Pre Ship Of Theseus

We all must have seen Anand Gandhi's Ship of Theseus, if not then do not miss this piece of art.

While browsing through his profile I came across his short films Continnum. The flow of Ship of Theseus resembles in his earlier short stories too. These links of him will tell  you about him as an 'auteur' and will help you understand 'Ship of Theseus' in a broader context of the artist and his art and gain a deeper understanding of his quest and make you engage in his art which is trying to reflect on our reality, is located in our world that we live in as human beings.  
Enjoy :)

Short Film: Continuum

1) Hunger

2) Trade & Love




3) Death




4) Enlightenment




5) Continuum




Enjoy The Film!

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Final Solution - Massacres in India (2004 Documentary)

A 2004 documentary called The Final Solution, on the sensitive subject of Hindu-Muslim religious rioting, previously banned for for being “highly provocative.”

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Vernal Equinox Marks First Day of Spring Today (20th March)

On this special date, the length of the day and night are about the same for most of the planet. The amount of solar energy delivered to the Northern and Southern Hemisphere is also equal.

What happens on March 20 is that the sun moves from south of the celestial equator to north of the equator. The days, which have been getting longer since winter solstice on Dec. 21, now equal the nights in length, which is why this is called the "equinox" — Latin for "equal nights."
From now until the summer solstice on June 21, the days will gradually get longer because the sun will be higher in the sky, giving more hours of daylight. As spring wears on, the Northern Hemisphere will receive more sun than the Southern Hemisphere, creating the familiar seasons in each region.

What happens in the Southern Hemisphere when the sun crosses the equator into the northern sky? There the days grow shorter and the temperature drops. Today is in fact the southern autumnal equinox, heading towards winter. The seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are a mirror image of the ones in the north.
Anyway, enjoy the longer days and warmer weather.

Extracts from : www.space.com

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Imperfect is Perfect

I was at Suhani Pitte's store in Hyderabad last week and as I was trying on a choker, the sales lady interrupted me to say "Madam, this would look good on a long necked woman." I found myself thinking " yes, I know, but??? At my second stop, the clothing store "Elahe", I was about to decide on an Anamika Khanna saree when the sales person placed a 5 inch sandal in front of me. When I gave her a questioning look, she quickly informed me " Madam, the real look of this saree comes when you add that extra 5 inch". So I stood there and wondered about people like me who are just about 5 feet tall and have a short neck. Are we meant to be neglected? Is looking good only a tall person's prerogative?
And at times like this, my favorite lines from Christina Aguilera's song "Beautiful" come to mind.

I am beautiful no matter what they say, I am beautiful in every single way, oh no- you don't bring me down today.........

And as we celebrate WOMEN this month , I want to tell all my readers that it's okay to be imperfect, it's okay to have laugh lines, crow's feet and grey hair. What's important is to embrace these imperfections gracefully and be happy in one's skin. Height, weight and skin color are all trivial and what actually matters in the long run is a positive attitude, a good heart and self confidence!!

- Sage and Slingback

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The First Valentine Poem

Duke Of Orléans

This month bright Phoebus enters Pisces,

The maids will have good store of kisses,

For always when the fun comes there,

Valentine's Day is drawing near,

And both the men and maids incline

To chuse them each a Valentine;

And if a man gets one he loves,

He gives her first a pair of gloves;

And, by the way, remember this,

To seal the favour with a kiss.

This kiss begets more love, and then

That love begets a kiss again,

Until this trade the man doth catch,

And then he doth propose the match,

The woman's willing, tho' she's shy,

She gives the man this soft reply,

"I'll not resolve one thing or other,

Until I first consult my mother."

When she says so, 'tis half a grant,

And may be taken for consent.

- Charles of Orléans,
Written in the year 1407.

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Valentine's Day

"I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon.

 ---Author Unknown"

Why I Chose This Quote for Valentine's Day- You got to laugh at this one! A little holiday humour to give you a smile. Well, we celebrate many festivals because it holds importance of divinity, but there is only one occasion which preserves the bond of a relationship with the one you love and that is "Valentine’s Day. All the more i believe being in love is a wonderful feeling because it's a powerful emotion. It can evoke feelings of happiness, excitement, and sheer bliss.

Facts Of Valentines:
The roots of this special day are still not clear, but the story found in many pages of the history says that it is a day when St.Valentinus passed away. St. Valentine was priest who helped lovers to get married during the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius in 270 AD. He was imprisoned for this act; and during his imprisonment he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. Legend states that before his execution he wrote "from your Valentine" as a farewell to her. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories all emphasis his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and--most importantly--romantic figure.

During the middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine's Day should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem (now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England) written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt.

Present Day:
Preparations have begun to celebrate Valentine’s Day across the country. The day is eagerly awaited and celebrated with great fervour around the world. Lovers celebrate with their partner whereas singles hide themselves up in disgust. Whether single or partnered up there's no reason to neglect the day of love. Spread the joy with friends, family, or significant others this Valentine's Day.

In today’s world of chaos, when you have a demanding careers as well as family life, Valentine’s day marks an evidence for those to renew your promises made to each other. It is one of the most popular celebrations across the world. The reason is fairly simple. This is an occasion that has gradually evolved into a day that observes one of the most beautiful of all human relationships, love. It asks us to discover all those universal feelings and emotions that are somewhere representative of love. Today this occasion has come to be recognised and accepted for this very quality. Have you found your love who can share a life with you?

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Indian Army Day: 15th Jan 2013

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Tilgul + Haldi-kunku + Kites = Makar Sankrant

Makar Sankranti may be a day later than usual this year, but the mood in every Maharashtrian home is as upbeat as ever, with families gearing up to celebrate the beginning of the harvest season with traditional  fervour on Monday. Although the hectic pace of modern-day living has slowly brought in changes, the essence of the celebration is very much the same."The day" will begin with bathing in water sprinkled with sesame seeds. Lunch will consist of 'til gul' and 'gulaachi poli' holding pride of place on the table.

No doubt, the changing skyline of Mumbai, courtesy tall towers, and narrow compounds have dampened the thrill of kite-flying. The keen competitions where participants would erupt in loud cheers of 'Bo-kata!' each time a kite string was severed are now restricted to the few open maidans left in the city.Window displays in Dadar are adorned with black saris, for this is a rare moment when black is considered auspicious.

Keeping its theme in mind Abhishek Kapoor's forthcoming film 'Kai Po Che' will have a Makar Sankranti release Too.

On the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti til laddoos marks a delicious, mouth-watering advent of the New Year! Celebrate with vigour and enthusiasm, as i show how to make these crunchy sweets.

Recipe for til ladoos:

Ingredients:

• 1 small bowl of coarsely ground peanuts
• 1 cup jaggery
• 1 cup til (sesame seeds)
• 1 cup grated coconut
• Finely chopped cashews and almonds
• Cardamom powder for taste, some raisins and clarified butter (ghee)

Method:

• Roast the sesame seeds. Once they turn golden brown, transfer them into a bowl. 
• Roast the grated coconut and transfer into the same bowl. To this, add coarsely ground peanuts. 
• Add finely chopped cashews, almonds and raisins.
•  Put some cardamom powder, according to your taste. Mix everything well. 
• Finally, melt the jaggery with 1 tsp of ghee and add to this mixture. Mix well to make your ladoos.

तिळगुळ घ्या गोड गोड बोला!!
तुम्हाला आणि तुमच्या पूर्ण कुटुंबाला मकर संक्रांतीच्या हार्दिक शुभेच्छा…!

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