I am going off the radar for now. See you in 2013 when I will resurface. Wait for new announcements then.
28 November, 2012
Tango teacher in Delhi
Here comes a very official post about Tango. The official photographer who clicked the pictures below, was officially prohibited to click me. Yet, I officially have these pictures and am officially posting them.
Tango is an intimate dance of emotions and passions. For me it is an addiction.
Now here is the official version of Tango scene and politics in Delhi/India.
Tango is still upcoming in India. In Delhi, the community is really small. Bunch of about 50 people. There is a self claimed teacher, who has officially learnt it only by watching youtube videos. One month of learning with him means 10 months of unlearning. Then came another Tango enthusiast from Chicago. You can know more about him here.
Last year the video teacher organized his first Tango festival. You can see my pictures here. And then we had differences. You can read about it here.
A year passed and I had lots of good opportunities to enhance my skills and learn under Worlds's top teachers in Argentina, Spain and Tokyo. This year the video teacher and the Chicago returned organized another Tango festival in Delhi.
Their jealousy and insecurity was/is so high, that Yours Truly was not officially invited to the festival.
Below you see my pictures of milonga in Gym Khana. That is a public place, where any member of Gym Khana can sign you in. Hence I had a ball of time there, much to their chagrin.
All this while I have stayed away from teaching Tango, from Tango politics. I stated my reasons for not teaching Tango here. But like they say, "Never say never." Guruji has always said, "Whatever you resist, persists". And so seems to be in my case. I guess it has to be. Now Yours Truly heads towards official Tango teachers training and would take a plunge into officially teaching tango. Enough of dealing with the buffoons as Tango teachers and monopolizing the Tango scene. It is high time that their bubble bursts. Certain people have left me with no other choice but to give them a head on collision. Resolution 2013 declared.
27 November, 2012
No Cheese please!
I have been asked to explain why parmesan cheese is bad for you. Made from cow's hormone and processed with table salt and chemicals should answer all your questions, but I will go deeper. It has food coloring and depletes calcium from your bones. Do not believe the hype that cheese is good for you. It has calcium to magnesium ratio of 28:1. One must have a ratio of 2:1 for the body to absorb calcium. Milk is 10:1.
Please do not give your kids cow’s milk, cheese for protein. If a health professional advises you use cheese on a regular basis, explain the ratios, which they should know.
If not, FIRE THEM on the spot!
A better option would be Nutritional Yeast!!! Nutritional yeast is made from a single-celled organic Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, which is grown on molasses and then harvested, washed, and dried with heat to kill or “deactivate” it. Because it’s inactive, it doesn’t froth or grow like baking yeast does. So it has no leavening ability. Don’t worry;no animals are harmed in this process because yeasts are members of the fungi family, like mushrooms, not animals.
Nutritional yeast has such an unappealing name. The brand that most vegans use is Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula because it is a good source of vitamin B12 and contains no whey(THANK GOODNESS!).
What It Isn’t
Nutritional yeast is not the same as brewer’s yeast, which is a product of the beer-making process and is very bitter. It’s also not Torula yeast, which is grown on paper-mill waste and is also not very tasty. And please do not try to substitute active dry yeast or baking yeast, which taste bad and will probably make a huge, frothy mess because their yeasts are alive.
Why use it?
As mentioned earlier No Cheese Please! Cheese is a KILLER! As you can guess from its name, nutritional yeast is packed with nutrition, particularly B-vitamins, folic acid, selenium, zinc, and protein. It’s low in fat, gluten-free (check specific brands for certification),and contains no added sugars or preservatives. Because vitamin B12 is absent from plant foods unless it’s added as a supplement, nutritional yeast that contains B12, such as Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula, is a great addition to the vegan diet.
The vitamins and minerals are all well and good, but truthfully, I use nutritional yeast for its flavor, which has been described as cheesy,nutty and savory” Just a tablespoon or two can add richness to soups, gravies, and other dishes, and larger amounts can make “cheese” sauces and eggless scrambles taste cheesy with egg flavor.
The savory taste of nutritional yeast comes from glutamaic acid, an amino acid that is formed during the drying process. Glutamic acid is not the same as the commercial additive monosodium glutamate(MSG) and is a naturally occurring amino acid found in many fruits and vegetables. Adding a small amount of nutritional yeast to a dish enhances the flavors present and helps form a rich flavor base.
