I am putting together a project on how journalism and blogging influence each other, and how weblogs are changing the way journalists do their jobs.
The second part of the project revolves around the adaptations that journalists need to make in the face of a market poised on the brink of a flood of portable gadgets like E-paper, palm held wireless devices, chip-enabled TV, car dashboard receivers and so on. Such new technology means that the journalist has much lesser control of what an audience sees, hears or reads of what you have done, and when or where they see or hear it. How, then do you package the content? What if someone is reading while commuting? Watching while having dinner or cooking? How would one present the news differently if they were potentially getting your piece in their swimming goggles while doing laps?
What do you think? Do write in and let me know!
January 25, 2004
January 23, 2004
Its finally winter in Bombay....overcast skies, no sight of the sun for the last two days, chilly breezes, a subdued calm....the weather is just beautiful! From my window, the sea is every shade of pale blue and gray possible. This is the kind of setting that makes me want to settle down with a good book and a hot cup of coffee on the terrace, while some soft music plays in the background. I wish I was a painter, and could capture this moment, because times like these are rare in Bombay!!
January 22, 2004
Donesh, I wish I could just do it all....but sometimes we get so entangled amidst relationships that everything else has to take a backseat. How do you isolate yourself and concentrate only on what you want, when its clearly upsetting those who you care for? Sometimes I wish I lived on a desert island or was born without emotions :(
January 20, 2004
Yesterday somebody asked me what I wanted out of life at this time....the idea of my even wanting something for myself was so alien that I was without any words to answer this simple question. Thus making me realize that I have once again gotten so caught up in keeping everybody around me happy, conforming to everybody's ideas of being good and perfect and keeping the peace between people with opposing ideologies, that it no longer matters what I want. And whats scary, and depressing, is that none of the people I care about also seem to care about what would make me happy. They all have their own ideas of whats good for me, and are constantly trying to make the situation conform to their own ideas. Consequently, I have become nothing but a battleground for people I care about. Which, I guess, explains my low mood all this while.
So, what do I want? Actually, more than anything else, I want the freedom to make my own choices and decisions. I want somebody to let go of their own mindsets and say that, hey, you come first for me, and I will do what makes you happy...And I will let you do what makes you happy. I want to stop constantly putting myself in other people's shoes, and have them step into my shoes for a while.
I want to write a book -- the ideas have been playing around in my mind for a long, long time, but am just not getting the emotional space and time to get down to doing something about them.
I want to go to UK for a while and work in one of the media outlets there or enroll in a study program to hone my journalistic skills, with the sort of knowledge and experience thats just not available in India.
I want to finish the research project that I am doing on how hi-tech gadgetry and blogging are changing the rules of journalism.
I want to explore the hinterlands of India. Recently I went to Bhuj on a work assignment, and it was such a beautiful experience. I want to travel to more such places, this time without the shackles of work.
Then I want to go on a backpacking expedition across Europe and spend a few weeks soaking in Paris, London, Milan and the like.
I want to switch off the halogen bulbs, light a few candles, burn some green tea and lavender incense, snuggle into a down comforter and read a good book without being interrupted.
I want, at least, the option of defining my own future. Is that too much to ask for??
So, what do I want? Actually, more than anything else, I want the freedom to make my own choices and decisions. I want somebody to let go of their own mindsets and say that, hey, you come first for me, and I will do what makes you happy...And I will let you do what makes you happy. I want to stop constantly putting myself in other people's shoes, and have them step into my shoes for a while.
I want to write a book -- the ideas have been playing around in my mind for a long, long time, but am just not getting the emotional space and time to get down to doing something about them.
I want to go to UK for a while and work in one of the media outlets there or enroll in a study program to hone my journalistic skills, with the sort of knowledge and experience thats just not available in India.
I want to finish the research project that I am doing on how hi-tech gadgetry and blogging are changing the rules of journalism.
I want to explore the hinterlands of India. Recently I went to Bhuj on a work assignment, and it was such a beautiful experience. I want to travel to more such places, this time without the shackles of work.
Then I want to go on a backpacking expedition across Europe and spend a few weeks soaking in Paris, London, Milan and the like.
I want to switch off the halogen bulbs, light a few candles, burn some green tea and lavender incense, snuggle into a down comforter and read a good book without being interrupted.
I want, at least, the option of defining my own future. Is that too much to ask for??
January 17, 2004
Am feeling really, really low...did not even have the energy to compose a sentence, but really needed to vent. Then I came across this beautiful poem by AgentA, which just says it all!!
