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

The expression of color

What does a color tell you? For different people, colors carry their own singular meanings. That is why seeing a painting in an art gallery is such an individualistic occupation. Each viewer goes thru his own thought processes. He generates his own similies with which he likens the assembly of colors lying before his eyes.

A color may signify that extra bit of energy you are willing to put in your life. Selecting a color in itself is such an interesting pschycological process. Whether it be a color for your wallpaper, the shade of your bed-linens, drapes or cushions, your search for that right shade signifies your zeal to take life to a level more superior, to a level more moved away from the drab and the usual.

Each person has his own color identity. He tags each shade with his mood in an absolutely unconscious manner. If he’s feeling sullen, he may declare the moment as a very yellow moment, while some other person may relate blue to the moment of feeling dull and gloomy. Colors reveal a lot about what one is feeling at a particular moment. That’s why colors are so integral to our lives.

Funny photos

There were always some photos that you deemed fit only to be hidden away in the back of an album. Well, with time, weren’t you surprised how the same photo that embarrassed you quite a big deal ages ago brought back a very tender, almost relishing memory of the good ol’ times.

 

Like, you might have not liked the look of a photo in which your eyes seemed a bit too sleepy, or some pic in which you were just in the process of devouring a large slice of pizza. Imagine that a good decade after that fun pizza outing, long after you had forgotten that you had actually hidden that photo somewhere, that picture fell off the album and on your lap. Lo! The memory of that wonderful day will flood your living room.

You’ll remember the day was bright and sunny, the hottest girl of your high-school even happened to be in the pizza place that day, but damn, you were just too hungry to notice how lovely she looked. And then, this joker of your best buddy decided to use his camera just the moment you were biting the pizza like a hungry convict. What a day that was…

Funny photo? Well, you would rather thank that silly bum of your friend to have clicked that moment. And you might as well give him a call right away, what say?

Btw, I found some nice funny photos at http://123bubbles.com/ … Check this site out…

What is a photo?

A photograph is a relic of a moment

It is a thing which lives when all of us are gone

It gives a vent to curiosity

It creates anxiety, or even a feeling of suspense and mystery

It connects people

It has its own secret life, which many a times pulls on and on till eternity.

A photo makes you remember.

It may even make you sad, for that matter.

It shows you how old and fat and ugly you have become.

Or rather, how slim and pretty and charming you once were…

That’s a photo.

It’s a relic of a moment.

Pet Photography

Photo your Pets… 

Pets are something like love. They bang into your life without any warning, and when they leave, they do so at the tip toe. You might have rescued an injured squirrel, taken pity on a mangled up puppy at the orphanage at an impulse, but before you must have realized, that mangle of a creature would have become an absolute part of your life.

Just when you feel the bliss is going to last forever, that apple of your eyes may have suddenly taken ill and slipped out of your life even before you were prepared for the loss…

That’s the way it is with these fragile creatures. So it’s a good idea to pamper them with a lot of photo-sessions. Not just because some pets absolutely adore to strike a pose or two and may gladly oblige whenever you take that camera out, but because these pics will be a treasure of memories a long time after too…

 Be Patient Pets do everything on their own sweet will, so cajoling them to sit down and look some specific angle is a big task. Especially so, if you have a naughty lil’ puppy who keeps running about in circles after its own tail or takes a fancy for the camera lens and insists on licking it every time you gear up for a close up. So the bottom line is, ‘Be Patient’. Also, keep clicking away all the while, without being too choosy.

You never know what shot might look simply killing though it may not have seemed such a ‘good click’ to you initially.

 Experiment This goes with almost everything you do, especially so with photography. Try a new angle, try a different light. Or simple try clicking their eyes, the expressions they give when they are playful, hungry or when the kitten is growling with her tiny fangs spread out. How about a close up of their baby pink paws, simply the rosy head-portions of a lovebird pair? (Btw, found some nice Lovebird pics at http://123bubbles.com/)Click anything which gives you the pleasure of observation without worrying about how the ‘results’. Digital photography allows one to be a lot more frivolous with the camera than it was back, being worried about wasting up the roll on lousy photos…

 Cover all their growing years Many a times it so happens that the arrival of a new pet in your life so takes you by the whirlwind of joy that the idea of clicking your pet just doesn’t click! But imagine what fun it would be if you maintain a detailed diary of the all their times, right when they were in their babyhood, till they are roaring adults… Fix up a time-line, say, you will click the pet once every three months or so for canines, felines and such alike which tend to grow a bit slowly and after about each month for birds and fish…This timeline should be accompanied by dates and age of the pet. It really helps to know when the hatchlings start feathering, start roosting, etc and when the puppies begin to teeth, their ears get erect, etc. By the way, it’s quite an occasion when your pup actually gives up those cute little fallen ears and pops them right straight one fine morning. The entire look of the pet will change, so you better click it for keepsake… 

Keep the equipments ready Keep in mind that your pet might choose to look adoring just about at any moment, and might strike the most cartoonic pose only for a short time. So make sure your equipments are within easy reach and keep most of the things readied up so you don’t lose much time when your pet obliges you with that photo of a lifetime.

 Get some company  While you are behind the camera, it’s a good idea to get someone to play with your pet. This will ensure that he gets into the mood, playing jolly and stuff and you might come with some wonderful pet moments. On the flip side though, the puppy/kitten may get hyperactive and leave little time to click those perfect pictures…

 Photo any visible signs of illness too This won’t serve as such a pleasant memory, but photos of illness, especially skin disorders, or any visible signs like an ulcer, tumour, etc. will let you inspect your pets’ illness better with the zoom functions and all. This will also come in handy for the vetenarian. It may happen that you can’t manage to take the pet himself to the hospital yourself. It’s a good idea then to at least click a lot of different angle pics and send them across to the pet for some immediate advice, till you can make arrangements to carry the pet too…

What are Expressions afterall?…

Expressions 

Expressions are one of the oldest signs of evolution. They are as old as rocks and stones and even beyond. What else do the layers of the Grand Canyon store in their ancient layers of soil, than a directory of expressions evolved over different periods of time?

Minute creatures which were just an amalgamation of cells gathered together slowly and developed to a being that was capable of expressing himself. The business of expression started with things as elementary as hunger and thirst, went on to become as complex as those of insecurity, embarrassment and delight.

 

Today, expressions rule the globe. Everyone, from the producer, the businessman, to the advertiser and right up to the common man constantly tries to innovate his store of expression as much as possible for, it’s as simple as this: The more diversely can you express yourself, the more individual position you carve for yourself in the globe of aspirations…

Photo sharing sites are the most recent, also one of the most classic tools of self-expression. Visual signs of expression, like a smile or a frown are the most direct means of putting your thought across. It depends on you how you choose to exploit the range of signs and symbols of the human behaviour to make a collage of intelligible communication by the way of photographs.

Even a landscape, without any human figure in it is a definite form of expression for it brings to the viewer a certain idea about the photographer. Also, any expression also provides a wonderful opportunity to be analysed in no specific manner. The viewer may not exactly defer the same idea which the sender associates with the expression.

A person may post a landscape of a lush green field with a blue skyline depicting a clear weather to depict his feeling of delight at nature’s bounty, but a viewer may interprete the same scene as a sign of loneliness with no soul visible in the picture for miles around the countryside.

This is what expression is all about. It is a wonderful bigamy of thoughts and interpretations…