Education statistics for India

Higher education is still available only to a tiny slice of India’s young. No more than 10 percent of Indians ages 18 to 25 are enrolled in college, according to official figures. Nearly 40 percent of Indians over the age of 15 are illiterate. With more than half of its population under 25, he said, India could educate its young and open job opportunities for them, or be left with a large, potentially restive pool of unskilled, unemployable youth. Even for the educated college students, most of the 11 million students in India’s 18,000 colleges and universities receive starkly inferior training, heavy on obedience and light on useful job skills. Why is this happening? There is an interesting situation in India matching skilled graduates to jobs... But as graduates complain about a lack of jobs, companies across India see a lack of skilled applicants. The contradiction is explained, experts say, by the poor quality of undergraduate education. India’s thousands of colleges are swallowing millions of new students every year, only to turn out degree holders whom no one wants to hire. A study published by the software trade group last year concluded that only 10 percent of graduates with nonspecialized degrees were considered employable by leading companies, compared with 25 percent of engineers. Interestingly enough: India is that rare country where it seems to get harder to find a job the more educated you are. In the 2001 census, college graduates had higher unemployment — 17 percent — than middle or high school graduates. Source: NYTIMES October 17, 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/30/business/worldbusiness/30college.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5088&en=23907b6b6f9b384e&ex=1322542800 National Knowledge Commission: http://knowledgecommission.gov.in/

Customize your Laptop

Okay - this is too cute!!!! As a girl who is a techie person..I love it. Get your own laptop skin. Several designs yeah! http://www.skynmobile.com/laptop_skins.html

America's safest city, Brick Township, NJ: Key stat: 55.9 incidents of crime per 100,000 residents.This small city near the Jersey shore recorded the lowest rate of violent crime of any town of 75,000 residents or more, according to Morgan Quitno Press, an independent research publisher in Lawrence, Kansas, which used FBI statistics in its analysis. Dec. 01, 2006: Minnesota was deemed the healthiest U.S. state for the fourth year in a row. States making the most improvement in the past year were Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Kansas, the report found, while those with the biggest declines were New Mexico, Idaho and West Virginia.

Free Magazines Online to Read on a Lunch Break!

Okay. I am huge proponent of Free Magazines that offer quality reading! Airlines have some really good ones that actually can help you become more erudite, refined, and seem like a natural member of the educated jet-set crowd. I think this makes you a more cosmopolitan and globally aware person. So next time you amble next to a prominent politician or anyone else in first class (should you get upgraded from cattle class (economy)) - you will definitely seem like a pro at this rather than a newbie. This is what they are reading to as they wait in their first class lounges. You can have the same exposure without the high pricetag and become a discerning sophisticate who understands finesse, taste, and can make a crowd intrigued with your intelligent bon mots on any topic! _____________________________________ 1. A calendar of events, business and travel articles, and destinations off the beaten path are a few of the online offerings of Delta's inflight magazine Delta Sky. 2. Air Canada's offering is EnRoute making a few of their magazine's feature articles online along with an archive of past features and movie and audio entertainment information. 3. Alaska Airlines/Horizons Air gives the online reader access to its cover feature, and cover features of past cover features. 4. American Airlines magazine, American Way offers virtually the entire magazine online. Route maps, lifestyle articles, travel features - even the crossword puzzle is offered online! 5. US Airways Magazine Current articles. City Profiles, Real Estate, Business, Gadget Reviews, Food Reviews, Tip/Tricks, Biographies..This is a great magazine to read! Lots of trivia and general knowledge learnt. 6. Hemispheres, the inflight magazine of United Airlines seems to be fully available to Internet users. There are lots of fun and interesting travel facts, an online version of its crossword puzzle, and gourmet themed articles among the many offerings provided for its online readers. 7. Hana Hou! the inflight magazine of Hawaiian Airlines gives the online reader lots of advice as to their "best of" the Hawaiian Islands. Feature articles from present and past issues are also available for reading. 8. Southwest Airlines Spirit does not have enough readily available articles or other features. However, you can read various articles sometimes. The feature stories are often varied and they also have some interesting fiction features. Being a budget airline, I think the website reflects the readership expectations. However, I would not look down my nose at a possible venue for interesting information! Knowledge is power - however low-budget the learning. 9. SkyWest Magazine Small publication of SkyWest Airlines. This magazine highlights little known places and resorts in the U.S. This is for the discerning reader that wants to find out information about the diamond in the rough or the places where the truely sophisticated go to. 10. SN Brussels The in-flight title for Brussels Airlines. Pretty good articles for a small Euro magazine. It has world-class photography, bios, business articles, reviews on spas/cities/etc., not many articles but the few that are there are interesting and may not be learnt of any other way. 11. Tiger Tales A quarterly magazine for the Asian market, read by the passengers of Tiger Airways. Lots of information and coverage from Saigon, Vietnam to Bankgok, Thailand. I would definitely recommending this to stay abreast of some cool information on Southeast Asia. Great for General Knowledge as well as the best spas, restaurants, and also random real estate investment ideas. (: 12. Velocity The in-flight magazine of VLM Airlines. Designed to appeal to the modern business traveller, the magazine casts a slick, stylish eye over the latest in entertainment, business, motoring, sport and a host of other contemporary subjects. 13. WorldTraveler The magazine of Northwest Airlines. Does not have more than 10 major reads per issue they put out. But they have some interesting coverage of 1 international, 1 domestic U.S. city, and another cover story/profile, etc... Additionally, they have an education, money, and medical section reflecting the broad customer base of the airline. 14. WizzIt The in-flight magazine of Wizz Air. Primarily has reviews of European cities, spas, etc. Also has an occasional real estate magazine. Primary topic is European travel and reviews. 15. The Australian Way The inflight magazine of QANTAS. Reflecting the Australian psyche has articles on adventure travel, sports, food, wine, games....etc. 16. Bradmans A business travel guide distributed through major airlines on selected flights and in first and business class lounges. Four editions cover Europe, North America, Asia, and The Middle East. 17. easyJet In-Flight Read the on-line version of the easyJet in-flight magazine has features, business, and real estate articles. Features deal with style, health, bargains, and information on different regions. Even some trivia, sports, profiles, etc.. 18. Fah Thai A a bi-monthly magazine for the passengers of Bangkok Airways. Some interesting articles..but mainly only for people intrigued with that region. Not very global oriented magazine. 19. go Magazine AirTran Airways in-flight magazine. Interesting features on tech. gadgets, business, property, book reviews, sports, beauty tips, all around interesting ideas, quizzes, etc... 20. Impressions Carried on BMED (operating as British Airways) flights from London Heathrow Terminal 4 to Ethiopia, Kazakstan, etc...as well in Business Class lounges of destinations. The features in this magazine are quite interesting for information on Central Asia and former Soviet Republics. Cultural, business, and other articles. Impressions Magazine is a contemporary high calibre quarterly publication that caters for the modern traveller. Impressions is one of the few inflight magazines with dedicated features and information on every destination. Readers are local and International. business and leisure travellers with a high disposable income and sophisticated lifestyle.

Volunteering and Being a Tourist all in One

http://www.reliefridersinternational.com/ride.htm This is an amazing opportunity to join a caravan of fellow do-gooders on a journey helping in the Rajasthan Deserts of India. You get a chance to ride the beautiful Marwari horses. These horses were so intelligent and beautiful, they were declared superior even to humans and divine. So what is it like? Per the website:

"A maximum of 12 riders will embark on a 15-day journey to 5 remote villages in rural Rajasthan. The caravan will be led by our skilled support team, and will include 8 – 10 pack camels, a herd of goats, and our supplies. With the exception of a night’s stay at The Imperial Hotel in Delhi, 3 nights in forts, and a night in a haveli, a traditional Rajput Villa, our accommodations will consist of tented encampments set up by our support team along the journey route. Riders will average 20 - 25 miles a day, about three to five hours a day of riding at a comfortable pace, stopping for three meals a days. There will, of course, be ample water for all. In addition to our Relief Rider crew, we will have a support vehicle carrying two medics and a doctor who will accompany our ride on a parallel itinerary.

We have designed our 15-day Rajasthan relief adventure to create meaningful interactions between our travelers and local residents. At the beginning of the journey all participants, based on their life experience and skills, will be assigned certain responsibilities including: helping to organize the caravan, volunteering with the medical team, and helping to facilitate the distribution of the supplies. As we travel to each village, riders will help to set up the medical camps, work with the Red Cross team, distribute books and other educational materials to local school, or help to give goats to families in need.

We will, of course, be traveling through areas of great natural beauty, with ancient villages and old forts, rich in culture and wildlife. As we stop along the way, we will experience and enjoy some of the region’s unique cultural life, with performances of traditional dance in Kochor and drumming in Pachar, and sample the region’s culinary specialties."

