Life Less Ordinary …: 2008

Friday 26 December 2008

Happily Married For 3 Years - Eternally in Love - Forever !! :)

We are told that people stay in love because of chemistry, or because they remain intrigued with each other, because of many kindnesses, because of luck. But part of it has got to be forgiveness and gratefulness.

When you first trust in love only to be deceived later, you probably loose hope of re-living a normal life. But when two such people with the same kind of past experience meet, they both give love a second chance and this time it works! This time its indeed the Forever kind of Love that they each believed existed - that they both believed they deserved - only this time from each other !

Our relationship began with honest confessions and we are both immensely grateful to have found each other. Our's is definitely "Not the Perfect" kind of a relationship - reason enough why the flame still burns and sparks still fly everytime we see each other at the end of the day ! :)

I admire WE as a couple not for the chemistry we share or the way we look together, but for the way we have evolved and changed in each others company. The way we have accommodated each others like's/dislike's willingly. There is no such norm as a Wife's thing or a Husband's thing. If Abhi has made a concious effort to be a great cook and an entertainer, I have made all the efforts to keep the house in order, the finances straight and gelled well with his (our) social circle.

We truly invest in together-times which are strictly our's - be it going on a holiday or just exercising/cooking together. Getting involved in the same activities at the same time is a lot of fun. We truly share a zest for life which I often observe seems to have faded with time with a lot of other couples our age. Each of us has our own set of hobbies which keeps us both engaged for those Me-Times.

We share a lot in common - the habit to keep things strictly organized, to keep the house tidy and spotlessly clean, to keep making changes and innovating our daily lifestyle, celebrating the smallest of occassions in grandeur, finding the satisfaction in giving to loved ones and to the society at large, our love for great food, maintaining a variety in clothing, cherishing the smallest of moments and capturing them on camera, our love for kids, for fitness and exercising, for wining, dining and partying when time strikes.

In these almost 4 yrs that we have known each other and 3 years that we have been married, we unknowingly seem to have grown up to be influenced by each other. Yet we were quite different when it came to handling anger, the way we express ourselves is poles opposite - while I find myself to be the Tell it like it is kindda girl, Abhi is more the diplomatic love all, please all kindda guy. While he is the true Bread Earner, I could be the true Bread Winner for taking care of our investments and personal finances :)

And yes, the road to making even the smallest of Decisions always starts with opposing views by the way and ends with one of us convincing the other but I must say even if one of us does not agree, the other does not go it alone without approval. I never ever thought I would ever depend on my husband for approval from selecting a shade of lipstick to scouting for a home! I get my hubby involved in all things small and big and willingly so ! :)

Celebrating our 3rd Wedding Anniversary, surely warrants a Post. The days ahead may not be the same as the ones behind us. They may be gloomy or may be a lot more challenging than the ones we have seen so far. The key to Eternal Love does not start with complacency or by taking the relationship for granted. We all work to get appraised in our Jobs, or work on looking healthier, likewise, we all need to attach a greater importance to our relationships and work on making them better by the day no matter what the circumstances.

As I once said to Abhi, "You may not be the 1st one I ever loved, but YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE ONLY ONE I WILL LOVE FOREVER !! " Today I say, "Happy Anniversary"!! :)

CHEERS!!
~ sayli :)

Wednesday 10 December 2008

Merry Christmas & A Prosperous New 2009 !!! :)

Dear One,

For we as a Country it's surely been a very challenging year, with the print and electronic media talking about and splashing news of a whole lot of bloodshed all year round, leaving no corner of Our Country appear peacefully safe. Financially too, it's been a watershed, with the Sensex slipping from 17K levels down to 9K levels. Professionally there have been cases where you may have had to settle with unsatisfactory bonus payouts, low raises or even worst - job cuts.

May be reason enough why I refrain from saying hope it's been a great 2008 for you & your family. Instead, I sincerely wish that 2009 would have a lot of Cheer to add to our lives both Personally & Professionally.

Thank You so much for even the smallest of things – an un-returnable favor, a simple phone call to wish me luck, a lightning fast reply to my urgent mail, your acknowledgement of my efforts, or just keeping me in your prayers/thoughts – all this truly meant a lot !!

I personally, have a lot of Failures to remember of this year, which I am sure would get wiped away with Brighter Rewards I would earn in the coming year.

Abhi and Me wish you Great Health, Success in all your Relationships and Prosperity to You and Your Family.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2009!! :) God Bless.

Luv n Luc as always,
- sayli :)

Tuesday 11 November 2008

Nutrition & The Food Pyramid

It is said that if we educate ourselves more about nutrition, than about weight loss we are more likely to maintain a fit mind in a fit body. The Food Pyramid then is more about eating a variety of foods, from each of the major food groups inclusive of (Water):

1: Carbohydrates

2: Protiens

3: Fats

4: Vitamins

5: Minerals

For a balanced diet, one must aim to have the following food groups in this quantity:

1: Sugars & Fats --- 1 Serving

2: Protien and Dairy Foods ---- 2-3 Servings

3: Fruit & Vegetables ---- 5 Servings

4: Starchy Foods ---- 4-5 Servings

LEVEL 1 : Sugars & Fats:

Foods containing sugars and fats are at the top of the pyramid. These include butter, cooking oils, oil-based dressings, ice cream, pastries, confectionery and certain soft drinks and should be eating sparingly as they are high in fat or refined carbohydrates such as sugar and honey. Altough they make food taste good, too much fat raises blood cholesterol levels. Sugars provide calories yet few nutrients and too much sugar can result in weight gain and tooth decay.

LEVEL 2: Protein and Dairy Foods:

Protien can come from animal sources (meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese and yogurt) or vegetable sources such as beans, lentils and seeds. Meat, Fish and alternatives provide protein, iron, zinc, magnesium and some B Vitamins, especially B12. Milk and dairy foods supply our bodies with protein, calcium and zinc and Vitamins B12, B2, A and D. Try to choose lean cuts of meat and low fat dairy products to avoid too high an intake of fat. Similarly, certain nuts and seeds are high in saturated fat so they should be eaten in moderation.

LEVEL 3: Fruit and Vegetables:

These provide fibre and some carbohydrates, as well as many of the vitamins and minerals that are essential for our bodies to function efficiently. In terms of their nutritional value, it is best to eat fruits and vegetables when fresh, altough certain varieties are fine frozen too. Canned produce and dried fruit also do provide some of the nutrients needed.

LEVEL 4: Starchy Foods:

The large base section of the pyramid contains the staple, starchy, carbohydrate foods that should provide the major source of energy in the diet. These include cereals (such as wheat, rye, oats, barley, millet), rice and products made from them, such as bread, pasta, noodles, cornmeal and breakfast cereals. Other staple carbohydrate foods in this group include potatoes, yams and other starchy vegetables. All the foods in this group are rich in nutrients supplying fibre, B vitamins and some calcium and iron as well as carbohydrates.

