Daddy-Long-Legs Spider - it's legs are about 5 or 6 times the length of its body. They have the habit of shaking the web violently when disturbed. This is probably to blur the vision of a predator. Because it is often found on the ceilings of rooms, caves or cellars, it is also called cellar spider. They can easily catch and eat hairy house spiders, mosquitoes, and other insects. When food is scarce, they will prey on their own kind. Because they originally came from the tropics, these spiders do not seem to be aware of seasonal changes and breed at any time of the year, which I don't find odd at all. Humans are very aware of the seasonal changes and they still breed at any time of the year.

When the carrot is ready, it sends up a tall stem, which produces flowers, and eventually seeds. The seeds are very small and black.

If you are planning to grow carrots and don't want to buy seeds every year, you need to remember that letting one go to seed is not going to work. Carrots are biennial - that means they take two years to reach maturity when they can produce seeds.

The birds-nest-shaped fruit cluster of carrot has a remarkable mechanism for seed dispersal. When conditions are dry and suitable for seed dispersal they bend outward, exposing the fruits to wind and animals; when conditions are wet, they bend inwards, forming the familiar bird's nest structure, which protects the seeds.

*I don't know the gender of this fly. In Hindi a fly is generally feminine so I wrote "herself". In case you are wondering, even object in Hindi has a gender, a shirt is feminine, so is a chair, a table is masculine and so is an aeroplane.

The wavelength of UV that causes this effect is rare on Earth as the atmosphere blocks it and I guess there is a reason for it. These rays are harmful to us as well which is why all sun blocks and sunglasses block out UV rays and which is why the hole in the ozone layer is a cause of worry for us.

I was pressed for time as I was leaving for work when I took these shots so I just propped these on an ivory sheet on our AC unit and clicked a few quick shots. With a little more time to set up my humble lights, the results could have been much better.

However, they have been doing it wrong all these years. Yeah, I agree that it worked and the sick indeed healed, but this is not what we can say "the doctor ordered". What the doctor has been prescribing all these years was this.

A lot of images I post look much better when I am working on them in Photoshop, primarily because of the size. To ensure that they look equally nice when posted, I have made a minor tweak to my template. This now ensure a picture with width as much as the width of the browser. I am pleased with it, you tell me what do you think?

Now a designer won't mind a customer who is willing to apply his mind like this instead of just asking her to make the logo bigger.

Whisky Image Gallery

After compiling an image gallery for Beer, was only right to give the Whisky its due. Over a period of years I have posted a fair amoung of images of Whisky bottles so I have created an image galley for that as well. Do check it out.

A bit of advice - of you plan to do this, ensure that you are going to finish the whisky soon. If you leave it for more than a month after freezing it, you run the risk of spoiling its taste. Now you won't want that to happen to a fine bottle of scotch. Would you?

Whisky Image Gallery

After compiling an image gallery for Beer, was only right to give the Whisky its due. Over a period of years I have posted a fair amoung of images of Whisky bottles so I have created an image galley for that as well. Do check it out.

Whisky Image Gallery

After compiling an image gallery for Beer, was only right to give the Whisky its due. Over a period of years I have posted a fair amoung of images of Whisky bottles so I have created an image galley for that as well. Do check it out.

I took two shots and couldn't figure out which one I liked most so posted both of them. Roll over the image to see the other one.

Keep Walking

I'd like to quote a paragraph form an utterly enjoyable book called "We Learn Nothing" by Tim Kreider and would strongly recommend you read the book.

Drinking was, among other things, an excelent excuse to devote eight or ten consecutive hours to sitting idly around having hilarious conversations with friends, than which I'm still not convinced there is any better possible use of our time on earth. Lately, in these more temperate years, I'm reminded of Shakespeare's Henry plays after Falstaff has died: Prince Hal, having spent his twenties as a drunken fuckup, puts riotous youth and disreputable friends behind and finds a place in life for dignity, honor, and achievement-but it also feels as if everything best and happiest and most human has gone out of this world. As if great things may lie ahead, but the good times are over.