Search for Kiran

One of my close friends put this appeal out. This is a true story and there has not been sufficient media coverage. Please help in whatever ways you can. Thanks.---Esha Dear Friends, One of my childhood friends of 20+ years had a tragic accident in Yosemite on Saturday, May 19. He fell into the Merced River and has been since missing. The park officials have done a meager search and are ready to scale back without giving a 100% effort. We are hoping that he is somewhere downstream cold and hurt, but alive.If you are in the Bay Area and can jointhe search, I urge you to do so. Ifnot, please at least spread the word ofhis search. A blogspot has been created for himsince the media has done a terrible jobof publicizing this tragic accident.http://www.findkiran.blogspot.com/ We are praying for Kiran and his family. Thanks,N.

Cheating an ugly issue - some stats

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2002 survey from Rutgers' Management Education Center, which polled 4,500 high school students, found that 75 percent of these students had cheated. UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: In a major study of both college and high school students by Duke University's Center for Academic Integrity, more than 70 percent of the students surveyed admitted to having cheated at least once on exams in the previous GRADUATE SCHOOL: More than half (56%) of M.B.A. candidates say they cheated in the past year, concludes a study by the Academy of Management Learning and Education of 5,300 students in the U.S. and Canada. With 54% of graduate engineering students, 50% of students in the physical sciences, 49% of medical and other health-care students, 45% of law students, 43% of graduate students in the arts and 39% of graduate students in the social sciences and humanities readily admitting to cheating, something must be done to correct course. REAL LIFE************************************************************************ We see cheating in real life. Recently in the last 5 years at least 60 major corporations have restated their financial statements. Many times the motivation was not from an honest mistake or carelessness but rather a need to have higher earnings to generate higher stock values for shareholders. Sports is notorious for cheating. Baseball and Barry Bonds...done. Now taxes how about that....yup. Enough said.

Namesake the movie

"The Namesake" that is doing roaring business in the US with $6.8 million from mainstream audiences but not with NRIs. After all its hype, previews and promotion, it did not pull in the ordinary NRI crowd except for the elite." I would agree with that. I thought the love story of the parents was awesome but somehow the main character of Gogol was annoying and not fun to watch stumble through his life. As an NRI - I am not too pleased with the story line even.

NRI Marriages

This continues my series on Indian American Issues and Women's Issues. Doing research for my own information. Source: NGO Seva in California "Nearly two in every ten NRI marriages are faked or end up in a divorce, cautions a legal counsellor from Fermont, USA, who is here to lobby for an Indian law to protect the victims of NRI marriages and financial frauds"

American Statistics

1. Crime: America's safest city, Brick Township, NJ Key stat: 55.9 incidents of crime per 100,000 residents.This small city near the Jersey shore recorded the lowest rate of violent crime of any town of 75,000 residents or more, according to Morgan Quitno Press, an independent research publisher in Lawrence, Kansas, which used FBI statistics in its analysis. More than a million vehicles were reported stolen by law enforcement agencies in the U.S. every year, yet most adults leave their car doors unlocked. Easy target for theives- 55% door unlocked, 34% windows open, and 6% key in cars USA: 8 million illegal immigrants estimated to be in the United States, about 400,000 have been identified and ordered deported. (Sep 18,2003 report) USA: Identity stolen of nearly 1 in 8 adults-more than 27 million people have been victims of identity theft during the last five years, the Federal Trade Commission reports. In 2002, 9.9 million people were victims of identity theft, costing them $5 billion and businesses and financial institutions almost $48 billion 2. Health & Mortality Dec. 01, 2006: Minnesota was deemed the healthiest U.S. state for the fourth year in a row. States making the most improvement in the past year were Illinois, Ohio, Wisconsin and Kansas, the report found, while those with the biggest declines were New Mexico, Idaho and West Virginia. Since 1990, America is a healthier place but from year 2000 dramatic increase in obesity, a rising number of Americans -- 46.6 million in a country of 300 million -- without health insurance, and smoking by 21 percent of U.S. adults More than 15 percent of Americans ages 6-19 are overweight. Mortality Rate of Accidents - Two deaths per 10,000 vehicle accidents in the US. According to the US Department of Labour, taxi driving is the most dangerous job in the country as these drivers are 60 times more likely than other workers to be killed on the job 3. Education & Technology USA, in 2003, 23 million households had high-speed access, up from 16 million the year before US Census Bureau report says 66.7 per cent of Asian households in the US have Internet access as against 59.9 per cent white households and 36 per cent each of Hispanic and African-American segments. More than two thirds of Americans use the Internet and 90% of all Internet users have e-mail. 80% check e-mail every day, and 50% check every week 4. Business and Global Online travel to reach $71 bln by 2006 40% of U.S. households are expected to own at least one digital camera by the end of 2004 In 2003, Sino-US trade amounted to over $180 billion, while Indo-American trade was a mere $18 billion. A record 51 million international visitors came to the USA every year , the second-most visited country in the world behind France's 75 million foreign tourists; Canada and Mexico continue to provide about half the USA's visitors. Nearly $2 billion worth of trade crosses the Canada-U.S. border every day, and Canada-Mexico trade is worth $15 billion a year It's estimated that $1 billion US in trade crosses the Canada-U.S. border every day. In the year 2004, US government provided $2.4 billion in food and cash and humanitarian relief ... That's 40 percent of all the relief aid given in the world last year. 5. American Society USA: According to the survey, 60 percent of singles aged 40-69 are women, a majority of them divorced. Forty-two percent of the men and 24 percent of the women had never been married . USA: At the beginning of the twentieth century the divorce rate in America was under ten percent. By 2005 the divorce rate was just under fifty percent according to the 2004 American Community Survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. USA: Of the 293.66 million people in the US, 95.81 million (32.6%) are non-whites or Hispanic In USA. USA: Average American household income around $42,000 a year but a credit-card debt in 2001 skyrocketed, topping $8234 per household USA: Last year, about 1.56 million people filed for personal bankruptcy, compared with 875,000 a decade earlier. In 2003, bankruptcy filings peaked at 1.63 million.

State of the World's Girls 2007

Source: BBCNEWS Study: Plan International - The study collated statistics from around the world looking at the lives of girls under the age of 18. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/14_05_07_girlsreport3.pdf My 2 cents: These numbers are sobering and should be a wake up to many people who have lived better lives with more education that there is still a lot to be done. In my opinion, these numbers reflect a pattern of devaluation for a valuable resource in India. My life experiences have shown me that many people living in these cultures are unaware that they are discriminating. Looking at these numbers I don't think tradition or the old ways has done much to help the girls. ______________________________________________________ From the mouth of the girls... “There is a need to bring change in the attitude of the men-folk and they should treat girls and women equal with boys and men.Girls should get organised in each village and insist on getting equal opportunities for education as well as recreation and in the decision making in the family.” Vandana, 15 years, India “Parents must bring up their girls as an asset not a liability. They must give her equal rights, opportunities and privileges as the male child. A girl who has been a victim must be supported and needs tremendous care, rehabilitation and counselling.” Girl, 17, India 1. Early Marriage and Pregnancy In some countries, most girls marry before their 18th birthday:

• India (50%),
• Nepal (60%)
• Niger (76%)

Over 80 million girls in developing countries will be married before their 18th birthday.

Girls are infected by HIV/AIDS in disproportionately high rates – three quarters of the 15-24 year-olds infected with HIV, are young women and girls.

Pregnancy is the leading cause of death for young women aged 15 to 19.

Arranged Marriages - Mass Early Marriage - One example:

Rajasthan, India - The custom survives of giving very small children away in marriage. On the auspicious day of Akha Teej, the mass solemnisation of marriages between young boys and girls is performed. From the parents’ point of view, this is the tried and tested way of organising the passing on of property and wealth within the family. A small but significant proportion of the children involved are under 10, and some are mere toddlers of two and three years old.The girls then go on to live with their husbands when they reach puberty.

2. Abortion by gender selection:

In India, a study of 1.1 million households came to the conclusion that: “Based on conservative assumptions, the practice accounts for about 0.5 million missing female births yearly.” It continues: “Anecdotal evidence suggests that access to ultrasound is fairly widespread, even in rural areas, and although prenatal sex determination has been illegal since 1994 the law is often ignored.” Over the past two decades, this “translates into the abortion of some 10 million female foetuses.”

