It seems to be the season of sequels. ROTSS is packed with lots of fantastic animation, some pretty funny moments, and the beautiful Jessica Alba, and does a good job of providing some great entertainment, perfect for a lazy weekend.
For those who do not know the Fantastic Four, it worth going to the trouble of seeing the first movie where these 4 normal people are afflicted with a strange cosmic energy that gives them their fantastic powers - one is blessed with the ability to extend and twist and bend himself almost limitlessly (aka the Boom Boom Boomer guy - did they copy the concept from our chewing gum guy? :)), the second has the power to create tremendous force fields and become invisible, the third is converted to a "rocky" creature with tremendous strength, and the fourth has the ability to convert himself into a roaring, zooming comet-like ball of fire.
The movie contains some pretty cool SFX - the opening credits scene, tracing the journey of the Silver Surfer to Earth, is one of the best ever I have seen. The solidification of the sea off Japan, the draining of the Thames river, and the helicopter crash is very well done.
In the sequel, the fire guy comes in contact with the Silver Surfer from outer space, bent on destroying the earth on behalf of his master, and this encounter gives him the ability to switch his energies with those of the others. And at the end, he uses ALL the powers of the Fantastic Four to fight the enemy - but finally it's Jessica's caring nature and sacrifice that convinces the Silver Surfer to fight on behalf of the Earth, and repel the advance of the outer space "gobbler and destroyer" of planets.
Movie doesn't rate as Fantastic, but definitely worth a watch.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
News for The Week...
1) Rakesh Maria, the guy who cracked the Mumbai Serial Blasts case is Mumbai top cop - and the fruits of his labour are sending the criminals into labour right now!
2) India might soon have her first woman President - the US still doesn't have one!
3) Teenagers in the US will have to pull up their pants, or get fined - no more will we have to see those underwears in full glory and pants held in place by sheer will power!
4) India might soon get F1 - do we really need it though, with over 1500 crore needed in investments!
5) I have lost half a KG after around 2 weeks of diet and walking - and I am feeling great about it!
2) India might soon have her first woman President - the US still doesn't have one!
3) Teenagers in the US will have to pull up their pants, or get fined - no more will we have to see those underwears in full glory and pants held in place by sheer will power!
4) India might soon get F1 - do we really need it though, with over 1500 crore needed in investments!
5) I have lost half a KG after around 2 weeks of diet and walking - and I am feeling great about it!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Quote of the Day
It's not important that you know what not to do, it's more important that you do not do what you are not supposed to do. Siddhesh Bhobe, inspired. :)
Monday, June 11, 2007
Diet Diary
Some more updates from my Mission Diet...
1) Started having green tea in office - pure tea, fresh from the gardens, in a dip dip pack, without sugar, without sugar free, without milk - aahhhh, it's heaven! Green tea is a very good antioxidant!
2) Walking upped to 50 mins a day, at around 4 kmph. Always after dinner, between 1030 to 1130, followed by a hot steam bath (before getting back to blogging :))
3) Olive oil for cooking.
4) Lots and lots of fruits.
5) Addiction to www.calorieking.com - try it out, you get awesome diet data on every possible food in town! Also, a habit of checking every food packet for dietery information.
6) Light breakfast in the morning, usually some juice and fruit, to get the metabolism running.
7) Cut down on eating in restaurants, and if indeed, then prefer grilled/tandoori fish.
8) Still no Pepsi. And now no ice cream.
1) Started having green tea in office - pure tea, fresh from the gardens, in a dip dip pack, without sugar, without sugar free, without milk - aahhhh, it's heaven! Green tea is a very good antioxidant!
2) Walking upped to 50 mins a day, at around 4 kmph. Always after dinner, between 1030 to 1130, followed by a hot steam bath (before getting back to blogging :))
3) Olive oil for cooking.
4) Lots and lots of fruits.
5) Addiction to www.calorieking.com - try it out, you get awesome diet data on every possible food in town! Also, a habit of checking every food packet for dietery information.
6) Light breakfast in the morning, usually some juice and fruit, to get the metabolism running.
7) Cut down on eating in restaurants, and if indeed, then prefer grilled/tandoori fish.
8) Still no Pepsi. And now no ice cream.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Movie Review: Shrek 3
When the king of Far Far Away, the kingdom of the fairy take characters, dies, Shrek goes in search of Arthur, the heir to the throne. Meanwhile, Charming captures the kingdom of Far Far Away with his witches and villains. Shrek comes back, only to be captured and sentenced to death, before Arthur and his other friends rescue him and they convert all the villians and witches to good people! Shrek and his wife finally retire back to their swamp and raise a family...
The animation is fantastic - and in the opening scene, you start off believing it's not an animated movie after all! The detailing and emotions on the faces of the characters are so well done, you would be forgiven for thinking it's real after all. The legs of the Merlin are another example of some lovely rendering.
For me, the Puss in Boots takes the cake. He's cute, he's naughty, he's a smart ass - and you just fall in love with him! Seeing Cindrella, Rapunzel, Snow White and other characters in one movie was like reading a Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew two-in-one thriller :)
I haven't watched the previous two Shreks, but I thoroughly enjoyed Shrek 3.
The animation is fantastic - and in the opening scene, you start off believing it's not an animated movie after all! The detailing and emotions on the faces of the characters are so well done, you would be forgiven for thinking it's real after all. The legs of the Merlin are another example of some lovely rendering.
For me, the Puss in Boots takes the cake. He's cute, he's naughty, he's a smart ass - and you just fall in love with him! Seeing Cindrella, Rapunzel, Snow White and other characters in one movie was like reading a Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew two-in-one thriller :)
I haven't watched the previous two Shreks, but I thoroughly enjoyed Shrek 3.
Worth Remembering?
Ever wondered how your brain chooses what to remember and what to discard? How seemingly irrelevant encounters with irrelevant people, who pass your way just once in your life time, are etched in mind forever, while entire relationships are easily discarded and dispensed with?
I have many of these seemingly irrelevant memories, permanently etched - some in black and white, some with audio, some flashes of conversations...
The number 4777, reminding me of this person who ended up being a good friend later - her bike was numbered 4777. More than a decade later, 4777 never fails to remind me of her! A conversation with my uncle, when I asked him to give me four words in English ending with "dous" (tremendous, hazardous, stupendous and horrendous) - and when he couldn't, teasing him about him being an English professor but not being able to answer my question! A 4-day science camp when I was in the 9th standard. Getting my finger hurt in a chest of drawers - and telling myself - I am now going to have a sister - yes, I was less than 3 years old then, but I can still feel the pain in my finger when I think of it - I know the exact spot I was standing, and the exact position I was looking from. The day I topped the board exam, when I met my neighbour in the morning, and he wished me, telling me I had topped - he was just a clerk, but he knew before most others did - and I did not believe him! Rushing back home from the beach, my parents, me and my sister, the four of us on our Bajaj scooter. My first accident when I tried my brakes a little too hard to see if the scooter would skid - and yes, it did!
I have been writing a diary since the early eighties - did not finish some of the earlier ones, but have every single day of my life recorded from 1st Jan 1987. Reading the diary is an awesome experience - it's like one sentence somewhere can just open a torrent of memories in such amazing vivid detail! Wouldn't it be awesome if we could somehow record and "render" our memories - wouldn't that be close to immortality?
I have many of these seemingly irrelevant memories, permanently etched - some in black and white, some with audio, some flashes of conversations...
The number 4777, reminding me of this person who ended up being a good friend later - her bike was numbered 4777. More than a decade later, 4777 never fails to remind me of her! A conversation with my uncle, when I asked him to give me four words in English ending with "dous" (tremendous, hazardous, stupendous and horrendous) - and when he couldn't, teasing him about him being an English professor but not being able to answer my question! A 4-day science camp when I was in the 9th standard. Getting my finger hurt in a chest of drawers - and telling myself - I am now going to have a sister - yes, I was less than 3 years old then, but I can still feel the pain in my finger when I think of it - I know the exact spot I was standing, and the exact position I was looking from. The day I topped the board exam, when I met my neighbour in the morning, and he wished me, telling me I had topped - he was just a clerk, but he knew before most others did - and I did not believe him! Rushing back home from the beach, my parents, me and my sister, the four of us on our Bajaj scooter. My first accident when I tried my brakes a little too hard to see if the scooter would skid - and yes, it did!
I have been writing a diary since the early eighties - did not finish some of the earlier ones, but have every single day of my life recorded from 1st Jan 1987. Reading the diary is an awesome experience - it's like one sentence somewhere can just open a torrent of memories in such amazing vivid detail! Wouldn't it be awesome if we could somehow record and "render" our memories - wouldn't that be close to immortality?
A Pant Worth $67 Million
(From ABC News...)
A Washington, D.C., lawyer is suing an area dry cleaning business for losing a pair of his trousers. The business owners claim they have his pants, but he's pressing ahead with his suit.
A $10 dry cleaning bill for a pair of trousers has ballooned into a $67 million civil lawsuit. (Yes, you read it right - $67 million! And CNN reported yesterday that he has reduced that to something like $54 million!)
He says that he has endured "mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort." He says he was unable to wear that favorite suit on his first day of work. He's suing for 10 years of weekend car rentals so he can transport his dry cleaning to another store.
"People in America are now scared of each other," legal expert Philip Howard told ABC News' Law & Justice Unit. "That's why teachers won't put an arm around a crying child, and doctors order unnecessary tests, and ministers won't meet with parishioners. It's a distrust of justice and it's changing our culture."
The ABC News Law & Justice Unit has calculated that for $67 million Pearson could buy 84,115 new pairs of pants at the $800 value he placed on the missing trousers in court documents. If you stacked those pants up, they would be taller than eight Mount Everests. If you laid them side by side, they would stretch for 48 miles.
A Washington, D.C., lawyer is suing an area dry cleaning business for losing a pair of his trousers. The business owners claim they have his pants, but he's pressing ahead with his suit.
A $10 dry cleaning bill for a pair of trousers has ballooned into a $67 million civil lawsuit. (Yes, you read it right - $67 million! And CNN reported yesterday that he has reduced that to something like $54 million!)
He says that he has endured "mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort." He says he was unable to wear that favorite suit on his first day of work. He's suing for 10 years of weekend car rentals so he can transport his dry cleaning to another store.
"People in America are now scared of each other," legal expert Philip Howard told ABC News' Law & Justice Unit. "That's why teachers won't put an arm around a crying child, and doctors order unnecessary tests, and ministers won't meet with parishioners. It's a distrust of justice and it's changing our culture."
The ABC News Law & Justice Unit has calculated that for $67 million Pearson could buy 84,115 new pairs of pants at the $800 value he placed on the missing trousers in court documents. If you stacked those pants up, they would be taller than eight Mount Everests. If you laid them side by side, they would stretch for 48 miles.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Movie Review: Ocean's Thirteen
Sequels are generally a bad idea, unless it's the Ocean series.
Ocean's 13 is awesome. George Clooney just gets sexier as he gets older. His on screen chemistry with Brad Pitt almost makes you jealous, and when he smiles that mischievous smile of his, eyes twinkling, aah... George Clooney!
The plot revolves around Danny and his team taking on the challenge of pulling off an impossible casino heist to get even with Willy Bank who cheats their friend Reuben. It's complex and has a dozen different sub-plots in it, which packs the movie with loads of excitement. Pay attention to the dialogues - the humour is subtle, and very smart! The end is fun, but you cannot help but wish it went on and on...
A must watch!
And till then, see you till I see you!
Ocean's 13 is awesome. George Clooney just gets sexier as he gets older. His on screen chemistry with Brad Pitt almost makes you jealous, and when he smiles that mischievous smile of his, eyes twinkling, aah... George Clooney!
The plot revolves around Danny and his team taking on the challenge of pulling off an impossible casino heist to get even with Willy Bank who cheats their friend Reuben. It's complex and has a dozen different sub-plots in it, which packs the movie with loads of excitement. Pay attention to the dialogues - the humour is subtle, and very smart! The end is fun, but you cannot help but wish it went on and on...
A must watch!
And till then, see you till I see you!
Me on CNBC TV18
I got my 2 mins of fame on CNBC TV18 today - an episode on The Future of Software Development, where I talked about the challenges of project management, the need for integration, and how a tool like Microsoft VSTS can make all the difference. The "sound bites" were shot a few days back at Persistent.
See my earlier blog for more details :)
The episode will be telecast again tomorrow at 6.30 pm
Interestingly, this wasn't my first appearance on prime time :) I appeared on MTV way back in 1997 with Cyrus Broacha, when he visited IIT Bombay and found us in the mess and asked me something about food - I do not remember what gyaan I gave him back then :)
We also appeared on a local Goa News Cable Channel, when our Narkasur band was the center of attraction. See this blog for more.
See my earlier blog for more details :)
The episode will be telecast again tomorrow at 6.30 pm
Interestingly, this wasn't my first appearance on prime time :) I appeared on MTV way back in 1997 with Cyrus Broacha, when he visited IIT Bombay and found us in the mess and asked me something about food - I do not remember what gyaan I gave him back then :)
We also appeared on a local Goa News Cable Channel, when our Narkasur band was the center of attraction. See this blog for more.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Quote of the Day
Sometimes it's not the "what to do" that matters, it's the "what not to do". Siddhesh Bhobe.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Diet Diary
Here's my progress report so far :)
Days: 6
Stopped white bread, rice, sugar - only brown bread or roti
Stopped Pepsi and ice creams
Cut down on eating out
Stopped coffee in office - replaced with water
Brisk walking 45 mins a day
2 Cod liver oil tablets twice a day
Weight lost: 0 gms
Days: 6
Stopped white bread, rice, sugar - only brown bread or roti
Stopped Pepsi and ice creams
Cut down on eating out
Stopped coffee in office - replaced with water
Brisk walking 45 mins a day
2 Cod liver oil tablets twice a day
Weight lost: 0 gms
Sunday, June 03, 2007
How to Eat Less and Enjoy More
1) Slow down the process - if you eat around 70 calories of the right fats (six walnuts, twelve almonds or 20 peanuts) around 20 mins before a meal, you can trick your hormones into believing you are already full. Remember, ghrelin reduction takes about 20 mins to kick in, and 65 calories to stimulate. When you sit down for your meal, you would have already started the process of being "full" and you will eat much less. That is also the reason you should eat slowly.
