tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-101031302024-03-08T01:37:29.908+06:00Santanu's Blog PageRants and Ramblings from a Remote River bank.ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1133681469541909402005-12-07T13:11:00.000+06:002007-03-02T18:32:16.943+06:00Al Vida<p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/View%20from%20India.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/400/View%20from%20India.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="justify"><br />This is a view of the flat plains of Bangladesh from the hills of surrounding India. The white spec in the horizon is where I blogged from in my spare time for the last one year. However, my assignment in now on the verge of completion. Soon, I will pack up and return to India to take up my next assignment.</p><p align="justify">I will miss the place and the people here. The place because it is so much like India yet is so different. The countryside here reminds me of my childhood vacations in rural (West) Bengal. The folks here are more soft spoken than in the Indian Bengal. However, religious sentiments and years of propoganda has built an invisible wall which is unlikely to follow the Berlin Wall example in my lifetime.</p><p align="justify">Inevitably, this blog too ends here. </p><p align="justify">Thanks to all those friends who cared to return to this page repeatedly and share their thoughts and feelings. Some are in my blogroll, many are not. It was a wonderful experience - blogging and reading blogs. A pity it had to end so soon.</p><p align="justify"><em>Al Vida ... Shabba Khair ... Au Revoir ... Sayonara ... Bye-bye!</em></p><p align="justify"><em><strong>Namoskar !</strong></em> :-)</p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"><span style="font-size:85%;"><u></u></span> </p><p align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><u><a href="santanew@yahoo.co.in">PS: e-mails r olwez welcum</a></u></span></p>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1132911988390227792005-11-25T14:22:00.000+06:002007-09-18T11:42:55.053+06:00A Modern Wonder - Akshardham Temple<em>"After 5 years of non-stop, round-the-clock construction, the massive and awesome Akshardham Temple Monument to World Peace was inaugurated. The Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, India, constructed by the BAPS foundation -- the builders of the various Swaminaryan Temples across the world, is truely a modern day Wonder of the World. It is one of the biggest and most intricate religious places of worship ever constructed. Combining several completely different and contrasting architectural styles of Hindu temple architecture of northern India -- Rajasthani, Orrisan, Gujarati, Mughal and Jain -- the Akshardham Monument is entirely constructed of marble and the red-sandstone that Delhi is famous for, and that so many of her monuments are constructed of. It was completed in only 5 years (a world record of sorts). So after years of waiting, the Temple was yesterday opened to the public -- and to photographers. Below is the New Delhi Akshardham Complex as seen through the eyes of a BAPS photographer.</em> <div align="justify"></div><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar1.jpg"><em></em></a></p><div align="justify"><em><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar1.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Akshar1.0.jpg" border="0" /></a>At its inauguration, it is widely being heralded as one of the greatest monuments India has ever produced. I hope you enjoy viewing this architectural marvel as much as I enjoyed having the honor presenting it. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar2.2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Akshar2.jpg" border="0" /></a></em></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><em>Monument of Akshardham:</em></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong></strong></div><div align="justify"><em>The Akshardham monument, built without steel, is entirely composed of sandstone and marble. It consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, 20 quadrangled shikhars, a spectacular Gajendra Pith (plinth of stone elephants) and 20,000 murtis and statues of India's great sadhus, devotees, acharyas and divine personalities. The monument is a fusion of several architectural styles of pink stone and pure white marble. Pink stone symbolizes bhakti (devotion) in eternal bloom and white marble of absolute purity and eternal peace. The monument was built after over 300 million man hours of services rendered by 11,000 volunteers, sadhus and artisans. It is one of the wonders of the modern world."<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar3.3.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Akshar3.1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar4.1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Akshar4.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar5.1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Akshar5.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar6.1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Akshar6.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar7.1.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Akshar7.1.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></em><p align="left"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar2.1.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Akshar3.0.jpg"></a></p><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">I withdraw my comments on this post due to objections from some readers (a few are not published). While my opinion remains the same, I respect the religious sentimentalities of the Indian masses and am proud of the secular nature of the nation, even though it curbs my freedom of speech within justifiable limits.</div><div align="justify"> </div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1131937207045202252005-11-14T08:45:00.000+06:002005-11-14T09:00:07.073+06:00Just for funThis is really true....<br />Left brain, right brain !!!!<br /><br />While sitting at your computer, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. <br /><br />Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" on your screen with your right hand. <br /><br /> <br /><br />Your foot will change direction and there's nothing you can do about it:)ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1131608069493651382005-11-10T13:20:00.000+06:002005-11-10T13:34:29.513+06:00Photos of ShillongIt took almost 2 hours over the last 3 days!<br /><br /><div align="justify">I searched for guidance and browsed discussion forums over the net. My query was regarding method of uploading photos from a Samsung E330 mobile phone to the PC through a USB data cable. And the conclusion was that no one was quite sure how to go about it! A few samaritans suggested methods based on their personal experience of successful trials. But there were five times as many who complained that it did not work on their systems. I tried the installation CD. I tried downloading the software from the net. All I got was error messages. Wondered how the same method could possibly have succeeded on the samaritans PC if it did not click on mine! