Another of those beautiful soft romantic movies that will leave a wierd feeling in your heart, "Definitely, Maybe" features a dad narrating a story (the story of his life and loves) to his 11 year old daughter. As the story progresses, his daughter begins to understand who really matters to her dad...
A beautiful scene in the movie is when she is going away with her mom, now separated from her dad, and asks, "but where's the happy ending to this story dad?", and he replies, "it's you".
Very nice movie, comes often on Star/HBO, do catch it!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Movie Review: Burn After Reading
Yet another movie I missed in the theatres, but thankfully, caught up with on DVD last night.
Burn After Reading is a comedy, and a shocking tragedy, with an amazing script and some brilliant characterization. A decommissioned CIA agent is writing his memoirs, which his wife, under advice from her divorce attorney, copies along with other financial records from his computer. When the attorney's secretary loses the disk in the gym, it is picked up by two employees, who believe they have stumbled upon classified information that the Russians will die for, kicking off a sequence of events that quickly snowballs into an out of control crisis. In a world where everyone seems to be sleeping with someone else's spouse, things quickly get really complicated, finally leading to one killing, then another, then another...
The movie starts off slowly, but then really picks up towards the end leaving you stunned, and hungry for more... stay with the dialogues and the script, and you will thoroughly enjoy this one.
Oh, and yes, George Clooney fans, prepare for a bit of a disappointment, you hardly get to see his beautiful eyes and his naughty smile...
Burn After Reading is a comedy, and a shocking tragedy, with an amazing script and some brilliant characterization. A decommissioned CIA agent is writing his memoirs, which his wife, under advice from her divorce attorney, copies along with other financial records from his computer. When the attorney's secretary loses the disk in the gym, it is picked up by two employees, who believe they have stumbled upon classified information that the Russians will die for, kicking off a sequence of events that quickly snowballs into an out of control crisis. In a world where everyone seems to be sleeping with someone else's spouse, things quickly get really complicated, finally leading to one killing, then another, then another...
The movie starts off slowly, but then really picks up towards the end leaving you stunned, and hungry for more... stay with the dialogues and the script, and you will thoroughly enjoy this one.
Oh, and yes, George Clooney fans, prepare for a bit of a disappointment, you hardly get to see his beautiful eyes and his naughty smile...
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Movie Review: 2012
The Mayans apparently skipped 2012 in their calendar - because that's when the planets will align with the sun in such a way that their combined gravitational pull will melt the core of the earth, as a result, letting the crust loose, which will result in terrible earthquakes, giant tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and a near-complete annihilation of the human race.
They were apparently right.
It's 2012, and the unthinkable has happened. Will the human race survive?
The movie has some of the most amazing special effects ever seen in a disaster movie, the visuals of the giant cracks gobbling up cities will leave you stunned with the detailing and the realism.
Interestingly, the person who first figures out what is happening is a young, smart astro-physicist from India, and gets his moment of glory and praise by the Americans too! And the place where the construction of the "Arks" happen is obviously, China! :)
However, the movie loses its sheen in the second half, stretching the story far beyond the tolerable, bringing in the typical American-with-a-sudden-attack-of-ethics-and-care-for-the-human-race, the countdown to disaster, and the last second save by the hero, the clapping and cheering, and there you go - the Americans have saved the world, one more time.
At almost 3 hours, the movie could have easily been a good target for the editor's scissors.
Go watch it for the first half... once the story moves to China, you can choose to leave and get some other work done, you wouldn't have missed much!
They were apparently right.
It's 2012, and the unthinkable has happened. Will the human race survive?
The movie has some of the most amazing special effects ever seen in a disaster movie, the visuals of the giant cracks gobbling up cities will leave you stunned with the detailing and the realism.
Interestingly, the person who first figures out what is happening is a young, smart astro-physicist from India, and gets his moment of glory and praise by the Americans too! And the place where the construction of the "Arks" happen is obviously, China! :)
However, the movie loses its sheen in the second half, stretching the story far beyond the tolerable, bringing in the typical American-with-a-sudden-attack-of-ethics-and-care-for-the-human-race, the countdown to disaster, and the last second save by the hero, the clapping and cheering, and there you go - the Americans have saved the world, one more time.
At almost 3 hours, the movie could have easily been a good target for the editor's scissors.
Go watch it for the first half... once the story moves to China, you can choose to leave and get some other work done, you wouldn't have missed much!
Movie Review: The Ugly Truth
Saw this movie quite some time back, but somehow, didn't really get down to writing a review. You'll not find it in the theatres now, of course, but you'll definitely get a DVD at the rental! And it's worth it...
An adult comedy, the movie is about a talk show host (a cute looking Gerard Butler) and his beliefs that sex is all that brings together a man and a woman, and his colleague and friend (a not only cute but also pretty sexy looking Katherine Hiegl) who believes in true love and romance, which she thinks she has found in her new neighbour.
The story line is predictable, and really, immaterial, but the movie is fun, great entertainment, unless your parents and/or your kids are watching with you! :)
An adult comedy, the movie is about a talk show host (a cute looking Gerard Butler) and his beliefs that sex is all that brings together a man and a woman, and his colleague and friend (a not only cute but also pretty sexy looking Katherine Hiegl) who believes in true love and romance, which she thinks she has found in her new neighbour.
The story line is predictable, and really, immaterial, but the movie is fun, great entertainment, unless your parents and/or your kids are watching with you! :)
Spoilt Brats...?
IT has undoubtedly led a revolution in India's middle-class, enabling millions to aspire far beyond what their parents could imagine, and in turn, enabling electronic & consumer goods, construction, automobile and entertainment industries to bloom. Truly, IT has pushed India from just another third world country to the top league in the comity of nations.
However, is this a social bubble waiting to burst?
As the years have gone by, IT professionals have begun to believe that we were born special. Not that we got high salaries because of the demand supply gap, but because we were born special. We forgot we worked in air-conditioned offices, had free coffee and lunches, and got fat pay checks and bigger bonuses, while our smarter, more hard working peers in other "non-glamorous" industries slogged out for much less.
We forgot that we have a lot to learn in life. We forgot that 4 years in the industry, covered and cushioned by our managers and seniors, isn't all that life has to throw at us. We forgot that our sweet sounding American customers, who lavish praise on us today, are just being nice to us, and one mistake from our side is going to get us an equally harsh counter-reaction!
It's not uncommon for me, as a manager, to have my team members drop by asking for a change in project because "I have already spent six months on this project, and I do not see any more challenges"!! Really??!!
We want to get rich, and get rich fast! Come on, by the time I am 25, I want a BMW parked outside my bungalow by the river! No, not an apartment in a "society", I am an IT professional remember? And I have achieved so much in my professional life, a full 5 years!
What happens tomorrow if I get fired from because some other more hard working, dedicated and sincere fellow takes my job? What happens if the IT industry collapses from the heights it's enjoying today because the Chinese, or the Brazilians or the Vietnamese break the code and learn what it takes to do IT?
Who will pay my loans? Who will teach me what life is all about?
For our parents, the first 20 years of a career probably meant a lot of hardships and pain, fighting to survive, fighting to live a good life, and planning for their kids' education, a home, a car, and a good retirement where they wouldn't be dependent on their kids.
For the IT pros today, the first 5 years is about buying a coupe and a condo. Learning? What's that? I was born special!
However, is this a social bubble waiting to burst?
As the years have gone by, IT professionals have begun to believe that we were born special. Not that we got high salaries because of the demand supply gap, but because we were born special. We forgot we worked in air-conditioned offices, had free coffee and lunches, and got fat pay checks and bigger bonuses, while our smarter, more hard working peers in other "non-glamorous" industries slogged out for much less.
We forgot that we have a lot to learn in life. We forgot that 4 years in the industry, covered and cushioned by our managers and seniors, isn't all that life has to throw at us. We forgot that our sweet sounding American customers, who lavish praise on us today, are just being nice to us, and one mistake from our side is going to get us an equally harsh counter-reaction!
It's not uncommon for me, as a manager, to have my team members drop by asking for a change in project because "I have already spent six months on this project, and I do not see any more challenges"!! Really??!!
We want to get rich, and get rich fast! Come on, by the time I am 25, I want a BMW parked outside my bungalow by the river! No, not an apartment in a "society", I am an IT professional remember? And I have achieved so much in my professional life, a full 5 years!
What happens tomorrow if I get fired from because some other more hard working, dedicated and sincere fellow takes my job? What happens if the IT industry collapses from the heights it's enjoying today because the Chinese, or the Brazilians or the Vietnamese break the code and learn what it takes to do IT?
Who will pay my loans? Who will teach me what life is all about?
For our parents, the first 20 years of a career probably meant a lot of hardships and pain, fighting to survive, fighting to live a good life, and planning for their kids' education, a home, a car, and a good retirement where they wouldn't be dependent on their kids.
For the IT pros today, the first 5 years is about buying a coupe and a condo. Learning? What's that? I was born special!
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Movie Review: Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Raj Kumar Santoshi made a brilliant movie called Andaz Apna Apna. While it was mostly slapstick comedy, Aamir and Salman were just so adorable and the movie was so hilarious, just the name brings a smile to my face even today, almost a decade and half later.
APKGK doesn't quite recreate the magic of AAA. It doesn't even get close. However, as a weekend option, with some good songs, the very lovable Ranbir Kapoor, and the as-always sweet and sexy Katrina, a cameo by Salman, and some good moments (the party, for one, the fight at the end, for another), the movie is not too bad.
A one time see, definitely not unavoidable, but no harm trying it.
APKGK doesn't quite recreate the magic of AAA. It doesn't even get close. However, as a weekend option, with some good songs, the very lovable Ranbir Kapoor, and the as-always sweet and sexy Katrina, a cameo by Salman, and some good moments (the party, for one, the fight at the end, for another), the movie is not too bad.
A one time see, definitely not unavoidable, but no harm trying it.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Movie Review: The Informant!
Mark Whitacre (another brilliant role by Matt Damn) works at ADB, a food chemicals company. And he has a problem - virus attacks are bringing down his production, and his boss wants an immediate end to the 7M USD/month loss they are facing. It was then that he reports a call from an informant - someone is sabotaging the production lines, and the informant wants 10M USD to reveal the name and help the company get back on track.
But when the FBI is brought in by the management, the calls from the mole stop. Instead, Mark tells the FBI there's a much bigger problem at ADB - an international price fixing scam.
Mark becomes a mole for the FBI, collecting key evidence to expose the scam and stop the exploitation of food consumers all over the world.
But is this really the trust? As the FBI and the lawyers unravell the scam, they come across some interesting details... is Mark telling the whole truth?
The movie is brilliantly scripted, and will keep your attention rivetted till the end. One of those movies you absolutely want to see with no distractions... and yes, enjoy the dialogues!
But when the FBI is brought in by the management, the calls from the mole stop. Instead, Mark tells the FBI there's a much bigger problem at ADB - an international price fixing scam.
Mark becomes a mole for the FBI, collecting key evidence to expose the scam and stop the exploitation of food consumers all over the world.
But is this really the trust? As the FBI and the lawyers unravell the scam, they come across some interesting details... is Mark telling the whole truth?
The movie is brilliantly scripted, and will keep your attention rivetted till the end. One of those movies you absolutely want to see with no distractions... and yes, enjoy the dialogues!
Factory Format :)
My Nokia E75 suddenly stopped messaging the other day. While resetting to factory settings worked, the problem occured again a few days later. Again, I reset to the factory settings, but this time, the messages refused to go.
Finally, I found this solution on the net: a factory format.
Remove your memory card.
Backup all your stuff.
1) Switch off the phone for 10 seconds
2) Push at the same time the following keys: Green answer button, * (star) and 3.
3) Turn on the phone while keep pressing the 3 keys in step 2. (I didn't have anyone to press the power button while my other 3 fingers were pressed so I put the phone down on a table)
The handset will show you the Nokia screen (keep the buttons pressed) and then will prompt you to select the current country for the phone, the date and the time. It's been reset.
Once done, turn you're phone off. Put your memory card back in and turn the phone on. You can then go through the tedious steps customising your phone the way it was.
Now, I have spent a lot of time doing this today, and the messaging works (!), but I just hope this is the end of the saga. Keep tuned.
Finally, I found this solution on the net: a factory format.
Remove your memory card.
Backup all your stuff.
1) Switch off the phone for 10 seconds
2) Push at the same time the following keys: Green answer button, * (star) and 3.
3) Turn on the phone while keep pressing the 3 keys in step 2. (I didn't have anyone to press the power button while my other 3 fingers were pressed so I put the phone down on a table)
The handset will show you the Nokia screen (keep the buttons pressed) and then will prompt you to select the current country for the phone, the date and the time. It's been reset.
Once done, turn you're phone off. Put your memory card back in and turn the phone on. You can then go through the tedious steps customising your phone the way it was.
Now, I have spent a lot of time doing this today, and the messaging works (!), but I just hope this is the end of the saga. Keep tuned.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Australia 3 India 2
Was a smashing game last night, chasing 351, India came oh so close but lost by 3 runs, for the second time in the in series :(
Tendlya smashed one of his career best innings of 175, but departed when India was within striking distance, attempting a Misbah shot...
