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Author Archives: Aravind Kumar
Water pump
This is a vaccum water pump and it’s quite handy. I am now hunting for a cover to cover up the ugly looking bubble top. If you know where I can get one please let me know.
Have you bought any handy gadgets recently?
Titan Eye plus and what I learnt
Well, I quit using spectacles when I was in my 10th class. Thats when I shifted to contact lenses. But for all you spectacle users those numbers on the sides of frames denote something after all.
So the numbers you see in the picture are 53/16/140 so what do them numbers mean?
53 is the width of the each eye piece.
16 is the width of the nose bridge
140 is the length of the sides.
All these measurements are in millimetres.
Choosing the right frame is as crucial as getting the right lenses for the frame.
Always check eye centre, lens centre and frame centre with an optometrist or an eye doctor before you go about choosing a frame. Fancy frames sure look nice but make sure what you are buying is good for you and for your eyes.
Titan Eye plus does some brilliant work helping you select your frame. I had an awesome experience at their store in Shanthi Colony, Anna Nagar. The store manager Mr. Parameshwaran was very patient and he had good knowledge of the frames he was handling. Such people make shopping so comfortable and they actually let the customer make an informed decision. Thanks Parameshwaran it was a pleasure shopping at your store.
And yeah people I am going for change in looks. Soda bottle lenses are back in style. 
Donut House, Egmore
Donuts – Have ever wondered what the holes are for? Well if you have not figured that out you should definitely visit Donut House not because they promise to answer that question but simply because you will forget the question in the first place.
Well let’s start from the beginning.
Eye Pleasers: Each donut is an eye pleaser. (Take a look at the Alien I looked at it for a long time before I could put my heart into cutting it.) If you are a shape and colour junkie like me you will keep staring at those donuts longingly.
The Donuts: The donuts are light by themselves. Though some of them felt chewy and some just melted in the mouth. (People look for consistency in the food they eat I don’t. Not everything can taste and smell the same all the time. If it does then it gets boring.)
Most of the donuts are the basic chocolates and fruit flavours butI felt like a school boy in a toffee shop, undecided what to choose. Simply because of the choices that they presented me with. But choose I did.
So which donuts were my favourites?
The Italian Spices Donut with cheese filling topped with Cheese and herbs and Nice and warm with a cheesy filling which just melts in your mouth. This is a must try.
The Alien oozes chocolate into your mouth from the first bite. There is so much chocolate that it will overwhelm your taste buds.
These two were clearly my favourites. Not just for the taste but also the way they seduced my visual senses.
There were a couple more donuts that appealed to me. The custard filled Donut and the Coffee Almond roasted Donut.
So what else do you get here? Yeah I know some of you are just not satisfied with only donuts and want something more. So here you go.
Porridge, Pancakes, Sandwiches, Coffees, Teas, Shakes and Spiritzers.
So if these don’t appeal to you and if donuts are well… errrr not your piece of donut; you should go visit this place simply for see the way donuts are being made and hang out with friends.
You would be surprised to see Bhuvanesh the owner overlooking the making of the donuts. A very unassuming fellow who will listen to your feedback and tell you what donuts are supposed to look and taste like.
Donut House has some Introductory Offers.
1. Buy 5 donuts and get the 6th one absolutely free. 2. Buy 12 donuts and they will accept money only for 9. They also accept online orders HERE
Met a few more like minded bloggers. Here is a take on Donut House by The Cynical Oxymoron and here is what Sandeep Varma has to say.
Update: Also do check out this review by The Harried Cook and this one by Karthik Ganapathi
This review was organized by the Chennai Food Guide.
Donut House, G1, 53, Wellingdon Estates, Ethiraj Salai, Egmore, Chennai 600008 Phone: +91 44 42656426
Milky Way – Dr. Alagappa Road
Milky Way has been my favourite ice cream parlor since 1995. Their softy’s have helped me while away my time while gaping at the college girls in awe.
Over the years I have been enjoying softy’s at their outlet on Ethiraj Salai.
So when I heard that they had opened a new joint opposite Ewarts School, Purasawakkam I decided to go visit. They had an inaugural offer of buy one get one free. Ordered a choco cherry sundae.
Most of their sundaes have a cake in them. So as I sat slurping on the softy (which was yummy as usual) and eating the cherries in glee I scooped up a bit of the chocolate cake and dumped it in my mouth. It was the most yucky cake I had ever eaten. I am sure it was a 10 day old cake. I stopped eating the sundae and asked Nandhini to taste the cake. Same result. So we did not want to create
So stick to the softy’s here.
