Catch up on Aman

D.A.R.E.

2007-01-25T09:26:00.000-08:00

A rabbit was hopping through the forest when he came upon a giraffe rolling a joint. The rabbit said,"Giraffe, don't do drugs. Come, run with me through the forest." The giraffe looked at the rabbit, then at the joint. He dropped the joint and ran off with the rabbit.

They came upon an elephant snorting cocaine. The Rabbit said,"Elephant, don't do drugs. Come, run with us through the forest." The elephant looked at his razor blade and mirror, tossed them away and began running with the rabbit and giraffe.

The three animals then came across a lion about to shoot up. The Rabbit said, "Lion, don't do drugs. Come, run with us through the forest." The lion looked at the rabbit and then at the needle. He put down the needle and started to beat up the rabbit.

Horrified, the giraffe and elephant asked, "Lion, why are you doing this? He was trying to help you."The lion answered, "This little fucker? He makes me run around the forest like a fucking idiot every time he's on ecstasy."

Car of the Future...?

2007-01-22T11:40:00.000-08:00

Looks pretty cool... though I hope GM isn't the one taking the lead on this... otherwise, its bound to be boring.

Who do you have in your 5ive?

2007-01-17T21:39:00.000-08:00

Here's mine, clean and simple!

Now, granted, if I could, I chose the Laker's starting lineup to take on any 5ive the NBA has to offer... afterall, the way they kick butt every night, while being short-shorthanded... should impress even the dumbest Laker-hater..!

Lakers Baby!!! :-)
Check out the new power rankings!!!

Happy Diwali!

2006-10-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Diwali! If you didn't know, Diwali in its original sense, is the Hindu celebration of when God Ram defeated the villain Ravan in Lanka, and rescued his wife Sita. I think that's the main gist of it... am I right my Hindu brothas?

But since then, Diwali has become to mean a lot for Sikhs as well. Essentially, Diwali for Hindus and Sikhs means the same thing, a start of a new year. This isn't necessarily based on any calendar like the Chinese or our regular New Years. But its based more on the recognition to start new, start fresh, and embrace all that is good and begin a new attempt to leave behind all that is bad. (Again, a very generic description).

Even though Sikhs have their own New Years celebration which we call Gurupurab, which is based on the Gregorian calendar, we still embrace Diwali as it holds a special meaning for us. Sikhs celebrate Diwali to remember the release of one of our Guru's and 52 other kings from imprisonment by a Muslim emporor. Since this was a peaceful release of our Guru, this day marked the day when Sikhs were given their religious freedom, and thus was a very special day for all Sikhs. Since then, it has been celebrated very enthusiastically by Sikhs all over the world in order to remember our freedom from religious persecution and to remember what our religion is all about, so that we can all have another crack at being better people.

Now, we all know that I'm not very religious. But I am a Sikh, not only by birth, but also by choice, and so sharing this with people that read my blog was my duty!

Now, go light a candle! :P

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-10-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

Jessica Alba
Helpin' you get over the hump...
This is a special CoW. Well, all CoWs are special. But this one does stand apart because it was a request from a dear friend... a dear friend that is about to get engaged... :( uhh... I mean, :)
So, here's Cheers to him on his up and coming life!
So what if you'll never be able date Jessica Alba now... not even if she had to beg you. At least you can take solace in the fact that you're about to embark on a great journey with someone very special! But, if Im' wrong, and you can't find solace in that... then get out NOW!
Just kidding... wishing you two a very happy life together.
And don't worry, I will try and quench your fantasies with a differnt CoW almost every week like I have been... I'll be there for ya!
For now... here are a couple more pics, and a special treat!
Picture #2
Picture #3
Special Treat - you'll need a YouTube account

Keepin' up with da Lingo

2006-10-16T16:50:00.000-07:00

Has it been a tough Monday???
You know it has when the BLAMESTORMING sessions at work are seemingly endless, concluded only by the appearance of your SEAGULL MANAGER who's chewing everyone out except for your buddy who has mastered the art of ASSMOSIS. If only the ADMINISPHERE could come now to your rescue! To top that off, you get wrongly accused of CROP DUSTING the CUBE FARM because of the MOUSE POTATO who falsely PRAIRIE DOGGED you out on it. And finally, just when you're done with work, you're headed off to go home to your SITCOM lifestyle and listen to that STRESS PUPPY wife of yours who's busy nagging you to replace her SWIPEOUT cards. That only leads to depress you further as you know that not everything in life can be procured through your office's XEROX SUBSIDY program, and so instead of treating yourself to a night out on the town in GENERICA, you are forced to conserve your monetary resources as you try and entertain yourself with the latest dose of IRRITAINMENT, that is, only if you can get your remote to work with a little bit of PRECUSSIVE MAINTENANCE without breaking it like you did last time.
And all this makes you wonder... what went wrong in your life? What you wouldn't do now to go back before you started acting like you had 404, what you wouldn't do now to stop all this madness before you had that OHNOSECOND. What the heck were you thinking...? And more importantly... where does it all lead to now... surely, one thing that's for sure is that you must turn things around quickly if you ever want a chance of becoming a WOOFY.
But for now, you'll just have to learn to deal with SALMON DAYs like today...

- Not sure what the heck I'm talking about... then keep up with da Lingo!

BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group, discussing why adeadline was missed or a project failed and who was responsible.

SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.

ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success and advancement by kissing up to the boss rather than working hard.

SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.

CUBE FARM: An office filled with cubicles.

PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls to see what's going on.

MOUSE POTATO: The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

SITCOM-s: Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage. What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids.(I always heard these were called DINKS - dual income no kids or DINKWADS- Dual income no kids with a dog).

STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiney.

SWIPEOUT: An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because the magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.

XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies from one's workplace

IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying but you find yourself unable to stop watching them. The O.J. trials were a prime example. So is Survivor or Fear Factor.

PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.

ADMINISPHERE: The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the adminisphere are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.

404: Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error message "404 Not Found," meaning that the requested document could not be located.

GENERICA: Features of the American/Canadian landscape that are exactly the same no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, subdivisions.

OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize that you've just made a BIG mistake.

WOOFYS: Well Off Older Folks.

CROP DUSTING: Surreptitiously farting while passing thru a cube farm, then enjoying the sounds of dismay and disgust; leads to PRAIRIE DOGGING.....

(Thanks to Palm Jokes for the Lingo definitions)

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-10-11T12:12:00.000-07:00

Eva Green
Helpin' you get over the hump...

She's coming to a theatre near you in Casino Royale. Can't wait!

Democrat... Republican... uhh... Republican...?

2006-10-05T15:44:00.000-07:00

Now I'm not a politcal freak like many of my close friends... and arguing over politics or how stupid or not Bush is, are not my favorite ways of spending a nice Sunday brunch by the beach. However, I do still have a fair handle of politics in this country... or at least I'd like to think so. But maybe ignorance really can be bliss, and I could be way off!

Anywhow, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think I finally understand the difference between Democrats and Republicans, well, the difference between the two parties anyways. And though I've been a Democrat all my life and have always despised Republicans for some reason, I think that after finally understanding the difference between the two parties, that I'm a probably a little more Republican if anything. Wow, I can't believe I just said that, I'm a Republican! Shiite!!!

Well before you start forming all sorts of opinions about me in your tiny little heads... hear a brotha out! Now I'm not saying I agree with Republicans all the time, in fact I probably agree/disagree equally with both parties. And don't worry, I'm not all of a sudden a big fan of Bush... I do think that he's not an idiot, but still, I'm far from being a fan of his.

I guess I've had this change of heart simply because I've realized that we don't live in an ideal world, and that only so much can be done, and that the choices we make don't benefit everyone. In fact, the well-being of each of us is ultimately in our own hands. And I guess that's why I've changed... because if you cut all the BS and get down to it, the only real difference between the two parties is that the Republicans leave more things up to you, while the Democrats tend to TRY to make things better for everyone.

For example, remember that ad-campaign that Kerry was running, saying that all Americans should have health care that is equally as good as what the members of Congress have? Well, he did say that. And man, if you don't think too much about it, that would be freakin' cool if it could happen. I mean, I already have good health care, but it would be nice if everyone could also have good healthcare, especially people that can't afford it. But if you think about it realistically, something Democrats aren't very good at, we have a limited budget for health care, and a very limited infastructure, so in actuality, the only way in which we could ALL have the SAME health care coverage, would be if it sucked EQUALLY BADLY for all of us... how freakin' lame would that be! In fact, the only way you can have good health care for yourself and your family is by going out and doing what it takes to get it, which is bascially how Republicans view it. No one is going to hand it to you, and if they do, like they do in Canada, then its gonna suck for everyone!

This is obviously an extreme example... but dumb and idealistic policies like this that Democrats keep advocating really have started to tick me off. Afterall, my life should be in my own hands... all I ask is for a level playing field!

Time to go change my registration from 'D' to 'R'!

Who do you have on ICE?

2006-09-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

No no no... I'm not talking about that girl who gave you a wrong number though you thought you were on top of your game, nor am I talking that guy who's suddenly started liking you less just after you gave in to him... In fact, I'm not talking about any dating/relationship/rejection issues at all. So, you wonder, who else could you possibly have on ICE...?

Well, in this case, ICE is an acronym for "In Case of Emergency." And it's not someone you're trying to shut out... but rather, someone paramedics can call 'In Case of an Emergency" when you've lost consciousness. ICE enables paramdics to use the victim's cellphone to notify their next of kin... so for example, your parents could be ICE1, and your best friend could be ICE2 and your boy/girl could be ICE3... and so on. It's actually a cool, simple, easy and discreet way of informing strangers of people to contact "In Case of an Emergency," and I'm surprised its taking so long to catch on.