If you could get inside of me
I'd let you.
let you see the original, the new, the feelings that went into a piece of unfinished art,
but this black and white
tethered version
shaped and examined through and through
it'll have to do.
O and I thank you for half-heartedly putting your heart on the line
Like my shaking hands had to write...
It's like everything is censored from fear and exhaustion
everything walks with a stale pace.
If you could get inside of my head
i'd let you.
maybe you could see for sure what you are giving up.
But the darkness surrounds me
and maybe you already know.
If you could feel what i'm feeling
I'd let you.
and I'd buy tickets to your show
and watch with little help or ease to show how I feel right now...
maybe if you'd feel how i'm feeling
you'd see for sure that inside I'm
trembling
doubting
re-doing
searching
feeling
Every prism of emotion you could ever imagine,
in a room full of mirrors.
But for now i'll watch with a dose of fear
from an angled street with meaningless buildings put in its way
so is this how it goes?
acceptance is too much to ask from you
so it's forced onto me...
and thats how it goes
If you could get inside of me
I'd let you.
let you see the original, the new, the feelings that went into a piece of unfinished art,
but this black and white
tethered version
shaped and examined through and through
it'll have to do.
O and I thank you for half-heartedly putting your heart on the line
Like my shaking hands had to write...
It's like everything is censored from fear and exhaustion
everything walks with a stale pace.
If you could get inside of my head
i'd let you.
maybe you could see for sure what you are giving up.
But the darkness surrounds me
and maybe you already know.
If you could feel what i'm feeling
I'd let you.
and I'd buy tickets to your show
and watch with little help or ease to show how I feel right now...
maybe if you'd feel how i'm feeling
you'd see for sure that inside I'm
trembling
doubting
re-doing
searching
feeling
Every prism of emotion you could ever imagine,
in a room full of mirrors.
But for now i'll watch with a dose of fear
from an angled street with meaningless buildings put in its way
so is this how it goes?
acceptance is too much to ask from you
so it's forced onto me...
and thats how it goes
I have just noticed that the "Comments" section has vanished from my Blog. I believe that it is being transferred to a new server, and shall be up and running in a while, but till then you can contact me on anubha76@vsnl.net
I am tired...really, really tired. Mentally and physically. Had a horrible experience today -- somebody called my mother all the way in Pune and spoke utter crap about me. Thank God that my mom knows me well enough to have complete trust in me and simply slammed the phone down without taking cognizance of the bullshit. But it does leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
These kind of mischief-mongers are pretty common in Delhi, but I thought things like this did not happen in Bombay. Here people just do not have the time to interfere in other people's lives! Guess whoever did this has something against me and wanted to get me into trouble. Whoever you are, if you are reading this please know that all this nonsense in ineffectual because we are very close as a family. TOUCH WOOD! If you have the guts come and thrash out your problems face-to-face. Else butt out!!
Mom's finally, finally shifting to Bombay. Have been staying without her for practically more than three years now, and have really missed her all this while. While we may fight and squabble and disagree on a whole lot of things, she is definitely the world's best mom, and I am counting the days till she gets here!!
I am tired...really, really tired. Mentally and physically. Had a horrible experience today -- somebody called my mother all the way in Pune and spoke utter crap about me. Thank God that my mom knows me well enough to have complete trust in me and simply slammed the phone down without taking cognizance of the bullshit. But it does leave a bitter taste in the mouth.
These kind of mischief-mongers are pretty common in Delhi, but I thought things like this did not happen in Bombay. Here people just do not have the time to interfere in other people's lives! Guess whoever did this has something against me and wanted to get me into trouble. Whoever you are, if you are reading this please know that all this nonsense in ineffectual because we are very close as a family. TOUCH WOOD! If you have the guts come and thrash out your problems face-to-face. Else butt out!!
Mom's finally, finally shifting to Bombay. Have been staying without her for practically more than three years now, and have really missed her all this while. While we may fight and squabble and disagree on a whole lot of things, she is definitely the world's best mom, and I am counting the days till she gets here!!
January 13, 2004
Shooter's Launches in Bandra on Thursday
Shooter's, Bandra's latest addition to Mumbai's burgeoning bar culture will be launched on Thursday, January 15, 2004.
Owned by young entrepreneur Ranjit Bindra and managed by Darshit Kajaria, who has studied hospitality management at the famous Swiss school, Les Roche and
have had work experience with world- class hotels in Europe, U.S.A, the Middle-East and good old India to boot, the management will most assuredly have an international edge. Shooter’s is poised to become Bandra's "friendly neighborhood bar", something that is sadly fading away in today's fast paced environment.
