Cooking my new Initiative!!


I’ve reached a stage in life that almost all my friends are married / engaged / committed. They no longer have time for me as friendship has taken a backseat. Now-a-days I find a lot of time during weekends than before and I think I must spend them wisely. So I’ve developed couple of hobbies to spend my time wisely. So these are some activities which I’ve engaged myself at present; 

  • Blogging
  • Travelling and
  • Photography

But I don’t think those activities are sufficient because they don’t keep me engaged during weekdays. Yes I still find some time during weekdays and I think can learn cooking so that I can specialize in some recipe…

So you might wonder why this sudden interest?

There is couple of reasons. 

  • I’ve been a foodie for long since I drive a lot during weekends and will try our in different restaurants.
  • When I slowed down my driving for last one year that got compensated thru travelling where in I tried different eat outs at different places.
  • Then in Madurai I normally I eat out at different places and got excited by seeing different family joints specializing in different recipe.
  • Then next inspiration came after reading how Colonel Harland Sanders evolved his friend chicken recipe.

After this I thought why not I learn some recipe and specialize that. Now after considering these cases I’ve zeroed on a recipe which I can specialize. 

  • Egmore Alsa Mall Sandwitch
  • Taj Coromandel Ghilee Briyani
  • Ambur Khaja Restaurant Briyani
  • Madurai Amma Mess Briyani
  • Madurai Chapathi Park Chapatti’s
  • Madurai Ayyapan Kadai’s Dosa’s
  • Sindhi’s Dhinsha
  • KFC Chicken

Sindhi_biryaniSo being a Vegetarian my options are limited but I didn’t want to restrict my options and I thought Briyani would be my choice and I’m planning to buy all kitchen kits and start cooking once I reach Madurai.

Let me mark this blog today and see when I evolve my cooking skills and come out with a unique recipe and carve a niche for myself.

Until then wish me best LUCK!!!!

Tips to generate LEADS!!!


 As a quick recap, filling the funnel is about capturing leads. It’s about acquiring and saving contact information so you can market to those leads later. But the questions I’m always asked are:  

  • “How do I convince someone to give me their information?” and
  • “How much information do I need to collect?

 

These questions go hand in hand. You see, people don’t WANT to be marketed to. They’re busy and they don’t have time for you and your promotions. So, to part with their contact information, your prospect is going to expect something in return.

 

And… The more you give them, the more they’ll give you.

 

For example, if you offer a free report or whitepaper on your website, you might get a name and email address. Don’t expect the prospect to send you their address, phone number or any other critical information. The whitepaper is not worth anymore than that to them.

 

However…if you were to hold a drawing for a free car, you might get name, email, phone, and address. And suddenly your marketing is even more powerful and targeted than it was before.

 

Now, I’m not saying you need to give away a car to get contact information. Simply understand that asking for too much information may cause a prospect to run screaming in the other direction. Ask only for what you know you’ll get, and then start collecting those leads!

 

Courtesy: Ram

Nice imagination


I couldn’t resist from admiring the creativity of this person…

image001

Want to make a documentary film?


Madras Week, built around Madras Day, August 22nd, will, as already announced in these columns, be celebrated from August 16th to 23rd. The coordinators of the programme have been in touch with several organisations and individuals and a host of events is being planned. Watch these columns for programme announcements. First off the mark was the call for participants to design a logo for a T-shirt. Now the coordinators announce a competition for young docu-film-makers.

If you are passionate about making documentaries, you must join this project. A project which is about producing films on Madras that is Chennai. About its people and places, its landmarks and its institutions, its lifetrends and its communities.

We produce films through the year and screen the best at a festival during the Madras Week celebrations in August.

The project for 2009 is open to students of Vis Comm and Media, Film and Botany and History, to young film-makers, artists and writers and journalists… to anyone who loves Chennai and is capable of making small films.

First comes the Selection. If you are selected, then you will be invited to a full day workshop to be conducted by well-known film-maker, Ms Soudhamini, who also teaches at the Film Institute, Pune.

To qualify for this, you can submit any form of creative material that proves your interest in the city (film/documen­tation/media). You can send us rough cut film material or just photos or articles. You must also tell us in 100 words the kind of subjects on Chennai you would like to document on film. You should submit your application by June 25, 2009.

Bonus – Those who qualify can then submit a film plan, and will also get a stipend of
Rs. 2000. This year, we propose to select eight people.