Yoga for Pregnancy - Trimester 3

Saturday 8 November 2008

Yoga for Pregnancy - Trimester 2

1. Matsya Kridasan (Flapping Fish Pose)
How to do?Lie on stomach with fingers interlocked under the head. Bend the left leg sideways and bring the left knee close to the ribs.
Right leg should remain straight. Swivel the arms to the left and rest the left elbow on the left knee. If this is not comfortable rest it on the floor. Rest the right side of the head on the right arm. Relax in the final pose, and after some time, change sides. Bent knee and head may be supported on a pillow for further comfort.
Benefits: Stimulates digestion and removes constipation. Relaxes nerves of the legs. In later months of pregnancy, lying on the back may cause pressure over major veins and block the circulation. In such circumstances, this posture is ideal for relaxing and sleeping. Also redistributes excess weight around waistline.
2. Vajrasan (Thunderbolt Pose)
How to do?Kneel on the floor. Bring big toes together and separate the heels. Lower the buttocks onto the inside surface of the feet with heels touching the side of the hips. Place hands on knees, palms down. Back and head should be straight , but not tense.
Benefits: Enhances digestive functions and can be practices directly after meals. Relieves stomach ailments like hyperacidity often a trouble faced during pregnancy. Alters blood flow and nervous impulses in the pelvic region and strengthens pelvic muscles. Assists women in labor.
3. Bhadrasan (Gracious Pose)
How to do?Sit in vajrasan (above). Separate the knees as far as possible, while keeping the toes in contact with the floor. Separate the feet just enough to allow the buttocks and perineum to rest on the floor. Try to separate the knees. Do not strain.
Benefits: Same as Vajrasan.
4. Marjari Asan (Cat Stretch Pose)
How to do?Sit with buttocks on the heels (Vajrasan). Raise the buttocks and stand on the knees. Lean forward and place the hands flat on the floor. This is the starting position. Inhale while raising the head and depressing the spine so that the back becomes concave. Exhale, while lowering the head and stretching the spine upward. At the end of the exhalation contract the abdomen and pull in the buttocks.
Head will be now between the arms, facing the thighs. This is one round. It may be done for 5-10 times .Be careful not to strain yourself.
Benefits: This asan improves flexibility of the neck, shoulders and spine. Tones female reproductive system. Can be safely practiced during first 6 months of pregnancy.
5. Hasta Utthanasan (Hand Raising Pose)
How to do?Stand with feet together and arms on the sides. Cross hands in front of body. Inhale and slowly raise arms over the head, keeping them crossed. At same time bend head slightly backward and look up at the hands.
Exhale and spread arms out to the sides at shoulder level.. Inhale and reverse the movement, re-crossing the arms above the head. Exhale and lower the arms straight down in front of the body.
Benefits: Removes stiffness from the shoulders and upper back. The deep synchronized breath improves breathing capacity. Influences heart and improves blood circulation. Whole body, especially the brain receives an extra supply of oxygen.
6. Tadasan (Palm Tree Pose)
How to do?Stand with feet together and arms on the side. Raise arms over the head, interlock fingers and then turn the palms upward. Place hands over the head. Inhale and stretch the arms, shoulders and chest upwards. Raise heels to come up on the toes. Stretch whole body from top to bottom. Lower heels while exhaling and bring hands on top of the head. Relax for few seconds and repeat whole round 5-10 times.
Benefits: Helps develop physical and mental balance. Entire spine is stretched and loosened, helping to clear congestion of the spinal nerves. Also stretches rectos abdominal muscles keeping them nerves toned.
7. Kati Chakrasan (Waist Rotating Pose)
How to do?Stand with the feet about half a meter apart and the arms by the sides. Inhale while raising the arms to shoulder level. Exhale and twist body to left. Bring right hand to left shoulder and wrap left arm around the back. Look over left shoulder. Hold breath for 2 seconds, inhale and return to starting position. Keep feet firmly on ground while twisting. Repeat on other side. Do twisting smoothly without any jerks. Do about 5-10 rounds.
Benefits: Tones waist, back and hips . Induces a feeling of lightness and used to relieve physical and mental tension.
8. Utthanasan (Squat and Rise Pose)
How to do?Stand erect on feet about a meter apart, with toes turned out. Interlock fingers of both hands and let them hang loosely in front of the body. Slowly bend knees and lower buttocks. Straighten knees and return to upright position.
Benefits: Strengthens muscles of middle back, uterus, thighs and ankles.
9. Meru Akarshanasan (Spinal Bending pose)
How to do?Lie on right side with left leg on right leg. Bend right arm. Placing the elbow on the floor. Support head on right palm. Place left arm on left thigh. Raise the left leg as high as possible, slide the left hand to the foot and grasp the big toe. Repeat on other side.
Benefits: Relaxes the hamstring, inner thigh and abdominal muscles and stretches the muscles of the sides of the body rendering them stronger and flexible.

Yoga for Pregnancy - Trimester 1

1. Ardha Titali Asan (Half Butterfly)
How to do?Sit with legs outstretched. Bend the right leg and place the right foot as far up on the left thigh as possible. Place the right hand on top of the bent right knee.
Hold the toes of the right foot with the left hand. While breathing in, gently move the right knee up towards the chest. Breathing out, gently push the knee down and try to touch the floor. The trunk should not move. Movement of leg should be achieved by the exertion of the right arm. Repeat with left leg. Slowly practice about 10 up and down movements with each leg. DO NOT STRAIN.
Benefits: It is an excellent practice for loosening of hip and knee joints, which shall enable faster delivery.
2. Poorna Titali Asan (Full Butterfly)
How to do?Sit with legs outstretched. Bend the knees and bring the soles of the feet together, keeping the heels as close to the body as possible. Fully relax the inner thighs. Clasp the feet with both hands.
Gently bounce the knees up and down, using the elbows as levers to press the legs down. Do not use any force. Repeat up to 20-30 times. Straighten the legs and relax.
Benefits: Tension from inner thigh muscles is relieved. Removes tiredness from legs.
3. Supta UdarakarshanAsan (Sleeping Abdominal Stretch Pose)
How to do?Lie in the back. Interlock fingers of both hands and place hands beneath the head. Bend knees, keeping the soles of feet on the floor.
While breathing out lower the legs towards the right, trying to touch the knees on the floor. At the same time move the head towards the left, giving uniform twisting stretch to the entire spine. Repeat on the other side by bending legs towards left, and head towards right.
Benefits: Removes constipation, improves digestion. Relieves stiffness and strain of spine caused by prolonged sitting.
4. Chakki Chalan Asan (Churning the Mill Pose)
How to do?Sit with legs stretched out in front of the body about one foot apart. Interlock fingers of both hands and hold the arms out straight in front of the chest.
Make large circular movements over both feet, trying to take the hands over the toes on the forward swing and coming as far back as possible on the backward swing. Practice 10 times in each direction.
Benefits: Excellent asan for toning the nerves and organs of pelvis and abdomen preparing them for pregnancy. Useful in regulating menstrual cycle. Also an excellent post natal exercise.
5. Kashta Takshan Asan (Chopping Wood Pose)
How to do?Sit in squatting pose with feet flat on the ground and one and a half feet apart. Clasp fingers of hand and place them on the floor between the feet. Straighten the arms and keep them straight throughout the practice. Elbows should be inside the knees. Imagine the action of chopping wood. Raise arms as high as possible, behind the head, stretching the spine upward. Look up towards the hands.
Make a downward stroke. Expel the breath making an "Ha" sound and removing all air from the lungs. Hands should return towards the feet. This is one round. Practice 5-10 rounds.
Benefits: It loosens the pelvic girdle and tones the pelvic muscles.
6. Marjari Asan (Cat Stretch Pose)
How to do?Sit with buttocks on the heels (Vajrasan). Raise the buttocks and stand on the knees. Lean forward and place the hands flat on the floor. This is the starting position. Inhale while raising the head and depressing the spine so that the back becomes concave. Exhale, while lowering the head and stretching the spine upward.
At the end of the exhalation contract the abdomen and pull in the buttocks. Head will be now between the arms, facing the thighs. This is one round. It may be done for 5-10 times .Be careful not to strain yourself.
Benefits: This asan improves flexibility of the neck, shoulders and spine. Tones female reproductive system. Can be safely practiced during first 6 months of pregnancy.
7. Kati Chakrasan (Waist Rotating Pose)
How to do?Stand with the feet about half a meter apart and the arms by the sides. Inhale while raising the arms to shoulder level. Exhale and twist body to left. Bring right hand to left shoulder and wrap left arm around the back. Look over left shoulder. Hold breath for 2 seconds, inhale and return to starting position. Keep feet firmly on ground while twisting. Repeat on other side. Do twisting smoothly without any jerks. Do about 5-10 rounds.
Benefits: Tones waist, back and hips. Induces a feeling of lightness and used to relieve physical and mental tension.
8. Tadasan (Palm Tree Pose)
How to do?Stand with feet together and arms on the side. Raise arms over the head, interlock fingers and then turn the palms upward. Place hands over the head. Inhale and stretch the arms, shoulders and chest upwards. Raise heels to come up on the toes. Stretch whole body from top to bottom. Lower heels while exhaling and bring hands on top of the head. Relax for few seconds and repeat whole round 5-10 times.
Benefits: Helps develop physical and mental balance. Entire spine is stretched and loosened, helping to clear congestion of the spinal nerves. Also stretches rectos abdominal muscles keeping them nerves toned.
9. Utthanasan (Squat and Rise Pose)
How to do?Stand erect on feet about a meter apart, with toes turned out. Interlock fingers of both hands and let them hang loosely in front of the body. Slowly bend knees and lower buttocks. Straighten knees and return to upright position.
Benefits: Strengthens muscles of middle back, uterus, thighs and ankles.
10. Kandharasan (Shoulder Pose)
How to do?Lie flat on back. Bend knees, place soles of feet flat on the floor with the heels touching the buttocks. Feet and knees may be hip width apart. Grasp ankles with hands. Raise buttocks and arch back backward.
Try to raise the chest and navel as high as possible, without moving feet or shoulders. In final position, the body is supported by the head, neck, shoulders, arms and feet. Hold pose as long as it is comfortable. Release ankles and relax.
Benefits: Realigns the spine and relieves backache. It massages and stretches the colon and abdominal organs, improving digestion. Tones female reproductive organs and especially recommended for women who tend to miscarry. Should not be done in advanced stages of pregnancy.*Under expert guidance, it has been successfully used to turn the baby when it is a breech presentation.

Friday 7 November 2008

Where does the Weight Go ??

By now, I have seen atleast a dozen mothers around me. And the one thing that bothered every mother was her post pregnancy weight. When it takes one 9 Months to put on 8-10 Kgs or even more weight, it definitely isn't going off overnight. Others tend to think that baby fat is never going off and even stop attempting to loose weight.

The truth is untill 3-6 months post birth, even depending on wether you had a Normal birth or a C Section, it is advisable to avoid heavy exercise and fad diets since you are still feeding your baby.

It is important then to first know how your weight gain was distributed. I am 156 Cms and 51.9 Kgs Pre Pregnancy. I will probably gain 11.3 kgs - 15.9 kgs during my pregnancy.