Looking at the images from the weekend's shoot, I can see that there is definitely an improvement in light control. The lightbox is diffusing light coming from all directions including the light from the top. From that point of view the shots looks better but overall they lack something I have in my other shots, maybe an element of surprise or the unpredictability. When I don't have tools to help me out, I am constantly thinking of other ways to prevent the problems caused by their absence, like the harsh glare from the lack of diffused light. I have used those limitations as the USP of my shots. If I have a lot of reflection, I have overcome that by overexposing the shot.

In a nutshell, now that I know I have overcome the challenge of light to a level where I am satisfied, I will go back to my old way. I may click some shots using the lightbox where I need it but in no way the entire shoot is going to be in a lightbox.

1. If I am using a coloured background as in this case, it should be non-reflective.
2. The seal on the bottle has spoiled a lot of shots, making the bottle look shoddy; it should be removed the next time
3. A lot of my shots depend on uncontrolled light, so the lightbox is useful only for taking shots like this one, for everything else; the box is more of a liability than an asset.

Since I have a day job, I will have to wait till the next weekend to try something better.

It was also interesting to watch the combination of Mughal and British architecture.

This shot is also an HDR. I have recently started experimenting with them and I believe it will take me some time to get used to them, right now the images look bland to me as they lack the kind of contrast I am used to.

This is an insect swimming in one of those nine ponds.

One line from a poem "Cactus" by Dr. Hariwansh Rai Bachchan.

Khilta hoon kisi vivashta se, khilne ke saadh to nahin hai
Is jag mein anjaane reh jaana koi apradh to nahin hai.

The architect of Lotus Temple was Fariborz Sahba from Iran, while the Sydney Opera House was designed by the Dutch architect named Jørn Utzon who designed the Opera House as a competition. His design was selected and he started supervision of the project but due to his difference with the government, he left Australia before the Opera House was completed and never came back.

Now here is a coincidence for you to think about. When I got this whole nut out from its shell without breaking it, I thought of Johnny Depp in Charlie and the Chocolate factory. He had squirrels to remove the walnuts from their shell and one of the visitors asked him why use squirrels? "You see only squirrels are able to get the whole not out almost every single nut" was his answer. Yesterday while flicking channels I caught the same scene from the movie. I might also add that I had already planned to post this image today before watching the movie yesterday.

Finally another interesting bit of information. Have you ever wondered why your brain has wrinkles. It's the same concept of fractals - finite volume but infinite surface area. If the wrinkles weren't there, and the brain was 'unfolded' the brain would be approximately the size of a pillow. This again reminds me of a joke - "I dreamed that I ate a giant marshmallow and when I woke up, my pillow was missing.

Whisky Bottles

Here are some more shots of Whiskey Bottles.

Apparently Beam Inc, which males Teacher's Laphroaig scotch whiskys stopped sales after a whistleblower alleged it of violations in excise duty payments, distribution and invoicing. But now it seems to have sorted out the issue and os back in business. The management has dismissed the idea that it could dent the reputation of the company and sales of its brand in India. "It's nothing more than a minor hiccup."

For those who don't know what a Biscope is, it is a small wooden box with music playing on it. I guess now they use an electronic device, maybe a phone hooked to a speaker and battereies that makes the music but when I was a kid, batteries were not as portable as they are now neither were music player portable or viable for a use like this. In those days these guys used to carry a gramophone on top of the biscope and used to play LPs. It has small windows made of steel lunchboxes with the base cut out and kids could peep through that. What you see inside in not a movie, but a spool of still images which is rotated manually by the man. For a few paise one could look through it but knowing that I will just see static images strung together and not the video of the song, I never was interested in it.

The above is not what I think about Chivas Regal. This is a review I copied from about.com. But hang on, this is not what about.com thinks of Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Whisky. This is a review provided by the manufacturer. "a whisky that I personally always keep in stock" I know, you have a whole cellar full of it, in casks as well as bottles. As the old Hindi saying goes "Apne dahi ko kaun khatta kehta hai"

Do you think making a statement like "a whisky that I personally always keep in stock" is okay or is it stretching it a little too much?

