Vinay Ganapathy | illustrator

Vinay Ganapathy | illustrator

I admire his caricatures, sketches. They are simple, yet awe tickling & expressive in such a minimal details. I get to see his latest sketches in Facebook more often. I'm quite passionate about the fact that he is from Coorg !

"Born in southern India, raised in suburban Connecticut and formally trained in Syracuse, Brooklyn artist Vin Ganapathy, short for Vinay Somana Ganapathy, draws on multiple influences that inform his imagery and work.

I use to frequent Stuttgart sQuare in San Francisco, when I was working in California. It was eye treat to watch so many artists displyaing artwork in such a vast picturesque canvass of that square. Many artists do live sketches & quick caricatures of people moving around the sQuare. I remember how they keep absorbing in glance to sketch down all that they see in a short view. It's quite an intricate and difficult to achieve art, as subject never stays static :)

And Vinay has done so thought provoking sketches of that kind. This is where he hosts his work frequently: Motivation is necessary

I found some nice sites to visit art gallery's & artists in general:

1. Dexigner.com
2. Masala chai online
3. Start-drawing
   

How to mingle with people abroad and be accepted

How to mingle with people abroad and be accepted

I've traveled quite a bit to US, UK, Taiwan and South East Asia. As my work demands, have spent most of the time living in hotels and corporate apartments or with friends. Not even a single instance, I was never objected by any native of that domicile. I always tried to strike a communication or wave length some one I meet. I'm sure that's the experience of many.

But oflate since Aussie attack incidents cropping up more frequently, any violence which includes desi citizen, is highlighted in media as a scary scene . I understand the intent of media flashing the news time and again. It might be an awareness act to grab the attention of the nation where incident happened. When you're hurt on the streets of unknown country, there's hardly anyone to help you.

I'm sure, there are lot who take the face value of everything appears in media. I believe, media has a larger role to educate the mindset of Indian's traveling abroad.

'Be a Roman while in Rome’ – is a commonly heard adage. Observe the life style of people around you and rearrange yours accordingly.. Talking or laughing in high pitch is not acceptable any where.The natives in most of the countries, smile at you even if they don’t know you. But we smile only when we see acquaintances. Learn to smile, wave or wish when you come across unknown people, it does not hurt you.

I found a cool read about how to be a safe citizen in another country. I guess it's known to most of us, but no harm in reading it again.

>> How to mingle with people abroad

Tao of War by Bruce Haley

Tao of War by Bruce Haley

War is an evil. so its tremors are.

There's no design to war when a bomb blasts. Death is the only measure of count. It's unbearable smell of gunpowder. Art has no place when patience is evopoated, eradicated. If you're a photographer- there's no perfect setting in war field. All you need is a high speed photography skill & rock solid heart to endure such painful scenes.

The recipient of the Robert Capa Gold Medal, one of the most prestigious photography awards - Bruce Haley has captured very touching war photos under the title -"Tao of War Photography".

They are so ruthless that one of the viewer opines -
Some of the pictures are very graphic. Is it important to show such images to the world or is it exploitation of anther's misery? Maybe both.

Enough of words, you should watch -Tao of War Photography.

Vivian | Street photographer Queen

Vivian | Street photographer Queen

I acquired Vivian's negatives while at a furniture and antique auction. From what I know, the auction house acquired her belongings from her storage locker that was sold off due to delinquent payments. I didn't know what 'street photography' was when I purchased them.

It took me days to look through all of her work. It inspired me to pick up photography myself. Little by little, as I progressed as a photographer, I would revisit Vivian's negatives and I would "see" more in her work. I bought her same camera and took to the same streets soon to realize how difficult it was to make images of her caliber. I discovered the eye she had for photography through my own practice. Needless to say, I am attached to her work.

Some of her photos have pictures of children and often times it was near a beach. I later found out she was a nanny for a family on the North Side whose children these most likely were. Her obituary says she lived in Oak Park, a close Chicago suburb.

Out of the 30-40,000 negatives I have in the collection, about 10-15,000 negatives were still in rolls, undeveloped from the 1960's-1970's. I have been successfully developing these rolls. I still have about 600 rolls yet to develop. I must say, it's very exciting for me.