2) Fibers are great because they slow down the process of food moving from the stomach, and make you feel full longer and hungry lesser. Thus, in addition to decreasing insulin and controlling blood sugar, fiber also reduces calorie intake. Start with 1-2 grams and slowly increase to 5 grams. Oatmeal, cereal, whole grains and fruit, are great sources of fiber. Preferably, take it in the morning for breakfast.
3) Take smaller portions on your plate.
2) Fibers are great because they slow down the process of food moving from the stomach, and make you feel full longer and hungry lesser. Thus, in addition to decreasing insulin and controlling blood sugar, fiber also reduces calorie intake. Start with 1-2 grams and slowly increase to 5 grams. Oatmeal, cereal, whole grains and fruit, are great sources of fiber. Preferably, take it in the morning for breakfast.
3) Take smaller portions on your plate.
Obesity isn't only about Food!
Some wierd causes of obesity:
1) Deodorants - some of them contain chemicals that disrupt metabolism! Avoid those that contain aluminium or polychlorobiphenols.
2) Air conditioning - Your body can lose fat trying to make you warm or cool - avoiding the AC can be a great way to lose fat!
3) Stopping smoking - Nicotine helps the fight against fat!
4) Your mom - nothing you can do about it! The older she was when she gave birth to you, the more likely you are to become obese.
1) Deodorants - some of them contain chemicals that disrupt metabolism! Avoid those that contain aluminium or polychlorobiphenols.
2) Air conditioning - Your body can lose fat trying to make you warm or cool - avoiding the AC can be a great way to lose fat!
3) Stopping smoking - Nicotine helps the fight against fat!
4) Your mom - nothing you can do about it! The older she was when she gave birth to you, the more likely you are to become obese.
Interesting Fact
Your small intestine is approximately 20 foot long. Given the folds and the crevices, the absorption area is 1000 times that!
Movie Review: Raqeeb
Pathetic script at the start. But if you sit through it, and through Tanushree Dutta's fat thighs, you might just enjoy the suspense towards the end!
The Day A Mobile Conked Off...
A sleepy, normal Sunday in June 07, in the bustling metropolis of Pune, India. A DISK (double income single kid) family has just wrapped up lunch, and is preparing for the afternoon siesta - you guessed right, the family is Goan, and the lunch did consist of fish curry rice, followed by mangoes.
12.35 pm: He picks up his cell, notices that it is dead. Damn! What if someone was calling him? He quickly sets up the charger, and plugs in the phone. And tries booting the cell - the cell flickers on, but hey, something's wrong! There is no welcome message, the cell switches off instead!
12.36 pm: He is beginning to panic. Flickes the switch on a couple of times, rams the charger pin in so hard, the phone squeals in pain (OK, that was an exaggeration), and tries again. No luck!
12.38 pm: A dozen more tries later, this time having tried playing with the battery, and the SIM, and his daughter's barbie doll, he accepts that his cell is dead!
12.53 pm: 15 agonizing meetings have passed by. He is starting to get more and more jittery. What about all those tele marketing calls he must have missed? What about all those "download kijiye aur jitiye" SMSes that would be vying for his attention? And what about all those friends who would be dead worried by now? Remember, at an average of one SMS every 5.5 mins, he should have sent atleast 3 by now!
12.54 pm: He begs his wife to lend her phone for 5 mins. She refuses.
12.58 pm: He begs again, this time she relents. After all, 5 mins is less than her mean time between SMSes.
12.59 pm: He makes a note of important cell phone numbers, and then tries messaging his friends. It's a hopeless situation - he cannot make sense of the Samsung UI! After all, he has been a Nokier all his life!
1.03 pm: Close to a state of desperation and depression, he hands back the Samsung. Life seems very bleak now.
1.07 pm: He has a brainwave. He goes online, and sends out a spurt of SMSes through mail! Thank god - atleast his friends won't fret to death now!
1.25 pm: He has had enough. He dresses up, takes out his car, and goes mobile hunting.
1.35 pm: He has checked every possible shop in town - but remember, it's a lazy Sunday and everyone has downed shutters! He cannot believe it - shouldn't cell phone replacement be part of every town's disaster management plan???
1.46 pm: Dejected, and demoralised, he is back home. Clueless. Scared. Worried. Sad
1.56 pm: Another brainwave! SOS!!! Out goes a flurry of SMSes in the world wide web, calling all samaritans for help! Can you lend me a spare cell phone?
2.03 pm: The first offer of help! His friend lives just around the corner, and offers to lend him her spare phone.
2.07 pm: He has the spare phone in his hand. He switches batteries, and lo and behold, his cell switches on!
2.08 pm: The first SMS goes out... life is back to normal.
12.35 pm: He picks up his cell, notices that it is dead. Damn! What if someone was calling him? He quickly sets up the charger, and plugs in the phone. And tries booting the cell - the cell flickers on, but hey, something's wrong! There is no welcome message, the cell switches off instead!
12.36 pm: He is beginning to panic. Flickes the switch on a couple of times, rams the charger pin in so hard, the phone squeals in pain (OK, that was an exaggeration), and tries again. No luck!
12.38 pm: A dozen more tries later, this time having tried playing with the battery, and the SIM, and his daughter's barbie doll, he accepts that his cell is dead!
12.53 pm: 15 agonizing meetings have passed by. He is starting to get more and more jittery. What about all those tele marketing calls he must have missed? What about all those "download kijiye aur jitiye" SMSes that would be vying for his attention? And what about all those friends who would be dead worried by now? Remember, at an average of one SMS every 5.5 mins, he should have sent atleast 3 by now!
12.54 pm: He begs his wife to lend her phone for 5 mins. She refuses.
12.58 pm: He begs again, this time she relents. After all, 5 mins is less than her mean time between SMSes.
12.59 pm: He makes a note of important cell phone numbers, and then tries messaging his friends. It's a hopeless situation - he cannot make sense of the Samsung UI! After all, he has been a Nokier all his life!
1.03 pm: Close to a state of desperation and depression, he hands back the Samsung. Life seems very bleak now.
1.07 pm: He has a brainwave. He goes online, and sends out a spurt of SMSes through mail! Thank god - atleast his friends won't fret to death now!
1.25 pm: He has had enough. He dresses up, takes out his car, and goes mobile hunting.
1.35 pm: He has checked every possible shop in town - but remember, it's a lazy Sunday and everyone has downed shutters! He cannot believe it - shouldn't cell phone replacement be part of every town's disaster management plan???
1.46 pm: Dejected, and demoralised, he is back home. Clueless. Scared. Worried. Sad
1.56 pm: Another brainwave! SOS!!! Out goes a flurry of SMSes in the world wide web, calling all samaritans for help! Can you lend me a spare cell phone?
2.03 pm: The first offer of help! His friend lives just around the corner, and offers to lend him her spare phone.
2.07 pm: He has the spare phone in his hand. He switches batteries, and lo and behold, his cell switches on!
2.08 pm: The first SMS goes out... life is back to normal.
Mentor
A mentor is someone you trust and admire and believe in - only as long as he does and says what you want him to do! The moment his advice and action go against your wants and needs, he ceases to even be a friend :)
Putting in 110 Percent
Had a discussion with my friend on this the other day - while I may have blogged about this before, wanted to put in a quick comment again...
What is important is that you give in your 110 percent to everything, not take things lightly, not let go of your focus. What is NOT ok though, is to expect quick results! Get impatient! There is a difference between working hard, and expecting hard! Success will come to you, as long as you have focus, commitment and work hard. And at the end of the day, when you put in your best, that's the sweetest success by itself!
What is important is that you give in your 110 percent to everything, not take things lightly, not let go of your focus. What is NOT ok though, is to expect quick results! Get impatient! There is a difference between working hard, and expecting hard! Success will come to you, as long as you have focus, commitment and work hard. And at the end of the day, when you put in your best, that's the sweetest success by itself!
Friends and Best Friends
Some senti stuff that was forwarded to me... thought it was nice! And so true!
Friend: calls your parents by mr. and mrs.
Best friend: calls your parents dad and mom.
Friend: never asks for anything to eat or drink
Best friend: opens the fridge and makes herself at home
Friend: asks you to write down your number.
Best friend: they ask you for their number (cuz! they can't remember it)
Friend: borrows your stuff for a few days then gives it back.
Best friend: has a closet full of your stuff
Friend: calls your parents by mr. and mrs.
Best friend: calls your parents dad and mom.
Friend: never asks for anything to eat or drink
Best friend: opens the fridge and makes herself at home
Friend: asks you to write down your number.
Best friend: they ask you for their number (cuz! they can't remember it)
Friend: borrows your stuff for a few days then gives it back.
Best friend: has a closet full of your stuff
Diet 101
In the next few posts, you will get a good introduction to dieting... simply because I chanced about this great book on Dieting (YOU on a Diet), and well, not that I really NEED a book on dieting, or a diet for that matter :), but hey, you know, one should ALWAYS read new things!
OK, OK, first, let us get some basics right, and some myths shattered!
1) Don't watch your weight, watch your waist! Every body has it's own ideal weight, and that depends on a lot of factors including bone density! The metric to watch, therefore, is your waist. For women, the ideal waist is 32.5 inches, for men, 35. This should be measured at the belly button.
2) Starving yourself is the WORST form of dieting. Why? Because the moment you start starving, the body takes this as a sign that famine is on the way, and starts actually building up fat stores in your body!
3) When you lose weight without exercise, you lose both muscle and fat. When you build weight without exercise, you accumulate only fat! Hence people who try losing weight through crash diets, give up after some time, and add a lot more fat!
4) A high protein diet (chicken and fish) can help you reduce weight. Your body needs to use carbohydrates (excess of which is stored as fat) to break down proteins.
5) The hypothalamus in the brain is the area that looks after your wants and desires (hunger, thirst AND sex :)) Sometimes, drinking lots of water and having lots of sex can actually satisfy the body's hunger pangs! I am serious!
6)There are two chemicals in your body that affect your eating and dieting - CART (cocaine amphetamine regulatory transcript) and NPY (a protein called Neuropeptide Y). CART stimulates hypothalamus to increase metabolism, reduce appetite and increase insulin to deliver energy to muscle cells rather than be stored as fat. NPY has the opposite effect - it decreases metabolism and increases apetite.
7) CART and NPY are driven by two hormones in your body, leptin which influences CART, and ghrelin, which influences NPY. As you grow older, there are lesses leptin receptors in your hypothalamus - which means you feel less satisfied after eating, and hence tend to put on more weight. When you have stress, you have more of NPY and you tend to eat more! Get the connection?
8) Ghrelin works every couple of hours, sending hunger signals to the brain. Leptin is more long term. Thus, if you can get your leptin levels higher, you can beat those pangs easily. That's also another reason why smaller regular meals can actually help curb weight - it negates the build up of hunger pangs and it stops the body from accumulating fat deposits.
9) Nuts are excellent as regular snacks - they make you feel satisfied and kill your hunger pangs. On the other hand, High-fructose corn syrup, usually found in soft drinks, do nothing to address your hunger pangs, and make you want to eat more and unable to shut off your apetite.
That's all for diet 101 - watch out for a lot more in the coming days! And yes, watch your WAIST!
OK, OK, first, let us get some basics right, and some myths shattered!
1) Don't watch your weight, watch your waist! Every body has it's own ideal weight, and that depends on a lot of factors including bone density! The metric to watch, therefore, is your waist. For women, the ideal waist is 32.5 inches, for men, 35. This should be measured at the belly button.
2) Starving yourself is the WORST form of dieting. Why? Because the moment you start starving, the body takes this as a sign that famine is on the way, and starts actually building up fat stores in your body!
3) When you lose weight without exercise, you lose both muscle and fat. When you build weight without exercise, you accumulate only fat! Hence people who try losing weight through crash diets, give up after some time, and add a lot more fat!
4) A high protein diet (chicken and fish) can help you reduce weight. Your body needs to use carbohydrates (excess of which is stored as fat) to break down proteins.
5) The hypothalamus in the brain is the area that looks after your wants and desires (hunger, thirst AND sex :)) Sometimes, drinking lots of water and having lots of sex can actually satisfy the body's hunger pangs! I am serious!
6)There are two chemicals in your body that affect your eating and dieting - CART (cocaine amphetamine regulatory transcript) and NPY (a protein called Neuropeptide Y). CART stimulates hypothalamus to increase metabolism, reduce appetite and increase insulin to deliver energy to muscle cells rather than be stored as fat. NPY has the opposite effect - it decreases metabolism and increases apetite.
7) CART and NPY are driven by two hormones in your body, leptin which influences CART, and ghrelin, which influences NPY. As you grow older, there are lesses leptin receptors in your hypothalamus - which means you feel less satisfied after eating, and hence tend to put on more weight. When you have stress, you have more of NPY and you tend to eat more! Get the connection?
8) Ghrelin works every couple of hours, sending hunger signals to the brain. Leptin is more long term. Thus, if you can get your leptin levels higher, you can beat those pangs easily. That's also another reason why smaller regular meals can actually help curb weight - it negates the build up of hunger pangs and it stops the body from accumulating fat deposits.
9) Nuts are excellent as regular snacks - they make you feel satisfied and kill your hunger pangs. On the other hand, High-fructose corn syrup, usually found in soft drinks, do nothing to address your hunger pangs, and make you want to eat more and unable to shut off your apetite.
