Finally, videos on MCB are here. It took some fiddling around with various options (youtube, flash player, progressive flash player, shockwave, video editing software, music generation, the works). Finally, this is the recipe that worked the best.
For video editing -> Nothing beats Pinnacle Studio. Very simple interface, yet loaded with features when you need them. The thing freezes on me at times, but the auto-save option ensures that i dont lose any work. I started off with version 9, but upgraded to 12 because of…
The need for background score. Version 9 does not have the option to generate background music automatically. Not unless you pay some exhorbitant amount to SmartSounds. Luckily Pinnacle Studio version 12 has got score generation built in. Which worked like a breeze. Music and video all together spun out into a mpeg-2 format. The next step was…
Making the video web-ready. Flash is the most popular format on the net, and while pinnacle has an option to directly output to flash, Sothink Video Encoder for Flash does a much better job. It also creates the output video in a manner that the video downloads progressively as viewers play the video. No more waiting for the entire thing to download before playing. Even 5MB FLV files seemed to play just fine on a regular DSL line.
Finally, posting it on the web. The beautiful thing is that the actual HTML code is not that ugly at all. And not a whole lot if it either. Its all written down here.
So there it is. Nice and easy. Here are some of the places on MCB with videos…
Here’s our first post on places in and around Bangalore that you could take off to if you have a complete day at your disposal.
Gowribidanur, a small town, about 100 km. from Bangalore, past Doddballapur, is well known on two counts. One for being a place where the ‘Second Jallianwallah Bagh’ type shooting took place. Two, for a temple that is steeped in mythology. Apparently, it also has an earthquake monitoring facility but we didn’t feel no tremors during our visit, so can’t confirm that to you folks. :)
Ok, for the serious bit now.
On April 25, 1939 or thereabouts, about 9 - 10 people were fired upon and killed during a peaceful Jathre ( village fair ). Apparently, there was a demonstration by Satyagrahis who demanded lowering the British flag and hoisting one of Bharat Mata. Furious that such an event could even be contemplated, officers from a police station nearby rushed in and opened fire killing 9 people, innocents included. Check out the photos for a memorial honouring the martyrs.
Mythology, as the temple here - Vidhura Aswathnarayana temple - was consecrated and blessed by none other than Krishna after the Mahabharat war. Apparently, the court advisor, Vidhura, apprehending the terrible consequences of a war between the Pandavas and their cousins the Kauravas, was advised to leave the kingdom by Krishna. The latter was of the opinion that it was Dharmic war and hence its necessity. Vidhura, dejected, leaves the kingdom and comes to South India for solace and meditation. Finding himself at the ashram of Maitreyi Maharishi on the banks of the Pinakini River, he resides there. Later, after the war, Krishna in disguise appears at the Ashram and advises Sage Maitreyi to plant a tree in honour of Vidhura. This tree, now gnarled, bent, withered and supported by a wall is supposed to be life giving. Hence, childless couples or those facing difficulties finding a lifepartner, come to worship the Aswathnarayana temple sorrounding the tree. On having their wishes fulfilled, they leave behind a set of three Nagakals for having their ‘naga dosha’ removed.
So goes the above stories told to us (& listened to with rapt attention, needless to add!) by a teacher at the Satyagraha High School, nearby the temple.
This month’s newsletter was about kicking some butt, from our good friend - Venkat.
MyCityBuddy - Helping you find the best of Bangalore
Krav Maga in Bangalore
Krav Maga Bangalore Chapter is located on Curley street in Bangalore. To get started, call Frank who is the Krav Maga Civilian Instructor (Ph: 98867 69281)
Sameeksha School of Embroidery
Sameeksha school of embroidery is a school for learning embroidery, as much as it is a boutique for ethnic and traditional wear. If you want to wear something different, head to Sameeksha and create your own embroidered outfit!