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Eureka! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I rushed to a friends PC and behold! Mobile to PC, PC to internet. All photos uploaded within 20 minutes :)</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://in.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/santanew/album?.dir=bd67&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//in.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos">Not worth any photography award, but take a peek anyway!</a></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1131355988461248662005-11-07T13:53:00.000+06:002005-11-07T15:33:08.483+06:00Shangri La!<div align="justify">4 days a very short for a vacation, but then, beggars are not choosers!<br /><br /></div><div align="justify">It is very normal during foreign soil postings to explore the country of posting during leave. But with Eid being the national festival in Bangladesh, I feared massive crowds in every tourist location here. So I ran north from Sylhet. Through the Tamabil-Dawki check post into India. Up the hills of Meghalaya to Shillong. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Meghalaya, in Hindi ( and quite a few other Indian languages), means the abode of the clouds. From the marshy plains of Bangladesh (20-40 ft above sea level), the Khasi hills of Meghalaya (India) suddenly rise to 5000 ft within 2-5 kms. The people too look very different from the native Bangladeshi. The Khasia, Garo and Jaintia tribals of the hills have typical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoloid">Mongoloid </a>features with small eyes, snub noses, fair skin and pink cheeks. The slit eyes with the wrinkles in the corner and the high cheekbones give them a perpetual grinning appearance - which goes well with their cheerful happy-go-lucky nature. The land itself is rocky with thick vegetation along the hill slopes and scant shrubs on the plateaus. This is in sharp contrast to the flat, treeless, slushy paddy fields of Bangladesh, a stones throw away!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As we switched from a sleek Toyota to a hardy Maruti Gypsy van, I could make out the difference in nature of the drivers. The former was mature & sober, while the latter was a Formula 1 aspirant! He took us up the hills, into the clouds and through the clouds into --- the HEAVENS!! </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Shillong, and its surroundings have to be seen to be believed. The air is cool and fresh. The view is out of the world. The people are warm and friendly. The food - marvelous. And yes, the tea is home grown!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">We saw the fantastic view of the flat plains of Bangladesh from Cherrapunji, the 'rainiest' place on planet Earth. We experienced the sublime feeling of timelessness as we watched clouds form over the still waters of Umiam lake. We viewed the panorama of Shillong town from the nearby Shillong peak. We rode up and down the green carpeted undulating hills of what was called 'The Scotland of the East' by the colonial rulers. The deep, deep gorges and ravines, the sparkling and roaring waterfalls, the flora and fauna, add to it a creepy limestone cave with stalactites and stalagmites .... ! I have to recheck the photos to make sure it wasn't a dream.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Which reminds me that I need to do something to upload some snaps from a Samsung E330 mobile to my PC. I bought a USB cable from Dhaka which turned out to be a fake. The CD software does not work. I am desperately trying to download it from the net, but my connection is too slow and unreliable!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Which again reminds me that I am back to normal daily life :)</div><div align="justify"></div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1130833813024180452005-11-01T13:43:00.000+06:002005-11-01T14:30:13.040+06:00Strange FindingsI have been Googling a bit of late. Especially with Google Earth. It is just fantastic. I am able to see each and every place I have stayed in during the last 38 years! It is fun revisiting all the tourist spots that I have seen over the years. The hills, lakes, et al. Hats off to Google for the site.<br /><br />Another useful thing is Google is the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button in their search page. It opens the top ranked web page of the search you have tried and saves you the hassle of downloading the result page. A rather peculiar search result is operating at present if you try "I'm Feeling Lucky" button for the word "failure". Bush bashers will be delighted :) I'll advise you to try it immediately - before the officials realise it and step in!<br /><br />Meanwhile, I am off to my first vacation in 18 months. Will post pics (hopefully) after I return.<br /><br />Happy Deepawali and Eid Mubarak!!ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1129819153189085332005-10-20T20:05:00.000+06:002005-10-20T20:39:13.196+06:00What on Earth!Can someone explain to me why we are continuously getting such catastrophic natural disasters from two diametrically opposide sides of the world?<br /><br />It's almost like one is yelling to the other: "It's your turn!"<br /><br />First the Tsunami.<br />Then Katrina and Rita.<br />Then the earthquake of Pakistan.<br />Now, a hurricane named Wilma is Catagory 5!<br /><br />It's like the Indian subcontinent and the Gulf of Mexico are playing out a game.<br />And lives, especially at the end I post from, are apparently worth peanuts in this game.ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1129780510413429062005-10-20T09:55:00.000+06:002005-10-20T19:43:17.113+06:00South Asia Quake HelpPlease go to the blogpage below for latest information. You can also find means and ways to contribute to the relief efforts.<br /><br /><a href="http://quakehelp.blogspot.com/">http://quakehelp.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />NB: The latest I heard is that the death toll has crossed 79000!<br /><strong>This is one of the deadliest earthquakes of modern times!!</strong>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1129557934625021032005-10-17T19:41:00.000+06:002005-10-17T20:05:34.633+06:00Veni Vedi Vici<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/veni1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/veni1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Not very recent pic, not too clear either. But the gear, posture and background!!<br /><br />I am not showing off, folks. This is posted just for my records. Just in case my hard disk gets wiped off.<br /><br />Really?!?<br /><br />Hmmm...ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1128767071135634312005-10-08T16:24:00.000+06:002005-10-08T16:24:31.203+06:00India ShakesIndia shook its head with a 7.4 Richter this morning. Buildings in Islamabad, Pakistan collapsed. Casualties in Kashmir are not yet known, but may cross 1000!