The optimum trimester wise weight gain is as follows:
(i) First trimester: 1-2 kg
(ii) Second trimester: 5-7 kg
(iii) Third Trimester: 4-5 kg
Total = 10 Kgs - 14 Kgs

If you gained the average of the range above, this is where the weight would go (totals are rounded):
You:
Uterus = 1.1 kgs
Breasts = 0.5 kgs
Blood = 1.4 kgs
Water = 1.9 kgs
Fat = 3.8 kgs
Subtotal == 8.6 kgs

Your Baby:
Fetus = 3.4 kgs
Placenta = 0.7 kgs
Amniotic Fluid = 0.9 kgs
Subtotal = 5.0 kgs
Total = 13.6 kgs

Monday 6 October 2008

Webphere Process Server - Features

1: Built on open standards, it deploys and executes processes that orchestrate services (people, information, systems, and trading partners) within your service-oriented architecture (SOA) or non-SOA infrastructure.

2: Extends the value of core applications and databases by centralizing business processes and sharing them across the enterprise, enabling businesses to maximize resources and increase ROI 3: Helps cut costs by enabling flexible business processes with reusable assets, reducing the need to hard-code changes across multiple applications when making changes to existing processes or creating new ones.
4: Ensures compliance with regulations and internal requirements by that business operations run precisely as documented
5: Ensures process integrity to accommodate transaction intensive processes, while providing the scalability, reliability and flexibility needed for future business needs
6: Strong support for human workflow and enables rapid process changes, providing business agility and enabling you to leverage resources efficiently.
7: Operating systems supported: AIX, HP Unix, i family, Linux, Sun Solaris, Windows, z/OS

Thursday 2 October 2008

FAQ's on IBM's ESB Products

Q. What is an ESB?
A. An Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) is a flexible connectivity infrastructure for integrating applications and services. An ESB can power your Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) deployment by reducing the number, size, and complexity of interfaces between your applications and services.

An ESB performs the following:
1: Matches and routes communications between services
2: Converts between different transport protocols
3: Transforms message formats between requestor and service
4: Identifies and distributes business events from disparate sources

An ESB allows your organization to focus on your core business needs rather that the IT Infrastructure required to connect the programs together. An ESB allows you to add new services faster, and make changes to existing services, with little or no impact to existing services.

As ESBs evolve into control and enforcement points for dynamic management, their new benefits include being able to:
1: Add new services both faster, and dynamically, and
2: Invoke alternative services based on real-time needs.

Q. What are the IBM ESB offerings?
A. IBM delivers the most complete IBM ESB solutions ranging from platform-based, platform-neutral and purpose-built hardware.
WebSphere ESB is a platform-based ESB and optimized with WebSphere Application server for an integrated SOA platform.
WebSphere Message Broker is a platform-independent based ESB and is built for universal connectivity and transformation in heterogeneous IT environments.
WebSphere DataPower Integration Appliance XI50 is an purpose-built hardware ESB and is built for simplified deployment and hardened security.

Q. Why does IBM offer three ESBs?
A. IBM's approach to ESB solutions reflects the realities of evolving IT architectures, which are heterogeneous. One size does NOT fit all when it comes to ESB solutions. Businesses should have the freedom to select ESBs that fit their needs, rather than shoehorn a solution that is not optimal in their environment.

Q. When do I use WebSphere ESB, WebSphere Message Broker or WebSphere DataPower Integration Application XI50?

A. When to Use WebSphere ESB?
1: You use WebSphere Application Server and/or your team has skills with WAS Administration and Java coding or
2: You are now or planning on developing business process using WebSphere Process Server (WebSphere ESB and WPS have common tooling, programming model, and runtime) or
3: You are integrating with ISV business applications hosted on WAS or 3rd party solutions which extend and support WAS or
4: You are mainly focused on standards based interactions using XML, SOAP, Java, JEE, and WS or
5: You want to mediate between Web services and existing systems using JMS, WebSphere MQ, and WebSphere JCA Adapters or
6: Reliability and extensive transactional support are key requirements or
7: You want to minimize your server investment by co-hosting WebSphere services and ESB in one application server.

When to Use WebSphere Message Broker?
1: You are currently using WebSphere Message Broker but would like to extend existing application integration solutions to SOA and related standards or
2: Extend your web services support using WS-Security and WS-Addressing or
3: You have extensive heterogeneous infrastructures, including both standard and non-standards-based applications, protocols, and data formats or
4: You have extensive MQ skills and infrastructure or
5: You are implementing a wide range of advanced messaging and integration patterns including complex event processing or
6: You need extensive pre-built mediation support or
7: You have very complex transformation needs or
8: Reliability and extensive transactional support are key requirements or
9: You have very large files to process or
10: You need the deploy and interact with other ESBs as a remote host or
11: You need to integrate with other applications via the WebSphere Adapters or
12: To achieve very high-performance with horizontal and vertical scaling

When To Use WebSphere DataPower?
1: Ease of use is a primary consideration
2: Simple experience of drop-in installation and admin-based configuration with no or minimal development required or
3: Security, policy and SLA management is required for web services management. Or
4: You are transforming between XML-and-XML or XML-and-any other format
5: Your interaction patterns are relatively simple or
6: You are using XML-based or WS-Security extensively or
7: You require use of advanced Web services standards or
8: You need to minimize message latency when adding an ESB layer or
9: You are doing extensive XML processing combined with high performance requirements
10: Your ESB must be in production very quickly

Q. How do WebSphere ESB, WebSphere Message Broker, and WebSphere DataPower interoperate?
A. IBM's ESB portfolio enables a full range of interoperability scenarios using web services via SOAP/HTTP, JMS, and WebSphere MQ. WebSphere Message Broker and WebSphere DataPower Integration Appliance XI50 now have a single tool and security policy description for optimal security requirements. With a simple click within WebSphere Message Broker, WebSphere DataPower Integration Appliance XI50 will perform WS-Security processing. Applications and message flows will remain unchanged.

Q. What tools do you use with WebSphere Message Broker?
A. WebSphere Message Broker includes the WebSphere Message Broker toolkit which is based on the Rational Software Development Platform which itself is built on Eclipse. The toolkit runs on either Windows or Linux on Intel, and enables the customer to configure the system, develop the message flows and manage deployed environments. The toolkit also provides visibility of adapters (remote or local) in a Broker message flow.

Q. What tools do you use with WebSphere ESB?
A. WebSphere Integration Developer, or WID, is the tool for use with both WebSphere ESB and WebSphere Process Server. WID is designed to be an easy-to-use tool, targeted at the Integration Developer. WID is built on the Rational Software Development Platform which itself is built on Eclipse. WID does not require the user to be a Java developer in order to build and deploy mediations; however it is can be integrated with Rational Application Developer (RAD) for those customers who wish to write their own Java code. Besides WID, other tools available are DataPower tooling, native web UI for administration and configuration of service interactions, WebSphere Transform Extender, XSLT editor, and XSLT maps.

Q. Do I need WebSphere MQ if I have WebSphere Message Broker?
A. Although WebSphere Message Broker is built on top of WebSphere MQ (and is included with Message Broker), WebSphere Message Broker and WebSphere MQ address different business needs. WebSphere MQ provides secure and reliable connectivity between application and systems, supported on more than 80 platform configurations. This provides the ability to move data unchanged between virtually all business environments likely to be deployed in a business infrastructure. WebSphere Message Broker is used as a transport for moving data between applications, but it is capable of performing additional tasks through understanding of data formats, allowing it to provide intelligent routing and transformation of XML data formats. Businesses will still see a need for WebSphere MQ to connect up the multiple different environments that make up the typical IT infrastructure deployed around an enterprise, but are likely to see a need for an ESB to add value in environments where it can act on the structured data being exchanged between standards-based applications.

Q. Are JCA Technology Adapters bundled in WebSphere Message Broker?
A. The WebSphere Technology Adapters are a category, not a product. There are several -- JDBC, eMail, TCP/IP, Flat Files, etc. They are contrasted with the WebSphere Application Adapters such as for SAP, Siebel, PeopleSoft, etc. For WebSphere ESB and WebSphere Process Server, both types of adapters come "bundled" with WebSphere Information Developer. BUT this does not entitle the user to deploy them. The Application Adapters must still be licensed for use. The Technology Adapters, on the other hand, are can be used with WESB/WPS with no license, i.e., the license for their use comes effectively with your license of WESB/WPS. With WebSphere Message Broker 6.1, the Application Adapters are now packaged with the WebSphere Message Broker Toolkit and show up on the palette as Broker nodes. Like WESB/WPS, the customer still requires a license to deploy them. The WebSphere Technology Adapters do not come with WMBT and do not work with WMB, BUT that is OK because WMB comes with a set of nodes (JDBC, File, TCP/IP, eMail, etc) that provide equivalent function and no additional cost is required.

Q. Do I need WebSphere ESB if I already use WebSphere Application Server?
A. Because WebSphere ESB is built on WebSphere Application Server, through their WebSphere ESB license; customers are able to utilize WebSphere Application Server function. In addition, WebSphere ESB also includes additional functions not supplied with WebSphere Application Server (WebSphere Application Server ND edition allows unrestricted use). WebSphere ESB is likely to appeal to many WebSphere Application Server customers who are looking to integrate applications running in their enterprise, who do not want to implement the integration required to link the applications by coding bespoke application logic, either within the application programs themselves or by coding additional adapter logic. WebSphere ESB will allow the integration of applications with minimal programming, with the integration logic being performed on the data 'in-flight' between applications.

