PLASMA V/s LED v/S LCD TV

CRT TV are done now and they have been a faithful companion till now. The day when I decided
to go for a new TV I had options of Plasma, LED and LCD. I did a plenty of research online
for the options that I should go for. I thought its better to summarize this information
in the way which will be helpful for a consumer like me for simplifying his decision process.

TECHNOLOGY:
Plasma TV: Plasma technology consists of hundreds of thousands of individual pixel cells, which allow electric pulses (stemming from electrodes) to excite rare natural gases-usually xenon and neon-causing them to glow and produce light.
LCD: A matrix of thin-film transistors (TFTs) supplies voltage to liquid-crystal-filled cells.For LCD HDTVs, however, the liquid crystal screen does not illuminate, requiring a separate light source.
For LCD its achieved using cold cathode fluorescent lights (CCFLs) to illuminate the screen. 
LED:
LED is one step ahead of LCD with same tech instead of CCFL it uses LED back lighting.

CONTRAST/BLACK LEVEL                            Winner: Plasma
Plasma:
To achieve full black level Plasma has to just turn off the pixel which results in very  high contract
rations and best black levels, some manufactures claim 30,00,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.
LCD:
LCD tv has to spend maximum power to turn its pixel blacks thus lagging behind in achieving the required
black levels/contrast ratios. The best in bredd LCD claim only 1,00,000:1 dynamic contrast ratios.
LED:
LED has made improvements achieving DCR 9,000,000:1 over LCD but still lags behind Plasma

BRIGHTNESS:                                                  Winner: LED
LED due to its extra LED Back light helps to achieve High brightness as compared to Plasma and LCD.
Plasma has better Brightness as compared to LCD.

COLOR ACCURACY:                                       Winner: Plasma
Plasma TV color richness and naturalness will prevail in rooms with lower to normal lighting - yielding a more realistic picture. LED LCD TVs perform better in very brightly lit rooms due to their inherent anti glare technology and brightness.
Check all the three TVS side by side with same video being played LED makes first impression, but if
you just give a thought that you will be watching this picture at least 1-5 hours a day the extra bright
colors may give irritation to your eyes. Plasma give more soothing TV experience with Natural colors, however LED colors are more artificial and extra bright.

VIEWING ANGLE:                                             Winner: Plasma
Plasma achieves 180 degree of viewing angle easily, LCD and LED have around max 120.
         
COMPUTER USE:                                              Winner: LCD
Earlier Plasma TV  had burn in problems, as computer have more static images it was not recommended
to user Plasma Monitors. But now days Plasma TV no longer have burn in issues, however LCD scores
top as Computer use over LED and Plasma.

FAST MOVING VIDEO:                                    Winner: Plasma
Plasma manufactures publish 600hz refresh rate and that of LED/LCD is between 120-240Hz. If you
check out any sports on all the TV's side by side, Plasma will give you the best experience.
         
SCREEN GLARE:                                               Winner: LED
Plasma TV is more suitable for normal lighting, incase of bright light room LED/LCD is better

 LIFE:                                                                    Winner:  ALL
Earlier LCD/LED Tvs where considered having long life, but now days with advance in Plasma technology
all the types have similar life.
       
SCREEN BURN IN:                                            Winner: LCD/LED TV
Plasma TV had Burn In issues if a certain static image was retained on the screen for several hours.
This is not the case in LCD/LED TV, however Plasma TV also no longer have this issue with modern
technology incorporated into them.

PRODUCTION SIZE AND COST:                     Winner: Plasma
A 42 inch Plasma TV will cost you around 30-50000, however same LCD/LED tv will be in higher range
above Rs. 50000.Plasma TV have been considered best for Large screen size as compared to LCD/LED TV
         
POWER CONSUMPTION:                                   Winner:  LCD/LED TV.
Here LCD TV tops with more Energy saving followed by LED and then Plasma.

HEAT:                                                                       Winner: LCD
Plasma TV generate more heat as compared to LCD/LED TVs.

3D:
With 3D tech Plasma has certain advantages such as High Refresh rate, Natural colors and Big screen
sizes. LED TV also has certain advantages like Brightness that is important for 3D.
       

