MeraSnap Meanderings

Sparsh July 07: Great pixel race, Better mobile pics, Tracingsteps of Lawrence of Arabia & more

2007-08-22T03:40:00.000-07:00

It's an old thing. Aspirations go upward. Prices go downward. It won't long before users start treating their digital cameras like their mobile phones and replace them as frequently. Think of the days when a Leica commanded respect and devotion across generations....

To help you be prepared, we have three useful articles - how camera makers are packing in more and more pixels, shooting better with mobile phones, and camera buying tips.

Warm regards,
Team MeraSnap

The great pixel race
A brace of new compacts have just been launched, packing an astonishing 12Mp resolution into small bodies, but at what point can the line be drawn, where, in the compact market, manufacturers say, enough is enough? More. Credits: ePhotozine

Taking Better Pictures with a Mobile Phone Camera
You cell phone camera may lack all the great point-and-shoot features that are in your standalone digital camera, but you can still can shoot good photographs.....More. Credits: Digital Inspiration

How to buy a digital camera: From Fortune
Compact digital cameras have vastly improved - but all the choices make it hard to focus. Fortune's guide for aspiring shutterbugs. More

Testimonials & Reviews
Thank you for the fast service. I appreciate it. - SKM, July 26

I really like your service. Quality of the prints is excellent. Delivery is very quick and prices are down to earth. My friends in Canada couldn't believe that such a service can really exist until they tried it out themselves. Really commendable. - HBK, July 20

Your service is really excellent... - RRK, July 09

I like to thank you for the service. I got the information from my family about the receipt of photos and they are very happy with print quality. Your service is very good and it helped me to share some important moments with my parents who are far from me. RA, July 09

Thanks for your wonderful service. I confirmed with my family. They have received the photos on time! Your service is very prompt. I like it!! - SR, July 08

Thank you so much. The photos have been delivered and they are pretty good. Thanks - PN, July 02

Excellent Service, always quick and thanks for calling to check up about the prints.

I compared the prints with another vendor, but they didn't even send me an album with my prints whereas MeraSnap did and also called me up to check if I have received the prints and if the quality was ok. Truly professional.

Excellent Service. - SK, June 30
More..

Lawrence of Arabia

Photographer Annie Griffiths Belt retraces the steps of T.E. Lawrence, a young British scholar turned warrior.

Lawrence of Arabia, as he became known, fought alongside Arab forces in World War I at places like Jordan's Wadi Run. More
Credits: National Geographic

Freq. Asked Question # 9

Does MeraSnap offer customized solutions to unique requirements?

Yes, we do. Recently we printed and laminated a 1 ft x 5 ft photograph of a landscape. The customer, based in Coorg wanted the wide picture laminated because of the moisture in the hilly district.

For details on unconventional sized prints, write to support@merasnap.com

68/B, 21st cross, 2nd block, Rajajinagar, Bangalore 560 010. Ph: 91 (080) 2342 0885 / 4127 7432.
Email: support@merasnap.com To unsubscribe click here ©2006-07 MeraSnap.com.

} Sparsh June 07: Cleaning a digital camera, photo journey into Venezuela & more

2007-07-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

Greetings from MeraSnap.com.

We are back with our monthly digital photography masala. You may or may not know of the ingredients. Either way, we hope it is a tasty collection. Interested in a freebie? Recommended six friends to MeraSnap and get 10 bonus photo prints. Voila!

Warmly,

Team MeraSnap

Digital Camera Tips: Cleaning and care
Cleaning a digital camera is relatively easy and should be done on a regular basis. One of the most important things to preserve the condition of the lens is not to touch it with your fingers. More.

Also read about the Do's and Dont's of
digital camera care and the #1 way to drop a digital camera. Credits: Digicamhelp.com

Testimonials & Reviews

The pics reached in india and I must appreciate the quality of prints(as per the feedback received) are excellent.!! Many thanks for quality output and fast delivery. Much appreciated. - RS, June 24

Thank you very much....They said they liked the prints....Thanks for doing such a great job with online digital pictures! - RV, June 24

Thanks guyz. The service was awesome..and I promise to continue my contact with u very often and bug ur door delivery boyzz [ lol! ]. Gud idea! I appreciate it. - SB, June 24

Your service is great. - SRV, June 23

MeraSnap is a wonderful site that allows me to send photographs across to my mom across in Hyderabad...The photos keeps her connected with us all time and she loves the way they are delivered to her and a follow-up phone is made to confirm the receipt.

