as i write...

Jetlag

2009-10-02T03:34:00.000-07:00

its been 5 days since we returned back from India. Still we are not out of the Jetlag, thanks to my daughter. She's up all night and I and my wife have to play with her at 1's and 2's in the mid night.

Lucky she slept a lot in the 14 hr long flight from Doha to Washington. I must say, Qatar airways is one of the best in terms of service among the airlines I've been through or heard of. Thanks Qatar.

I'm not ready for another travel anytime soon.

WORLD'S BEST BANKS 2009

2009-09-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

Not sure how many of you saw this list. HDFC is the only bank from India. I'm happy that my bank is listed :)

Also surprised to see, Bank of America is not listed. HSBC takes rank in most regions including global list. Citi gets a place even after the bailout(also i had a very bad experience with Citi, you'll go crazy to know the fee they collect, I had to pay to go to the bank counter.)

Whatever be the case, the economy of the world depends on the banks' ability to lend money to businesses and common people. Let them flourish and "serve" the people.

http://www.gfmag.com/tools/bank-rankings/2426-worlds-best-banks-2009.html

Boost in the stock market

2009-09-16T16:23:00.000-07:00

And now there's some hope starting to show up in the stock market. Sensex went up 222.59 points to 16677. More technically @ http://joerajendran.blogspot.com/

US too has had some good sign after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's statement on recession. Good signs all over, let this continue and people return to jobs.

What to do about swine flu

2009-09-15T11:19:00.000-07:00

H1N1 virus, also known as "swine flu", has quickly spread around the world. A new vaccine for this virus should be ready this fall. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that the following groups get the vaccine first:

pregnant women
parents and others who care for children younger than 6 months of age
health care workers
children and young adults 6 months through 24 years of age
adults 24 through 64 years of age who have certain long-term (chronic) medical conditions

Ask your doctor about steps you can take to protect yourself against the H1N1 flu. More information is also available from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services at http://www.flu.gov/.

Enforcing bedtimes improves kids' health

2009-09-14T22:12:00.000-07:00

When Genevieve and Brian Skory were new to parenting, they allowed their two young kids to read or watch TV until they fell asleep.

A child's bedtime routine could affect his or her sleep pattern throughout a lifetime, a researcher said.

"It was an agitated frenzy until they would pass out," Genevieve Skory recalled. The weary parents broke up fights between their bickering children. The next morning, the house would be chaotic again. "I don't think it's good for kids to stay up until they fall asleep -- that's three hours later than they needed to go to sleep," she said.

Setting bedtimes can improve sleep quality and quantity for infants and toddlers, according to a growing body of research. Not getting enough sleep affects children's behavior, memory, attention, and emotional well-being, experts said.

Tired of the chaos in the house, the Skorys started to enforce bedtime every night at 9. About an hour before bedtime, she restricts her children's use of TV and computers and instructs them to prepare for bedtime.

"Everyone is happier in the morning when there's a bedtime," Skory said. Research suggests there are additional benefits for children who have bedtimes.

"Sleep patterns and sleep routines matter because they have both long-term and short-term implications for health and cognitive development," said Lauren Hale, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center in Stony Brook, New York. "If it sets a pattern in the way you treat sleep or bedtimes, these patterns may last your whole life unknowingly."

Hale is one of the authors of a new study published online in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics this month that found that black and Hispanic families and those with lower levels of income and education were less likely to enforce regular bedtimes for children. This could play a role in health disparities, she said.

How much sleep do you need?
Newborns
• Birth - 2 months old need 10.5 - 18 hours

Infants
•3 - 11 months old need 9 - 12 hours (and additional naps)

Toddlers/Children
• 1 - 3 years old need 12 - 14 hours
• 3 - 5 years old need 11 - 13 hours
• 5 - 12 years old need 10 - 11 hours
Adolescents need at least 8.5 - 9.25 hours
Adults typically need 7 - 9 hours

Source: National Sleep Foundation
"What we find is that disadvantaged populations or lower-education populations have worse health outcomes and it turns out they have worse sleep problems," she said.

The data didn't show why these families were less likely to use children's bedtimes. It could be related to the stress levels and fewer routines in the households, Hale said.

"Parents in those households, many of which are below poverty line, tend to be single-mother households, and they may be more burdened in many more ways than a traditional nuclear family," she said. Another possibility is that the parents may not be aware of the health benefits of regular bedtime routines.

In a sample of 3,217 households, in which three-quarters of the children were born to unmarried mothers, about 67 percent used a bedtime. Of the 67 percent, only about half put their 3-year-olds to bed before 9 p.m.

Toddlers between the age of 1 and 3 need 12 to 14 hours of sleep. Children who lack sleep can have behavioral and emotional problems and cognitive developmental issues, sleep researchers said.

