AJJ UDDHAR KAL KANGAAL ...

Haanji,

The financial freedom in US of A has always amazed me, but as I come from a country where – till the time I was in residence, funda of Udhaar was a big no no – actually I used to think that udhaar is for people who don’t have money.

But the same funda didn’t work here. I have been here now for more than 2 years and I haven’t dealt with cash. The concept of plastic money and its value was realized first when I wanted to buy a cell phone. No – one was willing to give me a cell phone – reason being I did not have sufficient credit history. The company needed me to deposit a 500$ with them for a stupid phone n connection– which they were giving for free – well no – you actually made some 100$ when you get that phone in a contact.

How do I build my credit history then? So that I can get a phone?? I was advised that I needed exactly 3 things – my credit history, my driving license or a state id for identification purposes and a credit card.

Lets just talk about the credit card funda here. Getting my first credit card was not a big problem, my banker applied it on my behalf – the credit limit was mighty 300$, and man I was overjoyed. 

As the days went on and I wanted to buy major  stuff – my limit used to reach within 2 weeks – so had to keep paying it off regularly. The first 6 months were free of interest = 0%APR – annual percentage rate of interest on the balance accrued. But then I had to make sure that I had to keep paying it other wise I will be fined unnecessarily about 20 – 180$ a month which I surely didn’t want as I didn’t have that kind of money.

Getting my next card was a trick. My choices were to either go for American express or citi. I applied for citi – got rejected – reason being I was not a permanent resident here. L now what to do – I see all my fellow non resident students getting that card approved – why am I being given this spl treatment?

So a close friend, discreetly pointed out the clause to me and I received my first citi card the introductory limit was 2500$ - oh it was too much for me – what am I going to do with it?? And now its about twice that amount :-)

The advice to build the credit history is to use the cards to a max – meaning to use the card at all times for all purchases, phone bills, where ever a swipe machine works –use it  and do keep paying them off regularly – that’s the funda to build the history over here. – as far as in my limited knowledge  - it seems it has worked.

So when today I applied for my third card and this time its blue from American express, 0% APR for 15 months and no annual fee (this is what I usually look for in a card, besides there are cash back rewards on purchases, free airline miles and I guess citi has the rental car insurance too) isn’t it cool? – I mean isn’t it amazing that I got a 60 sec approval? I am so pleased – and guess the initial limit!  - all thanks to the credit history, plastic money. Who needs to use cash anyway – am nervous around it now – more than ever – what if someone snatched my wallet around the corner – I’ll simply call my c-card company and let them know that my cards have been stolen. Well I don’t want that thing happening too – but feels a lil safer and secure with my precious $’s for the moment.

And that is exactly what has inspired me to blog about my credit experience today.

I am happy about my increased spending capacity – but who is going to pay for it all ?  - So have a higher limit, but spend wisely.

Regards

Nimrat

 

how does an apple ipod nano valentine sound ?

I am not a valentine spl type of person and my day started on a particularly miserable note – and the days events went in the same tone till the end- so there was nothing to be ecstatic about either, but there were little things happening all the day that kept up my spirits in cheer! – I just realized it wasn’t so bad after all, there are always the little things/pleasures in daily life. My lab mates were such a sport. And a few of them had spl compliments for me as well spl Hi’s to my beautiful friends.

Such a fun atmosphere as if all the life’s misery was immaterial, things were at a lull- a feeling of being transformed and being away from it all. I am an escapist – but to maintain one’s sanity, I tend to justify this tendency- cuz I am still such an emotionally impulsive person – time and again I have had my lessons – but I am still me!

But I wish to thank someone today, for making my days musical ;) – I love it absolutely!

I have been yearning for it since last year end but wished it to be gifted :-)   how naïve of me – but I did receive it!

Regards,

Nimrat.

busy - ness and doubts - a compilation of ideas

I want a busy life, a just mind, and a timely death.

What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him. As Virginia Woolf said, It is worth mentioning, for future reference, that the creative power which bubbles so pleasantly in beginning a new book quiets down after a time, and one goes on more steadily. Doubts creep in. Then one becomes resigned. Determination not to give in, and the sense of an impending shape keep one at it more than anything. Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. The colossal misunderstanding of our time is the assumption that insight will work with people who are unmotivated to change. Communication does not depend on syntax, or eloquence, or rhetoric, or articulation but on the emotional context in which the message is being heard. People can only hear you when they are moving toward you, and they are not likely to when your words are pursuing them. Even the choicest words lose their power when they are used to overpower. Attitudes are the real figures of speech. Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible -- the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family. The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers. The beginning of wisdom is found in doubting; by doubting we come to the question, and by seeking we may come upon the truth.