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<br />The tremors were also felt in Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and in Ahmedabad.
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<br /><a href="http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200510081301.htm">The Hindu News Update Service</a>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1127309228902925362005-09-21T18:45:00.000+06:002005-09-21T19:27:08.920+06:00I Don't like Rita<div align="justify"><strong>Period:</strong> Late Seventies, <strong>Media:</strong> Paperbacks.<br /><strong>Scene:</strong> <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4655437.stm">London bombed</a> by German planes in World War II. Just as people come out of bunkers, sirens sound yet another wave of bombers. People scurry back for cover in a darkened city.<br /><br />I wondered in my tender mind what it felt like to be homeless and yet be bombed again!<br /><br /><strong>Period:</strong> Late Eighties, <strong>Media:</strong> Television.<br /><strong>Scene:</strong> <a href="http://www.askmen.com/men/sports_60/67_mike_tyson.html">Mike Tyson</a> vs. some forgotten fighter (Anon) in a floodlit boxing ring. Anon tries to hide his bleeding face behind gloved hands as Tyson sneers and moves in for yet another flurry of thunderous punches. The result of the fight is already obvious, but Anon clings to the last shreds of dignity by staying on his feet, while Tyson tries to enhance his career with a ‘KO’ from a beaten and battered opponent.<br /><br />I winced in imaginary pain, imagining myself in Anon’s shoes, feeling the pain and the humiliation, wishing the misery to end.<br /><br /><strong>Period:</strong> Late Nineties, <strong>Media:</strong> Cinema / Movies.<br /><strong>Scene:</strong> “<a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bandit_queen/">Bandit Queen</a>” Phoolan Devi being <a href="http://www.sawnet.org/cinema/reviews.php?Bandit+Queen">gang raped</a>. One rapist walks out of the cattle shed tying the cord of his pajamas while the silhouette of the next appears at the door. An evil grin is vaguely visible against the harsh sunny background, seen through the bruised, battered swollen eyes of the victim.<br /><br />I grimaced. “When will it all end?” an anguished voice moaned inside my head.<br /><br /><strong>Period:</strong> Present (2005), <strong>Media:</strong> Internet.<br /><strong>Scene:</strong> Weather forecast websites showing satellite pictures of Florida Keys. Rita slips into the Gulf of Mexico spinning in a wild orgy, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4267164.stm">gleefully eyeing the shattered and stunned New Orleans city</a> which has not even begun to recover from the stinging blow of Hurricane Katrina.<br /><br />I think about the hapless evacuees. The same old feeling washes through me. When will this end? Why beat the beaten? Tinglings of fear might crawl down their spines as they hear updates of Rita’s approach. Or maybe they will be too numb to notice! </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I sit at the toe of the mighty Himalayas at the opposite end of the globe and think. I think and imagine and cringe. Restless, I recheck the <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/">weather websites</a>, wishing away the winds. I wish I could …</div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1127185198152824562005-09-20T08:59:00.000+06:002005-09-20T08:59:59.776+06:00Mystic Mom<em>"There is no experience quite as profound as motherhood. When you give birth to another, you become that other. From the first kicks in a puffing-up stomach to the first moments after birth, you melt into the other. You are not one, you are not two, you are a blend -- something outside yourself yet in yourself. Nowhere in life are you given the opportunity to transcend yourself in quite the same way. When your baby lies at your breast drinking from your fluid, you are not two organisms, you are one of a new kind of organism."</em>
<br /><strong><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20050917/cm_huffpost/007488;_ylt=AnjdWd2hdv2KtULXwn5_HdMd6sgF;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl">Susan Smalley </a> </strong>
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<br />There are some things that men can only read about. And add to their blogs perhaps. :)ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1126932713071618762005-09-17T10:51:00.000+06:002005-09-17T21:04:27.500+06:00Psychic Powers!I might be overimaginative and too prone to impractical and wishful thinking, but would it not make the world a better place to live in if we had benevolent philanthropists with clairvoyance assisting the police! Seems we do not have to look far....<br /><br /><a href="http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=2005-09-16T183324Z_01_KWA666767_RTRIDST_0_OUKOE-UK-CRIME-PSYCHIC.XML">Truth Stranger than Fiction</a><br /><br />I know it could be just another tall claim, but still.... :)ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1125835256251747232005-09-16T13:51:00.000+06:002005-09-16T13:18:02.780+06:00What a Bike!!!This is an 8200cc Monster of a Bike. It's like riding a 2-wheeled Train Engine. Do read the specification below. Mindblowing...<br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 366px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 238px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="257" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Bike1.jpg" width="382" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><strong>ENGINE:</strong><br /><ol><li>500 bhp (372 kW) @ 5600 rpm ( 60.4 bhp/liter); 525 lb.