The Indian Fascination for fans

As an Indian who grew up in a simple Middle Class family, Air Conditioning was a luxury that no one that I knew could afford. Even if someone had an AC installed, they would barely run it once a year because of the high electricity costs associated with it.

We all survived with Ceiling Fans to keep us cool. Some lucky classmates had Tablefans on their study tables to keep them cool during the sweltering heat. This too was a luxury in the hot and humid South.

In the dry heat of the North of India, an Air Cooler was de rigueur. Unless movable, it would be installed in the central hall, so everyone could sleep in the same room and save on electricity bills (completely different concept from saving electricity) It operated on the concept of a huge fan blowing fine mists of water over the humans crowding around it. Sometimes the wtaer added to the cooler, was given a touch of fragrance like Khus or Rose with a little essence added to the water. But this was an indulgence reserved for occasions when there were "guests" visiting and the like.

Having grown up with these fans, they have become a necessity in our lives. I have friends who have moved to the US (pioneer in central heating/cooling systems) at least a decade ago and they have bought mini portable fans to lull themselves to sleep. It is something to do with the motion of the breeze or the hum of the fan, that helps us sleep more peacefully. Familiar sounds and sensations from childhood perhaps.

Personally, while we were in Egypt, we used a tall floor fan in front of the Air conditioning during summer, to disperse the cool air further and during winter to disperse the hot air around the room and provide some air circulation in an otherwise still room.

In Dubai, even with the central airconditioning, fans were among the first of our electronic purchases and I use them more regularly and constantly, than the airconditioners even in the peak of Summer right now.

A common complaint about fans is that they do not fit or match or belnd into the decor. But with the modern ranges and designs available, this is no longer a valid complaint.

Consider, craftmade ceiling fans like or

You can even go Futuristic with brands like Fanimation, which produce such gems as: , and .


If you are looking for exclusivity, then brands like Hunter Fans produce Limited editions like the 1886 Series Limited Edition Model 18865 Ceiling Fan

Fans are a sensible choice. They can be decorative and add so much more character to your room, than just a drab white airconditioning unit or concealed central airconditioning. Its low electricity usage is good for both your wallet and the environment. So do give the fan a chance.

Buying tickets online

A lot of us have been using online sites to buy airline tickets. I remember reading recently that more than 40% of airline tickets in India are now being bought online avoiding the need for a travel agent.

While airline ticketing has taken off in a big way and railway ticketing to some extent, what about other kinds of tickets?

Tickets for shows like say for example: David Copperfield Tickets for a Magic/Illusionist show.

Music Shows like a Beyonce show or A Steady Rain Tickets

Or even something offbeat like Radio City Christmas Spectacular tickets

Tickets for Cricket matches being sold online. Wouldn't it completely beat having to stand in line, braving inclement weather and worse, wasting hours of precious time that could be better utilised elsewhere?

The internet can make life a lot easier and help save a valuable resource of time. This is why sites that offer services like online ticket booking will always be a great alternative.

Movie Review : The Black Dahlia

Interesting movie. A little confusing with all the back and forth and multiple cases.

But some good acting, good performances and interesting story.

Some may need to watch the movie twice to get the whole story because the plot lines are a little convoluted.

But its worth a watch for those who enjoy crime mysteries. This one has a nice 40's vibe.

Book Review : Everyone Worth Knowing

Picked this one up because I found the "Devil Wears Prada" good for a light read when traveling.

The cover of Everyone Worth Knowing touted the fact that is was written by the same author in almost the same font size as the title.

That should have warned me : Be wary when someone is trying too hard.

The theme here is vaguely similar to the original bestseller, Bette the main protagonist is sick of her job in banking, her boss and his daily inspirational emails with quotations. One day she quits her job in disgust and then spends the next couple of weeks vegetating in her house.

Her well known columnist uncle, Will uses his connections to get her a job at an up and coming boutique PR firm where partying hard is part of her job.

The rest of the book is a constant whine of how terrible Bette's life is and how she isn't happy with what she is doing but still keeps doing it anyway.

This book has none of the humor of the first, or something enlightening like a window into the fashion magazine industry that the first book provided.

This book just talks about the parties the PR folks attend where they drink, do drugs and have random hookups with barely any insight into the inner workings of the PR industry.

This book is a combination of gossip pages, Harlequin romances (which Bette incidentally favours and even has monthly book club meetings to discuss them) and poor me whining.

The book is barely passable as chicklit. Guys don't even bother starting to read it.

Also published on desicritics.org

     

Movie Reviews : Trade & Human Trafficking

By coincidence, I happened to watch 2 movies dealing with the same subject in 2 days. One a video rental, the other a Lifetime miniseries on Hallmark.

Both deal with the subject of women and young children being kidnapped and sold in a modern day form of slavery.

Trade is a movie seen from the eyes of a Mexican teenager following the trail of his 13 year old sister and her kidnappers across the border. Human Trafficking mostly follows from the point of view of an NYPD agent working with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In both movies, the women are brought from all over the world into Mexico and then into the US by walking across the Mexican border.

Both show Mexican cops hand in glove with the traders. In both movies there is a scene where the Mexican cops get to "sample the merchandise" when it is being en route.

In Trade, the group is caught by the border police in the US and placed in detention until they can be sent back to Mexico. And the American officials simply turn away when one of the women tries to explain that they have been kidnapped.

Both movies are very realistic without being sensational or titillating. The horrors the girls and children (little boys and girls) face are unimaginable.

In Human Trafficking an entire set of young children is sequestered in a container and sent on a ship bound for Saudi Arabia on a 10 day journey from Mexico when their pimp gets news that the cops are about to raid his den.

Trade introduces 2 new child actors who are absolutely brilliant in their roles. Kevin Kline is the only well known actor in that movie and is in more of a supporting role.

Human Trafficking has a star cast of Donald Sutherland, Mira Sorvino and Robert Carlyle (the Scottish guy from Full Monty) who turns out an amazingly chilly performance as a Eastern European Sex Trade boss.

The entire situation of Human Trafficking is summed up absolutely eloquently in Mira Sorvino's press statement at the end of that movie.

Worth a watch for the realistic view of a universal problem. As Sorvino said "It could be your daughter, your sister, your best friend next"

Also published on desicritics.org