This is where I step in, being the tech-geek that I am, especially when its related to cell phones! So, go ahead, ICE someone on your cellphones... and though I hope the situation never arises... at least you'll be slightly better prepared to face your next emergency. And trust me, with the US Health-Care System getting a "D" in overall healthcare quality, you're going to need all the help you can!

Here's the LINK!

- Catch up on Aman, keeping you in the KNOW!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-09-20T00:14:00.000-07:00

Katherine Heigl
Helpin' you get over the hump...
Little did I know that my cram-session of Grey's Anatomy dvds would lead me to have one of my biggest crushest ever... she's cute, festive, beautiful, loyal, lovely, fiesty in a cute way, and has a great sense of humor... well as far as I've gotten to know her... which is only through her role on Grey's Anatomy. But hey, that's probably the only capacity I'll ever know her in, so yes... she's perfect, regardless of how she really is in reality! Definitley the easisest decision I've yet had to make for CoW! You ROCK Izzy! :-P

Crush of the Week Wednesdays for the Ladies

2006-09-20T00:09:00.000-07:00

Stuart Davis
Does this help you get over the hump...?
Catch up on Aman's 'CoW' for the ladies... by request only

Get Over It!

2006-09-18T18:37:00.000-07:00

I can't believe what the world has come to... and how stubborn we've become.

Firstly, what the f$#@ was the Pope thinking... He's giving an address in a Univerity, so he must have known that it was open to the public... but then why quote such an insensitive passage as he did? It was wrong on many levels... and simply foolish. Firstly, not only are you the Pope of the Catholic church, but in many ways, you're one of the most powerful people in the world. And that power is not a right, but a privelage, and comes with a lot of responsibility. One with that much influence really should be careful of what they say/recite... I mean, what the heck were you thinking! Secondly, doing it at a time as tumultuous as NOW and on a topic as sensitive as ISLAM... what the f#@%! What the F#@$!

But he did apologize... maybe he really did simply make a mistake and had incorrectly judged the reaction to his speech. So, we should just forgive and forget.. right? But NOooo... The freakin' Islam extremists simply won't forget... and simply will not accept any apology! Again, what the f$#@! Yet to them, this is another opportunity to state their cause that the entire world is against Islam! Take a freakin' chill pill Mr. Ayatollah (sp?). Again, what the f$#@!

I understand that the Pope recited a very insensitive passage to a community that see's itself as being under fire... and so, yes this did deserve an apology. But what's now the point of protesting, closing down cities and shops, and creating rage over a statement made by a party that has already apologized globally for it!

F$#@ing get over it!!!!

My New Addiction: Grey's Anatomy

2006-09-16T00:23:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm not one to watch these prime-time tv shows... if anything, I spend my nights catching up on Seinfeld re-runs, watching movies, or brushing up on the news or better yet, following sports. But now, after a very long time, I actually see myself looking forward to every Thursday night so I can watch new episodes of this show. This eagerness for a prime-time show hasn't been a part of my life for sometime now... but I guess its a good thing... something finally worth watching on TV, as those reality shows have really been freakin' ticking me off and away from prime-time tv for the last few years... I guess this is more than just a good show... for me, its actually an opportunity to rejoice that prime-time TV hasn't been ruined forever.

So, as I have missed the two previous seasons, right now I'm quite busy catching up on them via dvds... funny, cause I never thought I'd have such a marathon dvd-watching stage in life... its never happened before. But a marathon is exactly what it will take... I have 6 days before the next new show which airs Thursday night at 9... and about 6 and a half dvds still to catch up on... that's about 24 hours of dvd watching! It's almost like preparing for a freakin' midterm actually... but I have to admit that this time, studying is actually quite fun, and even addictive. I'm actually kinda liking this marathon dvd thing... I'll miss it once its gone.

If you're unfamiliar with the show, well, then you really should check it out, its actually quite entertaining... I find it motivational, educational, inspiring, comical, intriguing... yadda yadda... quite a good show in fact. I could care less for some parts of it... but I guess everything's there for a reason, and that the guys at ABC really do have an idea of what they are doing this time. It's not as dry as ER can often be, nor is it a farce which is the best way I can describe Scrubs. As a dear friend said, it's a good mix of both those shows... but with an extra kick.

Nevertheless, I'm hooked... I'm definatley a fan for life... the only other currently playing series I'm this crazy about has to be Entourage on HBO... I can't wait to start that marathon! I'll be catching up on that next!

Forget Boycotting Tea... Boycott Sex!

2006-09-14T15:34:00.000-07:00

What do you think the most effective form of boycott could be...? I can think of a number of things, but boycotting sex for a cause would probabaly be near the top of my list... Imagine that... not being able to do it with your partner, cause he/she disagreed with your opinions and beliefs... Granted, in some cases, such a strong stance may be required... but I hope this doesn't become a trend and start happening regurlarly in households across America and the rest of the world... that woud SUCK! Well, not for me, not yet, as I'm single... but still... this is a silly idea nevertheless.

Silly, but still very popular.
- Columbia gangsters face a sex ban from their wives and girlfriends until they give up their guns and start being more civil against each other.
- European women tried to unite a sex boycott against all their partners who were pro-war.
- And lastly, women in Turkey organized a boycott of sex until they got fresh clean drinking water, and won!

Now, I guess most of these, except for the pro-war BS, are worthwhile causes... but I'm afraid that women will soon realize just how much power they have over us men... and we won't be able to stand up to anything in front of their noose on sex.

We're *screwed* if they do!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-09-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Gwen Stefani
Helpin' you get over the hump...

What can you say about Gwen... awesome singer, with a great personality and killer-looks to boot... she's a complete all-around crush! Go get your Gwen Stefani doll here! ;-)

Can Someone Please Make the Perfect PDA!!!???

2006-09-05T23:02:00.000-07:00

This is just simply frustrating!!! PDAs have been around for some time now, and definitely long enough for major cell phone manufacturers to have a good idea about what consumers really want in terms of functionality.

But then, what's gives with all the incomplete PDA devices that are currently out in the market!!?

First, you have the Motorla Q. A great device, slim, but wide, ok, no biggie. But the screen is so small, and actually has the smallest surface area of any PDA. It's great that they incorporated the QWERTY keyboard.. but the phone lacks a touch-screen, and hence, also a stylus... so one is limited to using a scroll-wheel, much like the Blackberry PDAs... how lame! What good is a PDA when it has a small screen that isn't touch-sensitive?? Not to mention, the Q also lacks built in WiFi. So, this phone is definately out!

Ok, next, there's the XV6700. A handsome device.. nice big screen, super fast processor, and great resolution. Heck, it even has WiFi along with EVDO (which all PDAs nowadays have). But, it too has its shortcomings... there's no QWERTY keyboard unless you slide out the keyboard from beneath the screen, in which case, you have to use both hands... now that would be ok if this was just a PDA, but its also a phone! Plus, the keyboard feels flimsy and I can't believe it will last for 2 years which is how long it takes for my contract to expire! But all in all, the built in WiFi definitiley is a great plus, and unlike the Q, this phone does come with a stylus, and is touch-sensitive. So, this isn't a bad choice.

Finally, the last phone worth considering, since I have Verizon, is the Treo 700W. I had a Treo 600, so I know these phones well, but I'm not very impressed with the 700W i bought last week. Firstly, its freakin' expensive... the most out of the three phones... has no built in WiFi like the XV6700, and has a slower processor with a lower resolution screen. The only thing I love about the Treo is that it is touch-sensitive, comes with a stylus, and has a QWERTY keypad that doesn't require pulling out a stupid tray from beneath the screen. So, that's a big plus for me since phone-usage is my primary concern, and hence I ended up picking this phone.

But again, not any one of these devices is complete!!! The Q isn't touch sensitive and has no stylus nor Wifi, the XV does have a pull-out QWERTY keyboard, but it requires two hand operation, and the Treo has a slower processor, lower res screen and no WiFi....

What the f$#@!!!!!

For now... I'm holding on to the Treo... but I might switch to the XV in a couple of weeks if the Treo doesn't keep me happy, as I don't want to spend $100 more on a stupid WiFi card that sticks out of the phone! I figure I bet LOVE the Treo to pay $100 more than the XV for it, plus pay another $100 more for the WiFi card which is built-in to the XV.

I can only hope newer phones like the Treo 750W will be more well-rounded than what today's suite of PDAs has to offer.

Where the Surf Meets the Turf, at Del Mar

2006-08-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day ever at a horse track, and being the gambling enthusiast that I am... I think I'm hooked! It didn't grow on me right away however... but its a great way to lounge around, enjoy the sun, and make some money at the same time!
I still haven't worked out all the little details though, like researching the bets on the paper, getting familiar with jockeys, horse-trainers, etc, but I think it could be a lot of fun. For today, I was just focusing on the basics like odds, and basically, plain out guessing, but it was fun nevertheless, and a great way to socialize... as long as you get a winning ticket every now and then.
Now, I'm not planning on becoming a hard-core horse-race gambling enthusiast... but it was a good break from the typical casino scene. Sports betting simply just has a charm of its own.
I definately have to go back at least once next season!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays, With a Twist

2006-08-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

As you know, every Wednesday I post a Crush of the Week on this blog. I do it because like all other men, I amire the beauty that women have to offer, I relish the spice they bring into our lives, and I keep fantasizing about different women every week since I simply can as I'm not in any serious relationship. But for this week, I thought I'd make it a little different and focus on women in another way... granted, this all may be slightly exaggerated.. but then again, the Crush of the Week posts are never just your 'typical' woman.