-ft. (712 Nm) @ 4200 rpm </li><li>10-cylinder 90-degree V-type, liquid-cooled, 505 cubic inches (8277 cc) </li><li>356-T6 aluminum alloy block with cast-iron liners, aluminum alloy cylinder heads </li><li>Bore x Stroke: 4.03 inches x 3.96 inches (102.4 x 100.6) </li><li>Two pushrod-actuated overhead valves per cylinder with roller-type hydraulic lifters </li><li>Sequential, multi-port electronic fuel injection with individual runners </li><li>Compression Ratio: 9.6:1 </li><li>Max Engine Speed: 6000 rpm </li><li>Fuel Requirement: Unleaded premium, 93 octane (R+M/2) </li><li>Oil System: Dry Sump; takes 8 quarts Mobil1 10W30 Synthetic </li><li>Cooling System: Twin aluminum radiators mounted atop engine intake manifolds, force-fed from front-mounted, belt-driven turbine fan. </li><li>Takes 11 quarts of antifreeze. </li><li>Exhaust System: Equal-length tubular stainless steel headers with dual collectors and central rear outlets </li></ol><p></p><p><strong><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Bike%202.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 305px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" height="213" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Bike%202.jpg" width="334" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Bike%202.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Bike%202.jpg"></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Bike%202.jpg"></a></strong></p><p><strong>SUSPENSION:</strong></p><p align="justify"><strong>Front:</strong> Outboard, single-sided parallel upper and lower control arms made from polished billet aluminum. Mounted via ball joint to aluminum steering uprights and hubs. Five degrees caster. Single, fully adjustable centrally located coil-over damper ( 2.25-inch coil with adjustable spring perch); pullrod and rocker-actuated mono linkage. Center-lock racing-style hubs.<br /><strong>Rear:</strong> Hand-fabricated box-section steel inboard swing arms, incorporating "hydral-link" lockable recirculating hydraulic circuit parking stand. Single fully adjustable centrally located Koni coil-over damper ( 2.25-inch coil with adjustable spring perch); pushrod and rocker-actuated mono linkage. Center-lock racing-style hubs </p><p align="justify"><strong>BRAKES:<br />Front :</strong> 20-inch perimeter-mounted drilled machined stainless steel rotors, one per wheel. Two four-piston fixed aluminum calipers per wheel (16 pistons total), custom designed. Blue anodized caliper finish. Hand-activated.<br /><strong>Rear :</strong> 20-inch perimeter-mounted drilled cast-iron rotors, one per wheel. One four-piston fixed aluminum caliper per wheel (8 pistons total), custom designed. Blue anodized caliper finish. Foot-activated. </p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"></p><p align="justify"><br />The Tomahawk is a Viper V-10 based motorcycle, a 500 horsepower engine with four wheels beneath it. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Bike5.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Bike5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Chrysler will be selling the original Tomahawk concept and nine replicas through Neiman Marcus, for up to $555,000 each. The motorcycles cannot be licensed, so they cannot be legally driven on public roads. A Chrysler spokesman told Reuters they were meant as rolling sculptures.<br />Rumors had the Tomahawk selling for under $200,000, most likely at a loss or breakeven price, for publicity purposes - but still fully drivable. Wolfgang Bernhard, Chrysler's not particularly respected first mate, was said to be enthusiastic about that project, so much so that hundreds were projected to be built at under $200,000 each. They reportedly cost Chrysler over $100,000 to build (admittedly the work is outsourced).<br />The Dodge Tomahawk can reach 60 miles an hour in about 2.5 seconds, and has a theoretical top speed of nearly 400 mph. Each pair of wheels is separated by a few inches and each wheel has an independent suspension. Bernhard said four wheels were necessary to handle the power from the engine.<br />The Tomahawk remains on display at auto shows - though well out of reach of the general public, elevated on a special display. </p><p align="justify"><strong>PERFORMANCE:<br /></strong>0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds (est.)Top Speed: 300+ mph (est.) </p><p align="justify"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 341px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 232px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="264" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Bike3.jpg" width="379" border="0" /><br /><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong></strong></p><p align="justify"><strong>DIMENSIONS:</strong><br />Length: 102 inchesWidth: 27.7 inchesHeight: 36.9 inchesWheelbase: 76 inches Seat Height: 29 inchesWeight: 1,500 lbs. Track, Front: 8.75 inTrack, Rear: 10 inWeight Dist: 49F/51RGround Clearance: 3 inFuel: 3.25 gallons </p><p align="justify"><strong>ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:</strong> </p><p align="justify">Alternator: 136-amp high-speedBattery: Leak-resistant, maintenance-free 600 CCALighting: Headlights consist of 12 five-watt LEDs, front, with beam-modifying optics and masked lenses. Eight LEDs, rear. Headlamps articulate with wheels. </p><p align="justify"><strong>TRANSMISSION:</strong> </p><p align="justify">Manual, foot-shifted two-speed Aluminum-cased two-speed, sequential racing-style with dog ring, straight-cut gears Gear Ratios: 1st 18:38; 2nd 23:25Clutch: Double-disc, dry-plate with organic friction materials, hand lever actuated with assist Final drive: Dual 110-link motorcycle-style chains </p><p align="justify"><strong>Front Sprockets:</strong> 14 teeth <strong>Rear Sprockets:</strong> 35 teeth<br />Longitudinal, centrally mounted engine, rear-wheel drive layout; monocoque construction, engine is central, stressed member. Body of billet aluminum.</p>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1126599066772821392005-09-13T14:11:00.000+06:002005-09-13T14:11:06.783+06:00Ashes to EnglandThe English Summer looks positively brighter now. And why not!
<br />
<br />A cricket win is a cause for celebration any day.
<br />Test cricket, more so.
<br />A series win, even more so.
<br />Against Australia? Hats Off!
<br />And when it is England doing it after 18 years..well! well!
<br />
<br />The entire country celebrates and so do millions of cricket fans all over the world! Read on...