This was created in dedication to the photographer Vivian Maier, a street photographer from the 1950s - 1970s. Vivian's work was discovered at an auction Chicago where she lived for 50 years but was originally a native to France. Her discovered work includes over 40,000 mostly medium format negatives. Born February 1, 1926 and passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.

So far what you read is the blog intro created by a great soul who's developing Vivian's photos and posting in blog. My greatest thanks to -'John Maloof', the man behind Vivian's photos. and the link is here :

>> vivianmaier.blogspot.com

Lest I forget Ksheera

Lest I forget Ksheera

I've heard a saying:

Some people come into your life for a REASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a reason !

I remembered those lines of Ksheera in her blog

"Every single person who is present in our lives is adding his or her own flavor into our lives. Provided our brain is processing & absorbing positive aspects"

Our youth empowerment center's chief Raj has familiarized us to many soul stirring beings. One of the souls which got introduced to us was Ksheera. In one of the cool evening hangouts of Raj's house, She introduced herself as: 'I'm Ksheera Bachanna, the fitness trainer'. That's how she came into our life.

This blog is dedicated to the soul searching girl: Ksheera. She had a big grin kind of flawless smile and ever loving curly hairs. And ofcourse enviable peaceful face, lean and healthy body to tell you honestly she was a fitness expert. She was not just another fitness gyaan giving Diva; She surely knew the basics of fitness with human anatomy pretty well. She was trying hard to go out of India & to study fitness program in UK. It was her last dream.

It was in her character. She just couldn’t sleep peacefully without coming into any ones memories. I call it: peace-less soul. In an unimaginable way, Ksheera became the talk of the group. Was that the art of Ksheera ? Did she deliberately choose to be in tip of peoples tongue by whatever the way whoever comes in contact with her?

God and time should tell, because she has vanished into time-immemorial, while driving towards Chennai yesterday night on the lonely, dark highways of Mulubagilu near Kolar.

Ksheera is no more.

Irony is, the same Raj who introduced her to me; broke the news of her demise as well.

Yesterday night I was fast asleep. In the morning I found a miss call from her cell phone. I thought it's just one more call from her to elaborate her late-night musings. But she was already in the voyage of boarding angels chariot to the never to be returned world...

I'm sure, just to materialize her study plans in UK, she sold whatever she had. In mean time I've heard that her application was rejected due to technical reasons. But she was adamant to pursue her dream so was driving towards Chennai to be there in UK embassy. The UK dream was the final gamble she could ever pull off.

I'm sure we like, dislike, love, hate, adore, deject people for so many reasons in life. But not when it comes to death. The moment I heard the news of demise of her soul; I was shell shocked. For a while, her ever lasting, husky voice called me with a usual style:
"Jaggee nanmagne".

She was in an immense need of affection. She always use to tell me: "Jaggi I am so lonely kano, I need a company to keep me happy maga, tell me where you are? You make me laugh, let me come to see you".

You call it a twist of fate or irony, on last Saturday we friends met up for a coffee and spoke in length about her. Maybe she was planning her utmost penultimate journey to nowhere, then. Today she has absolutely vapored into thin air. I feel so guilty for not noticing the final call of hers.

For many of our us, Ksheera is one of the humorous, lovely, crazy, crack, giggling, intolerant, disturbed, jokey, funny, confused girl. Who could never be serious of the time she is involved with. Sometime she paints the picture of an adolescent kid but not feelings she wrote in her blogs. You should read her blogs to know her mindset. There's some kind of unique magic running through those words.

Read her thoughts, feelings & musings here :

1. Ksheera on Life
2. Ksheera on 'Brain-to be used judiciously'

"It's very late at night of 14th. I'm just back from visiting her final journey. She is sleeping with such a eternal peace and bliss. May her soul rest in peace. If there's anything called reincarnation; let all her dreams, aspirations come true. I respect a girl, a determined lonely soul, which fought hard to survive in such a fierce, competitive & demanding world."

Some lovely photos of Ksheera taken by her friend, photographer -Dev.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/debu_4/3926106155/in/photostream/
(update - 3rd Dec, 2009)

Colours of India

Colours of India

I was watching Ganesha visarjana in Mumbai yesterday in TV news. Inspite of swine flu threats, terror threats: people carry mammoth Ganesha idols in huge processions. All those nanne-munnas, uncles, aunties, deedhi's, dabba waalas, chai waalas dance heartfully forgetting the fact that they've to catch ever moving clock next day: What ticks them ? It's the vibrant soul which could never be silenced. They never seize to enjoy every moment of life.