Helpin' you get over the hump...

Is it Always Better to Buy than to Rent? Think Again...

2006-08-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

So, I'm at that tender age, when I must decide, do I want to continue renting an apartment... or invest some money in a house? The funny thing is that, I always thought that buying was the better option... always in any realistic scenario... but the more I research, the more I find out that is simply not always the case.

Check out this great article from the NY times. It does a very similar analysis to what my friend Mahim did... wtg Mahim! It takes into account the money you spend on a mortgage after accounting for things like tax-breaks and compares it to the money you would spend on renting, after accouting for the money you would save by renting, which is assumed to earn a decent interest... and in today's bloated-housing market, renting wins almost every time.

In fact, if you ever consider 'trading-up' by buying instead of renting, if nothing else, remember the rule of 20... If the price for a house is more than 20 times the rent you would pay to live in it for a year... then its probabaly not a good bet.

Of course, owning a house is a privelage with perks that are priceless, so it will always be better to buy if you want a family-home you plan to spend the rest of your life in. But if you plan to sell within 5 years, then buying is a very bad option in comparison to renting, especially in areas like NY and California.

Just read the article, even if you disagree... you may learn something.

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-08-23T07:24:00.000-07:00

Claire Forlani
Helpin' you get over the hump...

She hasn't been on my mind for quite some time now... but all it took was a saturday afternoon showing of Meet Joe Black, and I was whipped... once again. I've been meaning to make her my crush for sometime now... alas, I am at peace. Enjoy... :-)

The Fine Line Between Security and Paranoia

2006-08-20T04:24:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that terrorism has gone hand-in-hand with airline travel for decades now. Recent news only strengthens this link as terrorists continue to exploit the gaps in airline security for the advancement of their cause. Therefore, this strong link should only convince us that an extremely tight level of airline security is of the utmost importance in protecting us against future terrorist attacks, where all precautions are taken and no stone is left un-turned.

But at the same time, one may also look at the events from this past week or so and say that maybe we are going a bit overboard... not in our security, but in our paranoia. Granted, many of these events truly could have been catastrophic had the proper precautions not been taken, but there's a fine line between tight-security and paranoia that we should be wary of.

For example, I commend our security services for taking the proper precautions when an Excel airlines flight was diverted for an emergency landing due to a bomb threat. I also agree with the numerous instances of temporary terminal closures across the nation's airports based on suspicious liquids, especially since this is a very new area for our security teams. In my mind, both of these examples just prove to me that airline travel is much safer now than it used to be and emphasize to me that all valid security concerns are definitely worth the added inconvenience they place on air-travelers.

But there are also other recent air-travel security issues that I feel cross the line between tight-security and paranoia, and thus portray our fears in a negative manner. For example, was the 59 year-old woman really such a threat to the safety of the plane that her claustrophobia required an emergency landing while being escorted by two armed F-15 fighter jets? Now I know that this was only a week or so after British Authorities foiled a terrorist plot on a flight traveling a similar route... but was such an extreme reaction to this woman's claustrophobia really necessary? I tend to think no...

But then again, how does one know whether the fine-line between tight-security and paranoia is actually ever crossed? After all, hind-sight is always 20/20.

Nevertheless, these events just stress the fact that we need to focus on tightening our security even further, while continually suppressing the ever-increasing paranoia associated with air-travel. Fear and paranoia related to air-travel must be abandoned, especially as we try to prove to the terrorists that they will never manage to impede the flow of our lives.

Aman Managing to Make Situations Awkward

2006-08-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

I met her about two months ago as I joined my new job. She's a smart, beautiful and very attractive young woman in her late 20s. She has a great body, and a very trendy and fashionalbe dress-sense, that seems to be only more noticeable at my place of work. She's liked by everyone, and is a fun girl once you get to know her.... but I guess that's where I messed it all up.

Before you assume that I *like* her and want more than friendship with her... let me just correct you by saying that is simply not so. Yes she's attractive, dresses-well and has all the qualities that I'd want in a girl... but NO, I'm not into her that way. She's just a great girl, that it would be fun to hang out with at work whenever one had some down-time. And that's where it stops!

But the casual friendship that I want might seem too far-off a concept for now, as I've managed to fu*k things up pretty badly... by simply trying to play it cool. But now I'm realizing that I was anything but *cool*.

Its not cool when I notice her pass by my office, but never once say 'hi' or 'hello' becuase I'm trying to show her that I don't notice, though I clearly do. Its not cool that I avoid sitting next to her during meetings though I clearly want the opportunity to try and make small-talk with her. Its not cool that I pretend to play busy at work whenever I see her caught up in a hallway conversation and don't stop by and participate, though I'm yearning to take part in it. And, its definately not cool that I avoid conversing with her when I see her at the gym in the mornings, though I know I enjoy seeing her there as it seems to motivate me to train harder for some reason.

Why the heck am I trying to play so cool...? Why can't I just admit to myself that she's a great girl who I want to get to know better, and so that means taking an iniative. Why can I do this with all people except for girls that I find attractive, even though I may not be seeking anything more than friendship, as in this case. Why do I go and make simple things so complicated sometimes...?

It all hit me in the head yesterday evening as I walked by her in the hallway and wished her with a good-night greeting... only to be ignored by her as she simply didn't say a word. This girl that used to respond to my greetings, and even discussed her marathon-training with me the first time I saw her at the gym, has suddenly grown a bit colder towards me.

But I guess I simply can't blame her, as I've been playing *cool* for simply too long....

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-08-16T00:20:00.000-07:00

Vesper
Picture #2 Picture #3 (My Fav!)
Helpin' you get over the hump...

No, you don't recognize her. She's not an actress, she's not Ms. Universe and she's also not a Top-10 model... though she could be!
What she is, however, is just a normal blogger... but with the looks to kill! It's ironic that our paths crossed as she left a comment on one of my 'Crush of the Week' postings... and now, she herself has become Aman's crush for this week.
But unlike the others, this crush is a little deeper than the rest, as it goes beyond just skin-deep. So, why don't you join me and meet this Canadian blogger named Vesper... and learn to enjoy her and her blog as she writes about topics that bring us closer to her... and closer to ourselves at the same time. This actor, writer, single-mother (yes guys, she's single!), is definately worth taking the time to get to know... even if it is only through her blog.

By the way, here are the tallies for the voting behind the pic of the week selection for Vesper:
Pic1=3; Pic2=4, Pic3=6, Pic4=3, Pic5=2, Pic6=9, Pic7=0, Pic8=5, Pic9=3, Pic10=5
I have displayed Pics 6, 3 and 10. The rest are available for your viewing pleasure here!

Please note, there will be no 'Crush of the Week Wednesdays for the Ladies' this week, as there was no request...

Be Lazy... In Style

2006-08-14T22:38:00.000-07:00

Segway just released it's two newest scooters... and they're wayyy cooler than the first version. I know I know... America is already lazy enough... and yes, we can all use some exercise... but I for one am not going to give Segway a hard time about it! They're just capitalizing on a lazy society... now that's smart! Plus, their new ski-like gyro-based movement system is super-cool... all one does is lean in the direction where he/she wants to go... and woa-lah (sp?) off they go... how cool is that! It's like an Ipod wheel, but in 3D, and it moves you! Ok ok, I know, time for the geeky-side of Aman to take a chill pill. But you must admit, it's damn cool!

Anyhow, even if you don't like Segways, you have to realize that these little gadgets could have some great potential... only if they were a bit cheaper! Think about it... this may be just what we're looking for when it come to making public transit more feasible in today's large metropolises, especially in the newer cities like Los Angeles and others which have only been designed for cars, and not pedestrians taking mass-transit. In such cities, no matter what route one takes, there's always a bottle-neck... a signficant distance one needs to travel on his/her own in order to get to their destination from the mass-transit drop-off point. And a Segway would fit the bill perfectly for that... you could just pop-off a bus/train and on to your Segway as you complete the journey travelling at a cool 12.5 mph without breaking a sweat! Sure, we could all walk, or bike or jog... but heck, we still would be able to... this is just another great option, and doesn't require you having to break a sweat when you don't want to. But then again, this would only work if the Segway was more affordable... as I don't see people selling their cars for a bus-pass and a Segway when they run about $5k a pop.

Now, I know my theory about mass-transit and Segway going hand-in-hand one day might seem a bit far-fetched... but I guess I was just trying to see past the obvious... that Segways just perpetuate the laziness of America, because I really don't think they do. Lazy Americans do that on their own.

Regardless what you think, you gotta admit its still a damn great tool... and I hope the company does extremely well.

It's Over, I'm Another Year Older... and Still Ticking... tick... tick

2006-08-11T01:13:00.000-07:00

Another year gone by, another year to look forward to. Another year with loved ones, and realizing just how special family is and how lucky I am to have mine. Another year spent on my career, still striving to be all I can be. Another year being single, and still looking to find my angel. Another year of making new friends, but losing some close ties with some older ones. Another year added to long lasting friendships that seem to have become only more special one year later. Another year of finding out what's truly important in life, and letting go of things that simply are not. Another year... another year to work towards making it all right.

Does age bring wisdom... or does it bring maturity...? Does it bring about happiness... or a better ability to tolerate sadness ..? Does it bring one closer to their definition of bliss... or do one's comprimises bring bliss closer to reality...? I guess I simply can't say.