2 more to go, India will find it tough to pick up their morale from here...
Tendlya smashed one of his career best innings of 175, but departed when India was within striking distance, attempting a Misbah shot...
2 more to go, India will find it tough to pick up their morale from here...
Hyderabad Blues
Am in Hyderabad right now, here for a client visit. A 30 min meeting at 215, which made me wake up at 400 am to catch a 550 am flight, and my return flight is only at 10 pm, which will hopefully get me home by 1230.
Anyway...
So, my first impressions of this city... (I was last here maybe 20 years back!)
Amazing airport at Shamshabad, a shining example of why greenfield development is so good. Spacious, clean, airy, green foyers. Luxurious AC coaches and AC radio taxis. 6-8 lane highway connecting to the city. Lots of construction, roads, bridges and buildings... gives you a feel of Dubai.
And the rocks. The city landscape is strewn with large rocks, precariously placed on top of each other by nature. Beautiful, different, interesting!
This is definitely a city of growth.
Anyway...
So, my first impressions of this city... (I was last here maybe 20 years back!)
Amazing airport at Shamshabad, a shining example of why greenfield development is so good. Spacious, clean, airy, green foyers. Luxurious AC coaches and AC radio taxis. 6-8 lane highway connecting to the city. Lots of construction, roads, bridges and buildings... gives you a feel of Dubai.
And the rocks. The city landscape is strewn with large rocks, precariously placed on top of each other by nature. Beautiful, different, interesting!
This is definitely a city of growth.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Hardy Boys :)
In my childhood, they only used to chase robbers and murderers in my favourite books :)
Types of Disasters
Look closely... at the bottom right pic (thanks for the correction, Smita!). Snapped this from my nephew's fifth standard class project book! :)
Goa Baywatch
They not only look sexy, they do a fab job too! Along with the EMRI 108 service, Goa is in safe hands...
Movie Review: All The Best
All the best, if you go for it!
OK, it's not that bad a deal if there's nothing else to do. And Mugdha Godse is pure eye candy. Indulge...
OK, it's not that bad a deal if there's nothing else to do. And Mugdha Godse is pure eye candy. Indulge...
Movie Review: White Out
Murder mystery in Antarctica, some great snowy visuals, some boring snowy action, overall an OK movie, nothing to write about.
Oh, and yes, I missed 75% of the movie since I was on call center duty... :)
Oh, and yes, I missed 75% of the movie since I was on call center duty... :)
India 2 Australia 1
Dhoni plays another smashing captain's unbeaten innings to guide India to a comfortable 6 wicket victory in Kotla. Nagpur was a 100 run walk-over, helped by another amazing unbeaten century, after a very unfortunate, 3 run loss in the first game.
Keep it up, boys, you rock!
Keep it up, boys, you rock!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
What is it about the 90s?
Aamir Khan, Udit Narayan, Khambe Jaisi Khadi Hai, Phool aur Kaante... names, movies, songs that bring a strange melancholiness, a strange feeling that borders on ecstasy, sadness, pain, and pleasure at the same time. I haven't been able to pin point it yet, but listening to those songs and watching those movies transports me into the 90s with an eerie sense of deja vu, an eerie sense of being transported back into time, not sure I am happy, not sure I am missing something, not sure what it is...
It's just something I want to do again and again.
Maybe it was the innocence of those days, a life without Internet, without cellphones, where a walk at Miramar in the evening, and rides around 18th June Road were all that were needed to make it a great day. Where relationships were uncomplicated, where tensions were few, where money wasn't a criteria, where proving oneself wasn't necessary.
Maybe it was just about being in Goa.
Maybe it was about being a kid.
Maybe moving back to Goa will bring those days back?
It's just something I want to do again and again.
Maybe it was the innocence of those days, a life without Internet, without cellphones, where a walk at Miramar in the evening, and rides around 18th June Road were all that were needed to make it a great day. Where relationships were uncomplicated, where tensions were few, where money wasn't a criteria, where proving oneself wasn't necessary.
Maybe it was just about being in Goa.
Maybe it was about being a kid.
Maybe moving back to Goa will bring those days back?
Movie Review: District 9
Twenty years ago, an alien ship "drops anchor" on the skies over Johannesburg, South Africa, its "prawns" population "settled" in a refugee camp called District 9. As the prawns go about their lives, humans learn to live with the million plus aliens in an uneasy status quo.
Cut to present day. This uneasy calm is ruptured. As riots erupt with humans demanding the aliens be shifted out away from the city, there also seems to be some other sinister agenda behind the government's tolerance of the prawns. Their unique weapons are biogenetically engineered such that in the hands of the humans, they simply do not work. Can the secrets be unlocked creating a multi-billion dollar opportunity? Is that when the private army, Multi-National United, is looking to do when they are contracted to forcibly evict the population with Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) in charge?
During the eviction operation, Wikus is exposed to a strange alien chemical that starts turning him into a prawn himself, and must rely on the help of his only two new prawn friends. Will he be able to help them retrieve the "fuel" necessary to fire up their mother ship to return to their own world? Will they be able to help him be human again?
The movie is sci-fi, but the emotions are terribly real. As you see the aliens helpless and exploited, covering in fear, you can't help but pity them and hope they win against us humans. You feel the desperation of the young kid, desperately searching for his father. You feel their helplessness and wish you would help.
Shot in a unique documentary mode at times, Sharlto Copley with his South African accent does a great job. This has all the makings of a good franchise, the possibilities are endless, and I look forward to a lot more from the prawns!
A must-see, as long as you can take the gore.
Cut to present day. This uneasy calm is ruptured. As riots erupt with humans demanding the aliens be shifted out away from the city, there also seems to be some other sinister agenda behind the government's tolerance of the prawns. Their unique weapons are biogenetically engineered such that in the hands of the humans, they simply do not work. Can the secrets be unlocked creating a multi-billion dollar opportunity? Is that when the private army, Multi-National United, is looking to do when they are contracted to forcibly evict the population with Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley) in charge?
During the eviction operation, Wikus is exposed to a strange alien chemical that starts turning him into a prawn himself, and must rely on the help of his only two new prawn friends. Will he be able to help them retrieve the "fuel" necessary to fire up their mother ship to return to their own world? Will they be able to help him be human again?
The movie is sci-fi, but the emotions are terribly real. As you see the aliens helpless and exploited, covering in fear, you can't help but pity them and hope they win against us humans. You feel the desperation of the young kid, desperately searching for his father. You feel their helplessness and wish you would help.
Shot in a unique documentary mode at times, Sharlto Copley with his South African accent does a great job. This has all the makings of a good franchise, the possibilities are endless, and I look forward to a lot more from the prawns!
A must-see, as long as you can take the gore.
Joy Of Giving
Times of India is celebrating the Joy Of Giving Week... have you experienced it yet? How about giving away some of your old shirts to that old fellow at the traffic signal? Or how about purchasing some nutri bars and handing them over to those kids who come begging for food? Or, if you are feeling good, how about that online donation to EMRI or UNESCO or Help Age? It just takes a min, you know?
Do not pity yourself and give away 50 paise at the traffic signal. You know as well as anyone what that is worth today. Give something substantial. Not something you want to get rid of, something that is of worth to you, that's where the real joy comes from.
And oh, yes, don't start with "it's insignificant". For you, it might be small. But for that kid at the signal, that nutri bar of 10 rupees means a good meal for a day, and that's big when you are living a day to day existence. For that guy, your shirt will mean decency and respectly clothing for a month.
Go ahead, open your purse strings a little, and enjoy the joy of giving.
Do not pity yourself and give away 50 paise at the traffic signal. You know as well as anyone what that is worth today. Give something substantial. Not something you want to get rid of, something that is of worth to you, that's where the real joy comes from.
And oh, yes, don't start with "it's insignificant". For you, it might be small. But for that kid at the signal, that nutri bar of 10 rupees means a good meal for a day, and that's big when you are living a day to day existence. For that guy, your shirt will mean decency and respectly clothing for a month.
Go ahead, open your purse strings a little, and enjoy the joy of giving.
Friday, October 09, 2009
Nobel for Peace?
Obama gets nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 11 days into office, and then wins the award for "calling for nuclear disarmament". WOW.
I hereby call for total world peace and complete disarmament and a world based on love and harmony. Come on, I TALKED ABOUT it, where's my Nobel?
Sorry, but this is pretty sad... I mean, there are dozens of other deserving candidates out there, working hard to try and make a real difference. And here we have America's new president, 11 days into office, seemingly having NO positive effect on Iran, on North Korea, on Israel-Palentine, on Agfhanistan, on Iran, bungling his way through his first year in office with nothing to show for results, winning the award, nominations for which were closed 11 days into his office!
At this rate, I think even Narendra Modi deserved it more! Or, the Indian government for having tolerated 9/11 and refusing to get drawn into a war that the world could have never faulted it for.
Interestingly, do you know, Gandhi never even got nominated? Or that Hitler was nominated?
I hereby call for total world peace and complete disarmament and a world based on love and harmony. Come on, I TALKED ABOUT it, where's my Nobel?
Sorry, but this is pretty sad... I mean, there are dozens of other deserving candidates out there, working hard to try and make a real difference. And here we have America's new president, 11 days into office, seemingly having NO positive effect on Iran, on North Korea, on Israel-Palentine, on Agfhanistan, on Iran, bungling his way through his first year in office with nothing to show for results, winning the award, nominations for which were closed 11 days into his office!
At this rate, I think even Narendra Modi deserved it more! Or, the Indian government for having tolerated 9/11 and refusing to get drawn into a war that the world could have never faulted it for.
Interestingly, do you know, Gandhi never even got nominated? Or that Hitler was nominated?
Monday, October 05, 2009
Just the Flu
So I went to see the doctor yesterday, since it had been like 48 hours since my first brush with fever - and turns out I just have the flu, the normal seasonal flu. Doctor advised that I just sit through one bout of fever so that the body gets a chance to fight whatever it is that has infected me. Today morning, I am much better.
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Flu?
After escaping my most common illnesses - cold and fever - ever since the swine flu pandemic broke up in India, I finally seem to have joined the bandwagon. I have been having mild fever since the last 36 hours, which started with some body aches, then got significantly better, and close to normal in the day time, and now seems to be picking up slightly.
No cough or cold, no chest pain, no discomfort in breathing.
Yet, the worry is driving me crazy :)
Morale of the story: it's easy to calm others and run polls on a blog, but when it strikes you, you spend hours searching for "swine flu without cold"!
No doomsday predictions please - comment only if you going to tell me this is "just a common fever" :)
No cough or cold, no chest pain, no discomfort in breathing.
Yet, the worry is driving me crazy :)
Morale of the story: it's easy to calm others and run polls on a blog, but when it strikes you, you spend hours searching for "swine flu without cold"!
No doomsday predictions please - comment only if you going to tell me this is "just a common fever" :)
Book Review: The Satyam Saga
The Satyam Saga is a compilation of articles by various writers from Business Standard, providing an in-depth analysis and low down on the biggest scandal to hit the global industry since Enron and Madoff.
Written as a very simple, easy-to-understand narrative, the book provides fascinating insights into the persona of Ramalinga Raju, his public image as a philantropist (he was responsible for EMRI, the medical emergency response service that has saved thousands of lives in half a dozen states in India - for free) and a visionary leader at Satyam, a company he created and nurtured as one of India's top 5 IT giants, in stark contrast to the crook he eventually turned out to be.
It also gives a good understanding of how our regulatory bodies and executive boards work, what can be done better, and how the Govt of India played a stellar role in ensuring Satyam did not go down, protecting its customers, employees and share holders from meeting a similar fate as Enron, Worldcom and Parmalat.
Another interesting article is on EMRI, Raju's pet project which he personally funded and helped grow into one of India's showpiece public-private enterprises through his persuasive powers and contacts. A few months later, Satyam and Cisco announced a joint venture to take emergency medical response software to the world. Was EMRI just a pilot aimed at creating and capturing new markets? Hard to tell, but with Raju, everything's possible! (After the Satyam fiasco, GVK has taken over EMRI)
For those who liked this book, I would also highly recommend "The Smartest Guys in the Room", by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, based on the Enron saga. While Satyam was largely about fudging accounts and showing non-existent bank deposits, the scale, the variety and the reach of the Enron scandal was simply mind-boggling. That's a book you will not be able to put down.
Written as a very simple, easy-to-understand narrative, the book provides fascinating insights into the persona of Ramalinga Raju, his public image as a philantropist (he was responsible for EMRI, the medical emergency response service that has saved thousands of lives in half a dozen states in India - for free) and a visionary leader at Satyam, a company he created and nurtured as one of India's top 5 IT giants, in stark contrast to the crook he eventually turned out to be.
It also gives a good understanding of how our regulatory bodies and executive boards work, what can be done better, and how the Govt of India played a stellar role in ensuring Satyam did not go down, protecting its customers, employees and share holders from meeting a similar fate as Enron, Worldcom and Parmalat.