<br />
<br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/4239254.stm">BBC SPORT | Cricket | Ashes 2005 | Fans to hail Ashes-winning heroes</a>: "The tour will proceed from Mansion House to Queen Victoria Street, Cannon Street, St Paul's Churchyard, Ludgate Hill, Fleet Street, Strand, Duncannon Street and Trafalgar Square, where the presentation will end at 1300 BST. "ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1125991945560823292005-09-06T13:32:00.000+06:002005-09-06T15:22:56.026+06:00Exposed and humbled<img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 215px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" height="235" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/200/Katrina%20boat.jpg" width="337" border="0" /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">A boat sits wedged in a tree by a Pearl Street home in Biloxi which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.</span></em> -<em><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.nola.com">www.nola.com</a>(Times-Picayune)</span></em><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Katrina%20boat.jpg"></a><br /><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It was a surprising sight on television -- the spectacle of the world’s mightiest power laid low and humbled by the elemental forces of nature.<br /><br />The winds and rain of Hurricane Katrina killed thousands of people, devastated about US$100 billion in public and private property and flooded a vast area of the American South.<br /><br />What has been called America’s deadliest natural disaster in a century also brought out the lack of preparedness of a superpower that could invade and overrun another country thousands of miles away in a matter of days.<br /><br />Food, water and medicines were unavailable for days for tens of thousands of evacuees in crowded, sweltering evacuation centres. Law and order broke down, and looters, killers and rapists, particularly in New Orleans, roamed and operated at will until the National Guard belatedly stepped in and restored some semblance of order.<br /><br />The entire debacle saw the United States failing its first major test after putting up new security arrangements since 9/11.<br /><br /><u>What are the lessons of Katrina?<br /></u><br /><strong>The first is environmental</strong>: </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">One cannot fool around with the environment and not expect it to hit back with destructive fury. It’s the law of ecological karma.<br /><br />American columnist Ross Gelbspan said, “The hurricane that struck Louisiana and Mississippi was nicknamed Katrina by the National Weather Service (but) its real name was global warming.”<br /><br />The unabated use of polluting fossil fuels has caused global warming and many scientists fear that the world may have entered a period of irreversible climate change.<br /><br />We can feel it here in the Philippines where typhoons have become stronger and more destructive, where the level of floodwaters is constantly rising and where sometimes the weather is reversed, with rains falling in usually dry months and drought occurring in usually wet months.<br /><br /><strong>The second lesson is the need for preparedness.</strong><br /><br />It cannot be said that the United States was not warned about the coming of Katrina. Days before it finally struck land, TV stations were running hourly bulletins about Katrina.<br /><br />In the meantime, very little was done to shore up installations or board up buildings.<br /><br />Ultimately, in some areas in the direct path of the hurricane, boarding up would have done little to mitigate the damage. The hurricane was so fierce and powerful that it mowed down everything in its path.<br /><br />But the death of thousands could have been prevented had they been evacuated before the hurricane. Some people thought evacuation was not necessary.<br /><br />In the face of an impending natural disaster, it is always better to err on the side of caution.<br /><br />The US government should have been prepared to cope with the logistical nightmare of moving tens of thousands of people, feeding them, providing them with clean water, clothing them, giving them temporary shelter and ministering to their medical and health needs.<br /><br />New Orleans pointed up the lack of preparedness of the government.<br /><br /><strong>The third lesson of Katrina</strong> is the need to study scenarios of the aftermath of a disaster, prepare for the relocation of people and the reconstruction of their homes and infrastructure.<br /><br />In this regard, American officials would do well to study the rehabilitation and reconstruction work being done by Indonesia in Aceh and Nias, two of the areas hardest hit by the tsunami last December. </div><div align="right"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Courtesy </span><a href="http://www.inquirer.net"><span style="font-size:85%;">Philippine Daily Inquirer</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">You can read the full article in </span><a href="http://www.asianewsnet.net/level3_template3.php?l3sec=7&news_id=45047"><span style="font-size:85%;">ANN</span></a></div><div align="right"></div><div align="left"><u></u> </div><div align="left"><u>P.S.: <a href="http://www.arabnews.com">A week after the storm, a definitive death toll remained elusive. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin warned on NBC’s “Today” that “it wouldn’t be unreasonable to have 10,000” dead.-Arab News</a></u></div><div align="right"></div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1125904023282358362005-09-05T13:07:00.000+06:002005-09-05T14:30:03.783+06:00Water crisis looms as Himalayan glaciers melt<div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Kanchenjunga.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/Kanchenjunga.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />A view of the Kanchenjunga mountain along the Himalayan mountain range on the frontier between Nepal and Sikkim. Scientists say the 40 percent of humanity living in South Asia and China could well be living with little drinking water within 50 years as global warming melts Himalayan glaciers, the region's main water source. (Source Reuters)</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><a href="http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=reutersEdge&storyID=2005-09-02T073839Z_01_NOA226901_RTRUKOC_0_FEATURE-GLACIERS.xml">Read on...