List of Winners of OSCAR 2010
List of Oscar winners at the 82nd annual Academy Awards:
Director: Kathryn Bigelow – “The Hurt Locker.”
Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, – “The Hurt Locker.”
Motion Picture: - “The Hurt Locker.”
Actor: Jeff Bridges - ”Crazy Heart.”
Actress: Sandra Bullock - “The Blind Side.”
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz – “Inglourious Basterds.”
Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique – ”Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”
Foreign Film: “El Secreto de Sus Ojos – ” Argentina.
Adapted Screenplay: Geoffrey Fletcher – “Precious: Based on the Novel `Push’ by Sapphire.”
Animated Feature Film: – “Up.”
Art Direction: – “Avatar.”
Visual Effects: – “Avatar.”
Documentary Feature: – “The Cove.”
Documentary (short subject): – “Music by Prudence.”
Animated Short Film: -”Logorama.”
Live Action Short Film: – “The New Tenants.”
Cinematography: - ”Avatar.”
Sound Mixing: – “The Hurt Locker.
Sound Editing: – “The Hurt Locker.”
Film Editing: - “The Hurt Locker.”
Original Score: – “Up,” Michael Giacchino.
Original Song: – “The Weary Kind (Theme From Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart,” Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett.
Costume: - “The Young Victoria.”
Makeup: – “Star Trek.”
TOP HOLI Songs
1. Sholay: Holi ke din dil mil jate hain
2. Kati Patang: Aaj na chhodenge
3. Silsila: Rang Barse
4. Baghbaan: Holi khele Raghuveera
5. Darr: Ang se ang lagana Sajan
6. Waqt: Do me a favour Lets play Holi
7. Mother India: Holi aaye re kanhayee
8. Kohinoor: Tan rang lo ji aaj mann rang lo
9. Nadiya Ke Paar: Jogi ji dheere dheere
10: Aap Beeti: Neela Peela Hara Gulabi
The problem with PayPal for Indian customers needs to be resolved sooner than later!
Readers are already aware that the most-preferred Internet Bank – PayPal – has been denying the facility of personal withdrawals for Indian customers alone. This problem has been continuing for over a month now. Although spokespersons have been writing some lame excuses, through PayPal’s official blog, the bitterness created by the inability of an International Bank, to sustain principles of natural justice and customer confidence, is still lingering in the minds of aggrieved Indians.
It is common knowledge that Banks are trusted public organizations, where their customer confidence is paramount. Complete transparency should prevail in the activities of a Bank – it being the first source for the public to carry out their financial transactions, day in and day out, without an iota of doubt.
While this thumb rule is applicable to Banks of all countries, a Bank of International fame like PayPal, crossing national barriers on the Internet, should be of unimpeachable integrity. It is most unfortunate that PayPal, which has millions of customers all over the world, has failed miserably in this regard.
What is so mind-boggling for Indian customers of PayPal is – it did not bother to give any prior notice that the personal withdrawal facility for Indian customers will not be available any more. This is a big jolt for the unwary customers, who came to know of it only when they clicked “withdrawal” at the Bank’s site.
Is it not breach of trust? Can any public organization afford to act in such a way? PayPal made public the difficulties the Bank is facing, with Indian law making authorities, only after the damage is already done. Here also writers of their blog were evasive in describing the “problem” they are facing “is likely to continue for few months”. One can imagine how an affected customer will feel.
As of today, Farhad Irani, writes in PayPal’s blog, under the caption “Resuming local bank withdrawals to India” that they have made some “progress”. See his own words –
“I’m pleased to tell you that the RBI has now allowed us to resume bank withdrawals for settlements for exports of goods and services. We are currently making changes to comply with Indian regulations for settlements for exports of goods and services, and we anticipate that as of Wednesday, March 3rd, we will be able to resume the bank withdrawal service. As part of the changes, you will be required to fill out a new field entitled ‘Export Code’ when you request a withdrawal. This information is required under the current laws of India in order to identify the nature of cross-border merchant transactions. On Monday, March 1st, we will be back in touch with specific instructions on how you can move your money into your bank account. I will be posting another blog then.”