Thanks for the wonderful service. I have already recommended the site to couple of my other friends since I find it pretty affordable and easy to use. - SB, June 19

Let me take this opportunity to thank you first for delivering good quality picture and also on time, just to say a perfect service. This is 4th time, I had sent some picture to my home in the last one year and every time I receive compliments from my home for those beautiful pics. I have been using your service since the time I was aware of such facility available on Internet. In just one line, I would say that, you have made our life easy. - VP, May 23

Classics revisited

Bhavni Bhavai, 1980 (Guj)

This charming fable in the genre of New Indian Cinema brings up the issue of the Indian caste system and its entrenched beliefs from several different perspectives. . Enhanced by interesting costumes and incisive dialogue, the fable combines comedy and social commentary as it moves through its classic tale. More.

Stereotyping in Bollywood - Tum kya bolta hai man?! "

…Secular gestures had to be similarly calibrated, since a sizeable proportion of the Hindi-speaking audience was Muslim. The Muslim characters were, therefore, rarely shown in an unfavourable light. They were honest friends, loyal soldiers, good policemen, bluff Pathans, friendly uncles. That left two communities: the Christians and the Parsis.". More. By Jerry Pinto from Upperstall.

The Orinoco: Into the Heart of Venezuela

A photo journey into the heart of Venezuela's unspoiled Orinoco Delta, a vast system of waterways that weave through the steamy jungle to form one of the largest intact wetlands remaining on Earth. More. From National Geographic

Freq. Asked Question # 5

What exactly is laminating a photo? Does MeraSnap offer the service?

Yes, we do. You can choose to laminate the photos in any of the displayed sizes. Lamination is best suited for rich pictures that carry sentimental value. It is very important that the photo to be laminated is of a high resolution, and therefore high file size. More

Bringing up babytech

What happens when gadget-crazy, Internet-obsessed, financially secure adults have babies? A new market is born. Most people with an e-mail address have received at least one message containing an attached photo of a splotchy, hours-old newborn. But for some parents, that type of digital birth announcement isn't nearly enough to do their child justice. More. From Forbes/Rediff

Sparsh Mar 2007 - Pulitzer winning pics, bonus prints & stressed out parents - full blogger version

2007-06-13T04:03:00.000-07:00

Good morning. You're reading MeraSnap's March 2007 newsletter, hot off the press.

Photographs are about memories, alright. But the most-impact making photographs are not necessarily pleasant, as the Pulitzer winners in our Photo Story reveal.

Do a nice thing today. Recommend MeraSnap to four friends and get 10 bonus photo prints. We know it's not a big enough attraction (win an iPod! types)...just a goodwill thing.

Have you checked the new features on MeraSnap? Try when you have the time.

Warmly,
Team MeraSnap

Five New Cyber Shots from Sony

The new Cyber-shot W-series cameras, including DSC-W200, DSC-W90, and DSC-W80, offer direct connection to an HDTV, which according to Sony is ideal for integrating full 1080 HD photo-viewing into a home theater. More. From TechTree

GE Enters Digital Camera Market

Advanced features such as image stabilization, high ISO sensitivity, and panoramic stitching will be standard on ALL models! More. From Pixel Perfect Digital

Top 10 Tips for Great Pictures: From Kodak

Beautifully illustrated. Each tip has pictures illustrating the tip in action and instructions detailing the tip. Could not resist linking to this site. Must read. More. From Kodak

Testimonials

...By the way, I am very happy with my experience with MeraSnap. I have used it twice till now and both the times I was very happy with your service. - Ketan Bhat, Mar 18

I enquired from my aunt and she has received the photos. Thanks for your followup. I liked your service specially the followup service. KEEP IT UP. - Subbarao Valluru, Mar 16

I received the order from you today and I am very happy to state that I am very happy with the service. The packing too was very good as it kept my order safe. - Abhishek Sharan, Mar 15

The photos were indeed delivered. Thank you for promptly sending the pictures. - Sugata Bhattacharya, Mar 10

The photos were recieved and thank you so much for your help - surely will let all our friend know about you guys - this a wonderful service and good luck!! - Bhagya Nagesh, Mar 9

You are doing well. Keep it up! - Sanjay Mehrotra, Feb 25

More..