A while back some one asked me what is universal Unitarian as I had it listed in my religion at orkut -  that time I could not get back to them – but here it is - Unitarian Universalism affirms: That Creation is too grand, complex, and mysterious to be captured in a narrow creed. That is why we cherish individual freedom of belief. At the same time our convictions lead us to other affirmations . . ..

I wanted a perfect story. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.

I believe that the moment is near when by a procedure of active paranoiac thought, it will be possible to systematize confusion and contribute to the total discrediting of the world of reality. I've put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that's the only way of insuring one's immortality.

It is not bigotry to be certain we are right; but it is bigotry to be unable to imagine how we might possibly have gone wrong. If you're not confused, you're not paying attention. – I know I am, but its an attempt to answer a few asked and unasked questions.

Jeeta Jatt

I had gone under a depression after I watched the previous punjabi movie - and to get out of it; all I needed was to watch another movie to undo the effect.

So I watched this movie and for part 2 click here .

JeetaJatt - rocks! :-)

By reading this, you absolve the author of all liabilities resultant of above content

Rabb ne Banaeeyan Jodiean - a review

A Pathetic movie - a joke :-( Provides good entertainment if you start to
have fun at the poor acting, a pathetic plot that has been presented - a sorry
attempt at Choreography - it's a laughing stock all the way. U can watch it
here...

Okay - maan's gf is doing okay and a few others, but a few of the actors diliver a very hindi flavored punjabi, which I didn't like much. Babbu mann has sung well - making the movie bearable is only music, if at all.

I wish the hero had gotten a decent hair cut, pehlan hi majnoo jeha diss reha - baad ch I wonder kinna time laa ke lakme kaajal laya hona apneeyan akkhan ch - even while being a majnoo character - that's something to muse on. Another point to be deducted for bad presentation, poor get up and horrible dressing - I mean if Ghuggi's sis could wear some decent normal dress.Punjabi movies ch inna jaloos kyon kadde ne :-( but Ghuggi is good as always - entertaining. Ghuggi da asli naam ke hai waise?? :-(

Yukk dialogues!!! So cheesy uggh! - well u can imagine - I am watching listening and typing all at the same time.
Oh maan ji - tuhadeeyan mustashes kya baat hai ji - u seem to be competing with a up ka bhaiyyaa at one point aur aapke itne straight baal - pls share the raaz behind it - which hair straightners did u use? Saade te waal hi jharree ja rahe ne ... te tuhadde naal jealousy jahi ho raheee hai.. Hey I felt he is trying to copy Salman a bit I think in that movie Tere naam..

btw : check this out as well and dekho main kinni mehnat kar ke inni info labbhi - huh such a waste ..

Ghaint scene - both dad's in the same car upon witnessing the romance scene - "driver, aaah kurri kaun hai - ji meri kurri ae!"

Some of the dialogues could have been edited and improved- a lot. Bad story - pathetic plot, oh God!!!.

Talwaar waala scene - laughable! Koi sense hi nahi. Petrol waala scene v ghaint si - kee kareeye maalko petrol ne agg hi nahi farri"
A brother's attempt at sympathy dialogue is so - pathetic.

Himachal ke jangalan di rajkumaari da rishta - wah !

Kuch v kaho - I am enjoying the movie, it so happens sometimes when entertainment is so pathetic that it becomes funny in a different sense. isnt it pathetic?

Okay ab aap ke liye ek sawaal - how many times has the word pathetic been used in this whole write up??

Guessing game...

Deal All,

I conducted a culinary experiment in the wee hours of this morn. The results of which are presented above. The expeiment was conducted between 3:15 - 3:48 am my time and at this point I would like to mention that I think of myself as a multitasking- speed freak- culinary scientist. :P [j/k]

And now I co-ordially invite you all to make guesses as to what it is and let me know, - u are requested to make as many guesses as u want. :-) Do let me know the first thing that comes to mind but do make second,third,fourth, fifth etc.. guesses as well ...cuz it may not nessasarily be what it seems ...so lets see.. what u all can make of the pic above... :-)


Ya, the winner will get a surprize gift!