All I can say is that age brings one closer to a complete sense of self. If I know anything better now than I did a year ago, then it is myself. Afterall, I've been 'Catching up on Aman' longer than even the most loyal of my blog-readers.

So, every year I take a closer look at the good and the bad, the right and the wrong, and the strenghts and the weaknesses that have come to define my character. Every year I come to a better realization of how I'm not perfect, how I'm not always right, how I can be stubborn, naive, immature, etc. But every year I also realize how I'm also not a bad person, and every year, I can commit to becoming a little bit better for the next time I go up by one.

Some of us have a very specific scale of how to measure our age, besides just the number... We may focus on our finances, or our relationships, or our cars, or our toys, etc... I just feel that if I just measure my age by my being, by my thoughts, and by my sense of self, then that's all that truly matters... and the rest is bound to follow. Afterall, if I can't figure myself out... then my bliss will only be an artifact of chance, and not design.

Just my 2 cents on aging... Thanks to all my friends who helped me celebrate tonight... and to all those who I'll be celebrating with this weekend... birthdays would be a waste without family and friends.

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-08-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

Stephanie Seymour
Helpin' you get over the hump...
On this day before my 27th B'day, I have to include her as this week's crush and thank her for helpin' me get over the hump many times during the days of my youth thanks to the monthly Victorias Secret catalogs.

Crush of the Week Wednesdays for the Ladies

2006-08-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

By Request: Gael García Bernal
Picture 2, Picture 3Does this help you girls get over the hump..?

Size of Mars = Size of Moon this August 27....? I don't think so!

2006-08-07T23:08:00.000-07:00

Haven't gotten one of these forwards yet...? They have been floating around cyber-space recently claiming that the planet Mars and the Moon will both be the same distance away from the Earth this August 27th, and hence 'the Red Planet' will be visible to the naked human eye for the first time ever... all because of some mumbo-jumbo story about an interaction with Jupiter's gravity...
Now, when I got this, I thought, wow, cool... I'll be able to see it... maybe even take a pic or two... but then I realized... wait a minute, that can't be... cuz if that happened, everything would be f$#@'ed up!
Imagine that, why the heck would Mars be forced to leave its orbit to approach as close to the Earth as our own Moon is... and just imagine what else may be going on out there at the same time to have such a castastrophic event take place in our solar system. Heck, one thing is for sure... if Mars ever did get that close to the Earth... we would never be alive to see it because if we didn't all drown by the excessive tidal-waves caused by the affect of Mars' gravity on our oceans... then I'm sure something else would have probably made us extinct...
So, just be warned, that this is a hoax. Save yourself some embaressment and don't forward it to your friends and co-workers... I'm trying to stop you from making a fool of yourself...!
Granted, I got this forward from a friend... but I sure am glad I didn't send it off free-nilly nor post it on my blog without actually thinking about it...
Here are some good websites that explain this email prank/hoax in more detail:
- Beware of the Mars Hoax (Nasa)
- Close Encounter with Mars (Urban Legends)
Please do note that Mars will be unusually closer than it normally is, and yes, it may appear red through a nice telescope, but it will just be a big star to the naked-eye, and certainly not as large as the moon!

-Catch up on Aman, keeping you in the KNOW!

Great DJ... good song... awesome video!

2006-08-03T18:05:00.000-07:00

Something to lighten-up your day! Cheers! :)

I FLY SWA

2006-08-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

Definately my first choice when I fly domestic... the rates, the timeliness, the pleasant crew team... and oh, not to mention, first-come-first serve seating! Personally, I like my seat choice left up to me, especially for domestic flights... this way, if I don't get the seat I want... then there's no one else to blame but me.

Have any opionions on their unreserved-seating practice? It's one of the main reasons I fly SWA. Express your opionons by taking this short 5 question survey- here!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-08-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

Kelly Brook
Helpin' you get over the hump...

Crush of the Week Wednesdays for the Ladies

2006-08-02T00:04:00.000-07:00

By Request: James Marsden
Pic 2, Pic 3 (My Fav)Does this help you girls get over the hump..?

The Ultimate Super Hero

2006-07-31T22:24:00.000-07:00

Superman Returns

If you had to pick one superhero to save your day... who would you pick? Sure, you may have gotten charmeded by Spiderman and his boy-ish qualities that make it easy to empathize with him. You may also idolize Batman given he's just a normal person who turned into a superhero with nothing else except his own will. You may even consider one of the various X-Men as they just seem cool. But who'd you really pick when it came down to savin' your ass!!!? That's right... you'd pick Superman!

He is the ultimate superhero... he's as fast as the speed of light, stronger than you could ever imagine, impenetrable, can fly, and comes equipped with x-ray vision, laser vision and super cool-breath. Hmm, did I miss anything...?

This is definitely a movie you want to go see at the theaters... I did! Twice! The second time in IMAX 3D and oh was it worth it! It is a very well thought-out movie as everything seems to continue from where it left-off back in the days of those 80s Superman flicks. It has a real-villain with a catastrophically devastating plan... a gripping love story, an awesome soundtrack that I can't wait to buy in SACD, a great cast all-around, and enough suspense and action to make the 2.5 hours just fly by, no pun intended. It even adds a little twist towards the end that should lead to a sequel. And you know I'll be there... first day, first show, for sure!

Go watch it!

How Sexy is Your Favorite Designer's Catalog...?

2006-07-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

What sells clothes? Is it the material... the design... the manufacturer... the models... or just the lure of something we all want...? In these changing times, where competition is tougher than ever before and every company is trying to find its own niche, there seems to be NO LIMIT to the tactics employed just to stand apart from the rest of the crowd.

I have news for you if you think that the Victoria's Secret catalog is as sexy and seductive as it gets... Shai clothing has taken that leaps further. I don't even know if this is the best way to sell clothes, but it will definitely generate some noise... I for one couldn't even focus on their clothes... but maybe you can!

I will not describe their tactics much on my blog, but you can see for yourself at their site. Please, be fairly warned that this is not for the faint-hearted... ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK! And please, DO NOT go to this site at work!!!! If you still want to check it out... here's the LINK!

NOTE: 'Catch up on Aman' and its affiliates do not support in any way shape or form the content of this website as developed by Shai Clothing. The purpose of this post, like most others, is just to inform our visitors of what's out there... keeping you in the KNOW!
Thanks to frisky for the link!

Finally Finished!!!

2006-07-28T13:47:00.000-07:00

A Brief History of Time

Yes, it took me over a month... yes, it was only about 200 or so pages... and yes, it wasn't a boring book... but I'm just slow OK!!! I just can't sit and finish reading a book in one-go like some people... I need to read it chapter by chapter. Heck, the fastest read ever for me was the Da Vinci Code, and even that took 3 weeks, and that's a record! :) But I guess that's why I buy and keep books I read... for it takes me so damn long to read them that they almost become a part of me!

But anyways, lets get back to the book-review. This was overall a good read. It wasn't a great read because it didn't spark my imagination the way I wish it had. It was at times too factual and chronological, it never really did expand on the 'what-if' aspect regarding the mystery of space that to me is the most exciting part. But it was nevertheless a good read because it does a good job informing one about all the historical discoveries about space and our universe, and how we have come to define it as we do today. It's a good culmination of the progress some of the greatest-known-minds have made in this field, and it really does a good job of simplifying some of the greatest and most complicated theries we have derived. But again, what it doesn't do is spark the imagination to keep one wondering about what else is going on out there.

USA Basketball 2006 Final Team Announced

2006-07-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we've finally picked the next USA Basketball Team. This team is to compete in the upcoming World Championships and also the 2008 Olympics. I'm certain that you too are both disgusted and dissappointed concerning the USA team's performance in the Olympics the last two times... I'm not trying to take anything away from the winners, but it was clear that the US team was more talented, but lacked drive, and team-work and team-cohesion... Granted, it's harder for the US team to have team-cohesion as they don't play together very often, but there is simply no excuse for lacking drive and team-work...

This is exactly what Coach K is intending to focus on during his training sessions... and team-chemistry was rated very high amongst the list of factors that eventually led to a players inclusion into the team. The final roster can be found here. The team looks great on paper... lets just see whether they're able to bring home what's rightl-fully ours, the World Basketball Championship.

Note, Kobe is not included in the roster simply because he has recently undergone knee surgery and is undergoing therapy so that he can be ready in time for the starting of the Lakers season. I'm uncertain regarding his appearance in the 2008 Olympic games however... don't know the details of that. Kobe, you will truly be missed!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-07-26T00:14:00.000-07:00

Laetitia Casta
Helpin' you get over the hump...

How Did You Beat the Heat this Past Weekend...?

2006-07-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

Man, was it a scorcher!!! Sure, it might have been hotter in Delhi, in Phoenix, heck, even in LA, but man, it was HOT here in sunny-San Diego. It was up to 115F on Saturday and, thanks to some welcomed cloud-cover, slightly cooler at 100F on Sunday. Now that's not too hot, but it was hot enough to be the hottest weekend of the year for us in SD. And personally, it's not something us Diegans want to get used to or be proud of. We want to leave the 'Man it was hot' stories to people in Phoenix so that they have something to talk about.... we have plenty of other things going on in San Diego and so the heat is just not welcome here!

So, as you can imagine, since we aren't used to such hot days, many of the houses, especially the older ones like I live in, simply don't have ACs... so what's one to do!!!? Well, in times like these, you just have to beat the heat the best way you know how... and for us Capitalist Americans, we are forced to seek refuge in our typical habitats, which usually means either staying cool in shopping malls or going to spend some time in air-conditioned movie theaters... and the latter is just what I did in my attempt to try and stay cool this past weekend.

