Evolution of Hashtag

From an aloof button located on the bottom right corner of the now-discarded phone to becoming the global icon, #Hashtag has come a long way. Literally, a Hashtag is an unspaced phrase prefixed with an insignia of net (hash character) to form a label. Words or phrases in messages or posts on microblogging sites and social media networks like Google+, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram acquire a new character by entering hash (#) symbol before them. I would miss a vital point here if I failed to mention that Hashtag is the new fad in the sphere of the Social Media marketing.

Advantage Hashtag:

Like a predefined package Hashtag too comes with a bundle of delight. It regroups identically tagged messages thus making things more visible in the electronic search across the various mediums. Today Hashtag depicts the trending topics across the globe. On social networking or microblogging sites, it can be inducted anywhere in the sentence thus adding exclusivity to the quoted entity.

Advantage hashtag leverages the reach of a message exponentially, thus educating the most introvert mortal who is unaware of the trending activities. While the icon makes for a formidable tool, it influences the group activities, online conventions as in the shorter terms that depict the latest fad, like #lolz #TGIF #GloomyMon. In fact today, the hashtag has become an instrument to represent our mental state. If you are really happy or angry at someone, you need not reach up to the person and talk to him, rather tags like #blessed, #annoyed, #high expressed in a better way.

Talking about its origin, the concept hashtag was first brought up by InfoTech to highlight a special meaning. It depicted an immediate address mode and has been known as a hash symbol in some countries outside North America. If Wiki source is to be believed, it was Chris Messina, who first used the hashtag on Twitter on 23 Aug 2007. It went on to become a writing style in 2009-10 Iranian Election protest where it was prefixed with English as well as the Persian language. Seeing its popularity, Oxford English Dictionary inducted it in its fleet.

Your own Business Tool:

It started from twitter and the phenomenon has spread through to other platforms like G+, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and Tumblr. People greeted it with open arms and used it strategically to categorize their messages on twitter; as a result, it is one of the most potent marketing weapons for a businessperson today. Hashtags today improve your reputation online. It not only initiates a discussion but also propels it further. Analytics says that hashtag has accounted for a major chunk of twitter activity since it came into the picture and has emerged as a force around which social media market thrusts. Today people also use it as a strategic functionality to kick-start a campaign. Use a Hashtag & you can invite people to join your venture as well.

For a budding prodigy, the hashtag propels additional functionality that covers the same group of people and helps them with better insight for business. Ask a question under a hashtag and see it attended by enthusiasts across the globe, which results in the amplification of your knowledge bank.

If I were to opine about the hashtag, in general, I would have you include this weaponry in your arsenal when you are chalking out your business strategy. Seeing all the goodies that it brings with itself, the hashtag is already on its course to become one of the greatest things in the sphere of social media. Be it garnering maximum followers or arranging your tweets, hashtag provides more than one could ask for.

All you gotta do is Tag ‘em perfectly!

Indian Railways: Testing patience-on-wheels!

Dear railway minister of the big mouthed ruling government!

Another couple of months are left before you table an awaited Railway budget. Actually, it feels really good to see the way you guys hold the lengthy railway budget perched firmly in your hands every year, claiming ample of goodies in store for Aam Aadmi. Alas! Ground reality cease to improve. A standard sanitation, check on extra charge levied on eatables & ban on unhygienic & poorly cooked eatables sold at platform, seamless network connectivity & timely running trains are yet far from reality. You must understand that if you aim to shoot for the star, you must revisit the ground reality first & accomplish the needful instead of darting false promises. 

What I highlight here is another pressing concern which exposes the plight of our railways system, something that has left me disappointed to the core. Couple of years back the mere thought of booking an online tatkal ticket would send a chill down my spine. No matter how good the broadband connection was, if you managed one for yourself, you nailed it! Now that the website has been revamped, accessing the website has become a lot easier for us. But the not-so-punctual trains who are never on time, have only multiplied our woes. Trains do cut a sorry figure of one of the biggest institutions of free India. Kudos to our office bearer government, be it our veteran congress party or the ruling BJP. I am sorry to say that all their endeavours have been tarnished with passing time & they haven't done much to revamp the outlook of the Indian Railways.

Taking the months of Dec & Jan into consideration, I comply with the fact that fogs do affect the schedule of the most used public transport system. But now that the pink season has already packed its bag & there is not much of fog either I don't find it reasonable why most of the trains are running late, some by almost a day.