India, my country is vibrant not just because of multitude of religions, languages, temples, rivers, places, social fabric, emotional structure. But because it's deeply colorful.

Here; weather changes every 50 kilometers, language pattern changes every 20 kilometers, taste of water changes every 100 kilometers & one thing which never change is the vibrant soul of India. No word can hold its enigma and charisma than one lovely photo.

David duChemin, the humanitarian soul, stuck his lens on the ever lapsing times of India and painted web canvass with lovely Indian colors in photos. I'm sure you'll love it, as I'm.

Catch the drift of Indian vein by clicking 'Colours of India' in
>> pixelated image

Queen of the sea

Queen of the sea

It was a mega event suppose to happen in 3 of our life. Last year September Raj, Nikhil & me were venturing into South east Asia trip.Marked Cambodia as a final destination. At the same time some one was also testing fate beyond cozy cubicle of software company. After hitting early morning dew soaked lovely Singapore aerodrome:

Raj said, "you know what ? If I'm not here, I would have been attending national geographic mission navy selection interview, if gets selected the winner can spend a full month in 'Indian warship."
I joked "chillax maga; not a big deal & it's not in your blood to be in warship :)".
He said, "but Chethu is going for it".
I looked at him for a minute; I thought it might be a guy since the name was boyish- Chethana.
I asked him, "you never told me about this guy"
He said,"it's not a boy, it's a girl"
I asked "who's Chethu by the way ?"
Raj said "she frequents swimming with us, you've seen her, shes works as an HR in a software company"
I was perplexed. "software girl & navy ?! and spending one month in the war ship!"

It was kinda unbelievable. Then I remembered a lean, silent girl with attractive cheek bones, who frequented when we were busy bisecting waters of swimming pool at NGV.

Mind you, this blog is not about our amazing trip to tallest Hindu temple complex in the world; but a tribute to a grittiest girl I've seen in the timid herd of fake safe harbor: Software Industry. Yes ! you heard me right :)

In Seam Reap of Angkorwat, while browsing internet there; Raj announced in huge voice, 'Maga, can u believe: Chethu, made it to final team of selection". I was spellbound ! Since, Indian Navy has involved in it I knew it's not just another boring & ordinary TV reality show,

Nat Geo has collaborated with the Indian Navy and is now all set to embark on a journey on the high seas with battle stations and live weaponry, for the mission of a lifetime. It will showcase the uncharted world of the Indian Navy, replete with warships, submarines and missiles.

When we hit Singapore domestic air lounge, we got to check free Internet. Raj yelled : "hey maga ! you got to believe it ? Chethu, has just moved to final confirmed team". I can imagine how he might be feeling with enthrall. he ushered - "Oh maga, i wanna be there, i wanna be there maga, it was my dream too"

Nat Geo Mission Navy will provide five civilians a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of the Navy. The civilians will be trained and imbued with the courage, grit and determination that is synonymous with the Indian Navy. The most resilient, deserving and valiant of the five finalists will have the Honor of sailing with the Indian Navy's Lehron Ke Sartaj on an international tour.

We said bye-bye to Singapore after 15 days of rocking trip; first thing I did after reaching Bangalore is checking what is this 'mission navy' is all about.

All participants will undergo an interview round, followed by rigorous training to test their physical and mental attributes. The reality format will focus on the culture, working style and other facets of the Indian Navy.

The docu-reality show went on air in January 2009. On the first episode, they showed -all aspirants running 5 kilometers non-stop. One macho gym addict guy was yelling on the camera: " hello ! that's it, these are time passers doing beeline, look at my biceps who can compete with me ?" once the run is over, he was begging for the water in mid way :) !

Event was a real herculean task oriented. More tougher than expected. Very endurance demanding. Chethu climbed one by one step to get to top slot.