"Yeah, I know. We have to figure out a way of increasing our profits or we will die."

"Why don't we increase the price of our whisky?"

"That is the dumbest thing I have heard. Theoretically it will increase the profit but the decline in sales because of higher cost will actually mean even less profit. I think we should lower the price. Lower price will increase sales and profits."

"In an idea world, not in the world we live in mate."

"What do you mean?"

"We must increase the price of the whisky and not just that, we will make it look pricey as well."

"And how do you suppose to do that?"

"See most people don't judge whisky by the taste. They go by perception. If a whisky costs more, is placed next to whiskies that are better, people will automatically assume it is a better whisky. Perception is more real than reality my friend."

"Do you think it will work."

"Oh, yes. It will."

This is called the The Chivas Regal Effect - people assume something is better because it is expensive. This is how Chivas Regal became famous- by increasing their prices. Think about it, when you hear whisky connoisseurs or people pretending to be whisky connoisseurs talking about their favorite whisky, it is almost always some Single Malt. None of them say "I like Chivas Regal" or I love Johnny Walker". No, it is always some single malt that you have ever heard about. Inspite of that, have you wondered why the most famous and largest selling whiskies are whiskies like Chivas Regal. The answer is The Chivas Regal Effect.

These are indigenous refrigerators - the earthen pot that were used in almost every house before the refrigerators became popular in India. Water is cooled due to evaporation through tiny pores. I remember using these in my home when I was a child and a lot of people still use these even now. I am thinking of buying one in the next summer, it is much better than a fridge. Here Mr. Nek Chand Saini has used the old discarded ones to create an artwork at the Rock Garden in Chandigarh.

Here is an infographic explaining the life of a wine cask.

Here is an article I wrote on how to take images like this using an ultra cheap setup in your living room.

Whisky Bottles

Here are some more shots of Whiskey Bottles.

Stunning product photography on a budget

Here is an article I wrote on how to take images like this using an ultra cheap setup in your living room.

Whisky Bottles

Here are some more shots of Whiskey Bottles.

Here is one question I want you to answer if you have the info. A whisky is allowed to be called 18 Years Old if one of the blend is 18 Years old and the others are younger. Similarly, are you allowed to call a Whisky "Scotch" even if you have a blend that has scotch whiskies as well as Indian whiskies? I don't want to be the idiot who pays a premium for buying Indian Whisky mixed with Scotch, I'd much rather save myself a few bucks by buying Indian Whisky labeled as India Whisky.

Stunning product photography on a budget

Here is an article I wrote on how to take images like this using an ultra cheap setup in your living room.

Whisky Bottles

Here are some more shots of Whiskey Bottles.

Stunning product photography on a budget

Here is an article I wrote on how to take images like this using an ultra cheap setup in your living room.

Here are some more shots of Whiskey Bottles.

Stunning product photography on a budget

Here is an article I wrote on how to take images like this using an ultra cheap setup in your living room.

Here are some more shots of Whiskey Bottles.

While I was looking at some of my booze images while being used by other, I realized, to be modest, that they are not bad. So I have decided to demystify those images by explaining how those images were taken. Watch out for it.

While Natraj and Camlin flora were the most popular HB pencils, Koh-i-noor by V Perumall Chetty and Apsara were popular among artists. Apsara pencils are still available and I used the same to make this sketch, the Koh-i-noor which I believe was a joint venture between V Perumall Chetty and a Checz company was shut down some time ago.

Since then the aviation industry has seen a lot of changes. I was among the fortunate few who had the opportunity to be on a plane, courtsey my dad's job with Indian Airlines. Now of course it is no big deal but back in those days, it earned you bragging rights among friends.

The clock adorning Christ Church was donated by Colonel Dumbleton in 1860. The porch was added in 1873.