About 71 percent of the sample reported using bedtime routines.

Such routines, such as a bath or a soothing activity, cuddling or singing a lullaby, help infants sleep better through the night and improve sleep issues for children, according to another study.

"Instituting a routine helped children fall asleep faster at bedtime," said Jodi Mindell, an author of that study published in a May edition of the journal Sleep.

In that study, 405 mothers and their infants or toddlers under the age of 3 were randomly assigned to a bedtime routine or instructed to follow their usual habits. The mothers recorded daily sleep diaries and filled out questionnaires every week. The researchers found that moods improved after using the bedtime routine.

Parents mean well, but some mistakenly believe that keeping their babies up late will help them sleep, said Mindell, an associate director of the Sleep Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

"They think that if they keep them up late, they'll conk out, that they'll be exhausted and they'll sleep better," she said. "And it backfires. We know that overtired babies take longer to fall asleep and they wake more frequently at night."

If children have difficulty falling asleep, parents should not turn to medication, experts said.

"Don't do it," warned Mindell. "Even in severely neurologically impaired kids, that is our third, fourth, or fifth choice. You really want to institute behavior changes first. ... [Medication is] not a panacea and there are so many concerns about side effects."

Using drugs such as Benadryl to help a child sleep may mask underlying problems, added Kelly Byars, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Ohio.

"It may be helpful for some children in a short-term situation, but in some cases children have a paradoxical reaction to Benadryl and become more alert, irritable, and hyperactive which leads to worse sleep problems," he wrote.

In many homes, bedtime still remains a battle of wills between parents and children.

In their bustling household in Lathrup Village, Michigan, the four Skory children are now between the ages of 9 and 18. Genevieve Skory doesn't get the crying, temper tantrums or massive resistance anymore, but her younger kids still try to stay up late by peppering her with questions and last-minute requests for snacks.

But Skory is adamant that bedtime is non-negotiable and this isn't enforced solely for their children's health.

"I believe in bedtime for parents' mental health," she said with a laugh.

Indian teen tossed from train loses leg

2009-09-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

What a shame, its embarrasing to hear such news.

Doctors had to amputate the leg of a 13-year-old snack vendor who was thrown off a moving train after he reportedly did not have money to bribe a guard, authorities said Sunday.

Part of Mohammed Salahuddin's leg was removed below the knee after it was badly damaged after the fall, said Amit Lodha, a railway police superintendent.

According to published reports, the suspect allegedly hurled Salahuddin off the train on Thursday in anger because he did not have Rs 10 (20 cents) to pay in bribes for selling snacks on board.

"The (arrested) constable has denied these allegations. But he indeed has been found to have thrown the boy out of the train," Lodha told CNN.

The guard was sent to jail Sunday for the incident, which took place in India's Bihar state, officials said. He faces attempted murder among other charges.

In August, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh admitted his country was faced with "pervasive corruption".

"The malaise of corruption, so sapping of our efforts to march ahead as a nation, should be treated immediately and effectively," Singh warned.

A Night Of Passage

2009-09-12T23:06:00.000-07:00

A Night Of Passage. Venice
Academy Award Nominee Shekhar Kapur, Nadja Swarovski, A.R.Rahman, Haley Bennett Celebrate Kapur’s First Short Film ‘Passage’ in Venice

Last night on the island of La Giudecca, Academy Award® nominated director Shekhar Kapur (ELIZABETH) and Swarovski Entertainment celebrated the international screening of PASSAGE, the first short film to be directed by Kapur. The charming I Granai della Repubblica were transformed into a magical space that played host to a soiree of glamorous stars.

Shekhar Hapur, AR Rahman, Haley Bennett and Nadja Swarovski were among the celebrities enjoying Venetian cocktails and canapés. Guests immerged into the world of PASSAGE for a private screening of PASSAGE as well as a live orchestral performance from India’s Kavita Baliga who sang music from the film scored by Academy Award Winner® AR Rahman.

Kapur’s film stars Julia Stiles (CRY OF THE OWL, THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM), Lily Cole (THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, ST TRINIAN’S) and Haley Bennett (MARLEY AND ME, MUSIC AND LYRICS). PASSAGE invites audiences to dive into magical moments of transformation in the lives of three young women. Together with AR Rahman's score Kapur's graceful images merge into a highly emotional and enigmatic passage through despair and loss to reconciliation. The camera itself acts as a kaleidoscope exploring a non-linear time-frame leaving it ultimately for the viewer to individually interpret the meaning of the enchanting and dream-like film. Shekhar Kapur explains “In the complex experience of the film, I invite you, each single viewer, to decide what it means for you”.

website www.passage-experience.com

Source: www.arrahman.com

Cure for Multiple Myleoma

2009-09-10T15:51:00.000-07:00

I was reading this blog of actress Lisa Ray.