	Review Namesake Clip "....is a deeply felt look at the ties of family and birthplace, the loneliness of living far from your home, and the connections
that hold everything together, sometimes in ways we don't appreciate until much later." More. Credits: Sajid

	Classics revisited Amar Akbar Anthony (1977) Clip "…What's more the brothers constantly keep running into each other every second scene but are unaware of
the fact that they are blood brothers." More. Credits: UpperStall.com

Shankarabharanam (1980) Telugu, Clip
"The story is narrated around a classical musician who gives shelter to a woman who was a great classical dancer. Though the relationship between dancer and musician is sacred ..." More. Credits: Reviewstream.com

Dasaavatharam
Kamal does what he knows best. Change avatars! View pics. Credits: MovieBuzz

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
The date is out. Will release on May 25. Some facts & fiction from pirate lore. Credits: Rediff

RECOMMEND FRIENDS. GET 10 BONUS PRINTS!!!
Click. Add four friends. And the prints are yours.

It's simple. Click on http://www.merasnap.com/recco_30.php and do the needful.

As a gesture of appreciation, we shall gift you 10 photo prints (size 4x6, glossy finish). Even the shipping (to any location in India) is on us. Upload your 10 photos, complete the steps and log out at the payment page. Your bonus photo prints will be delivered within a week.

Please note:
* Ensure that the recommended friends and their email ids are genuine.
* Refrain from recommending to yourself (i.e, to your own, but different email ids.)
* You need to recommend four friends to avail of the offer.

Write to support@merasnap.com for any clarifications.

Pulitzer Winner (1968) AP photographer Eddie Adams captures Nguyen Ngoc Loan, South Vietnam's national police chief, executing a Viet Cong Guerilla.

Adams won a Pulitzer Prize for a picture that, as much as any, turned public opinion against the war.

View 100 photos that changed the world. Credits: Life

Stressed-out parents make for shy kids Worried that your kid is a bit too shy?

A new study shows that shyness in kids could relate to the manner in which a stress-related gene in children interacts with being raised by stressed-out parents. More. From Rediff

Sparsh Apr 2007 - Tradition of photo-journalism, gushy testimonials and more - full Blogger version

2007-06-13T03:31:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Welcome to Sparsh, the newsletter from MeraSnap. As always, a mix of relevant and otherwise, but hopefully interesting.

Like last time, Recommend MeraSnap to friends and get 10 bonus photo prints.

Buying a digital camera? Read this

Buying a good digital camera can be a confusing task as there are a lot of them out there.

Here's a guide on what to keep in mind before investing in one. More. From Rediff

Testimonials

I really appreciate your awesome customer service. Thanks - Praveen Dugar, April 27

The photographs have been received already and we are very happy with the print quality. Thanks. - Tushar Saksena, April 15

Received the photos. Thanks for neat packing. Surely I recommend to my friends and relatives. If the packing was with a small album, then also it seems nice. - O. R. Ganesh Babu, April 13

Many thanks...Appreciate your customer service. - Rajesh Joseph, April 11

The photos are delivered. Thanks. I appreciate your service! - Vijayalakshmi Jayaram, April 10

Thanks, it was a great service. The photos were also received...just confirmed that. - Debjani Deb, April 8

My family in India received the pictures. They said that the pictures were of very good quality and packed professionally. Thank you very much for the excellent and prompt service. I will certainly use it again soon. - Sapna Garg, April 2

I really liked the service you provide that too with low cost. I sent photos from US 3 to 4 times and all the time they went just in a week. And they even call to the destination address for the status of delivery. - Naveen Ratkal, March 31

More..

