The world around us

It’s been quite a while since I posted a picture here. I have been taking lots of pictures ever since I got my current camera, which was in January this year. Hard to believe that it’s almost been a year now. Having a good and fun camera has changed the way I look at things, I tend to notice the mundane to see if there is an interesting shot in it. I have experimented with the camera a lot and love to try out its settings.

Here’s a photo that I took while on the way to the beach in Goa. I loved the way the bright red of the lifeguard’s chair stood out against the dark green Casurina trees in the background.

I was really intrigued to read about Car Angel, a non-profit agency that does car donations and provides cars to those in need such as single mothers, the homeless, rehab participants and so on. Car Angel makes videos for kids about cars and other donations and have so far given away more than 2.4 million videos. It’s definitely a worthy cause and I wanted to write about it, because it deserves to be talked about, written about and thought about more often, hopefully which will lead to more people taking up this option. I agree that not everyone has the ability to give away a car, even an old car, but if it is possible it is a great way to help others, and really make a drastic change in their lives. Giving clothes or furniture to the local Salvation Army is one thing, but donating a car is altogether a whole different thing, one that is sure to be the catalyst in many recipients lives. Check out this sample video: http://youtube.com/user/boatangel

Food retailing in India is the fastest growing segment in country’s fast paced retail sector and according to a new report will hit $482 billion by 2020, from $236 billion in 2006. Rising disposable incomes of the middle class, increased exposure to international lifestyles, growing aspirations of consumers, and the added convenience factors with more working women in the country as well as a greater emphasis on health consciousness are some of the major reasons that food retail is booming.

At “Foodpro 2007”, an industry seminar organized by the CII in Chennai, it was stated that over 80 million Indian consumers have more than $5,000 as monthly income and these consumers are the ones that are pushing the sector forward. The aspirational consumer class inf India is rapidly growing and will continue to do so for several more years which will ensure that the food retail sector continues to grow.