The interiors are nice and bright. The staff are still learning to make the sundaes and the place gets crowded with loud school kids discussing their math problems.
Milky Way
Dr. Alagappa Road ,
Inside the Cup’o’ Cafe compound
Opposite Ewarts School
Purasawakkam
Chennai
STICK to their SOFTY’S and Ice Creams.
Vegetable Jhalfraizee
Vegetable Jhalfraizee
A few weeks back I managed a culinary disaster. I decided to play chef while Nandhini was going to do all the chopping and the cleaning afterwards. So after a morning filled with Vadas and the afternoon dedicated to vathals and appalams we decided to try some No oil Cooking. So after a lot of thought after wearing my chef hat, Nandy decided that we should try making Vegetable Jhalfraizee.
Vegetarian, Preparation : 20mins, Cooking : 15mins, Serves : 4 people
Ingredients- 2 medium potatoes, 1/4 inch thick oval slices
- 2 medium onions, halved and thickly sliced
- 2 medium capsicums seeded
- 1 large carrot
- 100gms Paneer
- 10 French Beans
- 1/4 small cauliflower, separated into florets
- 4 medium tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 dried chilles broken into half
- 2 tablespoon vinegar
- 1/3 cup tomato ketchup
- 1 1/2 spoons red chilli powder
- 1/2 spoon turmeric powder
- 2 inches ginger, cut into thin strips
- Salt to taste
- 1 teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
- 2 tablespoons fresh coriander finely chopped
Method
- Cut capsicum, carrot and French beans into fingers
- Blanch carrot and french beans in two cups of boiling water for two to three minutes. Drain in cold water . Similary Blanch the cauliflower florets too.
- Puree the tomatoes
- Roast the cumin seeds and the halved red chillies in a non-stick pan till the seeds change colour. Now add vinegar and water and cook till reduced slightly.
- Add Tomato puree and ketchup and cook for a couple of minutes.
- Add Red Chilli Powder, turmeric powder, ginger, potato slices, salt and a cup of water and cook for a couple more minutes.
- Then add Onions and capsicum and cook for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Add carrot, french beans and cauliflower and toss. Add paneer and toss gently.
- Sprinkle the garam Masala over the preparation and top it with the freshly chopped coriander leaves. Serve Hot.
Well that’s a pretty straight recipe to follow. So where did I make mistakes?
- I decided to use the vegetables Nandy had chopped for my evening Salad which included cucumber and cabbage.
- I decided to use much more veggies than was asked for.
- I did not add the onions and capsicum separately and that was one of the major mistakes I did.
- Finally since I added more vegetable I used excess of water and that turned it into a gravy..
I did eat it with chappatis. It was not all that bad. But it smelled of Tomato Ketchup. So use a good brand of Ketchup and watch the amount you use.. Same feedback from everyone in the family. Tastes decent but then it reeks of tomato ketchup.What should have been a semi-gravy dish became an all out gravy with vegetables floating in it.
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- Vegetable Jalfraizee
India and Corruption, Blame yourselves!
So a lot of internet using Indians have come to believe that Anna Hazare an ex-army man who could create a model village will now be able to change the evolved DNA of our nation. Let’s say Anna Hazare does succeed and the Jan Lokpal Bill is passed then what? Will corruption end in our country in lets say 10 years. Impossible… This is what will happen in every day India.
1. Did you know that without corruption there will be NO autos running on the road today. Why do we people in Chennai get into an Auto even though we know that he is fleecing us by not using the meter? Convenience my friends. I don’t want to go through the process of looking for the next auto or use the bus. Because I don’t have the time to do so. I am a mighty busy man and I have to rush. No Time No Time… is the mantra, All the Time.
2. Ok, so I am at the bus – stop and waiting for the bus (ofcourse not trying to line maro the girls there Nandhini will kick me you see. ) so the bus is coming in and I see that the bus driver who is sitting in his mighty seat has decided to stop 50 mtrs away from the bus stop. I go rushing and jostling so I can get a place to stand/sit in the bus. If passengers don’t board the bus the driver and conductor will not have a job, will they? But no I don’t have time for that either.
I don’t see the point in one man #Anna #Hazare asking the government to pass the Lokpal Bill. Infact I don’t see much change even after the Lokpal bill is passed. (Don’t get me wrong I am so proud that a 70 year old man is fasting asking for the rights of an entire nation) I will still do things the way I have always done them. Because today I know of people who have a fixed budget to pay as bribe to traffic cops.