That brings me to a couple movie reviews to get you up-to-speed on what's out in theaters these days, just in case you try to keep cool next weekend in your neck of the woods...

Lady in the Water

This latest feat my M. Night was just another attempt by him to try and replicate his genius in the Sixth Sense. Personally, I feel his movies have only been getting worse ever since they reached that pinnacle, and this is his latest and lamest film to date! You know it's sad when he has to resort to comedy in this supposedly morbid tale. The irony of it is that the comedy was the only thing that managed to keep me tuned-in. I'd recommend you wait for it to come out on DVD if you really want to watch it... but then again, why would you really ever want to watch it?

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

Now this was a super-cool idea... I mean a girlfriend with superpowers... woo hoo! Talk about something to boast about the next time you go out with the guys! Now granted, this movie wasn't spectacular, and at times, it was simply down-right stupid! But you have to love the idea, and at times, even the execution. It certainly made me laugh more than just a few times. But I guess the best part of it was, it made me realize that all my ex-girlfriends have been angels in comparison to the one portrayed in this movie... Man, sometimes you just don't know how good you have it... ;)

Tailor-Made Infosession Fridays: Is eating Sushi really Healthy Eating?

2006-07-21T00:04:00.000-07:00

In this day and age, Sushi is one of the most popular types of cuisines, if not THE most popular type. In fact, Sushi restaurants led all other types of restaurants in popularity in the ZAGAT 2006 survey. So, what could possibly be wrong with it...?

I mean sure, Indian food can be heavy, Chinese can have MSG, burgers and steaks can be under-cooked, fast-food is slow-acting poison, desserts are fattening, milk has hormones, fruit has insecticide spray leftovers, and the list goes on-and-on.

Well, now Sushi can now also be considered unhealthy when consumed in large-quantities due to the significant amount of Mercury it has found to contain. But before I start ranting and raving about how you should limit your sushi intake, let's just go over why Mercury is bad for you.

Firstly, Mercury is toxic. Large amounts of Mercury in anyone, men, women or children can be dangerous if not fatal. Here's what higher than FDA-approved amounts of Mercury consumption can mean to you:
Men may be pre-disposing themselves to diseases such as Heart disease as well as many other types of acute coronary problems. Check out this article for a start.
Both men and women will increase their risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Check out this article for a start.
Women who are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant are putting their un-born children at risk of developing a multitude of problems. Check out this article for a start.

Ok, so now that we know that Mercury can be bad for you... there are ways you can avoid it. Generally speaking, the bigger the fish, the more Mercury it will contain. So, you can expect Tuna and Swordfish to have much more Mercury content than you would expect Salmon to have. So, since Swordfish isn't very popular for sushi, let's put our focus on Tuna. Now, just in case you didn't know, Tuna goes by a host of different names, so don't think you're off the hook just cuz you have never ordered 'the Tuna Roll.'

Here is a brief summary of a very thorough report done on Sushi with Tuna, just to give you an idea of how toxic your sushi can be:
- Typical restaurant tuna actually contains 136% more Mercury than what the FDA rates for tuna.
- Overall, 15% of the tuna tested in San Diego was at or near the 1.0ppm legal federal limit for Mercury established by the FDA. This was even higher for Los Angeles, 25% of the tuna tested there was at or near the 1.00ppm legal limit.
- One out of every 5 samples of tuna tested was higher than the average for King Mackerel, which typically rates at 0.730ppm of Mercury and is a type of fish the FDA says women and children should never eat.

So, what all this tells me is that technically-speaking, about 20% of the tuna you eat has a higher Mercury content than a type of fish the FDA says women and children should NEVER eat!!!

The catch of all this is that you never know exactly how much Mercury you are consuming when you order tuna, be it as sushi, sashimi or even ahi steak as the levels differ so much. But considering that this study was done in the most popular restaurants of both Los Angeles and San Diego, it's hard not to accept it as the truth, or at least very damn close to it.

Now, I don't expect you to stop eating Sushi because of what I've researched or written about. And if you did, then you are a gullible-fool. But like they say, 'ignorance is bliss' but 'knowledge is more precious than gold.' So, go out, eat your freakin' sushi , but just be a little more informed.

Here, let me help you!
Like eating Sushi, and live in San Diego, well, here is a list of top-restaurants that serve sushi, and the typical Mercury content in their tuna. And no, I'm not telling you what restaurants to avoid... all I'm telling you is that if you eat these kind of rolls at these places, well, then go less often, or at least try something else in the menu!

Also, if you're concerned about, or just want to keep tabs on how much Mercury you intake, be it including or not including sushi, then I found a wonderful tool just for you. Log on to www.gotmercury.org and check out their shnazzy mercury calculator... just tell it your weight (don't worry, nobody is watching), the type of fish, and how much you ate. It will automatically calculate for you how much mercury you probably consumed, and what it means for someone of your size. I can't wait to use it!!!
Also check out their espanol version, just in case that suits your preference, at www.gotmercury.org/espanol.

I want to thank www.gotmercury.org for all their valuable information on this topic, and I encourage all of you to check it out. They probabaly have the most detailed information on this topic I have found yet... including the nifty restaurant table I pasted above.

So next time you're out eating sushi, eat smarter... so you can live longer, and keep visititing your friend at 'Catch up on Aman.'

Again, I hope that even the experts of Sushi have learned something by this post!

Have a good weekend :)

Yes, they do speak fluent English in India!

2006-07-20T16:47:00.000-07:00

One good thing the British left behind in India, besides the railroad and schooling systems, was the English language. Since it's independence, India has been one of the few nations in the world that has been teaching English in its schools along with the national or state languages. In fact... sometimes the only way two Indians can communicate is through English, since India has so many other native languages that two people may not speak the same one! In this case, English becomes a necessity, which I guess is one of the reasons why it is known as the second-official language of India, behind Hindi.

But, even though we may seem to have mastered the English language... we do make some hilarious grammatical mistakes every now and then...

Here are some comical notes from India in English:
Applying for a week's leave:
"Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one-week leave."
Employee asking for leave to perform his daughter's wedding:
"As I am marrying my daughter, please grant a week's leave.."
Employee asking for a half-day off:
"Since I've to go to the cremation ground at 10 o-clock and I may not return, please grant me half day casual leave"
Asking for a sick-day:
"I am suffering from fever, please declare one-day holiday."
Asking for a day-off from school:
"As I am studying in this school I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today"
Asking for leave to take care of your wife:
"My wife is suffering from sickness and as I am her only husband at home I may be granted leave".
Being courteous in emails/letters:
"I am well here and hope you are also in the same well."
Applying for a job:
"This has reference to your advertisement calling for a ' Typist and an Accountant - Male or Female'... As I am both(!! )for the past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the post.

So what... we're not perfect.... at least we're funny! Still proud to be Indian! :-P

Crush of the Week Wednesdays for the Ladies

2006-07-19T12:31:00.000-07:00

Josie Maran
Helpin' you get over the hump...

My Nomadic Sis.....

2006-07-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

It wasn't long ago, when I couldn't stand her, and she could tolerate me even less. I used to run around the house irritating her, simply because that was fun for me... and she used to scream and yell the second I even got close to her. She wouldn't ever let me into her room and would constantly try to distance herself from me, and so, in retaliation, I always tried to sneak in just to invade her space and further instigate her. She always knew exactly how to tick me off... and as far as siblings go, we probabaly had one of the best love-hate relationships you can have!

All I can say is, its great having a sister. Sure, we had our problems... times when we hated eachother more than we thought we could hate anyone, but the love was as strong as the hate! She might have made fun of me and teased me at home, but I knew she always had my back outside of the house... I even remember her talking down a bully once... just to back me up. Thanks sis, though, I could've handled him ;)

But now, that little nerdy girl who was afraid to use escalators for the longest time.. has finally grown up. She's now known to the world not as Rinki, or Rinku, or Nannette, or even Rinks... she simply now goes by Harpreet. She's evolved into a beautiful, wonderful, intelligent, caring, loving, generous and fun-loving young woman. She's left the little house we grew up in and has travelled around the world to her heart's content. Some people just aren't meant to stay put... and if I ever knew a free-spirit, then it is her. In fact, the only time she ever gets irritated or cranky, is when her freedom is limited and is out of her control... just a fair warning to any man brave enough to try and conquer her... though he better be very brave, cuz he'd eventually have to face me!

But this blog posting is not meant to be a biography, a bio-data for marriage, nor a praise for the person that is my sis, but rather, a praise for her photography, which I have showcased. (Click on the 'My Nomadic Sis' linky at the left!) We both have the same passion and interest when it comes to photography, but with very different perspectives... which is I guess to be expected from any normal brother and sister pair. But I guess her photography is special to me, because this is one of the few times that we can actually claim to share an interest... and so it's simply just fun for me to share this hobby with her as we both have an opportunity to share our work with eachtother, and our respective friends.

So, join me, as I post the pics of her travels on my blog, slowly and gradually. At the least, I can promise you a perspective on photography that is very different from mine, but I can also promise you a journey to distant and less-travelled parts of the world from a very imaginative and creative perspective.

Way to go Rinks! ;)

You've Been Catching Up on Aman for Over a Month!

2006-07-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

First post: June 16th, 2006: "Intro to the Blog"
Today's date: July 16th, 2006
Time elapsed: 1 month!!! :)

Is this a one-month anniversary blog post...? Well, technically, no, it isn't. That's because an anniversary only happens once a year! Don't blame me, this is what the Romans decided on when they created the word anniversarius, which is the Latin word from which 'anniversary' is derived. So, though I would love to make a big deal of my one-full month... I really can't call it an anniversary.