Q. If WebSphere Process Server is powered by ESB technologies; do I need to buy WebSphere ESB as well?
A. WebSphere Process Server is powered by the same technology available with WebSphere ESB. This capability is part of the underlying functionality of WebSphere Process Server and no additional license for WebSphere ESB is required for WebSphere Process Server to take advantage of these capabilities. However customers may choose to deploy additional standalone licenses of WebSphere ESB around their enterprise to extend the connectivity reach of the process integration solutions powered by WebSphere Process Server. For example, WebSphere ESB could be installed closer to an SAP application to host a WebSphere Adapter for SAP and to transform SAP messages before sending that information across the network to a business process choreographed by WebSphere Process Server.

Thursday 25 September 2008

Yogasanas - Curing Menstrual Cycle Complaints

1: Shirsasan
2: Sarvangasan
3: Pashimottanasan
4: Uttanasan
5: Adhomukha Shwanasan
6: Baddha Padmasan
7: Yogamudrasan
8: Parvatasan
9: Matsyasan
10: Karmasan / Supta Karmasan
11: Veerasan / Supta Veerasan
12: Paryakasan
13: Badhakonasan
14: Upavishta Konasan
15: Urdhvamukha Pashimottanasan
16: Marichyasan
17: Ardha Matsyandrasan
18: Shavasan
19: Naadishodhan Pranayaam

Saturday 20 September 2008

Yogasanas - To Cure Backache Problems

1: Sheershasan
2: Sarvangasan
3: Supta Padangushtasan
4: Mahamudrasan
5: Janu Sheersasan
6: Parivrutta Janusheersansan
7: Pashimottanasan
8: Urdhvamukha Pashimottanasan
9: Parivrutta Pashimottanasan
10: Marichyasan
11: Ardha Matsyendrasan
12: Malasan
13: Adhomukha Shwanasan
14: Ushtrasan
15: Shalabhasan
16: Dhanurasan
17: Paarshwa Dhanurasan
18: Urdhwa Dhanurasan
19: Vipareet Chakrasan
20: Dwipaad Viparit Dandasan
21: Mandalasan
22: Shavasan

Thursday 18 September 2008

Yogasanas - To Attain a Flat Stomach

1: Makarasan
2: Ardha Shalabhasan
3: Purna Shalabhasan
4: Bhujangasan
5: Shvanasan
6: Dhanurasan

Balancing your Body Weight on your Hands only:
1: Mayrasan

Balancing your Body Weight on your HEAD:
1: Sheershasan

Monday 15 September 2008

Yogasanas - Lying on Your Back

1: Shavasan
2: Ekpaad Utanasan
3: Utaanpadasan
4: Pavanmuktasan
5: Setubandhasan
6: Matsyasan
7: Supta Padangushtasan
8: Katiasan
9: Suptabhadrasan
10: Uttanasan
11: Sarvangasan
12: Halasan
13: Karnapeedasan
14: Suptakonasan
15: Vartulasaan
16: Chakrasan

Wednesday 10 September 2008

Yogasanaas - Using Your Knees

1: Veerasan / Vajrasan
2: Supta Vajrasan
3: Bhu Naman Vajrasan
4: Ushtrasan
5: Parighasan
6: Vrushasan, Gomukhasan
7: Padmasan, Badhha Padmasan
8: Parvatasan
Sitting Postures:
1: Mandukasan / Dandasan
2: Paschimottanasan
3: Konasan / Upavishta Konasan
4: Janushirasan
5: Baddhakonasan / Ardha Matsendrasan
6: Vakrasan

Sunday 7 September 2008

Yogasanas - To Strengthen Your Legs

1: Tadasan
2: Vrukshasan
3: Uthith Trikonasan
4: Parivrutta Trikonasan
5: Uthith Paarshwakonasan
6: Parivrutta Paarshwakonasan
7: Veerbhadrasaan
8: Aardhachandrasaan
9: Paarshwotanaasaan
10: Prasarit Padottanasan
11: Utkatasan
12: Natrajasaan
13: Padangushtasaan
14: Paadhastasaan
15: Uttanasan
16: Shwanasaan

Friday 22 August 2008

Tops, Tops, Tops...

1: Bandeau Tops: Band-shaped covering specifically the breasts.
2: Blazer: Generally a long-sleeved sports or formal jacket with lapels.
3: Bolero Jacket: A Jacket that is loose and Waist Length and open at the front.
4: Corset Top/Boned Bodice: Usually strapless bodice with laces or snap closures that is extremely form fitting.
5: Cowl Neck: A piece of material attached to a garment at the neckline, usually used as a hood or draped loosely at the front neckline or back.
6: Crew Neck: A round neckline that sits close to the base of the neck encircled by a ribbed banding.
7: Cropped Top/Jacket: A top or jacket where the hem is cut above the waist.
8: Dolman Sleeve: A sleeve designed without a socket for the shoulder-creating a deep armhole extending from the waist to the wrist. A.k.a. batwing sleeve.
9: Double Breasted: Normally a jacket where one-half of the front lays over the other, and usually has a double row of buttons and a single row of buttonholes.
10: Double-Tee Top: One t-shirt over the other, giving the effect of layers.
11: Draped Bodice: Extra pieces of material laid over the bustline.
12: Empire Waist: A Waistline that begins below the bust.
13: Halter Top: A sleeveless shirt that meets on the top of the neckline creating a high choke or wrap neck and is normally backless.
14: Jewel Neck: A round and high neckline that rests at the base of the neck.
15: Keyhole Neck: A round or tear shaped cutout that meets at the front or back neckline.
16: Mandarin Collar: An Asian inspired collar that is short and stand-up.
17: Notched Collar: A two-piece collar that can be worn open.
18: Off the Shoulder Neck: A neckline that displays uncovered shoulders, above the top of the bustline.
19: Peasant Top: A romantic style top that often has a low neckline, ruffles, and is made from free flowing materials.
20: Scoop Neck/Round Neck: A U-shaped/round neckline.
21: Shawl Collar: A one-piece collar that is turned down to form a continuous line from the back of the neck to the front.
22: Shrug: A small, waist-length (sometimes shorter) jacket.
23: Split Neck: A round neckline that forms a small “v” in the center.
24: Square Neck: An open-yoke neckline shaped to form a half-square.
25: Sweetheart Neck: An open-yoke neckline shaped to form the top half of a heart.
26: Tankini: A two piece bathing suit in which the top portion resembles a tank top.
27: Trapeze Top: A tank top with flare bottom.
28: Tunic Style: A simple slip on garment usually knee-length or longer worn as an under or outer garment.
29: Unitards: A one-piece, tightly fitted garment for the torso, legs and feet, and arms.
30: V-neck/V-back: An open yoke forming a “V” shape midway down the bodice.
31: Wrap Top/Surplice Top: A garment created by cross-wrapping fabrics, sometimes in the front or back and associated with a high/low neckline.

Wednesday 20 August 2008

Skirting Around !

There are so many different types of skirts that it’s sometimes hard to keep track of them. They are so varied and that’s good news, since you can probably find a type of skirt for any occasion (except maybe some sports). But there’s a simple list of the essentials to keep them straight and to know in which situations a certain type of skirt could work best for you.

1: Full Skirt: These skirts are named this way for a reason. Their fullness is gathered into the waistband of the skirt. Wear these with a fitted top for the best look.

2: Straight Skirt: Straight skirts hang from your hips and are fitted from the waist to the hips. These also look the best with a fitted top and can be worn in formal and casual situations.

3: Circle Skirt: Here, the skirt is cut into different sections in order to make a circle. This is so that the skirt hangs smoothly and in a wave-like shape.

4: Pleated Skirt: Pleated skirts are popular and not just for the schoolgirl. They can be any length, but what makes them unique is that they have a fullness that’s reduced in order to fit the waist through the use of the pleats. The most popular is the schoolgirl pleated skirt, but they can also be longer and made with a lighter material for a great summery look.

5: A-line Skirt: This type of skirt flares out very slightly, to resemble the shape of a capital letter A. These skirts can be worn in any situation depending on the texture and fabric.

6: Culottes: Culottes are shorts that are so wide they look like a skirt. Although this style seems to have gone out of style in the 90s, culottes can still be worn if they just look like a regular skirt.

7: Tulip Skirt: Tulip skirts are exactly that — they make an upside-down tulip shape. Meaning, they hug your waist and hips and then gradually flare out. These skirts are summery when worn in a lighter material and bright colour, but also work in solid, darker colours for a modern twist on traditional office wear.

8: Ballerina Skirt: This kind of skirt is a full skirt that ends just above your ankles. This, of course, was very popular throughout the 50s. Try this style in an unassuming solid colour for the best look.

9: Bubble Skirt: This great skirt is puffy. What makes it stand out is that the hem is the same width (more or less) as the waist, giving the illusion of a bubble. Look for bubble skirts in bright colours and different fabrics, like satin. Pair it with a simple, solid top.