Extra Bonus – After the shooting of your film, Soudha­mini will guide you on how best to use the ‘rushes’ at the second meeting we will hold in July 2009.

Note: Only one person who plans to produce/direct the documentary should apply and he/she will be trained and guided. He/she in turn can employ others for shooting / editing / sound design, etc.

Contact – Vincent D’ Souza at 98410 49155

Email – madrasday@yahoo.com

T-Nagar – Something we don’t know!!


Today it may be among the busiest shopping areas of the city, with just a few stately homes remaining in it to narrate its past glory as a well-planned district. And what little history there is in the place is rapidly vanishing. It is at a time like this that the book, Thyagaraya Nagar, Andrum Indrum, written by well-known businessman and long-term resident of T’Nagar, Nalli Kup­pu­­swami Chetty, has come out. And it makes for a very interesting read.

Did you know that many Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, including M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa, were once residents of this area? M.G. Rama­chandran had his office on Arcot Road and K. Kamaraj and Rajaji both resided here. If this be the track record, it may not be surprising if, soon, all ­aspirants to the CM’s post ­decide to acquire a home in T’Nagar believing it to be the harbinger of good luck.

If J. Venkatanarayana Nai­du, who was once Commissioner of the Madras Corporation, gave his name to a thoroughfare in this area, who were Govindu and Nathamuni after whom also streets are named? They were labourers who died in a landslide while digging in T’Nagar for the construction of drains over 80 years ago. The Corporation decided to honour them this way. Besides, the area has roads named after several members of the Justice Party. Indeed, the T in T’Nagar stands for Thyagaraya, in memory of Sir Pitti Thyagaraya Chetty, one of the Justice Party founders.

T’Nagar was once known as East Mambalam, which is why, rather like West Bengal, we have a West Mambalam with no sign of an East Mambalam. In earlier days when land was cheap, the entire area was owned by one Subra­mania Iyer, who was a station master. A hundred acres was in his possession. What he did not own was a large lake where Valluvar Kottam stands today. Worried over poor returns on his land, the station master sold it all off at throwaway prices! And today land is impossible to get in the area.

Why Pondy Bazaar? The first shopping complex in the area had ten shops in it. This building was put up on Sir Thyaga­raya Chetty Road close to Geetha Café. This was done by Chokkalinga Mudaliar, a realtor from Pondicherry, which is why the area became Pondy Bazaar.

This and several other fascinating details dot the book. ­Besides this, there are brief life sketches of famous actors, doctors, publishers, businessmen and writers who lived in
T’ Nagar. The histories of ­famous schools, music sabhas, business establishments, eateries and shops are given.

It is apt that Nalli has ­written this book. The famed business began in this area in 1928 when Nalli Chinna­swami Chetty set up shop here. Later his son Narayanaswami Chetty and grandson Kuppu­swami Chetty have run the business. Kuppuswami Chetty or simply Nalli as he is known has of course made a larger name for himself than merely as a businessman. He is also a patron of arts and culture. The Nalli residence above the shop on Nages­waran Road, facing Panagal Park, has remained unchanged. Its art deco façade, always gleaming white, is a landmark and has been witness to the changes in T’Nagar, among the most dynamic areas of the city.

Courtesy: MadrasMusings.Com
By: Sriram V

Buzz 140 – Nice initiative Less Informative


Attended TwitterCamp last Sunday at Photon InfoTech. I think The Knowledge Foundation is doing a lot for Brand Chennai. They have started to generate lots of sponsors. But for some reasons I found the topics were boring and there was nothing special about it.

To my surprise nearly 50% of the participants didn’t know what a twitter and there was a session explaining how to create an account, how to make tweets, how to retweet, what is a hashtag etc. So for someone who is familiar with Twitter such topics would be of no use… But as usual caught up with some friends and returned early.

I think I’m fortunate to be covered in their photo shoots twice.

Super Saturday!!!


Last Saturday has been one of the best day as I was travelled to many places and do lot of work in a day. The day started half-way when I was watching a movie and after the movie I returned to office in Madurai. It was 2 AM when I returned to office and thought I can stay in office as I can’t wake up early. I made some blog post that night and then I went home by 4.30 I cleaned my house took shower and left to Mattuthavani Bus Stop and boarded a bus to Trichy.