That's all for diet 101 - watch out for a lot more in the coming days! And yes, watch your WAIST!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Movie Review: Pirates of the Caribbean 3
Why would you watch POTC 3? Only if you are a die-hard Johnny Depp fan. Or, if you are completely in love with Kiera.
As in POTC 1 and 2, Jack brings some brilliant moments to the movie - but you have to sit through 3 long, mostly boring hours, of tentacalized, barnacalized and slimy creatures, and grimy pirates. The visuals - well, let us just say that in this day and age, this much is expected. The script - brilliant with Jack, long winded and boring otherwise. The plot - too complicated, and seriously, the movie is twice as long as it should have been!
Try and avoid it, you will not miss too much!
As in POTC 1 and 2, Jack brings some brilliant moments to the movie - but you have to sit through 3 long, mostly boring hours, of tentacalized, barnacalized and slimy creatures, and grimy pirates. The visuals - well, let us just say that in this day and age, this much is expected. The script - brilliant with Jack, long winded and boring otherwise. The plot - too complicated, and seriously, the movie is twice as long as it should have been!
Try and avoid it, you will not miss too much!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Memories...
Memories are a strange phenomenon - they make us laugh when we remember times we cried in the past, and they make us cry when we think of times we laughed together!
Monday, May 28, 2007
Reality Shows
TV is full of reality shows of all kinds today - the talent hunts, the wildest videos and car chases, the guiness records and the believe it or nots.. but what I love most are the makeover shows.
There's one where the "Overhaulers" steal your old car, and give it back to you shining and customized new! Usually, a family member is roped in to be the insider. And while working on the car, they play a few naughty pranks with you, leading you to be all frustrated and angry - till the surprise at the end. Another show involves the "monsters" taking over your pad and converting it into a one-of-a-kind place, complete with the craziest interiors and furniture, and the latest and best in accessories. The "while you were away" show does a similar make over to your old home. I think these shows are fantastic - they do not cheat the audience into sending millions of dollars worth of messages, they do not risk lives, and most importantly, they actually bring a lot of love and cheer into people's lives - I would love to be on one of these shows, and see someone's face light up at my creation - I think the hugs on the show are some of the most genuine expressions of love you can ever see any where!
There's one where the "Overhaulers" steal your old car, and give it back to you shining and customized new! Usually, a family member is roped in to be the insider. And while working on the car, they play a few naughty pranks with you, leading you to be all frustrated and angry - till the surprise at the end. Another show involves the "monsters" taking over your pad and converting it into a one-of-a-kind place, complete with the craziest interiors and furniture, and the latest and best in accessories. The "while you were away" show does a similar make over to your old home. I think these shows are fantastic - they do not cheat the audience into sending millions of dollars worth of messages, they do not risk lives, and most importantly, they actually bring a lot of love and cheer into people's lives - I would love to be on one of these shows, and see someone's face light up at my creation - I think the hugs on the show are some of the most genuine expressions of love you can ever see any where!
The DCH Test
Here's a test a use often to figure out how well my friends know me - it's called the DCH test. The test is simple - you have to tell me which of the 3 characters in DCH resemble the real me most!!! Aakash (Aamir), Sid (Akshaye), or Sameer (Saif)...
Wanna take the test? :)
Wanna take the test? :)
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Joke of the Day
Written behind an autorickshaw: "Main bada hoke truck banoonga"
Lol Lol, cannot stop laughing!
Lol Lol, cannot stop laughing!
Prisoners of our Times...
What would we do if...
Our broadband connection was off for a day? Our cell phone had no range? Our cable was off? Our car had no petrol? The mall was off limits? The multiplex was closed? Blogger.com and Orkut was down? Google was not working?
I think life would grind to a halt. Completely.
Strangely, none of these existed when we were 15. And life never even took a pause!
Our broadband connection was off for a day? Our cell phone had no range? Our cable was off? Our car had no petrol? The mall was off limits? The multiplex was closed? Blogger.com and Orkut was down? Google was not working?
I think life would grind to a halt. Completely.
Strangely, none of these existed when we were 15. And life never even took a pause!
Konkan Railway's RO-RO
A news article in the Times today reminded me of a fantastic sight you often see on the Konkan Railway track between Mumbai and Mangalore, passing through the lovely coastal villages of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerela... the RO-RO (Roll on Roll Off) trains, loaded with countless trucks - an exciting initiative that makes a lot of economic sense, as well as reducing polution and saving millions of litres of diesel. Trucks travelling south can simply hitch a ride on the train :) Isn't the idea just so cool?
Ton Ton Ton Ton
That's right - India posted a new world record yesterday in the second test against Bangladesh by posting centuries by the first 4 batsmen - Dinesh Karthick, Wasim Jaffer, Sachin and Dravid - before declaring at 600 something for 3. Previously, there have been 3 centuries by the top 3, 7 times.
Movie Review: Shootout at Lokhandwaala
Based on "true rumours", Shootout is based on the 6 hour firefight between the officers of Mumbai's ATS and Maya Dolas and his gangsters in the early nineties in Mumbai's posh Lokhandwaala complex. As an impressionable 11 year old kid, I vividly remember reading about the shootout.. although the details are blurry.
The movie is a treat for action and thrill lovers. Fast paced, great background scores, and some exciting action sequences - it will grip you from the first scene right to the end, and leave you wanting more.
Sanjay Dutt is fantastic as the quiet but mean ACP "Shamsher" Khan, who led the ATS. Sunil Shetty and Arbaaz Khan are very likeable, and do a great job being his seconds in command. Vivek does a good job being Maya, while Tusshar tries hard to be a good Buwa. Amitabh plays a great cameo role as the lawyer defending the ATS after the shootout, and his argument to the court is powerful and simple: "If you have a family at home, and a man with a gun outside, who would you want it to be? Maya, Buwa, or ACP Shamsher Khan?" And the surprise package, Abhishek in a special appearance as the police officer shot down by gangsters in broad daylight - looks sexy, and will surely be a treat for his female fans.
The script is fantastic - sets the stage for the shoot out beautifully, tracing the history of the gang, and the rise of the ATS, till the final clash. It is also non judgemental and leaves the decision of who was right and who was wrong to the audience - at times, you want the gangsters to be destroyed, at other times, you hate the high handedness of the police officers.
Would love to catch it a second time...
The movie is a treat for action and thrill lovers. Fast paced, great background scores, and some exciting action sequences - it will grip you from the first scene right to the end, and leave you wanting more.
Sanjay Dutt is fantastic as the quiet but mean ACP "Shamsher" Khan, who led the ATS. Sunil Shetty and Arbaaz Khan are very likeable, and do a great job being his seconds in command. Vivek does a good job being Maya, while Tusshar tries hard to be a good Buwa. Amitabh plays a great cameo role as the lawyer defending the ATS after the shootout, and his argument to the court is powerful and simple: "If you have a family at home, and a man with a gun outside, who would you want it to be? Maya, Buwa, or ACP Shamsher Khan?" And the surprise package, Abhishek in a special appearance as the police officer shot down by gangsters in broad daylight - looks sexy, and will surely be a treat for his female fans.
The script is fantastic - sets the stage for the shoot out beautifully, tracing the history of the gang, and the rise of the ATS, till the final clash. It is also non judgemental and leaves the decision of who was right and who was wrong to the audience - at times, you want the gangsters to be destroyed, at other times, you hate the high handedness of the police officers.
Would love to catch it a second time...
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Movie Review: Provoked
Provoked is the true story of an Indian woman in the UK, beaten and abused by her husband for ten years, before one night, having had enough, she sets him on fire. She is arrested for murder, and goes to jail - until her retrial and early release a few years later.
The story, though bland, has a strong emotional chord to it, and a good actress in the lead role could have done wonders - Aishwarya is OK, she does decently well in a couple of scenes, but most of the time I found her wanting. Nandita is wasted - hardly has any role to play.
The movie itself - well, life's serious enough, I fail to see why you should watch the movie!
The story, though bland, has a strong emotional chord to it, and a good actress in the lead role could have done wonders - Aishwarya is OK, she does decently well in a couple of scenes, but most of the time I found her wanting. Nandita is wasted - hardly has any role to play.
The movie itself - well, life's serious enough, I fail to see why you should watch the movie!
CNBC Shoot
A CNBC crew came over to Persistent today, to talk to me regarding software development challenges, and how we are handling them through use of Microsoft's VSTS tools, for a series of episodes on the software industry in India.
It went off very smoothly actually - I didn't know I was a natural in front of the camera! :) We shot in the sexy corridor outside the Aryabhatta Board Room - after the sound bites, they also took some random shots of me walking and talking to some colleagues, and then finished off with a good set of shots of the building itself.
The entire event took around an hour - I am a pro, remember? Did not need too many retakes! :)
The episode will be telecast on the 9th and 10th of June, in the evening. We should hopefully get 2-3 min of fame! Will keep you posted!
It went off very smoothly actually - I didn't know I was a natural in front of the camera! :) We shot in the sexy corridor outside the Aryabhatta Board Room - after the sound bites, they also took some random shots of me walking and talking to some colleagues, and then finished off with a good set of shots of the building itself.
The entire event took around an hour - I am a pro, remember? Did not need too many retakes! :)
The episode will be telecast on the 9th and 10th of June, in the evening. We should hopefully get 2-3 min of fame! Will keep you posted!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Is Different Wrong?
Why is it that anything different from what we are used to is usually considered wrong? Is it about resistance to change, or is it that we have convinced ourselves that what we do is always right? Is this a mechanism for self-defence?
Does this not stop us from exploring other "truths"? Does it not stop us from getting better?
Would the world be what it is now if "foolish" people had not challenged what was "right"?
Does this not stop us from exploring other "truths"? Does it not stop us from getting better?
Would the world be what it is now if "foolish" people had not challenged what was "right"?
When the Arab visited a Marriage Hall in Pune...
Obviously, there was a lot of excitement, with people falling over each other to have a look at this strangely dressed guest speaking in excellent vernacular languages :) But didn't anyone tell the Arab that this kind of closed attire was a BAD idea in Pune's hot climate when NOT in an AC room or a car?Movie Review: Hannibal Rising
Based on the book by the same name, Hannibal Rising tries (not too hard) and fails (easily!) at recreating the magic of the book based on the early life of Hannibal, and his "rise" as a cannibalistic psycho killer. The screenplay is patchy, the characters are boring, and the movie itself very dull and insipid. Maybe it was something to do with the fact that I was running a fever and watching it on a laptop, but then hey, I have seen other movies in that state too!
Miss it, and you will not miss much.
Yes, read the book, though!
Miss it, and you will not miss much.
Yes, read the book, though!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Quote of the Day
Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. Unknown.
First Rains...
It was a hot sultry day, gusts of dry air driving people indoors... suddenly the skies greyed out, and clouds pregnant with rain descended on the city.
Looking out from the rear balcony over the river, with the Parvati temple in the distant background getting increasingly hazy with the strengthening rain - it was a beautiful sight, and I stood there for a long time, soaking in the lovely phenomenon we call rain! Very soon, dozens of happy, shrieking children started pouring out - from the slums on to the roads, and from the high rises into the balconies and terraces. Everyone was happy - on one terrace, a solitary girl broke into a jig, blissfully unaware of anything else. On another terrace, the children broke out into an impromptu game of football - sloshing in the water. A parrot screamed somewhere in delight - while the crows enjoyed their bath on the tree tops gently swaying to the tunes below our feet. An old lady pulled out her arm chair into the cramped space of her home's little balcony and sat down with her daughter-in-law, looking out in wonder at the rain.
Suddenly, everything looked just so beautiful!
Isn't it strange how the rains have such a spell-binding effect on everyone? Sigh, I miss the monsoons in Goa :(
Looking out from the rear balcony over the river, with the Parvati temple in the distant background getting increasingly hazy with the strengthening rain - it was a beautiful sight, and I stood there for a long time, soaking in the lovely phenomenon we call rain! Very soon, dozens of happy, shrieking children started pouring out - from the slums on to the roads, and from the high rises into the balconies and terraces. Everyone was happy - on one terrace, a solitary girl broke into a jig, blissfully unaware of anything else. On another terrace, the children broke out into an impromptu game of football - sloshing in the water. A parrot screamed somewhere in delight - while the crows enjoyed their bath on the tree tops gently swaying to the tunes below our feet. An old lady pulled out her arm chair into the cramped space of her home's little balcony and sat down with her daughter-in-law, looking out in wonder at the rain.
Suddenly, everything looked just so beautiful!
Isn't it strange how the rains have such a spell-binding effect on everyone? Sigh, I miss the monsoons in Goa :(
Sunday, May 13, 2007
English in the 16th Century!
Have you ever wondered how languages evolve? New slangs and new words become a part of our lives? I came across this fantastic book that's a compilation of writings from people in the fifteen and sixteenth century in America - starting with Columbus himself, and his description of his trip to America in his own words.
Sample this for English from a text in 1579:
In recompense of those things which they had received of us, as shirts, linen cloth, etc., they bestowed upon our general and divers of our company divers things , as feathers, cauls of network, the quivers of their arrows made of fawn-skins, and the very skins of beasts that their women wore upon their bodies. Having thus had their fill of this time's visiting and beholding of us, they departed with joy to their houses, which houses are digged round within the earth and have from the uppermost brims of the circle clefts of wood set up and joined close together at the top like our spire on the teeple of a church, which, being covered with earth, suffer no water to enter and are very warm. The door in the most part of them performs the office also of a chimney to let out the smoke; it is made in bigness and fashion like to an ordinary scuttle in a ship, and standing slopewise.
And check this piece for spellings:
We ourselves, during the time we were there, used to sucke it after their manner, as also since our return, and have found many rare and woonderfull experiments of the vertues thereof: of which the relation would require a volume by it selfe: the use of it by so many of late, men and women of great calling, as els, and some learned Physicians also, is of sufficient witnesse.
