Blogs

As I drove past on M G Road, I realized that what we always refer to as the "Thomas Cook" building has also come down, and is just a shell awaiting demolition. So I thought of quickly taking photographs of  some  of the beautiful old buldings that still stand in this area.Here is the "Sadhwani's" building, with its lovely old monkey-top still intact:Then, of course, the Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium, dating from a time when there was no demand for vertical spaces:On Brigade Road stands this beautiful example of Bangalore architecture:And one of the queens of Cubbon Park, the Central Library…

The Man. The Machine. His acrobatics with it. It's finally come to an end. What a show! I have uploaded a few amateur photographs (ever tried to click a photo of a plane travelling at MACH 2 speed?)  of aircrafts and the event.   From the US Airforce - Not the Big Bertha, but Big enough to awe us  Army Commandos or Acrobats? The Eurofighter - mid flight. Patriotic colours by the Suryakiran team. Though the show was Spectacular, I have many cribs with the show organisers, CII. Read them here, especially when you are in a cribby mood yourself to fully…

The cycling group (Bangalore Bikers' Club) that I belong to has a very active egroup that exchanges notes on everything to do with cycling, and they recently posted the link to this peppy, bright cycling song....song at: http://malwebb.customer.netspace.net.au/bike.mp3The lyrics are here: http://malwebb.customer.netspace.net.au/bike.htmlEnjoy it..and start cycling today!⊕

The well-known wildlife photographer, Sudhir Shivaram (you can visit his photosite athttp://www.thejunglelook.comand see his varied images)gave a presentation-cum-workshop on the various aspects of digital photography, at the Canon Retail Lounge at Brigade Towers on Brigade Road, on Sunday, 18th February 2009.Here's the Canon Lounge:Here's Sudhir, giving his presentation:The audience consisted of a mixture of wildlife lovers and photographers!They were very appreciative about Sudhir's presentation, and said that they found him very approachable.This is part of Canon's ongoing initiative to engage the public in all aspects of digital photography. For more details on this, visithttp://www.canon.co.in/CanonInNews.asp?work=details&NEWS_ID=173&News=press⊕

Many persons talk of entrepreneurship. To some it is a fancy, to some it is a fad, to some it is a serious passion, what is it to you? Are you cut out to be an entrepreneur? I am not talking about the checklist one can fill and tick to see if one is entrepreneurial in nature. Many persons think they are entrepreneurial based on scores on paper and/or based on discussions with other entrepreneurs and attending workshops and seminars. It is one thing to see high score on inclination and aptitude for entrepreneurship; it is something else to actually…

How many autos do we know, which give the right signals before turning? Yes, that's right, that was the correct number...or non-number!But once in a while, the autos are pretty upfront about it, too...I don't know if this guy switches on his air-conditioning or not..but definitely, no hand signals!But all autos have FOOT signals..you know, when the auto at the back has the driver with one foot out, pushing the auto in front of him....!Thanks to a friend for spotting this one. ⊕

I read this post...http://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/articles/view/812-safer-footpathsDuring a walk from my home to IIM-Bangalore on Bannerghatta Road, a distance of about 2.5 kms, I met with the following obstacles:1.Open drains2.Missing granite slabs that would decant me instantly into the gutter beneath if I was not careful.3.Large piles of garbage stretching all the way to the road.4. Furniture and other wares set out by shopkeepers.5. Pushcarts parked randomly.6. Two-wheelers parked, and sometimes being driven, on the pavement.7. Transformers of BESCOM.8. Huge dug-up craters, sometimes with cables being laid, sometimes pipes, sometimes nothing that I could see to account for the digging.9. Families sitting and…

Shishu Mandir17/11, Cambridge Rd., UlsoorBangalore 560008. Ashraya Children's HomeJawan's Quarters,BDA Park, Double Rd.,Indiranagar Stage 1, Bangalore 560038.Ph. 080 25241929 Fax 080 25286195email: ashchild@airtelmail.inSociety of Sisters of CharityHoly Angels Convent, c/o Stella Maris Convent,Malleswaram, Bangalore- 560003.Ph. 080 27757235 Fax 080 27757235email: snehalayaabp@vsnl.netM/S Canara Bank Relief and Welfare SocietySevakshetra Hospital Road, 27th Cross, Banashankari 2nd StageBangalore 560070.Ph. 080 26713421/26717080 Fax 080 26719622email: mathruchhaya@hotmail.comSt Michael's Home/ConventGood Shepherd Sisters, 80 Feet Road, Indira Nagar Post,Bangalore 560038.Ph. 080 25282811 Fax 080 25273944email: stmichaelshome@dataone.inVathsalya Charitable TrustNo.717,5th Cross, HRBR 1st BlockBanaswadi, Bangalore 560043Ph. 080 25457360/ 25459366 Fax 080 25452671 email: vathsalya88@rediffmail.comThis list was put up as a…

Dear Readers, This second issue of the Citizen Matters print fortnightly will hit your homes at a time of change, worry and resurgence in Bengaluru. First, intolerant sections of society are taking the law into their own hands to stifle their fellow citizens’ openness to diverse traditions. Many freedom-loving Bangaloreans are reacting, with protests, campaigns and peace marches, against the backdrop of the upcoming Valentine’s Day. Second, citizens and citizens groups are continuing to both engage and confront government in various platforms. Many young Bangaloreans are more involved now, and this is more visible than earlier. Bicyclists are working with…

We've been moaning about the India Coffee House on M G Road shutting down soon, but when I went for the INTACH-organized Heritage walk on Avenue Road, I was astonished by the site of a van vending coffee and snacks to several people, early in the morning! Apparently it's there every weekend morning, I am not sure if it's also there on weekdays:The van is run by the "Coffee Mandali" or Coffee Board...five rupees gets one a china cup of piping hot coffee!Here are several people jostling (as usual, Bangaloreans seem never to have heard of the word "queue") for…