She's been diagnized with multiple myleoma. I'm amazed by the kind of response she got on her blog. I saw quite a few of them refereing to the Ayurveda treatment for Cancer and claim even people with last stage of cancer has got cured there. I just wanted to share the information I got from her blog to others who read this.

If you know someone suffering, please share this information

Padmabhushan Raj Vaidya Brihaspati Dev Triguna
143 Sarai Kale Khan, East Nizamuddin,
New Delhi – 110 013
http://www.lavanyaayurveda.com

Let's pray for those suffering from such disease.

Lisa's blog-
http://lisaraniray.wordpress.com

Rahman invited to perform live with Pussycat Dolls

2009-09-10T05:59:00.000-07:00

Oscar-winning musician A R Rahman has been invited to perform live along with the famous Pussycat Dolls — a pop girl group and dance ensemble — at the prestigious National Mall here next summer on the occasion of the India’s historic participation in the America’s world famous Polo Cup.

A large number of eminent Indian and American personalities, besides fashion designers and culinary experts are being invited to celebrate the two day event on June 11 and 12 next year to make this a memorable event for years to come, organisers of the Polo Cup said.

Tareq Salahi, captain of the US polo team, said this would be for the first time that A R Rahman and Pussycat Dolls would be performing live together.

India’s noted fashion designers too are being invited for the event, which would involve a polo tournament between Indian and American team.

Thousands of people are likely to converge at the National Mall during the two-day annual event.

Deputy Ambassador to the US, Arun K Singh, said the polo match between India and the US next year to be played at the National Mall reflects another dimension of the growing relationship between the two countries.

This will enhance sports and cultural links between India and the US, he said.

Commenting on this polo challenge for the first time between India and the US, spokeswoman, Michaele Salahi said: “The America’s Polo Cup aspires to bring the love of the game to a wider audience and bring international cultures together in a celebration of both their common bonds and their diversity.”

“This special global program includes national and international festivities that showcase elements dear to both nations, including community and international good will, air shows, sportsmanship, music, wine, cuisine, adventure and freedom,” Salahi said.

The US President, Barack Obama has been invited to inaugurate the opening ceremony for the world championships this September 19, on the DC National Mall. The preview polo match would be played between teams from Chicago and Washington.

Source: http://beta.thehindu.com/arts/music/article17984.ece?homepage=true

Parents honor dead son's wish

2009-09-08T17:06:00.000-07:00

I read this story in cnn.com, something that's strange to most of the eastern countries, especially to India atleast. These cultural differences are sometimes scary and unacceptable for someone like me who strongly believe in marriage.

Read on...

Asa Hill was 7 years old when he died. Although the boy was pulled out of a burning car alive in a horrific accident on the Niagara Thruway on Thursday, his injuries proved critical, and he passed away the following night.

Amilcar Hill and Rahwa Ghirmatzion hug at their son's funeral, which ended with their wedding.

The Buffalo, New York, community, shaken, turned out in large numbers at his funeral Monday to support his parents, Amilcar Hill and Rahwa Ghirmatzion, and were pleasantly surprised when the couple ended the service with a wedding ceremony, a fulfillment of their son's wish.

The Rev. Joel Miller of The Unitarian Universalist Church of Elmwood, where the service was held, was unsure at first when the idea of a wedding was proposed by the couple and their family.

"I asked twice, 'We're doing a wedding?' This was new for me. I never did a funeral service and a wedding ceremony at the same time, and normally wouldn't, but they have known each other since they were teens," Miller said. "And they had been providing for Asa, and they made a home together for all of Asa's life. ... It was clear they were following through on something they had been talking about for some time." Watch the funeral and wedding ceremony »

Hill and Ghirmatzion have been best friends since they were 15 and have been together for almost half of their lives. After Asa was born, marriage had always been something that they considered but, according to Hill, both felt that a wedding was "superficial and not necessary."

Asa, however, was insistent that they make their union official.

"Asa really wanted us to do it, and every time he would ask us we would say, 'Yes, we'll get married,' " said Hill.

But the couple never did get around to figuring out the logistics for a ceremony.

While holding his lifeless son in his arms at the hospital, Hill was moved to finally officially propose to his lifelong partner.

"Rahwa was overwhelmed at that moment and just looked at me. When the family sat down to plan the funeral service, she said 'Let's get married.' And everyone broke down at the table," he said.

The marriage took place after a service filled with African drums, dancing, sermons and family and friends sharing memories of Asa, all in celebration of his life.

Miller said about 1,100 people attended the service, with hundreds overflowing onto the church lawn, where sound systems were set up so they could hear the service. When the wedding was announced, there were shocked cheers and applause from those in the church pews.

