| Date: | 2008-10-03 11:49 |
| Subject: | Mahalakshmi Temple, Goa |
| Security: | Public |
The Mahamandap (Great Hall) at the Mahalakshmi Temple in Bandivade, Goa provides a therapeutic escape from many of Goa busy attractions. It is a perfect place to sit undisturbed and commune with the divine. On this early morning, regular devotees went about their prayers silently and tourist laden buses had not yet arrived.
In front of the Deul (Konkani for Temple, also Devasthan), notice the Deepa Stamba (Light tower), a characteristic of Goa Konkani temples. Around the temple are guest rooms for traveling devotees at nominal costs.
History and two more pics of the Temple
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| Date: | 2008-09-30 10:44 |
| Subject: | Kaapi: Way Coffee Should be Enjoyed! |
| Security: | Public |
Don't know about you, but here in the Northeast we had a foggy, drizzly and grey weekend.
Running Update: To keep up with my training for the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC (Yaay!) I had to run 13 miles through partial rain and dodging puddles the entire way. Running with squishy shoes for a couple of hours is not fun! I made it around in horrible time and sore hamstrings.
This year its the hamstrings and lung capacity which has been slowing me. Appears my lungs have NOT fully recovered from the bronchitis I got earlier in the Spring and kept me from the Boston Marathon. For the first four miles, I find myself gasping and unable to pick my pace. My doctor is not surprised and mentions that after bronchitis, lungs need 6-8 months to recover vital capacity. While I don't notice a deficit in most activities, running long distances needs my entire lung capacity, which is still compromised. But I plod on! Have no hopes for breaking 4 hours, but it would be good to FINISH a marathon this year!
How do I pick myself up after a lousy run on a wet weekend? A nice cup of piping hot South Indian style kaapi! The perfect antidote for a washed out weekend, ... and watching my retirement portfolio in a death spiral! :-(
Always More!
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| Date: | 2008-09-26 12:05 |
| Subject: | DuddaLi: Arrowroot Pudding |
| Security: | Public |
Arrowroot powder is the starch component of the perennial tuber, marantha, found in tropical forests. Starch from these tubers is believed to be of a higher quality compared to potato starch or corn starch, as it has a neutral taste when used in cooking.
The tubers are harvested, washed, descaled and beaten to a pulp in village homes. Grandma used to tell us that it was a messy affair. The milky juice is strained to remove debris and the starch settles to the bottom. The water is removed and the starch allowed to dry in cakes. The fragile cakes crumble easily and are available as small chunks (see pic above).
Because of the dark skin (and other) debris, this is called kachra piTh or dirty flour, in Konkani. Whipped in hot water (or milk) it forms a light pudding called boL, easy to digest and one of the first semi-solid meals given to babies. During my last trip to Mumbai when I suffered from an upset stomach, Aiee babied me with honey sweetened boL for two days.
The jelly-like duddaLi is a common Konkani dessert made with kachra piTh, one of my favorites. We replenish our stocks of kachrae piTh from Kumta. M followed mom's recipe. Simple ingredients and easy to make.
Recipe with more pics!
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| Date: | 2008-09-24 21:10 |
| Subject: | Barack, He's not it! |
| Security: | Public |
When I first heard about David Freddoso's “The Case Against Barack Obama,” I did not even think of reading it. I have better things to do than waste time reading right-wing propaganda - see, it was well known that the author is a staunch Republican.
But I was surprised to see a review of the book in the recent issue of The Economist. And they actually liked it!
Unfortunately for Obama, the details in the book are not very complimentary, and apparently very true.
According to the review, Obama played down and dirty politics in Chicago:
"he won the Democratic nomination for his Illinois seat by getting a team of lawyers to throw all the other candidates off the ballot on various technicalities. One of those he threw off was a veteran black politician, a woman who helped him get started in politics in the first place."
...
Yes! You want to read the rest!
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| Date: | 2008-09-21 21:12 |
| Subject: | Sacred Places |
| Security: | Public |
It is sad that in India, places of worship are being targeted to achieve political ends, or vent frustrations. This is absolutely wrong! Temples, churches, mosques, and all other places of worship are sacred and should not be pawns in political movements. People should feel empowered to use objective fora to address grievances. Politicians! Make it happen and stop using these incidents to advance narrow political gains!
In an attempt to address the grievances, the Karnataka state government blames "the flow of foreign funds," for conversion of Hindus into Christianity.
Read more!