I couldn't just stop admiring when she jumped out of roaring helicopter and zoomed into dark ocean and swam to far off boat. I was observing her body language. She looked so composed & elegant when she was about to jump into waters. Imagine the monster waves evoked by helicopter on top of her head and the kind of breathing power one need while zipping fast into dark ocean waters ?! Then I thought, 'yes Chaitanya has it. She is the one & she is not just another lean girl, but she is the real macho. May be even macho's couldn't have done it !'

Finally, can you believe a Bangalore girl made it to national level show who is also our friend ?!

The hindu writes:
Life was very normal for her, leading a monotonous life and working as a HR executive till one day she decided to seek some adventure. And Chaitanya Datla went on to challenge her physical, mental and emotional limits to emerge the winner of the National Geographic Channel’s “Mission Navy: Lehron Ke Sartaj”.

One joke I had to share:
Other-day we friends met for the dinner at Bobby's dhaba at Ulsoor. I was kidding her, "hello my brother Chethu how are you ?". she said something, which was kinda real sarcastic comment as well "yes ! you are right I'm your brother. Because they thought, surely some boy might win at the end. so the award was named as -sartaj, which is meant for masculine :) "

But it was won by our own Chaitanya, the next door girl.

But the more cheerful news came in just today: An adventurous Chaitanya Datla won the Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award' presented by President.

Link : President presents sports awards to Chaitanya Datla

What's the Greatest Pain In Life ?

What's the Greatest Pain In Life ?

What's the Greatest Pain In Life ?

My mom once told me, it's the pain while delivering a baby. It's one of the killing pain a woman could ever face. I am sure, anyone who knows human anatomy a tad bit, would know how a little life comes into a shape in few minutes out of human body.

Now imagine this, a woman on the hospital table delivering a baby. Doctors helping her to give a life. And suddenly few slain terrorists enter into hospital and start shooting indiscriminately. The whole hospital is abandoned and people run and hide for life.They kill mercilessly anyone who's making a noise. Even docs, nurses are scared for their life. But they had to help the pregnant women to deliver the baby. She is screaming with the pain. How to control her, when there are terrorists outside blood thirst for life ? How can she control her pain ?

Irony is: Some one is erasing life, some one is gifting life.

That's what happened in 26/11 last year at Mumbai when terrorists struck Cama hospital. They created a merciless carnage. It's a dreadful story. Bunch of young terrorists were mastered & sent from across the border to carry on suicide attack in the peace loving nation.

Their perpetrators assured young terrorists that, after death they'll reach heaven. I don't know if they've reached heaven after achieving such a fake martyrdom. But history would never forgive their handlers. What if their mother was silenced while delivering him in pregnancy ?

Thanks to my friend Nikhil who shared this detailed mega documentary about 26/11, 2008 Mumbai attack.

>> You got to see it to feel it here
('Dispatches - Terror In Mumbai' Video | duration: 48m | 14,699 views | 378 MB )

Accessibility compliance for Rich Internet apps

Accessibility compliance for Rich Internet apps

{Punk girl in a wheelchair descending a escalator in London underground tube}

How to treat accessibility in rich internet applications ?

There are much more powerful, time saving UI patterns and JavaScript frameworks, ajax libraries than before. But where & how accessibility will be nurtured between all these hoopla ? So far validating accessibility of semantic code was quite easier but may not be that easy when a content is wrapped in intelligent UI widgets rendered by rich internet apps. In one way, web 2.0 backed UI patterns are very intuitive and user friendly but how 'disabled person' is going to access such advanced applications ?

w3.org has come come with new way of looking at rich internet applications accessibility. I was quite keen to understand what's this all about WAI-ARIA (Web Accessibility Initiative - Accessible Rich Internet Applications)

WAI-ARIA (Web Accessibility Initiative - Accessible Rich Internet Applications) is a set of documents published by the World Wide Web Consortium that specify how to increase the accessibility of dynamic content and user interface components developed with Ajax, HTML, JavaScript and related technologies.

WAI-ARIA describes how to add semantics and other metadata to HTML content in order to make user interface controls and dynamic content more accessible. For example, with WAI-ARIA it is possible to identify a list of links as a navigation menu and to state whether it is expanded or collapsed.

I found an interesting read on 'importance of the ARIA presentation'. The article discusses about bottlenecks of WAI-ARIA. I am sure, WAI-ARIA is the way to go when section 508 standards and WAI's are the necessity in quasi govt and federal linked companies.