As regards personal withdrawals it is still a big zero progress. Note his words:
Moving forward, the RBI has told us that PayPal needs specific approvals to allow personal inward remittances to India, which we currently do not have. Until we get these approvals, personal payments into India will remain suspended.”
There are lot of Indians engaged in rendering online services in their individual capacity and not as a firm. For example, there are many Indian writers providing services required by service buyers online. They derive their remuneration through PayPal – as being the first choice of millions.
Now because of this unfair commercial practice and bias shown on Indian customers by PayPal, all of a sudden and without prior notice, they are left high and dry. There is no clarity in what PayPal is saying through their official blog, as to when and how this stalemate is going to be resolved by this popular Bank of Internet.
This is unbecoming for the prestige of PayPal to prolong this hardship unduly. It is fervently hoped by one and all that PayPal will raise to the occasion in making amends to the injustice caused to Indian customers, sooner than later.
Scrub and Shine on Holi
After the Holi bash, you take a look at yourself in the mirror and shriek, ‘Is that me?’ Purple, green, red and pink… you look like, well, an alien. Don’t worry, we tell you how to beat the Holi hues at home
The Night Before
* Apply oil over your body the night before Holi. You can choose from mustard oiul, coconut oil, almond oil (badam rogan), malai or any cold cream. Also, don’t forget to oil your hair thoroughly to prevent damage caused by the harsh chemicals present in gulal.
* Mix together 1 tbsp butter, few drops of lemon juice, cucumber juice, radish juice, tomato juice (1tbsp each) and a pinch of turmeric. Apply this on your face. Rub gently with glycerin and rose water when the pack dries. It moisturizes your skin making it easy for the colours to be washed with cold water.
In The bath
These easy-to-make scrubs help you get rid of all the color smeared on your face…
* Take masoor dal, gram flour, rose water (1 tbsp each), 2 tbsp curd, a pinch of haldi and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply it all over the body. Scrub and wash off.
* Mix besan, mustard oil and rose water (1tbsp each) with a pinch of turmeric powder and apply all over. Leave for some time and then wash.
* Mix a mashed banana in 2 tbsp milk cream and apply this paste all over.
* If you have normal skin, mix 2 tbsp fuller’s earth (multani mitti). 1 tbsp glycerin, raw milk and curd (2 tbsp each) and apply. Wash when dry.
* To prevent itchiness and irritation, mix cucumber juice, milk cream (1 tbsp each), freshly ground bottle gourd peels and apply it on your face. Wash it off with coconut water. This paste soothes the skin.
SAY CHEESE
Colour on the teeth can be quite a put-off. Rub some lemon rind on them for a shine. You can also make a paste of lemon juice, mustard oil and fine salt. Apply the mix and see your teeth glow.
Holi is scheduled at Monday, 1st of March 2010.
Indian customers of PayPal left in the lurch for no fault of theirs!
This shock comes as a bolt from the blue for unwary Indians, who have PayPal accounts. The hitherto most-trustworthy Internet Bank has acted in a manner unethical to the Banking Service. It has now announced that the ban on financial transactions of customers of Indian origin, arbitrarily imposed by PayPal, will continue for “at least a few months”.
According to reports this ban has been in vogue from last Saturday. People from various parts of India came to know of this ban – overtly covered as “a problem” by PayPal when they, as usual, contacted the Internet Bank, for withdrawal of money from their personal account. These withdrawals will be routed through their respective Indian bank branches where they have accounts. Normally this withdrawal would take 6 to 8 days maximum.
PayPal has been sending messages of this “problem” (without telling the truth) to those requested withdrawal of money. But now the cat is out of the bag. In the PayPal site’s official blog, the spokesman of the Bank writes:
“1. Why did you suspend local bank transfers and personal payments to and from India?
We temporarily suspended these services to respond to enquiries from the Indian regulators, specifically questions on whether personal payments constitute remittances into India.
We’re working with the regulators and our bank processing partners in India to get this resolved as quickly as we can. We realize that this is causing considerable inconvenience to our customers and I want to reassure you that this is a top priority for the leadership at PayPal
2. When will personal payments be turned back on?
The regulators recently let PayPal know about revised licensing rules that we are now actively engaged in securing. Personal payments to and from India will be suspended for at least a few months until we fully resolve the questions from the Indian regulators.
