Trying to find the right mutual fund

The other day, I was on the phone with one of my uncles from India, and I was asked for some assistance. He wanted to know what mutual fund would be a good investment option. With the economy down in the dumps, there are not many people who are ready to invest a lot of money, but since my uncle, who I am very close to, insisted, I gladly said I would try my best to find him a mutual fund that was worthy of his money.

So here I am scouring the Internet for sources on what would probably be best for my favourite uncle’s retirement fund. It is kind of nerve wrecking when someone close to you asks you for a favor that has something to do with finances, especially since I’m here in the states, and do not know much about mutual funds in India, but then again, I do have a little experience in this field, so maybe I’ll come up with something really good. Anyone have any suggestions? Please do write in! Any contribution will be welcome.

My quest for my first muscle car

Not too recently, I have been trying to revive one of my old passions – cars. And not just any cars, because the ones I love are the typical classic American muscle cars. Ask me to choose between a Lamborghini Murcielago and a 69’ Ford Mustang, and I will definitely opt for the latter.

Everyone may not love these huge cars with their high-powered engines, but I certainly have had a thing for them ever since my adolescence. While other guys were pinning up posters of women in skimpy clothes, I had posters of the Dodge Charger, the Ford Shelby Mustang, the Pontiac GTO and many more. There’s just something about these cars that drives me wild! Some might say it’s the sheer power and size, and some might say that it’s the retro styling or the way they drive, but I just can’t sum it up. They never cease to impress me!

I recently went down to a muscle car convention with a friend of mine, and boy, was I in heaven! They had every car I had ever dreamed about as a boy, and seeing them in the flesh, all together at the same time was a real treat for me. There were plenty of Shelby Cobras, Pontiac Tempests, Ford Mustangs, Chevrolet Impalas, and a couple of the older ones such as the Oldsmobile Rocket, Pontiac Star Chief and many more. I was all but drooling at the sight of these majestic beauties.

I haven’t gotten around to buying one myself, but I am eagerly on the lookout for a Shelby Mustang or a Pontiac GTO. I cannot wait for the day I find the perfect match!

Oasis Moving - For better house moving

I recently bought a new house in Carson City and I am really happy about the same. But at the start I had a great dilemma regarding the shifting of my prized possessions. I am a gadget freak and my wife is a compulsive shoppers. Our so-called vices have created a clutter of things in my old house in Gardnerville. I had so many things to move and after a lot of searching and seeking I ended up on the Oasis Moving website. Even one of my friends had recommended them as he had used their services previously. These guys really score high on my preference list. Good service, attention to detail and promptness – these adjectives best describe the Oasis Team.

I am very picky of my large screen LCD screen and the Oasis guys managed to move the same in one piece. One thing I really liked was the method of packing and unpacking the goods. Very careful and I guess they treat the entire process as their own.

I personally recommend these guys. Give them a try in case you plan on moving any part of the US. Trust me!

American Financial Crisis

One can certainly say that the American economy has seen better days than the ones it is experiencing currently. Every sector is going through some kind of crunch or the other. From automotive and airlines to construction and retail sales, every industry is facing problems.

This is a problem that has started way back; probably as far as a few decades ago. People started becoming irresponsible; looking for instant gratification. Money was spent like water. And the sad part is, that we still do not realize the gravity of the situation.

A direct result of our actions today is complete pandemonium. People cannot afford to pay back loans; properties are being seized due to non payment of dues. And of course, need I mention that Wall Street isn’t exactly in its prime at the moment.

Both President Bush and Senator John McCain say that the fundamentals of our economy are sound. But on what basis do they have the right to make such a statement? I would really like them, especially the president t explain to us exactly what these fundamentals are.

Today, our economy might be in a shabby condition, but it is only ourselves that we have to blame. But on the other hand, it is never too late to turn the ship around. All we need to do is use our resources properly and there is every chance of making a great comeback!

Of course, many might say what does he know when I make statements such as the ones I have made above. But I am after all an American citizen and I do follow what is happening in my country, as I am a part of it. And I am sure that everyone belonging to my community feels the same way. We are a part of America and we want what is best for her!