The practice is more common among educated families than poor households. In one clinic in India, a woman waits for an abortion. She has two daughters aged 11 and seven years, and has had nine abortions in the hope of having a son. “Dr Geeta gives everyone a son. I hope she will give me one as well,” she says fervently. When asked the reason for her desperation, her voice cracks, “I want a son as we have a big business. I want what my husband has built from ‘scratch’ to go to his own blood. I can’t think of adoption. My daughters will marry and go away; our son would stay and look after the family. 3. Nutrition: In India, under-nutrition is the underlying cause for about 50 per cent of the 2.1 million deaths of children under five each year. The numbers of girls and boys under five who are underweight is similar in all regions except South Asia, where 47 per cent of girls are underweight compared to 44 per cent of boys. In India, 60 to 70 per cent of adolescent girls are anaemic. 4. Uneven domestic house workload: Surveys in six states in India showed that women typically spend 35 hours a week on household tasks and caring for children. Men only spend four hours in these tasks. In many countries, a girl begins her domestic duties at a very young age; duties that a boy is simply not expected to undertake. These are often arduous, fetching or carrying water from many miles away, pounding rice or maize, sweeping, cleaning, looking after siblings from early morning until late at night. In South Asia, women and girls spend three to five hours more than men in a week on activities such as fetching wood and carrying water, and between 20 and 30 hours a week more on housework. Another study of a number of countries in the South, including Kenya, South Africa, Pakistan and India found that “girls spend much more time than boys on non-economic work, and these differences become substantial among those who are not enrolled in school”. It also noted that: “Young men in urban Pakistan and urban India and in rural Kenya appear to spend little time performing domestic chores whether or not they are in school.” This domestic labour on the part of girls and young women is often not counted as ‘work’ – and yet in the 1990s a study in Australia suggested that the value of such ‘domestic’ work is equivalent to 58 percent of GDP. 5. Education Even once they have arrived at school, girls face problems that may be the cause of high dropout rates. The situation is often worse in rural areas than in urban ones: for example, a study in India found that 41.3 per cent of rural girls in the 10-14 age group dropped out of school, compared to 16.6 per cent in urban areas. This is especially significant as India is 70% rural still. 6. Unequal Earning Capacity: The International Labour Organisation reports that telecentres and fax booths have created a quarter of a million jobs in India in the last four years alone, a huge proportion of which have gone to women. However, although many women are software programmers, very few are in hardware design. Nor are many involved at policy level; mostly they are involved at quite a low level. Income to estimated male earned income, 1991-2003, selected countries Source: UNDP Human Development Report, 2006 Canada 0.63 Chile 0.39 China 0.64 Côte d’Ivoire 0.32 Indonesia 0.45 India 0.31 Japan 0.44 Kuwait 0.37 Lebanon 0.31 Russia 0.62 South Africa 0.45 Sweden 0.81 Uganda 0.70 Thailand 0.59 US 0.62 UK 0.65 7. Violance against women Nearly 50% of sexual assaults worldwide are against girls aged 15 years or younger. Those living in the conflict zones are particularly at risk. Worldwide it is a problem..but in India it is interesting to see evidence of it also is influenced by caste. One five-year study in four Indian states found that 23 per cent of female Dalits interviewed had been raped, 43 per cent had experienced domestic violence, 47 per cent sexual harassment, 55 per cent physical assault and 62 per cent verbal abuse. Of all the cases studied only 0.6 per cent ever made it to court, due to obstruction by the police (who often harbour caste prejudices themselves) or by the dominant castes. Many Dalits simply accept that no-one is going to help them and don’t even attempt to seek justice. “Violence against children, especially girls, has crossed all limits... People feel that a girl is meant to be used – either as a doormat, a maid, a birth-giving machine or as a source of physical pleasure. Something CONCRETE seriously needs to be done to change the current scenario because now a girl does not feel safe even in her own house, let alone the streets.” Girl, 16, India

Love this blog - tells the truth behind beauty products

http://www.thebeautybrains.com/ I liked this blog - it is an interesting look at the beauty industry. Skepticism. I like it so I don't feel like I am being bamboozled by the marketing and advertising. I especially like the article on shampoos. There's basically only 4 types no matter how they package it and this article explains it. It injects in me a realistic and more scientific approach.

All in One Makeup to fit your purse

Source: NYTIMES I love all in one makeup that emphasizes the cheeks, lips, and eyes. Being a busy woman..whatever limits the clutter works great. This is cost effect, saves time, and space. What's not to like. Originally...Nars was one of the first, in 1997 introducing the Nars Multiple, which it billed as “the original all-in-one, cream-to-powder, multipurpose makeup stick.” The stick can be used to highlight, sculpt and warm eyes, cheeks and lips. At $36.50 and with 12 shades, when is the last time a product tried to accomplish so much? In the last few months three new products arrived: Rush Hour ($20), by Benefit, a slim, oil-free stick, promises an “instant makeover” for eyes, lips and cheeks; 3-of-a-Kind Twist-Up Stick ($3.59), by Wet n Wild; and e.l.f. All Over Cover Stick ($1), which at two inches tall, is also a space saver. The sales evidence backs this up: "Multitaskers appear to be selling. More than 100,000 wands of Rush Hour have been sold since mid-January, exceeding Benefit’s expectations, according to Benefit’s founders. The Multiple is consistently one of Nars’s best-selling products, said Kimberley Thomas, Nars’s vice president for North America sales."

Mehendi / Henna

Well I went ahead and ordered sample mehendi to do my feet. I might get a professional to do this but I think it is more fun to do my own designs. http://www.easycart.net/ecarts/BodyArtSupply/Mehndi_Design_Books.html Has some design books and will go to that route if I don't like anything where I am at.

Great food blog

http://saffrontrail.blogspot.com Great website for healthy indian food recipes.

Returning Makeup that's useless

Source: NYTimes "Retailers Take the Blush Out of Makeup Returns " For those would-be returners who anticipate withering looks from salesclerks, fear not. It has become easier to return cosmetics over the last few years, according to Karen Grant, the beauty senior industry analyst at the NPD Group, a market research firm that tracks beauty sales. Sephora, in particular, has established a reputation for a friendly and streamlined return process. The company gives refunds, exchanges or credit within 60 days of purchase on both unopened and opened products, said Betsy Olum, senior vice president for marketing. Beyond 60 days of purchase, credit is issued for returns. Ms. Olum added that people can return products bought from sephora.com to any of the company’s stores. That really reassures me because so many lipsticks look different than I expected. I hate wasting the money.

Kitchen tools.

Anyone who is a big fan of cooking is aware of THE classic - The Joy of Cooking! For the first time, the family of Ms. Rombauer have endorsed some tools. These line is available at http://robinsonus.com . Check it out.

Just got a facial this weekend

Okay kiddies..I just got a facial this weekend. It was an hour and a half. So here's the scoop..European Style Facial.... So I got a lot of dermalogica goo slathed on my face, steamed for half an hour with a neat device, and then a Vitamin A/E/ something or the other Dermalogica makes for the rest. It did burn a little so I am assuming it has an AHA ingredient. (alpha hydroxy acid)...but it left my face so smooth my girlfriend who accompanied me was loving it. Now I would like to recreate the same experience at home. At $62+tip..it's expensive. So looking to my favorite hookup - Sallie Beauty Supply store. Next post will include the ingredients. I already give a killer pedicure to girlfriend with nail painting.

Informed Cosmetic Consumer - where to go

I believe in being an educated consumer. http://cosmeticscop.com/ is Paul Begoun's website. She wrote the book "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me" which I found to have made me an informed consumer so I don't get ripped of by the misleading advertising which is untrue on everything from lotions to lipsticks. Enjoy.

"I do not care about social norms."

Meera Bai I will fasten the bells of his love to my feet And dance in front of Girdhar. Dancing and dancing I will please his eyes; My love is an ancient one. My love is the only truth. I do not care about social norms Nor do I keep my family's honour. I cannot forget, even for a moment, The beauty of my lover. I am dyed in Hari's colour.