What folks are saying…
Giancarlo’s Place “From the fresh bread to the tiramisu’ its the only place where you will feel be in some where in Italy, the drinks specialy the martinis you will never find in anywhere in world.Giancarlo and Yasmin you did fantastic job…..!!!!!!! well done…………… ” - Ritika j
“Posso solo dire da Italiano che dopo un mese di aver vissuto a Bangalore, da Giancarlo’s Place ho scoperto i veri sapori Italiani e’ una grande accoglienzamolto professionale!!! -Grazie Giancarlo!!! ” - Frano
That pretty much sums up what one knows about this new martial art form. But it seems to be the latest buzz, everybody wants to do it, everyone else is opening up a Krav Maga Center to train all those others who want to do it. There are reams of articles written about it and miles of TV programming on propagating it….But what is it??
Maybe the question to ask is how it helps you!
Imagine going for a nice dinner with your partner, romantic lights, warm music, great food, cozy weather outside…you two decide to take a long walk post dinner. And suddenly a goon jumps out from the darkness and flashes a knife at you. He’s not only interested in your valuables but is also intent on causing both physical and psychological damage. What do you do? Freeze with fear? Beg and plead with evil intent? Call the cops? Shout for help? Maybe you cooperate with the goon, but he anyway slashes your partner’s face and scars her for life and stabs you, leaving you grasping for life.
This is not an implausible scenario; it has happened many times in our beloved city and will continue to happen. Normal everyday things have become potentially dangerous for one’s life and limbs, let alone the valuables….withdrawing money at an ATM, traveling alone in an auto or a cab, walking in a park, going to a pub, even staying at home!!
It’s exactly for handling such real life situations that Krav Maga was created. It’s not as much a style or system of martial arts as it is a way, a thought, an approach…the basis of Krav Maga is simple “Don’t get hurt”. It assumes that in a real life situation, no quarter will be given, just like the goon in our story above. So it trains one to do whatever is required to get immediate situational advantage and to hurt the opponent with rapid, mixed moves. It also trains on using whatever is available at hand as an offensive weapon, maybe even a pen! Offence is the best form of defense. Krav Maga is for very close ranges of combat, which is what most street and real life situations are all about. Even the name “Krav Maga’ means “Contact combat” in Hebrew. It not only teaches self defense, but also gets one super fit with its focus on physical training and repeated muscle usage. Krav Maga uses a mix of aerobic and anaerobic exercises as part of the training program. So one feels good and looks good too!
So step out and find yourself a Krav Maga center, learn the way of the close combat and know that you can protect yourself and your loved ones from evil intent.
The author is a student and teacher of various forms of martial art. He can be contacted here
Copyright (C) 2008 MyCityBuddy All rights reserved.
Cross your heart and bless your soul…the annual Crossword sale is on at Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bangalore- Bannerghatta and Indira Nagar, New Delhi, Vishakapatnam, Ghaziabad stores. For close to a month ie. from 15th August to 7th September, you can indulge in bargain shopping for books @50% off ( some of them, atleast!), enjoy exciting offers on Books and publications, Children Audio-Visual Learning Aids, Educational Software, Multimedia Electronic Publishing, Stationery and Office Supplies, movies, music etc etc. Crossword Book Rewards members, also get a special 10% off* on regular books and 5% off* on all Music & Movie titles. (*: Update: Means only on regular books, not the already discounted ones!)
If you are book lover, there is nothing quite like a book fair to get your adrenalin rushing and blood pumping (actually, there are other things even better but that’s different territory!) visualising yourself buying up favourite books at bargain prices. Apart from books of specific interest, you might also stumble upon books that you might develop an interest in, as you casually check out what’s on offer. I know I developed a taste for ’how-to-prepare’ cookery books. Less said about my attempts to bring them to the table, the better. Anyway, chances are good walking out pleased with yourself, as you delicately balance your shopping bag. Above all, books sales give an opportunity to handle books, to learn and to experience a heady thrill. Not quite like bungee jumping but close. Be prepared for a lighter wallet, though.