</a>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1125893755743503662005-09-05T09:49:00.000+06:002005-09-05T10:15:55.763+06:00Katrina CallHurricane Katrina -- Online Resources and How to Help<br /><br />* <a title="http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml" href="http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml" target="">U.S. Government Katrina Help Resource List</a><br />* <a title="http://www.nokr.org/nok/restricted/home.htm" href="http://www.nokr.org/nok/restricted/home.htm" target="">National Next of Kin Registry</a><br />* <a title="http://www.tsasw.org/qso/healthandwelfare.asp" href="http://www.tsasw.org/qso/healthandwelfare.asp" target="">Salvation Army Health and Welfare Information Request Form</a><br />* <a title="http://www.fema.gov/about/process/" href="http://www.fema.gov/about/process/" target="">FEMA Disaster Assistance Process</a><br />* <a title="http://www.nowpublic.com/node/17228" href="http://www.nowpublic.com/node/17228" target="">NowPublic Missing Persons Board</a><br />* <a title="http://www.nola.com/forums/searching/" href="http://www.nola.com/forums/searching/" target="">Nola.com Missing Persons Board</a><br />* <a title="http://www.nola.com/forums/imok/" href="http://www.nola.com/forums/imok/" target="">Nola.com "I'm Okay" Board</a><br />* <a title="http://www.nola.com/forums/homesavailable/" href="http://www.nola.com/forums/homesavailable/" target="">Nola.com Homes Available Board</a><br />* <a title="http://www.wdsu.com/news/4918877/detail.html" href="http://www.wdsu.com/news/4918877/detail.html" target="">WDSU-TV Safe/Missing Persons Boards (By Parish)</a><br />* <a title="http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=" sid="28245b14c7727df3df4bd2e188d4f473" href="http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=16&sid=28245b14c7727df3df4bd2e188d4f473" target="">WWL-TV Missing Persons Forum</a><br />* <a title="http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=" href="http://www.wwltv.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=15" target="">WWL-TV Post If You're Okay Board</a><br />* <a title="http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/news_messages?Category=" themeid="1414&GroupID=" href="http://www.houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/news_messages?Category=FORUMS&ThemeID=1414&GroupID=41944" target="">Houma, La., Courier: Storm Forum</a><br />* <a title="http://forums.sunherald.com/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=" href="http://forums.sunherald.com/n/mb/listsf.asp?webtag=kr-biloxkatrina" target="">Sunherald (Miss.) Missing Persons Board</a><br />* <a title="http://www.al.com/forums/missing/" href="http://www.al.com/forums/missing/" target="">The Mississippi Press Missing Persons Forum</a><br />* <a title="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/list/" href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/list/" target="">CNN.com Safe List</a><br />* <a title="http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9159961/" href="http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9159961/" target="">MSNBC "Looking For" List</a><br />* <a title="http://boards.news.yahoo.com/boards/" href="http://boards.news.yahoo.com/boards/" target="">Yahoo Hurricane Katrina Message Boards (Broken out by city)</a><br />* <a title="http://forums.chron.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=" href="http://forums.chron.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?webtag=hc-katrina" target="">Housing Offers on Houston Chronicle</a><br />* <a title="http://neworleans.craigslist.org/laf/" href="http://neworleans.craigslist.org/laf/" target="">Craig's List Lost and Found</a><br />* <a title="http://katrinafamiliesandfriends.com/PHPbb2/index.php" href="http://katrinafamiliesandfriends.com/PHPbb2/index.php" target="">Katrina Family and Friends Forum</a><br /><br /><div align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">TY <a href="http://thenycnakedtruth.blogspot.com">NYPC</a></span><br /></div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1125220227589936562005-08-28T15:03:00.000+06:002005-08-28T15:10:27.596+06:00Growth of Blogging<div align="justify"><a href="http://go.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=9485549">Here is an article</a> which might be of interest to most bloggers.<br /><br /><a href="http://reuters.co.uk/">Reuters</a> reports in today’s edition : <a href="http://go.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=9485549">As Corporate America wades into the burgeoning world of Internet Web logs, companies are being warned they could face legal hazards when employees are let loose in the free-wheeling blogosphere</a>.<br /><br />Apart from the main story, what also caught my attention was the information that an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 new blogs are created each day!<br /><br />Now, that’s news to me!</div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1124960974482537922005-08-25T13:58:00.000+06:002005-08-26T09:09:20.410+06:00Professionally speaking<div align="justify">As the project reaches completion of construction and commencement of commissioning, the pressures keep mounting, the days seem to get shorter and sleeping hours get stripped to the bare essentials. I am managing at 5 hours of sleep right now. The D-day is continuously creeping closer and with each passing day adding to the adrenalin levels. Amidst the frenzied activities, we notice one or two colleagues fall sick as the bodies fail to cope with the stresses.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/2hats.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" height="170" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/320/2hats.jpg" width="207" border="0" /></a>This is life in construction projects. It happens without fail, every time, everywhere in the world. Almost all construction projects have firm ‘handing-over’ dates with financial implications on time slippages. The slippages of time during conception, engineering and supply have to be compensated somewhere. So it is passed down the line and therefore, it is the construction guys in the field who undertake penance for the sins of their office based brothers committed months back. The result is 18 hours of sweat per day. It is often more, but I am talking of averages here.