How Do I Use It:
Sprinkle it on your pastes
Stir it into organic mashed potatoes.
Add a little to the cooking water for “cheesy grits”
Sprinkle on your pizza
Make almond “parmesan” by blending nutritional yeast with raw almonds in a food processor.
Add a tablespoon or two to bean dishes to enhance flavors.
*Remember that good nutrition can be a part of your life!
Ps-A very important part of your health is to know what is going on inside your body. Blood analyzed under a microscope is key. How often have you gone to a doctor’s office and have heard, “Everything looks good” It does not tell the tale. Let’s keep you and those that mean the most to you healthy!
Please do not give your kids cow’s milk, cheese for protein. If a health professional advises you use cheese on a regular basis, explain the ratios, which they should know.
If not, FIRE THEM on the spot!
A better option would be Nutritional Yeast!!! Nutritional yeast is made from a single-celled organic Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, which is grown on molasses and then harvested, washed, and dried with heat to kill or “deactivate” it. Because it’s inactive, it doesn’t froth or grow like baking yeast does. So it has no leavening ability. Don’t worry;no animals are harmed in this process because yeasts are members of the fungi family, like mushrooms, not animals.
Nutritional yeast has such an unappealing name. The brand that most vegans use is Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula because it is a good source of vitamin B12 and contains no whey(THANK GOODNESS!).
What It Isn’t
Nutritional yeast is not the same as brewer’s yeast, which is a product of the beer-making process and is very bitter. It’s also not Torula yeast, which is grown on paper-mill waste and is also not very tasty. And please do not try to substitute active dry yeast or baking yeast, which taste bad and will probably make a huge, frothy mess because their yeasts are alive.
Why use it?
As mentioned earlier No Cheese Please! Cheese is a KILLER! As you can guess from its name, nutritional yeast is packed with nutrition, particularly B-vitamins, folic acid, selenium, zinc, and protein. It’s low in fat, gluten-free (check specific brands for certification),and contains no added sugars or preservatives. Because vitamin B12 is absent from plant foods unless it’s added as a supplement, nutritional yeast that contains B12, such as Red Star Vegetarian Support Formula, is a great addition to the vegan diet.
The vitamins and minerals are all well and good, but truthfully, I use nutritional yeast for its flavor, which has been described as cheesy,nutty and savory” Just a tablespoon or two can add richness to soups, gravies, and other dishes, and larger amounts can make “cheese” sauces and eggless scrambles taste cheesy with egg flavor.
The savory taste of nutritional yeast comes from glutamaic acid, an amino acid that is formed during the drying process. Glutamic acid is not the same as the commercial additive monosodium glutamate(MSG) and is a naturally occurring amino acid found in many fruits and vegetables. Adding a small amount of nutritional yeast to a dish enhances the flavors present and helps form a rich flavor base.
How Do I Use It:
Sprinkle it on your pastes
Stir it into organic mashed potatoes.
Add a little to the cooking water for “cheesy grits”
Sprinkle on your pizza
Make almond “parmesan” by blending nutritional yeast with raw almonds in a food processor.
Add a tablespoon or two to bean dishes to enhance flavors.
*Remember that good nutrition can be a part of your life!
Ps-A very important part of your health is to know what is going on inside your body. Blood analyzed under a microscope is key. How often have you gone to a doctor’s office and have heard, “Everything looks good” It does not tell the tale. Let’s keep you and those that mean the most to you healthy!
Grape crushing, cake mixing, wine, champagne and lunch
Such a lovely afternoon. ITC, Sheraton, Saket, had organized a lavish lunch buffet for its patrons. There were live singers, stand up comedians, cocktails, sushis, vast spread of food, wine tasting, cake mixing and best of all grape crushing.
With my friends.
What I wore:
Body con dress: A recent gift from my friend Jassi, who was visiting me.
High boots: Bought in Frankfurt.
Clutch: Gift from my cousin brother in Tokyo.
Mixing enormous amounts of raisins, figs, cherries etc.
And grape crushing.
It is a great pedicure. But also loads of fun.
How happy we are mixing the ingredients of the cake. Some activities like this, bring out a child in us.
So excited.