Shooter's, as the name suggests, will serve up to 50 odd shots from among the gamut of popular drinks like Bloody Maries, Long Island Iced Teas and Gimlets, all reasonably priced and mixed in, you guessed it - SHOT glasses! Also, customers can devise their own personalized shots.
Shooter's is a casual full service facility with a seating capacity of 100 covers incorporated in December 2003. It is not conceived as a theme restaurant, but as
a comfortable place where guests can enjoy professionally mixed shooters and grilled snacks, all very reasonably priced, amidst great retro and more music spun by their resident DJ, DJ Alex.
There is nothing la-di-da about the menu, and although, other than Indian, it has Italian, Mexican and Chinese dishes none of them have unpronounceable names…
The menu is varied and wholesome.
The decor was executed by Karim Furniturewala and his associate Mital Jaliwala who have been inspired by the work of world renowned architect, the late Frank Lloyd
Wright.
The decor has no definite scheme. It does not fall into categories such as classical, rustic, minimalist and so on and so forth. The word to describe it is 'eclectic'.
The reference to the name Shooter's, from the 007-cops-and-robbers view point can be found in subtle glass signage of targets or bulls eyes and a few Wild West frames.
Focused ambient lighting, emerald green, dark wood and red thrown in for fashionable measure gives Shooter's a comfortable and unpretentious, but yet crisp and stylish, feel. The table tops are inlaid cultured marble and spot lit to perfection.
Owned by young entrepreneur Ranjit Bindra and managed by Darshit Kajaria, who has studied hospitality management at the famous Swiss school, Les Roche and
have had work experience with world- class hotels in Europe, U.S.A, the Middle-East and good old India to boot, the management will most assuredly have an international edge. Shooter’s is poised to become Bandra's "friendly neighborhood bar", something that is sadly fading away in today's fast paced environment.
Shooter's, as the name suggests, will serve up to 50 odd shots from among the gamut of popular drinks like Bloody Maries, Long Island Iced Teas and Gimlets, all reasonably priced and mixed in, you guessed it - SHOT glasses! Also, customers can devise their own personalized shots.
Shooter's is a casual full service facility with a seating capacity of 100 covers incorporated in December 2003. It is not conceived as a theme restaurant, but as
a comfortable place where guests can enjoy professionally mixed shooters and grilled snacks, all very reasonably priced, amidst great retro and more music spun by their resident DJ, DJ Alex.
There is nothing la-di-da about the menu, and although, other than Indian, it has Italian, Mexican and Chinese dishes none of them have unpronounceable names…
The menu is varied and wholesome.
The decor was executed by Karim Furniturewala and his associate Mital Jaliwala who have been inspired by the work of world renowned architect, the late Frank Lloyd
Wright.
The decor has no definite scheme. It does not fall into categories such as classical, rustic, minimalist and so on and so forth. The word to describe it is 'eclectic'.
The reference to the name Shooter's, from the 007-cops-and-robbers view point can be found in subtle glass signage of targets or bulls eyes and a few Wild West frames.
Focused ambient lighting, emerald green, dark wood and red thrown in for fashionable measure gives Shooter's a comfortable and unpretentious, but yet crisp and stylish, feel. The table tops are inlaid cultured marble and spot lit to perfection.
Latin House at Red Light
Thursday, (January 15, 2004) at Red Light promises not to be just another attempt by a Mumbai night club at having a 'theme night'.
DJ Rohan, accompanied by a percussionist, will give Mumbai's party animals a taste of some great House and, as a first on the city's club scene – authentic Latin House.
House music is probably most suited to dancing and is regarded as a key ingredient to the emergence of 'Club Culture' which seems to have engulfed our city today. On top of that when you add a dash of the ever sexy and vibrant Latino style to regular House music, it's safe to say that everyone's going to be on their feet!
DJ Rohan, accompanied by a percussionist, will give Mumbai's party animals a taste of some great House and, as a first on the city's club scene – authentic Latin House.
House music is probably most suited to dancing and is regarded as a key ingredient to the emergence of 'Club Culture' which seems to have engulfed our city today. On top of that when you add a dash of the ever sexy and vibrant Latino style to regular House music, it's safe to say that everyone's going to be on their feet!
January 10, 2004
Thanks to all the readers who sent lovely follow-up emails to the Bombay Life awards posted on January 1, 2004. I shall be posting nominations from other people as soon as I have satisfied myself of their credibilty, so keep watching this space!!