3. When will local bank withdrawals be available?
Customers should be able to withdraw their funds to a local bank within the next few days. In the meantime, we’re going to restore the money into the PayPal accounts of any customers in India who have initiated a recent withdrawal, so they know that the money is safe in their accounts. Customers will also be reimbursed for any withdrawal fee charges.”
Investigative reports appearing in the Press claim that there is a tussle between Indian regulators of foreign funds and PayPal. This Internet Bank, which is a leader on financial transactions online is said to have handled payments alone worth $60 million in 2008. The withdrawal of payments by Indians is suspected as “remittances of foreign funds” into India stealthily. A low tariff of just $1.50 to remit $300 has raised the doubts in the minds of authorities.
The question is where does PayPal customers come into this tussle between the Indian law makers and PayPal Bank? The Bank has the predominant obligation to serve its customers without any hindrance whatsoever. Suspending the normal functions of a Bank and facilities legitimately enjoyed by its customers, without any prior notice is, to put it mildly, totally unethical.
Already the aggrieved customers have raised their objections through blogs – more than 150 pages of comments have been posted. Simply put, common people are taken for granted by both the Bank and Rulers of India.
It is high time that somebody raised an issue with International Authorities for net world banking to get remedy to this unfair commercial practice. Unquestionably, this is discrimination pure and simple of Indian customers. In a netbanking system common to all countries of the world, this sort of discrimination should be vehemently deplored by the world community.
PayPal, the prompt paying Internet Bank has a problem in India
The most trusted Internet Bank of the world – PayPal – is presently encountering a problem with regard to sending money to Indian Bank accounts.
In this Internet era, there may be only a few who are not aware of PayPal. Everyday some 30 million people are visiting the net world. Of them a majority are doing business with one website or the other. For all these commercial transactions of – online purchases; invoicing; collecting money from buyers and crediting the proceeds to the respective site, PayPal has been the first preference for years.
The best part is anyone having Internet access can easily open a PayPal account for free. No hassles, no commuting, no meeting with the Bank official and no waiting in the queue. Just fill up your particulars in a form and submit through a click …you are done.
You can open a Personal Account or a Business Account and operate the same from wherever you are in the world. PayPal takes all the precautions to keep your privacy as a closely guarded secret. It often advises its customers not to reveal your password even to PayPal staff.
Because of its hassle-free operations, both for depositing and withdrawing money online, millions of netizens have placed their trust on Paypal. Ironically, the Indian Banks, though bragging of “computerization” of their accounts and induce their customers to engage in “net banking”, do not recognize Paypal. Many of their staff does not even know what is “Paypal”.
However for Indians who have been hitherto Paypal customers, there was no problem in either depositing or withdrawing money. Yes – there were delays in transacting the withdrawal requests – from 6 to 8 days – which Paypal themselves are plainly informing right at that time, when you make the request.
Considering the size of Paypal customer community and comparing the service of Banks in India, the Indian customers could not grumble. But to the surprise of everyone, Paypal has admitted that they have some problems in processing bank transfers of money of late.
Here is the advice received from Paypal in respect of a withdrawal request for money from an Indian customer:
“Thank you for contacting PayPal.
We are currently experiencing an issue processing bank transfers to India bank accounts. As a result there may be some delays in both withdrawals and random deposits.
We are doing everything we can to process your withdrawal as soon as possible; however, we do not have a specific timeframe to share at this time.
I know that this is somehow inconvenient on your end; I assure you though that your money will still post to your bank account and we are sorry for any inconvenience.
I’ll be glad to hear from you if you need clarification. You can also
visit www.PayPal.com/101. Thank you for choosing PayPal for your online payment needs. We appreciate your business.
Sincerely,
Elma
PayPal, an eBay Company”
It is a moot point whether the “problem” is with the attitude of Indian Banks or whether PayPal is seriously ridden with a crisis. Whatever it is the customer is the ultimate sufferer. We can only wish PayPal crosses over this crisis very quickly to regain the unassailable confidence reposed by their world-wide customers, which includes the “already suffering” Indians.