Anyhow, overall, it's been a great first month. Believe it or not, it's not easy keeping up a blog, especially when it's a hobby... Keeping up with posts, adding new topics, discussions and innovations can all take a heavy toll on your time... I'd guess it to be about an hour a day... at least... Mabye it's taking me so long because I'm not very proficient at it yet, but hey, I'm not complaining a bit.

But before I pat myself on the back about reaching this mini-milestone, I need to give my thanks to all of you for only you have made this possible. I get burnt-out at times and might have a hard time focusing on what else I could add..., but every hit I get from someone makes me want to continue adding to the blog.. and every comment someone adds makes me realize that people really are actually taking time out to read my crap. And at the end of the day... that is what really keeps me going.

People often ask me about how much spare time I have, or, how could I waste my time on working on a blog instead of something more productive... I often ponder on the same questions... but honestly, working on this blog has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me ever... and I guess that's what really matters.

So, here's to thanking you for your patronage, your comments, your critiques and your support! Also, don't forget to continue catching up on Aman!

Progress Report: First month's Unique Hits (# of different cpus logging on each day):

Tailor-Made Infosession Fridays: The Layman's Guide to Enjoying Wine

2006-07-14T00:20:00.000-07:00

Wine is one of those things that most people really don't know a crap about, but are afraid to admit it... Sure, I know you might have finally learned how to pronounce 'Cabernet Sauvignon' and may have also learned the names of other less common types of grapes such as 'Shiraz' or'Sangiovese...' if only just to sound 'cool.' But's lets face it, you really don't know jack about picking good wine!

So, go ahead and do yourself and the rest of us a favor... just learn these simple facts about wine so that you can actually claim to know something. That way, not only will you enjoy your wine more... but you may also score some additional points on that date!

Q. Do I have to shell out some major cash to get a decent bottle of wine?
A. No, not all good wines are pricey... in fact you can get steals by picking the right wines from less popular wineries. Here is a list to get you started. Also remember that once you've found a wine you like, you can save more buy buying it in bulk (by the case or six-pack) when it goes on sale.

Q. What's the best way to pick a good wine at the store without knowing too much....?
A. Well, if you think you can go to the store, and pick the wine that has the biggest price-drop (best sale price) and expect to find a good wine, then you've got another thing coming... in fact, this is just how supermarkets try to get rid of their popular but poor wines.
What you should do is read the label on the back of wine bottles... Just pick up a wine that suits your budget and read the label about how it was made. Here's your guide to the most common one's:

Estate-Bottled or Grown, Produced and Bottled By: This is the best-case. It means that the grapes were grown, crushed, fermented and bottled by the vineyard. Wines from winery's like these are probably your best bet... and definately worth a try if you can find one in your budget.

Produced and Bottled By: This is also good, but not great. Means that the winery crushed and fermented the grapes, but did not grow them. So, this isn't necessarily bad, but then again, you can expect it not to be the best as any vineyard would keep the best grapes for its own personal winery and sell the others off.

Vinted and Bottled By: Buyer-beware. Sure you'll see a lot of these in your budget, cheapo, but this means that the winery simply bought the wine, cellared and/or mixed it, and then bottled it. Sheeyat, I can do that! I've never had a good experience with this kind of wine!

Q. Does wine need to be served chilled or at room-temp?
A. White wine is not supposed to be served chilled, and red wine is not supposed to be sereved at room temperature. White wines that are too warm will taste alcoholic, while those that are too cold will be refreshing but nearly tasteless. As for reds, if they're too warm they will taste alcoholic and even vinegary, while those that are too cold will have much less flavor.
In fact, white wine tastes best when it is slightly warmer than being chilled (55F) and red wines taste better when its slightly cooler than room temperature (65F).
Here is a good rule by Ursula Hermacinski to abide by: “Twenty minutes before dinner, you take the white wine out of the fridge, and put the red wine in.”

Anyhow... these few facts should hopefully tell you something about wine that you didn't know before. If you'd like to know more, check out sites like wine.com and others... where you can buy wine in bulk!

Have a good weekend... see you all next week :)

By the way, my recommendation for the best wine under $20 is by Frei Brothers. Check them out!
Also, if you're looking for a good deal on wine, check out Woot!

If I was a character on South Park

2006-07-13T00:06:00.000-07:00

Curious what you'd look like....? Go try it out!
Thanks to frisky for the link!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-07-12T00:04:00.000-07:00

Kate Bosworth
Helpin' you get over the hump...Go watch Superman Returns!!!

Doesn't it make you wonder...?

2006-07-11T23:25:00.000-07:00

It seems like nowadays... not even a few weeks go by before you hear of another terrorist attack taking place somewhere around our world. These attacks constantly remind us of the forever-changed political landscape nowadays in which no one anywhere is safe and free of terrorism... No matter if you live in Mumbai, New Delhi, Kashmir, or even London or New York City.

I can repeat the news, and repeat the numbers... but then again, the details sometimes seem to lose importance in matters of loss. At the end of the day... someone's mother, or daughter, or son, or father, or maybe even an entire family have been wiped out because of no fault of their own.

Is this just a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time..., or is this much deeper than that?

The sad thing is that I don't see acts of terrorism like these ever stopping. As of late, terrorism has mainly consisted of Islamic extremists... but I can remember that this was not always the case... so you really cannot solely pin terrorism on Islam.

I guess the only thing you really can pin terrorism on is on fanatics of any kind... be they based on religion like Al-Queda, based on racism like the KKK, or based on land-disputes like Israel or Kashmir.

The underlying question for me in all of this is how could anyone succumb to such cowardice that they are forced to commit acts such as these. How much of a fanatic do you really have to be? How hurt, upset and angry do you have to be to carry out such tasks? And most importantly, how do you ever come to think that committing such acts is the only way in which you will ever seek your vengence?

I had to write this post because things always hurt more when they hit home. I'm sure you will do your part in keeping up with the news... here's an interesting article by a friend on the same topic.

My heart goes out to all the victims in the Mumbai and Kashmir attacks in India earlier today.

Peace out...

Staying ahead of the Blogger Curb...!

2006-07-11T01:16:00.000-07:00

Hey guys.. It's late.. just a bit past 1am, and I have to be at the gym early... but here I am, working for YOU... I've noticed that you guys have been commenting my blogs... and I do appreciate that... its just funny to me, as I started to blog not because I thought people would ever read my crap... but because they would like my pics... but ironically enough... I don't even have one comment on any of my pics.

Oh well.. I guess they're just mediocre. However, I have updated 'My Foto Show' and am more pleased with it, not the photos, just the formating of the website ;) Just click on the photos to go to the next one... and you get a better/larger pic from the start. Also the pic titles appear when you scroll over the pic with our mouse. I thought these techniques would come in handy just in case my photography ever gets any better! So, check it out! (Linky on the left)

I personally think this is the best picture-sharing technique used anywhere on Blogspot, and therefore, I'm sure my work will get copied soon by other Bloggers.. but I will take solace in the fact that I brought it to my friends first! So, enjoy :)

My 2cents on the World Cup

2006-07-10T00:38:00.000-07:00

All I can say is Wow... from the commotion, the excitement, the PKs... and even to the now infamous head-butt from Zidane. I'm very happy for Italy.. they played well, throughout the Cup, and deserved to win... France too deserved to win, but after the way Zidane behaved, I think they lost all due credit, at least in my mind.

Zidane, what the heck were you thinking...? It's not only the most important game ever... but it's also your last game. Is this really how you wanted to be remembered? A leader who lost his cool in the final minutes of the World Cup Final on his last game...!??? What kind of moron are you! You had a chance to go out the way real champs do, at the peak of their careers, winning the World Cup! Heck, even if you didn't win it, you'd be remembered for fighting till the end and losing to Italy on PKs...

But no, now you're going to solely be remembered as a glorified fool... I'm being a bit harsh... but if first impressions make an impact... then the last impressions make a lasting impact!

One note for all the losing teams... thaks for bringing World Cup Fever around the World... and sports fans everywhere give you much credit for your hard fought games that have kept us glued to our television sets for this past month and a half...

Oh, and even if you didn't get to take home the trophy... at least your trophy wives are still waiting for you!!! You lucky punks! ;)

Tailor-Made Infosession Fridays: How do you like your Video IPod...?

2006-07-07T00:10:00.000-07:00

You get a car, so you can drive it... You get a shirt, so you can wear it... You get an IPOD, so you can listen to music on it... You get a Video IPOD, so you can listen to music AND watch videos on it... right...? But the answer is usually NO.

You'd be surprised... but most of us 'gotta have my gadget freaks' dont even know where to get videos for their IPods from, let alone be able to transfer them and actually watch them on there. For example, I didn't know how to do this until I wrote this post!! Well, fear no more... after reading this post, you should know exactly how you can do this... leaving only your own inertia in between you and your watching video on your Video IPod!

Q. Where can I get material to play on my Video Ipod?
A. Almost any source of video can be played on your video Ipod. You can go the basic route and just use i-Tunes to obtain music videos, short movies, or videos of popluar tv shows. You can also use various other types of software to transfer dvds, or digital videos from your personal collection so that they can be played on your ipod.

Q. How do I get content from the i-Tunes site, is it free, what's the catch?
A. i-Tune delivers to you video material that you will 'own' at the end. Hence, they charge $1.99 for every video you download and buy from their site. You can treat this videos as you would treat songs had you downloaded them from i-Tunes. This is a simple, a bit costly, but an effective solution.