	Classics revisited Bombay to Goa (1972) Clip The bus journey is adventurous with the passengers, a totally mixed bunch, from all over India, different
religions, cultures, and faiths, all thrown together for this journey. More

Chemmeen (1965) Mal, Clip
Chemeen's tale is multilayered...While its grandeur flows from the wild and powerful ocean that rules the fishing community, its poetic beauty lies in its depiction of those small moments that can make or mar our lives. More Credits: Upperstall

RECOMMEND FRIENDS. GET 10 BONUS PRINTS!!!

Click. Add six friends. And the prints are yours.

It's simple. Click on http://www.merasnap.com/recco_30.php and do the needful.

As a gesture of appreciation, we shall gift you 10 photo prints (size 4x6, glossy finish). Even the shipping (to any location in India) is on us. Upload your 10 photos, complete the steps and log out at the payment page. Your bonus photo prints will be delivered within a week.

Please note:
* Ensure that the recommended friends and their email ids are genuine.
* Refrain from recommending to yourself (i.e, to your own, but different email ids.)
* You need to recommend six friends to avail of the offer.

Write to support@merasnap.com for any clarifications.

Fortune's greatest photo archives
Fortune invented magazine photojournalism, hiring luminaries like Ansel Adams and Walker Evans.

The photos featured here represent some of the best examples of that tradition. More Credits: Fortune.

Sparsh May 2007 - Photographing babies, temper tantrums & more. Full Blogger version

2007-06-13T00:56:00.000-07:00

Hi,

Ever since its invention, the camera has been partial to children and babies. Not surprisingly, they are the biggest category of photographs that MeraSnap prints and delivers. Appropriately, we have an article for getting the best results when taking baby pictures.

If the proof is in the pudding, then our customer reviews say it all. Read a few below.

Just in case you haven't yet recommended MeraSnap to friends, you can do it now and get 10 bonus photo prints in the bargain. Cool, no?

Warmly,
Team MeraSnap

About photographing babies, from Kodak

Some of their thumb rules - Take pictures frequently, Capture feelings, Get close, Try different angles, Include other people in pictures, Use a simple background & Use natural light.
All this and more from Kodak.

Testimonials & Reviews
I was very impressed with the price, quality and speed of service. I was particularly satisfied with the security of payment gateway. I have shared my experience with around 20 of my friends last week. I am sure at least 4 of those must have been converted into business with your service. I appreciate the services provided by your portal and keep on spreading the word. Meanwhile you please keep up or improve the services. Thanks - Hitesh Kakadiya, May 19

We have received the photographs. I have learnt that the quality of photographs is good. Thank you for enquiry. - Jayanta Mukhopadhyay, May 17

First of all let me thank you for such a wonderful service offered by your team. I have used various online photoprint vendors and among all of them i like the most is MeraSnap.com for your print quality and quick service. In short, 100% customer satisfaction. Thanx a lot and looking forward to have the same in future. - Shreepal Shah, May 17

The photos were delivered on time and i am told the print quality and packaging is great. The pictures reached my parents in Bangalore on time for Mothers Day ! Sending an album for the snaps is a nice idea. I wonder why i did not try a service like this earlier ! I will surely recommend this portal across to my friends. Thanks and keep up the good work! - Kishen Prasad, May 12

It was wonderful doing business with you. I will place a fresh order soon. - Madhu, May 11

I appreciate your service. The photos were recieved by my parents...and they were really happy with them. I would be sending more photos in few days. I even told many of my friends and they might be joining soon. - Rajesh Mandava, May 09

More..

Classics revisited Bandini Bimal Roy's movies were built around extreme optimism,
and incredibly strong and sensitive characters, who would overcome life's great obstacles. Roy's last work as a director was Bandini, a fitting swansong for a master. More. Read another.

	Hype: The Sivaji juggernaut Considering that many lives depend on this film and its
success and many reputations are on the line….. and of course the superstar himself who needs a huge hit to go out with a bang if his indications of retiring from herodom are indeed true this time. More from Upperstall.

Freq. Asked Question # 7
My parents live in a village where no courier service exists. Can I still use MeraSnap?

Yes, you can.

We send the photos through registered Indian post (with acknowledgement due). Not only is the delivery guaranteed, we get confirmation too, like established courier cos.