10: Broomstick Skirt: Broomstick skirts are usually full and reach the ankle. Their shape takes on the look of a broom, without the handle, of course! In order to pull this off, keep in mind that this length needs to be balanced out with something a little bit lighter, like a simple white t-shirt or tank top. Don’t wear anything too loud on top with this one.

11: Pencil Skirt: Pencil skirts are one of the most popular skirts around. They are usually high-waisted and fitted around the hips. Most are cut to just below the knees or to mid-calf. This is the classic business skirt with the slit at the back. Tuck a collared shirt into a pencil skirt and you’re set to rule the corporate world.

12: Kilt: A true kilt skirt wraps around the waist with aprons that overlap in front, and it’s pleated around the back. Wear these with a more casual or solid-coloured top. This skirt is more outgoing, so it’s not necessary to have a loud top.

13: Mini-skirt: Mini-skirts are very short skirts! They usually start from a few inches above the knee to an inch or two just below…well, you know! Wear these with care. If it’s a very short skirt, then have a more covered-up top to balance it out.

Skirts can be surprisingly versatile. Don’t think they can only be worn in the warm weather months. Leggings can be worn in the cooler temperatures to keep your legs warm, and longer skirts can also cover up more when you need it. Leg warmers are also a good option, along with knee-high socks.

Monday 11 August 2008

The Dresses...

Casual or Dressy ?? Casual means attire that is comfortable, not contrived, a look that does not say “Dressed Up”. It does not mean sloppy, nonchalant or unattractive. You can be casual in a good pair of trousers, a silk blouse, and a leather jacket or in a cotton dress with sandles and a straw hat.

Simplicity is as much a sign of a well dressed woman as appropriateness. It even has an added value: it spells elegance. But looking elegant is not the only advantage of simplicity, especially in a dress. There are several extremely practical reasons too:

1: The look of a simple dress can be easily changed with accessories
2: You will not get bored with a simple style as quickly as you will with an unusual one.
3: A simple dress is versatile, for it can be worn on many different types of occasions.

Different Styles of a Dress:

1: The Shirt Waist Dress:
Also called shirt-dress, shirtwaist dress, shirt waister. A dress with a bodice and a front opening tailored like those of a dress shirt. A shirtwaist dress is meant to mimic the lines and design of men's shirts, with a crisp collar and a button down front. The sleeves may be long or short, and the dress itself tends to be at least knee length, if not longer. The dresses can be very practical and subdued, or they may be more ornamental, and a range of materials and sewing styles are used for an assortment of desired looks, from matronly and professional to more sultry.

2: The Long Waisted Dress:
It was originally described as "Girls Long-Waisted Dress, with body and sleeve in one; with or without the bertha or upper skirt; equally desirable for flouncings, bordered materials and other fabrics. Suggested fabrics: Silk flat crepe, velveteen, serge, wool, and flannel. The colors were blue, tan, brown, black, bisque tan, French blue, navy blue and mahogany.

3: The Wraparound Dress:
Our new Fair Trade Wraparound Dresses are flying out, they are very versatile they look really good over a pair of trousers or equally good over a swimsuit or bikini when you are on your holidays.

4: The Chemise:

Paired with slinky skirts as evening tops and tailored with woven fabrics, silky slips or satin camisoles were worn under suits. Elegant short slips and embroidered long camisoles were all in abundance. The camisole-also referred to as the chemise, tanks, vests or cami-top is still a popular and sexy lingerie item today. Together with slips and half-slips it remains an essential part of any woman's wardrobe. Essentially the camisole is a sleeveless and sheer undergarment, also worn as an alternative to a blouse. The cami-top on the other hand is a look-alike shape wear piece that gives a seamless and toned look to tight fitting outer garments. The Slip, by contrast is a full-length undergarment for dresses that is suspended from the shoulders by straps and often worn under sheer dresses to reduce transparency.

5: The T- Shirt Dress:
A T-Shirt dress is the ultimate in cool; wear over woollen tights with platform ankle boots and a heavy belt slung around the waist for shape. The extra long length and slightly fitted waist complements most figures and is an extra suitable for Mums with post baby tummies!

6: The Empire Style:
Perfect for skinny minnies and voluptuous girls alike, the empire waist dress is universally flattering. It adds curves to the right places, while disguising the wrong. The feminine prom dress features a waistline that hits between the upper-waist to just below the bust, creating a long, lean figure. Glamazons can emphasize the sleek shape and plunging neckline with a sleek color and tip-toe heels, while girlie girls can play up the flowy prom dress with ruffles and bows.

7: The Sun Dress:
We love the dresses of summer. Endless designs offered in lightweight fabrics that are colorful, fun, flirty and sexy. So easy to slip into and so comfortable, they're an effortless way to look fabulous. It's time to enjoy the warm breezes of summer in these skin baring designs.You can't think of anything you can't do in these dresses, from casual summer barbecues to attending the wedding of the season.

8: Cocktail Dress:
A short knee length dress shape of the 1920s, lightweight wool, satin, silk and velvet fabrics are usual and often cut to reveal the shoulders and arms. The length of cocktail dresses varies depending on fashion and local custom. The length ranges from just above the knee to touching the ankle. When it is about 5 cm (2 inches) above the ankle it is called tea length and when it is almost touching the ankle it is called ballerina length, although ballerina length dresses usually fall into the evening gown category.

At semi-formal occasions, less elaborate, shorter-length cocktail dresses may be worn, when gentlemen are in dark suits. Prior to the mid 20th century this type of dress was known as 'late afternoon'. When gentlemen are in business suits, ladies also wear dress suits or "good" afternoon skirt and dresses.

By the 1980s a dress was considered to be cocktail less by where the hem fell, but more by the level of sumptuousness the garment attained.

9: The Little Black Dress:
A little black dress is an evening or cocktail dress, cut simply and often with a short skirt, originally made popular in the 1920s by the fashion designer Coco Chanel. Intended by Chanel to be long-lasting, versatile, affordable, and accessible to the widest market possible and in a neutral color. Its continued ubiquity is such that many refer to it by its abbreviation, LBD.

The "little black dress" is considered essential to a complete wardrobe by many women and fashion observers, who believe it a "rule of fashion" that every woman should own a simple, elegant black dress that can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion: for example, worn with a jacket and pumps for daytime business wear or with more ornate jewellery and accessories for evening. Because it is meant to be a staple of the wardrobe for a number of years, the style of the little black dress ideally should be as simple as possible: a short black dress that is too clearly part of a trend would not qualify because it would soon appear dated.

Sunday 10 August 2008

Putting it Together

Saris For the Bride:
1: Gadhwal
2: Paithani
3: Banarasi / Baluchari
4: Silk Kantha
5: Kanjeevaram / Sambalpuri / Ikat Patola
*Whatever you choose should be good quality original long lasting silk that is non transparent. Obviously something that looks more of elegant than seductive.

Saris For the Corporate Woman:
1: Light weight Printed Silks in subdued colours
2: Crepes in small prints
3: Cottons well starched and simple in design
*Cotton Saris look great if worn with a matching Silk Sleeveless or mega Sleeved Blouse

For the Lean and Fit Women:
1:Georgette Silk & Chiffon Sarees: are the most flattering for the well maintained body and come in the most varied designs and colors. These definitely fall into the Seductive bracket and you might want to consider them on a special evening with Hubby Deary! :)

Other Occassions:

Cotton Kantha's / Kota's: Best for office.
Silk Kanthas: for any evening functions these look absolutely elegant.
Kanjeevarams: Orange, Amber or Mustard Colored look great for any Haldi Function.
Banarasi Saris: Brown, Green, Teal, Blue Perfect for any wedding.
Lukhnavi Chikan Saris: Come in dull colors and are extremely transparent Unless u have a perfect 10 u are better off avoiding this one. However you might want to go in for a White Black Blue kurtis which look extremely elegant also a Luckhnavi Suit looks great with the right stitch and fit for the office.
Bandhanis: Ideal if u wish to wear a colourful look with loads of bangles and some oxidized heavy jewellery with a long black bindi. Can be worn for any Haldi Kunkum or those Dandiya nights when u don’t wish to adorn a ghagra choli...
Ikat: Main forms of Ikat are Patola from Gujarat and Pochampalli from Andhra Pradesh. These are great for any engagement or wedding and come in the most varied of colours.
Banarasi / Jamdani: Golden Weave or Zardosi Work in red looks great on a bride.
Chanderi: This ones a sure head turner. Well Starched and worn with a matching Silk blouse looks awesome. This also is the super transparent but if worn well and carried to perfection, you will be grabbing the right kind of attention.
Baluchari: Traditional saris from Baluchar, Bengal, characterized by mythological scenes hand-woven on the sari. Unique and one of a kind these are best for any wedding.

Saturday 9 August 2008

The 6 Yard Wonder - Elegant & Seductive!