Final verdict
Plasma TV with new modern Tech is the clear winner with comparison to LED TV.
LCD TV i think should be ignored totally.
1 Plasma
2 LED
3 LCD

Before making a choice few points to ponder
1. High Brightness of LED TV might be good for TV experience perspective, but it might turn harmful
    for your eyes if you have a small size room as its like looking into a direct source of Light.
2. Check the LED and Plasma TV side by side and think from a perspective that you will be watching
    the TV for at least 1-3 hours and then choose.
3. Panasonic manufactures the best Plasma, but now days LG also has very good Plasma TVs. For LED 
   TV  Sony, Samsung and LG brands are popular.
4. Plasma TV are hard to find in Display in many showrooms as they are less costly and hence have less
   margin for the Sales. If you specifically ask the Salesman he might say its old tech and go for LED
   remember he is trying to sell a more costly product to make more profits. This is insider info.
  
  
  

KFC Chicken Wings Recipe

Eating KFC chicken especially the chicken Wings has always been a favorite foodiee thing
I do. So making a KFC chicken wings at home has been on my agenda for a long time.
So folks try out this KFC chicken recipe of course its home version as in India we hardly have
the required Pressure Frying equipment at home. If you see the recipe its so simple,Preesure
Frying the Chicken has been the reason KFC chicken tastes so great. But don't worry even the Deep
fried chicken recipe also taste gr8 and is enough to satisfy your cravings

Ingredients
1. Chicken wings (15)
2. 1 Egg
3. 1 Cup Milk
3. 1 Cup Maida
4. Black Pepper crushed (3 tbsp*)
5. Dominos Oregano packets(7*)
6. Chat Masala
7. Salt to taste
8. Garlic paste (2 tbsp*)

* quantity can be varied based on your taste/spice levels

Preparation:
1. Marinate the Wings with Salt and Garlic paste for 15 mins alteast.

2. In Maida add the Crushed pepper, Oregano and 1 table spoon Chat Masala and Mix well.

2. In the Milk add the Egg and mix well.

3. Heat the oil for deep frying in Kadia(Medium Flame)

4. Pick the Wings deep in Milk and Egg Mixture and then coat in Maida mixture and put
   it in the heated Oil.
  
5. Fry for 5-10 mins till the wings are golden brown color.

6. Serve Hot with any of your favorite sauce, sprinkle a little bit of chat masala if you like

Note:
1. Instead of Chicken wings you can use regular boneless/bone chicken. Chicken wings are easy
   to cook and remain juicy so they always taste gr8.
  
2. If you don't get enough Oregano Packets it can be  substituted by chat masala.

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Good Luck Cafe

Pune is famous for vegetarians and Veg food, so people like me who love non veg food have a hard time
finding a good non veg restaurant in pune. But this all has changed with my visit to Good luck Cafe
located on FC Road, this place has really good non veg food.

Place:
This is a legendary place has been in existence from 1935. Its famous for its Breakfast items
and Non veg food. It also host a variety of veg food as well.

This place gives a feel of Old times and reminds of a culture were people with there friends and families gather together in restaurant to have good time and fun. Usually if you visit this restaurant during Lunch and Dinner time you will find a lot of Young, Old, Couples and families waiting outside to get seated. Its usually crowded and its quiet possible that you might end up waiting from 10-30 mins
and let me tell you its worth the wait.

Location:
Its a legendary place and is a landmark. Its located at Good Luck Chowk at F C road near the
Deccan corner end.

Food:
It has wide variety of Non veg items like Chicken, Mutton and Kheema dishes including starters(Tandoor, Chinese), soups and Rice preparations. It serves variety of breads like Tandoor Rot's, Chapatti, Nan and also Roomali Roti. Veg people don't worry it has good variety of Veg menu and I have heard its also good.

If you ask me whats my recommendation then I have a fix preference Kheema mutton Fry, Tangdi Kebab, Mutton Cutlet curry, Tandoori chicken and any Mutton dish in the menu. You can try any dish and its going to be good, but do try the Kheema mutton Fry its awesome. In the menu they have separate section for Tawa dishes and they are good too.

Tandoori items like Tangdi kebab and Tandoori chicken is must try. Also probably on weekends evenings
they have roll counter, its also a good options.

Biryani here is average, its not a Dum style Biryani which I prefer personally.

If you want to give a try to there Breakfast menu then do try Bun mask, Bun omelette's, fried eggs to the most soft and fluffy scrambled eggs on toast and Tea, its awesome.

Price:
I think this is the only place in Pune left that serves good food at very reasonable price and that is
what makes it happening. A full lunch/dinner for two folks with starter and Main dish, Roti, rice will
cost around 300-400.

Note:
1. Make sure that you inform the waiter about your spice level very well or inquiry with him the
   kind of spice level in the dish before ordering. Here normal spice may be a bit on sweeter side and
   Too spicy will really give a kick and make a kolhapuri cry, its better to tell him medium spicy.