The church contains five stained glass windows which you will se shortly. One represents the Christian virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Patience and Humility. The Pipe-Organ of Christ Church is the biggest in the Indian subcontinent and was erected in September 1899

Keep the fire buring

The spontaneous reaction, the very first one that comes to mind is the childhood lesson that almost every boy learns. If you ever get in a fight, you sort it out there and then only. If someone hits you, you hit him back and get even. You can't comeback home and then go the next day and beat that kid, that would be a second fight, and not the continuation to the first one because things have changed in the meantime with other people like parents and teachers getting involved in it. So what is difficult to understand is why the Indian soldiers didn't respond there and then. Being soldiers, I would have assumed them to be naturally aggressive and they must have curbed their natural instincts to not seek revenge. Who stopped them? The protocol decided by the government on how to respond in such situations?

There is also a theory that this is not an isolated case and incidents like this keep happening all the time. This one is highlighted and kept alive in media to divert the attention of people from other issues. Issues that have been destabilizing the governments like the Delhi rape case. This is a standard operating procerure for the government, whenever the heat becomes too much to bear, find something else that will divert the attention and focus from the current problem. If this is true, it is very shameful that the government is using the death of two soldiers for its political gains.

Tell me, what do you thing, am I just being a conspiracy theorist or is there some truth in what I am saying?

Check out the full image gallery here.

Check out the full image gallery here.

Check out the full image gallery here.

It is a huge bird, with a wingspan that ranges from about 7ft to 12ft. The total length of the Great White Pelican can range from 55in to 71 in, with the enormous bill comprising 11.4 to 18.5 in. Adult males, weigh from 9 to 15 kg and the females are considerably less bulky and heavy, weighing from 5.4 to 9 kg.

Immature Great White Pelicans are grey and have dark flight feathers. Males are larger than females, and have a long beak that grows in a downwards arc, as opposed to the shorter, straighter beak of the female.

The Great White Pelican is well adapted for aquatic life. The short strong legs and webbed feet propel it in water and aid the rather awkward takeoff from the water surface. Once aloft, the long-winged pelicans are powerful fliers, however, and often travel in spectacular V-formation groups.

Santa left this Diamond under the Christmas Tree for Manuraj. More on this to come.

The system is impotent; I wish to see reforms that will castrate such offenders as well.

May you Rest in Peace Damini... and I hope the citizens of India never rest till every girl feels safe walking in a lonely street alone at night.

Everytime I think of a zoo, I can't help but think about the following conversation between Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin - Mom wants to know of we would like to go the zoo.

Hobbes - Sure, can we visit a prison afterwards?

If you search for ANY company, you will find information that the company will not be proud of. There are always inferior ingredients, unfair trade practices, sweatshops, blood diamonds… the problem in general the corporates are getting more greedy or may be a lot of information that was earlier not available is now available to everyone. Or maybe both.

This is what CETUSA promised the students but delivered something entirely different. In August 2011, the main distribution center for Hershey candies was subjected to a strike by about 400 young foreign workers brought to the United States under the J1 "cultural exchange" visa program. The center in Palmyra, Pennsylvania was run for Hershey by Exel based in Ohio. Exel in turn subcontracted the staffing of the center to another firm SHS OnSite Solutions based in Lemoyne, Pennsylvania. The students were recruited by yet another organization called the Council on Educational Travel.

The students paid CETUSA up to $6,000 to participate in the program. The students came from countries such as Costa Rica, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Poland, and Romania. One said, "I spent some of the worst moments of my life during that exchange."

As the strike made national news, Hershey pressured its contractors to provide the students with a week of paid vacation to allow them to see America. Hershey, Exel, SHS OnSite Solutions and CETUSA all removed any mention of the strike from their web sites.

However, in 2008, Hershey went ahead with that and reformulated its products to replace cocoa butter with vegetable oil as an emulsifier. Some consumers complained that the taste was different, but the company stated that in the company-sponsored blind taste tests, approximately half of consumers preferred the new versions. Now this is how you twist the truth. The truth is that people were able to "tell" the difference between the two.