Silk Saris never fail you in terms of making the atmosphere appear festive and colourful and there is a variety you can choose from each part of India. The core of any good sari wardrobe is to have at least one traditional Sari from every region of India. In addition, there should be some plain, single coloured Saris, to show off accessories – be it elegant jewellery or a shawl to perfection. The wisest thing to do is to choose colours that complement you and make your jewellery stand out. For an Image of most of these visit: http://www.exoticindiaart.com/textiles/Saris/

Saris from North India:

Banaras Brocade: This sari from Banaras is virtually mandatory in the bride’s trousseau. These saris vary tremendously as weavers create different products to suit different regional markets and changing fashions. Most brocades usually have strong Mogul influences in the design, such as intricate intertwining floral and foliate motifs, kalga and bel. A characteristic found along the inner, and sometimes outer, edge of borders is a narrow fringe like pattern that often looks like a string of upright leaves called jhallr. This is almost a signature of Benarasi brocade.
Lucknow Chikan: Chikankari is a fine and intricate shadow-work type of embroidery done by white yarn on colourless muslins called tanzeb (tan meaning body and zeb meaning decoration). The word ‘chikan’ according to one school of thought appears to have had its origin in Persia, being derivative of chikn or chakeen. Indian women wear chikan Saris or aunty Sari at all occasions these Saris are available at different colours and designs. It is also known as chikan lucknowi Saris.

Saris from South India:

Gadwal: Gadwal Sari is made in cotton in a style influenced by the Banarasi weaves. While the ground of the Sari is cotton, there is a loosely attached silk border. Copper or gold-dipped zari is generally used in these Saris. The motifs of the murrugan (peacock) and the rudraksh are popular. Traditional colours for these Saris are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.
Kanjeevaram Sari: No Indian bridal trousseau is complete without the ‘Kanjeewaram’ Sari, characterised by gold-dipped silver thread that is woven onto brilliant silk. Kanchipuram is a town in Tamil Nadu with more than 150 years of weaving tradition – completely untouched by fashion fads. Kanjeewarams are favoured for their durability. Kanjee silk is thicker than almost all other silks, and is therefore more expensive. The heavier the silk, the better the quality. Peacock and parrot are the most common motifs. Though lightweight kanjee Saris are popular as they are easy to wear and cost very little, the traditional weavers do not like to compromise. While Korean and Chinese silk is suitable for light-weight Saris (machine woven), only mulberry silk produced in Karnataka and few parts of Tamil Nadu, is right for the classic Kanjeewaram.
Konrad Sari: The konrad or the temple Sari is also a speciality item from Tamil Nadu. These Saris were original woven for temple deities. They are wide bordered Saris and are characterised by wedding related motifs such as elephants and peacocks, symbolising water, fertility and fecundity. Traditional colours for these Saris are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.
Others: Pashmina silk, kota silk, Mysore crepes, pochampallis and puttapakshi Saris are also popular South Indian Saris Typical wedding Saris from Kerala are the nayayanpets and bavanjipets which usually have a gold border on a cream base. Traditional colours for these Saris are earth shades of browns, greys and off-whites. However, brighter shades have been introduced for the North Indian buyer.

Saris from Central India:
Chanderi and Maheshwari: The Chanderi Sari from Madhya Pradesh is light and meant for Indian summers. It is made in silk or fine cotton with patterns taken from the Chanderi temples. The Maheshwari Saris are also both in cotton and silk, usually green or purple with a zari border. The traditional block-printed tussar can also be found in contemporary designs nowadays.

Saris from East India:
Baluchari Saris: This Sari from Bengal is usually five yards in length and 42” wide in flame red, purple and occasionally in deep blue. The field of the Sari is covered with small butis and a beautiful floral design runs across the edges. The anchal has the main decoration depicting narrative motifs. Taingals and kanthas are other speciality items from Bengal.
Others: Baluchari, Kantha, Ikat, Sambalpuri

Saris from West India:
Bandhani: The panetar Sari is a Gujarati-Hindu Sari of satin weave and Gajji silk with red borders, central medallions and a white body, which may contain regularly spaced red tie-dyed spots. Single colour Saris and odhnis with white spots are also common. The most famous of this type is the Gujarati Sari called Garchola. It is usually red, but occasionally green, and is divided into a network of squares created by rows of white tie-dyed spots or woven bands of zari. The Garchola is a traditional Hindu and Jain wedding Sari, which used to be made of cotton, but is now usually in silk. The number of squares in the Sari is ritually significant multiples of 9, 12 or 52.
Patola: The most time consuming and elaborate Sari created by the western region is the potole (plural patola) which has intricate five colour designs resist-dyed into both warp and weft threads before weaving. Double ikat patola Sari is a rare and expensive investment. A cheaper alternative to double ikat patola is the silk ikat Sari developed in Rajkot (Gujarat), that creates patola and other geometric designs in the weft threads only.
Gujarati Brocade: These are extremely expensive and virtually extinct. The main distinguishing characteristics of the Gujarati Brocade Sari: Butis (circular designs) woven into the field in the warp direction instead of the weft, resulting in their lying horizontally instead of vertically on the Sari when draped. Floral designs woven in coloured silk, against a golden (woven zari) ground fabric. Although such ‘inlay’ work is a common feature in many western Deccan silks, the Gujarati work usually has leaves, flowers and stems outlined by a fine dark line.
Embroidered Tinsel Saris: The western region also has a rich embroidered tradition, made famous by ethnic groups such as rabaris and sodha Rajputs. The Sari with zardozi, the gold gilt thread embroidery technique, at one time patronised by the Moghul emperors and the aristocracy, is today an inextricable part of a bridal trousseau. Balla tinsel and khari work are the cheaper variations available in metallic embroidery, which have also become quite popular.
Paithani: This Sari is named after a village near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Now also woven in the town of Yeola, these Saris use an enormous amount of labour, skill and sheer expanse of material in their creation. Distinctive motifs such as parrots, trees and plants are woven into the Sari. The shades vary from vivid magenta, peacock greens and purples. In the pallav, the base is in gold and the pattern is done in silk, giving the whole Sari an embossed look.
Kota Doria: Kota in Rajasthan, India is the home of the famous Kota Doria saris made in small villages around the Kota city. "Kota Doria" is a super transparent yet stable cotton or cotton/silk weave consisting of varied guages of yarn, creating an almost graph like pattern called khats (squares formed between the different thicknesses of fibers). The intermittent heavier guage yarns give the fabric enough weight and lateral stability to fall very gracefully, yet it is incredibly airy and transparent. Generally, these pieces are worn in the heat of summer. The chequered weave of a Kota sari is a prized possession of many women. The gossamer-fine fabric Kota dorias are the finest weaves in India - so fine that they are almost weightless.
Other Saris from this region: The region is also famous for producing ornate Saris such tanchois, amru brocades, shikargarh brocades and tissues. Abrawans (literally meaning flowing water). Tissue Saris, usually woven with the finest silk thread are also quite popular. A classy design in Abrawans is tarbana (woven water) with a fine silk warp with a zari weft giving an almost metallic sheen. Kincab or Kinkhwab Saris are the most popular of the brocades and are so covered with the zari patterning that the underlying silk cloth is barely visible. Jamawars also come from Uttar Pradesh. These silk Saris are embellished with zari threadwork. The popular theme is a jacquard weave in ‘meena’ colours like orange and green. Tanchois (in zari) are another item from of Uttar Pradesh and have different designs, not just Moghul motifs. Another type is the kora silk Sari which is starched as brittle as organza.

Friday 8 August 2008

Variety is indeed the Spice of Good Dressing! :)

Ever since I’ve been married to Abhi I have been telling myself that I was such a monotonous dresser throughout my life !! And I say so not because I had been wearing the same clothes but in fact I had been wearing the same Kind of clothes…
In school it was these tiny rompers, in my diploma years it was just full sleeved salwar kameezes (salwar suits) and jeans with either a sweater or a jacket on top and in my undergrad years it was never anything apart from jeans and salwar suits...
I started thinking seriously about my wardrobe transformation only when I was dating Abhi.. And he was the one who brought out both the noisy fun loving tom boy and the feminine wife in me .. If and whenever I give birth to a girl I think I’ll relive that dream of variety dressing in the teenage years !! I’d truly love to go shopping for everything from a Mermaid shaped Evening Gown to a Simple well fitting skirt for her… (well this is going too much into the future :))
But why not make the most of now, as I have been for the past 3 years … so I thought I’d pen in a list of clothes you can wear - both seasonal and occasional…
Hope this helps everyone [from a Career Woman to a Newly Engaged and waiting to be a Bride Woman…] I’d love it if u’d leave some comments regarding your choice of dressing or any suggestion that might help me discover a Better Side of Variety Dressing and I do hope I make the next series of articles an interesting read with the help of some sites I researched…

Thursday 7 August 2008

The Cup of Life

The cup of life, this is the one

Now is the time, don't ever stop

Push it along, gotta be strong

Push it along, right to the top

The feeling in your soul is gonna take control

Nothing can hold you back if you really want it

I see it in your eyes, you want the cup of life

Now that the day is here, gotta go and get it

Do you really want it (yeah)

Here we go, ale, ale, ale

Go, go, go, ale, ale, ale

Tonight's the night, we're gonna celebrate

The cup of life, ale, ale, ale

The cup of life, it's do or die

It's here it's now, turn up the lights

Push it along, then let it roll

Push it along, go, go, go

And when you feel the heat,

the world is at your feet

No one can hold you down if you really want it

Just steal your destiny right from the hands of fate

Reach for the cup of life 'cause your name is on it

Do you really want it (yeah)

Here we go, ale, ale, ale

Go, go, go, ale, ale, ale

Tonight's the night we're gonna celebrate

The cup of life, ale, ale, ale

The cup of life, this is the one

Now is the time, don't ever stop

Push it along, gotta be strong

Push it along, right to the top

The feeling in your soul is gonna take control

Nothing can hold you back if you really want it

I see it in your eyes, you want the cup of life

Now that the day is here, gotta go and get it (yeah)

Do you really want it (yeah)

Here we go, ale, ale, ale

Go, go, go, ale, ale, ale

Tonight's the night we're gonna celebrate

The cup of life, ale, ale, ale

Tonight's the night we're gonna celebrate

The cup of life, ale, ale, aleAle, ale (ale, ale)Ale,

ale (ale, ale)Ale, ale (ale, ale)Ale, ale, aleAle,

ale (ale, ale)Ale, ale (ale, ale)Ale, ale (ale, ale)

Thursday 31 July 2008

Another Month Went By...