"We wanted it to be a surprise," Hill said. "We knew it would be a joyous moment. You could see how it lifted them, and we figured, why not make it a surprise at the end."

The Unitarian Universalist Church was chosen because its non-denominational tradition would welcome all the diverse groups of the Elmwood community, Hill said. The family has strong ties to the community and, according to Miller, who had known Asa since he was 5, Asa embodied this.

"He was a powerful presence: direct, smart, and had a way of bringing people together," Miller said. "When you met him, you knew you met someone. We all didn't know each other, but we knew Asa and his family."

Source: CNN.com

GMR Hyderabad Airport to host Rahman’s ‘Jai Ho’ Concert on 24th October

2009-09-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd.(GHIAL), will be hosting Oscar award winner A.R.Rahman’s ‘Jai Ho’ Concert on Saturday, October 24th,2009. Over 50,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will be organized by Rapport Global Events and Wizcraft, and held at a specially created ‘GMR Arena’ near the Novotel Hyderabad Airport, just two kilometers away from the airport.

Mr.P. Sripathy, CEO of GHIAL, said that, “We intend creating a leisure destination outside and around our airport, so that the people of Hyderabad are provided newer, interesting avenues for entertainment and enjoyment. We will have these events on a regular basis. With the festival season starting middle of September, we have already lined up a host of activities that will lead in to the ‘Jai Ho’ Concert on 24th October.

“We will start off the festive celebrations with the Airport Festive Carnival from the 19th of September through the 25th of October. During this period, any passenger or their relatives and friends who purchase any goods or services worth a minimum of Rs.300, will be eligible for a lucky draw coupon which will enable them to be entered for the Grand Draw prize of a return ticket for two, to Singapore. Additionally, in the weekly draws, two lucky winners will get free tickets to the ‘Jai Ho’ Concert”, he added.

Mr. Sripathy said that the ‘Jai Ho’ Concert will provide the people of Hyderabad and surrounding areas, an international standard event experience, with state of the art equipment and facilities.

Plans are on to provide a special weekend package for outstation enthusiasts in collaboration with the Novotel Hyderabad Airport and Jet Airways.

Source: www.arrahman.com

Sensex closes 16k level first time this year

2009-09-07T22:55:00.000-07:00

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex on Monday closed over the 16,000-point level for the first time this year as buying in realty, metal and banking segments powered over 320-point rally on strong global cues.

The 30-share index rose by 327.20 points to close at 15-month high of 16,016.32 points, a level never seen after June 2, 2008.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty soared by 102.50 points to 4,782.90 points.

The rally was backed by steep rise in stocks of realty, metal and banking segments on reports that shortage of monsoon rainfall might ease, improving the outlook of farm production and boosting buying in rural parts of the country.

The fag-end surge was mostly attributed to higher opening in European stock markets this afternoon.

Among the Sensex shares, 28 scrips closed with gains while ITC Ltd and Mahindra and Mahindra ended with losses.

Infosys Technologies, Reliance Industries, ICICI Bank, RCom, DLF Ltd, Tata Motors and Tata Steel were the major gainers and helped Sensex rise above 16,000 points level.

Source: The Hindu

Caution while filling car gas!!!

2009-09-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

As summer has gone by, the cold getting grip slowly, most of us will start feeling the static in our body. Especially with low humidity.

When you go to gas station, once you get off the car, touch the car metal before you go to the nozzle, so you had already discharged your static current. And do not get into car or touch any kind of cloth until you are done with filling gas. That can avoid explosion due to static current.

While filling gas on containers, always use non-metallic containers. Place it on ground while filling gas.

Oscar invites A.R.Rahman to membership

2009-07-02T12:19:00.000-07:00

Oscar Invites A.R.Rahman to membership among the 134 for 2009.

Source -
http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2009/20090630.html

A.R.Rahman tribute to Michael Jackson!

2009-06-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

Please visit www.arrahman.com to read A.R.Rahman's tribute to Michael Jackson

After a long gap

2009-05-28T20:01:00.000-07:00

Oh yes, this is my blog. Its been almost 2 months, since I wrote last time. After a long hectic day, I found some time to visit my own blog and then a quick visit to facebook. So many email threads unread in arrahmanfans group, my next stop.

Life is getting busy.... hmmm

Chiao...

Bollywood alone is not Indian films

2009-04-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

As the media around the globe interprets, its not true that Bollywood alone is the Indian film industry. Its one among the others, perhaps the part of it with larger audience.

There are films in Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi and so on. But somehow Bollywood took center stage in the world arena.

Recently, A.R.Rahman mentioned this too in an interview to Time magazine.

