I’m just back from BlogCamp. It was held at the Microsoft office in Kalina and sponsored by Ibibo.com.

Going by last year’s BlogCamp-part-of-Barcamp, I figured it would be a series of important sounding sessions about SEO and monetization and techie tips. Such a pleasant surprise it was for my techno-greeky (Technology is Greek, Greek, Greek to me!) self to find myself sitting in on conversations about traditional media versus new media, personal blogging, live coverage during the terror attacks and sharing social media with our families!

I thoroughly enjoyed Thakkar’s humorous talk tracing his early blogging experiences right down to what his relatives thought he did for a living. Techies do have a sense of humour (I stand corrected!) and some of them, like this one are bloody brilliant! (more…)

Mumbai Shutterbugs

Looking at the serious shutterbug activities in Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi I was beginning to get a complex. Presenting our very own city shutterbugs. These are a buch of photo enthusiats, who meet periodically at a common place to capture some amazing pictures and share some cool tips. I had attended one of their outdoor shoots at the Dadar Flower Market. Its still in its infant stages, by which I mean there is a lot of stream lining to be done and loads of scope for improvement that is if they want to do serious photography with loads of fun. Nevertheless I am glad that these bunch of people have taken the initiative to come together. My take on the entire group is that most of them are pretty new to photography but there are quiet a few who has an eye for details. I also feel that such group get together is a great opportunity to learn/share new photography tricks/tips. So cheers to the team and hoping to see a lot of activities from these shutterbugs.
To dig more about this group’s activity check this link here.

It’s the time of the year were partying is a must for each. People are busy drilling a hole in their pockets buying passes (or in a more sophisticated way should I say ‘invites’) to the hottest and the most happening parties in town. I never got it in the 25 years of my life, what is it with expensive parties and New Year celebrations. And probably I will never ever get it. Is it worth spending through your nose just to shake your hips and gulp some booze along with some Pg3 socialite aka some Saas Bahu / Reality Show celebrity who won’t even bother to know your name? I never really missed those chaotic New Year parties where inebriated strangers next to you brush their sweaty cheeks to yours after the darn count down. Is it the way you want the year to be. All booze and no money? Or would you prefer to spend the New Year eve with your love ones or that special one in your life. New Year has become an excuse for some to just blow up the hard earned work and an opportunity for some to make a quick buck by hosting such senseless parties.
Let me clarify that I am not an anti-party animal. Don’t get me wrong. I love partying and hell I like to do it a lot but among people I know. My friends on whom I can lean over when I am completely sloshed and am assure that I will be dropped home safe and sound. So this New Year party hard, party loud and party safe. Happy New Year.

Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Chirstmas and Happy New Year.

Agreed, this is on a short notice but believe me life is not all about blogging and fun. So yeah, it’s actually a favor that Melody and I are doing for you folks. Now stop gawking, you know it’s the truth.

Okay…Okay, on a more serious note this time round we have decided to go with the Brunch Theme (yes, so very innovative) – slightly on the higher side entry fee wise but hey, nothing’s really cheap re these days.

The invite basically says it all – yup, will be super cool if you could make it. And please confirm with us if you are seriously going to make, it makes life a hell lot easier.

Ps…would be super duper cool if you could let others know about it via your own blog/s. Thanks and looking forward to meeting the bloggy bunch soon.

Previous blog meet gupshups can be found here.

Today I bumped across a blog called OLB Chronicles.

Oliver takes his mom and dad to go live in India for awhile. Dad works long hours and he, Oliver and mom try to learn how to survive in Mumbai, the craziest city in the world.

In the whole “world is a small place” vein…I have met Oliver’s parents and him at a birthday party in Brooklyn, last May. And our mutual friends introduced us and we did discuss about life in Bombay, since they were getting ready to move there. That conversation was the last of it, till I bump across their blog and see some familiar faces in the pics.

Check out the blog to get a perspective of our city from the eyes of a foreigner.

The Delhi-ities sneer at us when they hear us, the Lucknowites turn their nose up (also shut their ears tight), and practically the entire north ridicule us for s%&**ing the Hindi bhaasha. No matter what the country thinks we Mumbaikars love our Tapori Bhaasha. It is like the tadka to dal, giving that special flavor to the matter spoken about. The Tapori style of speaking Hindi is a mixture of many languages spoken by people in Mumbai. It has words adapted mainly from Marathi, and some from Kannada and Tamil. It also has a few Hindi words spoken by people of Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh due to heavy migration of these people to Mumbai city.
For those who are not familiar with the language here is are some basics to start with:
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Yes the infamous Munna bhai’s gandhigiri has its charm working for the Indians in America too. In a protest against the last minute reversal in policy that would delay the permanent residency Indian green card seekers sent hundreds of flowers to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Emilio Gonzalez in a three-day campaign that started on Tuesday

Inspired by the hit Hindi movie Lage Raho Munnabhai that extolled Gandhian ways of non-violent protest, the green card applicants sent around a thousand flower deliveries to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Emilio Gonzalez in a three-day campaign that started on Tuesday.
On its part, the USCIS response was equally pacific. It plans to forward the flowers to Walter Reed Army Medical Centre and Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, the main facilities treating US soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Gonzales in a statement on the agency website.

Read More here

Who says that Bollywood movies are all about signing songs and dancing in the rain..

Today is World Blood Donor Day, a day to honor the unknown voluntary donors, who donate the precious fluid and save many lives. Mumbai requires 625 units of blood per day, and about 20,000 units of blood per month. The only way to meet this demand is to encourage voluntary blood donation. One unit of blood can save four precious lives. Still India faces a shortage of approx 60 lac units of blood every year, which determines the lives of 2,400,000. One small act can save so many lives so why not join hands to make this blood donation drive a success. There is a Blood Donation camp set up in Mithibai College Campus at Vile Parle today. Be part of this drive and save lives.

Who can donate blood?• The age of the donor has to be between 18-60 years.
• A minimum weight of 45 Kg is required.
• The donor should have a minimum hemoglobin count of 12.5 gm/dl.
• The donor’s blood pressure needs to be within acceptable range of 110/70 mmHg to 180/100 mmHg.
• The donor should not be under medication or on treatment for diabetes, cardiac problems or any other medical ailment.
People who require blood
• Cancer patients, after chemotherapy, have very low blood platelet count, and require blood.
• Patients scheduled for surgery
• Emergency cases
Benefits of Blood Donation
• Donating blood may reduce the risk of heart disease for men and stimulate the generation of red blood cells.
• In patients prone to iron overload (e.g. due to hemochromatosis), blood donation prevents the accumulation of iron. However, at this time the American Red Cross does not accept people with hemochromatosis to donate blood for other people. On the other hand, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service does accept blood from hemochromatosis as they recognize that there is no disease to the blood.
• The amount of toxic chemicals (e.g. mercury, pesticides, fire retardants) circulating in the blood stream is reduced by the amount contained in given blood.
• Anecdotally, elderly people in good health have reported feeling invigorated by giving blood on a regular basis.

Firstly let me start by giving out the mandatory “thank you” speech. Melody….my partner in crime, you are a Rock Star, thanks for taking care of all the minor (and major) party issues while allowing me to sit back take all the luft.

Would also like to thank the management of Sejos for allowing us to twist their arms to the max so that we bloggers could get the most viable deal out of them. And last but not the least, a BIG thank you to all those who turned up (and a boo-hoo to those who couldn’t make it)….I had one heck of a time and am sure our bash would put all those Bollywoodish…Page 3 parties to shame.

Without any further a due, here are some “Kodak Moments”……

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