and one comprehensive final exam. What does this mean? 18 out of 20 days we will be having something or the other. The only way to excel or get an A grade is to obtain 90-100 in every one of the test, quiz or exam.

When I first started college in the US last year somethings were shocking. For one thing students never address professors as sir/ madame, it was by their name. On the contrary some professors address students as sir and madame. Something almost impossible in India... at least in my college days.

When I told people that I was studying, they would ask me "Which school do you go to?" Initially I wondered whether I look like a high school kid or are they pulling my leg. But later I came to know that here, a university is referred to a school and a PhD research scholar is also going to "school".

Students come in and go out of classes whenever they please, no need to ask permission of the faculty.

Most students come into class carrying bottles of cool drinks, tall mugs of coffee/ tea, snack boxes, sandwiches, etc. Classes are like picnic spots, students can eat, drink, chew gum, etc. The only requirement is to listen to the lecture and not disturb other students. Even professors bring drinks and sip on during the lecture. This never happened in India. I remember in my college days if anyone was found eating in class, he/ she would be sent out.

There are hundreds of similar differences I could write about. For now this is enough I guess. Would like to know your thoughts.

Harley Davidson - My Dream Motorcycle

Every biker's dream would be to own a Harley Davidson motorcycle. The deep throaty thumping beat of the motorcycle generates flutters in everyone's heart. I have been attracted to this big V-twin motorcycle ever since my teen years. At that time I was in India and it was impossible to even see a Harley, let alone ride or own one. But being a great fan of this legendary motorcycle, I bought several Harley Davidson Accessories such as a jacket, key chain, cigarette lighter, etc.

I moved to the US 18 months ago and now I live in Texas, the big state where one can ride motorcycles almost round the year. Here is where I got an opportunity to ride a Harley and also visit a showroom. I now understand that the cost of owning a Harley is quite high. Buying a new Harley is quite expensive and in this country, insuring one is even more expensive. Then there is the cost of maintenance. HD Parts can be expensive if bought at the wrong place.

One thing I must say here is that Texas is definitely an out and out Harley Davidson state. On clear days one can see hundreds of Harley riders enjoying their ride on the highways. These guys attired in leathers, astride on gleaming motorcycles, ride on without a care in the world enjoying the sun and winds blowing against their faces. Sometimes I do stop by and have a chat with the owners of these beautiful motorcycles.

Somehow or the other the topic moves to maintenance and I have gathered that most people don't patronize a mechanic or repair shop. They work on their motorcycles and fix problems, if any were to occur. One owner was very candid and said he would simply go online and order Discount Harley Parts because it is a lot faster than fixing a repair appointment and taking the motorcycle to a shop. I guess the high labor costs at official Harley Davidson shops could be quite a deterrent. But looking at the other side, I'd say it gives the owners immense pride to say that the motorcycle is self maintained.

Benjamin Bolger - A Saga of perseverence

There is something special about some people, I guess they are gifted with one special quality, perseverance. This was my first thought when I read about Benjamin B. Bolger, a 33-yr old dyslexic individual who has obtained 11-advanced degrees from the premier universities across the world, including Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard. Being dyslexic his reading and understanding ability is still at grade 5 level. This makes him take much much longer than any normal individual to read through and under the same material.

Bolger was diagnosed dyslexic when he was 2-and-half years old. Since then his parents, especially mother, have been very supportive. They searched around and put him a school which caters to special needs children and when they couldn't find one suitable, they just home schooled him.

The fact that he is a gifted individual became obvious to me when I read that he enrolled into college at 12 years. Despite his dyslexia, he was able to enroll into college at the age of 12 and that is not all, he graduated with a 4.0 GPA. I am sure lot of us would want to be in Bolger's shoes and achieve such grades.

Anyway, I think this guy should be looked up for inspiration by parents with dyslexic kids or even teachers who work with children. This proves that when an individual is under-endowed in one area, he is gifted in some other... it is only a matter finding the area in which he/ she is gifted and work on that.