Well, for people looking for films from India, once again its not bollywood alone. You have many more across India. And the fact is A.R.Rahman himself is from Chennai, the headquarters of Tamil film industry.

My bit to change the perception.

Listening to songs from the film "Indian"

2009-03-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

I'm now listening to Indian film songs. Its just a pleasure listening to this after a long time. Its been around 13 years since the movie was released, the songs are still fresh and evergreen.

I simply enjoy and thank you A.R.Rahman sir for such wonderful treasure you've given us and keeping us all smiling with your music.

This experience is ... priceless.

Next on my list is Kangalal Kaidhu Sei.

A R Rahman at Oprah winfrey show after Oscar Party

2009-02-27T20:18:00.000-08:00

CNN on Oscar winners...

2009-02-22T21:12:00.000-08:00

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/22/oscar.night/index.html

Slumdog Millionaire," the little film about a poverty-raised teaboy who goes on a game show as a way to find his lost love, won best picture Sunday night, earning a total of eight Oscars at the 81st annual Academy Awards.

"Millionaire's" other honors included best director (Danny Boyle), best adapted screenplay (Simon Beaufoy), score (A.R. Rahman), song ("Jai Ho," co-written by Rahman), cinematography (Anthony Dod Mantle), sound mixing and film editing. List of winners, nominees
Boyle literally jumped up and down as he accepted his award, saying that if he ever won he'd bounce like Tigger from "Winnie-the-Pooh."

Rahman was equally appreciative as he accepted one of his Oscars.

"All my life I've had a choice between hate and love, and I chose love, and now I'm here," said Rahman.

A.R.Rahman Creates history with 2 Oscar win

2009-02-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

Wow !!! Jai Ho!!!
Congrats to A.R.Rahman Sir!!! for winning 2 Oscars.
Proud of you Sir!

A.R.Rahman on Jay Leno Show

2009-02-19T21:41:00.000-08:00

Just saw AR perform Latika theme and Jai Ho in the Jay Leno show.

Was waiting for hour long to see a 5 mins performance by AR. Jai Ho has been cut short with main lyrics part cut off.

The set was interesting with colorful fabrics everywhere. Even on AR's keyboard :-)
AR didn't have chance to talk, his music spoke for him as always.

Hans Zimmer on A.R.Rahman

2009-02-18T21:49:00.000-08:00

I kept hearing his music and really liking it ... there was a fresh sound and a fresh approach ... and a completely different way of looking at film music," said Rahman's friend, the German-born film composer Hans Zimmer. "Like any good artist, A.R. is not a traditionalist, he's a revolutionary. He uses all the revolutionary things that come from all over the world in his stuff ... hip-hop beats, electronics .... and there's an incredible inquisitiveness and playfulness in his music ... .

"Plus he writes a bloody good tune," said Zimmer, an Oscar-winner for his score to "The Lion King." "He's got the most perfect love theme ("Latika's Theme") in 'Slumdog Millionaire' which I am incredibly envious of in a loving way."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/02/18/arts/NA-FEA-US-Oscar-Rahman.php"

US army beckons Indians in US who know Hindi and Tamil

2009-02-18T08:06:00.000-08:00

Press Trust of India Sunday, February 15, 2009, (New York)

The US military, stretched thin in Afghanistan and Iraq, will recruit about 550 temporary immigrants, including those from India who know Hindi and Tamil, offering them a golden chance to become US citizens in as little as six months.

The pilot programme, for the first time since the Vietnam War, will open the armed forces to temporary immigrants if they have lived in the United States for a minimum of two years, The New York Times reported quoting military officials familiar with the plan.

The Army's one-year pilot programme will begin in New York City to recruit about 550 temporary immigrants who speak one or more of 35 languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Igbo (a tongue spoken in Nigeria), Kurdish, Nepalese, Pashto, Russian and Tamil. Spanish speakers are not eligible. It will also include about 300 medical professionals to be recruited nationwide. Recruiting will start after Department of Homeland Security officials update an immigration rule in coming days.

Immigrants who are permanent residents, with documents commonly known as green cards, have long been eligible to enlist.

Recruiters expect that the temporary immigrants will have more education, foreign language skills and professional expertise than many Americans who enlist, helping the military to fill shortages in medical care, language interpretation and field intelligence analysis.

Stimulus: Now for the hard part

2009-02-17T21:42:00.000-08:00

A $787 billion economic recovery package became law on Tuesday with the simple stroke of Obama's pen. Knowing whether it's working? Not so easy.
By Jeanne Sahadi, CNNMoney.com senior writer

President Obama on Tuesday signed the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law.

But he's far from being able to declare "mission accomplished."