Cricket in my mobile came handy as I played cricket which helped me to pass time. Then by half way met once of my father’s colleague’s daughter who was also travelling to Trichy with her husband and the remaining time I engaged in a conversation with the couples I reached Trichy. Since I was engaged in playing cricket and conversing with the couple and also the climate was good since I started early I didn’t find any difficulty in travelling.

Then I reached Trichy Bus Stand by 10 o clock and boarded a local bus to Thillai Nagar to my uncle’s house and reached his house by 10.25 AM. Then I had my breakfast and soon we started for my uncle’s marriage. En route we purchased some shirt and pants for the Groom.

Then we left to Groom’s house which is my grandmother’s ancestral home. My uncle showed the house architecture and how they (uncle’s, aunty & mom spent their summer holiday in that home. My grand mother was the last of 8 siblings and you can imagine hoe many first cousins mu mom would have had. They said there would be around 40 kids. It was always to know the cherishing moments of people and my uncle took me almost 30 – 40 years back.

Then I went to Kaveri River which I frequent whenever I goto my granny’s village. Then I took some nap and we started to marriage hall in a place called SwamiMalai which was 65 KM from that village. Since I didn’t sleep my uncle took the responsibility to drive. Six KM from my granny’s village is the old heritage Grand Anaicut Kallanai built by King Karikala Cholan. I’ve visited my granny’s village several times but I’ve never been to this spot which is a big tourist attraction and on seeing the DAM I was really startled to see the architecture and quality of the DAM. This DAM takes has its history way back to Before Christ period.

Then we reached the marriage hall in another 45 min and them I spent some time there and came to hotel and did some browsing. Then I spent some quality time with my cousin which was like a get-2-gether. Then many my uncle introduced me to several elders telling that I could be a nice groom to their daughter or grand daughter. I’ve never been thru such situations and I was not that comfortable in handling such situations.

Then I have to come to Chennai the next day to Buzz 140 unconference and I left to Kumbakonnam which is the next big town near to the marriage hall. Then I boarded a bus to Chennai and started to sleep to end a very hectic and happy day.

Who is Roger Bannister?


Roger Bannister is a (athlete) motivating personality who has proved every thing is a Mental Block and nothing is unachieved if there is a Will. He was a man with mental toughness & perseverance. So what is most special about this man?

There are two things.

1.)   When there was a medical theory going rounds that a person (human being) cannot run a mile within 4 minutes as human body can’t support such an act. He proved those medical theories as wrong.
2.)   He failed on many attempts and with lots of determination he has achieved his feat finally.

Today his record was broken by many but he has to be credited for breaking the theory and did something that every thought was not possible.

Email scam from an Indian :)


Normally we are prone to emails from Nigerians when it comes to emails scams. For the first time I got an email scam in the name of an Indian that too from someone from Ramalina Raju’s family :). Here is the email content…

Namastey,

My name is Radha  Ramalinga,I am the wife of Rama Ramalinga,the younger brother of Byrraju Ramalinga Raju,former chairman,founder and owner of Satyam Computers.

I do have a proposal for you,which would be of immense financial benefits to you and I.

My husband and his brother are currently in big trouble in India,I need your assistance to help me move some funds from Holland to India  or anywhere where it would at least be of some help to our family.

I would give you more details of this proposal if you show yourself willing to take on it,I assure you that you would most certainly be compensated but please I would kindly request you to keep this matter confidential.

I am currently here in the UK where it is a bit safe for me and my kids.

You can reach me on my personal email id which is radharamalinga3@gmail.com

Yours sincerely,
R.Ramalinga

My entire Portfolio is in Red


After a long time I logged into my trading account and I was shocked to see itz performance. Almost all my investment is in red and particularly I’m shocked by seeing TCS which has fell so much. TCS was holding on Rs.600 – Rs.700 levels for long time and it fell down to 300 levels. Here is my portfolio.

Company Shares P.Value Amount C.Value C.Total

Loss
             
DLF

100

695

69460

323

32300

-37160
TCS

60

974

58434

381

22860

-35574
Rcomm

20

422

8442

299

5980

-2462
Reliance

15

2061

30918

2034

30510

-408
             
Total    

167254

  

91650

-75604
P.Value Purchased Value
C.Total Current Total

I lost almost Rs.75000/- or $1500/- also all these portfolios are ones I’m holding for last 2 years and I got everything at the peak. I see great opportunity to average my loss bit I don’t have any liquidity. Now I don’t have a choice other than to be a spectator by keeping my fingers crossed.