Another month went by.. and this time it passed by even faster than the one before!
By now, I had taken to reading different books, made connections with old pals and colleagues, got a few recommendations on LikedIn and lots of adulation for my albums on Orkut.

Weekends were busy with visits to the local library, the shopping mall, the multiplex and of course the tennis courts. Tennis was slowly becoming a passion, the more we played the more our game improved. We even had an Arab from Jordan who saw our game and told us we had immense potential to play gr8 tennis. He actually walked up after watching us for a couple of minutes and gave us tips on how to serve and play your returns.. We got talking and learnt that he was a businessman who played tennis for at least 3 hrs every day and was on a vacation to the UK to meet his friends.

Abhi and me had started finding a lot of time for each other; be it dining on the terrace or going for long walks, playing tennis or just whiling our time chatting in the park. We were thinking how come we never had dinner on our own terrace in Pune in the more than 2 yrs that we were married and how exhausted we used to be by the time we both got home that we’d doze off on the sofa at times and there were days we hardly shared our day before bedtime..

Now days were different.. However, life in Pune had its own charm and life in Luton has its own. The two aren’t comparable but the bottom line is, we truly were and are making the most of whatever is at hand …

Somewhere at the back of my mind I was constantly telling myself that I needed to make the most of this free time I had, but that disappointment was still setting in, the fact that I was unemployed, the fact that I started my job search only after completing a month here in Luton, the fact that I had been job hunting for a month now and nothing substantial had been achieved.

I was actually avoiding a call back to India fearing I had nothing to say to Dad who was so keen on listening about my progress on the Job front. Mom had already started questioning the fact that if we as a couple had made the right decision in terms of me giving up such a gr8 job and moving to a foreign land. But when you are in Love, one makes adjustments for the other, only then do both of you move forward to pursue your ambitions. Nothing is permanent nor success neither failure. Each of it is a passing phase in Life, how you react to one depends on how fast you flip into the other.

The only person who was certainly making me feel high on life was Anant, my younger brother – he says it’s just a matter of time and you will be back to being your energetic self – a highly self driven motivated professional that you have been for the more than 4 1/2 yrs of your Career.

Sometimes the whole world is rooting for your success and you feel the anxiety to keep up to all their expectations.. that is exactly what I am going through at this point in time… I know for sure that I am of course going to land up a job!

Life has always been a sine wave for most of us I am sure. Thankfully, I have come back strong and fought hard to stay in the positive quadrant for majority of the times in my Life. This is one of those very rare phases when u fear the worst, but this is again the very time when you got to hope for the best, cause you aren’t an ordinary individual !

There is a competency that is unique to you, a persona that you are reputed for, a profile that exactly matches your skill set and a Job that you are best suited for!! As I say always - The BEST is YET to COME – only this time I am hoping it comes sooner than later…

Thanks a million times to all you friends who have been trying to help me out, even in the smallest possible ways…!! Keep the flames burning while I keep hope alive!

And oh yes … Herez Wishing you all, A Very Happy Friendship Day (in advance)!! :)
Lots of Luv,
- sayli ! :)

Tuesday 15 July 2008

Hero - Enrique

(Whispered) Let me be your hero

Would you dance if I asked you to dance?

Would you run and never look back

Would you cry if you saw me crying

Would you save my soul tonight?

Would you tremble if I touched your lips?

Would you laugh oh please tell me this

Now would you die for the one you love?

Hold me in your arms tonight?

(Chorus)

I can be you hero baby

I can kiss away the pain

I will stand by you forever

You can take my breath away

Would you swear that you'll always be mine?

Would you lie would you run away Am I in to deep?

Have I lost my mind?

I don't care you're here tonight

Chorus (2x)

I just want to hold you

Am I in too deep?

Have I lost my mind?

Well I don't care you're here tonight

Chorus (2x)

You can take my breath my breath away

I can be your hero

Monday 14 July 2008

Mamma Mia ! Dancing Queen ! :)

Age truly is no bar for having fun... I would'nt mind watching the Movie yet again to watch this song... what a treat !! Could'nt locate the Video so thought I'd atleast key in the Lyrics ! The old Abba videos ofcourse are on You Tube but not more fun than the one in the Movie - It breathes life into you!

You can dance

You can jive

Having the time of your life!! :)

See that girl

Watch that scene

Diggin' the dancing queen...

Friday night and the lights are low

Looking out for a place to go

Where they play the right music

Getting in the swing

You come to look for a king

Anybody could be that guy

Night is young and the music's high

With a bit of rock music

Everything is fine

You're in the mood for a dance

And when you get the

You are the dancing queen

Young and sweet

Only seventeen!!! :)

Dancing queen

Feel the beat from the tambourine

You can dance

You can jive

Having the time of your life

See that girl

Watch that scene

Diggin' the dancing queen

You're a teaser, you turn 'em on

Leave 'em burning and then you're gone

Looking out for another

Anyone will do

You're in the mood for a dance

And when you get the

You are the dancing queen !! :)

Young and sweet

Only seventeen

Dancing queen

Feel the beat from the tambourine

You can dance

You can jive

Having the time of your life

See that girl

Watch that scene

Diggin' the dancing queen

See that girl

Watch that scene

Diggin' the dancing queen

Saturday 12 July 2008

Business Analyst Job Description Template

The following job description may be tailored for use by a Business Analyst without any people management responsibilities:

Business Analyst Role Description:

1:To develop a sound knowledge of and the effect of the requested changes.
2: To liaise with business managers and low-level users to understand and document business requirements across affected business areas.
3: To understand, document and prioritise business requirements across affected business areas.
4: To work with business owners and delivery workstreams to develop optimal solutions.
5: To develop complete and accurate business models including process, data and organisation.

Business Analyst Working Relationships:

Work with project sponsor to understand and document project objectives and scope.
1: Work with business owners from affected business areas to understand current processes and to document and prioritise requirements.
2: Work with delivery workstreams to communicate business objectives and requirements, make decisions on delivery options and produce delivery costs and timescales.
3: Work with projects to understand and manage project dependencies.
4: Work with project manager/s to plan analysis work and highlight risks and issues.
5: Work with Finance to define accurate, meaningful and measurable business cases.
6: Work with the business owners to define acceptance criteria.

Business Analyst Deliverables:

1: Project initiation documents defining high-level scope.
2: Business requirements document describing the project's objectives, how the work was done and listing the requirements for each business area prioritised into mandatory, desirable and optional categories. Desirable and Optional requirements will have an associated business case which will allow the project sponsor to make informed decisions about delivery of the project.
Detailed requirements that enable the chosen solution to be developed and tested with minimal analysis support.
3: Business cases defining the costs and benefits associated with requested changes.
4: User Acceptance test plans.
5: Business models incorporating process and data models.

Business Analyst Reporting:
Weekly reports will be produced for the project manager showing progress against outstanding milestones, status, resource requirements, issues, risks and dependencies.

Business Analyst

Business Analysis is the process of understanding business change needs, assessing the impact of those changes, capturing, analysing and documenting requirements and then supporting the communication and delivery of those requirements with relevant parties.

Who is a Business Analyst?
"Today's Business Analyst may reside within any part of an organisation and this has a direct effect on the way they work and the deliverables they produce"

"Business Analysis is the process of understanding business change needs, assessing the impact of those changes, capturing, analysing and documenting requirements and then supporting the communication and delivery of those requirements with relevant parties."

A Bit of History: Requiring straightforward automation of repetitive administrative tasks and conversion from paper to electronic data storage, IT projects of the seventies and early eighties could not fail to be successful and reap financial rewards.

Systems Analysts took responsibility for documenting existing manual paper based processes, identifying problems and new business requirements, and then automating these processes through computerised systems. This provided significant savings in staff as well as improvements to customer service through access to electronic information in fractions of a second.

Throughout the late 1980's and 1990's, companies started to evolve their IT systems to take advantage of new technology as they attempted to make further savings or improvements in service. However, IT projects in this era continually failed. They either failed to deliver at all, or were delivered without providing any significant business benefits.