An ode to my girlfriend’s curls:

I love curly hair! It all first started when I met my girlfriend. Before that I was more of your silky smooth kind of guy. I always thought it wouldn’t be easy to run my hand through her thick, luscious growth of curls, but boy was I wrong! In one smooth, slow motion, my fingertips smoothly went through her garden of curls, and I was stunned to see how nice it felt! From then onwards I have been a lover of curls and it will remain that way till the day I die.

The best part about curly hair is that it looks great, no matter how one wears it, looking fabulous is not a problem. No matter how my girlfriend wears her curly hair, be it tied down or plaited. I especially love it when she just lets it go loose and free! I think it makes her look like a real wild child! 

But the amount of hair products she uses for her curly hair is unbelievable! Anti frizz shampoo and conditioner, hair tonic, hair serum! My God; I think she must spend at least half her salary on it! But whatever makes it look good and feel strong can’t be that bad now, can it?!

Curly hair, I will always love you, no matter how you look! All messy in the morning or all wet and dripping after a long hot shower! I am your biggest admirer eternally!

India at its shooting best

Hmmm ... so I been away long, but then as is the case with everyone in New york, time is the most valuable commodity and i haven't been that time rich lately.
But today i had to login and write about the fantastic news that's rocking me no end. India won its first individual GOld Medal in the Olympics. Though India has won medals for Hockey in olympics, and that too decades ago, this is the very first time that someone from India has beaten the worlds best in an event. The credit for this, goes to shooter Abhinav Bindra. He won the Gold for Rifle Shooting. I am sure all of India must be rejoicing at the win. An emotional me, couldnt control my happiness and pride in knowing the fact that we are World beaters. We were good at Cricket and now we are getting there with other sports too.
I know I live in America and all that, but then any achivement done by India or Indians swells my heart with pride. To sum it up as they say " You can remove an Indian out of India, but u can never remove India out of an Indian.

Remit 2 India my best option

Ahh ! at last I have decided to end my money transfer woes by entrusting the job to remit 2 India. My cousin too suggested that remit 2 India would be the best option to wire the money to him. It was just that I was kinda confused with so many financial agencies now into this money transfer business, but then I have made my choice with help from comments written by 2 helpful netizens. They had good reviews about remit 2 India and it seems remit 2 india don’t take any transfer charges and also offer good exchange rates which can beat the market. So thanks to the guys who wrote in the comments which helped me choose remit 2 India to transfer money to India.

Din't mess the weekend with THE ZOHAN

After an hectic week I decided to unwind by watching a comedy flick. Don’t mess with the Zohan was my option as well as choice. Though Adam Sandler aint one of my favourite’s but then with his new make over and the interesting trailers which were thrust into my living room took the decision for me. And thank god it wasn’t a bad decision at all ‘Don’t mess with the Zohan’ is all hilarious and entertaining. Though it was kinda preachy at times but then you could justify it by the bad times we are going through, in terms of territorial disputes and carnages in the name of peace.

Adam Sandler has done a commendable job. As an mossad agent he isn’t that convincing, and the whole agency single handedly depends on him when it faces with national crisis situation like complete annihilation of Israel by Palestinian terrorists. But then his transformation as an hairdresser after faking his own death suits Adam sandler to the hilt. Though he kinda does the gay act to look the part of an creative hairstylist who is stuck with the style of the 80’s.

I fell head over heels in Love (it could be lust too) with the lead actress of the movie. She is super hot and middle eastern I guess. So maybe I could watch the movie again for the laugh riot it is, and shurely for the hot chick in it.

There goes my weekend, well spent and all.

Get Ready For More of ‘Friends’

There’s great news! Friends, one of the most entertaining comedy shows ever will hit the silver screen soon, with the same characters. Seriously speaking, this is a dream come true for any comedy lover, which certainly includes me in the list

I was amazed to come across this news on the web as I have been a die hard fan of Friends ever since it started. The stay has been really long and I had been looking forward to its mind boggling humour desperately. In fact, I’ve decided I’ll go for it on the very first day after its release.

Each and every episode had this unique tinge of humour that just exploded the environment with lots of giggles and laughter…that’s Friends for you! Especially Joey was the best of all who used to crack silly puns with his funny yet stylish behaviour. The timing, the quality, the acting, everything is just fabulous about these six guys. No wonder they get paid millions of dollars for their performance.