2. Quantity of Food here in main dishes is quiet good and one dish will defiantly serve 2-3 people, so
   if your two, don't order more then 1 main dish.
  
3. Before waiting make sure you have informed the person who notes the number and he has taken a good
   note of it. Also if possible wait near the entrance so that you are visible to the Person and he takes you in
   just at the right time.

Seafood Restaurant: Kokan Express, kothrud

Kokan Express is authentic Kokani food delight located in Kothrud Pune. It just located opposite side of Kothrud Stand and its a kind of Medium size restaurant. It has both AC and non AC option and is good place for family as well as bachelor dining.

Food:

Its serves good Kokani Food with delicacies made of Fish, Crab, Prawns, Tisyra(Mussels) and Prawns. You can order a wide variety of Fish such as Pompfret, Surmai, Bombay Duck. If you are newbei or alone  just go ahead and order any of the Fish, Crab, Prawns, Tisyra(Mussels) and Prawns thalis that cost around 160 rs. Thalis in this restaruant are awesome with curry, Fried Fish roti/vade/chapati/bhakari options, rice and along with Solakadi. In Fish and Prawns thali the curry is bit spicy, but i recommend you order the just the crab curry(only curry) separately its must try.

There are different options of Kokani bread such as Vade\Rice Bhakari\Jawar Bhakari. Fish Fry is available in different styles such as Rava, Masala, etc.

Do order the Solakadi here its must try.

If your two people you can order one single thali and additional rice/rotis, single thali is sufficient for two. Even you can order two different variety of thalis to expand your taste range.

If your buddies are vegetarian there are plenty veg options. Also there is variety of Chicken/Mutton Dish, but seafood is the best.

Cost:

Thali costs around 160

Meal for two should cost around 300-450.

Passport office: Appointment and standing in Line

If you have to visit passport office pune, then standing in line and getting to the window can be tiresome process. Normally the passport office opens at 10.00 am and the queue of people goes more then 300-400. Even though they have started giving online appointments everybody gets the timing of 10.00 am by default. So you will still have to stand in line patiently waiting for your turn, the online appointment only give you a slot for the day and doesn't give any timing slot.

Recently I had to visit passport office for Passport renewal 3 times and here is what my experience says.

1. If you want your work to be done before 11.00 am, make sure you go and stand in line around 7.30 to 8.00 am still your number would be somewhere between 40 -50.
2. Though there are 350+ people waiting outside, make a note that they all have different works(renewal, fresh passport, minor, etc) and hence they will go to different windows inside the office.
So the queue outside office gets cleared by 11.00. So if you visit passport office at 11.00 you will directly get entry inside the office and though you might spend waiting 1/2 hour or max 1 hour at the window line, so its really worth.
3. Tatkal processing and normal processing happens at the same windows.
4. In the line outside the office you will encounter a person who will verify your appointment date on form and based on kind of service you require will assign the window. Inside the office you wait at the respective window.
5. If you already have submitted your application for processing and have a inquiry, go to inquiry line which is separate at the inquiry window along with your payment receipt. They will issue you a form and then you can go inside the office if required.
6. If you cant make at appointment day, simply take another appointment, nobody cares whether you come at appointment day or not. So no penalties, nobody cares.

Bottomline:
Visit the office at 11.00 you will directly get entry inside the office and though you might spend waiting 1/2 hour or max 1 hour at the window line, so its really worth.
You will avoid waiting in the queue for 2-3 hours.

Do comment on your experiences.

Where to take your kids in Pune

If you have kids and living in pune following are some good places were your kids will enjoy definitely

1.  RAILWAY MUSEUM:
     This place has a miniature model of city and different types of railways built into the city. This   show is around 30 mins in which different type of trains move throughout this miniature city model.

     Location:
     Its located on left side on the road towards City pride kothrud from Karshima society.

     Timings:
     This museum is open on weekdays, but its mostly special shows that happen. If your a group of
     people then you can go on weekdays
     Best option is on Sun and Sat after 5.00, it has shows every half hour.

     Website:
     http://www.minirailways.com/

2. ABA BAGUL GARDEN:
    This garden host laser shows, its 30 min show. Also it has Butterfly garden and
     play area for kids. Ample parking space.
 