The postal route takes about 6-9 days for delivery. Our shipping cost (Rs. 35) remains the same. More

Sparsh May07: Photographing babies, temper tantrums and more

2007-05-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

Hi,

The May issue is up here - http://www.merasnap.com/newsletter/index_may07.html.

Comments invited.

Kadam V V

Sparsh April 07: Tradition of photo-journalism, gushy testimonials and more.

2007-04-30T04:40:00.000-07:00

Hi,

The April issue is up, rather late this time. Check it here - http://www.merasnap.com/newsletter/index_apr07.html

Technorati

2007-04-03T04:47:00.000-07:00

Technorati Profile

Sparsh Mar07: Pulitzer winning pics, bonus prints & stressed out parents

2007-03-29T01:38:00.000-07:00

Sparsh Feb07: Digital camera ideas, tips & great testimonials

2007-02-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

Hi,

Have you chanced upon the February issue of Sparsh? Here it is - http://www.merasnap.com/newsletter/index_feb07.htm. Comment on it, when you get the time.

Regards,

Kadam V V

Sparsh Jan07: Keeping alive the art of conversation full blogger version

2007-01-30T10:09:00.000-08:00

Welcome to MeraSnap.com, your friendly online pointman to door-deliver prints of digital photos.

Are we living in an age of "conversation avoidance devices"? Worth pondering. Also in this issue... titbits on digital photography (and old world types), some profound / frivolous asides... and more.

If you have come in late, get to know of the new features we have added on MeraSnap.com. They include diff. sizes, option to write captions for every photograph, matte finish, etc. etc.

Warmly,
Team MeraSnap

	Keeping the art of conversation alive Repartee and real social intercourse are said to be dying, but in the age of the mobile and blog they have taken on new
forms. More from The Guardian.

How to Do Everything with Digital Photography
By Dave Huss

One reviewer says "While many other books that purport to be overviews of digital photography devote a lot of pages to "post-processing" images with software, this book focuses almost entirely on the art of composing and taking good pictures." Dave Huss has been a photographer and seen on CNN & Tech TV. More

Delkin SensorScope - Detect if your Image Sensor Needs Cleaning

Delkin Devices, Inc., makers of high quality digital photography products and accessories, announced the SensorScope™ System, the safest and most effective system for cleaning your digital SLR image sensor. More

		Guru A tonic for aspiring Indian Youth! (this actually was a comment on Rediff!)
Take two spoons of Guru tonic sicerely thrice a day...do some big thinking Explore and plan Take help and act fast....U R the Great Entrepreneur...Sincere message for aspiring Vibrant Yout folk of India from Great Modern Guruji Mani Ratnam..Forget about some unwanted Masala and take the core message of Film...It inpires you to make your true way to Success! Hats off to AB (Mirchi of North) and Madhavan (Curd Rice of South) and Gracious Ishwaraya (Mangalore Set Dosa) and Spicy Mallikka (Panner Tikka)..U all done great job and Keep it up! - Vijayakumar Chakrapani

Classic revisited
Meghe Dhaka Tara (1960) Clip
From Anurag Bansal's blog - "There are so many plot twists in Meghe Dhaka Tara, but it never looses the focus on the scrutiny of human nature, our fate to be a victim or a victimizer." More.

Check this rather intense analysis on Ghatak's cinematic style. From Jump Cut.

News: Telugu film industry turns 75
Tollywood, as the Telugu film industry is often called, moved from Kolkata to Rajahmundry in 1936-37, but soon shifted to Madras (now Chennai) where it remained for decades. More. From Sunita Choudhury's blog. Or The Economic Times

You are welcome to contribute or suggest hacky/ irreverent/ intelligent blog reviews.

Testimonials on MeraSnap.com
Many thanks for your kind assistance. Much appreciated. I have recommended MeraSnap to many friends for the effective service. - Rajesh Joseph, Jan 25, '07

Greatly appreciate your service/updates. Please keep up your work!!! - Rajini Sundaram, Jan 25, '07

...Anyways thanks for taking the right decision and executing the order. Thanks for your feedback. - Uma Vyas, Jan 19, '07

Thank you. I got confirmation from both my parents and in-laws that they received the pictures in good condition. I've recommended your service to my brother-in-law. - Mahendra K. Pingale, Jan 15, '07

A very happy new year to you all ! Hope you have a rewarding year ahead. Thank you for your wonderful service. Really appreciate it. My mum received the photos within 2 days of placing order. would be happy to recommend your service to others. - Aarthy Sriram, Jan 09, '07

Feel happy to say that service is very good and keep up the good job. - Karthikeyan, Dec 29, '07

More..