26 November, 2012
My picture in The Asian Age
My picture and my fitness quote came in The Asian Age yesterday here on this link.
Diwali is long over. But the after-effects of binging on sweets, fried snacks and not to mention booze remain. So it’s time to get serious about knocking off those extra pounds. Be it working out in gyms, taking aerobics or yoga classes or just dancing, party lovers in the city are leaving no stone unturned to shed off the extra kilos.
“It is during this period that people, who had skipped their regular fitness routine due to festivities, work out extra,” says Kiran Bajaj Sawhney, a personal fitness trainer, who provides training in aerobics, pilates, kickboxing, dance exercises and various other forms.
Usher in New Year in shape
Diwali is long over. But the after-effects of binging on sweets, fried snacks and not to mention booze remain. So it’s time to get serious about knocking off those extra pounds. Be it working out in gyms, taking aerobics or yoga classes or just dancing, party lovers in the city are leaving no stone unturned to shed off the extra kilos.
“It is during this period that people, who had skipped their regular fitness routine due to festivities, work out extra,” says Kiran Bajaj Sawhney, a personal fitness trainer, who provides training in aerobics, pilates, kickboxing, dance exercises and various other forms.
Women, live your life your way.
She had stayed a virgin so she wouldn’t
be called a tramp or a slut; had married so she wouldn’t be called an old maid;
faked orgasms so she wouldn’t be called frigid; had children so she wouldn’t be
called barren; had not been a feminist because she didn’t want to be called
queer and a man-hater; never nagged or raised her voice so she wouldn’t be
called a bitch… She had done all that and yet, still, this stranger called her names to vent out his wrath.
Women are expected to be nice and sweet, to make other people feel comfortable. A woman who says ‘hey, I think there’s a problem here’ is being ‘negative.’ A woman who doesn’t smile while she’s being harassed is ‘humorless.’ A woman who prefers to stay focused on tasks is a ‘cold bitch.’ Significant gendering is involved here; women have an obligation to look and act a certain way and when they don’t, they need to be hassled until they do.
Women are expected to be nice and sweet, to make other people feel comfortable. A woman who says ‘hey, I think there’s a problem here’ is being ‘negative.’ A woman who doesn’t smile while she’s being harassed is ‘humorless.’ A woman who prefers to stay focused on tasks is a ‘cold bitch.’ Significant gendering is involved here; women have an obligation to look and act a certain way and when they don’t, they need to be hassled until they do.
Conclusion: Just do not
give a f*** and live your life.
Too many people give a damn about what insignificant strangers think of them. The next time, think
of this: Are those people putting food on your table? Paying your
salary? Do they give a f*** about your general well-being? The answer to
this is- No, they don't.
I had written a similar post earlier here.
25 November, 2012
Jealousy monger
I invoke a lot of jealousy. I have no idea why. I assume people are taken aback by a confident, pretty girl, who knows what she wants in life and is not going to let anyone in her way. Men like a woman who is naive, gullible, wallflower. They do not take too kindly to a woman who is strong, has a head on her shoulder, is not coy, is not available. Women too get shocked of such independent and confident creature. Why can't a woman be strong, kick- ass and intelligent, without being objectified? Why should a woman find ways to find herself acceptable to men? Why are men afraid of women's strengths?
Jealousy is a tribute the mediocrity pays. A competent person is incapable of jealousy. Bigotry leads to insecurity. There is a jumble of secret worship and ostensible aversion. What do I do to handle neurotic insecurity? I shrug it off and be myself. Guruji says, "Do not be a football of other people's opinions."
I am no bakery. I do not sugar coat anything. If you ask for my opinion, then that is what you will get. Do not be mad when it is not what you want to hear. I may not be perfect but at least I am not fake.
Jealousy is a tribute the mediocrity pays. A competent person is incapable of jealousy. Bigotry leads to insecurity. There is a jumble of secret worship and ostensible aversion. What do I do to handle neurotic insecurity? I shrug it off and be myself. Guruji says, "Do not be a football of other people's opinions."
I am no bakery. I do not sugar coat anything. If you ask for my opinion, then that is what you will get. Do not be mad when it is not what you want to hear. I may not be perfect but at least I am not fake.
My school/college friend
I have written earlier about my school/ college friend here. And my friend from Toronto is visiting me. And we are having nice quite time with each other.