Head to Branson for a Fun-filled Summer Vacation

Hey friends! Summer is already here and my gosh I still haven't made my travel arrangements. Luckily for me I don't have to make new plans, I have decided to visit Branson, MO and take in the fantastic festivities and shows that is on offer there. My New York-based friend is going to book ouaccommodations at the Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing and all I have to do is to pack my bags and get onto a plane that will get me to Branson. I am all the more thrilled because I am staying at a hotel which is close to the center of all action. I will have easy access to all the shows, museums and other attractions of the Midwest's entertainment capital.

Now isn't that cool, enjoying summer vacation at Branson, where all the action happens. I have told you all what I am going to do this summer, now it is upto you to decide and if you want to join me and my friends, book your accommodations immediately at Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel. We could hang out together and enjoy a great summer.

The reason why I insisted on staying at one of the Hilton hotels is because, they provide access to every conceivable attraction in Branson. Shops, restaurants, boutiques, river walk, tourist attractions and even a beautiful golf course. Now that is what I call real enjoying a holiday. With all luxury and facilities at our beck and call, the days in Branson would be packed and relaxed.

Whenever I visit Branson I look forward to their live entertainment and theaters. Of course there are other attractions such as the Father's Day Salute, Annual Clown Jam, etc. I hear that there are 49 live entertainment theaters in Branson, I have been to three and would love to take in the remaining 46 or at least three more in my next visit. My most favorite attraction in Branson, continues to be the Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery, a great family attraction. I simply feeding the fish and watching gobbling down the fish food. The guides out there are simply cooperative and they will talk to you and explain interesting features about the fish.

So are you coming to Branson with us this year? If you are still contemplating, the special packages offered by the Hilton hotels in Branson should convince you to vacation there this summer. Check it out and you will definitely create memories this summer.

Re-discovering Kannada Movies

"Absence makes the heart grow fonder" is a common saying that people use while talking about their loved ones, especially when they are away. It is true we miss our loved ones when they are not with us. Having moved from Bangalore to Dallas, I miss my parents and my home town. But after moving here one thing I find myself missing is Kannada films. That is surprising because back in Bangalore I rarely watched movies and Kannada movies were only on TV and probably one in a few years.

But having moved here I began to miss Kannada films and that is when I started searching online to watch movies in my mother tongue. I agree the films are not as well made as Hollywood flics or even Bollywood movies. But nevertheless there is some strange joy when I watch these Kannada movies. Even though the, barring a few, heroes look like ogres and heroines are almost always garishly made up, making them look more like vamps than heroines.

Anyway the purpose of posting this was to drive home the point that when one is away from an object of affection, be it an individual, vehicle, language or place, it is highly possible that the love for that something will increase multifold. This will make us do things which we would normally not do. In my case watching Kannada movies.

Speeding up your computer!

I have been using computers since the past 15 years, both for work and for personal use. Over the years the bulky desktop computer has made way for sleek and light laptops and tablet computers. But advancement in technology has come with its own problems, memory issues, compatibility, software upgrades, new operating systems, etc.

In my previous PC the most frequent problem I used to face was shortage of memory. The moment I started multi-tasking by opening more than 5 windows the computer would become painfully slow. Those were frustrating days and the only way to fix the issue was to spend hundreds of $$s and expand memory. A few years ago Microsoft came out with, what it claimed to be a radical change in operating system. The Windows Vista was launched and the geek in me wanted it so I bought it and installed it on my computer.

The frustration began then, slow speeds, frequent crashes and painstakingly slow operating system. I was desperately trying to get it fixed and approached several technology professionals and the standard quote was that they would charge $50 just to look at and diagnose problems in my computer. I felt let down.

A few days ago I came across this fantastic solution online. This group offers a great software solution to improve our productivity. Their promise: 30 seconds is all it takes to increase power and productivity by 500%. Well even if they live up to their promise by half i.e. improving my productivity by 250% I'd be overjoyed.

The price for this is just $12.95 and there is a money back guarantee too. The next time I have a problem with my PC I know where to go to improve my computing experience without spending hundreds on memory. I can finish my work faster and accomplish more.

Weekend Picnic: Visit to an Automobile Junkyard

Yesterday we did something totally outrageous and sort of adventurous. We went to an automobile junkyard looking for a set of good used tires for our Toyota 4 Runner. After visiting couple of junkyards and looking at what they have to offer, we simply decided to forget all about it and buy brand new tires from Firestone or some such store.