Another interesting article is on EMRI, Raju's pet project which he personally funded and helped grow into one of India's showpiece public-private enterprises through his persuasive powers and contacts. A few months later, Satyam and Cisco announced a joint venture to take emergency medical response software to the world. Was EMRI just a pilot aimed at creating and capturing new markets? Hard to tell, but with Raju, everything's possible! (After the Satyam fiasco, GVK has taken over EMRI)
For those who liked this book, I would also highly recommend "The Smartest Guys in the Room", by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, based on the Enron saga. While Satyam was largely about fudging accounts and showing non-existent bank deposits, the scale, the variety and the reach of the Enron scandal was simply mind-boggling. That's a book you will not be able to put down.
Movie Review: Wake Up Sid
Sidharth Mehra is rich, and works very hard at partying and spending his dad's money. He's not spoilt, he's a good guy really. But life's troubles are far away... after all, his exams have got over, and it's time to enjoy!
Aisha is his complete opposite. Alone in the big city, she's come from Kolkata to try and strike it out on her own as a writer.
Sidharth and Aisha are not meant for each other. You are still a baccha, she keeps telling him. But they quickly become great friends... they set up Aisha's house together, work together at Mumbai Beat, and when Sid is thrown out of his house, he moves in with her.
And every day, slowly but surely, Sid wakes up to life. And to Aisha.
There's no big bang. No overnight awakening, no song to transform Sid from the kid to the man. The movie is slow and subtle, and beautiful. Small incidences, small realisations, as every day life proves to be more challenging that deciding which disc to party at tonight!
In what can be truly called Ranbir's coming of age movie, Ayaan Mukherjee brings out the best in Ranbir, as an actor and a teenage heartthrob. Check out his showdown with his dad, and a few of his scenes with his mother. Konkona as Aisha delivers yet another powerful performance, in a role she's excelled at countless times. Anupam Kher wows you with his brief but very memorable scenes. There are a couple of very fresh and interesting faces and characters.
The movie is also a beautiful essay on Mumbai and its charm and beauty, and I could so totally relate to Ranbir reminiscing about its rains and the sea.
Side Note: For some inexplicable reason, the script writers chose to use the word Bombay, giving MNS a chance to make an issue out of it, and forcing Karan Johar to issue an unconditional apology and clarification at the beginning of the film.
The soundtrack has a couple of good songs, but what I loved was the seamless integration of some beautiful English tracks in the background score.
Definitely worth a watch this weekend!
Aisha is his complete opposite. Alone in the big city, she's come from Kolkata to try and strike it out on her own as a writer.
Sidharth and Aisha are not meant for each other. You are still a baccha, she keeps telling him. But they quickly become great friends... they set up Aisha's house together, work together at Mumbai Beat, and when Sid is thrown out of his house, he moves in with her.
And every day, slowly but surely, Sid wakes up to life. And to Aisha.
There's no big bang. No overnight awakening, no song to transform Sid from the kid to the man. The movie is slow and subtle, and beautiful. Small incidences, small realisations, as every day life proves to be more challenging that deciding which disc to party at tonight!
In what can be truly called Ranbir's coming of age movie, Ayaan Mukherjee brings out the best in Ranbir, as an actor and a teenage heartthrob. Check out his showdown with his dad, and a few of his scenes with his mother. Konkona as Aisha delivers yet another powerful performance, in a role she's excelled at countless times. Anupam Kher wows you with his brief but very memorable scenes. There are a couple of very fresh and interesting faces and characters.
The movie is also a beautiful essay on Mumbai and its charm and beauty, and I could so totally relate to Ranbir reminiscing about its rains and the sea.
Side Note: For some inexplicable reason, the script writers chose to use the word Bombay, giving MNS a chance to make an issue out of it, and forcing Karan Johar to issue an unconditional apology and clarification at the beginning of the film.
The soundtrack has a couple of good songs, but what I loved was the seamless integration of some beautiful English tracks in the background score.
Definitely worth a watch this weekend!
Book Review: Shopportunity
Shoppourtunity by Kate Newlin promises to teach you how to be a retail revolutionary, how to get the lowdowns on markdown, and reginite the "thrill of the hunt" when you shop.
I love these kind of books because of the profusion of real life examples that give a peek into how the world works. Another exciting book of the genre is The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford.
Unfortunately, where Shoppurtunity fails to excite is in its drab treatment of the subject. Yes, there are examples, but the book takes a preaching style to help you "learn how to love and look forward to your shopping" through steps and rules of Anticipation, Pursuit and Prominence, making each shopping experience like that of buying your wedding dress.
This book was supposedly on the Reading List of HBR 2006, but I would give it a pass.
I love these kind of books because of the profusion of real life examples that give a peek into how the world works. Another exciting book of the genre is The Undercover Economist by Tim Harford.
Unfortunately, where Shoppurtunity fails to excite is in its drab treatment of the subject. Yes, there are examples, but the book takes a preaching style to help you "learn how to love and look forward to your shopping" through steps and rules of Anticipation, Pursuit and Prominence, making each shopping experience like that of buying your wedding dress.
This book was supposedly on the Reading List of HBR 2006, but I would give it a pass.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Ford Service
Got a call from my Ford dealer the other day saying they wanted me to get my car for a check up - apparently, the design of the air filter assembly in some cars was such that it could eventually rupture the pipe supplying high pressure air to the power steering, or something to that effect.
Three and half years after I bought my car, they replaced the pipe assembly, some 5000 worth of parts, for free.
Not just that, but now that my car was spending time in the garage, I had also asked them to fix some of the irritating noise coming from the underbody on bumpy roads... they fixed that too, for free.
Pretty nice, I must say :)
Three and half years after I bought my car, they replaced the pipe assembly, some 5000 worth of parts, for free.
Not just that, but now that my car was spending time in the garage, I had also asked them to fix some of the irritating noise coming from the underbody on bumpy roads... they fixed that too, for free.
Pretty nice, I must say :)
Monday, September 28, 2009
All Stir Fry
We went to this "new for me" restaurant the other day, All Stir Fry, at ESquare in Pune.
Try the Tomyum Soup - simply outstanding, and a far cry from what you would have had in other restaurants around Pune. The momos are reputed to be good, and I loved the Chicken & Coriander stuff, very tasty, and you just can't stop having one more! We followed it up with some spicy lamb and noodles, both of which were outstanding. Mocktails were also fun.
We were so full at the end of it, that we didn't really have any opportunity to taste the desserts.
Some of the best South East Asian food I have had, coupled with good, fast service and pleasant decor makes it a worth though slightly expensive weekend option!
Try the Tomyum Soup - simply outstanding, and a far cry from what you would have had in other restaurants around Pune. The momos are reputed to be good, and I loved the Chicken & Coriander stuff, very tasty, and you just can't stop having one more! We followed it up with some spicy lamb and noodles, both of which were outstanding. Mocktails were also fun.
We were so full at the end of it, that we didn't really have any opportunity to taste the desserts.
Some of the best South East Asian food I have had, coupled with good, fast service and pleasant decor makes it a worth though slightly expensive weekend option!
Fresh Fruits
Fresh squids and tiger prawns cleaned and prepped for dinner :)
Aren't they delicious? :)
ps: I love cleaning fish, if you ever need help with them, I am just a call away!
Aren't they delicious? :)
ps: I love cleaning fish, if you ever need help with them, I am just a call away!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Read in Dan Brown's book: Google is not a synonym for research.
Lol, I know so many (including me!) who'd hotly contest that!
By the way, check Noetic Science - another interesting "fact" from the book! Yes, use Google :)
Lol, I know so many (including me!) who'd hotly contest that!
By the way, check Noetic Science - another interesting "fact" from the book! Yes, use Google :)
Book Review: The Lost Symbol
Just finished a few initial chapters, but I am loving it already! Like a typical Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol offers an exciting blend of fact and fiction. An amazing, fast-paced novel set in Washinton DC based on the search for the "ultimate knowledge in the midst of the symbology and the secrecy of the Free Masons, you'll be enthralled at learning the history behind Washinton DC's iconic Capitol Hill, the Rotunda, the Obelix, and George Washington's Zeus statues!
Sit with your laptop, you'll have lots of fun checking out the various monuments and facts in the book, trying to separate out truth from fiction.
And you'll never stop being amazed at how much is the truth!
Sit with your laptop, you'll have lots of fun checking out the various monuments and facts in the book, trying to separate out truth from fiction.
And you'll never stop being amazed at how much is the truth!
Beauty in Contrasts
Came across this amazing contrast in natural lighting on the Lonavla Ghat on the way from Mumbai to Pune. Blinding sun in the early afternoon, getting taken over by some very pregnant, dark clouds... seconds later, we had been caught in a thunderous monsoon storm.
Check out the tarmac change in the pics below, and the contrast with the sky... and you'll hopefully experience a little of the thrill I got out of this!
Check out the tarmac change in the pics below, and the contrast with the sky... and you'll hopefully experience a little of the thrill I got out of this!
Worli Sea Link
I was in Mumbai last week for a conference, and took the chance to take a drive on the Worli Sea Link - here are some snaps from the exhilarating drive!
Movie Review: What's Your Rashee?
When the opening credits begin to roll, and roll, and roll, with a jazz score in the background interspersed with a silhoutted Priyanka against black and red, and an always-smiling-like-Bush Herman against blinding white, it's the first indication that all is not well with this latest Ashutosh Gowarikar Magnum Opus... an almost-4 hour torture with amateurish dialogues, a convoluted story line, bad screenplay, a very irritatingly amateurish actor, and around a dozen really-not-needed song and dance sequences!
So here's the deal. Spoilt brother owes 4 crores to his creditors, including the local bhai whose claim to fame is his penchant for betelnut crackers! Grandfather will give "jaaidaad" only to younger brother, who never forgets to send him birthday cards. But only on the day he marries. Elder brother has till 20th to "chukao" his debts. So younger brother is called to India, having been told that his dad has had a heart attack. Younger brother decides to see one girl per rashee - because he doesn't have time to see all the 150+ that have been lined up before the 20th. The wedding invites have been printed, only the name of the girl is to be decided. And they all line up. One wants a contract marriage, one wants him to say no, one says she's her lover from the past life, one says she isn't a virgin, one says she doesn't want to be a virgin, one says she hates him, one says she's mad... and yes, add to that an irritating "detective" who's on a mission to unearth his mama's affair. Why? Don't ask me!
Priyanka desperately tries to hold the show, and you see some very different shades of her, sweet, sauve, smart, subdued, sexy at times, and a flash of her brilliance as an actor, but really, there's only so much she can do in the context of the roles she needs to fit in...
Some advice now.
Priyanka: Stay away from Herman
Herman: Stay away from everything
Ashutosh: Stay close to better actors, you need them, man!
And you: Watch "Wanted" instead this weekend! I heard it's good. If not, just stay home.
So here's the deal. Spoilt brother owes 4 crores to his creditors, including the local bhai whose claim to fame is his penchant for betelnut crackers! Grandfather will give "jaaidaad" only to younger brother, who never forgets to send him birthday cards. But only on the day he marries. Elder brother has till 20th to "chukao" his debts. So younger brother is called to India, having been told that his dad has had a heart attack. Younger brother decides to see one girl per rashee - because he doesn't have time to see all the 150+ that have been lined up before the 20th. The wedding invites have been printed, only the name of the girl is to be decided. And they all line up. One wants a contract marriage, one wants him to say no, one says she's her lover from the past life, one says she isn't a virgin, one says she doesn't want to be a virgin, one says she hates him, one says she's mad... and yes, add to that an irritating "detective" who's on a mission to unearth his mama's affair. Why? Don't ask me!
Priyanka desperately tries to hold the show, and you see some very different shades of her, sweet, sauve, smart, subdued, sexy at times, and a flash of her brilliance as an actor, but really, there's only so much she can do in the context of the roles she needs to fit in...
Some advice now.
Priyanka: Stay away from Herman
Herman: Stay away from everything
Ashutosh: Stay close to better actors, you need them, man!
And you: Watch "Wanted" instead this weekend! I heard it's good. If not, just stay home.
Book Review: The Bourne Deception
Jason Bourne returns in Robert Ludlum's "The Bourne Deception", a new novel by Eric Van Lustbader.
Isn't it interesting how characters become so big that even after the death of their creator, other authors continue writing about them?
The seventh of the Bourne series (4 of them not really written by Ludlum!), Deception, unfortunately, doesn't really live up to the billing. The plot is too covoluted, there too many characters, and the biggest sin, Bourne really has very little to do! The locations aren't much fun, set in Russia, Indonesia, Egypt and Sudan, away from the usual European locales which evoke so many beautiful thoughts and memories for me...
It starts very slow, gets pretty boring at the end, though it does pick up some steam in the middle half.
Unlike most of the other Ludlum or Ludlum-inspired novels, this is definitely not one you can't put down once you've picked it up! In fact, you will be well advised to skip some of the more boring ramblings... especially the last few pages.
Isn't it interesting how characters become so big that even after the death of their creator, other authors continue writing about them?