"Today does not mark the end of our economic troubles," Obama said before signing the bill at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. "But it does mark the beginning of the end - the beginning of what we need to do to create jobs for Americans scrambling in the wake of layoffs; to provide relief for families worried they won't be able to pay next month's bills; and to set our economy on a firmer foundation."

Indeed, even though debate over the legislation was fraught with partisan fighting and what some characterize as strategic missteps by the nascent administration, getting the law passed was the easy part.

Far more difficult will be gauging whether the legislation's trademark initiatives - which include improving physical infrastructure, investing in energy projects and providing financial relief for families by way of tax cuts and increased government benefits -- are really doing the trick.

The first step is to stem the recession in the near term. In the longer term it will be to put the economy on a path to sustained growth and greater efficiencies in energy production, health care and other areas.

So how will we know if it's working? What will be the signs? The president and economists say the biggest marker will be an improvement in the jobs picture.

"That's bottom-line number one, because if people are working, then they've got enough confidence to make purchases, to make investments," Obama said last week before the bill's passage. "Businesses start seeing that consumers are out there with a little more confidence, and they start making investments, which means they start hiring workers. So step number one, job creation."

The official benchmark estimates from the White House: 3.5 million jobs will be created or saved over the next two years, and over 90% of them will be in the private sector. (See the White House's state-by-state estimates of how many jobs could be created or saved in the map at right.)

But measuring the numbers of jobs saved as a result of the economic recovery package promises to be an elusive task.

"It will be difficult to gauge the economic benefit of stimulus since we won't know ... how the economy would have performed without stimulus. Indeed I expect the economy to lose another 3 million jobs with stimulus but over 4 million without it," said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, whose research was relied upon by lawmakers to make the case for the economic recovery package.

As for gauging how many jobs are created, economists say they will keep an eye on a number of measures.

Lakshman Achuthan, managing director the Economic Cycle Research Institute, said starting later this year he will look to what his group calls its Leading Employment Index as one gauge of stimulus effectiveness. The index is a composite of factors, including the number of initial jobless claims and hours in the average work week, as well as how many industries are adding jobs. As of January, the index was still falling, Achuthan said.

Another question Zandi said he will look at is to see whether job losses have begun to lessen by October or November.

"A key benchmark will be this fall. If stimulus is working as expected then monthly job losses should be closer to 250,000 per month, down from over 500,000 currently," Zandi said.
The ability to create or save jobs will depend in great part on business confidence. That's why, in addition to employment measures, Rich Yamarone, director of economic research at Argus Research, will keep an eye on small business confidence measures such as those put out by the National Federation of Independent Business.

Another sign of whether the rescue is working: Discretionary spending for activities like casino gambling and dining out, Yamarone said.

"When consumers start to feel better about their personal situation and employment prospects, they pick up the pace of spending - that usually extends to the discretionary items as well," Yamarone said.

Ultimately, even if every indicator of success for stimulus was tangible and could be measured with flawless precision, it will still be hard to issue a final verdict on whether the package has worked because its success is dependent on the success of other recovery efforts, such as the program for stemming foreclosures that Obama is expected to lay out on Wednesday.

"Stimulus by itself will not work well," Zandi said. "A financial stability plan and a foreclosure mitigation plan must also be implemented."

Source : http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/17/news/economy/obama_stimulus_meas_success/index.htm?postversion=2009021713

$787 Billion - Stimulus Package

2009-02-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

I was watching the CNN Money Summit just a while ago and they say the current stimulus is just the down payment of the big money that needs to be pumped in to fill the big whole.

And even with the stimulus been signed by President Obama today, market went deep down today. Many people in the age of retirement has been put to dark with their pension savings washed away by this tsunami recession.

Its so scary...

Jai Ho Rahman !!!

2009-02-08T19:41:00.000-08:00

Jai Ho to A.R.Rahman for winning BAFTA!

Proud to be your fan !!!

Count Down

2009-02-04T21:36:00.000-08:00

The count down is on. Keeping fingers crossed for the BAFTA on Feb 8, 2009 and the big one Oscar on Feb 22.

Jo Bi Ho, AR ko Jai Ho !!!

:-)

Why others couldn't do what ARR did?

2009-02-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

I read this article in vikatan.com (tamil) that tried to convince Ilayaraja fans on why he didn't get the recognition that AR Rahman gets these days, inspite of being a legendry composer. And also saw this question asked in AR Rahman fans group, "If classic composers were around today".

Well, let's take all the composers from Naushad, SD Burman, RD Burman in the North to S. Rajeswara Rao, KV Mahadevan, MSV, Ilayaraja in the south. We are sure that they were all great composers. No second thought on it. But how Rahman is different from all these? May be the era he is in... the exposure he got. May be yes, but that doesn't alone make the difference as many others are there in this technology surrounded world. Only Rahman could go to other side of the world. So let's leave alone the technology or the opportunity of the period Rahman is in.