Tip for Great Prints

Location, Location, Location...
Do not mistake it for a retailer's war-cry. In our case, it is the mis-location of the photographed subject. Very often, the photographer's object of affection is just so close to the frame that some trimming is bound to happen when the prints come out.

For bright, rich and well-composed prints, try these tips.

Winston Churchill

Yousuf Karsh's portrait of an unhappy, scowling Winston Churchill happened when Karsh took away the leader's ubiquitous cigar from him - for a moment.

This is claimed to be the most reproduced photographic portrait in history.

One of Karsh's distinctive practices was lighting the subject's hands separately.

Read Karsh's profile from The Telegraph.

View his partial portfolio from Oswald Gallery.

Managing kids in the home office How do you deal with the younger part of the family invading your home office?

Here's some advice from the collective experience of several slightly battle-scared web working parents. From Web Worker Daily.

Sparsh Dec06: Transcending generations full blogger version

2006-12-28T06:22:00.000-08:00

Dear Friend,

It was an eventful year at MeraSnap.com. It feels good that we could bring cheer to your loved ones through prints of your precious moments. We hope to deliver more memories in the new year. Here's wishing you the best.

In this issue.. know about turning your digi camera into a measuring tape, preventing identity theft, a tragi-comic article from The Economist on Afghanistan and some light stuff.

Warmly,
Team MeraSnap

	Gulzar's oeuvre: Transcending generations What is a poet doing in a rant about changing patterns in personal communication? Is it the timelessness
of his poetry? Or his adaptability to new media and short attention spans?

Starting with Mera gora ang lai le (Bandini) to Dham dham dhadam in Omkara (and last year's anthem - Kajra re kajra re!) Gulzar has successfully and consistently resonated with multiple generations. His biography.

For those of us who grew up on the lethal combo of Gulzar & R D Burman, this blog by Dipta touches a chord. Can any ode be complete without a tribute to the duo's (+ Asha) poignant pièce de résistance - Mera kuch saaman from Ijaazat? Read Finally, don't miss Gulzar's obit on RD.

Turn your camera into an 'Electronic Measuring Tape'

iPhotoMEASURE transforms any digital camera into an "electronic measuring tape." The user simply places a small DigiTarget in the room and takes a picture.

The photo is then transferred to a computer where the software measures everything in the photo-doors, windows, walls, built-ins-with 99.5 percent accuracy. More

Preventing Identity Theft

19th century cryptographer Auguste Kerckhoffs first observed the weakness of security through obscurity, prompting Bruce Schneier to routinely demand that security systems "recover gracefully" from compromised secrets. More. Credits: David Cowan

	Democratized opinions!

	Kabul Express Clip It's set in 2001 - and it's some sort
of space odyssey... Review by Bhardwaj Rangan. Forget the movie. This scholarly article from The Economist bares the tragi-comic truth in Afghanistan. Sample this "...There are infinite ways to slight a Pushtun's nang (honour), but most involve zar, zan or zamin: gold, women or land."

	Raakhi (Tel) Clip The basic theme is based on sister
sentiment... More.

	Poi (Tam) Clip K. Balachander's. Only a man who is
over 100 films old can dare. More. From IndiaGlitz.

	Kalaralli Hoovagi (Kan) ...delectably made
historical film laced with love. Perhaps no one has so far handled the Chitradurga in the camera so beautifully. More

You are welcome to contribute or suggest whacky/ irreverent/ intelligent blog reviews.