Activity for you
ask THIS BOY to get his license before he touches his bike again and I promise you, we will be a far better nation the very next day. This is his Twitter Page…
It is not like I wanted to pick on him. He is a brother to me. But then there are thousands of such people who ride without a license. Even some of the smarter girls (girls are smarter and much more clever than the men folk) think it is cool to ride/drive without a license. (BTW Women make the best drivers, No I am not a feminist)
In a democracy if I dont care about my wrong doings, those governing me will not be bothered either. Please do understand that public servants and our Chor leaders have become so because I let them become thieves. I need to change before I ask anyone else to change.Till then no point going to Marina Beach, Gandhi Statue at 5pm on the 9th of April 2011 unless you want to gawk at that crow shit on the statue of Gandhiji.
I will BE THE CHANGE. Will you?
P.S. : All those freedom fighters got us freedom, look what I have made of it. If Anna Hazare gets us this Lokpal Bill in place, I will find ways and means of twisting it to my convenience. Because in a country of a Billion I need to be on my toes so I don’t have to be a slumdog. Unless I will BE THE CHANGE.
Flying Indigo to Nagpur
I travelled to Nagpur in March and inspite of protests from my dad that I travel by TamilNadu Express I decided that travelling by air would keep me away from Pan-chewing and loud mouthed nosey travellers. But I was proved wrong.
Early morning flight to Mumbai was good. I flew Indigo and I have to say they have a pretty neat airplane and some pretty hostess’s. Next was a 4 hour wait at the Mumbai terminal to catch my connecting flight to Nagpur – The City of Oranges. It was such a relief to be back on board another Indigo Airlines flight. But I was surprised to see about 30 people of assorted age traveling as a group. They were all hyper about being on board and there were some loud-mouthed discussions about beaches and firangi nangi women. I assumed they were returning from Goa via Mumbai. Even while the flight was preparing for take off some of the younger men of the group were busy taking photographs of the air hostess’s who seemed tickled by the extra-attention they were getting.
The minute the flight was in the air and the seat belt sign was gone the lone old man (addressed as “Kaka” by the rest of the group) sitting next to me by the window seat jumped out and was opening a bag from the overhead cabin I was worried that he had some medical condition and needed to get his medicines and but he starts whistling at the young air hostess gives her a big smile and takes out a huge packet of Haldiram’s Bhujia Sev from his bag. Next with a smirk on his face he yelled out to the air hostess just like he would yell at a servant maid and asks her to bring cups. The air -hostess rushed to get them all paper cups. Now Kaka ji fills his paper cup with Bhujia Sev and passes the pack around so that the others in his group could also have their fix. [1]
Snakes on a plane or Snacks on a plane #youprefer
Next, another man rushed to his bag and pulled out several oranges and soon the flight was filled with that citrusy smell. Kakaji offered me a cup of Bhujia Sev and some oranges. He gave me gyaan that it was the best food in the world I did not really want to eat Bhujia Sev at about 12 noon so I politely declined his offer. He was not happy and he realized that my Hindi was shaky and asked me where I was from and when he realized that I was from Chennai he started praising my Hindi saying that Madarasis dont speak in hindi and how come I could speak passable Hindi? He asked me a lot of questions for most of which I just gave a smile.
He introduced himself as a Wholesale Cloth Merchant from Nagpur and that he and 28 members from the Nagpur Cloth wholesellers association were returning from their annual vacation. It was Goa this time and he went on and on about all the white women in bikinis and how they all had a mast time. Soon it was time to land and the air hostess’s were busy asking people to put their seats in the upright position. I had to use the washroom and I was gone a a while.Next is what I gathered from an air hostess.
Apparently Kakaji wanted to sit on the aisle seat (so he could rush out first after the plane had landed ) and requested the passenger on the aisle seat to move to his window seat. The gentleman had moved and Kakaji took his aisle seat. At about this time the plane hit a air pocket and the Bhujia Sev and Oranges from the over head cabin rolled out and fell on Kakaji’s head.
It was quite a scene. The air hostess’s had to ask everyone to remain seated while they went about the job of collecting the oranges for Kakaji while he sat in his aisle seat with that smirk on his face and his hair filled with Bhujia Sev.