We all know the composers mentioned above have done tons of compositions, all put together will be in thousands with Ilayaraja alone taking about 800+ film scores and 5000+ songs and still counting.

Let's not forget that Ilayaraja's song for Maniratnam's Thalapathy was in the shortlist of best songs of all time. And a few more songs of AR Rahman was in the list. Notice that even then AR takes a slight lead there with more songs than others mentioned, taking it to the "global audience". That is the key, how many of these thousands of compositions were able to turn the "global audience" towards our own composers?

Let's leave alone the global arena, composers in the north have given some outstanding unforgettable compositions, but it was limited to the region. It couldn't go further. And the same case with composers from the south. They had given some of the best compositions ever, but were limited to the region. They couldn't go beyond their region and succeed.

Now, let's turn back to Rahman and see what he did that they couldn't do. He was able to deliver music that blended with people right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. He was able to deliver what a punjabi would expect and also something what a malayali would enjoy. He was able to cross region "just like that", that was his first triumph and he did that in his debut itself. No one else has achieved this, that Rahman did.

Second, his genre is very broad, he could deliver any genre from Indian classicals - Hindustani, Carnatic - Qawwali to Bhangra - Western Classical - Pop, Jazz, Rock. Oh yes, he started off his career with the Reggae. That is one of his strengths. He was able to fuse them and do it in style.

Third, When Time magazine did this shortlisting for Best Soundtrack of All time, do you think they'd have missed these legendry composers' scores from the largest film industry in the world? No way. They'd have considered the above listed composers if i'm not wrong. Why none of the most experienced composers' score couldn't go to the top 10 list when a 26 yrs old young man's composition could make it to the top of the world?

And that's where AR Rahman is different and stands unique from all these composers. He impressed Andrew Lloyd Webber with his Chaiyya Chaiyya, with the blend of the rhythm and melody it carried and earn the offer to compose for Bombay Dreams. And he was able to compose for Chinese film, at the other end, he was able to do a period western british style movie and so on.

When it comes to Slumdog Millionaire, he did his work as usual, but he had the cushion of the carrier that show cased his work to the western audience and as they say "rest is history" yet again. See the kind of response he got from the reviews, click the below amazon.com link to read the reviews of the fans and these are not the critics'. Critics' reviews are a bunch lot that he has won. And so, no surprise that he won the Golden Globe or 3 nominations at the Oscars.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B001LX0JK6/ref=cm_cr_pr_link_next_2?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&pageNumber=2

Now you'd agree that AR Rahman is unique that India has ever produced and perhaps the world would see in its history.

Global Indian

2009-02-01T20:50:00.000-08:00

The biggest and most credible awards in Indian media are back, for the third time, adhering to the still unparalleled four-tier process. These awards recognize, celebrate and honour Indians who have contributed to our country, and in turn have strengthened our society and contributed towards building Brand India in 2008. This year's awards, are even more significant as they personify the undying spirit of a billion free Indian minds, in the wake of terror, natural disaster and economic challenges.

Global Indian - A R Rahman

For being the most consistent melody-machine of the year, composing for Jodhaa Akbar, Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na, Slumdog Millionaire and Ghajini.

Pity !!!

2009-01-31T19:56:00.000-08:00

When you look at the response & reviews of Slumdog Millionaire from all over US & UK. It's been overwhelmingly received by the audience & critics in the region, thats the fact. Even if these people blast on the film as "its a usual" thing here, the people in the west have liked it and accepted it. I've heard almost all my colleagues who watched the film (all americans) saying "Its one of the best film i've ever watched". So, its these people's (Priyadarshan etc) inability to take something to the world audience. The kind of reaction they show now clearly indicates, they now realize that they missed to do it and someone from the west have taken a native thing to the west and succeeded in it. It's not Danny's fault or the people who liked the movie. It's the fault of these so called "creative" people as they think themselves they only give good films in the world.

According to Priyadarshan, if its a good old and known story / plot that has been an usual in India, why didnt they take it and win this with something they are used to already?

It's a pity these people cannot tolerate the success of a foreign man winning so many awards. And they'd never go and win such awards or recognition until they have this attitude of pulling the fellow frog's leg.

Better try to achieve than blaming.

The Picture speaks itself

2009-01-25T10:21:00.000-08:00

Rahman at Oscars

2009-01-22T21:43:00.000-08:00

What a treat....... One of the most happiest days in my life.
3 nominations for ARR...

No words...

Song that get you in tears

2008-11-25T20:16:00.000-08:00

Song - Azhagu Nilave ; Movie - Pavithra ; Year - 1994

I'm listening to it even now. My eyes are battling with tears. This song somehow disturbs me a lot. It has become a regular repeat in my car.