OK, here is the situation, I had this urgent work of passport verification & was lucky to find a stretched weekend in between, thanks to our beloved Republic Day. But my happiness was short lived as entire two days of my weekend were consumed by this lousy train named Swatantrata Sainani Exp, which runs from Delhi to Darbhanga & becomes my soft target coz the train gives me the liberty to board it even after attending my office on Friday. By the time the train left Delhi it was already delayed by 9 hours & it costed me 17 extra hours to reach home safe & alive. You see, people don't die because of the delayed journey, if they did there would be some serious amendment in some railway act or something. The big delay cooked me up to the core. And the fact remains that we Indians have learnt to live with such anomalies, at times when things overstep the line it leaves us red faced. 

On the eve of Republic day, I would sincerely have our beloved railway minister introspect things from ground zero. In my opinion if you want to make a noticeable move, please don't begin with skyscrapers & smart things. You must start with something which is connected to people from different walks of life. Indian railway is definitely one of them!

Wish you all a very Happy Republic Day & Ministry of Railways, I just hope somebody is listening.

Review of American Sniper

Last week saw some top notch movie releases & it was definitely tough to come up with a winner. We had The Imitation Game & The Theory of Everything along with American Sniper, but this Bradley Cooper starrer was the movie I loved the most. It was not just about bang bang combat war, but the movie also revealed the other side of a traumatised warrior who almost ditched his family life for the nation’s cause. Clint Eastwood once again showed the world that he belonged to the elite league, with his impeccable biopic that was inspired from the real life of Chris Kyle.

Right from the word go Bradley Cooper into the skin of the character of Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in American history. He maintained the gravity of a sniper when he took deep breaths before taking a clear shot at the insurgents & hunted them one by one. During the course of the movie he couldn't recuperate from the traumatic incidents that he went through back in Iraq but he didn't throw in the towel either & went back to serve four tours of duty in Iraq. Cooper has certainly looked a deadly sniper in his worn out look & bulky demeanor. Like any other Hollywood movie, this movie too has projected America as an ideal country weeding out terrorism from the world & the plot of the movie has been bang on from the scratch. The movie has all the necessary ingredients in emotions, plot, a perturbed wife & a daredevil sniper. Of all his movies, Bradley has looked the best in this movie, the finest role of his career.

Everything was fine until the abrupt ending which saw Chris Kyle leave his house one fine morning just to help a friend & was shot by him on the way. I know that the movie being a biopic showed exactly the same that happened with the American sniper back in 2013, but all I would say here is that a little-twisted projection could have done the world of good to the abrupt ending. The 1.2 mile shot by Kyle to kill the Iraq’s Olympic gold medalist shooter was certainly the pick of the movie & if that was really true, I salute the legend. 

The movie is certainly going to be the movie of the year & is a good 2-hour entertainment. I would ask you to go to your nearest cinema & watch it for sure!

Watch the movie trailer here: Youtube

Know all about the movie here: IMDB

Happy Birthday My Cutie Pie!

Your lovely smile emanated countless emotions,

I found comfort in your clasp, & cuddle,

Your soft touch pampered our relation.

Your warm hug comforted me,

Your cheerful cry gave me elation.

I hated whenever you cried, 

But the soulful cry made positive dissipation.

I wondered how someone smiled so deeply after waking up,

Then you woke up, and enlivened us with smile dispensation.

Your gorgeous smile made me skip a heartbeat,

You turned into my obsession.

I found a perfect company in you,

You've become my prime attraction.

I cherish all the 365 days of your incredible journey,

Oh, you do have all my attention.

The world became a better place,

You are the reason behind this transition.

I picturise you in most of the things I do,

Boy, you are quite a source of my inspiration!

As you turn one today my heart knows no bound of ecstasy. Moreover, it's just one year champ! Chachu-Betu are going to make memories together & will live amazing moments in time to come.

Happy birthday, baby! Chachu loves you. God Bless!

Review of 'Suraksha- Power of 5' app

Crime against women in our country has seen an unprecedented rise of late. The sooner women take up the command of their self-security, the better it is for them. After considering their vulnerability to move around freely, we have coined various safety measures that can make ladies around us feel safe & comfortable. Staying clad in a respectable dress, practicing a different form of martial art or living life precariously are some of the measures that can fill them with an aura of self-confidence, but at times, they aren't good enough to protect them from insane monsters moving in open.