This has been one terrible week for me. New Year started with my computer crashing. The Motherboard had literally burnt out, taking the CD-R and CD-RW along with it, and causing a thousand more probs in its wake. Ended up having to buy a new comp, which meant loads of expenditure :(
But am very happy with Windows XP Professional -- its really amazing. I was reluctant to upgrade to this from Windows 2000, but after just one day am glad that I made the switch.
Incidentally, I have lost all the data that was there on my Outlook Express -- including the Address Book -- so for all the people who know me out there, pls pls resend your contact details!!
This has been one terrible week for me. New Year started with my computer crashing. The Motherboard had literally burnt out, taking the CD-R and CD-RW along with it, and causing a thousand more probs in its wake. Ended up having to buy a new comp, which meant loads of expenditure :(
But am very happy with Windows XP Professional -- its really amazing. I was reluctant to upgrade to this from Windows 2000, but after just one day am glad that I made the switch.
Incidentally, I have lost all the data that was there on my Outlook Express -- including the Address Book -- so for all the people who know me out there, pls pls resend your contact details!!
January 07, 2004
From Sangeeta Wadhwani, Features Ed, L'Officiel-India:
Hi Anubha!
Here I am posting my observations to you for your zippy site. I nominate Meeta Bajaj of Coffee Communications as one of the more dynamic PR ladies on the block. Not only does she make media people feel at ease while she is feeding them relevant information, but she speaks honestly and coherently about things that PROs wouldn't normally discuss.
I also nominate the Vie Lounge and Deck as a new note on the party horizons - noteworthy because it overlooks Mumbai's balmy coastline, something very few nightspots manage to do. Sea magic saves our souls in this city!
I have a new category for you:
The Most Spirited Mumbai-ite: Janet Fine, author of Lizzat Un Nisa, Journalist, and curator of CoHo, the fortnightly art-poetry walk through downtown galleries, deserves a great deal of appreciation. Somehow, she manages to get workaholics to crawl out of their busy routines and share original creative efforts with a constantly changing audience. For one Saturday afternoon, if you join the fray, you hear ex-pat and local talent strumming guitars, doing the flamenco, dramatising short stories, and lots more. Look out for a book on CoHo, which will feature quaint art spots rediscovered by this movement!
From Bombay Life:Sangeeta, thanx a ton for taking out the time to do this...!!
Hi Anubha!
Here I am posting my observations to you for your zippy site. I nominate Meeta Bajaj of Coffee Communications as one of the more dynamic PR ladies on the block. Not only does she make media people feel at ease while she is feeding them relevant information, but she speaks honestly and coherently about things that PROs wouldn't normally discuss.
I also nominate the Vie Lounge and Deck as a new note on the party horizons - noteworthy because it overlooks Mumbai's balmy coastline, something very few nightspots manage to do. Sea magic saves our souls in this city!
I have a new category for you:
The Most Spirited Mumbai-ite: Janet Fine, author of Lizzat Un Nisa, Journalist, and curator of CoHo, the fortnightly art-poetry walk through downtown galleries, deserves a great deal of appreciation. Somehow, she manages to get workaholics to crawl out of their busy routines and share original creative efforts with a constantly changing audience. For one Saturday afternoon, if you join the fray, you hear ex-pat and local talent strumming guitars, doing the flamenco, dramatising short stories, and lots more. Look out for a book on CoHo, which will feature quaint art spots rediscovered by this movement!
From Bombay Life:Sangeeta, thanx a ton for taking out the time to do this...!!
January 01, 2004
Its the end of another year, and the newspapers and magazines are busy honoring Bombay's top-achievers for 2003. Here we would also like to pause and say a word of thanks to all those who were the actual backbone of the entertainment and lifestyle industry of Bombay in the last 12 months, the ones who make it all happen. We think they definitely deserve some credit for all the killing work that they put in to ensure that the rest of us have a great time!!
Best Public Relations Executives: Yvonne Rodrigues (Indage Hotels), Anjali Malhotra (JW Marriott), Jaya Joshi (Hyatt Regency). These ladies have tough briefs in a fickle market, but they have managed to pull off their assignments with unprecedented aplomb, propelling their client brands to the top of the country's entertainment rankings!
Best Event Manager: Stuti Jalan (Crosshair Communications). This 20-something girl has the knack of transforming the most monotonous launches and parties into fun events that everyone dies to get invited to. Her repertoire of novel ideas is seemingly endless, which is the reason that her two-year-old firm, of which she is the proprietor, holds such prestigious accounts like Provogue, Oikos, Exert Gym and Fosters.