Listen to it, you'll feel what I say, there's no words to describe. I guess, Chitra would have gone in tears while singing this song.

Where is this country heading to?

2008-11-13T19:15:00.000-08:00

It's my own country.

I can't get what I deserve. I need to bribe for my rights. Even if it's legal, I need to bribe to get things done.

A government officer, is not moving the applications of NOC for applying passport to the higher official's approval because she herself was denied for some reason sometime ago. And the victims of that frustration? All fellow government employees that comes for NOC. The file is not moving beyond this officer. A revenge for the response she got. Is there somebody to question these kind of officers?

When a government promotion panel is in place, with the positions vacant, the Higher official is not issuing the promotion order yet. Why?

What kind of system is it? Where is this country heading to? Huh.......

Marching towards Oscar...

2008-11-12T22:38:00.000-08:00

The man that redefined the contemporary Indian film music, is all set to march towards the Oscar podium. His work in the latest flick ‘slumdog millionaire” is the new carrier of his career to the next stage.

Almost every magazine on earth reviewing and giving laurels to the movie doesn’t fail to praise the final credit sequence of the film.

Watch this year’s Oscar nominations for the soundtrack or song, there could be this name called “A.R.Rahman”.

http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2008/11/ar_rahman_on_slumdogs_sound.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/11/AR2008111102775.html?nav=rss_print/style

http://www.nypost.com/seven/11122008/entertainment/movies/slumderful__138251.htm

http://hollywoodandfine.com/reviews/?p=270

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/11/12/2008-11-12_a_rich_portrait_of_a_poor_teen_and_his_c.html

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96876187

http://hdfest.com/Gerald/slumdog.html

http://www.nationalpost.com/arts/movies/story.html?id=953045

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27669648/

http://weblogs.variety.com/thompsononhollywood/2008/11/slumdog-million.html

and lots more...

Sangeet Ka Yuvvraaj!

2008-11-11T13:42:00.000-08:00

The Mozart of India has proved it yet again!

In recent times, the song, I listened to the most number of times than any other is "Dil Ka Rishta". Truely international composition with a brilliant blend. You listen to the heavy orchestration with a mix of rock kind of feel. The first thought I got is, its a perfect fit for a performance at the "American Idol". What else to say? I wish this finds a place in the Oscar nominations.

The other songs that I listen repeatedly are Tu mere dost and Tu musukura. Lovely songs that we can cherish this lifetime.

I loved the Shano shano remix better than the original version (in my opinion). I'm sure this would be seen in the future dance reality shows.

Zindagi is a soothing lullaby, with the soft rendition by Srinivas.

Mastam mastam, an interesting and soft rythmic song that my dad was tapping while travelling :-) !

Manmohini is another surprise and very interesting piece, that balances the album with genre cycle i guess.

There's nothing I would skip listening to in the album.

Thank you AR for such a gift to us again !!!

http://www.arrahman.com/

Music taking you out of the world...

2008-10-10T08:14:00.000-07:00

I was listening to Veerapaandi Kotayilae and Putham Puthu boomi from Thiruda Thirduda (Chor Chor) while driving. I was so deep into the song and went way far from my exit and had to return back :)

What a composition, orchestration, arrangement only in his third(?) film. I was wondering if these songs were performed in a live concert with a kind of orchestra we saw in LA in 2000. Srinivasamurthy will be sleepless to coordinate the strings and wind musicians.

Looking forward to see that happen with the KM Music Conservatory Symphony Orchestra or with the kind of String Orchestra we saw in LA.

You are taken to a different world when you listen to them with your headphones on or in a closed car.

Take a break from the financial crisis news with these songs. :)

yet again...

2008-08-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

And this still continues... The health care camps has emerged as tragedy.

Earlier it was the infants who were killed by the Polio drops sponsored by the government. Now, its the eye camp that was supposed to treat the poors' eyes has taken away their eye sight. 45 innocent people are almost blind by the grace of the Eye camp.

Whom should these victims trust in? What is the Health Ministry doing even after such experiences earlier? This doesnt seem to stop...

Negligance costing life...

2008-08-21T15:54:00.000-07:00

I was disturbed a lot hearing the negligance of some doctors and their money minded motive. How can they play with lives?

http://birjupatel.blogspot.com/2007/10/unethical-practice-by-lifeline-hospital.html

http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/26/stories/2007122658760300.htm

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JQ0gvMjAwOC8wNy8xMCNBcjAwNTAx&Mode=HTML&Locale=english-skin-custom

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Lifeline_hospital_-_Madras-138858-1.html

Hope this comes to an end soon and those responsible for the loss of life are punished....