Vintage Hairstyles and Instructions

I would love to try pin curls to achieve a glamourous look. However, never had it done so looked to google for instructions. Found this neat website on all sorts of instructions. http://www.vintageous.com/ http://www.nocturne.com/swing/hair/pincurls/rightwrong.html - for pin curls

Free Quality Lunchtime reading

Okay. I am huge proponent of Free Magazines that offer quality reading! Airlines have some really good ones. Some examples. ____________________________________________________________ 1. A calendar of events, business and travel articles, and destinations off the beaten path are a few of the online offerings of Delta's inflight magazine Delta Sky. 2. Air Canada's offering is EnRoute making a few of their magazine's feature articles online along with an archive of past features and movie and audio entertainment information. 3. Alaska Airlines/Horizons Air gives the online reader access to its cover feature, and cover features of past cover features. 4. American Airlines magazine, American Way offers virtually the entire magazine online. Route maps, lifestyle articles, travel features - even the crossword puzzle is offered online! 5. US Airways touts US Airways Magazine as the business traveler's companion and includes travel articles and information. 6. Hemispheres, the inflight magazine of United Airlines seems to be fully available to Internet users. There are lots of fun and interesting travel facts, an online version of its crossword puzzle, and gourmet themed articles among the many offerings provided for its online readers. 7. Hana Hou! the inflight magazine of Hawaiian Airlines gives the online reader lots of advice as to their "best of" the Hawaiian Islands. Feature articles from present and past issues are also available for reading. 8. Southwest Airlines Spirit is more about reader surveys and online registration than readily available articles or other features. 9. SkyWest Magazine The publication of SkyWest Airlines. 10. SN Brussels The in-flight title for Brussels Airlines. 11. Tiger Tales A quarterly magazine for the Asian market, read by the passengers of Tiger Airways. 12. US Airways Magazine Current articles, archives, inflight information, media kit. 13. Velocity The in-flight magazine of VLM Airlines. 14. WorldTraveler The magazine of Northwest Airlines. 15. WizzIt The in-flight magazine of Wizz Air. 16. The Australian Way The inflight magazine of QANTAS. 17. Bradmans A business travel guide distributed through major airlines on selected flights and in first and business class lounges. Four editions cover Europe, North America, Asia, and The Middle East. 18. easyJet In-Flight Read the on-line version of the easyJet in-flight magazine. 19. Fah Thai A a bi-monthly magazine for the passengers of Bangkok Airways. 20. go Magazine AirTran Airways in-flight magazine. 21. Impressions Carried on BMED (operating as British Airways) flights from London Heathrow Terminal 4 to Ethiopia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Sudan, Egypt, Syria, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Lebanon, Russia, Georgia and Iran as well in Business Class lounges of destinations. 22. Redhot The quarterly in-flight publication for Richard Branson's low-cost European airline Virgin Express.

Templates I like

These include beautiful templates http://www.bloggertemplates.org/review/rounded-blue#myreview http://blogger-templates.blogspot.com/ http://blogspottemplates.blogspot.com/ http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/jennifer/blog-templates.html This link helps create a lot more functionality by moving my blogger to my website. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,119586-page,1/article.html

Photography Guide

The Seven Levels of Photographers http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/7.htm Why Your Camera Does Not Matter http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm Before getting into photography...I have been reading this. Very educational. http://www.fotosearch.com for ideas on posing.

Ben Kingsley - 1/2 Indian Dude

Sir Ben Kingsley, CBE (born Krishna Bhanji on December 31, 1943) is an Academy Award-winning British actor.

His father, Harji Bhanji, was a Kenyan-born medical doctor of Indian (Gujarati Hindu) descent, and his mother, Anna Lyna Mary, was a fashion model and actress who was half Jewish .

South Asian Comedians

Russell Peters - seeing his show in 2 weeks in DC - Canadian I think. Shazia Mirza - British. "I'm Shazia Mirza," she once famously said soon after the World Trade Centre attacks of 2001. "At least that's what it says on my pilot's licence." You know it - you must utube it. (:

What is Telugu?

Telugu has 135 million speakers around the world. By comparison Japanese is spoken by 130 million speakers. So it's a pretty well spoken language with its own script and very rich literature. University of Texas at Austin is offering beginners and accelerated course work in Telugu beginning 2007 as part of its Asian Studies program. (: I am ethnically Telugu from the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. That's likely my mother's tongue and most certainly both my grandma's. (:

Famous Son of Indian Origin (ethnic)

Freddie Mercury (5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a British Rock Musician of Indian Parsi Decent of the Zoroastrian faith! His birth name was Farrokh Bulsara. Can see why he anglicized it! He attended St. Peter's boarding school at Panchgani near Bombay (now Mumbai).

Source: Wikipedia

GDP, IT, Education, and India - scary statistics

Some new numbers and statistics..... (Is it brain drain or is it there's not enough jobs for educated people in a farming economy. Only 3% of Indian GDP comes directly from IT sector. Of course these are 2003 numbers and India is changing very dramatically. A feb 2007 article estimated that Indian economy will hit over $1 Trillion as soon as 2008. 2006 numbers with nearly $800 Billion. http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/25/business/rupee.php ) Also got recent numbers on GDP by sector 2005: I am glad to see agriculture is seriously down from even 5 years ago when it was still enormous part of the GDP. agriculture: 18.6% industry: 27.6% services: 53.8% There's another sad statistic (60% of the Indian population is dependant on agriculture which presents 18.6% of GDP) With only 4% of the educated Indians driving so much growth in India..I wonder what would happen in India invested more than it does in infrastructure and education. Comparison numbers: Investment in Education India 2.5% US 7.9% College Educated Population India 4% US 27.7% ___________________________________________________________ Source: http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/nov2006/gb20061102_285971.htm This article is from 2006 and ran in businessweek. Only 4% of Indian population has a college degree. Contrast that with the Indian American high numbers of education in my prior post!!! http://beautytobe.blogspot.com/2007/03/desi-pride.html Keeping India Poor "And then there's the other India of some 800 million in big cities, medium-size towns, and villages. They are promised everything by some 70 or more political parties in a continuous democratic exercise at the polling booth in numerous and shifting vote-getting political alliances. This is in a country where only 1.5% of women have college education and which has a gross underinvestment in education. " "This group has demonstrated what a mere 4% of the population with college education can do in a short period of less than 20 years of lower taxes and a more open economic system, when allowed to be entrepreneurs, innovators, and professional competitors inside India and to function around the world as exporters, importers, manufacturers."

How immigration laws sanction domestic violence in South Asian American homes

Wow, reading this article made me feel so sad. I really hate it when people take advantage of someone vulnerable..particularly women. I read the statistic somwhere that 1 in 4 South Asian women in this country have been subject to abuse. Not cool! Read the full article on: http://www.abcdlady.com/11-2004/art1.php "Federal law does not allow women in Geeta’s situation to work professionally, or petition for a green card individually even if they are in an abusive relationship. Also, there currently is no requirement in the fiancé-visa application process for a criminal background check on a U.S. citizen marrying an Indian-born woman, nor are these women told of how to guard against their immigration status being used against them. " The woman is held hostage by threats that the hubby won't fill out the forms needed for her to get a more permanent visa status. Sad situation. Where can they go for real help? I think a criminal check is very important!!! Also a financial check! Shows a pattern of life events.

Pet Food Recall Scare

Okay the pet food recall has been pretty scary for lots of people. Here's something interesting from that. 1. My boyfriend and I got into the question of whether dogs can eat human food and live happily? I think they can because I have a family dog who was vegetarian. Refused to touch meat. Vegetarian dog loved Indian food! She would eat rice, lentils, egg (for shiny coat), etc, loved to eat wheat tortillas homemade. There's some resources for vegan cat food too..but I will let you guys google that. I am allergic to cats..so not in my future. http://www.vegetariandogs.com/ - then I found this website. Neat huh? http://www.vnv.org.au/Articles/Dogs&Cats.htm - There are even companies catering to cruelty-free pet food in Australia. I was fascinated by this. 2. To be honest though, I prefer to make fresh food for the family dog. So know what is not edible to dogs/cats..etc..and then prepare normal food accordingly. Indian diet is great for dogs. Reduce the salt though and might want to blend the lentils. RESOURCES Vegetarian Dog Food Sources The Warm Store offers dog and cat food in their mail order catalog. (800) 889-WARM. 12 Tannery Brook Road, Woodstock, NY 12498. Nature's Recipe; Vegan canned food and kibble for dogs (800) 237-3856. 341 Bonnie Circle, Corona, CA 91720. Basically Natural; Vegan dog food and a variety of cruelty free human and animal products. (800) 352 7099; (301) 834-7923. 109 East G Street Brunswick, MD 21716. Harbingers of a New Age; Vegetarian cat and dog book, as well as a supplement mix designed to go with their homemade recipe. (406) 295-4944. 717 E. Missoula Ave, Troy, MT 59935-9609. Wow-Bow Distributor Ltd.; A variety of vegan/vegetarian dog foods. Also meat based products. NY (516) 254-6064; (800) 326-0230. 13B Lucon Drive Deer Park, NY 11729. Natural Life Pet Products, Inc.; Vegan (?) dog food. Available from veterinarians and pet food centers. (800) 367-2391. Frontenac, Kansas 66762. Wysong Corporation; Vegetarian dog food. (800) 748-0188. Dept. CF, 1880 N. Eastman Ave., Midland, MI 48642.