Doesn't it strike you as very interesting as to how the spellings are a lot more apt than their current versions? Here's another one:
When her father, with the utmost of his policie and power, sought to surprise mee, having but eighteene with mee, the darke night could not affright her from comming through the irksome woods, and with watered eies gave me intelligence, with her best advice to escape his furie; which had hee knowne, hee had surely slaine her.
The book is "The Mammoth Book of How it Happened - America", and is a must-have for history buffs. Starting with Columbus's arrival, it traces the history of America from the late fifteenth century right up to 9/11, in the words of the men who were there and saw it all!
Sample this for English from a text in 1579:
In recompense of those things which they had received of us, as shirts, linen cloth, etc., they bestowed upon our general and divers of our company divers things , as feathers, cauls of network, the quivers of their arrows made of fawn-skins, and the very skins of beasts that their women wore upon their bodies. Having thus had their fill of this time's visiting and beholding of us, they departed with joy to their houses, which houses are digged round within the earth and have from the uppermost brims of the circle clefts of wood set up and joined close together at the top like our spire on the teeple of a church, which, being covered with earth, suffer no water to enter and are very warm. The door in the most part of them performs the office also of a chimney to let out the smoke; it is made in bigness and fashion like to an ordinary scuttle in a ship, and standing slopewise.
And check this piece for spellings:
We ourselves, during the time we were there, used to sucke it after their manner, as also since our return, and have found many rare and woonderfull experiments of the vertues thereof: of which the relation would require a volume by it selfe: the use of it by so many of late, men and women of great calling, as els, and some learned Physicians also, is of sufficient witnesse.
Doesn't it strike you as very interesting as to how the spellings are a lot more apt than their current versions? Here's another one:
When her father, with the utmost of his policie and power, sought to surprise mee, having but eighteene with mee, the darke night could not affright her from comming through the irksome woods, and with watered eies gave me intelligence, with her best advice to escape his furie; which had hee knowne, hee had surely slaine her.
The book is "The Mammoth Book of How it Happened - America", and is a must-have for history buffs. Starting with Columbus's arrival, it traces the history of America from the late fifteenth century right up to 9/11, in the words of the men who were there and saw it all!
Quote of the Day
Why is it that our memory is good enough to retain the least triviality that happens to us, and yet not good enough to recollect how often we have told it to the same person? Francois de La Rochefoucauld.
Riding Pillion with Shantaram
Didier Levy was the worst pillion passenger I had ever known. He held on to me so tightly, and with such rigid tensity, that it was difficult to steer the bike. He howled as we approached cars, and shrieked when we sped up to pass them. On critical, sweeping turns he wriggled in terror, trying to straighten the bike from its necessary lean into the curve. Every time I stopped the bike at a traffic signal, he put both feet down to the ground to stretch his legs and moan about the cramps in his hips. Every time I accelerated away, he dragged his feet on the road and fidgeted for several seconds until he found the footrests. And when taxis or other cars ventured too close to us, he kicked out at them or waved his fists in frantic outrage. By the time we reached our destination, I calculated that the danger faced during a thirty minute ride in fast traffic with Didier was roughly equivalent to a month under fire in Afghanistan.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Elections
Two elections.
One held in a poor, crime-ridden state of India - UP. Multi-party system. Illiterate people. Yet, it's heralded by one and all as free and fair. The Election Commission and the police get their act together, and the state returns a resounding victory. The government of Mulayam Singh is voted out, and Mayawati comes to power with a resounding majority. The transfer of government is smooth. And life is back to normal.
The other is in France. Three main contestants, a second round of elections, and one winner. The next day, France erupts in riots.
Do we Indians ever really appreciate the power and depth, and trueness of our democracy?
One held in a poor, crime-ridden state of India - UP. Multi-party system. Illiterate people. Yet, it's heralded by one and all as free and fair. The Election Commission and the police get their act together, and the state returns a resounding victory. The government of Mulayam Singh is voted out, and Mayawati comes to power with a resounding majority. The transfer of government is smooth. And life is back to normal.
The other is in France. Three main contestants, a second round of elections, and one winner. The next day, France erupts in riots.
Do we Indians ever really appreciate the power and depth, and trueness of our democracy?
Movie Review: Swades
Did not get time (or company :)) to catch a movie this weekend in the theatres - so here's a review of a movie I caught on TV instead - Swades!
Mohan is a NASA engineer, suddenly feeling nostalgic about his des! He comes down to India, in search of his nanny, and falls in love. The question is - does he fall in love with his nanny, with India, it's problems or his childhood sweetheart Gitli? Well, he fights for the village school, lectures the folk on caste and corruption, and the system, and then builds a 6*6 foot tank from a trickle of water to generate hydel power for the village! Silly? You bet it is! And then he goes back to pardes, waits for his favourite satellite to be blasted into space, and then finally figures swades is the place for him to be! And catches the next Air India flight straight back to his watan...
But it's a good movie. The caravan song is fantastic - especially if you soak in the relationship between SRK and the hitch hiker, and watch the colors of India seduce the NRI. Watch SRK break into his "unchoreographed" jig, then dancing in tandem with his partner. Feel the passion in his thoughts when he catches the boat ride... and get carried away by "Yeh Jo Des Hai Mera...."
I did.. and it inspired my previous post too :)
Mohan is a NASA engineer, suddenly feeling nostalgic about his des! He comes down to India, in search of his nanny, and falls in love. The question is - does he fall in love with his nanny, with India, it's problems or his childhood sweetheart Gitli? Well, he fights for the village school, lectures the folk on caste and corruption, and the system, and then builds a 6*6 foot tank from a trickle of water to generate hydel power for the village! Silly? You bet it is! And then he goes back to pardes, waits for his favourite satellite to be blasted into space, and then finally figures swades is the place for him to be! And catches the next Air India flight straight back to his watan...
But it's a good movie. The caravan song is fantastic - especially if you soak in the relationship between SRK and the hitch hiker, and watch the colors of India seduce the NRI. Watch SRK break into his "unchoreographed" jig, then dancing in tandem with his partner. Feel the passion in his thoughts when he catches the boat ride... and get carried away by "Yeh Jo Des Hai Mera...."
I did.. and it inspired my previous post too :)
Travelling Travails...
I have a love-hate relationship with travelling...
I hate thinking of it, I hate waiting for it. I love travelling, I love planning for it. Confused? :)
Well, the deal is that I have a great life, and I love the routine. Travelling disrupts my routine, and that's why I hate thinking about it. The waiting is the worst part - it's like you are neither here nor there!
But I love planning. I am a good planner. From my hotels to my flights, to the dates - fitting everything in the best way possible, extracting the max out of each trip - that's something I think I am very good at! Getting the best connections, including the best weekend itenaries, finding the right hotels - and fitting in maximum leisure time without bloating your trip is a skill I am proud of :) Packing also requires planning, especially when you are as finicky and particular about things the way I am. Clothes, food items, office stuff, tickets and money, medicines - you cannot afford to forget when you are going on a long trip. I have everything sorted out - more than a dozen trips later, all my packing is now a planned affair - an Excel sheet that not only lists every single item (including extra specs and French translation guide for Europe trips), but also suggests the best way to carry these - so that you have sufficient backups of all important documents, in the right place, so that a lost piece of luggage does not mean having to make a distress trip to the consulate!
Once packed and planned, the waiting is the worst part. You disrupt not just your life, but that of all your loved and near and dear ones, who cannot go about their own lives and routines as long as are still here waiting for your trip to start! All those farewells turn me off, and make me edgy, and all I want then is for my bus to come so I can switch to my "on travel" mode!
The moment I say that last good bye and get on the bus or taxi, I am a transformed person. Focussed on the travel, on the journey ahead, and the meetings coming up! My posture changes, which is basically because of the heavy suit I am wearing and the laptop I am carrying! :)
I used to be very scared of all the immigration and stuff - and always worried about losing passports and tickets. At times, it made me stop and open my bags in the middle of the airport hall, checking everything a second and third time! I have grown over it now with a simple tweak to my packing style - as long as my tickets and passport are safe, I am happy - and these things now sit in my cargo pockets. Nothing else matters, and I travel much happier.
I have grown immune to those long flights now, though being in business class makes it much easier! I tend to go on a partial shut down - my thoughts are blunted, I get into a sleepy-all-the-time mode. A typical leg of 8 hours gets broken down into: 1 hour settling dowwn after takeoff, 1 hour of food (usually in 2 batches of 30 mins), 1-3 hours of movie watching, an hour on the laptop, and the rest in a head-lolling slumber. Used to take a lot of photos earlier, but now they all look the same.
The best part of the trip though, is the return flight - seeing the aircraft that will take you home... getting into it, and seeing the first Times Of India after 2 weeks, eating cold samosas for snacks, and the palak paneer with roti, and then, as the plane crosses the Arabian sea and the Indian coast, the first sight of land - your heart sings... Yeh jo desh hai mera, swades hai mera... and then, touchdown in Mumbai! The walk to immigration, the cell phone beeping with welcome back messages, and the step out into the warm, humid, smoky Mumbai air - and you know, you are home!
I hate thinking of it, I hate waiting for it. I love travelling, I love planning for it. Confused? :)
Well, the deal is that I have a great life, and I love the routine. Travelling disrupts my routine, and that's why I hate thinking about it. The waiting is the worst part - it's like you are neither here nor there!
But I love planning. I am a good planner. From my hotels to my flights, to the dates - fitting everything in the best way possible, extracting the max out of each trip - that's something I think I am very good at! Getting the best connections, including the best weekend itenaries, finding the right hotels - and fitting in maximum leisure time without bloating your trip is a skill I am proud of :) Packing also requires planning, especially when you are as finicky and particular about things the way I am. Clothes, food items, office stuff, tickets and money, medicines - you cannot afford to forget when you are going on a long trip. I have everything sorted out - more than a dozen trips later, all my packing is now a planned affair - an Excel sheet that not only lists every single item (including extra specs and French translation guide for Europe trips), but also suggests the best way to carry these - so that you have sufficient backups of all important documents, in the right place, so that a lost piece of luggage does not mean having to make a distress trip to the consulate!
Once packed and planned, the waiting is the worst part. You disrupt not just your life, but that of all your loved and near and dear ones, who cannot go about their own lives and routines as long as are still here waiting for your trip to start! All those farewells turn me off, and make me edgy, and all I want then is for my bus to come so I can switch to my "on travel" mode!
The moment I say that last good bye and get on the bus or taxi, I am a transformed person. Focussed on the travel, on the journey ahead, and the meetings coming up! My posture changes, which is basically because of the heavy suit I am wearing and the laptop I am carrying! :)
I used to be very scared of all the immigration and stuff - and always worried about losing passports and tickets. At times, it made me stop and open my bags in the middle of the airport hall, checking everything a second and third time! I have grown over it now with a simple tweak to my packing style - as long as my tickets and passport are safe, I am happy - and these things now sit in my cargo pockets. Nothing else matters, and I travel much happier.
I have grown immune to those long flights now, though being in business class makes it much easier! I tend to go on a partial shut down - my thoughts are blunted, I get into a sleepy-all-the-time mode. A typical leg of 8 hours gets broken down into: 1 hour settling dowwn after takeoff, 1 hour of food (usually in 2 batches of 30 mins), 1-3 hours of movie watching, an hour on the laptop, and the rest in a head-lolling slumber. Used to take a lot of photos earlier, but now they all look the same.
The best part of the trip though, is the return flight - seeing the aircraft that will take you home... getting into it, and seeing the first Times Of India after 2 weeks, eating cold samosas for snacks, and the palak paneer with roti, and then, as the plane crosses the Arabian sea and the Indian coast, the first sight of land - your heart sings... Yeh jo desh hai mera, swades hai mera... and then, touchdown in Mumbai! The walk to immigration, the cell phone beeping with welcome back messages, and the step out into the warm, humid, smoky Mumbai air - and you know, you are home!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Wrong Things, Right Reasons
A nice thought from Shantaram...
Sometimes it's necessary to do the wrong things for the right reasons. What is important is that we are sure that the reasons are right, and that we admit the wrong. We should not lie to ourselves and convince ourselves that what we are doing is right.
Sometimes it's necessary to do the wrong things for the right reasons. What is important is that we are sure that the reasons are right, and that we admit the wrong. We should not lie to ourselves and convince ourselves that what we are doing is right.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Busy Day on the Beach...
It's all in a day's work!
All work and no play make the Jills (and the Jack) dull!
Jeepers Creepers...
Touch me Not, I will STING you!
Oh OK, you saw me! But, can you spot my kid?Summer of 2007 in Goa!
So what does a 2 day holiday in Goa in the summer mean to me?
Lots of Fish!
Lots of Cashews!
And Jackfruits...
And of course, Mangoes!
And a dip in the sea!
Floaters in My Eye
Parental Discretion Advised. Contains graphical descriptions which may not be for the weak hearted :)
Nice Saturday evening in Goa - I had just woken from a deep slumber induced by deep fried prawns and mangoes, and we were all dressing up for a night in town. I splashed my face with cold water, and noticed this spidery insect hanging from the hair on my forehead. I swiped it away, but it persisted - so I washed my face again, thinking it was on my eyelids. Then, to my horror, I realised, it was right there - and worse, was moving in perfect tandem with my eye! Damn - the thing was INSIDE my eyeball!
One of my relatives died a few years back due to bleeding in the eye. And when you see a dark maroonish black thingy that looks suspiciously like a droplet of blood in your eyeball, trust me, it scares the hell out of you! It scared me to death!
We rushed to the doctor - things got a little better on the way, when I realised that whatever it was, had stopped growing. Even if it was bleeding, it wasn't going to flood my eyes and kill me, yet!