<br /><br />There is also the indescribable disappointment of completing a tough task in next to no time and being told that it was scheduled for completion 4 days back. Add to it the intangible tension from the constant awareness that one mistake due to hurry could cost numerous lives. Need I add that more often than not, construction sites are located miles away from civilization, with minimal facilities?<br /><br />Of course, there is the brighter side as well. We are never bored - never ever bored. The moment a place seems stale, off we go to a new site, a new beginning, new colleagues, new residence - in short a new world under a new sky! And with each transfer we leave behind a very very visible accomplishment – a sports stadium or a hydroelectric dam, a steel plant or any other industry you want, a sky scraper or as in my case, a unique belt conveyor!<br /><br />OK, you are bored to death and wondering why on earth am I posting this today. Firstly, my boss is off on sick leave for a week starting today, passing on the load to dutifully yours truly. Secondly, my lunch pack is delayed and I therefore have spare time to blog.<br /><br />Of course, since the lunch is usually on time, this also means that blogs in the near future will not be narrative, and will be limited to clippings and photo posts. Again, this is just a pessimistic prediction!</div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1124715951241618302005-08-22T18:51:00.000+06:002005-08-22T19:05:51.266+06:00SLOW DANCEHave you ever watched kids<br />On a merry-go-round?<br />Or listened to the rain<br />Slapping on the ground?<br />Ever followed a butterfly's<br />erratic flight?<br />Or gazed at the sun<br />into the fading night?<br /><br />You better slow down.<br />Don't dance so fast.<br />Time is short.<br />The music won't last.<br /><br />Do you run through each day<br />On the fly?<br />When you ask "How are you?"<br />Do you hear the reply?<br />When the day is done<br />Do you lie in your bed<br />With the next hundred chores<br />Running through your head?<br /><br />You'd better slow down<br />Don't dance so fast.<br />Time is short.<br />The music won't last.<br /><br />Ever told your child,<br />We'll do it tomorrow?<br />And in your haste,<br />Not see her sorrow?<br />Ever lost touch,<br />Let a good friendship die<br />Cause you never had time<br />To call and say,"Hi!"<br /><br />You'd better slow down.<br />Don't dance so fast.<br />Time is short.<br />The music won't last.<br /><br />When you run so fast<br />to get somewhere<br />You miss half the fun<br />of getting there.<br />When you worry and hurry<br />through your day,<br />It is like an unopened gift....<br />Thrown away.<br /><br />Life is not a race.<br />Do take it slower<br />Hear the music<br />Before the song is over.<br /><br />~ AnonShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1124617844490173352005-08-21T19:55:00.000+06:002005-08-22T10:46:45.460+06:00Bangla Blasts<div align="justify">A blog from Bangladesh would be absurd without a mention of the <a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/update1.htm">blasts that rocked the nation</a> this week.<br /><br />On the 17th of August, 400 bombs blasted almost simultaneously across Bangladesh, creating chaos, panic and bringing the entire country to a standstill. All the incidents happened between 11:00 and 11:30 am and covered every district and major town across the country. The locations were mostly government offices and courts. But when the casualty count was assessed, the reports were unbelievable. Only 2 fatalities and 50 injured! This makes one wonder why anyone would have taken the trouble to organize such a major terrorist act yet inflict minimal damage. When compared to other terrorist acts of far lesser magnitude, it seems clear that here the intent was markedly different. The intent was not to cause death among fellow countrymen, but to instil fear in the government. A fear of the immense organisational skill of the perpetrators. A signal that had they so desired, the nation would have witnessed as bloodbath. A showcase of absolute failure of state intelligence, catching the government in the wrong foot.<br /><br />Of course, it is also possible that the persons behind the act had no access to firearms of greater magnitude. It is after all a rather poor nation. Also, even firecrackers are prohibited in this country. I may add here that compared to the US, personal possession of guns are almost impossible due to very strict rules in these parts of the world.<br /><br />I read a few editorials yesterday in this regard. One feared that it is a signal to bigger networks about the existence of an efficient set-up that only needs financial support to deliver with deadly accuracy. Others wondered on similar unlikely themes. All agreed that the development is alarming. While political assassinations and businessman kidnappings are common here, nothing remotely close in scale to this has ever happened in this country.<br /><br />Now that the West has finally woken up to the evils of terrorism after getting serious wounds themselves, they would perhaps take note of the spillage and spread of the breeding grounds and contemplate on means and methods of containment, if not correction. Of course, if, and only if, their political compulsions permit!</div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1124284154682634612005-08-17T19:46:00.000+06:002005-08-17T19:37:43.163+06:00Sweet RewardWell all the hard work did pay off!<br /><br /><div align="justify">Subsequent to my post on <a href="http://santanew.blogspot.com/2005/08/this-day.html">energization</a> on the 13th, we eventually managed to get the transformer humming on the 14th. That is a big achievement, a milestone for the project. But there is no time to rest or sit on our laurels. We need to take one hurdle at a time till the final hurdle is crossed. I don't even want to think about it. Too superstitious perhaps, but whenever I think of something, it never materialises. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/Energization.