The seventh of the Bourne series (4 of them not really written by Ludlum!), Deception, unfortunately, doesn't really live up to the billing. The plot is too covoluted, there too many characters, and the biggest sin, Bourne really has very little to do! The locations aren't much fun, set in Russia, Indonesia, Egypt and Sudan, away from the usual European locales which evoke so many beautiful thoughts and memories for me...
It starts very slow, gets pretty boring at the end, though it does pick up some steam in the middle half.
Unlike most of the other Ludlum or Ludlum-inspired novels, this is definitely not one you can't put down once you've picked it up! In fact, you will be well advised to skip some of the more boring ramblings... especially the last few pages.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Education Unleashed
I was talking to my wife's nephew the other day, and was pretty amazed to know that his college, MIT Pune, allows students to carry laptops, not just on campus but even during lectures. Professors share notes in PPT format before the class, and students follow him on the laptop...
Not only that, but they have online access to hours of video lectures from IIT Mumbai professors on almost every subject they have.
Sanam has assignments that include "Write a short note on Shreedharan, the Metro Man". And her teacher gives her a "good" when she names Ashok Kamte and Hemant Karkare as freedom fighters alongside Gandhi.
Pretty amazing, I must admit... a far cry from my own school days where we had nothing on current affairs, and where I had no Internet connectivity AT ALL until I graduated with BE Computers!
Not only that, but they have online access to hours of video lectures from IIT Mumbai professors on almost every subject they have.
Sanam has assignments that include "Write a short note on Shreedharan, the Metro Man". And her teacher gives her a "good" when she names Ashok Kamte and Hemant Karkare as freedom fighters alongside Gandhi.
Pretty amazing, I must admit... a far cry from my own school days where we had nothing on current affairs, and where I had no Internet connectivity AT ALL until I graduated with BE Computers!
Friday, September 11, 2009
India on Top
After beating New Zealand today in the tri-series in Sri Lanka, India climbed to the No 1 spot in One Dayers :)
Meanwhile, at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Adrian Sutil from the Force India team lapped up the fastest lap in free practice. And Leander, after losing the mixed double final last night, now faces off with Bhupathi in the men's double final, ensuring an Indian wins the crown anyway.
And of course, Vijendar Singh is assuring India of a medal by making it to the semis of the world boxing championship.
Good days definitely adding up :)
Meanwhile, at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Adrian Sutil from the Force India team lapped up the fastest lap in free practice. And Leander, after losing the mixed double final last night, now faces off with Bhupathi in the men's double final, ensuring an Indian wins the crown anyway.
And of course, Vijendar Singh is assuring India of a medal by making it to the semis of the world boxing championship.
Good days definitely adding up :)
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Gen Z
Siddhesh: what re, why such a complicated status message
Sanam: i thot it was cool
and so i posted it
Siddhesh: hehe
Sanam: v simple
what hehe?
Siddhesh: nuthing
u crazy
Sanam: huh me??
Siddhesh: ok ok chill :)
Sanam: hmmm
That's a 34 year old dad conversing with his 7 year old kid, one in the living room and the other in the drawing room, at 750 pm on this Tuesday evening in Pune :)
Sanam: i thot it was cool
and so i posted it
Siddhesh: hehe
Sanam: v simple
what hehe?
Siddhesh: nuthing
u crazy
Sanam: huh me??
Siddhesh: ok ok chill :)
Sanam: hmmm
That's a 34 year old dad conversing with his 7 year old kid, one in the living room and the other in the drawing room, at 750 pm on this Tuesday evening in Pune :)
Movie Review: The Taking of Pelham 123
When the Pelham 123 subway train is hijacked by armed men under New York's streets, the call comes to the dispatcher, an under-investigation-for-bribery MTA official, William Garger, turning an ordinary day's work into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime.
"The Taking of Pelham 123" is not about terrorism. It's not even about the 10M dollars ransom money. It's about a Wall Street felon with a diabolical plan to crash the market and reap rewards through soaring gold prices.
The movie is well made, and although there are a few liberties taken with the script, it is a rivetting drama. Denzel Washington as the calm and composed Garber, and John Tavolta as the maniacal Ryder, share a wonderful chemistry on screen adding tremendously to the otherwise straightforward script. You will love their conversations and get sucked into the drama. The action scenes, though few and far between, are well shot.
Overall, a good option for thriller buffs.
"The Taking of Pelham 123" is not about terrorism. It's not even about the 10M dollars ransom money. It's about a Wall Street felon with a diabolical plan to crash the market and reap rewards through soaring gold prices.
The movie is well made, and although there are a few liberties taken with the script, it is a rivetting drama. Denzel Washington as the calm and composed Garber, and John Tavolta as the maniacal Ryder, share a wonderful chemistry on screen adding tremendously to the otherwise straightforward script. You will love their conversations and get sucked into the drama. The action scenes, though few and far between, are well shot.
Overall, a good option for thriller buffs.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Is One Way a Good Idea?
JM and FC Roads have recently been made one way, leading to rotary traffic in the area. There have been some praises and mostly brickbats for the police, so I decided to see for myself.
The drive along JM then onto FC and all the way to Agriculture College was very fast and smooth, and took less than half the time it usually takes. With all the road width available and very little cross traffic, there's very less need for traffic signals, and no snarls at junctions.
At the same time, the half-removed dividers need to be taken out completely, lanes need to be marked, footpaths can get much broader, and finally, pedestrian crossings and signals need to be installed.
Here's hoping that better sense prevails and the plan moves forward rather than backward!
The drive along JM then onto FC and all the way to Agriculture College was very fast and smooth, and took less than half the time it usually takes. With all the road width available and very little cross traffic, there's very less need for traffic signals, and no snarls at junctions.
At the same time, the half-removed dividers need to be taken out completely, lanes need to be marked, footpaths can get much broader, and finally, pedestrian crossings and signals need to be installed.
Here's hoping that better sense prevails and the plan moves forward rather than backward!
Movie Review: Transformers
Saw Transformers on TV last night - just like Terminator Salvation, there're some very interesting machines transforming themselves pretty impressively, Megan Fox is HOT, the story keeps you awake, the dialogue/script is idiotic and funny and interesting at the same time, and overall, it's a good way to end a Saturday!
I need to see the sequel... maybe I have seen it, I am little confused right now :)
I need to see the sequel... maybe I have seen it, I am little confused right now :)
Movie Review: Final Destination 4
Warning: This review is not recommended for children and the squeamish. The joke at the end though is rated U :)
Final Destination 4 comes in 2 flavours, 2D and 3D. Unfortunately, I could only catch the 2D version. And it was so totally not worth it, unless you like images of bodies being crushed and intestines and bone marrow being thrown around on screen. The cool thing about 3D will be that it'll be thrown at you!
Now for the story, there's nothing different in the concept or the treatment. Our hero has a premonition about a disaster at the race track, and manages to save his friends and a bunch of others. But it's not over yet. One by one, the survivors end up dead - all in gruesome accidents involving being crushed or sliced and having their anatomies spilled out. Will they be able to change fate and cheat death? Or does death have other plans?
Now for the joke.
A guy watching a 3D movie taps the guy in front on the shoulder and says, "Do you mind removing your hat? It's blocking my view!" The guy turns around and says, "Hey, I am in the movie!"
Lol lol
Final Destination 4 comes in 2 flavours, 2D and 3D. Unfortunately, I could only catch the 2D version. And it was so totally not worth it, unless you like images of bodies being crushed and intestines and bone marrow being thrown around on screen. The cool thing about 3D will be that it'll be thrown at you!
Now for the story, there's nothing different in the concept or the treatment. Our hero has a premonition about a disaster at the race track, and manages to save his friends and a bunch of others. But it's not over yet. One by one, the survivors end up dead - all in gruesome accidents involving being crushed or sliced and having their anatomies spilled out. Will they be able to change fate and cheat death? Or does death have other plans?
Now for the joke.
A guy watching a 3D movie taps the guy in front on the shoulder and says, "Do you mind removing your hat? It's blocking my view!" The guy turns around and says, "Hey, I am in the movie!"
Lol lol
India
There's an ancient land,
few understand,
surrounded by myth and mystery,
with the highest mountains, the clearest fountains,
where mystical men make their sanctuary,
she has jungles of green,
and rivers of blue,
tigers and peacocks and elephants too,
if you come to her, with a heart thats true,
she'll have a garland of flowers to welcome you...
India, India a a a , India...
(Remo)
few understand,
surrounded by myth and mystery,
with the highest mountains, the clearest fountains,
where mystical men make their sanctuary,
she has jungles of green,
and rivers of blue,
tigers and peacocks and elephants too,
if you come to her, with a heart thats true,
she'll have a garland of flowers to welcome you...
India, India a a a , India...
(Remo)
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Chicken Soup for the Cat's Soul
Get A Life, I Am Sleeping!
A typical scene in our home... the cat needs the chair, no one dare wake her up! A little standing and typing works just as well!
Note: No humans were harmed during the capture of this image
Note: No humans were harmed during the capture of this image
Lost Baby
An amazing thing happened yesterday.. we'd had dinner and were lazing around when there was a meouw at the door. We were surprised, because we were pretty sure both our cats were nicely curled inside!
I opened the door, and guess what?
It was one of the 3 babies born to Catrina - Casatta's brother, Mango. Shyly, he meowed again. We gave him some milk, which he quickly drank. Waited outside until I went to him and caressed his neck... he rubbed against my back, and then walked right in, searching for his sister and mom!
Sanam had tears in her eyes, and I dare say, we did too!
I opened the door, and guess what?
It was one of the 3 babies born to Catrina - Casatta's brother, Mango. Shyly, he meowed again. We gave him some milk, which he quickly drank. Waited outside until I went to him and caressed his neck... he rubbed against my back, and then walked right in, searching for his sister and mom!
Sanam had tears in her eyes, and I dare say, we did too!
Movie Review: Quick Gun Murugan
Lol lol, go watch it, I say! And mind it, leave your brains at home, I say!
Our Indian cowboy will wow you with this gun handling skills, shooting faster than everything except his dialogues, I say! Saving vegeterianism, cows and the ladies - our green, red and leopard dressed super-hero will keep you laughing for most part of the less than two hour movie...
Now, if only there was a little less blood and gore, I might have even recommended you take your kids to the party!
Perfect for a team movie, I say!
Ok, enough, I say!
Our Indian cowboy will wow you with this gun handling skills, shooting faster than everything except his dialogues, I say! Saving vegeterianism, cows and the ladies - our green, red and leopard dressed super-hero will keep you laughing for most part of the less than two hour movie...
Now, if only there was a little less blood and gore, I might have even recommended you take your kids to the party!
Perfect for a team movie, I say!
Ok, enough, I say!
India Loses a Good Leader
Andhra CM was finally traced in the jungles of Nallamalla, dead in his helicopter crash.
And while we mourn the death of yet another seasoned leader, I want to ask the question... isn't this reason enough for governments to spend millions on upgrading the planes and the security of our politicians? We get upset at the cordons, or when Mayavati orders her new jet plane, but aren't they so necessary to safeguard the lives of our leaders, good or bad, who are such pillars of our democracy, irreplaceable in loss?
And while we mourn the death of yet another seasoned leader, I want to ask the question... isn't this reason enough for governments to spend millions on upgrading the planes and the security of our politicians? We get upset at the cordons, or when Mayavati orders her new jet plane, but aren't they so necessary to safeguard the lives of our leaders, good or bad, who are such pillars of our democracy, irreplaceable in loss?
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Vet
My cat was unwell - and we suspected poisoning. Along with Betnesol, my vet recommended an injection - if it's not poisoning, it won't harm. But if it's poisoning, it will save her life, he told me.
So off I went to the pharmacy, got the vial and the syringe and the needle, set up the contraption, took her hind leg skin in my fingers and administered the dose.
Out it spilled into my fingers. I hadn't managed to poke her.
Thankfully, half the vial was available for a second try.
This time, I felt the needle go in, the cat yelped, and a new vet was born.
She's fine now. It wasn't poisoning, it was constipation. She had to be given an anema, but this time, I got the vet to come home and do the dirty job himself!
I am one vet who will only do the glamorous stuff. Like injections.
So off I went to the pharmacy, got the vial and the syringe and the needle, set up the contraption, took her hind leg skin in my fingers and administered the dose.
Out it spilled into my fingers. I hadn't managed to poke her.
Thankfully, half the vial was available for a second try.
This time, I felt the needle go in, the cat yelped, and a new vet was born.
She's fine now. It wasn't poisoning, it was constipation. She had to be given an anema, but this time, I got the vet to come home and do the dirty job himself!
I am one vet who will only do the glamorous stuff. Like injections.
Indian Sports
When I was in school, we really didn't have much to cheer for in sports... hockey had gone past its prime already, and Dhyan Chand was history. Cricket was fun, but bearing those losses to Pakistan every time was too painful to endure, whether Pakistan won because we capitulated in front of Akram or the umpires!
This week saw Force India take podium in Belgium. The next day, India lifted the Nehru Cup in football. Yes, we are far from the Brasils of the world, but it was a good win anyway!
In cricket, we've put the ghost of the Pakis far behind us, and even the Aussies have conceded defeat.
And now, we have new heroes. Leander and Bhupathi, and Sania. Vish Anand in chess. Saini in badminton. Jeev Milkha Singh. Vijendar in boxing.