Anyway, to cut a long story short, the doctor heard my description and immediately confirmed that it was a "floater". While it can lead to complications like retina tear, which itself can lead to blindness, or could be due to high pressure in the eye, which also can lead to blindness and death, my floater turned out to be a harmless one, with a life span of around 3 weeks. And apparently all it will cause me is some irritation in my vision - after all, having a dead mosquitoe with a spidery tail moving around in your line of sight for 3 whole weeks is definitely not my idea of entertainment!
For more on this exciting phenomena, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floater!
Nice Saturday evening in Goa - I had just woken from a deep slumber induced by deep fried prawns and mangoes, and we were all dressing up for a night in town. I splashed my face with cold water, and noticed this spidery insect hanging from the hair on my forehead. I swiped it away, but it persisted - so I washed my face again, thinking it was on my eyelids. Then, to my horror, I realised, it was right there - and worse, was moving in perfect tandem with my eye! Damn - the thing was INSIDE my eyeball!
One of my relatives died a few years back due to bleeding in the eye. And when you see a dark maroonish black thingy that looks suspiciously like a droplet of blood in your eyeball, trust me, it scares the hell out of you! It scared me to death!
We rushed to the doctor - things got a little better on the way, when I realised that whatever it was, had stopped growing. Even if it was bleeding, it wasn't going to flood my eyes and kill me, yet!
Anyway, to cut a long story short, the doctor heard my description and immediately confirmed that it was a "floater". While it can lead to complications like retina tear, which itself can lead to blindness, or could be due to high pressure in the eye, which also can lead to blindness and death, my floater turned out to be a harmless one, with a life span of around 3 weeks. And apparently all it will cause me is some irritation in my vision - after all, having a dead mosquitoe with a spidery tail moving around in your line of sight for 3 whole weeks is definitely not my idea of entertainment!
For more on this exciting phenomena, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floater!
Monday, April 30, 2007
Mice love the Innova!
While coming to office today, there was this Innova in front of me in slow moving, stop-and-go traffic. Suddenly I saw a mouse come down from the van, and for a few seconds it ran alongside, and once traffic started moving, jumped back onto the tire rim and climbed back inside the van!
Reminded me of the toy trains that climb the Matheran hills - with passengers gleefully getting down the train and back in when the train slows on the steep curves...
Mice apparently love the Innova!
Reminded me of the toy trains that climb the Matheran hills - with passengers gleefully getting down the train and back in when the train slows on the steep curves...
Mice apparently love the Innova!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Movie Review: Bandidas
Penelope Cruz and Salma Hayek. Some action, some humour with a dash of history. Lovely dialogues, and beautiful vistas. A good movie for a good weekend.
Movie Review: My Father The Hero
One of my absolute favourites, this movie about the father (Gérard Depardieu as Andre) and his 14 year old daughter (the stunningly beautiful Katherine Heigl as Nicole) on vacation, and her first love, is in the league of "Father of the Bride". The movie revolves around Nicole's attempts to impress her cute potential boyfriend by telling him her father is her lover, and her inability to tell him the truth later for fear that he will hate her for lying - till things finally fall in place with their first kiss. Simple, beautiful, guaranteed to make you smile and cry at the same time.
A must see for fathers of daughters - just make sure you watch it alone - you do not want to have to hold back the tears!
A must see for fathers of daughters - just make sure you watch it alone - you do not want to have to hold back the tears!
Movie Review: Bheja Fry
Bheja Fry is a delightful comedy, perfect to lighten up your mood and make a great weekend. A must see movie - and one of those few that work simply on the basis of an amazing script, great screenplay, and an amazing performance by the key players - Vinay Pathak, Rajat Kapoor, Milind Soman, and Ranvir Shorey.
Women Power
Recently, the US got it's first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and this was touted as a big event - the rise of women power in the most powerful nation in the world.
Strangely, the Indian sub-continent has always had women in power. Notwithstanding the Rabri Devis (and to be frank, I admire that woman for what she did achieve!), we have had women at the top in Pakistan, Sr Lanka, Bangladesh and India - from Indira Gandhi, to Najma Heptullah, to Benazir Bhutto, to the ladies at the helm in Sri lanka and Bangladesh.
Do you know America has never had a black President? Barack Obama is now making news as the first black presidential candidate in the US. India has had Sikhs, Muslims, and SC/STs as Presidents and Prime Ministers - not just the Zail Singhs, we have had Manmohan and Kalam too!
We Indians love to hate our political establishment and our democracy - but have we ever given a serious thought to the possibility that Indian democracy might in fact be one of the most sucessful, sincere, deeply rooted, people-empowering political system in the world?
Strangely, the Indian sub-continent has always had women in power. Notwithstanding the Rabri Devis (and to be frank, I admire that woman for what she did achieve!), we have had women at the top in Pakistan, Sr Lanka, Bangladesh and India - from Indira Gandhi, to Najma Heptullah, to Benazir Bhutto, to the ladies at the helm in Sri lanka and Bangladesh.
Do you know America has never had a black President? Barack Obama is now making news as the first black presidential candidate in the US. India has had Sikhs, Muslims, and SC/STs as Presidents and Prime Ministers - not just the Zail Singhs, we have had Manmohan and Kalam too!
We Indians love to hate our political establishment and our democracy - but have we ever given a serious thought to the possibility that Indian democracy might in fact be one of the most sucessful, sincere, deeply rooted, people-empowering political system in the world?
Miss India 2007 - rules changed?
Apaprently, the rules of Miss India have changed - the winner is now the Miss World contestant, and the runner up is Miss India Universe. Wonder why and when this happened! Any ideas?
Anyway, Puja G remains my winner :)
Anyway, Puja G remains my winner :)
Friday, April 13, 2007
Monday, April 09, 2007
Miss India 2007
The beautiful, smart, sweet Puja Gupta became Miss India Universe, followed by the equally sweet and smart Sarah Jane Dias and Puja Chitgopekar. After a long time, our Miss India winners really represent the smart, sexy new face of India!
Cheers, girls... all the best!
Cheers, girls... all the best!
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Quote of the Day
The most erroneous stories are those we think we know best - and therefore never scrutinize or question. Stephen Jay Gould.
Friday, March 30, 2007
More Shantaram
This time about Mumbai's cabbies...
But an Indian will be so pleased that if he likes something else about you - your eyes, or your smile, or the way you react to a beggar at the window of his cab - he'll feel bonded to you, instantly. he'll be prepared to do things for you, go out of his way, put himself at risk, and even do dangerous or illegal things. If you have given him an address he doesn't like, such as the Palace, he'll be prepared to wait for you, just to be sure that you are safe. You could come out an hour later, and ignore him completely, and he would smile and drive away, happy to know that no harm had come to you. It happened to me many times in Bombay, but never in any other (foreign) city. It's one of the five hundred things I love about Indians: if they like you, they do it quickly, and not by half. Karla paid his fare and the promised tip, and told him not to wait. We both knew that he would.
But an Indian will be so pleased that if he likes something else about you - your eyes, or your smile, or the way you react to a beggar at the window of his cab - he'll feel bonded to you, instantly. he'll be prepared to do things for you, go out of his way, put himself at risk, and even do dangerous or illegal things. If you have given him an address he doesn't like, such as the Palace, he'll be prepared to wait for you, just to be sure that you are safe. You could come out an hour later, and ignore him completely, and he would smile and drive away, happy to know that no harm had come to you. It happened to me many times in Bombay, but never in any other (foreign) city. It's one of the five hundred things I love about Indians: if they like you, they do it quickly, and not by half. Karla paid his fare and the promised tip, and told him not to wait. We both knew that he would.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
What is Necessary?
Here's another beautiful piece from Shantaram.. I am literally falling in love with the book!
What is necessary? That was the unspoken but implied and unavoidable question everywhere in India. When I understood that, a great many of the characteristically perplexing aspects of public life became comprehensible: from the acceptance of sprawling slums by city authorities, to the freedom that cows had to roam at random in the midst of traffic; from the toleration of beggars on the streets, to the concatenate complexity of the bureaucracies; and from the gorgeous, unashamed escapism of Bollywood movies, to the accomodation of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Tibet, Iran, Afghanistan, Africa, and Bangaldesh, in a country that was already too crowded with sorrows and needs of its owm.
What is necessary? That was the unspoken but implied and unavoidable question everywhere in India. When I understood that, a great many of the characteristically perplexing aspects of public life became comprehensible: from the acceptance of sprawling slums by city authorities, to the freedom that cows had to roam at random in the midst of traffic; from the toleration of beggars on the streets, to the concatenate complexity of the bureaucracies; and from the gorgeous, unashamed escapism of Bollywood movies, to the accomodation of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Tibet, Iran, Afghanistan, Africa, and Bangaldesh, in a country that was already too crowded with sorrows and needs of its owm.
Quote of the Day
Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember-the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you. Zig Ziglar.
Quote(s) of the Day
Reading Shantaram, a beautiful book by Gregory David Roberts - but that deserves it's own space some other time... here are a few beautiful thoughts from the book...
"Truth is a bully we all pretend to like"
"In a perfect world, all people would be like cats are, at two o clock in the afternoon"
"Civilization is defined by what we forbid, more than what we permit"
"The only force more ruthless and cynical than the business of big politics is the politics of big business"
"Truth is a bully we all pretend to like"
"In a perfect world, all people would be like cats are, at two o clock in the afternoon"
"Civilization is defined by what we forbid, more than what we permit"
"The only force more ruthless and cynical than the business of big politics is the politics of big business"
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Enough Experiments - give me my team back!
Chappel, Dravid - you got your time, you got your experiments, you got to do what you want for long enough. We tolerated everything, all the series losses, the humiliation - of the team, and of our heroes, all in the name of experiments and your new philosophy of perform-or-perish. Only because you promised us the world cup.
We have had enough. You did not perform, you need to perish.
Please go. Please let us have our glory days back. Please get Dada back.
We have had enough. You did not perform, you need to perish.
Please go. Please let us have our glory days back. Please get Dada back.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Konkan Trip
Last weekend, I went with my team on an overnight trip to Konkan. We left at 545 am from office, reaching Nagaon, our base for the night by 10 in the morning. We refreshed, then went to Alibag where we enjoyed a lovely horse carriage ride through knee deep water to the Fort.
The next morning, we visited Kashid and Murud, and the amazing Zazeera Fort in the sea, taking a breathtaking sail boat ride a la SRK in Swades. Enjoyed the company of our guide "Sahil of the 27", affectionately named so because of the way he called us "27 waale".
Played volleyball with our very own "international player", followed by some cricket and frolicking in the water. Exercised my portfolio photographer skills. Walked on the beach collecting sea shells which were promotly discarded when found to be alive. Handled the rocky outcroppings at Kashid with not much grace, investing a handkerchief in the bargain! Took some sun on the cotton ka zhula, ran around with buckets of water, built a bonfire in 30 mins which took 5 mins to burn out. Ate lots of fish, with and without curry, and then extremely cold ice cream which refused to come out of its pack! Listened to "4 wajta kombda oradla, saku geli panyala..." to our hearts content on the way back, finishing off with an awesome dinner of Chinese Alu Paratha at Lonavla!
Lots of memories... some good, some bad, some of those that were missed, some of those that will be missed... Lage tumse mann ki lagan, lagan laage tumse mann ki lagan... The song played in my ears as we pulled into Pune and I thought about Konkan and my 2 days spent in it's lap...
Words, Emotions and Tears...
When words fail me, my emotions escape through my eyes...
Waah waah, KD King, what a dialogue!
Waah waah, KD King, what a dialogue!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Movie Review: 300
300 is the story of a King Leonidis and his 300 warriors from Sparta against the million strong Persian army of Xerces. Brilliantly choreographed, with some excellent fight sequences, 300 is a good movie if you are ready to tolerate some gory violence, and the inexplicable need to have grotesque creatures a la Pirates of the Carribean.
Some great dialogues in the movie... when Xerces threatens Leonidis's captain with "our arrows that will block out the sun", the captain retorts, "then we will have to fight in the shade!". The Spartan's sense of unity and team spirit, and camaraderie, is also very refreshing and definitely an inspiration.
Interestingly, all the Spartans are white, the Persians, of course are brown. The Spartans are fighting for hope and democracy, the Persian king thinks he is God. No wonder the Iranians have condemned the movie!
Some great dialogues in the movie... when Xerces threatens Leonidis's captain with "our arrows that will block out the sun", the captain retorts, "then we will have to fight in the shade!". The Spartan's sense of unity and team spirit, and camaraderie, is also very refreshing and definitely an inspiration.
Interestingly, all the Spartans are white, the Persians, of course are brown. The Spartans are fighting for hope and democracy, the Persian king thinks he is God. No wonder the Iranians have condemned the movie!
Friday, March 16, 2007
Dubai
I just returned from a 30 hour trip to Dubai on official business - no, I did not go for shopping, though I did pick up some souvenirs!
Dubai is an interesting city. It's wierd, really. It has the look of a typical American city - glass and steel buildings, lots of cars, few people, good roads. But it's like all the Americans on the road and in the offices were banished and replaced by desis! Hindi is universally spoken, and you rarely meet anyone who is not from Kerela or Goa.
It's also spooky - women in black robes, and men in white, glide around softly speaking in wierd Arabic language where numbers are written left to right, but words are written right to left. Lots of pretty women, really - but all you can see are their eyes, and yes, an occasional face.
Lots of shopping - great, big malls everywhere and tourists shopping to their hearts delight. Lots of entertainment parks too, including a huge indoor ski slope, including the cable cars to take you to the top. And lots of new ones coming up. There is just so much construction happening - entire cities being built in the desert, and in the sea. Dubai Marina could probably hold a couple of small cities inside it! The bridges are interesting - the texture is almost like ceramic/marble - very beautiful structures, with lovely curves. Some exciting buildings too, including the 100+ storey Burj Dubai and the beautiful, sail-shaped Burj Al Arab Hotel. Jumeirah Beach is lovely, with sparkling white sand and clear blue-green sea.