Keeping the ever rising need for women’s safety in mind 'Suraksha- Power of 5’ has been designed by Saarthi. The app is very simple to use & is a vital tool which intends to provide safety to women around us. It banks on the ‘Power of 5’ feature, which uses technology to leverage the safety to women. The look & feel of the app seems great with beautifully designed UI & stuffed features that will certainly help women to guard themselves to a great extent. Soon as you install the app it will prompt you to register & add contact number of your acquaintances who can respond when the need arises. All it requires is seamless internet connectivity & your apt reflex. Also, you must have the app installed in the person’s phone who you chose to include in your priority list.

The app gets into action soon as you press the power button thrice. Rescue work begins as the inbuilt features like distress Call, SMS, Email & Alerts immediately gets triggered thus alerting your kin. Your relatives/friends start getting alerts in a loop, i.e. continuous alerts every 2 two minutes for the next 30 minutes which reveals your GPS location & the nearest mobile tower. It also keeps sending  SMS to all the 5 contacts for next half an hour periodically & an automated call is made on a predefined number to alert them of your danger. Immediately after the call is processed the recorder records your voice automatically thereby storing the audio clip in your device which may result in your immediate rescue.

So, Ladies you have a reason to smile because now you have his potent weaponry on your phone which will certainly give you an essence of safety every time you step out of your house. You would never have thought that your smartphone would enhance your safety layer significantly thus taking off a chunk of your anxieties. This app is going to be an asset to working ladies who come home late at night.

Seeing the vast engagement of ladies in different walks of life & the growing insecurity in the streets today, it's time they made themselves more adept to counter their problems. Keeping safety concern as a priority, Suraksha is a must have app for your android device. Install it & stay safe.

Download the free app from your play store here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saarthi.suraksha

Classic prints will stay CLASSIC

Good things are destined to stay for a very long time. Such is the charisma of classic pattern that it has dazzled the closet of fashionistas from the time unknown. Be it Hollywood’s very stylish Robert de Niro, the ever flamboyant Al Pacino or Bollywood’s Heartthrob Dev Anand & evergreen Rajesh Khanna, they showed their penchant for the chic pattern when they ruled silver screen. They brandished the patterns that was well received from the legion of fans worldwide & stayed in the house of fashion for a very long time. The Our vibrant apparel industry & skilled designers have ensured that the contemporary design texture doesn't get lost in the melee. Some of the prominent classic patterns for the stylish men are:

Neon: Neon is the latest fad which depicts bright & lively print on your clothes. It not only presents for an eye catching scene but also depicts the vibrant & colourful pigment that we wear.  If you want to stand distinguished in the dark ambience of party, neon makes for an apt selection. Today neon stands for party atmosphere & pub culture which in defines youth. Slip on your favourite neon T-Shirt/ Shirt & get prepared to rock the dance floor.

Slogan print: Slogan print is the perfect way to stay quiet yet speak out aloud. From revolutionary figures to witty one-liners, slogan print has always remained pick of the fashion enthusiasts. It fits for any casual hangout or date, but obviously not formal meetings!

Retro pattern: Retro dates back to the 50s or 60s era when random pattern attracted large mass from its time. It remained the first choice actors of yesteryears & is one of the most prominent periodic fad that has survived the test of time. Retro too is good for your little parties & weekend trip with your colleagues.

Floral: The pattern boasts of bigger & brighter texture which holds its wearer in high esteem. With the kind of soothing aura that the print brings with itself, it is certainly a treat to any eye. From beach prints to voyager themes, the floral print always depicts a theme which spreads  the message. You may bank upon them to make your beach party rather awesome by according you a plain yet wicked look.

Striped pattern from 90s: Of the most conventional patterns, stripped patterns stand exceptional. the stripped fabric design for men have very much stayed just like Retro art & is quite easy to carry. Be it suit, shirt or coat, the stripped pattern makes for a solid dress texture. As regards it design, it comes in different pattern with varying size & different shapes. Put them on for your formal meetings & get-togethers and you will outshine other beauties around.

Main toh Superman, Salmaan ka fan!

At the outset let me extend my greetings to Kausar Munir, the lyricist of the hit number from the upcoming Bollywood flick Tevar(the song is already ruling the charts) . A well versed man who has exercised his high level of wit by paying a befitting ode to the megastar of Hindi Cinema. Given the quirky nature of the song, I sat down to decipher its lyrics in my own way. 