At Home spa tricks for healthy skin

Skin that glows De-puff your sleep-deprived eyes with cotton balls soaked in water and left in the freezer until icy cold. For an even more effective treatment, steep the cotton balls in green tea before you pop them in the freezer, as they do at the New Orleans Ritz-Carlton Spa. Caffeine in tea helps reduce water retention in the eyelids. I sometimes do that with sliced cucumber and use that on the eyes as well. You can blend cucumber into a paste and then add steeped green tea. Put this liquid in ice cube tray with tooth picks for later use. It's okay if this is a bit thick. Take it out, let it melt and use cotton balls in the cold concotion on your tired eye lids. Extremely good for the eyes. Also great for any bruising. Enjoy a sweet and easy body scrub: Bring a cup of sugar with you into the shower, wet your skin, then turn off the water and apply the sugar all over, gently massaging it into your skin. Turn the water back on and rinse. The sugar dissolves easily and won't leave grit on the shower or bath floor, says Kenneth Ryan, spa director at the Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Turnberry Isle in Aventura, Florida. I love this solution, but baking soda is also nice and is finer. I usually combine with cetaphil moisturizer/face wash with baking soda then have a nice rub down. Try dry body brushing to smooth rough spots, increase your circulation, and make you feel good inside and out, says Ann Brown, director of Spa Shiki at the Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Missouri. All you need is a body brush. Starting at your feet and working up, gently brush your body in a stroking motion toward your heart. Follow with a bath or shower and a rich moisturizer. If you don't have a body brush, I would recommend just a hand towel (lower quality walmart type is rough or dish towel rough. High quality ones may be too soft and comfy to be effective). It has the right roughness that it exfoliates without scratching the skin. Idea is to improve circulation not exfliate too much. Make an easy, effective face mask by blending an egg white with the juice of half a lemon. Leave it on for 15 minutes before rinsing. This instantly brightens and tightens your skin and large pores (huge Desi girl issue), says Sasha Lefort, spa manager at the Ritz-Carlton Spa in New Orleans. You can follow this with a nice yogurt facial as in another spa treatment I described in a post. http://beautytobe.blogspot.com/2006/10/yogurt-aha-treatment-you-never-knew-you.html

At-Home Spa Tricks with Towels

Ease neck aches with moist heat, says Steve Ellis, the lead massage therapist at the Four Seasons Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, Arizona. Soak a hand towel in water and wring it out, then warm the towel in the microwave for 60 seconds. To protect skin from direct heat, place a dry towel on your neck, then roll up the heated towel and lay it on top. Gently rotate your head back and to the sides as the heat works its way into your neck. You can also drape a warm, moist towel across a sore back to soothe it. Another option is to pick up some good books on Indian head massage and accupressure. This works great for a headache and with warm olive oil/coconut oil - really any vegetable based oil to massage the head, hair, and washup. Conditions the skin great. I have used Neutrogena's body oil as it's very light and nice. Dab on some peppermint oil for a great natural pick-me-up, says Sasha Lefort of New Orleans' Ritz-Carlton Spa, where the towels are subtly scented with peppermint and guests are offered peppermint oil to inhale after a massage if they feel congested. (You can find essential oils at health-food stores or beauty sites like http://TheBodyShop.com.) Dot on your temples to relieve post-carpool headache, or place a few drops in the corners of your shower and turn on the hot water to help clear your head — and your sinuses. I have use vicks vapor rub for this..only difference I have put it directly on my neck, upper chest and taken a shower..the vapor go up and feel real good for head/chest colds. It's cheaper and easier...and it's like steam inhalation. VERY EFFECTIVE for allergies and colds. I also like to scent olive oil with a few drops of rose essential oil run it in the shower.

The Top List of Veggie Restaurants - Baltimore, MD Satisfy your inner veggie. by Loretta Chilcoat Jergensen & Lisa Harlow This southern-leaning city loves its meat and potatoes (and crabs) but vegetarians are surprisingly well-catered to as well – and it’s not your typical celery and lettuce menu. Though many restaurants have limited vegetarian selections, a few hotspots kick it up with creative nutty spices and creamy vegetable dishes, and some boasting veg and vegan exclusively, which can sometimes be a rare find. So whether you’re looking for an elegant meal for two or a quick bite as you check out the sites around the Inner Harbor, you’ll find a cozy spot to indulge your inner veggie in Baltimore. LIQUID EARTH - Vegetarian and Vegan 1626 Aliceanna Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 410-276-6606 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 7 am-7 pm; (Sat) 9 am-7 pm; (Sun) 9 am-3 pm Liquid Earth is a juice bar, coffee/tea bar, and vegetarian wonderland rolled into one cozy Fells Point café. If you're looking for a spot to get away from the hectic bars and markets in this historic neighborhood, stop in to enjoy the music of the tropical rainforest and down a carrot and wheatgrass shake. You'll want to stay for lunch, so check out the non-meat equivalents of all your favorite sandwiches, including the veggie Reuben, the "fakin' bacon," lettuce, and tomato, and the mesclun Muffalata. Estimated cost per person for lunch/dinner=$6-$11 Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Closed, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Closed, Thanksgiving - Closed, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Closed, New Year's Eve - Open ONE WORLD CAFÉ - Vegetarian and Vegan 904 South Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 410-234-0235100 West University Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21218 410-235-5777 Hours: (Mon-Fri) 7 am-11 pm; (Sat) 8 am-12 am; (Sun) 8 am-10 pm One World Café is a vegetarian's delight, featuring all sorts of hearty soups, sandwiches, and salads. The Charles Street location offers a neighborhood feel, with locals sipping lattes at the sidewalk tables. The University Parkway locale, just a short hop from Johns Hopkins University, has more of a college town appeal. One World's vegetarian chili and "Sloppy Joe"-type sandwich (Café favorites) are warm and satisfying, having just the right texture. If you're in the mood for dessert, you'll be able to choose from a good variety of all-natural cakes and muffins. With your amazingly moist marble pound cake, enjoy a soy cappuccino or a cup of fresh brewed tea-they have at least 30 different blends. And if you like what you drink, you can buy their coffee and teas to brew at home. Estimated cost per person for lunch/dinner=$5-$11 Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Open, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Closed, Thanksgiving - Closed, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Closed, New Year's Eve - Open HELEN'S GARDEN RESTAURANT - Café, includes Vegetarian 2908 O'Donnell Street, Baltimore, MD 21224 410-276-2233 Hours: (Tues-Thurs) 11 am-10 pm; (Fri) 11 am-11 pm; (Sat) 10 am-10 pm; (Sun) 10:30 am - 2:30 pm Located in Canton, one of Baltimore's hottest neighborhoods, Helen's is a cozy place to enjoy simply great food. (If you're dining alone, sit at the downstairs bar and enjoy great conversation as well.) When you're up in the loft dining room, try a warmed focaccia or jalapeno and pesto wrap sandwich, featuring fresh ingredients such as portabellas, hummus, mango, and roasted eggplant. Black bean chili and the veggie soup of the day are great complements. For an evening out, sample one of the homemade pasta entrees along with a bottle of wine-many are under $20. And when you're strolling through Canton Square's unique shops on the weekend, stop in for Sunday brunch of banana walnut French toast and fresh-baked granola. No meal is a miss at Helen's. Estimated cost per person for lunch/dinner=$6-$18 Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Closed, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Closed, Thanksgiving - Closed, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Closed, New Year's Eve - Open PLANET ON THE CORNER - Café, includes Vegetarian 2229 Fleet Street, Baltimore, MD 21231410-732-3700 Hours: (Mon-Sun) 11 am-2 pm When you're dining with a group, Planet on the Corner's extensive menu of appetizers, sandwiches, pastas, salads, pizzas, and desserts-along with its full-service bar-will no doubt please everyone in your party. There are lots of veggie items to choose from, so this could take awhile! The hummus is a hit, and while you're waiting to dig in with your pita points, you can check your email at the free Internet terminal. And if there's a slow moment at the bar, you never know when the bartender will whip out his guitar and serenade you and your fellow diners. Estimated cost per person for lunch/dinner=$6-$11 Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Closed, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Closed, Thanksgiving - Closed, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Closed, New Year's Eve - Open CITY CAFÉ - Café, includes Vegetarian 1001 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 410-539-4252 Hours: (Mon-Thur) 7:30 am-11 pm; (Fri) 7:30 am-12 am; (Sat) 9 am-12 am; (Sun) 9 am-11 pm This light, airy, veggie-friendly café in historic Mount Vernon is bustling for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Surrounded by walls of windows, you can check out the sights while you nosh on a grilled veggie sandwich with huge hunks of portabellas, a black bean burger with fresh salsa, or the quiche of the day. City Café also offers veggie pastas, huge salads, a vegetarian soup daily, and scrumptious desserts and coffee drinks. In a hurry? The Cathedral street side of the café has a quick-service carry-out that features select menu items. Estimated cost per person for lunch/dinner=$6-$17 Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Closed, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Closed, Thanksgiving - Closed, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Closed, New Year's Eve - Open ZE MEAN BEAN CAFÉ - Eastern European, includes Vegetarian 1739 Fleet Street, Baltimore, MD 21231 410-675-5999 Hours: (Mon-Thur) 10 am-11 pm; (Fri-Sun) 11 am-1 am Ze Mean Bean offers fresh homemade fare in a charming, Bohemian-like setting. Whether you're in the mood for a hearty meal or just coffee and dessert, you'll want to come by in the evening to take in the nightly jazz ensemble. While sitting on a well-worn sofa or at an antique table surrounded by walls of books, sample vegetarian Old World favorites such as potato-filled pierogies and buckwheat blinchikas filled with mushrooms and drizzled with red pepper sauce. If you're looking for a lighter meal, go for cabbage soup and homemade bread. Ze Mean Bean also serves up a mean chocolate layer cake, so don't binge on the blinchikas! Estimated cost per person for lunch/dinner=$6-$18 Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Closed, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Closed, Thanksgiving - Closed, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Closed, New Year's Eve - Open YABBA POT – Vegan 771 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21230 410-962-8638 Hours: (Mon-Sat) 8 am-9 pm Estimated cost per person for dinner=$5-12 Not only is it the city’s only fully vegan café, but you can also enjoy poetry readings and open-mic hip hop slams amidst the fragrance of incense and earthy spices. The Pot is a popular hangout for students on serious budgets and purveyors of creative vegan cuisine. Favorite dishes include the spicy BBQ tofu wraps, tender West African spinach, and their moist organic veggie burgers. Overlook the slightly erratic service and you’ll appreciate a fine, home-cooked meal that will surprise even carnivores as to how tasty tofu can truly be. Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Open, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Open, Thanksgiving - Open, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Open, New Year's Eve – Open THE HELMAND – Afghan/Middle Eastern, vegetarian 806 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 410-752-0311 Hours: (Sun-Thur) 5 pm-10 pm; (Fri-Sat) 5 pm-11 pm Estimated cost per person for dinner=$11-25 A delicious find tucked into the heart of downtown, The Helmand’s zesty flavors and unusual culinary combinations also hold a particularly interesting political sidebar—the owner is the brother of the Afghan president. Politics aside, the food is simply amazing, with the kaddo borawni appetizer (pan fried and baked baby pumpkin seasoned with sugar and served on yogurt garlic sauce) a definite must, even if you think you don’t like pumpkin. Other veggie favorites include the bowlawni (twin pastry shells filled with leeks and spiced potatoes, with yogurt and mint), and banjan borawni (baked eggplant with tomatoes and a garlic yogurt sauce). Top it off with a delicate scoop of Afghan ice cream, accompanied by fresh mango, dates and dried figs.Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Open, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Open, Thanksgiving - Open, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Open, New Year's Eve – Open ZODIAC – Vegetarian, Cajun/creole 1724 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 410-727-8815 Hours: (Tue-Thur) 5-10 pm; (Fri) 5-11 pm; (Sat) 3-11 pm; (Sun) 3-10 pm Estimated cost per person for dinner=$7-16 The perfect place to grab a meal before catching a flick at the nearby Charles Theater, the Zodiac is a heavenly blend of hearty veggie and vegan entrees, sprinkled with touches of Mexican, Greek and Creole for all diners. Wild mushroom lasagna, chickpea burgers, and make-your-own pizzas (with soy cheese) are popular pre-nightlife fare, and the vegan soy ice cream is a nice way to top it all off. The atmosphere is as entertaining – meet the coin-operated fortuneteller in the back, and see if you can feel the presense of the resident ghost who supposedly haunts the main dining area. Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Open, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Open, Thanksgiving - Open, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Open, New Year's Eve – Open THE AMBASSADOR - Indian Food 3811 Canterbury Road, Baltimore, MD 21218 410-366-1484 Hours: Lunch (Mon-Fri) 11:30 am-2:30 pm, (Sat-Sun) 12noon-3 pm; Dinner (Sun-Thur) 5 pm-10 pm, (Fri-Sat) 5 pm-11 pm Estimated cost per person for lunch/dinner=$17-25 Don’t let the apartment building façade deter you from a delightful, upscale vegetarian dining experience at the Ambassador. The Indian-inspired cuisine blends traditional dishes like Dal Makhani (yellow or black lentils) with innovative flavors of Vegetable Jalfrezi (medley of cauliflower, potatoes, peas, bell peppers, carrots, string beans, onions, and tomatoes), Matar Paneer (green peas and homemade Indian cheese curry), and Malai Kofta (vegetable croquettes simmered in a delicately spiced cream sauce). In warmer months, ask for an outside table—the intimate patio is one of the most romantic spots in which to dine in the city. Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day - Open, Valentine's Day - Open, Easter - Open, Thanksgiving - Open, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Open, New Year's Eve – Open