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| Date: | 2008-09-20 16:07 |
| Subject: | Lumps & Bumps |
| Security: | Public |
Not a pleasant topic, but things you should know;
From Aches & Joints
Lumps & Bumps: Things to consider when you notice a lump on your body
Over the course of a day, we all poke, rub, and scratch. Usually it’s an itch or a sore. Occasionally we notice a lump! What should we do? Rightly, some of us will worry about it and cannot rest until we find out what the lump is. Others will completely ignore it.
Fortunately, the vast majority of lumps and bumps are benign (see box at end) and do not threaten our lives. But some can be dangerous and require immediate medical attention. So which lumps should we worry about? Which lumps and bumps require a doctor’s care, and which ones can be ignored?
Read more!
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| Date: | 2008-09-09 15:46 |
| Subject: | Reading: Wide Angle Lens |
| Security: | Public |
A few interesting things. Lets start with wine!
- An eco-smart alternative to the wine bottle.
Seeing this feature in Fast Company, I tried French Rabbit's Cabernet Sauvignon. Fantastic and it goes superbly well with my grilled salmon. Importantly, a tetra pack has 1 L wine compared to 750 ml of a regular bottle and it was inexpensive ~ $7.99! Our guests loved it too!
- Plain vanilla gets you to your retirement goals faster!
These authors of the bestseller, Made to Stick, remind us why investing in Vanguard's S&P 500 Index fund is the way to go! And don't be mesmerized by the glib talking financial advisers, who are looking after their own retirement! Make money for yourself, not for the financial adviser!
- AdventNet's Sridhar Vembu: Deflating IT
So fabulous to see Sridhar Vembu featured in The Economist.
"SRIDHAR VEMBU is a dangerous man. ... .”
- Racist policies of the LPGA
The recent policy of the LPGA, that all players pass an oral english test was rightly criticized. From the New York Times: Editorial - A Bad Idea From the LPGA.
The LPGA has since revised its policy: L.P.G.A. Will Revise Its Policy on English - NYTimes.com, but as the following quote from their Deputy Commissioner suggests, they just don't get it!
Read complete details here!
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| Date: | 2008-09-06 16:58 |
| Subject: | Lunch at the Saraswati Vidya Kendra |
| Security: | Public |
A few weeks ago I wrote about Lunch at the Shanbhag School. During our recent visit to kumta in July, I walked over to the adjacent Saraswati Vidya Kendra, the primary school of the Konkan Education Trust.
On this Wednesday, kids were dressed in their school uniforms, unlike the 'casual Thursday" attire we saw earlier. Here are a couple pics of tiny tots in the lower KG and the upper KG classes sitting for lunch. Because they have difficulty eating from plates (without getting half the food on the floor), they are served in "dabbas" and side dishes are served in the lids. It appeared odd, but once I saw tiny hands grab food from the dabbas, it made more sense.
One more pic and Audio of Kids Chanting at the School
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| Date: | 2008-09-02 06:56 |
| Subject: | Ganesh Chaturthi 2008 |
| Security: | Public |
vakratunda mahaakaaya kotisurya samaprabhaa |
nirvighna kuru mae deva sarvakaaryeshu sarvadaa ||
With a curved trunk and generous form
Whose splendor matches ten million Suns
Remove all obstacles,
Deva!
In all that I do!
_______
Ganapati Bappa, Mowrya!
M&A
Additional Notes from Prarthana
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| Date: | 2008-08-28 13:19 |
| Subject: | Lunch at the Shanbhag School |
| Security: | Public |
In 2007, the Shanbhag School in Kumta (and their parent, the Konkan Education Trust), started to provide lunch for all their students. In the midst of a long day, the students had previously rushed home during their lunch hour. There are also no cafeterias or restaurants near the school.
The school made a significant investment in cooking equipment and prepares a nutritious, vegetarian lunch for the ~ 850 primary and secondary school students. The lunch is simply rice, sambar or daal, a lentil curry or vegetable and pickles (see actual student plate above).
During my meetings with parents of Scholarship recipients, and listening to comments at the Parents Teachers Meeting, parents absolutely love the school lunch program. Parents are relieved of the pressure to pack a lunch every morning, or have it ready for the lunch break. Parents are also surprised (and glad) their kids actually eat the variety of vegetables and lentils the school serves. The school subsidizes the lunch and charges students Rs 80 per month (~$2 per month, Rs 4 per meal or ~ 10 cents per lunch!). Students not on the meal plan can eat occasional meals and drop cash in an unmanned donation box.
Kids seem to love the lunches too. Lunch is eaten in the company of their friends with a degree of peer-pressure to finish their plate. The lunch is done within 30 minutes, and since they still get an hour for lunch, they get to play around, gossip, or browse the library.