Much to the liking of the choreographer, the song begins with the leading actor(Arjun Kapoor) flexing his muscles claiming that he fears no one. With the daredevil punk cold intent in his eyes, he seems to be serious, really! He goes on to acknowledge that he is the superman & also a Salmaan’s fan. Quite evident! given the kind of stature that the actor has harnessed over the years, he is definitely one of the most decorated artists in the industry today. The song pays an apt tribute to the rockstar, infact the song places him above one of the most powerful superhero, when the lyrics of the song reads, “Main toh Superman, Salmaan ka fan”. Technically if Supermen is a fan of Salmaan then certainly his highness must be above Superman himself. I would be lying if I didn't mention that the song has been sort of a monologue written in praise of Salmaan Khan.

The song is out in stores & is already a hit, if not less. And you know how things are made a bigger hit these days, ofcourse by promoting it on national TV! Promotional activity is more of a common sight these days. At first the entire cast of a cinema work really hard to make a decent movie & then climb the stage of various reality shows to promote their work. They  literally beg you to go & watch their cinema. Don't they? At times people do get beguiled & waste their hard earned money on some pathetic movie & thus the show goes on!

Mr. Khan, as a person certainly has a heart carved out of gold but that doesn't make him a demigod either. Being an ardent fan of music I hold quality music in high esteem, but when you try to do too many things you mess the things up. Meanwhile I have no intent to pull the legs of lyricist saheb, that was just an arbitrary point of view. 

On the contrary being a Salmaan fan can fetch you the coveted title of Superman, by corollary method. No doubt after listening to this song millions of Sallu fans would have started getting a feel of their swollen chest with sheer pride, these are the little things which filmy Indians take pride in. It also grants them an edge when comparing their favourite star with the likes of other khans. Anyways, a song is a good song until folks enjoy it. And Salmaan has another reason to be proud of himself. I wish the film all the luck & just hope that Superman fans don't get offended & ask for a ban on the film or file a lawsuit in the Mumbai high court.

Read more about Tevar

STYLE-O-METER SPRING 2015

Life of a party freak is not so easy! And if you claim to be a hardcore party enthusiast then you have to  be enticed with the basic necessities of the dance floor. As the year end nears, young guns out there face an uphill task to get clad in an attire that alights the ambience at the same time make them stay comfortable in it. After keeping a close tab on the trends followed these days, here are some recommendations for trendy ladies out there. Of course you have to strive hard to look Uber Retro and yet ensure that you don't become a fashion fiasco. Women as they are known to us, are one messed up soul when it comes to finalising a wardrobe for the big night. Not every living mortal is self-professed to negotiate the thin line between fashion and faux-pass & that is when an honest  counsel comes handy. So, here are some honest recommendations for you in the time to come. 

Crop Jackets: the trendier form of over coat looks the coolest in its waistline length. Along with the style statement label this jacket comes with, this fashion wear accords the wearer with a touch of elan. So warm yet so retro, the crop jackets just fits with you formal wear and also over length dress. If you believe in flaunting then this jacket is so apt to showcase your belly art or a slant midriff. Team it up with low waist denim & boots to look the best!

Party Pants: With the year all but over, most of us by now would have certainly made our plans for the new year bash. Venues, Friends, & Menus are easier to decide but when you have to decipher this dress code we lose it all. Hence, for an electric ambience & throbbing floor the party pants make for an ideal combo along with a complementing top. Consider it for your private gatherings & hopefully it won’t disappoint you either.

A-Line Skirt: Don't know how many of you are aware of this, but the A-Line skirt is a classy & alluring wear for women. Towards the hem, it gives you an impression of the first letter of english alphabet. It lasts little before your knee and makes for an easy wear. Given that this part of the globe is reeling under severe cold waves, it wont be a wise bet to switch to the skirt but if you have a nice pair of stocking underneath then you might think of taking a shy at this gorgeous beauty. Your high boots and Chanel overcoat can act as complementing dress material for the skirt.

Florcore: Floral is never out of fashion. If you are planning to switch to a more consuming holiday mode to see that your winter vacations are well spent then you may consider this beautiful dress when you are busy handpicking your right combination for upcoming vacations. With the kind of soothing delight that light floral texture feasts our eyes with, you never know that it could turn out to be your hot favourite for the time to come. Not only design wise, if you talk of the comfort quotient that the floral dress carries with it, I must say that it is second to none. Add a knitted hat & dark glasses along to see the dress become complete.

Fashion is time bound, but style is eternal. Therefore, before stepping out, you may consider rethinking about the presented options, & turn yourself into a more presentable diva of the moment.

Read more about latest fashion trends here (www.style.com)