Thousands of dead cars, awaiting a decent funeral. Being mauled and molested even after their demise...

The first place we visited was a U-pull it yard. What does that mean? Well simply put, it is a vast area.. maybe 40-50 acres of open space piled up with crashed, trashed and junked cars of all perceivable models, makes, sizes, shapes and colors. One has to pay $1 to enter inside and pull out anything from any car out there, come out pay for it and take it home. In a nutshell, I'd call this place as a big graveyard for cars and a few motorcycles. People come here and salvage the parts they need and repair their cars cheaper.

Parking lot or a stack of crashed cars?

Anyone who is proud of their car and feels like a king behind the wheel should not visit this place. The once proud boy toys lie in mangled heaps all over the place. There are ice-cream vending vehicles, automobile maintenance vehicles gone into disuse, church vans and many more.

Once Proudly owned and lovingly maintained cars.. now nothing but a stack of sheet metal..

There's beauty at the far end of the junk yard... a quaint lake with beautiful bird life. But I wonder how long the lake is going to live? As Americans use and crash more cars, many more are going to end up in places like this and when space becomes scarce, the first thing to get hit is the creek. I hope it doesn't happen.

Nature thrives, where human beings don't meddle... even in junk yards

Sourcing Parts for my cars!

Since moving to US about 18 months ago I have been learning a lot of new stuff. I have learned that one has to do his own job here because labor is very expensive. Another important part of shopping for anything in the us is to look for the same product in multiple locations, to make sure you are not being ripped off.

One area where I was not doing this much is when buying auto parts. I would let the repair guys take care of it. But recently I got top-dollar repair estimate. I decided that I need to check out if the parts they are quoting for really cost so much. I just got online and searched.

I found a website known as GreatAutoParts.com where one could buy almost every part of the car and being an online entity the prices are great too. The exhaustive parts catalog is easy to use and it takes only a few minutes to find what you are looking for. Curiosity helped me find a wonderful new resource and saved me lots of $$$s. Unfortunately I didn't do this earlier, I wish I had. It would have saved me much more.

So if you are in the market for auto parts, don't let the dealer decide. Take matters in your own hand and visit Great Auto Parts website. You may be surprised by what you find.

Poolside Barbeque Party

What do Texans do on weekends? Poolside Barbecue in summer and Estate sales and shopping in winter. That pretty much sums up the activities possible here. Dallas is a pretty boring place, flat as a chapathi and boring as a solid state physics class. People here have invented pastimes such as eating out (Dallas has the largest number of restaurants per capita in the world), shopping, estate sales and the most favorite Texas Barbeque.

Being vegetarians we don't fit into a Barbeque party where meat of every possible animal is smoked over coals and consumed. But our host invited us to have fun by the pool and have salad. Well we agreed and proceeded to Ben's home for an afternoon of fun by the pool. Ever played pool volleyball? Well it is lot of fun, string a net in the center of the pool and start hitting the ball across and that is it.

During a break from the game our host asked: "Are you vegetarian for religious reasons?". "Well!" I replied, "I am an animal lover, so I don't like them being killed to end up on my plate,". Ben laughed out loud and said: "I love animals too. Whenever I see a cow, I think of what a tasty steak she will make.". Very funny and totally different perspectives I thought.

Anyway after few more games and a dinner of salad and veggies we returned home tired and sleepy.

New Attractions at Sea World Orlando

Traveling is my most favorite hobby. I particularly love visiting places associated with water. Oceans, riversides, water parks, aquariums and sea world are among my most visited destinations. Quite naturally when I heard about SeaWorld Orlando's new attractions I am feeling thrilled. This month the newest attraction here, the
Manta, is opening. I wish I could go there now and be one of the first people to enjoy the experience. I will definitely visit it later the SeaWorld later this summer.