Still a long way to go, but winning the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune last year is perhaps a good indication that the country is finding its rightful place in the world of sports too!
This week saw Force India take podium in Belgium. The next day, India lifted the Nehru Cup in football. Yes, we are far from the Brasils of the world, but it was a good win anyway!
In cricket, we've put the ghost of the Pakis far behind us, and even the Aussies have conceded defeat.
And now, we have new heroes. Leander and Bhupathi, and Sania. Vish Anand in chess. Saini in badminton. Jeev Milkha Singh. Vijendar in boxing.
Still a long way to go, but winning the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune last year is perhaps a good indication that the country is finding its rightful place in the world of sports too!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Golden Baby
Check this amazingly rich gold cocoon...
Didn't meet the lucky guy in there, but he's surely got more than a silver spoon in his mouth!
Didn't meet the lucky guy in there, but he's surely got more than a silver spoon in his mouth!
Reismagos Beach
The beautiful rock-strewn Reismagos beach...
A very interesting feature of this beach is that the rocks seem to appear and disappear every once in a while! Something to do with erosion? Some other tidal impact? I don't know! But one thing is sure, a few months back, there weren't as many rocks!
A very interesting feature of this beach is that the rocks seem to appear and disappear every once in a while! Something to do with erosion? Some other tidal impact? I don't know! But one thing is sure, a few months back, there weren't as many rocks!
Country Roads.. Take Me Home...
A collage of beautiful roads on the way from Pune to Goa... the 4 laned superbly maintained NH4 from Pune gives way to the tree-lined road to Ajra and Amboli, where the mist-laden ghats lead you down into Konkan. A short cut to Banda gets really narrow and exciting, cutting out 15-20 kms and the town of Sawantwadi, getting you to Goa half an hour before schedule!
Big Foot
Can you guess the shoe size of this shoe?
Tell you what - the feet are mine, and I am a size 7. That's big enough, normally! This giant is my nephew, Kunal, he's 6'4'' and his shoe size is an unbelievable 13!
Tell you what - the feet are mine, and I am a size 7. That's big enough, normally! This giant is my nephew, Kunal, he's 6'4'' and his shoe size is an unbelievable 13!
Movie Review: Kaminey
Here in Goa, away from the shut multiplexes of Pune, I finally got the chance to catch Kaminey... the 11.15 pm show also meant we were part of a small group of twenty odd bleary eyed guys, and we thought, the chances of catching the lovely flu were minimal anyway...
The movie itself is a mixed bag. Shahid does another great job after Jab We Met, Priyanka is subdued and has a pretty small role as Sweetie, a Marathi mulgi, but comes across pretty hot and sexy in the few scenes she shares with Shahid and Amol Gupte as Mr Bhope (no, not Mr Bhobe) is pretty interesting too. The editing and cinematography is top class, and very Hollywood-ish, although the camera work does get to you sometimes. Dhan Te Nan sounds good on an audio CD, but is difficult to watch. The rest of the songs (I think there was at least one more) are very forgettable.
Watch it for the different treatment and the film-making, but it's not one of the absolute musts for me! OK to give a miss, if it keeps you safe from the flu!
The movie itself is a mixed bag. Shahid does another great job after Jab We Met, Priyanka is subdued and has a pretty small role as Sweetie, a Marathi mulgi, but comes across pretty hot and sexy in the few scenes she shares with Shahid and Amol Gupte as Mr Bhope (no, not Mr Bhobe) is pretty interesting too. The editing and cinematography is top class, and very Hollywood-ish, although the camera work does get to you sometimes. Dhan Te Nan sounds good on an audio CD, but is difficult to watch. The rest of the songs (I think there was at least one more) are very forgettable.
Watch it for the different treatment and the film-making, but it's not one of the absolute musts for me! OK to give a miss, if it keeps you safe from the flu!
One More To Go!
As you may have guessed from my long silence on the blog, I have been away in Goa... No matter how many times I come here, and for how long, it always hurts the day I need to go back. I love being back in Pune, after all, my entire life revolves around it, but it's really difficult leaving this home where I spent all my childhood, the fish, the people, the late mornings, the evenings on the beaches... and of course, the rain! The amazing rain of Goa!
But hey, I still have one more day to go here :) For the next twenty hours or so now, the attempt will be to slow down time, to live every second, to soak in the atmosphere to the maximum, then, the moment we leave from here, the need will be to gobble up the 500 kms as fast as possible...
Until, the door opens, and I greet my two cats in the warm comfort of my own home...
If ever there was a guy torn between two homes, it has to be me!
But hey, I still have one more day to go here :) For the next twenty hours or so now, the attempt will be to slow down time, to live every second, to soak in the atmosphere to the maximum, then, the moment we leave from here, the need will be to gobble up the 500 kms as fast as possible...
Until, the door opens, and I greet my two cats in the warm comfort of my own home...
If ever there was a guy torn between two homes, it has to be me!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
BJP Losing It?
The BJP today summarily expelled one of its most senior leaders, Jaswant Singh, from the party, for his alleged "glorification of Jinnah", which "crossed the party's ideological Laxman Rekha"...
No show cause notice, not explanation asked, dismissal conveyed on the phone.
I am not a historian, nor do I have any authority to comment on how parties should be run, but is a book on a topic 60 years old so critical for the BJP in today's times? Is this what their Chintan Baithak will be debating today?
In a democracy, is this what freedom of speech means to the party that has governed this great country not too many years back?
Karan Thapar made a very strong point today - he's been given marching orders for allegedly saying something which is actually very much in line with the party's official stand! He asks, has the BJP president actually even read the book?
I am worried... The Congress is doing a great job governing us, but where is the opposition? The Left? The SP-BSP? Or the BJP? Are they even capable of being a responsible opposition?
No show cause notice, not explanation asked, dismissal conveyed on the phone.
I am not a historian, nor do I have any authority to comment on how parties should be run, but is a book on a topic 60 years old so critical for the BJP in today's times? Is this what their Chintan Baithak will be debating today?
In a democracy, is this what freedom of speech means to the party that has governed this great country not too many years back?
Karan Thapar made a very strong point today - he's been given marching orders for allegedly saying something which is actually very much in line with the party's official stand! He asks, has the BJP president actually even read the book?
I am worried... The Congress is doing a great job governing us, but where is the opposition? The Left? The SP-BSP? Or the BJP? Are they even capable of being a responsible opposition?
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Chilli Bomb
Scientists of the DRDO and HEMRL, Pune have come out with the latest weapon against terror - a non-lethal chilli bomb made from the most pungent chillis in the world, the Bhut Jolakia chillies from Assam :)
It won't kill, but it will definitely make you run away from your hiding place! Would also be extremely effective in controlling riotous crowds...
It won't kill, but it will definitely make you run away from your hiding place! Would also be extremely effective in controlling riotous crowds...
Reliable and Fresh? Check the Expiry Date!
I went to one of the large retail chains promising "reliable fresh" stuff, and guess what, I found Tropicana juice packs dated Jan 09, with an expiry period of 6 months... the latest stock I could find was from. And remember, this is now August, and AFAIK, Tropicana juice sells like hot cakes... yes ok, cold cakes... whatever...
So next time you drop by one of these outlets, be very careful with the expiry dates!
So next time you drop by one of these outlets, be very careful with the expiry dates!
Papads
For all ye papad lovers out there, here's a refreshing look at where they come from... this is view from my office building, the object of my affection being the tin roofs of the various sheds and huts in the mini-slum behind us :)
If you can't figure out, look for the lady walking on the roof with the mat in her hand, and those cute looking yellow somethings spread on the mats laid out, and the ones that didn't find a place, spread right on the roof...
Swine Joke
The US Embassy has issued an urgent cirdcular to all Gujratis - please do not apply for H1N1, it's a virus, not a visa!
He He He, sorry Gujjus, no offense meant, especially since this one was forwarded to me by a Gujju himself :)
He He He, sorry Gujjus, no offense meant, especially since this one was forwarded to me by a Gujju himself :)
Joke for the Day
Elephant to nude baby boy... I am amazed, how do you manage to eat with a trunk that small? :)
lol, lol
lol, lol
My Reading List
Been reading a lot of interesting books these days, with my outdoor extra-curricular activities severely limited because of the flu.
Undercover Economist is an exciting peek into how markets and economies work, and how it impacts what we buy and how much we pay for it. Along with Freakonomics, it makes for a very interesting read.
I have also been readong Ann's book on handwriting analysis, a skill I picked up many years back, and have used effetively during personal as well as professional interviews. For the disbelieving, you should know that graphology is a statistical science, just like medicine and psychology, and works on determining patterns and then applying it to your case. When I first heard about it, I was doubtful too, which is when I started learning it, and fell in love with it.
Have also finished reading Dad Rules, a must-read for all wannabe dads (and their spouses too!). I wrote to the author, Andrew Clover, and got a personal reply immediately :)
Siddesh,
You are kind. I'm busy trying to do a new one now - all about how to be a good husband, and am worried that Dad Rules hasn't sold like it might've. Do please recommend it to your friends. Would you also consider doing a review on Amazon or Waterstones website? Have a wonderful summer. What are you up to?
Andrew x
So for the sake of my new found author friend, all ye dad's-to-be, please buy one copy. And if you aren't dad-to-be, then be one!
Another book I picked up from my collection of bought-but-not-read for reading finally is on Intuition. Started off well, but has too much of "divine" stuff in it. I would have preferred something that told me it was scientific, and helped me improve my ability to catch it and work with it... so it's kinda lost out.
I also recently finished reading this leather-bound reproduction of a 1850s account of a Britisher's first visit to Portuguese Goa. Fascinating, although depressing, given the amount of negativity and poverty and wretchedness described in the book.
Another superbly funny and well-written book is "all a man needs to know about work and sex". Just an awesomely funny and enlightening read!
And finally, to top the list, is Buzan's Mind Map series. A revolutionary way to think and improve memory, I am just too lazy to try it, but I will. A friend recently used it to understand a pretty revolutionary paper I wrote on thought leadership in solutions management, and she claims it all became pretty clear to her.
Thinking back, I am not sure that was a compliment to me, my thoughts or my writing... maybe it was for the book :(
Undercover Economist is an exciting peek into how markets and economies work, and how it impacts what we buy and how much we pay for it. Along with Freakonomics, it makes for a very interesting read.
I have also been readong Ann's book on handwriting analysis, a skill I picked up many years back, and have used effetively during personal as well as professional interviews. For the disbelieving, you should know that graphology is a statistical science, just like medicine and psychology, and works on determining patterns and then applying it to your case. When I first heard about it, I was doubtful too, which is when I started learning it, and fell in love with it.
Have also finished reading Dad Rules, a must-read for all wannabe dads (and their spouses too!). I wrote to the author, Andrew Clover, and got a personal reply immediately :)
Siddesh,
You are kind. I'm busy trying to do a new one now - all about how to be a good husband, and am worried that Dad Rules hasn't sold like it might've. Do please recommend it to your friends. Would you also consider doing a review on Amazon or Waterstones website? Have a wonderful summer. What are you up to?
Andrew x
So for the sake of my new found author friend, all ye dad's-to-be, please buy one copy. And if you aren't dad-to-be, then be one!
Another book I picked up from my collection of bought-but-not-read for reading finally is on Intuition. Started off well, but has too much of "divine" stuff in it. I would have preferred something that told me it was scientific, and helped me improve my ability to catch it and work with it... so it's kinda lost out.
I also recently finished reading this leather-bound reproduction of a 1850s account of a Britisher's first visit to Portuguese Goa. Fascinating, although depressing, given the amount of negativity and poverty and wretchedness described in the book.
Another superbly funny and well-written book is "all a man needs to know about work and sex". Just an awesomely funny and enlightening read!
And finally, to top the list, is Buzan's Mind Map series. A revolutionary way to think and improve memory, I am just too lazy to try it, but I will. A friend recently used it to understand a pretty revolutionary paper I wrote on thought leadership in solutions management, and she claims it all became pretty clear to her.
Thinking back, I am not sure that was a compliment to me, my thoughts or my writing... maybe it was for the book :(
Swine Flu Updates: None
For the last couple of weeks, all we read was about the flu. TimesOfIndia.com only had flu news on its front page. Yesterday, that changed, and flu was given space on the side bar. Today, I can't find the flu :)
Today, it's SRK.
Much better, even though it's not such a pleasant news item!
Today, it's SRK.
Much better, even though it's not such a pleasant news item!
Detaining Obama?
Picture this. President Obama on a visit to India. Gets detained at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Why? Because he has a Muslim-sounding name. Rubbish. He's the President of the United States, everyone knows him!
Muhammad Ali on a visit to India. Gets detained at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Why? Because he has a Muslim-sounding name. Rubbish. Everyone knows him!
Salma Hayek on a visit to India. Gets detained at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Why? Because she has a Muslim-sounding name. On come on, that's got to be utterly rubbish! Everyone has the hots for her!
Shah Rukh Khan on a visit to the US. Gets detained at Newark Airport. Why? Because she has a Muslim-sounding name. Aah, that's perfect. American security forces are on high alert. Their intelligence is of the highest order.