Restauranteur of the Year: Vikrant Chougule of Indage Hotels. Promoters of Athena, Zaha, Sin, Mimosa...need we say any more??
Best Restaurant: Caliente, Olive. We just can't condense the beauty of these places in a couple of lines. You have to be there to understand this!
Best Lounge Bar: Athena, Zaha. Hip, happening and glamorous, these places are where Mumbai gravitates when it wants to put its hair down and party the night away!
Most Innovative Concept: Provogue Lounge. Provogue boutique by day, lounge bar by night, this has to be the best example of effective space utilization in a space-starved city like Mumbai.
Best Writer: Sangeeta Wadhwani (L'Officiel). Very few journalists have the ability to think beyond the box. Sangeeta can take the most jaded of topics and infuse new life into it by introducing fresh perspectives and innovative approaches. Also, her book, Shakti in the City, is the most terrific collection of short stories on contemporary Bombay that I have come across in a long, long time!
Most Professional Celebs: Jackie Shroff, Sanjeev Kapoor. Do you know that Sanjeev Kapoor shall work all night long to help you out if you need a rush article for the magazine; or that Jackie Shroff spent a major part of last New Year Eve finishing an article that he had promised to India Today Plus, simply because he believes that fulfilling a commitment is more important than anything else? And this was when he was on vacation with his family in Goa!
Most Down-to-Earth Celeb: Ashutosh Gowariker, Nethra Raghuraman, Poonam Dhillon. With the phenomenal success that these three have achieved in the fields of films and modelling respectively, one would expect them to be completely stuck-up brats. But meeting the unassuming Ashutosh, vivacious Nethra and unpretentious Poonam is like a breath of fresh air amidst the shallowness, ego battles and hypocricy that surrounds most of Bombay's celeb-circuit. Wish a few others took a leaf from their book!
Best Public Relations Executives: Yvonne Rodrigues (Indage Hotels), Anjali Malhotra (JW Marriott), Jaya Joshi (Hyatt Regency). These ladies have tough briefs in a fickle market, but they have managed to pull off their assignments with unprecedented aplomb, propelling their client brands to the top of the country's entertainment rankings!
Best Event Manager: Stuti Jalan (Crosshair Communications). This 20-something girl has the knack of transforming the most monotonous launches and parties into fun events that everyone dies to get invited to. Her repertoire of novel ideas is seemingly endless, which is the reason that her two-year-old firm, of which she is the proprietor, holds such prestigious accounts like Provogue, Oikos, Exert Gym and Fosters.
Restauranteur of the Year: Vikrant Chougule of Indage Hotels. Promoters of Athena, Zaha, Sin, Mimosa...need we say any more??
Best Restaurant: Caliente, Olive. We just can't condense the beauty of these places in a couple of lines. You have to be there to understand this!
Best Lounge Bar: Athena, Zaha. Hip, happening and glamorous, these places are where Mumbai gravitates when it wants to put its hair down and party the night away!
Most Innovative Concept: Provogue Lounge. Provogue boutique by day, lounge bar by night, this has to be the best example of effective space utilization in a space-starved city like Mumbai.
Best Writer: Sangeeta Wadhwani (L'Officiel). Very few journalists have the ability to think beyond the box. Sangeeta can take the most jaded of topics and infuse new life into it by introducing fresh perspectives and innovative approaches. Also, her book, Shakti in the City, is the most terrific collection of short stories on contemporary Bombay that I have come across in a long, long time!
Most Professional Celebs: Jackie Shroff, Sanjeev Kapoor. Do you know that Sanjeev Kapoor shall work all night long to help you out if you need a rush article for the magazine; or that Jackie Shroff spent a major part of last New Year Eve finishing an article that he had promised to India Today Plus, simply because he believes that fulfilling a commitment is more important than anything else? And this was when he was on vacation with his family in Goa!
Most Down-to-Earth Celeb: Ashutosh Gowariker, Nethra Raghuraman, Poonam Dhillon. With the phenomenal success that these three have achieved in the fields of films and modelling respectively, one would expect them to be completely stuck-up brats. But meeting the unassuming Ashutosh, vivacious Nethra and unpretentious Poonam is like a breath of fresh air amidst the shallowness, ego battles and hypocricy that surrounds most of Bombay's celeb-circuit. Wish a few others took a leaf from their book!
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