Testimonials

Moments of Joy. Printed & Delivered !!! TRUE... they are delivered, Thanks a million... - Ravindra Annapareddy, Dec 18 '06

Thanks for the snaps.. appreciate your service.. hope to utilise your service with bigger print sizes soon - Hemal Patel, Dec 14, '06

THANK YOU. Awesome service. - Saugato Seal, Dec 08, '06

MeraSnap Team,

You did outstanding job in delivering my photos. Keep up the good work. I atleast recommended dozen of my friends. - Pavan

First of all, thank you very much for the quick response. I have to be honest and admit I was not expecting one. This is great service. I appreciate the notice. This is going to be my preferred method of sending pictures of my family to my family in India. I am also going to suggest Merasnap.com to my friends. - Umesh Jayamohan, Nov 6, '06

TIP
To ensure that our responses to your queries legitimately land in your inbox (so that they don't get junked into your bulk mail folder), add support@merasnap.com to your address book and safe list. Learn how

Recreating the
Alive Escape Route

One of 20th century's greatest survival epics: A Fairchild 571 crashes high in the Andes.

Three survivors embark on a make-or-break journey to find help. An ordeal that spurred the book and film Alive.

Ricardo Peña & James Vlahos retrace the escape trek. Enter Gallery. Credits: National Geographic. More

10 important parenting resolutions
How about adding a few resolutions that can help make you a more effective parent?

Here are some to help your child lead a healthy and happy life. By Kanchan Maslekar from Rediff. More

Sparsh Nov06: The morphing of the hand-wrtten letter full blogger version

2006-12-22T03:31:00.000-08:00

Greetings from MeraSnap.com.

Sparsh is our monthly bak-bak on how technology impacts personal communication - for good and bad. Like the old jungle saying, we may or may not like the transition. But can we afford to ignore it?

So, here we go. It takes 3 mins wonly.

Warmly,
Team MeraSnap

	The morphing of hand-written letters into Email, IM, SMS and what not… As humans, we like to communicate and connect. We thought our email inbox was
intimidating enough, a recent article by Martha Irvine says teens already see email as old school!

The generation born between 1979 and 1994 (known by marketers as "millennials") have practically grown up with the Internet. In the India-specific sense, it's the mobile phone. Email is largely being replaced by instant messaging, blogs and social networking sites.

So, where does that leave the art of letter writing? It is a pleasure to receive letters and worth the effort to write them. How else can one convey sincerity and layers of emotions?
This article by Megan Bode rues the lack personal touch in an email

	Democratized opinions! You are welcome to contribute or suggest whacky/irreverent/intelligent blog reviews.

	Vivah Clip Nikhat Kazmi's TOI review says it smells of Savlon. Goelji's review reads - "It is Sooraj Barjatya's Disneyland-ish utopia where everyone is innocent and pure."

	Tananam Tananam (Kan) Expectations were high from the new Kavitha Lankesh film. Based on a classic story by Kalki, it tells the tale of Shankar, a veena student so devout he stays in his teacher house. More from Rediff

	Sainikudu set for release on Nov 30 Clip Sainikudu is from the stable of the duo that gave us the delightful hit Okkadu. Indeed, it is Guna Sekhar
and the Prince of Tollywood, Mahesh Babu. Official website

	Varalaaru (Tam) Clip …wholesome entertainment. It has mother sentiment, father sentiment, brother sentiment, girlfriend-
boyfriend sentiment, angry, murder, love, romance, sadness, tears, etc. More. By Anu Russel. But Balaji's review is sensible.

	Classmates (Mal) Clip Well, the story is about a group of students in the Chemistry batch of 1991 in a campus that incorporates
active and violent student politics. More. By Sreejith Kumar

Testimonials
Very good service. Keep going - Inaganti Srini, Nov 8, '06

Thanks for your pro-active email. It makes me want to use your service again. - Sami Hoda, Nov 3, '06

I checked up and it looks like they have got the photos. Thanks for the follow-up. Great customer service. - Manoj, Oct 31, '06

Photos have reached in good condition. Thank you for checking up. - Rajesh M, Oct 30, '06
More

Q&A
a) I want to send some photos to a rural area in Andhra Pradesh where there is no courier service. Do you deliver to such places too?

b) Am based in Bongaigaon, Assam. Will you deliver to my address? Pl confirm.

Actually we deliver to any place in India - any village, any town, any city. It's simple - if our courier service doesn't go there, we reach by Indian post.

TIP
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Kashmir on a Royal Enfield!

Matthew Power's ride through the Kashmir valley and on the world's highest motorable road.