Desi Pride

Namaste. I am proud of my Desi Indian culture. "Desi" is a term we South Asians use to refer to ourselves globally. Here are some hard US Stats from recent census studies. I wish for completeness I could also find some statistics on our political influence as far as fund raising, donation, and key players in both parties and major lobbyists. But here's what I have got. HIGH EARNERS Asian Indians are the fastest-growing and most affluent ethnic group in the United States, with a median annual household income of $66,000, which is almost 50% higher than the national average. Their estimated annual buying power exceeds $50 billion. Indians own 50% of all economy lodges and 35% of all hotels in the country, which have a combined market value of almost $40 billion. They are the single largest foreign physicians group in the country, accounting for 15% of all foreign medical graduates and nearly 5% of all U.S. physicians. Indians fuel America's technology sector. A University of California, Berkeley, Study, reported that one-third of the engineers in Silicon Valley are of Indian descent, while 7% of valley high-tech firms are led by Indian CEOs. SECOND LARGEST IMMIGRANT GROUP AFTER MEXICANS The Indian population in the United States presently tops 2 million and they are among the fastest growing ethnic group in the country. India is the second largest source of immigration to the United States, second only to Mexico, and it is by far the largest source of non-immigrant H1 visa professionals, equal almost to the rest of the world combined. India is also the largest source of foreign students in the United States, overtaking China, which has traditionally held that spot. The Indian foreign student population is the fastest growing student segment in the country, rising 22% in 2002. GROWING IN STRENGTH Indians are among the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. Between 1990 to 2000, the Indian population grew 133%, which is 10 times the national average of 13%. They are the third largest Asian group, behind only Chinese and Filpinos, and are growing at a far faster pace -- 5 to 7 times – than the two groups. If current trends hold, Indians are set to become the largest Asian group by the end of this decade. HIGHLY EDUCATED AND VALUED IN THE WORKPLACE Indians have the highest educational attainment of all ethnic groups, including Whites. Almost 67% of all Indians have a bachelor's or higher degree (compared to 28% nationally). Almost 40% of all Indians have a master's, doctorate or other professional degree, which is five times the national average. Of the Indian work force, almost 50 percent are employed in managerial and professional specialties. Another 33 percent work in technical, sales, and administrative support occupations. Nearly 8,000 Indian Americans serve as faculty members at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

Amar Chitra Katha comics

http://www.amarchitrakatha.com I used to devour these books/comics of Indian history, culture, and mythology as a kid. They are wonderful learning tool and priceless. You can buy and have it likely couriered over her (my plan).

Kalidasa's Poem Autumn

AUTUMN by: Kalidasa (c. 500) The autumn comes, a maiden fair In slenderness and grace, With nodding rice-stems in her hair And lilies in her face. In flowers of grasses she is clad; And as she moves along, Birds greet her with their cooing glad Like bracelets' tinkling song. A diadem adorns the night Of multitudinous stars; Her silken robe is white moonlight, Set free from cloudy bars; And on her face (the radiant moon) Bewitching smiles are shown: She seems a slender maid, who soon Will be a woman grown. Over the rice-fields, laden plants Are shivering to the breeze; While in his brisk caresses dance The blossomed-burdened trees; He ruffles every lily-pond Where blossoms kiss and part, And stirs with lover's fancies fond The young man's eager heart. This English translation of "Autumn" was composed by Arthur W. Ryder (1877-1938).

My Face Routine

1. Cetaphil - PH Neutral so perfect for washing face and body anytime. I use it primarily for face out of the shower. 2. I make homemade yogurt which naturally has alpha-hydroxy acid. So I use a tablespoon for my face and neck and then jump in the shower after 10 minutes. Leaves the skin smooth. 3. Regenerist line olay serum. That's my primary moisturizer or the Neutrogena 45 SPF sunblock for when I am out and about. With summer in Baltimore looming with hiking etc, that's what I rely on. Plus both are less than 3 oz so for a frequent traveller like me I can pop it into my travel bag! New product to try for future. I have ordered a sample of Lycogel foundation (Dermica MD makes it I think). I am curious to see if it helps my skin. I am not a huge foundation person but thought I would give it a try after hearing all the buzz. Samples can be requested from any dermatologist's office for free or cheap. For redness from threading waxing at appointments, I have taken to having visine in my purse. With a cotton ball saturated pressed on redness it goes away quickly. Tucks pads that are anti-inflammatory aids with witch hazel. Good for under eye swellings going down from staying up too late.