In commemoration of the arrival of these new attractions, SeaWorld is offering complimentary "Front-of-the-line passes". Isn't that great, you just register and win the simple contests on the website and you will be eligible to win these passes to Manta at SeaWorld Orlando. There are six different activities in which you could participate to win these "Front-of-the-line" passes. There is one hint though, all the contests are centered around one theme: The Manta. The answers are all hidden in various pages of the website. Easier still to get your answers is to follow @RealShamu on Twitter and you will get closer to win these cool Manta prizes.

One of the things I found on this website is this wonderful video which gives you a first hand experience of Manta.



Now that you have seen the video I am sure you are all the more thrilled about SeaWorld's newest attractions. The best way to get there and get "Front-of-the-line" pass to Manta at SeaWorld Orlando is by participating in the contest. There are six steps to the contest and participate in all of them, there are no restrictions to the number of entries in each section. If you want to win the passes you need to participate in all the six steps.

Dry Zone in Dallas

Yesterday I got the biggest surprise of my life since I arrived in the US. There are areas in DFW Metro and rest of the US where prohibition is in force. Yes stores in these jurisdictions can't sell alcoholic beverages including Wine and Beer. And if you want to have a drink with your meal at a fancy restaurant, you will have to get a Unicard - basically fill up some paperwork. The restaurant will take care of your paperwork. Much like the Permit Room system in Maharashtra, India.

We were trying to buy a bottle of wine to take to a friend's birthday party. The area was unfamiliar but we thought that every grocery store should have a wine section. But to our surprise we discovered this is indeed untrue and after visiting two grocery and couple of convenience stores at gas stations, intrigued we asked the last store why nobody seems to want to sell wine. Then the store executive explained that we were in the dry zone and we had to travel few more miles to get into a wet zone so as to be able to buy wine.

However there is no prohibition at home, one can drive to the next city buy as much wine and bring it back home. It is only that stores can't retail alcohol, and restaurants need Unicard to serve Alcohol.

Finding this type of zoning regulations in the US was a huge surprise. There are strange laws here too. I am definitely surprised.

Branson, Missourie: A place for fun and festivities this summer

Summer is the time when almost everyone in the US travel. While teenagers and older people travel by themselves to Europe, Mexico or Caribbean islands, families with children drive/ fly across the country visiting remote and well known parts of the US. This is the way young kids get to know their country and appreciate its recent history and heritage.

One of the most popular destinations I have heard about is Branson, Missouri. Sited in the Midwest region of US and famously known as the entertainment capital, Branson is famous for its shows. Summer is already here and the top destination on my list is Branson, MO. My internet research led to one of the most famous hotels: Hilton Promenade at Branson Landing. I have heard this hotel offers the most comfortable rooms and easy to access to all the shows and important tourist attractions. When I stay here I am sure to be in the center of all the action. Another hotel on my list of preferred places to stay is Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel, also situated bang in the center of Branson, MO.

When I travel I like to stay in the heart of the city so I will have easy access to shopping, restaurants, attractions and in Branson, I am fond of the river walk. I would like to go for a stroll across the river walk every morning and do some window shopping, grab a leisurely breakfast. Another great place I look forward to spending quality time during my vacation is at the new Payne Stewart Golf Club, set amidst breathtaking scenery.

Branson's events are the most important attractions of this city. Summer events include the Father’s Day Salute, National Kid’s Fest at Silver Dollar City, the 10th Annual Clown Jam, etc. Apart from these mega events, there are hundreds of live entertainment, theaters and magic shows, musical performances etc. For those like me who want a little outdoor activities and regular attractions, there are numerous lakes, museums and theme parks, too.

Feeling geared up to visit Branson, this summer, I researched more about accommodation options and came to know that the Hilton hotels are offering some cool packages. Their advance purchase rates are applicable on online booking and it is lot cheaper than their regular rates. I am sure going to take advantage of this feature and book online.

My summer vacation is going to be a fun filled holiday at Branson, MO. What about yours?

Panoramic Summer Views

Summer in Texas is the season I dislike, the heat is searing and pierces into one's being. I would fall sick if I am out in the sun the whole day, probably because during the past year and half of being here I have been primarily indoors. Not like in Bangalore when I would be out in the open exposed to the elements more than one day a week. Anyway, one thing I like about summer in Texas is the opportunity to capture some great pictures in natural light. Beautiful cloud formations, colorful flowers, vast open spaces, large fresh water reservoirs, etc. I think the presence of over 100 large (really large) lakes in and around Dallas area makes it a tad cooler otherwise I am sure this place would have bee hot as hell.