At the end of the day, though - Dubai is sad. It's almost like every effort is made to make you comfortable and rich, but not happy. You do not see too many smiles. You see a lot of fear. A lot of "discipline". A lot of hard work. Pursuit of money, not the pursuit of happiness.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Movie Review: Nishabd
He is 60, she is 18. He is Amitabh Bacchan, she is Jiah Khan. One has his personality, the other has her looks and her body. The movie, borrowing heavily from Lolita, American Beauty and Poison Ivy, is however a disappointment, and leaves you wanting for much more.
Jiah captures the screen, and your imagination, with her sultry looks, her innocent and seductive look, her white see through dresses and shorts, and her carefree and childlike pranks. But the story never really convinces you. The camera work is fantastic, the locales seductively romantic, but the chemistry between Jiah and Amitabh never really fires up. Amitabh's love for her comes across as very paternal - and when he tells his wife he loves Jiah, you are tempted to ask, then why don't you adopt her??? Her "one way" boy friend turns up and totally disappoints. The ending is pathetic.
Interestingly, Jiah's friend, played by a young new comer, does a good job in the few scenes she has.
Should you watch Nishabd? Only if you wish for a visual treat! Jiah is worth every minute of the two hour flm!
Jiah captures the screen, and your imagination, with her sultry looks, her innocent and seductive look, her white see through dresses and shorts, and her carefree and childlike pranks. But the story never really convinces you. The camera work is fantastic, the locales seductively romantic, but the chemistry between Jiah and Amitabh never really fires up. Amitabh's love for her comes across as very paternal - and when he tells his wife he loves Jiah, you are tempted to ask, then why don't you adopt her??? Her "one way" boy friend turns up and totally disappoints. The ending is pathetic.
Interestingly, Jiah's friend, played by a young new comer, does a good job in the few scenes she has.
Should you watch Nishabd? Only if you wish for a visual treat! Jiah is worth every minute of the two hour flm!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
My Icecream Sundaes
Here are two of my recommended desserts... very simple, but add hugely to that satisfying dinner of Chichen Chettinaad and Crispy Fried Mushrooms!
Lovely Lady in a Polka Dot Skirt: Simple really.. Black Currant Ice cream and a dash of Apple Juice, topped with black grapes, cut into two.
Brown Girl in the Ring: Capuccino Ice cream with Pepsi, add a dash of Lime Juice and sprinkle some ground chocolate for that extra something.
In general, ice creams go extremely well when combined with juice or Pepsi... so instead of that boring cup of ice cream, try out some of your own cool combinations!
Happy Sundaeing!
Lovely Lady in a Polka Dot Skirt: Simple really.. Black Currant Ice cream and a dash of Apple Juice, topped with black grapes, cut into two.
Brown Girl in the Ring: Capuccino Ice cream with Pepsi, add a dash of Lime Juice and sprinkle some ground chocolate for that extra something.
In general, ice creams go extremely well when combined with juice or Pepsi... so instead of that boring cup of ice cream, try out some of your own cool combinations!
Happy Sundaeing!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Resignation
I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an 8 year-old again.
I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks.
I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.
I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer's day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple; When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.
All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.
I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.
I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.
I want to live simple again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.
So . . . here's my checkbook and my car-keys, my credit card bills and my 401K statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood.
(Recycled from a 7 year old mail...)
I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four star restaurant.
I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks.
I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.
I want to lie under a big oak tree and run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer's day.
I want to return to a time when life was simple; When all you knew were colors, multiplication tables, and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you, because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.
All you knew was to be happy because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.
I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.
I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.
I want to live simple again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness, and loss of loved ones.
I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, the imagination, mankind, and making angels in the snow.
So . . . here's my checkbook and my car-keys, my credit card bills and my 401K statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood.
(Recycled from a 7 year old mail...)
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Dada - The King of Comebacks
First the test matches, then the one dayers - Dada has stamped his authority on both versions of the game and silenced his critics and everyone who wrote him off, letting his batting, his fielding and his bowling do the talking! The Man of the Series in the home series against Sri Lanka, the Prince of Calcutta has truly proved himself the King of Comebacks!
Way to go, Dada, let's go get the World Cup!
Way to go, Dada, let's go get the World Cup!
Crossing Paths...
Millions of people cross our paths every day... touching our lives... bumping into us... sharing a conversation... Most go their own way, never to come by again. And yet, there are those few, who come by and stay.. their lives intertwined with yours, for the rest of your life! Inexplicably, breaking the rules that the other millions live by!
Why?
Why?
Movie Review: Bridge to Terabithia
Bridge to Terabithia is an interesting mix of the normal and the fantasy - Jesse and Leslie are two school kids, who create their own fantasy world across the creek behind their homes. As Leslie says, close your eyes and keep your mind open, and you can see and feel anything you want!
Life's beautiful, till disaster strikes. Leslie dies in an accident in the creek, and Jesse blames himself for her death. That's where the movie suddenly turns from a beautiful movie for the kids to an inexplicably serious one and loses it's charm on the way...
Annasophia Robb, as Leslie, is a Lindsay Lohan in the making - smart and beautiful, a la Kiera Knightley, this girl will be someone to watch out for!
Life's beautiful, till disaster strikes. Leslie dies in an accident in the creek, and Jesse blames himself for her death. That's where the movie suddenly turns from a beautiful movie for the kids to an inexplicably serious one and loses it's charm on the way...
Annasophia Robb, as Leslie, is a Lindsay Lohan in the making - smart and beautiful, a la Kiera Knightley, this girl will be someone to watch out for!
Crispy Mushrooms in Olive Sauce
Here's another of my simple and absolutely tasty recipes... and takes hardly 5 mins!
First, heat some olive oil in a kadhai. While the oil heats up, grind some garlic with red chillis. Add the paste to the oil, and stir a little bit. Now, add some fresh oyster mushrooms (if you do not get them, button mushrooms are OK - but they do not crisp as much!). Stir a bit, then leave the dish to simmer on a low flame for 3-4 mins. Add a little salt or vinegar to taste. Add some oil to give that extra crispiness to the mushrooms. Finally, grind some fresh black pepper into the dish, and you are ready to go!
Tip: You can use butter instead of the olive oil. Also, try adding baby corn, sweet corn, jalepinos with olives, and other such ingredients for that extra zing!
First, heat some olive oil in a kadhai. While the oil heats up, grind some garlic with red chillis. Add the paste to the oil, and stir a little bit. Now, add some fresh oyster mushrooms (if you do not get them, button mushrooms are OK - but they do not crisp as much!). Stir a bit, then leave the dish to simmer on a low flame for 3-4 mins. Add a little salt or vinegar to taste. Add some oil to give that extra crispiness to the mushrooms. Finally, grind some fresh black pepper into the dish, and you are ready to go!
Tip: You can use butter instead of the olive oil. Also, try adding baby corn, sweet corn, jalepinos with olives, and other such ingredients for that extra zing!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Chicken Chettinaad
I love cooking - it's a guaranteed way of beating stress and getting back into the groove. I made some hot Chicken Chettinaad today - don't ask me why that name - I don't know, I just like it! Anyway, so you go and get some fresh chicken, clean it, and chop it into medium size pieces. (Siddhesh's Secret - dump the large chunks of meat, they add nothing to the dish except tasteless mass.) They add lots of curd, a spoon of vinegar, mirchi, haldi, a little salt, and some chicken masala, and let it marinate for a few minutes. While the chicken marinates, chop some onion and grind some lasoon. Now, heat some oil is a kadhai, add cummins seeds, a few large red dry chillis, and then fry the onions till a deep brown. Then add the chicken, and let it simmer for 10-15 mins. Adjust the masala and salt to your taste, add some more vinegar or tamarind water, as needed.
And there you have it - my secret Chicken Chettinaad recipe!
Tip: If you happen to add too much mirchi, serve curd with the chicken, and call it Chicken Chettinaad with Curd! :)
And there you have it - my secret Chicken Chettinaad recipe!
Tip: If you happen to add too much mirchi, serve curd with the chicken, and call it Chicken Chettinaad with Curd! :)
Movie Review: In Good Company
An old movie, caught it on TV for the nth time. A beautiful movie about the life of a "dinosaur" and his values as his company is transformed into today's aggressive, digital, flat-world company, his relationship with his young boss, and with his beautiful daughter played by my favourite Scarlett Johansson.
Check it out when you get the chance - one of my favorite movies.
Check it out when you get the chance - one of my favorite movies.
Movie Review: Deja Vu
Have you ever got that feeling that you have been there before? That strange feeling when you feel like it's a part of your life coming back to you, and yet you cannot really remember? What if it was not just a feeling, what if it was for real?
Deja Vu promises a lot, but disappoints in the end. Denzel Washington is a cop out to solve the mystery of a ferry bombing and a connected murder, and goes back in time through a breakthrough technology that allows folding of time, allowing you to create a bridge to the past (sigh yes, bear with me for now, please) and actually transports himself back in time, changing the course of destiny and succeeding in rolling back events that have already happened, such that they no longer have happened?
Get it? Don't worry if you do not - life's still as simple as you and I know it!
Deja Vu promises a lot, but disappoints in the end. Denzel Washington is a cop out to solve the mystery of a ferry bombing and a connected murder, and goes back in time through a breakthrough technology that allows folding of time, allowing you to create a bridge to the past (sigh yes, bear with me for now, please) and actually transports himself back in time, changing the course of destiny and succeeding in rolling back events that have already happened, such that they no longer have happened?
Get it? Don't worry if you do not - life's still as simple as you and I know it!
Movie Review: The Holiday
A nice, no-tensions, goody goody movie about Cameron Diaz, a stressed out movie editor from LA and a lost-in-love reporter, Kate Winslet, who decide to exchange their homes for two weeks to run away from their problems and their guys (isn't it the same thing, anyway?). During the holiday, both realise the truth about their lives, find true love, and at the end, everything is fine and happy and rosy. Mushy, but makes you feel good at the end of a long, stressful week!
Watch out for Kate - she's absolutely fantastic as the girl who knows she can't have her guy, and yet, cannot say no to him, cannot stop loving him, cannot help but let her eyes tell him how much she loves him. And Cameron, as always, is beautiful! Ah, that smile...
Watch out for Kate - she's absolutely fantastic as the girl who knows she can't have her guy, and yet, cannot say no to him, cannot stop loving him, cannot help but let her eyes tell him how much she loves him. And Cameron, as always, is beautiful! Ah, that smile...
Movie Review: Black Friday
It was worth the long wait. Black Friday is an absolute gem. Anurag Kashyap brings you the story of the Bombay Bomb Blasts in a way that leaves you touched, angry, ashamed, hopeful, proud, scared and happy all at the same time. The movie, in a serious documentary style, covers the reasons - the Babri demolition and the riots, the planning of the blasts, the blasts themselves, the arrests, the interrogations, the break throughs and the plight of the pawns and their families in the conspiracy. From the gallis and dance bars of Mumbai, to the gleaming skyscrapers of Dubai and the training camps of Pakistan, from the filth of Mumbai's slums to the dungeons of the interrogation rooms, Black Friday brings you an unforgettable cinematic experience.
Kaykay as Rakesh Maria, the officer who almost single-handedly cracked the case, is very inspirational in his role. The score by Indian Ocean is fantastic, and adds tremendously to the experience. The cinematography and screenplay is brilliant, and inspite of the complexity and depth of the conspiracy, keeps you in its grip.
Bear in mind, though... the movie is not for the weak hearted or the super-sensitive and can leave you feeling really shaken.
Kaykay as Rakesh Maria, the officer who almost single-handedly cracked the case, is very inspirational in his role. The score by Indian Ocean is fantastic, and adds tremendously to the experience. The cinematography and screenplay is brilliant, and inspite of the complexity and depth of the conspiracy, keeps you in its grip.
Bear in mind, though... the movie is not for the weak hearted or the super-sensitive and can leave you feeling really shaken.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Sunday, February 04, 2007
MTV Roadies 4 - Bani loses to Anthony
I am not a big fan of reality TV shows, but I used to watch MTV Roadies.
Primarily because of Bani (Gurbani Judge, from Chandigarh) - who survived a lot of competition and games from her co-contestants until she lost in the final round to Calcutta's Anthony. Bani wasn't exactly good looking, but she had a lot of spunk, a lot of attitude, the I-care-a-damn confidence that made her a refreshing change from the other contestants who were only playing games behind the sscenes, trying to manipulate relationships to their advantage. Bani was direct. On the face. Explicit. I like such people. I wish she had won. I guess she did :)
Primarily because of Bani (Gurbani Judge, from Chandigarh) - who survived a lot of competition and games from her co-contestants until she lost in the final round to Calcutta's Anthony. Bani wasn't exactly good looking, but she had a lot of spunk, a lot of attitude, the I-care-a-damn confidence that made her a refreshing change from the other contestants who were only playing games behind the sscenes, trying to manipulate relationships to their advantage. Bani was direct. On the face. Explicit. I like such people. I wish she had won. I guess she did :)
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Sachin versus Sourav :)
Two of India's most accomplished cricketers - Sachin and Sourav - played against each other for the first time in their lives today. The occasion was the final of the Ranji match between Mumbai and Bengal at the Wankhede today! Sachin faced 14 deliveries from Dada and scored 4 runs (including his century mark).
Will be interesting to see how Sachin fares when he bowls to Dada in the next 1-2 days!
Will be interesting to see how Sachin fares when he bowls to Dada in the next 1-2 days!
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Securing your Credit Cards
OK, you have all got those email chains, and you have passed some of them on... this is my chance at creating a chain myself, and you better help me in this :P)
More seriously, I wanted to share a real experience with you, and hope that this might save you from a lot of trouble later on - with your credit card.
