OP Nayyar - Bollywood Music Director Passes Away

Bollywood Music Director OP Nayyar dies of Heart Attack today at his home in Thane, India. He was 81. (more at Hindu).

OP Nayyar was born on January 16th, 1926 in Lahore.

Here is a video clip of one of OP Nayyar Classic from Bollywood film Naya Daur.

Indian Siblings advance to the next round in American Idol

Indian Siblings Shyamali Malakar, 19, and brother Sanjaya 17, from Seattle, WA advance to the next round in American Idol.



check out AsianWeek for more details.

Chilli Masala in Canton, MI

Metro Times has a great article on a brand new Indian Restaurant in the Detroit Area. It is Chilli Masala located at 3500 N. Lilley Rd, Canton, MI 48187 (map). You can contact Chilli Masala at 734-981-6065.

Quoting Metro Times article

Rohit Khanna, born in New Delhi, opened what he calls "the first express Indian restaurant in Michigan, where you can get a complete meal for under $6."

For $3.95 to $5.95 they can get a kathi roll: chicken, lamb, eggplant, paneer (housemade cottage cheese) or mixed vegetables enfolded in a soft wrap and served with a dipping sauce of mint, garlic and yogurt. And for now, at least, the lunch special is on all day: a whole meal for $5.49 — veg, naan, salad and dessert — or for $7.49 (add chicken curry).

While enjoying all the desi food, there is "most daring" Bollywood Videos to watch during weekdays. On weekends, the TV screens keep patrons abreast of cricket from the subcontinent.

Related:
Indian Restaurants in Michigan (You can also vote for your favorite MI Indian Restaurant)
Indian Restaurants in any Zip Code or city, state in United States on Google Maps

India's 58th Republic Day - Best Wishes

On the occasion of India's 58th Republic Day (January 26th), MIBAZAAR wishes Indians worldwide a Happy 58th Republic Day.

I had posted this quiz at mibazaar.com. Let's see if Indian kids outside India get this right.

This January 26th India celebrates its 58th Republic Day. Which city in India do you think the official Republic Day Parade (Army and Cultural Parade) is held.

A. Mumbai
B. New Delhi
C. Kolkata
D. Chennai

(view the answer on Google Maps along with India Poised video)

Shilpa Shetty - target of racism?

Here's YouTube video from Big Brother where Jade Goody along with some losers who apparently don't know much about India or rather any other culture, gang up on Bollywood Beauty Shilpa Shetty.

Free 411 calls from your cell phone?

Try this:

1-800-FREE411

Yahoo is reporting:

A Boston-based company called Jingle Networks offers this free alternative to expensive 411 calls via your cell phone or land line. How and why do they do what they do for free? Just as radio and TV shows are supported by advertising, the directory assistance service is sponsored by companies advertising with the service. So, yes, that means you may hear a short, audio ad when requesting a phone number, but not every time.

Suspense over - Aishwarya and Abhishek decide to tie the knot

No more speculation by the media and no more denials by Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan.

Aishwarya Rai (Born:November 1st 1973, Mangalore) and Abhishek Bachchan (Born:February 5th 1976, Mumbai) got engaged in Mumbai on Sunday January 14th. The wedding according to media reports is scheduled for February 19th in Mumbai.

more at BBC and Times of India.

Indian Restaurants in Michigan

Check out Indian Restaurants in Michigan at mibazaar on Google Maps. The map sorts the list of restaurants according to the votes cast by users.

You can vote for your favorite Indian restaurant at mibazaar. The results are shown on Google Maps at mibazaar.


more later...

Salaam E Ishq comes to Novi, MI

Salaam E Ishq (meaning: A Tribute to Love) is being released on January 25th at SR Movies, Novi, Michigan. For showtimes visit mimantra.com

Salaam E Ishq, a bollywood Hindi Movie which weaves number of love stories together. For more details visit wikipedia

Salaam E Ishq features a huge starcast including Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna, Ayesha Takia, Govinda, John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Sohail Khan and Ishaa Koppikar in lead roles.