Exposed to Asbestos at work? Get a good lawyer to fight your case?

One of the biggest risk Industrial workers face in their daily lives is that of exposure to hazardous chemicals. This day-to-day exposure to often-carcinogenic substances could lead to health disasters, not only affecting the workers but their families as well.

One of the industries predominantly related to exposing its workers to hazardous chemicals is mechanical fabrication. Individuals working in the areas of shipbuilding, automobile, building demolition and related areas are at high risk to asbestos exposure. These people and their families are highly susceptible to an often fatal form of lung cancer called Mesothelioma.

But what is worse is that workers diagnosed with Mesothelioma don't receive any compensation from their employers, though they are legally entitled to it. Though it is seems like a simple case of employee rights, organizations try and often succeed in avoiding payments. It takes an expert Mesothelioma Lawyer to get compensation to affected workers. The lawyer has to be aggressive and smart to be successful against corporations.

If you or your loved one is affected by this type cancer due to exposure to hazardous materials such as asbestos, get in touch with the right Mesothelioma Lawyers who will ensure that you receive the right compensation you deserve.

Movie Review: Never Back Down

I watched this teenage fighting movie recently. This movie showcases how teenagers in the US are addicted to youtube and mobile video devices. The movie features illegal fights, teen rivalry in high schools, Multi media messaging and how videos are propagated among school kids in the US.

The movie starts off with a high-school football (American of course) game. One of the star players Jake Tyler (Sean Faris) of the winning team is taunted about his father by a disgruntled opposing player. Short-fused Jake gets into a fight and beats him up, this brawl is captured by spectators on mobile phones and uploaded to YouTube.

Quite expectedly Jake gets benched, but he is not worried because he transferring to a different school. Along with his younger brother Charlie (Wyatt Henry Smith) and widowed mom, Jake moves to Orlando, Florida where the latter has received a tennis scholarship. Jake's penchant for fighting and getting into trouble, upsets his mom (Leslie Hope).

At school, Jake attracts the attention of an attractive girl, Amber, and thinks he is set. But there is more in store for him, the boy friend of the girl who has seen his football brawl on youtube invites him for a party and challenges him for a fight. Inevitably Jake ends up broken and with a black eye. Jake feels let down by the girl who is having feelings for him and ends up becoming angry and frustrated.

One of Jakes class mates takes him to 365 Combat Club in which he starts training in Mixed Martial Arts. Finally after some twists and urns, Jake ends up it n the Beatdown, a free no holds barred illegal fight. There he gets even with the senior and earns the respect of all school.

While the plot is quite mediocre, the execution and story telling is very effective. The photography is excellent and of course the girls are easy on the eyes. I'd probably suggest watching it once, that too only if you are a big fan of free style fighting.

Accessories for meditation, music and therapy

The Buddhist and Hindu societies in India, Nepal, Tibet and other Asian countries are globally famous for their traditions, mythology, spirituality, music, etc. Over the past several centuries these societies have developed and fine-tuned several unique musical instruments which help individuals to meditate and attain deep relaxation of the mind. Nepal and Tibet are specially important in this respect because they have made significant contributions to the realm of spirituality.

Now thanks to globalization and convergence it is possible to live in the West and still have access to these exotic musical instruments and techniques. Silver Sky Imports has set up a new and unique online store to sell various musical instruments such as Gongs, crystal singing bowls, chakra singing bowls, Nepali gongs, among others.

If you are a meditation practitioner like me or a music lover or even a person seeking spiritual relaxation, this is the best place for you. The diverse array of products available will definitely fulfill your needs.

Colorful Texas Summer

Summer has started and heat is back with vengeance. But this is also the time when we get to see color in nature. A welcome change of scene from the boring grey and brown, leafless trees. This is the season when wild flowers blossom everywhere, in the parks, along side walks, creek sides, beside highways etc. I took this opportunity to shoot some of these wild flowers and here they are for you all to see.