A bit about Crossword: Crossword is India’s leading bookstore chain, which has pioneered the lifestyle bookstore concept in India. Its innovative approach to book retailing and its achievements has received wide acclaim in India and has won the ‘Reid & Taylor Award for Best Retailer of the year – Leisure & Specialty’ at the India Retail Summit 2005. ‘Retailer of the Year Award - Leisure (Books, Music and Gifts Category) at the Images Retail Awards 2007 and 2005′. Businessworld rated Crossword as the ‘6th Most Respected Retailer in the country’ for the year 2006; the only bookstore to feature in the top ten. Launched in 1992, Crossword currently has 45 stores across 13 cities in the country in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Nagpur, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad, Jaipur, New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Vadodara & Vishakhapatnam. Crossword Bookstores Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary Company of Shopper’s Stop Ltd – India’s leading department store chain.
A 3D panorama is a great way to an idea of how the place is going to be like…without having to fight the traffic and the honking and the pollution. MCB now introduces full panoramic views for its premium businesses. Take a look at The Ants and Modern World shops.
MyCityBuddy carried out its first public advertisement campaign on a new and upcoming local newspaper called city plus. There will be more to come, but here’s three cheers to the first one!
MyCityBuddy (MCB) uses Google Analytics to understand and assess our site traffic, usage patterns and pageview history. It is a tool that doesn’t impede much on user experience and is reliable and extensive.
So it was heartening this morning, to wake up and check the numbers for the month of May from this tool. Due to account restrictions, we are unable to give you exact figures, but look at the graphs below.
This first graph, tracks the site visitors from Jan - May 2008. While Jan - Feb the growth was flat, things have picked up heaps since then!
Of course, site visitors is only one part of the whole picture. What is more interesting is the next graph.
This graph represents the increase in the number of returning visitors (130% increase)! Users, once they find us, tend to return, in increasing numbers.
Thank you to everyone who has found MCB useful, as we continue to strive towards making MCB the first port of call for all users of Bangalore.
Summer Camp for Kids and Parents Appleofmyi, is organizing summer camp for kids. Spundhann and *Aunty Arpita*, are back to make all the kids have a lot of fun and learn a lot of interesting things. For more details click here.
Customized gifts?.
Need to hand out gifts at your next team meeting…or a birthday party? Make them special with customized
messages on mugs, caps, pens, shirts and lots more. Its all online, so you never have to leave the comfort of your home…
Inside Bangalore International Airport A sneak peak into the airport…
With all the brouhaha about the new airport, we decided to give you a first hand experience of what its all about. A pictorial essay of the new airport and all that we can expect from it. At the end of it all, we were truly left breathless…Click here to start exploring the new airport!
A tale of two book stores
Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside of a dog its too dark to read - Groucho Marx.
How do you measure the greatness of a city? Well for starters, you see how it treats its book lovers. We decided to bring the best of book stores in Bangalore to you…from the swanky new age book stores like Landmark and Crossword…to the classics like Premier. Read the ‘pavement to riches’ story of Mr. Mayi Gowda, owner of a hugely popular used book store on Church Street called Blossoms. Also featured is the Oxford Book Store, whose location is as unique as the store itself.
Click here to browse ALLthe best book stores in Bangalore. Don’t forget to leave a comment about your favorite bookstore. And if you don’t see it listed, do let us know!
Copyright (C) 2008 MyCityBuddy All rights reserved.
A few years back one could count the number of good book shops on the little finger - gangarams, sapna, premier… how the situation has changed since then! MCB decided to take stock of all the best book stores in Bangalore. Along the way, MCB also talked to the owner of Blossoms and Oxford Bookstore to get their views on the changing book scene of the city.
Click here for all the best book stores in Bangalore.
MCB went exploring the soon to be operational Bangalore International Airport in Devanahalli. Check out all the cool new features of the new airport here.