A few days back, my card was illegally used to purchase airline tickets worth Rs 53000 on an Internet travel site. Thankfully, I got one of those confirmation SMSes, and immediately called the bank to cancel the transaction. Later it came to light that this was an organised gang, purchasing tickets online using other people's credit cards and then selling them at a huge discount - the gang has now been busted and the perpetrators caught after a raid in a cybercafe in Mumbai.
Whenever you swipe a card, your card number and other details are available on the charge slip. All that is needed to use this information on an Internet site is the authorization code - this is a 3 digit number found on the back of your card, usually on the signature strip (after your card number).
Hence, please take the following additional precautions when using your credit cards:
1) Do not give your card away as far as possible. Get it swiped in your presence.
2) Even if you do the above, it is very easy to glance and memorize the 3 digit number - hence scratch out the number from the back of the card. If you want to use the card for Internet transactions, keep the auth code in a separate secure place.
3) Use credit cards sparingly on the Internet - if you have to use it, try using one of the one-time-use-only Netsafe cards that are available online from banks like HDFC.
And yes, please share this information with as many people as you can! Contribute towards making the Internet a safer place :)
More seriously, I wanted to share a real experience with you, and hope that this might save you from a lot of trouble later on - with your credit card.
A few days back, my card was illegally used to purchase airline tickets worth Rs 53000 on an Internet travel site. Thankfully, I got one of those confirmation SMSes, and immediately called the bank to cancel the transaction. Later it came to light that this was an organised gang, purchasing tickets online using other people's credit cards and then selling them at a huge discount - the gang has now been busted and the perpetrators caught after a raid in a cybercafe in Mumbai.
Whenever you swipe a card, your card number and other details are available on the charge slip. All that is needed to use this information on an Internet site is the authorization code - this is a 3 digit number found on the back of your card, usually on the signature strip (after your card number).
Hence, please take the following additional precautions when using your credit cards:
1) Do not give your card away as far as possible. Get it swiped in your presence.
2) Even if you do the above, it is very easy to glance and memorize the 3 digit number - hence scratch out the number from the back of the card. If you want to use the card for Internet transactions, keep the auth code in a separate secure place.
3) Use credit cards sparingly on the Internet - if you have to use it, try using one of the one-time-use-only Netsafe cards that are available online from banks like HDFC.
And yes, please share this information with as many people as you can! Contribute towards making the Internet a safer place :)
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
News for Today...
1) Tatas buy Anglo-Dutch Corus to become the fifth largest steel maker in the world. The deal comes close on the heels of Mittal Steel's successful acquisition of Arcelor. Do you know how much Tata Steel paid? Around 50,000 Crore Rupees in an all-cash deal!
2) Sidney Sheldon dies.
3) India win Pepsi Cup beating WI 3-1. Dada scores 68, Dravid 78 and Tendulkar gets a quickfire unbeaten 100.
4) Rocky returns with Rocky Balboa. Did you know Sylvestor Stallone is 64 years old?
2) Sidney Sheldon dies.
3) India win Pepsi Cup beating WI 3-1. Dada scores 68, Dravid 78 and Tendulkar gets a quickfire unbeaten 100.
4) Rocky returns with Rocky Balboa. Did you know Sylvestor Stallone is 64 years old?
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The Saga of the Credit Card - 3
Finally, some exciting news. The credit card frauds have been busted! Times of India reported a couple of days back that the gang had been apprehended by the Economic Offences Wing of the police, which took charge of the case after a complaint by Kingfisher Airlines. The EOW tracked the IP address used for making the online purchases to a cybercafe in Antop Hill, and apprehended most of the members of the gang.
According to the report, mostly (only?) ICICI credit cards were used, which makes me wonder if the information was supplied to these frauds from inside!
All I need now is for the charge on my card to be revised, and I can be a happy credit card user once again!
According to the report, mostly (only?) ICICI credit cards were used, which makes me wonder if the information was supplied to these frauds from inside!
All I need now is for the charge on my card to be revised, and I can be a happy credit card user once again!
Movie Review: Salaam-e-Ishq
Watch it only if you:
1) Have 4 hours, and nothing better to do (in which case you must be having a really boring life!)
2) Are a die hard fan of Priyanka and can tolerate her no matter what she does - to be fair to her, she does have a couple of watchable scenes!
3) Like to see Salman without his shirt, and all the hair from his shirt stuck on his head - Quiz: In which movie did Salman not take off his shirt?
4) Like to see Anjanaa in her white hot pants (now THAT's a VERY VALID REASON!!!)
5) Like to see Juhi play the auntie in smart clothes
6) Love Ayesha Takia - and yes, though she gets only about 10 mins of screen time, she is very adorable yet again
7) Don't mind seeing Akshaye Khanna and John Abraham mis-lip-synching to voices that DO NOT match them
8) Cannot afford to miss a Vidya Balan movie - even if she is crying and looking miserable most of the time and making out the rest of the time
9) Want to see Govinda live his dream and shout "Maydam, I Love You" to a firang (talk about racism!)
10) You still need more reasons???
1) Have 4 hours, and nothing better to do (in which case you must be having a really boring life!)
2) Are a die hard fan of Priyanka and can tolerate her no matter what she does - to be fair to her, she does have a couple of watchable scenes!
3) Like to see Salman without his shirt, and all the hair from his shirt stuck on his head - Quiz: In which movie did Salman not take off his shirt?
4) Like to see Anjanaa in her white hot pants (now THAT's a VERY VALID REASON!!!)
5) Like to see Juhi play the auntie in smart clothes
6) Love Ayesha Takia - and yes, though she gets only about 10 mins of screen time, she is very adorable yet again
7) Don't mind seeing Akshaye Khanna and John Abraham mis-lip-synching to voices that DO NOT match them
8) Cannot afford to miss a Vidya Balan movie - even if she is crying and looking miserable most of the time and making out the rest of the time
9) Want to see Govinda live his dream and shout "Maydam, I Love You" to a firang (talk about racism!)
10) You still need more reasons???
Friday, January 26, 2007
Monkey, Two Clothed Cats and the Mouse-on-the-Laptop
That's what greeted us when we arrived in Nerul yesterday.
First the cats! They had an operation a week back to get rid of their reproductive capabilities, and had to be dressed up to prevent infection while the wounds healed. Sorry, but we had to do it after they both got raped in their cat-teens in quick succession giving birth to 3 kittens each leading to a population explosion of the feline kind leading to fears of them taking over Bhobe Estate and turning us into their pets for on-demand-purring-in-return-for-patting!
And the mouse! Check it out in the pic! Looks real? Well it should - it is!
And finally the monkey. On the roof, jumping and breaking tiles, this ancestor seems to have taken a sudden interest in having a closer look at some of his more innocent, feet-firmly-on-the-ground relatives!
First the cats! They had an operation a week back to get rid of their reproductive capabilities, and had to be dressed up to prevent infection while the wounds healed. Sorry, but we had to do it after they both got raped in their cat-teens in quick succession giving birth to 3 kittens each leading to a population explosion of the feline kind leading to fears of them taking over Bhobe Estate and turning us into their pets for on-demand-purring-in-return-for-patting!
And the mouse! Check it out in the pic! Looks real? Well it should - it is!
And finally the monkey. On the roof, jumping and breaking tiles, this ancestor seems to have taken a sudden interest in having a closer look at some of his more innocent, feet-firmly-on-the-ground relatives!
Happy Republic Day!
Here's wishing all my readers a very Happy Republic Day! :)
Did you watch the parade today? The precision in which the parade is held is awesome - the dignitaries arrive in such a regal procession, and the flag hoisting starts on the dot at 10.00 am. Russian President Vladimir Putin was the guest of honour this year. It was such an awesome spectacle - The tanks, the Brahmos missiles, the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, the cool stuff from DRDO, and the marching contigents and military bands, followed by the cultural tableaus. The contingents included the oldest Indian regiment (the 61st Cavalry, formed in 1773, and now the President's Body Guards, and the only remaining horsed regiment in the world today) as well as the world's only camel-mounted military band. Also impressive were the commandos of the parachute regiment double-marching, literally jumping in place instead of walking - with those heavy guns, it was amazing how much energy they must be putting into the entire parade! Also a first this year - one of the contingents was led by a foreigner, Captain Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, grandson of the Sultan of Johar, a state in Malaysia. He was commissioned in the army after passing out from the IMA, Dehradun two years ago.
Did you watch the parade today? The precision in which the parade is held is awesome - the dignitaries arrive in such a regal procession, and the flag hoisting starts on the dot at 10.00 am. Russian President Vladimir Putin was the guest of honour this year. It was such an awesome spectacle - The tanks, the Brahmos missiles, the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, the cool stuff from DRDO, and the marching contigents and military bands, followed by the cultural tableaus. The contingents included the oldest Indian regiment (the 61st Cavalry, formed in 1773, and now the President's Body Guards, and the only remaining horsed regiment in the world today) as well as the world's only camel-mounted military band. Also impressive were the commandos of the parachute regiment double-marching, literally jumping in place instead of walking - with those heavy guns, it was amazing how much energy they must be putting into the entire parade! Also a first this year - one of the contingents was led by a foreigner, Captain Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, grandson of the Sultan of Johar, a state in Malaysia. He was commissioned in the army after passing out from the IMA, Dehradun two years ago.
The Saga of the Credit Card - 2
After the initial shock had worn off, a couple of interesting things happened in the last two days.
Firstly, I was surprised to find a comment on my earlier blog assuring me on behalf of MMT that the issue would be resolved and I would not have to pay the charges! Later in the evening, I was pleasantly surprised to find that makemytrip.com's finance manager, Abhishek, had made that comment - when asked how he came to my blog, he replied that they subscribed to the appropriate Google alerts to make sure they were in touch with what people were saying about MMT! I like that attitude - very positive! :)
Anyway, so Abhishek assured me that they were trying to nail down the culprits - apparently, they have come across some other cards that have been used, and all of them happen to be from around the Pune area. We discussed possible places where the cards could have been copied... however, later I realised, it's not that difficult at all. Any place you swap, already has information about your name and card number, and expiry date. All they need is to note down the 3 digit authorization number on the back! So one lesson from this - scratch out the auth number from the back of the card, and you can prevent a lot more frauds on your card.
Next morning, I happened to read the TOI, and there was an article on the fraud - the exact same situation, where someone has apparently been using multiple credit cards, to do the same thing as they did with me - book airline tickets! Wierd - I would assume that booking airline tickets would easily expose you (through the passengers who could be easily tracked at the airport). But then, I guess there's not much you can buy online in India right now anyway!
Now I need to fax across a Customer Dispute Form to ICICI, and wait for the "maximum 60 days" for the dispute to be resolved. And wait and see how MMT and ICICI go about "resolving" this issue - does it only cancel the tickets and give me back my money, or does it have the wherewittal to go after the culprits and bring them to book!
Firstly, I was surprised to find a comment on my earlier blog assuring me on behalf of MMT that the issue would be resolved and I would not have to pay the charges! Later in the evening, I was pleasantly surprised to find that makemytrip.com's finance manager, Abhishek, had made that comment - when asked how he came to my blog, he replied that they subscribed to the appropriate Google alerts to make sure they were in touch with what people were saying about MMT! I like that attitude - very positive! :)
Anyway, so Abhishek assured me that they were trying to nail down the culprits - apparently, they have come across some other cards that have been used, and all of them happen to be from around the Pune area. We discussed possible places where the cards could have been copied... however, later I realised, it's not that difficult at all. Any place you swap, already has information about your name and card number, and expiry date. All they need is to note down the 3 digit authorization number on the back! So one lesson from this - scratch out the auth number from the back of the card, and you can prevent a lot more frauds on your card.
Next morning, I happened to read the TOI, and there was an article on the fraud - the exact same situation, where someone has apparently been using multiple credit cards, to do the same thing as they did with me - book airline tickets! Wierd - I would assume that booking airline tickets would easily expose you (through the passengers who could be easily tracked at the airport). But then, I guess there's not much you can buy online in India right now anyway!
Now I need to fax across a Customer Dispute Form to ICICI, and wait for the "maximum 60 days" for the dispute to be resolved. And wait and see how MMT and ICICI go about "resolving" this issue - does it only cancel the tickets and give me back my money, or does it have the wherewittal to go after the culprits and bring them to book!
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Saga of the Credit Card
Well, we have all heard those warnings about identity theft, electronic fraud, and people using your bank account information to rob you.
Well, it (almost?) happened to me today!
At 743 pm, I got an SMS from ICICI Bank (that's one good thing they do - they inform you whenever you make any significant purchase on the card) saying that I had made a purchase of 53,360 on my credit card at MakeMyTrip.com. I immediately called the bank helpline, and the person said that I should wait a couple of days for the purchase to be billed to me before raising a dispute request. Apparently, he could see the charge, but it had not been "billed" to me yet, and hence he could not raise the request. I got pissed, and asked them to cancel my card immediately.
Next, I called MakeMyTrip.com. They were a lot more concerned, and found that apparently someone by the name Rahul Singh had booked 4 passengers (Fakruddin, Azharuddin and 2 others) on some Air India flight using a total of 3 different cards to make a total purchase of around 98,000!
So the current state of affairs is that I have got my cards cancelled, I will raise the dispute request tomorrow, and MakeMyTrip.com will apparently initiate some action on their side.
Keep watching this space for updates, and keep your credit cards off the net!!!
Well, it (almost?) happened to me today!
At 743 pm, I got an SMS from ICICI Bank (that's one good thing they do - they inform you whenever you make any significant purchase on the card) saying that I had made a purchase of 53,360 on my credit card at MakeMyTrip.com. I immediately called the bank helpline, and the person said that I should wait a couple of days for the purchase to be billed to me before raising a dispute request. Apparently, he could see the charge, but it had not been "billed" to me yet, and hence he could not raise the request. I got pissed, and asked them to cancel my card immediately.
Next, I called MakeMyTrip.com. They were a lot more concerned, and found that apparently someone by the name Rahul Singh had booked 4 passengers (Fakruddin, Azharuddin and 2 others) on some Air India flight using a total of 3 different cards to make a total purchase of around 98,000!
