If you are used to Yahoo! or Hotmail's puny email services, using Gmail on a regular basis is like taking a double-shot of espresso on an empty stomach. Having 1 gigabyte of space really rocks. The interface is also easy on the eyes and given that the service is tied to the Google search engine, finding your old emails is a cinch.

I have – “count-em” – 12 Gmail invites to give away for those aspiring and perspiring to upgrade your email storage space. Interested parties may email me Gmail-inspired poetry (a desi twist is welcome) or, send me large bribes.

On a serious note, though, this is how I want this to work – I manage another blog – OMLOG – for a non-profit based in India that does incredible clinical and medical research work in the field of ophthalmology. It's an eye institution run primarily on the good graces of donors and well-wishers. Almost 40% of the patients (some 125,000 people) each year receive totally free care. No nickel and diming people here. No catches. No BS. The hospital is called Sankara Nethralaya and it's mission is vision for ALL irrespective of a person's financial status.

I would be happy to give away these 1 gigabyte email accounts if I can have 12 people step up and make a $100 donation via OMLOG. You'll see the orange donation “DONATE NOW” button on the right hand side. Make the donation. We'll receive a confirmation of your name, email address and donation amount (that's right, you aren't restricted from making more than a $100 donation). Then email me saying that you have made a donation (email me at: tiffinboxATpipalproductionsDOTcom). I'll send you an invitation once I have everything confirmed.

I have been using three Gmail accounts and it's been great fun to receive large attachments (images, movies) without any hassles. Trust me, you want one of these accounts for yourself.

Also know this: Blindness, for the most part can be preventable. For just $50 one less person in India needs to go blind. Think what $100 can do! Your donation is also tax-deductible as the donation is made to a 501(c)3 organization. Trust that your donation will be used responsibly. I guarantee it.

Diwali is right around the corner. Do the right thing. Make your donation count.

Silver prices are dipping thanks to a rise in digital alternatives in photography.

I have high regard for editorial cartoonists – regardless of their political leaning – because it's a tough business to be in. Being a fellow visual journalist may have something to do with it too. But their lot is facing some tough times.

John Balzar's article in the Los Angeles Times (online) suggests that editorial cartoonists are a tough bunch, ready to evolve not dissolve. It's a good read.

Since Henri Cartier-Bresson's death, there have been a number of obituaries published in US and European papers. But it is this one by Claude Cookman, a professor of mine at Indiana University, that is quite special.

He says of Cartier-Bresson:

“What is likely to be forgotten is that Cartier-Bresson's use of the Leica showed modern photojournalism a new ethic. Because large-format cameras used holders with only two sheets of film, earlier photojournalists commonly staged their pictures. In contrast, Cartier-Bresson practiced unobtrusiveness as the route to capturing unposed photographs. This allowed him to respect his subjects while also obtaining natural, revealing images. His unobtrusive approach allowed him to take and keep photographs of the assassinated Mohandas Gandhi, lying in state in January 1948. (The Life photographer Margaret Bourke-White, who photographed Gandhi with a large camera and flash, had her film confiscated by the Mahatma's devotees who considered her actions disrespectful.)”

The Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Virginia will host Photography Speaks, from September 4, 2004 through February 27, 2005.

The show which is named after Photography Speaks and Photography Speaks II, two amazing books that you must have in your possession, will showcase photography by Thomas Struth, Gabriel Orozco, Adolphe Braun, Ilse Bing, and Andre Kertész.

The books are by Brooks Johnson, the Chrysler's curator for photography exhibits. Look for a new book to be published by The Aperture Foundation and The Chrysler Museum also gracing the title – PHOTOGRAPHY SPEAKS.

“Not intended as simply a picture book on the history of photography or on one museum’s collection, the new Photography Speaks follows the same biography-statement-photograph format established in the first book. Each photog¬raph is accompanied on the opposite page by a statement from the artist and a brief biography placing that artist within an historical context. Some of the texts deal with the specific image reproduced, while others take a broader approach, commenting on the art of photography in general. A few texts are technically oriented, and some consider the intricacies of art creation. Taken as a whole, this collection of statements provides a wide range of thinking on photography.”

Just a reminder. Visa Pour L'Image will take place from August 28 to September 12 in Perpignan, France.

Mahesh Bhat, a photojournalist based in Bangalore will be attending the famous gathering of and for photojournalists. He has promised to share his impressions of this esteemed annual ritual.

I am turning green.

A country or a region's vernacular is a crucial factor in studying its culture. When I arrived in the US, now almost 21 years ago, I had some difficulty understanding high-school banter and they in turn had a beast of a time figuring out my accent and use of the English language. But I was hooked on one thing – slang. “Wicked, awesome.” “No, Kidding.” “What the f^(&!”

You get my drift (now).

Out in bookstores now is the Hippie Dictionary. It was compiled by John McCleary and published by Berkeley, California based Ten Speed Press. “Far out, man!”

Exposure Gallery in San Francisco is seeking email submissions for its second “Instant Exhibition.”

“We are looking for personal, thought-provoking images that speak to all sides of the issues under discussion as American voters turn to the polls on November 2.”

Go to it.

Want to learn about digital photography? The folks at Blue Pixel and Just Show Me How have put together a 20 city workshop tour.

“Just Show Me How tour attendees will learn to manage and manipulate images with confidence and speed, while also getting the best results possible from the images captured. They will learn a variety of tips and tricks to create stunning photos to share and treasure. Appropriate for advanced amateur photographers and photo enthusiasts — those who have a passion for photography and who want to push the edge on their digital imaging skills — the Just Show Me How tour will empower attendees to get the most from their photos, while making digital photography a lot more fun.”

Here are the dates and cities where these workshops will be held:

9/18/2004 Anaheim, CA / Tampa, FL

9/25/2004 Austin, TX / San Francisco, CA

10/2/2004 Atlanta, GA / Portland, OR

10/9/2004 Charlotte, NC / San Diego, CA

10/16/2004 Phoenix, AZ / Washington, DC

10/30/2004 Denver, CO / New York, NY

11/6/2004 Chicago, IL / Seattle, WA

11/13/2004 Boston, MA / Dallas, TX

11/20/2004 Baltimore, MD / San Jose, CA

12/4/2004 Los Angeles, CA / Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

If you sign up for the one in Boston, please let me know. It would be great to meet up with you as that is the nearest city for me.

The Weblog Review has reviewed TIFFINBOX. High marks on some features, while some others need a kick in the ass.

For those of you who don't know what a tiffinbox is, I'll have a more descriptive “what the heck this site is about” scpheel and yes, I'll tell you a little bit more about myself too. Perhaps I'll even post a mug-shot of your's truly (though the logo in the upper left corner of this space is a good preview).

Thoughts on the review itself are greatly appreciated.