[1] The scene reminded me of this ashram in a city I used to live in. You could just walk in there and sit around the swamiji and get free drags on his chillum. The swamiji was too stoned to realize that the people were there for his chillum and not for his stoned discourses on life and death.
Tickler of Tonsils
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITBz_UvWx94]
Sharing a sweet kiss with a loved one should not only be spontaneous but also with Love and Affection. If you have plans on tickling the tonsils of your loved one in public then you should consider getting a room. Affection in public is cool. But then Tonsil tickling, breast rubbing, penis rubbing, dry humping, ass grabbing is so NOT cool. Surely not in a public park for the viewing of all and sundry. I know there are people who feel that love should not be inhibited. But the acts that I have mentioned above may not be an embarrassment for you shameless people who indulge in it but it is surely an embarrassment for those who have to see you.
After having watched too many English Movies, IndianTonsil Ticklers now feel that Tonsil Tickling in public is cool. The way you tonsil ticklers are doing it is way too CREEPY and SLY. You can’t give your lady/guy love a full passionate kiss with your eyes closed and the lips doing the work. You have to have your eyes wide open looking for people who are watching you. It is like you get a kick out of people watching you (Voyeur of Voyeurs). Your tongues should be cut off. You are not fit to kiss. Atleast not in public.
I am not against kissing or holding hands or even cuddling in public. But going at the guy/girl of your present dream, like he/she may not be around tomorrow makes me feel that you have paid the guy/girl by the hour and now you are trying to make use of her like you would use a whore. Not only are you not respecting him/her but you are making a public spectacle out of it.
Anyways I wish and pray and hope that the next time you tickle his/her tonsils he/she will puke on your face. The next time your tongue is in his/her ear it starts oozing pus and when that happens I hope someone takes a picture of the state of your face. Would truly be a KODAK moment. Happy Tickling!
[polldaddy poll=4670171]
Some Interesting stuff I read.
http://thisladysays.blogspot.com/2007/10/public-display-of-affection.html
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/public-displays-of-affection.cfm
http://www.speakeasy.org/~jmabel/travels/pda.html
http://eurout.org/2009/08/05/penny-your-thoughts-public-display-affection?page=0,3
http://www.nypress.com/article-14228-lust-life-public-displays-of-affection.html
Nokia and MS vs Android, Apple
Nokia and Microsoft intend to jointly create market-leading mobile products and services designed to offer consumers, operators and developers unrivalled choice and opportunity. As each company would focus on its core competencies, the partnership would create the opportunity for rapid time to market execution. Additionally, Nokia and Microsoft plan to work together to integrate key assets and create completely new service offerings, while extending established products and services to new markets.
Under the proposed partnership:
- Nokia would adopt Windows Phone as its principal smartphone strategy, innovating on top of the platform in areas such as imaging, where Nokia is a market leader.
- Nokia would help drive the future of Windows Phone. Nokia would contribute its expertise on hardware design, language support, and help bring Windows Phone to a larger range of price points, market segments and geographies.
- Nokia and Microsoft would closely collaborate on joint marketing initiatives and a shared development roadmap to align on the future evolution of mobile products.
- Bing would power Nokia’s search services across Nokia devices and services, giving customers access to Bing’s next generation search capabilities. Microsoft adCenter would provide search advertising services on Nokia’s line of devices and services.
- Nokia Maps would be a core part of Microsoft’s mapping services. For example, Maps would be integrated with Microsoft’s Bing search engine and adCenter advertising platform to form a unique local search and advertising experience
- Nokia’s extensive operator billing agreements would make it easier for consumers to purchase Nokia Windows Phone services in countries where credit-card use is low.
- Microsoft development tools would be used to create applications to run on Nokia Windows Phones, allowing developers to easily leverage the ecosystem’s global reach.
- Nokia’s content and application store would be integrated with Microsoft Marketplace for a more compelling consumer experience.
“Today, developers, operators and consumers want compelling mobile products, which include not only the device, but the software, services, applications and customer support that make a great experience,” Stephen Elop, Nokia President and CEO, said at a joint news conference in London. “Nokia and Microsoft will combine our strengths to deliver an ecosystem with unrivalled global reach and scale. It’s now a three-horse race.”
“I am excited about this partnership with Nokia,” said Steven A. Ballmer, Microsoft CEO. “Ecosystems thrive when fueled by speed, innovation and scale. The partnership announced today provides incredible scale, vast expertise in hardware and software innovation and a proven ability to execute.”