Knowing this, I showed up just before lunch time to "test the quality of the school lunch program." I always have interesting reasons to be present wherever free lunch is served. heeeeee! heeeee! Very delicious food and a primary reason why we included lunch as part of the scholarship package we provide needy students. Whenever you are in Kumta, you are welcome to join in for a free lunch!
See pics of Lunch at the Shanbhag School
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| Date: | 2008-08-18 12:47 |
| Subject: | Scholarships for the Needy |
| Security: | Public |
I have previously written about the Shanbhag School, an academic beacon in Kumta and surrounding villages.
The Shanbhag High School, managed by the Konkan Education Trust does not receive any governmental aid. But it follows the state determined academic syllabus and guidelines. While we attract many students who can afford fees, our family wanted to make good education particularly accessible to the poor. Thus last year we gave 16 scholarships to very needy students to attend either the Shanbhag High School, or the affiliated primary school, Saraswati Vidya Kendra. At a new site dedicated to our Scholarship activities, (Shikshan.org), you can browse the list of Scholarship Recipients for 2007-2008.
You can also read about my personal challenges in identifying needy girls: Where are all the needy girls?
We did not rest, last December (2007) during my travels to Kumta I visited most of the scholarship recipients in their homes. The visit served two purposes: (a) to meet the families and convince them of our commitment to support their child's education ~ and in turn expect them to make education a priority; and (b) to ensure that these were indeed needy families, which I could determine from their living conditions.
They lived in simple 1 or 2 room homes, or with relatives, and it was emotionally overwhelming to experience the gratitude of these families. Below, I share with you some of the scholarship recipients in their home settings. Appropriately I have omitted their names.
See pics of Scholarship recipients
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| Date: | 2008-08-13 13:52 |
| Subject: | Omega-3s and Grilled Salmon: Food for the Heart and Mind! |
| Security: | Public |
Come spring, I can't wait to fire up the grill and throw some salmon on it. Not only is grilled salmon one of my favorite, salmon is also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential fatty acids improve heart health, have anti-inflammatory properties and as recent research informs, improve brain function. Yaay!
Oil extracted from fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Two types of omega-3s in fish are: EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid); the human body does not make either of them. So we need to get it in our diet (eat fish) or take supplements. The third type, ALA (Alpha linolenic acid) is highly concentrated in oils from flaxseed, walnut and canola.
...
Long write-up on Omega-3s and Recipe for our Grilled Salmon
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| Date: | 2008-08-09 12:40 |
| Subject: | Editorial: Reclaiming India |
| Security: | Public |
An interesting Editorial in the Times of India, by Tarun Vijay. I particularly liked his rebuttal to Omar Abdullah,
"But he must stop to think why he can own a bungalow in Delhi or Bangalore and at the same time deny that privilege to a fellow Indian in Kashmir?"
Do you think our elite, secular fundamentalists will brand him a patriot?
on Arun Shanbhag
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| Date: | 2008-08-05 20:20 |
| Subject: | Descent of the Ganga |
| Security: | Public |
Mamallapuram, about an hour south of Chennai along India's East coast, hosts India's largest and most dramatic relief-sculpture representing the celebrated myth of the descent of the river Ganga from heaven to earth. The Great Penance, is carved out of a giant granite rock wall 27 meters wide and 9 meters tall, and the project was believed to be initiated during the reign of the Pallava King Mahendra Varman, ca 7th century bce.
While a traditional sculpture (or other work of art) would memorialize a climactic scene, this Great Penance is depicted as a "continuous narrative," wherein multiple scenes from a series of events are portrayed on the same canvas, permitting the observer to focus on different parts of the work and recollect different scenes in the narrative. The more details one observes and associates, the more richer the experience.
Three more pics and rest of writeup
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| Date: | 2008-08-05 15:29 |
| Subject: | Yoga for Arthritis |
| Security: | Public |
In our Newsletter Aches and Joints, this piece accompanied my article Men are from Mars and Women get Arthritis. Enjoy!
Yoga can provide immense physical benefits for women with arthritis.
For arthritis patients, aerobic exercises, muscle conditioning and increased physical activity can keep you strong and agile, improve heart fitness and reduce your weight. Yoga provides an effective alternative to the traditional strengthening and aerobic exercises, and offers other benefits as well.
While yoga may bring visions of complex body contortions, most yoga classes provide simple, gentle movements that gradually build muscular strength, promote balance and improve flexibility. Its meditative nature soothes and relaxes the mind, and is associated with increased mental alertness and enthusiasm. Scientific studies have shown that practicing yoga is a safe and effective way to increase physical activity, which is strongly recommended for arthritis patients. Yoga does not increase pain or worsen arthritis.
Rest of Article
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