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/200/Energization.jpg" border="0" /></a>Every tense moment has its funny side. This was no exception. With all the tension for getting electricity upto the transformer, I completely forgot that it is an occasion for VIPs to come and inaugurate. So when the electric fellows finished their wire tamperings, everyone started to look for someone to press the button. There was a sudden burst of commotion and confusion. And suddenly all eyes were on me as I am the in-charge and therefore should have arranged! So I did the best thing possible in this situation. I boldly walked up to the panel and pressed the button. With a couple of cameras flashing and ten pairs of hands clapping, I enjoyed my moment of glory. Also hid my folly.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Sweet are the rewards of hard work. Sweeter still is the taste of successfully hiding your slip. :-)</div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1124200674972787962005-08-16T20:35:00.000+06:002005-08-17T08:53:34.036+06:00Meme TimeI had been noticing this tagging thing for some time. Thought I was lucky so far. And now that most of the bloggers I read have already been tagged, I suddenly find myself tagged by <a href="http://thenycnakedtruth.blogspot.com">NYPC!</a><br /><br />So, here I go:<br /><br /><strong>10 Years ago today:<br /></strong>Working as a front line supervisor in a Cement Plant construction Project in Madhya Pradesh, Central India. Counting my savings, looking for a suitable bride, drinking like a fish, smoking like a locomotive, dreaming like a tycoon.<br /><br /><strong>5 Years ago today:</strong><br />Married, daughter 1 year old. Working as officer-in-charge for a belt conveying system construction / installation / commissioning package in a major Steel Plant in Karnataka, South India. Proud owner of a sleek mobike. Living in sprawling independent single storey house with garden – on rent, of course.<br /><br /><br /><strong>1 Year ago today:</strong><br />Located in Kolkata in eastern India in transit to Bangladesh. Staying in a hotel room for 40 days with family and 4 suitcases of baggage. All furniture and belongings generated over the years either packed off to a dingy moist dark room in in-laws palatial bangalow, or sold off dirt cheap. The mobike and car included in the latter list.<br /><br /><strong>Yesterday:</strong><br />Achieved energisation of Main Panels for my current project. Intend to blog the incident as it was a milestone. Also, it was Independence Day in India. Sadly not celebrated here in Bangladesh.<br /><br /><strong>Tomorrow:</strong><br />Will be same as any other day. Already blogged the details in a recent post.<br /><br /><strong>Snacks I enjoy:</strong><br />1. Potato Chips (or any other chips will do)<br />2. Fish Chops / fries (The way only she prepares it)<br />3. <em>Onion</em> <em>Pakoras</em>, <em>Samosas</em> and <em>Jalebees</em><br />4. All sorts of biscuits with black tea.<br />5. <em>Chaats, Pani Puris, Bhel / Batata Puris</em><br /><br /><strong>Bands that I know the Lyrics to Most of Their Songs:</strong><br />1. Kishore Kumar<br />2. Manna Dey<br />3. Md. Rafi<br />4. Stevie Wonder<br />5. Cliff Richard<br /><br /><strong>5 Things I would do with $100,000,000:</strong><br />1. Donate half of it to charity – especially for upbringing and education of poor children in third world nations.<br />2. Buy 2 spacious bungalows. One in the Himalayan valley near Kathmandu in Nepal. The other overlooking the sea near Goa.<br />3. Deposit most of the rest into a bank and live off the interest.<br />4. Undertake a year long journey around the world in style and comfort.<br />5. Leave behind enough for our daughter in case she desires to go to the moon.<br /><br /><strong>Locations I would Love to Run Away To:</strong><br />1. US<br />2. UK<br />3. Switzerland<br />4. India<br />5. Hawaii<br /><br /><strong>Bad Habits I have:</strong><br />1. Short Temper<br />2. Procrastination<br />3. Extravagance in money matters<br />4. No future planning (too happy-go-lucky)<br />5. Poor Health conscienceness<br /><br /><strong>5 Things I like doing:</strong><br />1. Chatting<br />2. Laughing<br />3. Sleeping<br />4. Spending time with family<br />5. Day dreaming<br /><br /><strong>5 Things I would Never Wear:</strong><br />1. Womens clothes<br />2. Body hugging shirts<br />3. Lycra<br />4. Anything in Red<br />5. Anything Freddie Mercury ever wore<br /><br /><strong>TV Shows I like:</strong><br />1. Any sports channel<br />2. Any musical channel<br />3. Anything on Discovery<br />4. Any cartoon show<br />5. All Comedies<br /><br /><strong>5 Movies I like:</strong><br />1. Anything with Action<br />2. Anything with Laughter<br />3. Anything with a bit of theme<br />4. ‘First Blood’<br />5. ‘It’s a Mad Mad Mad World’<br /><br /><strong>5 Famous People I would like to meet:</strong><br />1. Amitabh Bachchan<br />2. Sylvester Stallone<br />3. Maradona<br />4. Abdul Kalam<br />5. Nelson Mandela<br /><br /><strong>5 Biggest Joys at the Moment:</strong><br />1. Watching my daughter grow.<br />2. Deepening dependence and understanding as the marriage matures.<br />3. Possibility of buying my own apartment at last!<br />4. Dollars from a foreign land job posting.<br />5. Successfully executing a challenging project.<br /><br /><strong>5 Favorite Toys:</strong><br />1. (CENSORED) ;-)<br />2. My Mobile<br />3. My PC<br />4. My Mobike & Car (before I sold them)<br />5. My Kid<br /><br /><strong>People to Tag:</strong><br />Whoever reads this post and hasn't been tagged before!!ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10103130.post-1124029884621145542005-08-15T12:00:00.000+06:002005-08-14T20:31:24.626+06:00Happy Independence Day<div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/INDIAn-Flag.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/400/INDIAn-Flag.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1620/766/1600/india-flag.jpg"></a><br /><strong><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:130%;">Wishing all proud Indians a Happy 15th of August on the completion of 58 years of Independence!</span></strong></div>ShaanChohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12310473626552305670noreply@blogger.com2