Holi, also known as the Festival of Colours, is my favorite Indian festival for two reasons one, since it officially marks the end of winter and second, for the range of colours that the festival centers upon.

The significance of these colours is related to change in weather that is prone to cause certain ailments. Hence it is assumed that the playful throwing of the coloured powders has a medicinal significance as the coloured powders are made of medicinal herbs well-known to Ayurvedic medicine.

It’s also the time when I am scrounging my trusted resources to see if someone in some part of the DC metro is celebrating Holi with the grandeur that is associated with this festival back home. Sadly, it is the price you pay for moving away from home. Today is like any other day.

I often catch clips of the “this i believe” series on NPR radio and as I listened today I thought about my personal “this i believe”. I call it “what it takes”. So what does it take to be a writer, an actor or an artist? It starts with talent but then something more. Here is my take on 3 “what it takes”.

• What does it take to be a leader? Candour. Consistency. Compassion.
• What does it take to be respected? Honesty. Trust. Recognition.
• What does it take to be popular? Networking. Marketing. World Wide Web

If you are a man reading this then you probably know what it means to be behind the wheel of your power machine. The feel of that stick when you downshift as you take that sharp curve at the exit or downshift when you see that hot chic next to your car.

I had the chance to drive the Beamer 3 series stick shift and it was electrifying to feel the power of speed in your fingers as you switch gears. It was not about the hot chic or the oversized biceps but just the rush of blood as the needle shifted from 0 – 60 to 100 to 120. Forget the diamonds. Give me that 3 series any day. Rubber meets road baby!

It’s Halloween and I just had a nightmare dealing with the US Visa Consulate in Chennai. While this country boasts of customer service I am amazed how every time I plan my visit to India I encounter the Visa nightmare. I paid $100 to reserve a date 3 months ahead of my travel date only to be informed today that cancellation would equal to my $100 being lapped up by the US Consulate. “Madam, our website states that the fee is non-refundable”. So my $100 is going to pay another deprived Indian’s pay check who by working at the US Consulate, asserts the role of a sickly insolent SOB.

While the world is talking about social networking and YouTube, I am surfacing and building my own home on the web. It is fascinating. For 8 years I have built websites for others and watched and admired others who built their own homes. For the first time I feel the rush of having something you can call your own. Thanks to Matthew for pushing me for over a year to get me started. I have started and I hope to continue on. Watch out World Wide Web, I am here.