Q. I'm cheap, and I don't want to pay for music videos or tv shows. How can I put full-lenght DVDs on my Video IPod?
A. Well, the good news is, you can bypass i-Tunes all-together, however, you will need to use another type of software that can convert various different formats (DVD, Tivo, DivX Video, MPEG, WMV, AVI, RealMedia, etc) into IPod video. Some of these softwares are free, and some you have to buy. You basically pay for what you get. Here is a great step-by-step article from C-NET about doing this. I couldn't have explained it any better myself. It also describes how to use the best software for this type of application, the AVS Video Converter.

Q. Ok, that's all good, but what if I don't really want to put movies on my IPod.. what if I just want to transfer video clips from my cpu to my Ipod?
A. In this case, if you videos are in MOV, MPEG or MP4 format, all you have to do is use the free conversion tool on the i-Tune site. Yes, its free!

Any more questions.... send 'em my way using the 'comments' field.

By the way, if you didn't like CNet's explanation using AVS for some reason, here are six other popular video conversion tools you can invest in.

Also, if you just want to give this a try before you buy, or you simply don't want to spend any money, here is a free video conversion software you can try.

Though this isn't a complete and technical discussion on how to get video on your Ipod, this should give you the basics, and set you on the right path.

Hope this helps! Have a good weekend! :)

Q. Aman, why can't your blog be more useful...?

2006-07-06T22:37:00.000-07:00

Well! The nerve!!! Talk about direct-criticism!

No, really, that is a good question. I mean, there are a bunch of blogs already out there full of people's feelings... and that, can often be dry... NO? So, therefore I have thus far tried my best to make this blog void of most of my philosophical feelings, and have approached it as a sort of an entertainment portal. However... I think a good friend made a wise comment in that it wouldn't hurt if my blog could also be a bit more useful... like for example... provide driving directions...

Now, though it would be great to take over Mapquest and Google Maps... I don't think I have that much time! However, keeping this comment in mind, I will try and add postings that can serve as more than just pure entertainment... and actually teach you something!

But that may prove to be quite the daunting task... as it will require me to learn! So, lets just see how long this lasts... I just hope I know what I'm getting myself into. My first attempt will be in Friday's post!

Thanks 'friend' for your 'useful' advice! In fact, I think that I will take this advice one step further and deem every Friday's post as a sort of infosession on useful topics. I'll call it 'Tailor-Made Infosession Fridays' and I urge frequent visitors of my blog to suggest topics that they would like to learn about on here...

So, here is your chance to ask me questions that you're too lazy to look up and investgate for yourself... All you have to do now, is wait for Friday!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-07-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

Anna Kournikova
Helpin' you get over the hump...Wimbledon Style!

Top 10 things you didn't know about your cell phone

2006-07-05T14:27:00.000-07:00

Now, many of you may just think of me as a typical Indian boy who's worried about his own self-interests and no one elses... Well, here is my chance to prove you wrong yet once again...
Here is a list of what I deem to be the top ten things you can do with your celly that you probabaly didn't know about, and hence help you be more effective:

10) Want to get off a call but can't come up with an excuse..? This service will let you introduces noises you specify into your calls so that you can get off the phone without seeming rude! Just don't use it too often... (my-symbian.com)

9) Does your friend keep calling you and nagging you about his EX..? Well, screen his voicemail before you pick up, similar to regular answering machines... and avoid all those topics you don't want to discuss.(callwave.com)

8) Want to prove to everyone that you can read without actually ever learning how!? Get this service from Audible.com and you can digitally receive books on your phone that you can listen to, yes listen to, on your phone at your own leisure.(Audible.com)

7) Running out of pick-up lines at the bar...? Use one of these phone based dating services to exchange texts/pics/digits of available girls... the best part is, only she will know how desparate you really are... and its ok... cuz she would be quite the loser too... you guys would be perfect for eachother!(bedd.com, sixsense.com, proxidating.com)

6) So you bought an awesome cell phone... but you had no money left over to upgrade your beat-up wallet... so what, ditch it! Now, you can pay using your cell phone... and avoid having to carry your used and abused piece of crap.(mobilelime.com, mbo.com, paypal.com)

5) "Where the f*$% is my cell phone!!?" Well, stop fretting and get this cool gadget from Loc8tor. It tracks your cell phone, keys, etc, and will point you to their exact location as long as you're within 600 feet!(http://www.loc8tor.com/)

4) Tired of answering the same missed calls from people you need to stay in touch with, but really don't want to...? Then use this service from Boo Interactive and it will automatically text message them with a personalized greeting... so you can get them off your back... if even just for a little while.(www.boointeractive.com)

3) Don't need one of those fancy shmancy PDAs but you still don't want to be forced to enter all your contacts into your phone everytime you change it... or better yet, just want to keep track of your contacts in a safe place? Then use this tool to back up your addy book and never lose a digit again!(www.sparktech.com)

2) Keep forgetting to pick up toilet paper on the way home..? Then you need to utilize this free reminder service that texts you exactly what you wanted to remember when you need to remember it! (www.tothecell.com)

1) Did you know that 35% of cell phones users can't receive good signal at home... Well, if you have that problem, then this cool gadget is exactly what you need! Now that's one less excuse girls can use when they're trying to avoid answering your phone calls! (www.wirelessextenders.com)

That ends my list of the Top Ten things you didn't know about your cell phone. Hope you can find at least one or two that would be useful to you... I can already guess which one of you will use which service! ha! Cheers!

You guys ROCK!!! Keep it comin...!

2006-06-29T18:05:00.000-07:00

Just a thanks to all of you for supporting my new blog. Here is a little progress report for you all, thanks for giving me motivation to continuously add new stuff. I promise.. it's only going to get better, cooler, and will only occupy MORE of your time! ;)

Take my advice.... I'm not using it!

2006-06-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

I look back at all the things that have been bugging me, things that disturb me. I even ask myself... why did I do that... what was I thinking... why do I let her, him, IT, disturb me the way I do... Why can't I just take the advice I give to others... and apply it to myself. Why!!?
Do you know why...? Am I the only one that feels this way...?
Maybe if I was Deepak Chopra... or someone else like him.. maybe then, I would be at peace! But heck, I don't want to be at peace... I like the action... I just want to be happy...! And I am, for the most part... until some little shit somewhere in the world says something, acts in a certain way (or doesn't act) and it ends up totally ruining my mood!
Am I insecure... am I too conscious of what others think... am I a perfectionist... do I expect perfection from others... is it all of these issues...? Whatever it is, it needs to, and it WILL change! Damnit! Life's too short for this mess.
From now on, I promise to consult myself, before I consult others...!
There... I feel a little better already! :)

Am I going to lose my JOB!!!????

2006-06-28T20:27:00.000-07:00

Now I know, an all-around superstar like me would be the one of the last people you'd expect to get fired from work... but it seems that I already have a slightly higher chance of getting fired than the average earthling!
Yes, I am now offically part of the world of internet bloggers, which is reportedly 5 million strong, and reportedly, our group has a slightly higher chance of getting fired from work because of our passion to blog, according to a recent NPR report. In fact, a dozen or so of us have already lost our jobs because we mentioned some of the frustrations with our jobs and employers on our blogs, and that is a bit scary. I mean, we are losing our jobs just for expressing our thoughts using a tool that was meant for just that purpose...? Give us a break, let us BLOG! Let us vent!
But don't you worry my loyal compadres... I know that I have become an integral part of your daily internet routine in the 10 days or so that I have been blogging, and I value you all as much as you value 'catching up with aman.' You will be glad to know that it will take more than just a threat of losing my job to keep me from filling your ever-growing appetite for what's on my little mind! Fight the power!

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-06-28T07:04:00.000-07:00

Jamie-Lynn Sigler
Helpin' you get over the hump...

Are you using your phrases correctly?

2006-06-27T18:49:00.000-07:00

If you're going to try and sound 'cool' and use a phrase to explain what you're thinking... just make sure you use it correctly... You'd be surprised by how many of us use phrases in a way that just don't make much sense if you think about them:

- I'm 'head over heels' in love with her. This makes no sense because that's the way you always are, unless you're the guy who's normally walking on his hands! It should rather be, I'm 'heels over head' in love with her.
- 'I could care less' about what he thinks. People use this to say they don't care much about something. Well, if you really want to get your point accross, what you said implies that you could care less, but you care more than that. What you should say is, 'I couldn't care less' about what he thinks.
- 'Have your cake and eat it too.' This makes no sense because you have to have it in order to eat it, so what the freak are you saying. If you want to remind someone that they can't have two different things at the same time, what you should say is, 'You can't eat your cake and have it too,' makes much more sense, doesn't it!
- 'Same difference.' Now this came out in the 90s and people thought it was cool to say this instead of saying 'Same thing' cause it was differnet. Well, it is, but it makes no sense! If it's the same thing, then there is no difference, so saying 'same differnce' is NOT the same thing as saying 'same thing!'

I'm hoping that this brief discussion on the proper use of phrases has enlightened you all in to choosing your words more carefully, and that one day you can thank me for showing you the light! If you don't believe it, just try it, tell your girl that you're 'heels over head' for her... give her a few moments to figure it out... and the rest will follow... :)

Have you made your Post-Hrithik Resolution yet...?