Another character is Phoebie who I feel is quite innocent, but a brat too. Truly speaking, Chandler, Rachel, Monica, Ross; everyone is actually just brilliant. Each one has this unique quality that stands out completely from others. The blend is simply incredible and I bet the movie is gonna be a must watch. I’m certainly waiting for it big time…are you?

Help Me Find Out the Best Money Transfer Service to India

Hey guys, I need your help! I’m looking out for good money transfer services to India to support my cousin bro as he is planning to open a business back home soon.

I’ve gone through few services on the net like ICICI, Remit2India, Western Union, CitiBank, HDFC etc. but very confused which service to opt for. Basically I’m looking for quick service which has excellent exchange rates, minimum transfer fees, and is well available.

Few have suggested me to go for Remit2India or Western Union, but I want to make sure that I don’t go into loss. My friends tell me that Remit2India provides good exchange rates and has nil transfer fees, but is little slow in service unlike Western Union and ICICI which comparatively have quicker service, but poor exchange rates.

It will be the first time I’ll be transferring money to India. I would like to get more details regarding this as I’m not much aware of it.

‘Get Smart’ Movie –Absolutely Hilarious!

Last weekend is surely gonna be one of the finest weekends I ever had, thanks to Steve Carell. We friends had a blast that evening as ‘Get Smart’ had all the ingredients to make an outstanding day for all of us.

The movie is completely hilarious. Steve Carell and Anna Hathaway play the lead roles and have certainly done a great job. The story is about Max, played by Steve who dreams of becoming a popular agent in his field. He works as a trustworthy paper-pushing analyst for a spy agency and teams up with Agent 99 played by Anna Hathaway to fulfill some of his plans in the movie.

Overall, it is a must watch if you are a die-hard fan of comedy with a tinge of action. The performances are just great and the comic timing is wonderful as well.

Not to forget the side roles played by other characters. It was a treat for us and the theatre audience used to burst out laughing during most of the movie. The direction of Peter Segal is excellent, particularly the work he has done on Steve, making it one of his best on-screen performances.

After this tummy-tickling movie, we went out to Gramercy Tavern, a popular NY restaurant, and enjoyed the gingerbread cheesecake, unable to stop ourselves from giggling and talking about the movie.

The Bizarre Tattoo!

On my way to the office yesterday, I came across a bizarre looking tattoo a guy had worn on his arm. It was pretty huge and looked rather scary. The tattoo was of an arrow piercing through a guy’s head and his tongue out. Pretty dreadful!

Not me only, but also plenty others had the ‘yuck’ feeling on their face. And the guy was pretty cool about it, as if nothing’s happening around. I realized then that people are really crazy in this world. They do anything…simply anything!

Colourful and flashy, the tattoo depicted pain and wickedness, highlighting cruelty. The guy himself was well-built, bald, and monstrous looking. It actually fit his persona.

Talking about tattoo, I know it is really painful but haven’t experienced it yet. Tattoo and piercing are the two things that give me goosebump and I never wish to try them in my life.

Here, tattoos are pretty common unlike in India. You would also come across several girls in US with either a tattoo or a piercing, especially in their tongue or navel. Even the thought makes me feel weird!

In fact, one of my friends Kevin too has a tongue piercing and I often wonder how much it would have hurt him. Anyways, you get to find all types of people in this world, and such people are certainly one of their kinds.

PS3 Rocks!!

Hey guys I’m really excited to share my experiences about the latest PS3 I got last week. It cost around $500 but the sound and graphic quality has completely electrified my senses…..

You had to see the look on my friend’s face…oh man! He was like bamboozled about what’s going on and couldn’t keep himself away from ‘Burnout Paradise’ game as his first love is driving.

The sound of the car crash was as if some real crash had taken place and I must say it was ‘MINDBLOWING’. The graphics too is awesome and you’ll get the natural feel as if you are a part of it actually. I guess nothing can match the wickedness of driving that you enjoy from the game. And playing it on PS3 is just an icing on the cake…

Since I’m an avid fan of WWE, how can I miss ‘Smackdown! Vs Raw’. If you haven’t witnessed a wrestling match in your life, don’t worry! PS3 will just rock you and make you a part of the energetic atmosphere that is depicted through the game.