Great Website for Vegan Thai food

http://thaifood.about.com/od/vegetarianthairecipes/Cooking_healthy_vegetarian_Thai_recipes.htm Excited to try the pumpkin curry. Esha

Making Yogurt (perrugu, curd)

I am a telugu girl so yogurt is very important. Particularly homemade. It's quite simple. Equipment: 1. plain yogurt 1 spoon prior batch, Dannon, or can use culture sold by dairy companies 2. glass pyrex bowl 3. milk 4. microwave Directions: Homemade Indian Yogurt (Curd, Perugu) 1. I like the taste of the homemade better than the store bought. It's really quite easy to make. First, bring the milk to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer it for few minutes till a layer of cream forms on top of the milk. (I usually do this by heating 1 qt of milk for 8-9 minutes in an 1100 watt microwave) Basically watch the milk till it starts boiling. 2. Let the milk cool down to a lukewarm level (just warmer than room temperature). 3. Then add 1-2 tablespoon of live active culture of yogurt to this milk, stir it once and cover the vessel with a lid. Keep the container in an oven or in a microwave (they act like incubators) undisturbed for about 4-5 hours - it should be semi-solid at this point. 4. Then transfer it to a freezer for 20 minutes to arrest the souring process completely before putting it back in the fridge. If you prefer sour yogurt, leave it undisturbed for either 6 or 8 hours or even longer then just put in teh fridge. It's to your taste. I like yogurt like cream with no sourness. How much milk you need depends on how much yogurt you want to make. Small or large quantity, all it takes is adding one tablespoon of live active culture of yogurt. It’s that simple.

March Reading

So joined up some book clubs near my local library. Looking for some good books. The last good book I read was by Muriel Sparks - the prime of Ms. Jean Brodie. There's also a movie on this. Amazing acting by Maggie Smith. Won her an academy award. The story is really neat. Catch a summary with a spoiler on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prime_of_Miss_Jean_Brodie

Packing Lunch well

Nobody packs lunch better than the Japanese. I am convinced now. Check this out. I am going to start packing bento boxes for my boyfriend and surprise him. http://www.airandangels.com/bentobox/links.html

the words of Khalil Gibran, poet and philosopher on marriage: . . . let there be spaces in your togetherness And let the winds of the heavens dance between you Love one another, but make not a bond of love Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf Sing and dance together and be joyous but let each one of you be alone Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts And stand together yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow.

Hindi Movie Reviews for the Indian Diaspora and their Progency

http://hindimoviereviews.blogspot.com/

Some ideas for Volunteering

I am part of an organization as an assistant organizer. I liked the format of one-time signup RSVP for events in my area - DC to use for my organization. http://www.onebrick.org/ Check it out. There's calendars for SF Bay Area, NY, Chicago, DC. Giving back is part of our inner beauty upkeep. Keeps us humble!!!

Vegan Vacation in Tuscany

Organic Tuscany offers week-long "farm to table" organic cooking vacations in the Tuscan Hills of Italy. The small classes visit local organic farms and learn how to use their fresh, seasonal produce in traditional Tuscan dishes. At least two of the courses are vegetarian and the others are vegetarian friendly. Chef Shilpa and husband Ricardo Piatelli practice sustainable living, and in their cooking classes, help students to leave as small an eco footprint as possible.

Step by Step - How to thread the eyebrows, upperlip, etc.

Threading removes the tiniest and finest hair right from the root. Salons nowadays have caught on to this age old method from the Middle East and India. Only problem - they are charging an arm and a leg for the service in the United States. As anyone who reads anything I write knows, I advocate DIY philosophy to this.

Take around 2 feet (24 inches) of thread length. Make sure you use a good quality, strong thread. There is no special thread for threading, you can use any thread as long as it is strong and does nort snap easily.

Take both ends and knot them up. You need to have a circle of thread. Although beauticians normally use thread straight from the reel keeping one end in their mouth and holding the other end, you don't need to get so technical, especially because you will not be able to thread your own upperlip in this manner.

Now hold the thread with both hands, and wind it around ten times. The wound bit now lies in the center of the circle. Now, place the thread around the fingers of both hands. Push the wound portion towards one hand by widening the fingers of one hand and simultaneously closing the fingers of the other hand.

Similarly, by opening the fingers of the closed hand and closing the fingers of the other hand, push the wound portion in the other direction.

Keep practicing pushing the wound portion back and forth. Once you are able to push back and forth easily, you can move on to the next step - practicing on an actual body part _______________________________________

It is best to practice threading on your leg. Most people have a lot of hair on their legs and their legs are easily reachable. They don't have to strain too much to reach or look in the mirror.

Sitting on your bed or on a chair, prop up one leg and identify the portion from which you want to remove hair. Place the thread on this portion. Let the wound part be one end of the hair, and the thread from the other side should be on both sides of the hair you want to remove. Now, move the wound portion to the other side, making sure that it catches the hair while moving. It will then lift the hair from the root as it moves back and forth. You will need practice before you can manage.

And if you know how to thread your upperlip yourself, you can run thread through it for a couple of minutes every other day so your upperlip is always completely free from hair. No more waiting for the hair to grow back before your next threading or waxing session at the parlour.

Funny for the week!

Snagged this off of http://designtalk.homevisions.com Made me laugh and I think every girl can relate! Made me laugh

Indian Vegetarian Cooking

Okay guys. I love to cook. I also love to read recipes. http://www.ivcooking.com This is a great website with lots of recipes and information. If you are in the Michigan area you also get cooking classes!!! I am currently working my way through the recipes. Tonight's the black eyed peas lentil soup.

Great Website For Apartment Decorating Ideas

Removable Wallapapers, Beautiful French style Doors, Hardware Cabinet upgrades...adn many other ideas. http://www.bhg.com/bhg/househome/index.jhtml Check it out! I love it.

Jewelry Custom Design Clasps

I believe that a truly versatile person should be able to upgrade or make her jewelry prettier. It's quite easy. Designer clasps for when you restring your pearls! http://www.alacarteclasps.com/

Apartment Decorating

I am moving to Baltimore for a new job. Moving out of a house back to an apartment. Have got some neat design ideas for the apartment. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com - I am using the resources here. Great idea was stencil and wall to wall paneling of fabric from a thin strip of wood - aka removable wallpaper (: http://www.seemydesign.com/ Also is a resource I will be using. Will update on how I use it. Plan is to scan in the layout of my apartment and then plan!!

What is your Body's real age?

Go to www.RealAge.com and login with your e-mail address and create a RealAge password to go through a 10-15 minute test to see what is the age of your real body!

Art Noveau Lady

Pen and Ink - cleaned up in MS Paint. Inspired by Erte.

Turkey Day Healthy Ideas for Food

Substitutes for Potato 1. Kale (green veggie) Chips - Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with chili powder, cumin powder, black pepper, and bake 350 for 10 minutes 2. Carrot Chips - Slice the long way, very thin strips. Drizzle with olive oil and bake 350 for 10 minutes 3. Radish "hash browns" - Saute sliced radishes and onions. Use mustard seed, cumin seed (1/4 tsp each) and salt/pepper. Can serve with omelettes or other dishes. 4. Instead of potatoes use cauliflower, sweet potato and mashed. I also seperately saute in about a tablespoon of oil on medium - low heat, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, urad dal, curry leaves, green chilies and add at the end dried coconut before putting this spiced infused oil in the mashed veggies and mixing it well. Other ideas.... Bean Sprout Pasta Stir-fry bean sprouts, mushrooms and onions, making a faux pasta. Top with fat free spaghetti sauce and low fat parmesan cheese. Try this -- it's almost as good as real pasta! Other Common Subsitutes Saute Veggies in chicken (or vegetable) broth instead of oil. You'll add flavor with almost no calories. When baking, use applesauce instead of oil in your recipes. It cuts lots of fat. Fat free yogurt can be used instead of sour cream in dips, on potatoes and in recipes. Then bye-bye, Flab!

Vegetarianism

I think vegan lifestyle is important to look and feel well. For more information, I found www.savvyvegetarian.com There are a couple of articles that I find helpful there. Including the famous question for all vegans...Judy has an excellent article addressing this issue.

Beautiful Lotus Digital Art

Click for larger Picture

Let out your Inner Artist or Time Waster

http://jacksonpollock.org/ Per Time Magazine - this made the list of the top 50 websites. Was neat. move your mouse to splatter virtual paint and click to change the color. To create a hard copy, right-click on the "canvas" and select Print. Art Style: Abstract Paint Splatter

Just a Sketch

Success with yogurt masks

The jury is still out on the hair. However, I have now noticed a difference in skin texture on face and neck with twice daily yogurt cleanser. That is basically yogurt set out to room temperature (a teaspoon is sufficient) rubbed on the skin and allowed to dry while I brush teeth. Then I wash off. There is no film and minimal dryness. Best of all, my skin really feels smooth and the large pores are now normal sized. This is great! Especially as in this weather my skin previously has always been shot. Hopefully I will be able to get through this winter with perfect skin! Keep you posted on it!