So the current state of affairs is that I have got my cards cancelled, I will raise the dispute request tomorrow, and MakeMyTrip.com will apparently initiate some action on their side.
Keep watching this space for updates, and keep your credit cards off the net!!!
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Met Frank and Joe Hardy :)
Any teenager worth his age would know who I am talking about!
Frank and Joe Hardy, from the Hardy Boys - college kids freelancing as amateur detectives, were my heroes when I was 16. My cousin and I read Hardy Boys by the dozens. At last count, I had crossed 100. We kept track of their lives, we knew each and every family member and friend they had, we were almost in love with their girl friends Callie and Iola!
I met them today.
Well, not exactly! Instead, I met John Frazzini and Bryan Palma, two ex US Secret Service Special Agents, who have been part of the US President's Security Team, and are now potential clients. Both in their late thirties, they would be exactly what age Frank and Joe would be by now :) And yes, one of them has dark hair and the other is blonde! I spent 3 hours driving them around Pune today.
And yes, they are all I would expect Frank and Joe to be :)
Frank and Joe Hardy, from the Hardy Boys - college kids freelancing as amateur detectives, were my heroes when I was 16. My cousin and I read Hardy Boys by the dozens. At last count, I had crossed 100. We kept track of their lives, we knew each and every family member and friend they had, we were almost in love with their girl friends Callie and Iola!
I met them today.
Well, not exactly! Instead, I met John Frazzini and Bryan Palma, two ex US Secret Service Special Agents, who have been part of the US President's Security Team, and are now potential clients. Both in their late thirties, they would be exactly what age Frank and Joe would be by now :) And yes, one of them has dark hair and the other is blonde! I spent 3 hours driving them around Pune today.
And yes, they are all I would expect Frank and Joe to be :)
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Self Appraisal
A little boy went into a drug store, reached for a soda carton and pulled it over to the telephone. He climbed onto the carton so that he could reach the buttons on the phone and proceeded to punch in seven digits.The store-owner observed and listened to the conversation.
The boy asked, "Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?" The woman replied, "I already have someone to cut my lawn." "Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now." replied boy. The woman responded that she was very satisfied with the person who was presently cutting her lawn.
The little boy found more perseverance and offered, "Lady, I'll even sweep your curb and your sidewalk, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in all of North Palm Beach, Florida."Again the woman answered in the negative.
With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver.
The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy and said, "Son... I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job."
The little boy replied, "No thanks, I was just checking my performance and the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady, I was talking to !"
The boy asked, "Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your lawn?" The woman replied, "I already have someone to cut my lawn." "Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now." replied boy. The woman responded that she was very satisfied with the person who was presently cutting her lawn.
The little boy found more perseverance and offered, "Lady, I'll even sweep your curb and your sidewalk, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in all of North Palm Beach, Florida."Again the woman answered in the negative.
With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the receiver.
The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy and said, "Son... I like your attitude; I like that positive spirit and would like to offer you a job."
The little boy replied, "No thanks, I was just checking my performance and the job I already have. I am the one who is working for that lady, I was talking to !"
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Movie Review: Guru
Guru is the story of Gurukanth Desai, a village boy from Gujarat who seeks glory and fame as a businessman, starting as a salesman in Turkey selling petroleum cans, and then coming back to India to ultimately create and lead India's biggest company. It's the story of his struggles against the prejudices of a newly liberated India against the "middle class", his fights against the license raj, his rapid ascent through means not always completely legal, his war against a "ethically minded" reporter who vows to bring him down, his showdown with a inquiry commission and loss of faith with investors, till he finally rises as a Phoenix from the ashes as the "Bapu who fought for the freedom of the middle class and the country against the government that tried to hold it back". And yes, you guessed it, it's supposed to be based on the life of Dhirubhai Ambani!
The movie delivers in bits and pieces, but was generally a disappointment. The story lacks punch, that extra zing. Abhishek is good in the later parts of the movie, as the paralysis-striken 40-something Guru, but fails to bring across his vision and zeal in the first half in a role that would have perhaps been best played by the King Khan! Check out the way he laughs during the final scene in the stadium - the manic joy on his face comes across beautifully, and thrills with it's devilishness. Aishwarya - well, she is surprisingly restrained in the movie, and after Dhoom 2, is actually tolerable, when she doesn't dance or cry or start with her histrionics. Madhavan and Vidya Balan look lost and are completely wasted. Mithunda is a surprise - never thought he could act this well!
The best part of the movie is the cinematography and the period feel of the movie. Whether it is the kapada market in Mumbai with the quaint cars, or the Gujarat countryside, the smell and the dampness actually chills you to the bone! (Or maybe it was just the AC!) The Humdum theme song is beautifully done - and adds a lot of atmosphere to the movie.
Overall, a can-watch, but don't expect too much!
The movie delivers in bits and pieces, but was generally a disappointment. The story lacks punch, that extra zing. Abhishek is good in the later parts of the movie, as the paralysis-striken 40-something Guru, but fails to bring across his vision and zeal in the first half in a role that would have perhaps been best played by the King Khan! Check out the way he laughs during the final scene in the stadium - the manic joy on his face comes across beautifully, and thrills with it's devilishness. Aishwarya - well, she is surprisingly restrained in the movie, and after Dhoom 2, is actually tolerable, when she doesn't dance or cry or start with her histrionics. Madhavan and Vidya Balan look lost and are completely wasted. Mithunda is a surprise - never thought he could act this well!
The best part of the movie is the cinematography and the period feel of the movie. Whether it is the kapada market in Mumbai with the quaint cars, or the Gujarat countryside, the smell and the dampness actually chills you to the bone! (Or maybe it was just the AC!) The Humdum theme song is beautifully done - and adds a lot of atmosphere to the movie.
Overall, a can-watch, but don't expect too much!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Book Review: Neither Here, Nor There
Bill Bryson's Neither Here Nor There is a sweet, funny account of his travels through Europe - from the endless nights of Hammerfest to the dusty streets of Italy, from the boring people of Switzerland and Sweden, to the fun loving population of Copenhagen, the good, the bad and the ugly, Bill captures the sights and smells of Europe in a very unique way.
So happy was I on reading NHNT that I went ahead and bought four more of his travelogues based on his trips through the US, UK and Austraaaliaaa. Keep a watch here for more on Bill Bryson, but for now, grab a copy of NHNT and soak in the European experience!
So happy was I on reading NHNT that I went ahead and bought four more of his travelogues based on his trips through the US, UK and Austraaaliaaa. Keep a watch here for more on Bill Bryson, but for now, grab a copy of NHNT and soak in the European experience!
Movie Review: Bhaagam Bhaag
Bhaagam Bhaag is an interesting movie - lots of slap stick comedy of the college festivals genre, a sudden, shocking twist in the story just before intermission and a deepening suspense in the second half, before ending on a laugh-till-the-guts-spill-out note.
Govinda and Akshaye Kumar work in a drama troupe, on a one month tour of London. Assigned the task of finding a heroine, they team up with Gullu the taxi driver(Rajpal yadav) before stumbling upon a silly gang supplying heroin "pudiyas", get mixed up in a murder, take panga with the London Metropolitan Police led by Jackie Shroff, rescue a damsel in distress (Lara Dutta), and get chased around town by a local goonda and his hencemen led by Shakti Kapoor. Every situation is hilarious until and after a suicidal Lara is "burnt to death", and her "husband" is murdered, before Lara starts to "reappear" all over London. Of course, all pieces fall into place before a hilarious end scene, a rip off from the famous fire engine scene from "It's a Mad Mad Mad World".
I enjoyed the "Pyaar ka Signaaal" rendition by Remo in the opening credits, with a scantily (and I must say, unfortunately, not very tastefully) dressed "chocolate" Tanushree Dutta as eye candy. "Ab toh akele mein, jiya jaaye na..." is another beautiful song, and Lara looks absolutely stunning while giving us a mini tour of London. And the icing on the cake - the centerpiece of attraction - a silver Ford Fiesta that absolutely hugged my attention whenever it burst onto the screen :)
Keep your thinking at home, and go enjoy the movie - you will come out happy and humming, and looking forward to some more bhaagam bhaag in your life!
Govinda and Akshaye Kumar work in a drama troupe, on a one month tour of London. Assigned the task of finding a heroine, they team up with Gullu the taxi driver(Rajpal yadav) before stumbling upon a silly gang supplying heroin "pudiyas", get mixed up in a murder, take panga with the London Metropolitan Police led by Jackie Shroff, rescue a damsel in distress (Lara Dutta), and get chased around town by a local goonda and his hencemen led by Shakti Kapoor. Every situation is hilarious until and after a suicidal Lara is "burnt to death", and her "husband" is murdered, before Lara starts to "reappear" all over London. Of course, all pieces fall into place before a hilarious end scene, a rip off from the famous fire engine scene from "It's a Mad Mad Mad World".
I enjoyed the "Pyaar ka Signaaal" rendition by Remo in the opening credits, with a scantily (and I must say, unfortunately, not very tastefully) dressed "chocolate" Tanushree Dutta as eye candy. "Ab toh akele mein, jiya jaaye na..." is another beautiful song, and Lara looks absolutely stunning while giving us a mini tour of London. And the icing on the cake - the centerpiece of attraction - a silver Ford Fiesta that absolutely hugged my attention whenever it burst onto the screen :)
Keep your thinking at home, and go enjoy the movie - you will come out happy and humming, and looking forward to some more bhaagam bhaag in your life!
Dada has Arrived!
Like a new baby, Sourav Ganguly came back into the Indian team exactly after nine months. But his arrival wasn’t marked by joy or euphoria; rather, it was greeted with skepticism and cynical laughs. Nobody really knew how Ganguly would blend with the others; nobody dared to think how the old differences would be tackled. Worse, nobody really believed he would last long on the hard and bouncy pitches here against express speed and raw aggression.
In the practice game at Potchefstroom, just three days after reaching here, the worst fears came true: Ganguly blinked into a rasping bouncer. He looked dazed, completely shaken and not up to it. This is it, even his own admirers whispered. But Ganguly steadied himself and was more than ready for the next bouncer. He went on to make a most extraordinary 83; he may have missed out on the first century of the tour but his knock became the rallying point for India. Since then, of course, Ganguly has got hit in virtually every other match; he has taken blows on his body, on his shoulder and on his elbow too. He flinched almost every time but he didn’t look harried or uncomfortable like he used to earlier; if anything he looked much more determined and eager to keep going. Indeed, he batted much better after each hit.
That, according to people close to him, is his new philosophy: ‘‘It’s better to get hit than to get out.’’ It has worked perfectly for him. More importantly, for the statistically-minded, he is the highest run-getter for India in this series. This second coming, of course, wasn’t easy; it has come after months of immense pain, tribulations and a million doubts. In fact, every single former cricketer and expert was absolutely sure that he was finished as a player; he alone believed that he still had a few days left in him.
So while the Indian team floundered, and the world laughed, he worked hard on his fitness, corrected his thought process and waited for his turn. Three tests later, not only has he proved everybody wrong, he has also scored more runs than anybody else. Now, there is no doubt that he will be back in the One-day side too.
Dada has arrived. He was discarded by his own team, his own friends, and indeed, his country. People laughed at him, and joked about him. But he fought his lonely battle, and he won. That's why, he is my hero.
(Adapted from the Times of India)
In the practice game at Potchefstroom, just three days after reaching here, the worst fears came true: Ganguly blinked into a rasping bouncer. He looked dazed, completely shaken and not up to it. This is it, even his own admirers whispered. But Ganguly steadied himself and was more than ready for the next bouncer. He went on to make a most extraordinary 83; he may have missed out on the first century of the tour but his knock became the rallying point for India. Since then, of course, Ganguly has got hit in virtually every other match; he has taken blows on his body, on his shoulder and on his elbow too. He flinched almost every time but he didn’t look harried or uncomfortable like he used to earlier; if anything he looked much more determined and eager to keep going. Indeed, he batted much better after each hit.
That, according to people close to him, is his new philosophy: ‘‘It’s better to get hit than to get out.’’ It has worked perfectly for him. More importantly, for the statistically-minded, he is the highest run-getter for India in this series. This second coming, of course, wasn’t easy; it has come after months of immense pain, tribulations and a million doubts. In fact, every single former cricketer and expert was absolutely sure that he was finished as a player; he alone believed that he still had a few days left in him.
So while the Indian team floundered, and the world laughed, he worked hard on his fitness, corrected his thought process and waited for his turn. Three tests later, not only has he proved everybody wrong, he has also scored more runs than anybody else. Now, there is no doubt that he will be back in the One-day side too.
Dada has arrived. He was discarded by his own team, his own friends, and indeed, his country. People laughed at him, and joked about him. But he fought his lonely battle, and he won. That's why, he is my hero.
(Adapted from the Times of India)
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Movie Review: Museum Ke Andar Fas Gaya Sikandar
Yes, silly title.. whoever thought of it??? Oh, it's a Ben Stiller movie dubbed in Hindi.. gawd, not one more!!! Well, that was my reaction too when I realised that "Night at the Museum" was only being released in Hindi in India.. but hey, watch it, and chances are, you will love it :)
A simple, kiddish story about a museum that comes alive at night, with Ben Stiller the desperate dad with a night watchman's job - but extremely well presented. Very sweet, actually. And the icing on the cake - the Hindi dubbing! Not only is it done extremely well, but the adapted dialogues actually add tremendously to the entertainment value of the movie.
Go see it.
A simple, kiddish story about a museum that comes alive at night, with Ben Stiller the desperate dad with a night watchman's job - but extremely well presented. Very sweet, actually. And the icing on the cake - the Hindi dubbing! Not only is it done extremely well, but the adapted dialogues actually add tremendously to the entertainment value of the movie.
Go see it.
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