That dark, creamy world of chocolates

It has been snowing listlessly. The streets wear a carpet of snow. Little mounds of white and specks of red or white or black is the only visible sign or cars parked in the lane. Your pet cat insists on cuddling close to you all the time, which is becoming something of a bother now. You are marooned in your house behind closed doors at the mercy of a centralized heating system. Whenever the door opens, a whiff of chilling air sweeps in. It’s cold, it’s winter and you really need something warm to soothe you.

Think about such cold evenings and think Hot Chocolate.

Yes, hot chocolate. That heady beverage with a smooth, creamy luster and a taste to die for. How many times it has happened that hot chocolate has shaken you out of that gloomy cold winter reverie and transported you into that delightful land of chocolate fantasy?

It wasn’t arbitrary for ancient Aztec civilizations to associate chocolate with the feeling of good health, for relief from fatigue, and of course- as a powerful aphrodisiac. The bitter-sweet taste of chocolate plays on your taste-buds to create a long-lasting sense of well-being.

From the pleasures as a bitter chocolate drink of the ancient Maya and Aztec civilizations, to the innovations with milk by Hans Sloane, to the final product conceptualized and marketed by the Cadbury brothers, the unassuming cocoa beans growing in Western Africa have catapulted to unprecedented heights of business and fan-following all over the world.

It has been widely written about, taking the fancy of historians, authors and film-makers. Roald Dahl immortalized children’s fascination with chocolate in his book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, while Warner Bros screened the movie by the same name starring Johnny Depp

So, if you hate winters but love Hot Chocolate, perhaps tiding over those gloomy winter months would not pose such a problem after all. Simply whip up your own steaming cup of hot chocolate or nibble on the creamy chocolate bars and life will be heavenly…

Posted by Green fodder

Flowers

Some clichés are very integral to our lives, they are almost welcome, so to say. Like gifts of flowers and chocolates. Like Candle-light dinners and proposing on a knee. But let us talk about flowers now.

Flowers can express feelings on occasions happy and sad alike. What’s more, flowers are such interior decoration accessories that fit into any style, any shade and any class of house décor. Flowers cheer you out of gloom, flowers make you feel special. What’s more, flowers sell like hotcakes almost any time of the year and we have thus witnessed the perfect transformation of nature’s bounty to a business means.

(For more flower photos, click here)

Have you also been struck by the simple beauty of a roaring bunch of Chrysanthemums gaping at you from the gas-station? Have you ever made an impetuous spending extravaganza on some exotic blooms? Have you presented your love with a bunch of long stemmed roses? Have you posed as a blushing newly-wed in your wedding gown with a bunch of pink and purple and white blooms?

So remember, whoever said, ‘With your last six pence buy not bread, but hyacinth for the soul’ must have had some reason for saying so. Revel in the world of flowers and get some more mirth in, and some more gloom out of your life…

Why do you blog?

Most of you might be avid bloggers.We blog for different reasons, ranging from personal satisfaction, to getting a creative vent, to voicing opinions about issues, for dissemination of thoughts and views, perhaps you might be even blogging for some company or heck! just because blogging has become a craze and everyone seems to be blogging…

So what is the reason you are blogging for?

I blog to understand the expression of words and to try the fascinating permutations and combinations of words that lead to different meanings… Also, to try to new technology, learn a bit of html and the bloggin culture

Will those broadsheet newspapers die a slow death?

Yes. That’s the question in vogue now. New Media vs. The Old…

I have heard people discussing it time and again- this debate also rules almost all media / journalism workshops and work places.

Many have done research on different variants around the same thought. Let me provide you with some random examples of topics which came to my mind. Chew on…

a) Is there a difference between language used in online and traditional newspaper media

b) What are the User profiles of of users of online media like e-newspapers, blogs, etc versus the patrons of traditional media- most notably newspapers, radio, television and consequently

c) What does the survey of user profiles reflect?

d) Are there any scientific research projects undertaken to study whether and how the optics, linguistics, social and sexual behavior of the human race is becoming fine-tuned to the e-boom?

Several more research questions may arise once you start thinking on the New media vs. Old Media lines.

For example, am wondering now if the online media a cheaper option? Or rather that the online media is only the luxury of a richer class?… Which is the better option for advertising and marketing- new or traditional media ?

What’s more? Researches on the lines of such seemingly random musings may lead to new survial strategies for the traditional media while also providing the new media out of the box ideas about how to multiply their business…

To sum things up- Yes, online media is here in a major way and it is here to stay. But- and here’s the but again, but at the same time, I am sure people will not give up reading newspapers altogether. Simple logic- a hardcopy- be it the newspaper, book or greeting card is a much stronger emotional connect than the same counterparts of the online media… You can touch, hold or even smell the paper of the newspapers and books you are reading. Also perhaps, the scent of your girlfriend on the greeting card she sent.

Traditional media manipulate three senses- sight, touch and also smell to a certain extent, while the new media cash up almost entirely on sight and sound. Interesting as it might be, these facets of the new media often overplay themselves and are a put off to privacy seeking individuals who just want to read and respond to matter and advertisements of their choice. (Case in point- pop-up ads, online banners accompanying e-newspapers, compulsory ‘click to proceed’ commands on the internet, etc.)

The war between new media and the old will definitely culminate in the philosphy of ‘Survival of the Fittest’. Only the most powerful and most sound products of both the media will survive out of the countless fledglings born suddenly thanks to the new media boom…

What do you think? Feel free to post your comments and relevant links.

The Spiral of Silence

I came across a good read on the blogosphere which was perfectly in tune with the theme I prefer to talk about in this blog: Expressions.Matthew talks about the importance of expressing your opinions, without fearing if your opinion is in the minority or majority thought-pool. He talks about healthy debates. I take this opportunity to describe in detail what Matthew has described- the importance of self-expression.

Wonder what the title ‘Spiral of Silence’ has got to do with expressions? Well, a lot.
Spiral of Silence is a well researched media term dealing with expressions supressed due to a majority opinion. Not clear? Well, here’s an explanation.

Picture this- You simply hate Paris Hilton, but heck- she’s all over the papers! So how do you go about announcing your dislike towards a very established and well received personality? Simple- You decide to keep silent.

It may so be, that like you, there are hundreds and thousands who hate Paris Hilton (or George Bush!), but assuming that the popular sentiment is against their preference, they keep silent. Or even worse, they superficially accept and announce the choices which are ‘popular’ at that time. This entire situation, my dear friends, is the Spiral of Silence.

Noelle-Neumann put forward this mass communication theory in an attempt to find out what drove people to support wrong political decisions in Germany during the World War era. In recent times, analysts have applied this theory to the 1991 gulf war, wondering if the media propaganda led to a spiral of silence.

Spiral of Silence is literally the death of expressions at the most macro levels. So, next time, be sure you express yourself without being conscious of ‘what others think’.

Expressions can give you spontaneity, freedom and are a great emotional therapy. Don’t suppress your laughter, don’t worry about appearing stupid. You may never realize when your remaining silent becomes a part of a larger, more serious matter of concern.

Feel free, Express Yourself!

(To read Matthew Carroll’s article, click