    Location and website:
    Located in Parvati
    http://wikimapia.org/141483/Aba-Bagul-Park-Sarang-Society

    Timings:
     6 to 8 pm, two laser shows at 6.30 and 7.30 pm 
  
3. Dadasaheb Phalke 4D Theatre:
    Its 4D theater that host 4D films it has limited seating capactiy of 17 people.

    Location:
    Its near parvati area on the road from parvati to Laxminaryan theater

    Timing:
    from 5.00 pm to  8.00 pm shows every 1/2 hour.




4. Peshwa Udyan:    Peshwa Udyan Zoo, situated near Saras Baug, is one of the major tourist attractions of  Pune.There is also a toy train inside the zoo, known as Phoolrani, which serves as the perfect
    source of enjoyment for children.
   
    Location:     Near Saras Baug
  
    Timings:     09:00 am to 05:30 pm (It has time slots to allow people into garden)

5. Shaniwarwada:
    Don't get fooled by looking at the place from outside and thinking its just a historic place. Its good place for your kids to play(no kids area, only huge lawn to play) and have all the fun that they can have in the beautiful garden lawn. Also they can enjoy the feel of being in this Historic place in middle of the city. So if   you planning to go for shopping in Tulsi bag, Raviwar peth, just drop your kids in this place so that they can enjoy and you can enjoy your shopping.

Good parking space for 2 wheelers and 4 wheelers in middle of the city.

Timings: Open till 7.00 pm 

6. Katraj Zoo:
    A Indian style zoo not much to expect, but a place where kids can see some animals have
   boating fun. Make sure that you put on your life jackets while boating.

   Location :
   Opposite bharati vidyapeeth, pune satara road.

  Time:
  10.30 am to 6 pm (Wednesday closed) 

7. Pimpri Chinchwad Science Centre:
   The Pimpri Chinchwad Science Centre has been set up by National Council of Science Museums,  an autonomous society under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India with active support of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, which is one of the richest municipal corporations in India. The Centre, through its interactive science exhibitions and non-formal science education programmes is expected to cater to the people of the region.

Location:
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ll=18.638717,73.80082&spn=0.002536,0.005284&t=m&z=18&vpsrc=6&msa=0&msid=206648176514043886649.0004d51f539d366eb3332

Time:
10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Closed on every monday.







 
Will add more places soon

Tatkal Renewal of passport without Verification letter

I was ready with online application for Renewal of passport in regular scheme, but for visa stamping I was asked by my company to get the passport renewed within 10 days. So I decided to go for Tatkal Scheme.

http://passport.gov.in/cpv/TatkalScheme.htm

Tatkal passport scheme has to options listed on there website
1. Get Verfication letter i.e  ANNEXURE ‘F’ and standard affidavit as Annexure “I”
2. From fourteen documents listed provide the three (No longer valid)

As I had difficulty in getting Verification Letter, I decided to go for 2nd option. Even though this option is listed on website it is no longer valid and cannot be used. I will check this with passport office and update.

Getting verification letter in time was a problem, So I went to a Agent(I strictly don't promote use of agents, but life never goes by ur plans). Agent charged me 6500(including passport fees) and with few documents like
        1. Two electricity bills
        2. One year bank statement
        3. Marriage certificate to include wife name
        4. Degree certificate
        5. Affidavit (Annexure I)

I was able to submit the Tatkal renewal application, no questions asked on the verification window just got all things cleared in one minute.

Bottom-line:
1. Verification letter can be obtained from Banking officials, Class 1 officers if you know them personally or through a person who knows them.
2. Go for Normal processing without agent its very easy process.
3. Last, if you really need the passport urgently and no option of Verification letter go to the agent, list of authorized agents http://passport.gov.in/pune.html#talist.

Comment me if u need agent number whom I went with.

Edit or Change online passport application

For renewal of my passport I submitted the Online application and got a printout of it. Looking at the printout I realized that there was a mistake in application, so I wanted to find out how to edit/change/cancel the online application. I was not able to locate any answer/solution for it.

This is what I found out:

1. Just forgot about your current online application and appointment time and date.

2. Submit a new online application and take a new appointment.

Now in my case I submitted the online application after corrections again and visited the passport office at the appointment time(10 am). But I was surprised to learn that everybody gets appointment timing of 10 am for the day and applications are entertained based on your number in the queue. So seeing 300 people ahead of me, I just call a quit and went to office.

Now I resubmitted it 3rd time and got a new appointment.

Bottomline:
1. Don't worry and go ahead submit your online application again if you feel earlier was incorrect.
2. If you cannot make to passport office at the give appointment just don't worry take a new appointment, nobody cares.