Since the new versions didn't met the Food and Drug Administration's official definition of "milk chocolate", the changed items were relabeled from stating they were "milk chocolate" and "made with chocolate" to "chocolate candy" and "chocolaty." A good FDA should have stopped a company from playing with words like this.

These wrappers read milk chocolate. Does this mean that these have cocoa butter or does this mean that the FDA regulation doesn't apply to what a company exports?

The last 2 weeks had been quite hectic socially. Three weddings, three anniversaries, one birthday and one death, which is what reduced the frequency of posts this month. Things don't seem to improve in the coming days either with Manu's school closing for winters and power down in my office, I may end up spending less time in front of a computer till next year.

Do you also think it looks like concrete or is it just me.

It was a time consuming and labor intensive exercise and in those days one thing we were not short of was time.

There were comments on this blog as well as Facebook that kids should not be playing with guns. I have played with guns and so has all the generations after me, including my younger cousing and nephews without having any obsession about them. This made me think about the whole issue of what kind of things should our kids be exposed to and what kind of things should be censored. While I am not in favor of exposing kids to a lot of things but I am also against a complete censor of anything that may have a bad influence.

Should we censor all sort of exposure to guns for our kids or should we spend time in instilling virtues like non-violence, patience and tolerance? Should we repeat every time someone smokes on screen that smoking is injurious to health or should we teach our kids the harmful effects of tobacco and ensure they are not negatively influenced by so called "role models"?

What is a better solution in the long term? Protecting kids by censoring things like tobacco, alcohol, guns, violence and then hoping they will not be exposed to them even when they grow up and are no longer living in an environment controlled by us or educating them and giving them good values, knowledge and wisdom to ensure they are able to choose wisely between good and bad?

On that not, here is another image of Manu playing with a gun. More here.

The same is the case with Diwali. While we operated on modest budgets, we used to start with our fireworks much before Diwali. A few "bijli bombs" or a couple of rolls of crackers or something like that would be our source of joy every evening. Now that is also limited to just on Diwali.

Coming to outsourcing - the heading of this post, one thing that was an integral part of every boy's growing up years was making Diwali lights. Once again, weeks before Diwali, electric stores would stock small light bulbs and shades which the kids would buy and string them together using wires. Those were some interesting diwali lights with a serial connection so if one bulb blows out, the entire string would go off. Manually checking each bulb to spot the blown one using a tester and occasional electric shocks were part of every evening. To prevent the bulbs from blowing up, we used "master bulb" in the string. The master bulb had a circuit that breaks when it gets hot and connects once it cools and that gave the on-off-on effect to our strings. Sometimes we used "starters" that are used fluorescent tube lights which would give the string a flickering effect.

Now we don't have to waste time trying to fix the lights and we don't get electric shocks either while doing it. Now we buy inexpensive, made in China lights with a circuit controlling the sequence/patterns of lighting. And we no longer have the same affection for our light strings which made us get them out two weeks before Diwali, fix them and put them up.

It's no longer a festivity, it's a chore.

This image is from a collection of Diwali images, check out others here.

So if you want your kids to have an imagination, take the remote control from them, and send them out to play.

This image is from a collection of Diwali images, check out others here.

We have been slowly but steadily taking up the banks of Yamuna river and I guess pretty the river will just be a memory. I guess the Delhites will not miss the river either. After all we have converted it to an open drain. Only 2% of the river passes through Delhi and 70% of its pollution is added here only. Something to be proud of?

Don't forget to check out the Dussehra and Ramlima Gallery

Don't forget to check out the Dussehra and Ramlima Gallery

To celebrate these festivals, I have created an image gallery of Dussehra which briefly describes the festival. Have a look.

This is supposedly some art installation there.

Tuborg is the first beer bottle in India that can be opened without any opener; just pull the tab and its open. It is too late for me, I guess teenagers of today will be thankful for it... or does it just kill all the fun by making it so easy?

Check out my car images