I feel safe in America now!
Muhammad Ali on a visit to India. Gets detained at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Why? Because he has a Muslim-sounding name. Rubbish. Everyone knows him!
Salma Hayek on a visit to India. Gets detained at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Why? Because she has a Muslim-sounding name. On come on, that's got to be utterly rubbish! Everyone has the hots for her!
Shah Rukh Khan on a visit to the US. Gets detained at Newark Airport. Why? Because she has a Muslim-sounding name. Aah, that's perfect. American security forces are on high alert. Their intelligence is of the highest order.
I feel safe in America now!
Movie Reviews: Border
Well, swine flu isn't going to stop me from reviewing movies! But I cannot help that Kaminey is out of bounds for me (theatres are closed, and in public, I cannot admit to watching pirated DVDs, or even give any hints to that effect...), so here comes Border :)
Border was the first movie I watched in Dolby Surround sound :) at the Topiwala theatre in Goregain West. I was studying at IIT Bombay at that time, and movies were few and far between (others at that time included Pardes at some really sidey theatre in Ghatkopar, and The Peacemaker at the IITB convention hall cum theatre), so when we went for Border, it was such an amazing experience - as the bullets flew on screen, different speakers in different parts of the theatre came alive, when the fighter flew overhead, the sound did too!
Anyway, that's why Border is so memorable, and when I saw it listed on UTV on Independence Day, I thought, why not! I had missed a significant part of the movie already, and I was hoping I didn't miss much of the fight... and had to spend the next hour or so "being primed" on the human angle, the lives of the soldiers back home... boodhi, andhi maa, ek adhuri suhaag raat, cancer se mar rahi biwi, tuta hua chhat, and a few songs to boot. Yes, the movie could have easily been sniped and stripped of all this drama, and it would probably be a lot more fun.
Border is the story of the battle of Longewala on the night of Dec 4th during the Bangladesh war of '71. Most of you guys would not even have been born by then (neither was I, lol). A small contingent of the Indian army led by Major Kuldeep Singh was left defending the Indian border post of Longewala against the advancing tank regiment of the Pakistani army, with plans to "have breakfast in Jailsalmer, lunch at Jodhpur and dinner in Delhi". Air support wouldn't be available until morning, since the Hunters stationed at the nearby airbase were not capable of fighting in the dark. The company commander was given the option of abandoning the post and retreating to safety, bu the and his men bravely chose to fight. And won. A historic battle that perhaps epitomizes the "yeh dil maange more" attitude of the Indian armed forces, brought to the forth time and again in subsequent battles. An attitude that truly distinguishes the armed forces of this country from the rest of the world, an army where senior officers do not fight from air-conditioned bunkers, but go out there in front of their troops, leading by example.
The Indian contingent had 120 soldiers and one jeep mounted M40 gun. And they were joined by 5 aircraft in the morning. The Pakistanis had 2800 soldiers, 65 tanks, and over 100 other military vehicles and arms including anti-aircraft and artillery fire. At the end of the battle India had lost 2 soldiers and the jeep, Pakistan lost 200 and more than half their tanks and vehicles.
Here is a satellite grab that shows the desperate moves made by the Pakistani tanks to try and escape the assault by the Indian hunters on the morning on Dec 5. The circles mark the destroyed tanks. Apparently, the Americans just couldn't believe that their favourite Pattons had met such a desperate end at the hands of the outdated Hunters :)
For more on the battle itself, Wikipedia has a nice page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Longewala.
Border was the first movie I watched in Dolby Surround sound :) at the Topiwala theatre in Goregain West. I was studying at IIT Bombay at that time, and movies were few and far between (others at that time included Pardes at some really sidey theatre in Ghatkopar, and The Peacemaker at the IITB convention hall cum theatre), so when we went for Border, it was such an amazing experience - as the bullets flew on screen, different speakers in different parts of the theatre came alive, when the fighter flew overhead, the sound did too!
Anyway, that's why Border is so memorable, and when I saw it listed on UTV on Independence Day, I thought, why not! I had missed a significant part of the movie already, and I was hoping I didn't miss much of the fight... and had to spend the next hour or so "being primed" on the human angle, the lives of the soldiers back home... boodhi, andhi maa, ek adhuri suhaag raat, cancer se mar rahi biwi, tuta hua chhat, and a few songs to boot. Yes, the movie could have easily been sniped and stripped of all this drama, and it would probably be a lot more fun.
Border is the story of the battle of Longewala on the night of Dec 4th during the Bangladesh war of '71. Most of you guys would not even have been born by then (neither was I, lol). A small contingent of the Indian army led by Major Kuldeep Singh was left defending the Indian border post of Longewala against the advancing tank regiment of the Pakistani army, with plans to "have breakfast in Jailsalmer, lunch at Jodhpur and dinner in Delhi". Air support wouldn't be available until morning, since the Hunters stationed at the nearby airbase were not capable of fighting in the dark. The company commander was given the option of abandoning the post and retreating to safety, bu the and his men bravely chose to fight. And won. A historic battle that perhaps epitomizes the "yeh dil maange more" attitude of the Indian armed forces, brought to the forth time and again in subsequent battles. An attitude that truly distinguishes the armed forces of this country from the rest of the world, an army where senior officers do not fight from air-conditioned bunkers, but go out there in front of their troops, leading by example.
The Indian contingent had 120 soldiers and one jeep mounted M40 gun. And they were joined by 5 aircraft in the morning. The Pakistanis had 2800 soldiers, 65 tanks, and over 100 other military vehicles and arms including anti-aircraft and artillery fire. At the end of the battle India had lost 2 soldiers and the jeep, Pakistan lost 200 and more than half their tanks and vehicles.
Here is a satellite grab that shows the desperate moves made by the Pakistani tanks to try and escape the assault by the Indian hunters on the morning on Dec 5. The circles mark the destroyed tanks. Apparently, the Americans just couldn't believe that their favourite Pattons had met such a desperate end at the hands of the outdated Hunters :)
For more on the battle itself, Wikipedia has a nice page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Longewala.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Clap Clap to the Government
We rarely appreciate the working of our government, but I want to make sure we take a moment to do so today.
In a country like ours, I think the government has done a fantastic job in reassuring the citizens, and taking measures to control the spread of the swine flu virus.
After days of TV channels freaking people out, the government clamped down and asked them to toe the line. And suddenly, Times Now is now focussing on the heroes of Pune, the release of Kaminey, the North Korean ship "stranded" in Indian waters, Saina's loss in the QF, three Mumbai cops-turned-criminals, the BJP fight and so on... life quickly seems to be back to normal agian :)
Have you thought how difficult this task must be? We expect the government to take control. Have you thought of what it will mean in a country like ours?
And it's not just the flu, right? Terror - tomorrow is Independence Day, remember? And the newly setup NIA made some important arrests today. The army has gunned down 4 Huji militants in Jammu. Wonder how many terror attacks are thwarted by our armed forces - and we never know!
And then we have the recession. A failed monsoon. And we expect the government to take control and solve the problems.
On the occasion of Independence Day, let us take a moment to think about what we expect from our government, how much we contribute to the solutions AND the problems, and let us say a silent thanks to the countless men and women who work so hard behind the scenes so that we can go about having a safe and happy life as free citizens of this great country!
In a country like ours, I think the government has done a fantastic job in reassuring the citizens, and taking measures to control the spread of the swine flu virus.
After days of TV channels freaking people out, the government clamped down and asked them to toe the line. And suddenly, Times Now is now focussing on the heroes of Pune, the release of Kaminey, the North Korean ship "stranded" in Indian waters, Saina's loss in the QF, three Mumbai cops-turned-criminals, the BJP fight and so on... life quickly seems to be back to normal agian :)
Have you thought how difficult this task must be? We expect the government to take control. Have you thought of what it will mean in a country like ours?
And it's not just the flu, right? Terror - tomorrow is Independence Day, remember? And the newly setup NIA made some important arrests today. The army has gunned down 4 Huji militants in Jammu. Wonder how many terror attacks are thwarted by our armed forces - and we never know!
And then we have the recession. A failed monsoon. And we expect the government to take control and solve the problems.
On the occasion of Independence Day, let us take a moment to think about what we expect from our government, how much we contribute to the solutions AND the problems, and let us say a silent thanks to the countless men and women who work so hard behind the scenes so that we can go about having a safe and happy life as free citizens of this great country!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
You Swine!
OK, enough has been written about the most unwanted flu on earth, but how can I not comment on it? :)
Just some random thoughts as they come...
I hate the turn it has taken, almost a doomsday scenario being painted by the press and news channels, and I hate it. I think the media should desist from creating panic, and instead be objective and true.
Yes, we have swine flu, and it's contageous, and we have 400 cases. But there have been lakhs of cases in the West! We are a country of a billion people. Yes twenty have died, and maybe a lot more will follow. But what about the history of the deaths? Why not reassure people that proper timely treatment can cure it? How about letting people know that those who died did so because of complications related to chronic heart or lung diseases?
Why not give constructive suggestions about cleaniless, and hygiene? Why not reasure people?
On the other hand, maybe panic is a good thing after all? Maybe people wouldn't take things so seriously!
Maybe it's good to shut down the cities after all!
I think we need to praise the government in the way it is trying to handle the flu> Screening passengers, trying to contain the disease, getting political parties together to try and cancel public religious celebrations... remember, we are a poor country with limited resources, and I think we are doing fantastic in terms of trying to contain this virus.
At the end of the day, like every other such calamity, I am sure man will survive, and come out wiser. I am sure the vaccines are coming out as I write...
Till then,
Wash your hands regularly, keep hand sanitizers with you at all times, and keep your hands away from your mouth and nose
Don't cough or sneeze unless you cover your mouth and nose (this is to protect OTHERS!)
Keep your mouth and nose away from others - especially if they are sneezing or coughing - DO NOT KISS!
If you see flu-like symptoms, consult your GP - don't rush to the swine flu testing center! Common cold and flu is common!
And overall, don't panic.
Just some random thoughts as they come...
I hate the turn it has taken, almost a doomsday scenario being painted by the press and news channels, and I hate it. I think the media should desist from creating panic, and instead be objective and true.
Yes, we have swine flu, and it's contageous, and we have 400 cases. But there have been lakhs of cases in the West! We are a country of a billion people. Yes twenty have died, and maybe a lot more will follow. But what about the history of the deaths? Why not reassure people that proper timely treatment can cure it? How about letting people know that those who died did so because of complications related to chronic heart or lung diseases?
Why not give constructive suggestions about cleaniless, and hygiene? Why not reasure people?
On the other hand, maybe panic is a good thing after all? Maybe people wouldn't take things so seriously!
Maybe it's good to shut down the cities after all!
I think we need to praise the government in the way it is trying to handle the flu> Screening passengers, trying to contain the disease, getting political parties together to try and cancel public religious celebrations... remember, we are a poor country with limited resources, and I think we are doing fantastic in terms of trying to contain this virus.
At the end of the day, like every other such calamity, I am sure man will survive, and come out wiser. I am sure the vaccines are coming out as I write...
Till then,
Wash your hands regularly, keep hand sanitizers with you at all times, and keep your hands away from your mouth and nose
Don't cough or sneeze unless you cover your mouth and nose (this is to protect OTHERS!)
Keep your mouth and nose away from others - especially if they are sneezing or coughing - DO NOT KISS!
If you see flu-like symptoms, consult your GP - don't rush to the swine flu testing center! Common cold and flu is common!
And overall, don't panic.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Movie Review: Love Aaj Kal
After a disastrous Luck last weekend, and not having found anything interesting in New York, I was beginning to wonder what had happened to all the movies Aaj Kal!
After the superbly made Jab We Met, Imtiaz Ali delivers another beautiful movie, a very contemporary love story that is refreshing, happy and true to life. If you are one of those millions of 18 to 35 something (see, I made sure I was included in that range!) Indian youth with a practical outlook towards love and life, you will see yourself in every minute of the movie, you will identify with every dialogue, you will understand exactly what is happening out there. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will want more and more - because it's rare that a movie actually includes you so totally in the experience.
Jai and Meera are like you and me. Young, with big dreams, and a very liberal view towards love and friendships. They meet over cups of black coffee, they go to discs, they have a good life with each other in London. They fall in love. But they also have their dreams, one wants to go to San Francisco and build bridges like the Golden Gate, the other loves to resurrect old frescos and wants to be in Delhi.
The movie starts with their breakup, an open conversation with each other where they decide to part ways, knowing that they'll stay in touch, but also knowing, long distance relationships won't work. That's Love Aaj Kal. Real and practical.
What they haven't counted on is what happens next. Can they really break up? Can they really find love again? More importantly, can they ever live happily ever after, without each other? They try, hard. But will they succedd, or will love get them back together?
Rishi Kapoor plays Jai's mentor, inspiring him with his own forties romance with saddi Harmeen Kaur. In my time, I had to give up love so I could work and be worthy of her, he tells Jai. Now, you are giving her up for your work?