The reasons for failure were that projects became unfocussed, receiving (sometimes conflicting) demands from different business departments. Systems were developed with unrealistic business cases, without clear objectives, with unmanaged expectations of performance or merely to follow the 'emperors new clothes syndrome' of jumping on the latest technology bandwagon.
Business users became increasingly frustrated with the barriers that limit their ability to implement change promptly and effectively. As PC and server technology evolved, business users became wise to IT and started to purchase and build their own localised systems. This has left many companies in a position where as well as their existing 'legacy' systems, they have hundreds of different systems which often link in an uncontrolled fashion with no real documentation to explain the links.

The Business Analyst has Evolved:
Throughout this period, the role of the Systems Analyst evolved into the Business Analyst. This role encompasses more than the ability to document processes and apply technological expertise.

While the Systems Analyst belonged to the IT department, Business Analysts can now be found within a number of places in organisation structures:
1: Within the IT department acting as a conduit to and from the business
2: Within individual business units with responsibility for identifying business needs
3: Within a change management department coordinating and managing change across the whole business.

But wherever they sit, Business Analysts must be great communicators, tactful diplomats, problem solvers, thinkers and analysers - with the ability to understand and respond to user needs in rapidly changing business environments.

We define the purpose of the role of the Business Analyst as being ultimately responsible for ensuring that organisations get the most from their limited IT and change management resource.

Business Analysts are responsible for identifying change needs, assessing the impact of the change, capturing and documenting requirements and then ensuring that those requirements are delivered by IT whilst supporting the business through the implementation process. Business Analysts should not just write specifications and then leave them to be delivered. The development lifecycle is an iterative one and the Business Analyst must be involved from initial concept through to final implementation.

Business Analysts are likely to be the key change facilitators within your organisation. They must deliver effective solutions which provide tangible business benefits usually within short timescales.

Friday 11 July 2008

Business Analysis

Business analysis helps an organization to improve how it conducts its functions and activities in order to reduce overall costs, provide more efficient use of resources, and better support customers. It introduces the notion of process orientation, of concentrating on and rethinking end-to-end activities that create value for customers, while removing unnecessary, non-value added work. The person who carries out this task is called a business analyst or BA.
Those BAs who work solely on developing software systems may be called IT Business Analysts or Technical Business Analysts.

Business analysis sub-disciplines:

Business analysis, as a discipline, has a heavy overlap with requirements analysis, but focuses on identifying requirements in the context of helping organizations to achieve strategic goals through internal changes to organizational capabilities, including changes to:

policies, processes, and information systems.

Some professional business analysts believe that business analysis can be broken down into six major knowledge areas:
Enterprise Analysis: focuses on understanding the needs of the business as a whole, its strategic direction, and identifying initiatives that will allow a business to meet those strategic goals.
Requirements Planning and Management: involves planning the requirements development process, determining which requirements are the highest priority for implementation, and managing change.
Requirements Elicitation: describes techniques for collecting requirements from stakeholders in a project.
Requirements Analysis: describes how to develop and specify requirements in enough detail to allow them to be successfully implemented by a project team.
Requirements Communication: describes techniques for ensuring that stakeholders have a shared understanding of the requirements and how they will be implemented.
Solution Assessment and Validation: describes how the business analyst can verify the correctness of a proposed solution, how to support the implementation of a solution, and how to assess possible shortcomings in the implementation.

Roles of Business Analysts:

As the scope of business analysis is very wide, there has been a tendency for business analysts to specialize in one of the three sets of activities which constitute the scope of business analysis.

1. Strategist: Organizations need to focus on strategic matters on a more or less continuous basis in the modern business world. Business analysts, serving this need, are well-versed in analyzing the strategic profile of the organization and its environment, advising senior management on suitable policies, and the effects of policy decisions.
2. Architect: Organizations may need to introduce change to solve business problems which may have been identified by the strategic analysis, referred to above. Business analysts contribute by analyzing objectives, processes and resources, and suggesting ways by which re-design (BPR), or improvements (BPI) could be made. Particular skills of this type of analyst are "soft skills", such as knowledge of the business, requirements engineering, stakeholder analysis, and some "hard skills", such as business process modeling. Although the role requires an awareness of technology and its uses, it is not an IT-focused role.
Three elements are essential to this aspect of the business analysis effort: the redesign of core business processes; the application of enabling technologies to support the new core processes; and the management of organizational change. This aspect of business analysis is also called "business process improvement" (BPI), or "reengineering".

3. Systems Analyst: There is the need to align IT Development with the systems actually running in production for the Business. A long-standing problem in business is how to get the best return from IT investments, which are generally very expensive and of critical, often strategic, importance. IT departments, aware of the problem, often create a business analyst role to better understand, and define the requirements for their IT systems. Although there may be some overlap with the developer and testing roles, the focus is always on the IT part of the change process, and generally, this type of business analyst gets involved, only when a case for change has already been made and decided upon.

In any case, the term "analyst" is lately considered somewhat misleading, insofar as analysts (i.e. problem investigators) also do design work (solution definers).

Business process improvement:

A business process improvement (BPI) typically involves six steps:
1. Selection of process teams and leader: Process teams comprising 2-4 employees from various departments that are involved in the particular process, are set up. Each team selects a process team leader, typically the person who is responsible for running the respective process.
2. Process analysis Training: The selected process team members are trained in process analysis and documentation techniques.
3. Process analysis Interview: The members of the process teams conduct several interviews with people working along the processes. During the interview, they gather information about process structure, as well as process performance data.
4. Process documentation: The interview results are used to draw a first process map. Previously existing process descriptions are reviewed and integrated, wherever possible. Possible process improvements, discussed during the interview, are integrated into the process maps.
5. Review Cycle: The draft documentation is then reviewed by the employees working in the process. Additional review cycles may be necessary in order to achieve a common view (mental image) of the process with all concerned employees. This stage is an iterative process.
6. Problem Analysis: A thorough analysis of process problems can then be conducted, based on the process map, and information gathered about the process. At this time of the project, process goal information from the strategy audit is available as well, and is used to derive measures for process improvement.

Goal of business analysts:
Ultimately, business analysts want to achieve the following outcomes:
1: Reduce waste
2: Create solutions
3: Complete projects on time
4: Improve efficiency
5: Document the right requirements

One way to assess these goals is to measure the return on investment (ROI) for all projects. Keeping score is part of human nature as we are always comparing ourselves or our performance to others, no matter what we are doing. According to Forrester Research, more than $100 billion is spent annually in the U.S. on custom and internally developed software projects. For all of these software development projects, keeping score is also important and business leaders are constantly asking for the return or ROI on a proposed project or at the conclusion of an active project. However, asking for the ROI without really understanding the underpinnings of where value is created or destroyed is putting the cart before the horse.

Tuesday 8 July 2008

Pre Sales - How Does It Work ?

Clients or companies that need software services and project implementations generally call for proposals from a pool of preferred vendors. Although it is hard to generalize on the nature of or the contents of such proposals, most documents follow a structured framework: detailing the project, asking vendors for suggestions or solutions or proposals along with cost estimates regarding the work to be done.

RFP responses would generally involve two components:
I: The Technical Solution: A typical response to an RFP or proposal will include a substantial technical component. People responding to RFPs at service firms generally follow a well-defined operating process involving plugging the response documents with common templates about the company and its capabilities. The customization process kicks in when it comes to project and client specific responses; and here is where someone with a technical background is really valuable. Technical subject matter experts are needed to analyze the client's problem, think through a framework to create a solution based upon their knowledge and experience. Such skills can be especially useful while preparing a proof of concept or technical demo.

The focus areas include:
1: Demonstrate to the client that you Get their problem and showcase how you will approach the solution: During Pre-sales phase, technical solutions could include a mockup of the end-state technical view, reference architecture, approach or framework to solve the client's specific problem.

2: Demonstrating organizational capabilities: Organizations typically demonstrate their capabilities by referencing past successes (Case studies, whitepapers etc), and may also develop proof-of-concept (POC), demonstrations or mockups.

II : Commercials and Administrative Aspects: Commercial and administrative aspects include a whole gamut of activities involved in responding to clients with specific reference to the processes involved in executing the engagement / project. Cost is definitely a key criteria organizations use while evaluating a proposal though depending on the nature of problem being sourced, the credentials of the vendor and the solution may take a higher priority. The administrative aspects include a high-level estimate of the effort involved in terms of duration (time), effort (people/resources) and additional resources including infrastructure etc required to successfully provide the required solution. Estimating the level-of-work involved may include formal estimation techniques based on expertise from past projects or could be a very heuristic process, especially for newer technologies without adequate benchmarks.

The focus areas may include:
1: Cost, budget and financials: What is the total cost to the client, how often will they be invoiced and the mode of payment etc? This may include defining the billing model: Time and Material (T&M), Fixed Price (FP) or other blended models.
2: Staffing plan, resource management: Responses to proposals typically include staffing plans (how many people, skills they bring to the table, roles etc) and may also include other resources needed including specific systems, hardware, software etc.
3: Credentials, testimonials and references from past clients: There are instances where clients may ask for specific testimonials from existing/past clients of service firms. Staff engaged in pre-sales activities should be able to arrange for such references.