"You get into a rhythm where your instincts are connected to the machine," says Power. Courtesy: National Geographic. Enter the gallery

Keeping your baby Occupied

Babies get bored really easily, and mothers are constantly facing the challenge as to how to keep them occupied so they can get some work done. More Courtesy: Indiaparenting.com

The Digital Photography Book, by Scott Kelby

It's not a book full of confusing jargon and detailed concepts; it's a book of which button to push, which setting to use, when to use them, and nearly two hundred "tricks of the trade" to get readers sharper, more colorful, professional-looking photos

Scott Kelby is Prez of the National Asso of Photoshop Professionals and Editor-in-Chief of Photoshop User and Layers magazines. More

Sparsh Oct 06: The lore of the dak runner full blogger version

2006-12-22T03:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the inaugural issue of Sparsh.

Coming from MeraSnap.com, Sparsh is a random 3-minute scan of the world going by. About changing times and how technology continues to alter personal communication - from the intimacy of a quaint hand-written letter to a college kid's rapid-fire ease with SMS. It's bewildering!

Here's wishing you and family a very happy Diwali and Eid. Spread cheer!

Warmly,
Team MeraSnap

	The lore of the Dak runner The Dak runner or mail runner was intrinsic to the Indian postal system when mail was transported from village to village on foot, through jungles, terrains and deserts. The runner went from one station to the next,
passing the letters to the next runner who would continue.

It was a 24-hour service and the runners braved wild animals, bandits, swollen rivers and natural calamities. Dressed in colourful attire, they carried spears with jingling bells for self-defence. The runners seldom shrunk from their duty.

Even today, inaccessible regions in Himachal Pradesh are reached by dak runners. The runner's tinkling bell sets off a commotion, breaking the monotony of everyday life in the high mountains.
Credits: The Hindu (Shalini Umachandran), The Tribune & BBC

Jim Corbett as a Dak runner
Jim once famously impersonated a mail runner, complete with lantern, spear and bundle of letters, while tracking down a man-eater that had carried off quite a few runners.

Democratization of opinion!
Blogs today offer the most reliable measure of a film's worthiness - far away from the newspaper types. If you come across interesting & smart alecky blog reviews, do let us know.

	Stalin ....then he comes face-to-face with the home minister where the story starts. The best scene is with Prakash Raj when he warns him “Oka amma ki oka abba ki puttina vadayithey…..” More. By Rajesh Segu
Meanwhile, enjoy these YouTube bits - the jing bang title sequence and a song clip

	Lage Raho Munnabhai One must admire Rajkumar Hirani's guts in attempting to turn a completely whacko thought into a charming
movie. And how it works! Shiv Visvanathan, a socialogist has an equally interesting take on the film. More

Vettayadu Vilayadu
....but it is neither a tale of mind-games, nor in-your-face. The storyteller takes his time to let the desired effect sink in. More. By Vijay Krishna

	K A N K If Kabhi Alvida...is a mélange of 1s and 0s, Gaurav Pahuja has got it all right. Sample this - ShahRukhKhan and RaniMukherjee are emotionally overloaded and go into an infinite weeping loop
every 60 milliseconds. More

Q&A
1. a) I want to send some photos to a rural area in Andhra Pradesh where there is no courier service. Do you deliver to such places too?

b) Am based in Bongaigaon, Assam. Will you deliver to my address? Pl confirm.

Actually we deliver to any place in India - any village, any town, any city. It's simple - if our courier service doesn't go there, we reach by Indian post.

Trust Hans Hendriksen to capture the state's dazzling kaleidoscope of colors, textures, contrasts and those vast, desolate sandscapes.

It's a visual documentary. A co-existence of the pretty and not-so-pretty. More

Why parents must read to their children

Reading aloud to children has many benefits. One, it's the best way to introduce them to the world of books.

Regular read-aloud sessions stimulate brain development of pre-schoolers and help foster a lifelong love of reading and learning. More

What exactly is 128 bit encryption?

It is the highest level of encryption available that guarantees safe and secure payment over net.

128-bit encryption offers 2-to-the-power-of-88 times as many possible combinations as 40-bit encryption. That's over a trillion times a trillion times stronger! More.