Woman who is a scientist!

http://sciencewoman.blogspot.com/ I love this website. It gives the skinny on being a post-doctoral student scientist from a woman's perspective. Check it out all you knowledge nuts!

Want to try to change your eye color?

Check out http://www.allaboutvision.com/premiums/ I particularly like the colored contacts coupons they have there. It allows one to try different colors and get free samples of contacts. Check it out. Colored contacts are the way to go. Many models and actresses use this trick. Did you know Paris Hilton wears blue contacts but has really dark brown eyes naturally. We all know everything is Faux about that girl, but she definitely fools a lot of people! Now you can too.

Homemade Lip Balm Recipe

2 Teaspoons Olive Oil 1/2 Teaspoon Grated Beeswax or Beeswax Pellets 1/2 Teaspoon Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter 1/2 Teaspoon Honey Flavored Oil To Taste 1 Vitamin E Capsule Directions: Melt the oil, honey, wax and butter over low heat. Allow a few minutes to cool and then add the flavoring and contents of the Vitamin E capsule. Stir to blend and then pour into containers. If you would like a firmer lip balm, add a little more wax to the ingredient list. This is delicious!

Travelling to Taj Mahal

Check this out. See what you think. Comments are welcome. I was in Agra as a 12 year old and this gives a pretty good look at India's Taj Mahal.

Haha Funny!

Check out this website's pictures. Strange and amusing. http://haha.nu/funny/strange-statues-around-the-world/

How common is your name?

http://ww2.howmanyofme.com/search/ Check this website to see how unique your name really is! Found out my real name is unique! (: I am the only one with the first and last name in the country

http://www.ukhairdressers.com/diy/index50.asp

Check out this hairstyle

For more hairstyles DIY instructions - Check out

http://www.ukhairdressers.com/diy/index.asp

Vote for a favorite magazine

Check out my new link readers. I want to know what you enjoy reading most! View Poll

Website Reviews for Productivity

I believe having it together and being efficient is a mark of beauty. The best multi-taskers are girls! Okay enough with the sexist comments (: I utilize 4 websites to manage my documents: 1. http://docs.google.com/ - You can keep word/excel files online, edit them, collaborate, and even convert to PDF. Can also publish directly from there onto a webpage. Just neat! Review: LOVE IT!!! I may never buy excel/word for personal use! 2. http://www.box.net/ - You get up to 1 GB free to put files on there at all times. Equivalent of a flash drive. Review: Pretty helpful. However it is occasionally down due to traffic volume. Secondly, you have to pay money to download a whole folder of material as opposed to multiple folder uploads. So if you want to download what you put up there, it's a file by file download! I didn't care for that. It's still free to download 1 file at a time. 3. http://briefcase.yahoo.com/ - Keep Any type of file there. Review: Pretty helpful so far. Just very small space for free - 30MB 4. http://mybookmarks.com/ - Maintain all your bookmarks online, export to, and import from any computers you use. Review: Love it! I had different bookmarks on 4 different computers. Got them all in one place now.

How to Curl Eyelashes

For those of us who are gifted or can afford makeup artists, you can stop reading now. For the rest of us, goto http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-curl-your-eyelashes Enjoy. Demystifies this technique.

Make moss "paint" for the garden

Wouldn't it be nice to simply paint some moss between the cracks of your stone walkway, on the sides of flowerpots, or anywhere else you want it to grow? Well, you can. Just dump a cup of plain active-culture yogurt into your blender along with a handful of common lawn moss and about a cup of water. Blend for about 30 seconds. Use a paintbrush to spread the mixture wherever you want moss to grow -- as long as the spot is cool and shady. Mist the moss occasionally until it gets established.

Neat thing to buy!

For $14 you can get a pair of these delicate bodega silk screened glasses. Highly recommend it. It's available in neutral black and white.

http://www.broadwaypanhandler.com/broadway/product.asp?s%5Fid=0&dept%5Fid=5515&pf%5Fid=soleil%5Fbodega&

Snoring - Can you do anything about it

Snoring is definitely not something a girl likes to be told she does. Is there anything you can do about it? 1. Sleep on your side. It's usually worse when you sleep on your back. 2. Drink something warm. That old adage of hot milk before bed certainly works. For an antioxidant boost put a bit of honey and green/white tea bags. There is minimal caffeine if any and it is a great night time routine. If your airway is partly blocked this will help. Anytime you have mucus (yuck!) from cold or allergy this is a great way to get some of it to drain away. 3. Use a humidifier. It helps open up some people's nasal passage. Especially useful in winter when the air is very dry. 4. Lose some weight. If you are overweight, you will snore a lot. 5. Switch Bedding and Vacuum UNDER the bed. You may have allergies to your bedding. So switch out the down for synthetic materials. Also vacuum the dust out from under the bed. Also elevating your head with pillows should help. 6. Avoid sleeping aids (chemical). Snoring occurs when the muscles at the back of the mouth, throat, tongue, roof of the mouth relax. Alcohol and sedatives do relax the muscles. So they may help you sleep, but not your partner!

Saving $$ on Panty Hose - minimize runs

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/970919a.cfm I was reading this the other day and also have some tips to add. It is proven (I have used this method) to lengthen the life of new pantyhose. I actually nowadays buy dance opaque tights in nude color and black color. I only bought 3 pairs and now I am in my third year of wearing the same tights. I put them through the wash in a lingerie bag (I always use cold) and gentle cycle or hand wash and hang to dry. I bought them years ago for dancing and switched it to all time wear. Great even under pants in the winter. Don't need to waste money on long underwear or worry about itchy unlined woolen pants. Wet a brand-new hose and wring the water out. Enclose it in a plastic zip log bag and freeze overnight. Thaw it before wearing. Mechanism for working: "Cryogenic Stress Relief" - terminology typically used for processing metals. But I am going to use it here to explain textiles and fiber science. It is a very basic form in this pantyhose application. Basically when items are frozen, the molecules stop moving. When the item thaws and the molecules slowly start moving again, they rearrange themselves in a tighter, closer fit and it improves the strength of the item in this case pantyhose. Money saved for you the reader (estimated at $20/month to buy cheap hose) - $240/year expense saved if you buy dance tights and do this treatment. If you prefer the sheer hose - I save you $120 as you are only replacing half the time.

Dandruff - combat it at the source

Okay - don't worry. I am not going to tell you to put away the Head and Shoulders! But a girl has got to get rid of it. Especially if you are like me with black hair! In fact, I am going to tell you what to do in addition to topical shampoos to help your skin. 1. Curb Oil Production Vitamin B5 - boost production of serotonin - a neurotransmitter that counteracts the stress hormones. Once that is counteracted, these stress hormones no longer stimulate skin glands to produce excess oil. Vitamin B6 - works directly on hair follicles to allow for the right amount of oil to release. The vitamin B5 is pantothenic acid. It is crucial for effective functioning of the adrenal glands. RDA is 6mg/day. Natural sources are wheat (so in morning cereal), eggs, red meat, fish, and legumes (beans/lentils). The vitamin B6 is pyridoxine. It functions in producing the proteins in the body through amino acid metabolism. As it is a crucial element of proteins production, it affects the heart, brain, skin, hair, immune system, and more. RDA is 2.0 mg a day. It is naturally available in wheat, green leavy veggies, bananas, melons, eggs, red meat. I believe in eating the natural sources as opposed to vitamins. Vitamin B can build up in the system so it is important not to overdo it. Nuts are also another way to enjoy the benefits. 2. Decrease Flaking (62%) The Indian Herb Fenugreek or Methi (If you shop in Indian stores) is a stress and dandruff reliever. It also helps hair loss. I understand there are a lot of topical products on the market that you apply to the hair that contain fenugreek extract. From the research I have read, I believe it is best if you ingest it rather than apply it. You can take a supplement of 1000 mg per day or mix 1 tsp with honey and eat it every day. It is available as a dried powder you can add to anything from cereal, hot oatmeal, or cooked rice. It is a bit bitter so it takes getting used to if you don't use the honey. It works by increasing circulation to the scalp and assisting the adrenal glands to effectively regulate cortisol levels in the body. 3. Itchy Scalp Rosemary oil and olive oil. Mix 4-5 drops of rosemary essential oil with 1 tbsp 0live oil and rub into scalp. Leave it on overnight and wash off in the morning. Another option is to heat a bit of olive oil on low and put in rosemary dried herbs to infuse the oil with the essence. Bottle a small quantity and use it within 2 weeks. I usually use the microwave for 20-30 second on medium low. Or you can microwave in 10 second bursts till the oil is warm to the touch.