The movie is fast paced, with a couple of not-so-unexpected twists and turns. But it's short, just above 2 hours, and it will leave you hungry for more - not because it's incomplete - no way - but because you just can't have enough of it.
Everything about the movie is fabulous. Let's start with Jai and Meera. The characterization is perfect. Saif excels in every movie, and his growth as an actor has been phenomenal from his Bekhudi days. Deepika proves that she act, and does a great job. Some of her scenes are just so real, so true and so damn touching, it will bring tears to your eyes. She's confident too - check out the Chor Bazaari song, and you will know what I mean. Here's an actor that's come into her own now. And she's beautiful and she's hot. Her dress designer can definitely take credit for ushering in a whole new era in fashion in India. Watch out for it. The rest of the cast, including Rishi, fit the bill just perfectly.
The locations and cinematography are also top class. San Francisco, London, Delhi, Calcutta. And the key props - the beautiful bridges. Some amazing camera work, you will want to take in every inch of the screen.
What I loved most was the scripts and the dialogues. They're crisp, contemporary, and again, very real. The songs are good, too, and will grow on you. Chor Bazaari has been wonderfully choreographed. Yeh Dooriyaan and Main Kya Hoon are also very well done, all 3 songs add so much to the script - they probably cut an hour from the story telling!
This one will bring you back to the theaters, again and again. Love Aaj Kal totally rocks!
After the superbly made Jab We Met, Imtiaz Ali delivers another beautiful movie, a very contemporary love story that is refreshing, happy and true to life. If you are one of those millions of 18 to 35 something (see, I made sure I was included in that range!) Indian youth with a practical outlook towards love and life, you will see yourself in every minute of the movie, you will identify with every dialogue, you will understand exactly what is happening out there. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will want more and more - because it's rare that a movie actually includes you so totally in the experience.
Jai and Meera are like you and me. Young, with big dreams, and a very liberal view towards love and friendships. They meet over cups of black coffee, they go to discs, they have a good life with each other in London. They fall in love. But they also have their dreams, one wants to go to San Francisco and build bridges like the Golden Gate, the other loves to resurrect old frescos and wants to be in Delhi.
The movie starts with their breakup, an open conversation with each other where they decide to part ways, knowing that they'll stay in touch, but also knowing, long distance relationships won't work. That's Love Aaj Kal. Real and practical.
What they haven't counted on is what happens next. Can they really break up? Can they really find love again? More importantly, can they ever live happily ever after, without each other? They try, hard. But will they succedd, or will love get them back together?
Rishi Kapoor plays Jai's mentor, inspiring him with his own forties romance with saddi Harmeen Kaur. In my time, I had to give up love so I could work and be worthy of her, he tells Jai. Now, you are giving her up for your work?
The movie is fast paced, with a couple of not-so-unexpected twists and turns. But it's short, just above 2 hours, and it will leave you hungry for more - not because it's incomplete - no way - but because you just can't have enough of it.
Everything about the movie is fabulous. Let's start with Jai and Meera. The characterization is perfect. Saif excels in every movie, and his growth as an actor has been phenomenal from his Bekhudi days. Deepika proves that she act, and does a great job. Some of her scenes are just so real, so true and so damn touching, it will bring tears to your eyes. She's confident too - check out the Chor Bazaari song, and you will know what I mean. Here's an actor that's come into her own now. And she's beautiful and she's hot. Her dress designer can definitely take credit for ushering in a whole new era in fashion in India. Watch out for it. The rest of the cast, including Rishi, fit the bill just perfectly.
The locations and cinematography are also top class. San Francisco, London, Delhi, Calcutta. And the key props - the beautiful bridges. Some amazing camera work, you will want to take in every inch of the screen.
What I loved most was the scripts and the dialogues. They're crisp, contemporary, and again, very real. The songs are good, too, and will grow on you. Chor Bazaari has been wonderfully choreographed. Yeh Dooriyaan and Main Kya Hoon are also very well done, all 3 songs add so much to the script - they probably cut an hour from the story telling!
This one will bring you back to the theaters, again and again. Love Aaj Kal totally rocks!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Rab Ne...
Saw Rab Ne again last night... Suri, Raj, Taani, the language, the songs, the dance... brings a huge smile, lightens the heart and gives a new color to everything gray...
I love that movie...
I love that movie...
Movie Review: Luck
Luck sucks. And many more such 4 letter words! It's not about the money - but if you spent 3 hours of your weekend on Luck, then I am sorry my friend, it was pretty bad luck!
Here's the deal. With movies like Dhoom, the standard for action has been set very, very high! A few parachute jumps, and some stupid fighting on top of a train doesn't excite anyone any more!
Musa Bhai is bored of the standard ways of making money in the criminal world. Drugs, smuggling, betting on cricket, aah so boring. Musa is into the world of betting on the lives of people. His crony Tamang scouts around for lucky people in search of money and glory, and then transports them to South Africa for a macabre game of life and death. From shooting at each other, to jumping off helicopters, who will survive and who will get eliminated tonight? Survive till the end, and you win your 20 crores. Needless to say, our hero saves his love, and his friends, and we all live happily ever after. Why? Because he is lucky. His heart is on the right side.
Imran, I predicted that you had it in you to be the future King Khan :( That seems like pure blasphemy right now! Kidnap could have passed as as aberration. But what's the excuse now?
Sanjay Dutt has played the bhai at least a few dozen times, but wasn't there more he could do other than walk around with his cronies, and mouth some absolutely corny poetry?
Shruti Hassan has to live up to her dad's legacy. She doesn't really cut it - but then, other than wearing a sexy bikini (which does make her look very hot!), and fending off some lusty moves, she doesn't have much to do anyway! Hopefully, she'll find a director who can give her some acting to do. And maybe she can take some tips from Soha. By the way, she's a Sonali look-alike - and for Sonali fans, it's going to be very uncanny watching her!
Chitrashi Rawat has started getting on my nerves with her I-am-too-sweet-while-being-a-tapori look. Mithun plays yet another very forgettable role. Danny was the best of the lot and added whatever life to the script.
Trust me, it's not worth your time.
Here's the deal. With movies like Dhoom, the standard for action has been set very, very high! A few parachute jumps, and some stupid fighting on top of a train doesn't excite anyone any more!
Musa Bhai is bored of the standard ways of making money in the criminal world. Drugs, smuggling, betting on cricket, aah so boring. Musa is into the world of betting on the lives of people. His crony Tamang scouts around for lucky people in search of money and glory, and then transports them to South Africa for a macabre game of life and death. From shooting at each other, to jumping off helicopters, who will survive and who will get eliminated tonight? Survive till the end, and you win your 20 crores. Needless to say, our hero saves his love, and his friends, and we all live happily ever after. Why? Because he is lucky. His heart is on the right side.
Imran, I predicted that you had it in you to be the future King Khan :( That seems like pure blasphemy right now! Kidnap could have passed as as aberration. But what's the excuse now?
Sanjay Dutt has played the bhai at least a few dozen times, but wasn't there more he could do other than walk around with his cronies, and mouth some absolutely corny poetry?
Shruti Hassan has to live up to her dad's legacy. She doesn't really cut it - but then, other than wearing a sexy bikini (which does make her look very hot!), and fending off some lusty moves, she doesn't have much to do anyway! Hopefully, she'll find a director who can give her some acting to do. And maybe she can take some tips from Soha. By the way, she's a Sonali look-alike - and for Sonali fans, it's going to be very uncanny watching her!
Chitrashi Rawat has started getting on my nerves with her I-am-too-sweet-while-being-a-tapori look. Mithun plays yet another very forgettable role. Danny was the best of the lot and added whatever life to the script.
Trust me, it's not worth your time.
Movie Review: New York
OK, this one has me confused.
Set in the backdrop of 9/11, the movie attempts to look at the deeper question of whether terrorists are created by the very system that's trying to eliminate them. Neil Nitin Mukesh is in the US for a stint at NYU, when he meets and falls in love with the beautiful Katrina. Alas, Katrina is already head over heels for John. 9/11 happens - and while the world watches the carnage in horror, Neil watches his love crying on the John's shoulders. His dreams crushed, Neil walks away.
Cut to present day NY. The FBI is hot on the trail of a terror plot, and John is their primary suspect. Neil is arrested on charges of aiding terror, and then given a deal - help us nail John, and we will let you go. Neil turns up in the home of his old friends, his mission to spy and find out what is going on. Is his friend really a terrorist?
Katrina looks absolutely ravishing, and some of the songs will linger for a long time in your heart and on your lips. Some good action, an interesting story. But overall, Neil and John lacked punch, and the dialogues could do with some polish.
And as far as the message goes, I am perplexed by the question Neil asks of the FBI at the end - yeh sab karke humne kya paaya? I mean, we did end up preventing a major terror attack for the price of one good-guy-turned-terrorist (aren't they all good when they are born?) and his unfortunate, but knowing accomplsh in crime. Wasn't the lives of those hundreds in the FBI office worth doing this for?
Not for kids, but a worthy movie.
Set in the backdrop of 9/11, the movie attempts to look at the deeper question of whether terrorists are created by the very system that's trying to eliminate them. Neil Nitin Mukesh is in the US for a stint at NYU, when he meets and falls in love with the beautiful Katrina. Alas, Katrina is already head over heels for John. 9/11 happens - and while the world watches the carnage in horror, Neil watches his love crying on the John's shoulders. His dreams crushed, Neil walks away.
Cut to present day NY. The FBI is hot on the trail of a terror plot, and John is their primary suspect. Neil is arrested on charges of aiding terror, and then given a deal - help us nail John, and we will let you go. Neil turns up in the home of his old friends, his mission to spy and find out what is going on. Is his friend really a terrorist?
Katrina looks absolutely ravishing, and some of the songs will linger for a long time in your heart and on your lips. Some good action, an interesting story. But overall, Neil and John lacked punch, and the dialogues could do with some polish.
And as far as the message goes, I am perplexed by the question Neil asks of the FBI at the end - yeh sab karke humne kya paaya? I mean, we did end up preventing a major terror attack for the price of one good-guy-turned-terrorist (aren't they all good when they are born?) and his unfortunate, but knowing accomplsh in crime. Wasn't the lives of those hundreds in the FBI office worth doing this for?
Not for kids, but a worthy movie.
Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
It's time to stop making more Harry Potter movies. This one is so uninteresting and so freaking boring that I barely managed to keep my eyes open for the first hour or so, and then walked off.
Avoid at all costs.
Really. Watch Doordarshan instead.
Avoid at all costs.
Really. Watch Doordarshan instead.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Collections
Every kid I know has had some kind of collection or the other... I had many of my own too... although most of it is now lost or "archived" somewhere in Nerul...
Greeting cards, of course. And the usual stamps and old coins. The coins got a mjor boost when we sifted through the soil to make a lawn at home... and out came dozens of really old coins! The stamp collection, every kid's favourite, was fun too, until my dad went ahead and bought me a huge collection from a collector in Mapuca... from then on, I lost interest - I had just so many, collecting more didnt matter any more :)
I also have an amazing collection of match boxes - literally hundreds of them. While all my childhood in Goa I knew only Chavi and Ship, one trip to South India exposed me to the hundreds of brands available there, and that's where the craze began. I had all sorts, including giant ones, rub-any wheres, plastic cases, wax matches and so on...
And then I had the unique collection of "beach sands", collected from different beaches in Goa, and some from rest of India. It's amazing how the sand varies from beach to beach... the texture, the color, the grains... and one day, it was attacked by a gang of cockroaches and in exasperation, I threw it all away :(
Then comes the photographs - cuttings from magazines and newspapers of cricketers, tennis players and footballers. Old and new, black and white and colored. I used to go simply crazy looking at all the sports magazines with those glossy cricket pics...
And oh, I have this big bunch of phone booth receipts from every call I made to Madhavi when I was at IIT Mumbai, and then the 3-4 months in Pune before our marriage.
Now, it's books. Hundreds of them. And blue shot glasses - one from each city I have been to in the US and Europe. And refrigerator magnets. I do keep all the bills for telephone, electricity, cell phone, credit cards and so on... for the past ten years and more... and I don't really need to keep them, so I guess it's more of a hobby than anything else!
And my diary... a daily record of my life since 1987 :) Yes, every single day. Would make amazing material for my biography after I am dead...
I'd love to collect cars, and holiday homes, and some stuff like that now... all I need is a little more money :)
Greeting cards, of course. And the usual stamps and old coins. The coins got a mjor boost when we sifted through the soil to make a lawn at home... and out came dozens of really old coins! The stamp collection, every kid's favourite, was fun too, until my dad went ahead and bought me a huge collection from a collector in Mapuca... from then on, I lost interest - I had just so many, collecting more didnt matter any more :)
I also have an amazing collection of match boxes - literally hundreds of them. While all my childhood in Goa I knew only Chavi and Ship, one trip to South India exposed me to the hundreds of brands available there, and that's where the craze began. I had all sorts, including giant ones, rub-any wheres, plastic cases, wax matches and so on...