Now that the mid term elections are over....

Now that the mid term elections are over, there's word that Michigan Legislature is contemplating taxing us (to cover budget shortfall) for services such as:

Haircut
Legal Services
Car Repairs
Golf Fees

Source: Detroit News

Quicken Loans amongst Top 25 companies to work for

Fortune Magazine has come out with a list of top 100 companies to work for (Google Maps View).

In Michigan the following companies made to the Fortune 100 list:
Quicken Loans - Livonia, MI (Rank: 17)
Plante & Moran - Southfield, MI (Rank: 32)
Dow Corning - Midland, MI (Rank: 55)

Comair Flight 3272 - 10 year Anniversary

Comair Flight 3272 crashed on January 9th, 1997 at Ida, Michigan just 18 miles short of its final destination at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

Crash Co-ordinates (Latitude:41.9633333,Longitude:-83.552222) Source: NTSB accident report.

Google Maps View of crash location


According to Detroit News:

Many of those affected will convene Tuesday at the permanent crash memorial to remember the 29 people who died.

The memorial is at Roselawn Memorial Park. (Google Maps)

All 26 passengers (Adams, Dexter Cincinnati - Barrow, Gregory Detroit - Bransford, Roger Sandy Springs, Ga. - Brice, Arthur Brookhaven, Miss. - Brownlee, Christine Helena, Mont. - Brownlee, Scott Helena, Mont. - Davis, Geoffrey Detroit. - DeMarco, Maureen Englewood, Colo. - Douchard, Greg Wesson, Miss. - Felteau, Leo Atlanta - Herman, Mark Novi, Mich. - Jones, Betty Jean Detroit - Jones, Charles McComb, Miss. -McClain, Steven Waterford, Mich. - Muskovitz, Teri West Bloomfield, Mich. - Passariello, Kim Lake Havasu, Ariz. - Raymond, Roy Twin Falls, Id. - Raymond, Vernamarie Twin Falls, Id. - Rosiak, Jennifer Fairbanks, Alaska - Rosiak, Nicholas Fairbanks, Alaska - Sharangpani, Arati Holland, Mich. - Stearn, Richard Whitmore Lake, Mich. - Takenami, Keita Lexington, Ky. - Thomas, Douglas Detroit. - Wansedel, Charles Mount Clemens, Mich. - Zagar, Darlene Danville, Ky.) and a crew of 3 (Captain Dann Carlsen Grant County, Ky. - First Officer Kenneth Reece Fort Wright, Ky. - Flight Attendant Darinda Ogden Nilsen Lexington, Ky.) perished in the crash which was attributed by NTSB as:

inadequate standards for deicing operations while in flight, specifically the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration to establish an adequate minimum airspeeds for icing conditions, leading to a loss of control when the airplane accumulated a thin, rough accretion of ice on its lifting surfaces.

Bus vandals strike Farmington, MI School Buses

Oakland Bus vandals have shut down the Farmington School District by deflating about 104 tires from 96 Farmington School buses. Google Maps view of the crime location.

According to the freepress

So serious that those convicted of the crime — the malicious destruction of a school bus — could face up to five years in prison on the felony charge, said Farmington Public Safety Director Chuck Nebus. Both his department and the district are teaming up to offer a $1,000 reward in the case.

Michigan population dips in 2006

Michigan's population dips in 2006 from 10,100,833 (2005) to 10,095,643 (2006) giving it a negative growth of 0.05 %. Michigan's overrall ranking was 48 in terms of population growth. It was ahead of just (49) Washington D.C. (growth: -0.09%), (50) Rhode Island (growth: -0.56%), (51) Louisiana (growth: -5.12%).

Here's a Google Maps Mashup of America's fastest growing states as mentioned in FORTUNE.