>> Read more on the WAI-ARIA here

Australia, Rabbit and fence

Australia, Rabbit and fence

{my movie of the week - Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002)}

Imagine you're a small kid. Eating what you want, learning what you like, humming what you feel. Some one suddenly captures and takes you away to other part of the country and makes you pray their rhythm and teach you the way they live. In such a tender age away from mother, family, away from your known locality that strange feeling is just unbearable. And Australia successfully did that for 'original living beings' of Australian continent for years !

'Rabbit-Proof Fence' is the true story of Molly Craig, a young black Australian girl who leads her younger sister and cousin in an escape from an internment camp, set up as a part of a government policy to train Aboriginal children as domestic workers and integrate them into white society.

I love Rabbit-Proof Fence movie as drama, as protest, as movie making and as poetry. It's a breathtaking story of defiance and triumph that has to be considered one of the most sublime films. At an economical 94 minutes, Rabbit-Proof Fence trims all the fat and tells its heartfelt and stirring story. It's an wonderfully shot movie with the beautiful usage of the celluloid.

>> Know more about - Rabbit-Proof_Fence

Jude Law: Breaking and Entering

Jude Law: Breaking and Entering

Though I've not watched much of his movies, I managed to watch 'Crocodile Tears' wayback, I could think of Jude as one of the decent actors. If you call method acting, natural acting, whatever acting- he's the guru of it.

It was pleasure to watch his latest flick in British airways flight on the way back to Bangalore. Good part was 9 odd hrs of direct flight from London with new movies in menu. I had ample time to watch The History Boys, Rocky Balboa, Breaking and Entering sipping my favo Heineken beer. I preferred -Breaking and Entering probably because it was Jude's movie. He looks bit elderly, still have that young charm of expressing placid emotions. I like his kind of elegance, though he relies much on metaphors.

It's story about theft, both criminal and emotional, “Breaking & Entering” follows three people whose lives intersect in the inner-city area of King’s Cross. When a landscape architect’s (Jude Law) state of the art offices in a seedy part of town are repeatedly burgled, his investigations launch him out of the safety of his familiar world.

The movie drives into various effusion levels with a nice plot. It's difficult to get off from the screen once glued to it while watching this movie. The moment Amira (Juliette Binoche) enters into center stage, the movie takes emotions to different tunes. Aaah ! she's simply stupendous in her role of; protecting her son Miro from theft charge. Her English with a Serbian accent is just too natural. The movie is so intense that your heart cries for the lovely mommy Amira & her inexplicable situation.

It's a touchy movie & though it's revolves around King's cross, it's also shot on the stylish bridge just behind Lehman brother's office in Canary wharf, London. The way was my usual route to home. It paints earthier and more enjoyable picture about London immigrants.

One question lingers in my mind after watching it. Who's breaking & entering in this movie ? Is it Miro who broke into Francis office or Franics breaking into Amira 's life ? I say, its a must watch.

A poem

A poem

While shuttling between office & home, I found an interesting stuff in London tubes; bunch of poems- worth reading & remembering. Every tube train has at least one poem besides their inside ads . I'm not sure if they're some kind of sonnets or what. Though the max journey lasts for about 10 minutes or so they made me to ponder over their meaningful words, thought provoking lines. Mostly they're hatched-around the themes of living, desire, hopes of London life.

Check this interesting poem I saw in one of the tubes between Waterloo & Canary wharf. It captures the true mascara of London & its fast paced life.

Optimistic Little Poem

Now and then it happens
that somebody shouts for help
and somebody else jumps in at once
and absolutely gratis.

Here in the thick of the grossest capitalism
round the corner comes the shining fire brigade
and extinguishes, or suddenly
there's silver in the beggar's hat.

Mornings the streets are full
of people hurrying here and there without
daggers in their hands, quite equably
after milk or radishes.

As though in a time of deepest peace.
A splendid sight.

This is what I found about these poems in internet:

"Poems on the Underground, founded in 1986, is supported by London Underground, Arts Council England and the British Council, which distributes the posters to its offices throughout the world. Poems are selected and the programme administered by the writer Judith Chernaik and poets Gerard Benson and Cicely Herbert."