2006-06-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

Krrish Movie Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Was it the start of a new year... or just an end to a Hrithik Roshan movie...? It's hard to tell sometimes as the atmosphere was full of people taking vows to losing weight or simply just getting in better shape. It simply seemed as if a feeling of awe was omnipresent among the theater crowd ever since Hrithikh literally jumped on the screen...
Anyhow, lets get back to the movie. As expected, this is not just a movie about a super-hero, but about a young man using everything at his disposal to conquer love, happiness, family and respect. Since this was a Bollywood flick, you can also expect it to try and appease many genres in one-go, which in this case are comedy, action, family values, and love. But the only genre that seemed extraordinary in this movie would be the action this movie had to offer. Now granted, you can't compare the stunts in this film to the up-coming Superman movie, due to the great disparitybetween the two film-budgets, but keeping in mind the budget of this film, I think they did quite well. I was especially pleased with the innovation that comprised the plot in this movie... everything from the action sequences to the story-line itself had a very new approach to it and it was welcoming.
All-in-all, this is a great movie for kids/family, and a good overall story. However, it won't quench the thirst you may have for action if you expect it to be only a movie about a super-hero.

Bollywood Movie Preview - Krrish

2006-06-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

Whatever happened to the once super popular Hrithik Roshan??? He seems to be having a little tough time gaining popularity in Bollywood as he can't seem to find many roles... except for the ones his dad Rakesh Roshan stars him in... must be nice. To think, it could have happened to me!!! Can't you just imagine!!! Anyways, back to reality, as I guess I'm destined for more important things.
Krrish is the latest movie starring Hrithik Roshan, and comes to us over two years after his last release... This may be OK if you were a Hollywood actor... but in Bollywood, with all the films they churn out... if you're not in at least two movies a year... then somethings definately up, but its NOT your popularity! But anyhow, lets get back to the movie.
Continuing on Rakesh Roshan's obsession with establishing Sci-Fi as a popular Bollywood genre, Krrish is the sequel to Koi Mil Gaya, which was a sci-fi box office hit a couple years back. The basic synopsis is that Hrithik has super natural powers, one of which is the ability to make hot Indian girls fall in love with him...(j/k), which is how he meets Priyanka Chopra. He later travels to Singapore with her and encounters an eveil villain, Naseeruddin Shah, who is plotting his very own global domination strategy (how original). And the rest, I'm sure is pretty obvious.
So, I guess the stage is set for a desi-fied mix of the Matrix and Spiderman/Superman. It should be quite interesting for the American audience, as I don't yet recall a Hollywood 'super-hero' movie in which the star was involved in singing and dancing sequences as well! But this shouldn't take away from the action this movie should have to offer as they've utilized one of the greatest stunt developers film-making has to offer in Tony Ching.
Anyhow, I think this film should be worth a trip to the cinema, given all the action it promises to deliver... some of which I'm hoping will come from Priyanka, and not Hrithik!

Finals Entry Part 2: My Finals Frustrations

2006-06-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, so now that I've given the Heat a pat on the back... it's time to get to business.
Shaq is the biggest traitor and the most insecure guy for his size... He needs to get over getting boot out of LA, and needs to stop taking shots at the Laker organization. Every comment he made in the finals was either related to 1)Wade being the BEST player in the league (which is an obvious shot at Kobe, who is hands down the best) and 2)how much he loves playing with Miami because they have no drama (which is fine but his tone suggests he had no part at all to play in the drama with the Lakers).
Shaq, if you're reading this... here are my 2 cents... You are a fool, a traitor, big-headed, insecure, and speak like you have down-syndrome! I'm so glad you aren't a part of the Lakers any more... good riddens, chubby!
Ok, secondly, Wade is a great player, but heck, with the type of players in the Heat, he's always under single-coverage or Zone. One can do a lot more offensively in that situation. Kobe, on the other hand, doesn't have a star-studded team, and hence teams can double, triple, even quadruple team him... making it much harder for him to score and putting a much heavier burden on his shoulders! So you can't compare Wade to Kobe just by Wade's recent accomplishments... Yes, Wade is a great player and he will get better, and being a finals MVP is no joke, but you have to be kidding me when you think that he's better than Kobe, unless you want me to think you a fool, like Shaq!
A link for other Kobe fans.

Finals Entry Part 1: Congratulations Miami!

2006-06-21T16:46:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm pretty steemed up about the NBA finals and the aftermath, hence, to not take away from the Heat victory, I will postpone my frustrations until tomorrow's post.
The Heat did an amazing job in the finals and they deserved to win, and Dwayne Wade proved to everyone why he's an extremely talented player and the series-MVP. Way to go Wade... u got some gaaame!
Everyone in the Heat came to play, and play hard... and they deserved to win against a Dallas Maverick team that had a relatively lack-luster performance overall. It seems like Dallas and their leader, Dirk Nowitzki, left their 'A-game' at the Western Conference Semi-Finals. But I'm sorry Dallas, but just because you beat the Spurs, who were last years champions, doesn't mean didly... you need to step it up in the finals, and you did not do that... missing key free-throws, not efficiently defending Wade, not involving your centers in your offense, not getting the ball to Nowtizki often enough, and most importantly, not keeping Marquis Daniels in the game at crunch time... heck, he was the only reason that the Game 6 was even close!!!
Anyhow, the team that deserved to win the championship, did, and that's all that matters. Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton and Pat Riley all deserved this ring, especially Zo and GP... congrats guys! Also, I'm happy for DWade, he's a great player and I look forward to seeing more of him down the line.

Crush of the Week Wednesdays

2006-06-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

Riya Sen
Helpin' you get over the hump...

Trade Away Your Old Cds for Ones You Actually Want!!!

2006-06-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

Ever look at your cd collection and wondered... 'What the f***, I can't believe I actually listened to this crap...!' Well, here's your chance to redeem yourself and your musical taste. La La is a brand new site that allows you to trade your cds with someone else, all for a little over a dollar. You simply post the list of cds you want to trade and a list of cds you want to obtain. Then you pick the ones you want to be mailed to you, and mail off the cd you want to trade it for, all anonomously with other users. And heck, with all the wierdos out there... someone is bound to still be listening to the crap you used to listen to like New Kids on the Block, Vanilla Ice, and Hanson... just to name a few...

Also, if your taste in movies used to be equally bad, and you want to trade them as well for other titles, Peerflix is a site that will allow you to do just that.

So, now you have no excuses to not get rid of your Backstreet Boys Collector's Edition CD and your Special Edition of I Heart Huckabees!!!! Don't let this chance of redeeming your collection go to waste!

In the Spirit of the World Cup

2006-06-19T16:38:00.000-07:00

Think you've had it rough with one of your sports injuries...? Whether it be a torn ACL from basketball, a broken-arm from mountain climbing, a twisted ankle from running, or heck, even a sprained pair of hips from too many hours on the stair-climber, you guys ain't seen nothing yet.

Some sports injuries just stand out above the rest and here's one injury that shouldn't go unmentioned. So next time you think you've had it rough because of your paper-cut from your Extreme Origami club, just feel lucky because it could have been much worse!

Internet Explorer 7 vs. Mozilla Firefox

2006-06-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

Microsoft just came out with its latest and greatest web browser, Internet Explorer 7.0. And though it is more user-friendly, safer and faster than the previous Internet Explorer, most of it is just a knock-off of Mozilla's Firefox browser. Now don't take this the wrong way, Microsoft did introduce a lot of innovative ideas with their new browser... but the catch is that they were mostly all available already as extensions for Mozilla Firefox users. Unlike IE, Firefox is an open-source web-browser, and users all over the world have added their own code as extensions that anyone using Firefox can attach to their own personal copy, and thus customize their web browsing experience. So basically, Microsoft's innovative stragedy consisted of just copying the most popular Firefox Extensions into their newer, and more 'innovative,' web browsing solution.

Personally, I use both of the web browsers, but I prefer using Firefox because I can only get the extensions that I care about, and customize my web browsing experience.

By the way, one of the coolest extensions of Mozilla is one called G space, and unfortunately for Bill Gates, Microsoft forgot to copy this one. It basically lets you use your gmail account to transfer files between cpus, and thus acts as a personal ftp. Way cool! :)

Screech Pleads for Help

2006-06-18T01:32:00.000-07:00

We all remember being in school and watching episodes of 'Saved by the Bell' on those tv-filled Satruday mornings. In fact this show was so popular that what started as a junior high show, continued on to high school and then to college. If that wasn't long enough... once the original class was too old, it started all over again with an entirely new cast, while Mr. Belding and our beloved Screech stayed on. So, you would think that with such a long-running show, Screech (Dustin Diamond) would pretty much be set for life as long as he didn't totally screw up.... But it seems he did.
But then again, if Dustin Diamond even remotely resembled his on-screen Screech persona, then such a foul-up was probabaly meant to happen.
I can't help but feel sorry for the guy, but at the same time, I am not willing to support his cause. I know we all have our tough breaks, as he is now, but on the flip-side, he had many opportunities that none of us could ever even dream of. And yet he managed to somehow screw it all up! And now he plans on avenging himself by selling shirts...? Get a job, fool!

Intro to the Blog

2006-06-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys...
I've been wanting to create a blog like this for some time now. But instead of just thinking about all the work it would take to create and maintain one... I decided to actually TRY IT. So far, its been a lot of fun, and it's not bad at all maintaining it, it's quite fun actually. Lets just see how long I keep it up!

I often wonder about all of you out there, as in this busy race of life, we rarely have time to keep up with everyone we'd like to. So, I'm hoping that this little blog of mine will make it easier for you to keep up with me! Sounds exciting huh..? Well, you never know... it just might be!

Lets just give it a shot!

-Aman