And then I had the unique collection of "beach sands", collected from different beaches in Goa, and some from rest of India. It's amazing how the sand varies from beach to beach... the texture, the color, the grains... and one day, it was attacked by a gang of cockroaches and in exasperation, I threw it all away :(
Then comes the photographs - cuttings from magazines and newspapers of cricketers, tennis players and footballers. Old and new, black and white and colored. I used to go simply crazy looking at all the sports magazines with those glossy cricket pics...
And oh, I have this big bunch of phone booth receipts from every call I made to Madhavi when I was at IIT Mumbai, and then the 3-4 months in Pune before our marriage.
Now, it's books. Hundreds of them. And blue shot glasses - one from each city I have been to in the US and Europe. And refrigerator magnets. I do keep all the bills for telephone, electricity, cell phone, credit cards and so on... for the past ten years and more... and I don't really need to keep them, so I guess it's more of a hobby than anything else!
And my diary... a daily record of my life since 1987 :) Yes, every single day. Would make amazing material for my biography after I am dead...
I'd love to collect cars, and holiday homes, and some stuff like that now... all I need is a little more money :)
No Longer A Kid...
You know you are no longer a kid when...
Your daughter's friends call you uncle (actually, it happens a lot earlier... when ANYONE calls you uncle!)
When you say "I can STILL play cricket pretty well"
And when the next day, every part of your body aches as if you've been run over by a road roller
When you start worrying about whether you have hair, and not whether it's styled properly!
When you'd do with hair of ANY color, as long as it is there!
When everything you eat needs to be sugar free, oil free, and fun free
When you end up wanting to say "no longer a kid" instead of "growing older"
When your memories are history lessons for some of the other people you know!
When you tell others to wear a helmet and drive slowly
When you think, I need to rest
When you realise your favourite movies are shown during the "classics" slot on TV
When Teen Diva and Splitsvilla seem stupid and kiddish
...
When you don't remember the other 10 things you had in mind when you started writing a blog post!
Your daughter's friends call you uncle (actually, it happens a lot earlier... when ANYONE calls you uncle!)
When you say "I can STILL play cricket pretty well"
And when the next day, every part of your body aches as if you've been run over by a road roller
When you start worrying about whether you have hair, and not whether it's styled properly!
When you'd do with hair of ANY color, as long as it is there!
When everything you eat needs to be sugar free, oil free, and fun free
When you end up wanting to say "no longer a kid" instead of "growing older"
When your memories are history lessons for some of the other people you know!
When you tell others to wear a helmet and drive slowly
When you think, I need to rest
When you realise your favourite movies are shown during the "classics" slot on TV
When Teen Diva and Splitsvilla seem stupid and kiddish
...
When you don't remember the other 10 things you had in mind when you started writing a blog post!
Fish
Check my new fish here ->
Yes, really, these are live fish :) They stay in my blog. Click your mouse in their aquarium to give them some food, and see how they swim to you! And yes, keep your cats away!
Yes, really, these are live fish :) They stay in my blog. Click your mouse in their aquarium to give them some food, and see how they swim to you! And yes, keep your cats away!
Rains...
Missing rains terribly this year... we've had just one or two good showers all of June and July, and otherwise it's just been a very dull pitter patter, barely enough to wet the streets...
Rains in Goa were so awesome... the coconut trees swaying, the calm before the storm, the noise of the monsoon thunders, the hammering of the rain drops on the tile roofs, the scurrying for cover, the flooded streets, the torrents of gushing water... the earthworms, the greenery every where...
Pune is a good place, and we get good fish too! But the rains in Goa is one thing that tugs at the heart and makes me want to go back to Goa... wonder how long I will be able to stay away...
Rains in Goa were so awesome... the coconut trees swaying, the calm before the storm, the noise of the monsoon thunders, the hammering of the rain drops on the tile roofs, the scurrying for cover, the flooded streets, the torrents of gushing water... the earthworms, the greenery every where...
Pune is a good place, and we get good fish too! But the rains in Goa is one thing that tugs at the heart and makes me want to go back to Goa... wonder how long I will be able to stay away...
HTC Touch Viva
Got a very sexy HTC Touch Viva from my office today. Running on Windows, I must say I have been pretty impressed so far... except that there's really nothing to beat the usability of a Nokia (and especially so with me, since I have been using them for over 10 years now). Email is extremely convenient to read and delete, although I am still getting used to typing on the touch keyboards.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Pepsi Ad
And here's a very interesting Pepsi ad... Today, Pepsi would like you to try a Coke, it says! Loved the idea...
Newspaper Collection
Here are some front pages from my newspaper collection covering some of the interesting events of the last few years...
Cricket victories were hard to come by when I was a child... we always lost to Pakistan, we always lost the big games, we always lost the series. But then the tide turned with the advent of Dada and his young guns. I gave up collecting these headlines after some time, but here are some of the best - including the thrashing Sachin gave to the Aussies in Sharjah and India's test victory in Pakistan.
Dada's departure from the team, and his unbelievable come back. Some more of these are in my office desk... and they never fail to inspire!
Anthrax, US missiles in Afghanistan, security blanket in India, missing nuclear scientist in Pakistan... this was the backdrop against which Sanam was born on 25th OCt 2001!
The Kargil war kicks off in earnest with the air force joining the campaign...
These special issues bring back very poignant memories, as well as a swell of pride and patriotism. Some beautiful pictures too....
The T20 World Cup... a tournament into which we went as complete newcomers, and ended up coming home with the trophy! Beating Pakistan in the finals made it that much more worthwhile!
Back to 1998, and India's nuclear tests... the last major event in the world while I was still a bachelor :) I married barely a week later!
Shocking news of the Tsunami - the depth of the disaster didn't strike us for many days, until more and more videos and pictures started pouring in from around South Asia
And here's something very interesting... a big hip hip hurray when the sensex crossed 6K... people made "wild" predictions of 10K and 20K, and a few years later, those wild predictions came true! For the sake of posterity, it may be noted that after touching 20k levels, the sensex today is at around 14K, in the midst of the economic downturn!
View From My Living Room
This is what I see when I lie down on the couch watching TV... a beautiful green backdrop, trees that were planted when we moved in, but have now risen well above our second floor. Add the chirping of all the different birds that habitate the society, the cats in my lap, and the lack of traffic noise, and we're very close to feeling like we are in Goa!
Now, if only, we had some more rain...
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Economics
It is the month of August; a resort town sits next to the shores of a lake. It is raining, and the little town looks totally deserted.
It is tough times, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town.
He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 dollar bill on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one.
The hotel proprietor takes the 100 dollar bill and runs to pay his debt to the butcher.
The Butcher takes the 100 dollar bill, and runs to pay his debt to the pig raiser.
The pig raiser takes the 100 dollar bill, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel.
The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 dollar bill and runs to pay his debt to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that he rented.
The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 dollar bill back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything.
At that moment, the rich tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 dollar bill, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town.
No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism.
It is tough times, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
Suddenly, a rich tourist comes to town.
He enters the only hotel, lays a 100 dollar bill on the reception counter, and goes to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one.
The hotel proprietor takes the 100 dollar bill and runs to pay his debt to the butcher.
The Butcher takes the 100 dollar bill, and runs to pay his debt to the pig raiser.
The pig raiser takes the 100 dollar bill, and runs to pay his debt to the supplier of his feed and fuel.
The supplier of feed and fuel takes the 100 dollar bill and runs to pay his debt to the hotel proprietor to pay for the rooms that he rented.
The hotel proprietor then lays the 100 dollar bill back on the counter so that the rich tourist will not suspect anything.
At that moment, the rich tourist comes down after inspecting the rooms, and takes his 100 dollar bill, after saying that he did not like any of the rooms, and leaves town.
No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now without debt, and looks to the future with a lot of optimism.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Movie Review: Bolt
Bolt is a cute puppy, and the star of the super-dog TV show - Bolt. He doesn't know he's on TV, he's completely convinced he's a real super hero, always saving his beloved Penny from the "green-eyed" bad guy.
And one day, he gets lost, and is parcelled off to faraway New York. And then begins his journey back to Hollywood, in the company of his enemy-turned-friend, Mittens the Cat, and his big fan, Rhino the Hamster.
The journey is a revelation to him. First the disappointment of finding out he's not a super dog after all - none of his powers are working any more. His super bark is just like any other. He bleeds. He gets hungry. But then, Mittens teaches him to be a real dog. The simple pleasures - sitting by the rug, putting his tongue out, chasing other dogs, fetching the ball... You know why we hate dogs, she asks him. Because we want to be dogs, we have dog-complexes, she says :)
Check out the scene where the two cats try to irritate him. Or when Mittens teaches him to beg, and then tries to beg herself and gets greeted with a flying pan. Or Mitten's introduction with the Godfather music in the background. Just beautiful :)
If you love cats and dogs, you will LOVE this movie. If you have kids, or if you have ever been one, go for it... you will want to see it over and over again!
An amazing animation movie, I believe it's also available in 3D...
And one day, he gets lost, and is parcelled off to faraway New York. And then begins his journey back to Hollywood, in the company of his enemy-turned-friend, Mittens the Cat, and his big fan, Rhino the Hamster.
The journey is a revelation to him. First the disappointment of finding out he's not a super dog after all - none of his powers are working any more. His super bark is just like any other. He bleeds. He gets hungry. But then, Mittens teaches him to be a real dog. The simple pleasures - sitting by the rug, putting his tongue out, chasing other dogs, fetching the ball... You know why we hate dogs, she asks him. Because we want to be dogs, we have dog-complexes, she says :)
Check out the scene where the two cats try to irritate him. Or when Mittens teaches him to beg, and then tries to beg herself and gets greeted with a flying pan. Or Mitten's introduction with the Godfather music in the background. Just beautiful :)
If you love cats and dogs, you will LOVE this movie. If you have kids, or if you have ever been one, go for it... you will want to see it over and over again!
An amazing animation movie, I believe it's also available in 3D...
Movie Review: While She Was Away
Another of those typical many-people-will-die-before-it-ends movie, with a twist. The "victim" is doing all the killing.
Kim Bassinger is a mother of 2, ill-treated and beaten her husband. It's Christmas night, and she's out of gift wrapping paper for her presents. She goes to the mall, where she runs into a bunch of hooligans. When the mall security guard intervenes to disperse them, he's shot dead. She screeches away, crashes and is trapped.
Will she be able to save herself from her lusty predators?
Not recommended, unless you have nothing else to do. Just one of those nothing-in-it movies...
Kim Bassinger is a mother of 2, ill-treated and beaten her husband. It's Christmas night, and she's out of gift wrapping paper for her presents. She goes to the mall, where she runs into a bunch of hooligans. When the mall security guard intervenes to disperse them, he's shot dead. She screeches away, crashes and is trapped.
Will she be able to save herself from her lusty predators?
Not recommended, unless you have nothing else to do. Just one of those nothing-in-it movies...
Movie Review: Terminator Salvation
The latest in the terminator series, the story gets pretty complicated with the twisted timelines - people from the future sending people from the future back in time so that people back in time can give birth to people in the future who will then get back in time... whatever... it's 2020 something... the machines have destroyed most of the world in nuclear attacks, and only a few humans remain - the Resistance
And the machines are planning the final move...
Will the resistance be able to thwart the final blow?
No Arnold, but trust me, this movie has some of the special special FX action seen in recent times... the opening sequence is great, and the bikes coming out of the mega-robot's knee is a WOW moment..
And the machines are planning the final move...
Will the resistance be able to thwart the final blow?
No Arnold, but trust me, this movie has some of the special special FX action seen in recent times... the opening sequence is great, and the bikes coming out of the mega-robot's knee is a WOW moment..
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (Ads)
Bajaj DTSi - The Fastest Indian ad... a very interesting concept, and very nicely executed!
Fiat Punto, Honda Jazz and Maruti Ritz - wierd looking cars, and some very boring ads
And the ugly - undoutedly, the baby, the mom, and the umbilical cord (yucks!) in the Bullet ad.. come on guys, don't make me puke before every movie in the theatres!
Fiat Punto, Honda Jazz and Maruti Ritz - wierd looking cars, and some very boring ads
And the ugly - undoutedly, the baby, the mom, and the umbilical cord (yucks!) in the Bullet ad.. come on guys, don't make me puke before every movie in the theatres!
Movie Review: Hangover
With one of the biggest openings in the US, Hangover has suprised box office pundits with a similar smashing opening in India too.
Hangover is the story of a bunch of friends who sneak away to Las Vegas for a bachelor party, and wake up in their hotel suite in the morning to the company of a hen, a tiger, and a baby, and with one of their friends missing. How did they end up here? No one can remember - courtesy the date drug they've consumed last night. Where's their friend? Who does the tiger belong to, and how did it end up in their suite?
Will they get over and get back in time for their friend's marriage?
An adult comedy, but definitely one of the best!
Hangover is the story of a bunch of friends who sneak away to Las Vegas for a bachelor party, and wake up in their hotel suite in the morning to the company of a hen, a tiger, and a baby, and with one of their friends missing. How did they end up here? No one can remember - courtesy the date drug they've consumed last night. Where's their friend? Who does the tiger belong to, and how did it end up in their suite?
Will they get over and get back in time for their friend's marriage?
An adult comedy, but definitely one of the best!
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