I’m so glad I got hold of this fantastic entertainment source…Work and stress wouldn’t be a problem for me anymore as I got my best friend to support and entertain me for the rest of my life :)

Trance Music – I Just Love It!

The other day I bought some Trance CD’s from a local store which comprised of popular trance scores by artists like ATB, Above & Beyond, Chicane, Eric Foard, Orbital, Mario Piu, Lou Vegas, Safri Duo, Cosmic Gate, and Sunbeam.

I’m passionate about trance music and listen to it almost everyday, especially when stressed out or alone. Whether classic, acid, uplifting or progressive; it doesn’t matter what genre it belongs to.

Some of my favourite trance music of all time is Offshore, Sunstroke, 9 PM till I come, Sparkles, Strange World, Solarcoaster, Nothing but you, and No one on Earth. I remember, back in India during our college days, some of us guys had gone for a vacation to Goa and attended various trance parties. It was simply awesome!

Let me share an experience with you. While we were partying at the beach, a group of foreigners came and demanded music of their choice. It could be made out that they were drunk. Their demand was not met and they attempted to spoil the party, but were eventually controlled.

People say that Goa trance is popular all over the world. I loved it too. But more than the music, I loved the craziness of people there. Such parties attract huge number of trance freaks who do all kinds of strange things like wearing fluoro painted clothes, decorations, and funky looking designs.

Alas trance parties are not much popular here in US like in Europe. In fact, I’ve yet to come across a trance party here.

How far do you believe in Zodiac Sun Signs?

Yesterday one of my office colleagues Swarup threw a birthday party at his place here in New York. He is currently staying alone, and so it was great fun enjoying the occasion with rock music, beer party and lots of junk food. The party started at around 10 p.m. and my other colleagues and I decided to stay over night as it was getting pretty late.

It happened so that one of the guys made a slapstick remark on Swarup’s personality of being like a bull in a ring with a toreador. I don’t really know what that meant, but it certainly sounded weird. He added that all the Taureans are like that, since Swarup’s zodiac sign is Taurus.

Soon then another colleague opined that it was not true and zodiac signs are nothing but rubbish. They do not hold any relevance and just exist so that horoscope tellers can make some earning out of it, and that majority of the people in this world are superstitious.

The manner in which he replied was certainly funny. It made me laugh like crazy. But, I disagreed with him to some extent. My birthday lies on September 10 and I’m a Virgo. So far, whatever I’ve heard about Virgo characteristics, it matches well with my personality. Well, that’s what I’ve noticed at least. For example, Virgos are logical and usually like to analyse things, along with being patient and humorous, which is what I’m too.

It is amazing that this discussion went on till about half an hour, with each and every one having something or the other to say. Majority were against zodiacs saying that they are baseless, but I certainly do believe in them to some extent. What about you?

Introduction

Hey Friends, this is Jay from New York…I moved here from Mumbai about 7 months back, but I don’t find much difference between the two cities. Everything is just about the same; the nightlife, the energy, the people (I bet you’ll find more Indians here than anywhere in the US)

It has been a good stay so far, as I’ve made several friends in my vicinity. I’m staying here with my parents and really like the enthusiastic environment which enlivens the people around it. Yes, I know that most of the things are costlier than those back home, but as you all will agree, we have this habit of converting dollars into rupees, which makes all the difference.

Till date, I’ve traveled Washington, Niagara, California, Dallas, and Houston and planning to go to Mexico early next year. The good thing about New York is that it’s neat and clean…very hygienic.

Transportation has never been a problem due to the excellent infrastructure, and sometimes the cold weather just makes everything so pleasant around!

Being a non-vegetarian, I enjoy the food here to the fullest…best being the variety of chicken delicacies you find in the restaurants here. Moreover, there are varieties of NY restaurants that are American, Chinese, French, as well as Italian, besides Indian ofcourse.

I would love to share more such experiences of my life with you and post them whenever there’s anything interesting happening around…Cheers!